5 Years Old

5 years old lover of messy faces and dirty fingernails
lover of messy hair
lover of cutting hair to "make it look more pwitty".

fruit eater
milk drinker
broccoli lover peanut butter addict

outdoors lover
trampoline jumper
singer
dancer
fashion diva

reader
artist
story writer
...and teller

independent
stubborn
brilliant
social butterfly

unicorn obsessed
Sofia the First obsessed
Barbie....Disney Princess...
and Doc McStuffins obsessed

"OH MY GOSH" sayer
lover of independent play
imaginative imagination owner
nose picker
dandelion picker

problem solver
joke teller
cuddler
burper
tooter
swinger

5 years old

Dear Time
Please slow down.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli  

A girl on the swings and my messed up mind. All in one post. Dont judge.

There was a time when my children weren't walking or talking that I couldn't wait to push them on the swings.
Until I did it 4379679456793638565 times.

Then I couldn't wait for them to learn how to do it themselves.
Funny how my mind thinks, isn't it?

Last weekend, my last baby figured it out.
On a cold day in the middle of winter.
And then she wanted me to take pictures for the "scwapbook".
And watch her.....and watch her again....and again.....and again.

While watching her, I secretly wished that all three kids were babies again so I could push them.
So I could watch the joy on their cute little faces.
Hear the giggles.
So I could pretend to catch their feet and gobble them up.
Or tickle their tummy as they came closer and closer.

I miss those moments.
All 4379679456793638565 of them.

Why?
Why does my mind work like that?
Why am I never happy with the moment I am in?
And then I miss those moments when they are over.
Is it because I cant deal with my kids getting older? Or I want them to get older, but when they are older I want them to be babies again?
Do I detest change?   Oh man, I am a weirdo.  






Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

I am not one to brag, but my children are way ahead of yours.

I know I have told you all about my kids being brainiacs, good looking and all sorts of other wonderful crap, but there is more.

Yes, really.

Developmentally they are way beyond their years. I mean, I think they might just cure a serious disease or invent a life changing contraption that the world will marvel over for the next thousand years.

Maybe they will learn 27 languages.
Or build a home in space.
Or, maybe, they will invent a chocolate that makes you lose weight.

Why am I saying this?

Because one of my kids isn't even 9 yet and wears a size 9-10 men's shoe.
Big feet means big brains.
Another one of my kids isn't even 11 yet but can calculate mathematical equations more quickly than I ever could.
Big brains means big money.
And now one of my kids, who isn't even 5 yet has lost her first tooth and has three others ready to come out.
Lost teeth means...umm....something.



Maybe, just maybe, one day I will invite you to my mansion by the ocean that my children buy me with their endless supply of cash because they are so friggin advanced.

You're welcome.

Tiny Dancer

As I sat in the large open room waiting to photograph my girl during her dance class, I found myself getting teary-eyed.

Because I am the mother of a little girl who loves to dance.

Because my little girl listens....and follows directions...and does her best while smiling ear to ear.

Because my little girl isn't so little anymore.


Because my little girl isn't much younger than those beauties who lost their lives in Connecticut.

Because my little girl is my life.

And I couldn't imagine my life without her in it.

I am a lucky Momma.
And I count my blessings every day.

Mealtime Battles...or not.

Call me laid back or stupid, but I don't believe in battling my children for control.
Sure, there is much I can do to express my opinion and inform them of right and wrong, but I know that trying to control them will only end up in a blubbery mess.
blubbery mess=me in tears, children in tears, no one listening to each other

They are responsible for their decisions.
They are their own person.  Who am I to try to make them someone else? That is just a losing battle that will make my kids hate me. And me hate them.

I believe in consequences.
Everything leads up to a behaviour and from that behaviour a consequence occurs. Good or bad.

Does that make sense?

I am not going to get too behavioural here but this is really just a long way of saying that I do not force my children to eat every bite of their dinner if they choose not to eat it at that time.  I do not force my children to sit at the table until their plate is clean.  I do not sit at their side with a fork full of food trying to coerce them into eating it because then, um, who has the control?  I do not feed my children because they wont do it themselves.

I just inform them that if they decide not to eat it, than they are not allowed to have any dessert or treats.

I also inform them that their bedtime snack will be their dinner.

No battles.
Just matter of fact.
And they make the decision.
Notice she is bathed and in her nightie.
Eating lasagna.   I could say "BOOYAH" right now, but that would mean I think I won the non-existent battle. Mommy-1 Princess-0 *cough*

 

Kindergarten Conundrum.

This is what she did immediately after walking through the door after school today.

Cheese.
Veggies and dip.
Yogurt.
Fruit Roll Up.
Pop Tart.
She ate all of that before 4pm.

Then ate her dinner.
And wanted fruit after.
And gummies.
And anything else she could find in the cupboards.

She was starving.
You know why?
Because she doesn't eat at school.

I have never been one to panic about change.
I have never been a helicopter parent who hovers over my children at all times making sure they do what I want....what I think is right. I have allowed them to learn independence. I have sat back and let them learn from their mistakes.   This is different.
I am sad that my girl is not comfortable enough at school to ask for help if she needs it.
I am sad that lunchtime is so rushed that my slow eater might only get a few bites in before they are kicked outside for recess. I am sad that this is going unnoticed....I think.

I just want to be a fly on the wall so I can see every single second, my shy, quiet little one is away from me.
I want to encourage her, praise her, hold her hand, tell her she is such a "big girl" and...well...make sure she is OK.

But then I would be hovering.   Tell me everything is going to be OK. Tell me she will figure this school thing out and thrive. Tell me it has happened to you and you were sad too. Tell me that you sometimes eat Fruit Roll Ups like me.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Pee pee. Kindergarten. And Dance Class.

Yo.
Wassup.
What's crack-a-lackin?

My day today involved taking dry clothes to the school because a little 4 year old who I know quite well peed herself.
Twice.

This Kindergarten crap is stressful for her.
And me.
This little girl cried when I left.
And it took every little piece of my willpower to NOT scoop her up and steal her from the school....forever.

I am not dealing with this incredibly huge transition period very well.
And knowing that she is nervous/shy makes me question every single minute of parenting she has had in her short life.
Did I screw her up?
Has my fear and sadness over this full time school crap been so obvious that she is now fearing it herself?
Did I coddle her too much?
Ugh.

We will adjust.
Just as we have, to every other challenge thrown our way.
And, there is always Monday evenings to look forward to.

Dance class.


Photo Tip of the Week
-capture the "little things".  The subject's face doesn't always have to be in the photo.  I love her belly.......so I captured it.  I am so happy I did.  

Sweet Shot Tuesday