Here is my punkin' heading out the door for her first day of K-4!
She was so excited and gave me a big thumbs up!
We were about to walk into her class and this was a look like, "Alright, mommy! Just one more!"
She did so good! It was familiar to her this year since she went there last year for K-3. She walked in, gave me a hug and a kiss and walked to her friends to play. I felt bad for feeling like she should have cried. :(
Growing up is hard on mommies.
From this...
To this...
So quickly!
...into a new chapter of life.
The picture above is the coffee that I got from Boca Java for ONLY $4.95 + FREE shipping! Can you believe this? That is a lot of coffee and good size bags too! Click on the link to read my post about it. I ordered the Boca Sunrise (2), Caramel Kiss Island & Vacation Villa Vanilla...and I cannot wait to try them. The bags smell amazing.Oh this youngen is too cute for words!
Her grandparents got her this new Wiggles "cuh-tar" while out shopping this weekend. She loves it! So, I walked into the den this morning to find her sitting on the coffee table, legs crossed like a little lady, just like this. Just jammin' away!
This evening, (and I wish I had a picture of this) she came out of her room with a ball cap on and started - what appeared to be break-dancing - and started saying "Criss-Cross Applesauce!"
They make up the cutest things!
So I didn't expect the "peer" problem to come as early as 3 years old. But, it has. It is proving to be tough too.
How do you best explain to a toddler that she needs to be careful who she plays with without teaching her at this young age to quit talking to someone or to be ugly to someone?
I have caught myself wondering, "Why is it my child that is being affected by another?" "Why can't I just hear of it happening to someone else instead?" I know that is totally selfish of me and the fact is...I trust that the Lord knows that we, as her parents, will seek Him in this matter and let Him show us what to do. Maybe some other kid's parents would deal with it in a way that wasn't appropriate ~ or worse ~ maybe they wouldn't deal with it at all! I know that a lot of parents ignore things that shouldn't be ignored and/or just brush it off thinking the situation will go away. Only to find out that the learned behavior - never corrected - has become a major issue.
I am an overprotective mother. We are overprotective parents. There...I said it. I am proud of the fact. We are living in 2009 and you have to be that way! For example, we don't do magic...We don't support magic or watch things that get all into it. Unfortunately most children's shows have some element of it in there, which can't completely be avoided. But, we are careful of what her little ears hear; eyes see; etc.
See, E doesn't belong to us. She is His. He has just trusted her little life to us and expects us to care for her as best we can. We aren't perfect at it and never will be, but we strive to do what we feel is in her best interest. Physically, mentally, spiritually, and every other "~ally!"
Therefore, we teach our child to love everyone and if she is anything like I was growing up, she will be burdened for those children that are different; the one's that don't have the popular things that others have; the one's that no one else talks to; etc. I was one of those that was friends with everyone. I was best of friends with the popular kids and turned around and spent the weekend with "that girl." It didn't bother me! I disliked cliques and still do.
So I tread very lightly on the issue of "not playing with so & so" until she can better understand my reasons behind it. I will certainly not tread lightly when it comes to being a teenager and hanging with the wrong crowd...then, it will be different.
Now though, at the time when she is learning life's little lessons...She is learning to show everyone love and to be a friend to her little classmates, I am at a loss. We have reconciled with the fact that she is His and her little spirit needs to be protected from some things. Yes, she will be exposed to all sorts of things on this heathen earth, but I am Mama and during these pre-school days, I'll stand in the way!
My name is Stacey Baker and I am an overprotective mother. :)
I don't even remember the situation, but at some point earlier in the week, something I said upset E. Well, let's put it this way: No 3 year old enjoys being told "no"...non-stop. :c)
So, she thought she'd get back at me and here's what she came up with in about 1.5 seconds.
She cussed me out. NO ~ not really! But, she said,...
"Mommy, you a Catapiwer. You a Doggie. You a Spider! Hum!" Then, crossed her arms and stomped out.
Oh the things they say. She thought she had said something big too! Almost like she was proud of coming up with that on her own.
I could barely control my laughter!
On the way to school this morning, E said, "Mommy, you don't walk me to my class today ok?" "I just go in."
"You don't want me to take you in your class E?"
"No, I big gul now." "You can take me tomowow."
"I can't walk you in this morning?"
"Well, um, you can jus talk to my teacher and then you have to go bye-bye. Okay?"
So we came down the stairs and rounded the corner to her room. I turned to sign her in and she went straight to her class and never even said goodbye. Didn't even look back.
Wait a minute!!...I thought this wouldn't happen for at least 10 more years! She is only 3 people!
I am proud of her, yes. But, I left there feeling so sad and wanting my child to cry. (Twisted huh?)
There's always tomorrow right? :c)
Lots of prayer, Kleenex, Children's Mucinex, Tylenol, bear hugs, kisses from mommy and daddy, and a snuggle under her winter fleece blanket. That was the prescription for bedtime tonight.
Yes, you read that right. It is mid-August and my child is wrapped up in a fleece blanket at the moment. Chills are no fun at all.
Don't you just despise summer colds?! Especially when it jumps on your child and you want to take it away or help them and you just don't know what else to do.
E has caught it. My sweet baby is so puny. She was a trooper today. Her fever would come and go...but then, why do fevers always show their ugly faces again at bedtime? That has never made sense to me. Then, you know stopped up noses always well...stop up again at bedtime. Uggh.
It took her almost 2 hours to fall asleep tonight. She was so tired physically and I thought with the medicine, she would go right to sleep, but she was wired.
She wanted the bathroom light on, then off. Her door cracked, then opened. She wanted a sip of water. She "needed" a kiss from mommy. She needed to go potty.
You know, most of those things I wouldn't deal with under "normal" circumstances. But, they know that when they are under the weather, they can pretty much ask for anything. (By the way, I have a hard time, whether it's 10 p.m. or 4 a.m. ever turning down the kiss from mommy thing.)
Well, she has finally hushed. The crying and whining has now turned into dreaming.
The problem is - I was sort of sad when I realized it had stopped. Is that wrong? I don't want my baby feeling bad or miserable by all means.
But, you see, I had already told myself that in 5 minutes, I was going to get that lil' baby girl, her (fleece) blanket, "RuRu" & "Ruff-Ruff" and curl up on the couch for the rest of the night - or for a while at least.
So now my excuse for that is gone. I know that when babies are sick, they need their mommies. I still feel that way at 29. So I was telling myself that that must be the problem. Two hours of being miserable and restless was going to be solved when mommy came and got her.
And now...well I guess I'll go to bed. Sad. Knowing that 10 years from now when she is 13, I will wish that I'd have thrown that 5 minute wait right out the door.
Good...night everyone!
Would you say someone was happy for her first day of school? This picture says it all.
It was inevitable...the first day of preschool. I knew it was coming, but how did it get here so quickly?
One week from tomorrow, my sweet baby will approach the front doors of her brand new school. Her little bookbag over her shoulders and her little hand wrapped tightly around my fingers...I will hand her over to the care of someone...other than myself...people that I trust, but neverthelesssss - someone/anyone that isn't me.
This will be the start of a whole new world of learning. A week full of lessons that mommy wouldn't be good at teaching - that patience thing you know? Thank God for teachers!
I don't know what she'll do. I'm sure she'll cry and without a doubt - yes, I certainly will. I will be determined to fight the tears until I've reached the parking lot again. But, my mornings will be so different.
I am afraid that as I pull away, I will feel so lost. So scared. So excited. So relieved for a little "me time" yet so anxious for the pick up time to roll around.
I have a whole week now to dread and look forward to this all at the same time.
...And people - this is only pre-school! What will I do on the first day of kindergarten?
Oh and did I mention it's only for 3 hours a day?
We were flipping channels one night this week and happened to stop on SuperNanny. That's a great show, but we don't watch it often because if E is still awake, we won't let her watch how horribly those kids act. That's the last thing we need is for her to get any "bright" ideas!!
We watched for a few minutes and as you see in a lot of those shows, it isn't the kids who are the problem...it's the stinkin' parents!! Some of these parents are just unbelievable don't you think?! Not always now...some of the parents have just bitten off more than they can chew and simply need help. But some need straight up intervention...better known as Jesus! :c)
This mother in particular this week had 5 or 6 kids. I believe it was 1 boy and 4 or 5 girls. (ahhhhhh, poor lil' boy) The mom showed no emotion and was so negative the entire time we watched. Her and SuperNanny got into it because SuperNanny wasn't seeming to get through to her. She was having to talk the mother into loving on her children and talking nice to them. All those kids had been used to was anger and yelling, from the mom.
Towards the end of the show, SuperNanny (SN) walked the mom into her oldest daughter's room, which was 12, and had her suggest that they go bowling, just her and her daughter. The girl was so excited because with that many siblings, she never got any one-on-one time with either parent. The mother was about to walk out and SN stopped her and told her she needed to hug her daughter.
**wait a minute!** I said to my husband, "What kind of mother needs to be told or even encouraged to hug her child. That is what mommies do! We love our children. A Mother's Love...
So she followed "orders" and hugged her daughter and at first it was so awkward watching - as if they didn't know what to do. Then, the mother teared up and the daughter did too. The little girl said, "I can't remember the last time my mom hugged me."
A simple hug from a mother - or father. It doesn't take long to do, yet it can carry you through a whole day or make you forget about the biggest of problems in your life. It makes you better when you are sick; happy when you are sad; uncomplicates things in a complicated day. Yet how many toddlers, kids, teenagers or even adults ever go without it?!
That saddens me.
I feel like E sometimes gets sick of my hugs and kisses and constant "I love you's" because she gets them from the time she wakes up until bedtime that night. Then, after she is sleeping sound, I sometimes go in to watch her sleep as I play with her hair...loving her.
I don't say that for any praise or attention. I am only determined to never get so wrapped up in the day-to-day stresses of life that I fail, for even one day, to remind my kids of the reassurance of their mother's love.
In every young woman's life, there comes a point where ~~~ she becomes ~~~ her mother!
Yesterday morning, we were getting ready to leave the house and she asked for something. When I told her no, she mumbled, "It juss not fayer!" (Where did she learn this?)
I'm telling you - before I could even think about a response, it came out..."Well, life's not always fair!"
I always said I'd never say that to my children. My mother assured me I would.
She was right.
I always said I'd never use the powerful "mama spit" on E's face too. My mother assured me I would.
She was right. That mama spit works wonders!
Someday when E doesn't feel good, she will tell me something hurts and I will probably respond with, "Ah it's just a growing pain. You'll be fine."
That would be from my grandmother. When she has pain, she has pain. But when you do, it's only a growing pain.
Yep - I grew alright. Right straight into my mother. It was inevitable. :c)
Oh no! Please don't tell me she has already reached the age of not taking naps. I hear of kids older than her that still nap everyday. She needs her nap...I need her nap! That is my time - my quiet time. Time where I am "Stacey - in my right mind" and not Mommy, Mommy for 2 whole hours! 2 hours out of about 15 hours each day.
It's nice.
But, not today. Today, there is that broken record that keeps on keepin' on with the questions and "mommy" calling and jibber-jabber that just.is.not.stopping!
"Mommy?! You dayer?" "Mommy, can I get up na-ow?" "Hey, Mommy - I said Mommy!"
"Is it time to get up na-ow?" "Can I wake up?" (she never went to sleep)
"I need you mommy. I need see you for a minute." "Oh Mommy! I only want see you!" "Can I get up na-ow?" "How 'bout na-ow?" "Just a moment?!" (where did she learn what a 'moment' was?)
If she only knew that 26 years from now, she could possibly be blogging about her toddler biting everyone in the nursery; why in the world her daughter won't take that nap that she wishes she could take; when her little boy is going to quit picking his nose and wiping it on Aunt Edna; and when her husband will get home from work so that she can lock herself in the bathroom, pantry, or closet for just 5 quiet minutes!!!...then, maybe she would just enjoy it while she can and take that little refreshing nap that she is so gonna miss. Actually, by then, her 3 year old will probably be blogging about her.
**By the way, my daughter has never bitten anyone, she doesn't have a nose-pickin' problem, nor does she have an Aunt Edna. But, that closet sounds pretty good right now.**
The latest - "Mommy, is it time yet? I weally like you." How can I turn that down? While there may not be any hope for a nap today, there is still a gorgeous afternoon waiting to be explored.
Afternoon: here we come.
E: "Gib me shugars mommy. I goin' to work now."
...has FINALLY be conquered. At least I think it has.
Please go here and watch this video... Then, come back.
Dear SnickelFritz (a.k.a. "E"),
This week has been so trying. It is only Wednesday and it has felt like the longest week. You have been one moody little girl the past few days.
I feel like I can't please you and it's been hard to keep you calm. Everyone has always mentioned the "terrible two's" and I have to admit that any mention of them quite frankly -scared me. Well, you will be 3, yes a "Big Gull!" in less than 3 weeks. The two's have really been a breeze. Nothing terrible about them I would say. Little mood swings here and there. But then again, you are a female and well, that comes natural, as you will find out.
However, the closer to the Big 3 that we get, you seem to act like you are going on 15. Now, I am shakin' in my boots.
I've wondered this week and said to myself and your daddy, "What's gotten into her?" I've been at the point of tears and not feeling like a strong mommy at all. Much less a good one. See, your cute lil' sassy mouth has begun to get the best of me at times. Okay I'll be honest...all of the time.
You are learning how far you can go with me; what buttons to push - and you not only push those buttons, you hold them down. If I ask something of you, you tend to do the opposite. If I tell you to grab your white shoes, you'll grab black. If I ask you to turn the t.v. off, you'll turn it up louder. Ya know, the normal things that you little one's learn to do.
Does it sound like mommy is complaining a bit? Well, I'm not...Just statin' the facts. You drive me silly sometimes, but that is life. At the same time, you bring so much joy and excitement to our world and I know that I will miss these days.
I have to take a moment during these difficult parenting times to remember that.
It hurts my heart to know that one day when you are heading out the front door to meet up with friends - I will close my eyes and wish I could go back to the days of arguing over which bow matches your outfit better or which cartoon I'll let you watch.
They're hard, but I'll take right now...right now.
I love you lil' butter bean and I'd honestly have you no other way.
E wrapped ut her arms around my neck and said, "I got you mommy and I not gonna let you fall."
Guess my theory proves true after all.
She is my angel.
