Suzi blogs about home life, work, and play

Mid-morning Parenting Rant

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Posted by :SuziQ On : January 5, 2013

Category: Family and Friends, Life, Parenting, Rant

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This morning after breakfast my daughter had the biggest melt down I’ve seen in ages. You would think we were really doing something awful to her, when in fact she was just upset because I wouldn’t let her sit on my lap while I was working at the computer.

I love spending time with my children, seriously I do. However, I still need some grown up mommy time to myself. It drives me insane when I am trying to get a little bit of work done and one of the kids decides it’s the end of the world until everyone else int he house stops what they are doing and runs to give them their complete and undivided attention.

I make sure I sent a good amount of time each day with the kids without trying to be distracted because I don’t want them to feel they have to compete with us for attention. Sometimes thought it goes without fail that as soon as my husband and I are trying to do something else they are stuck to us like glue. Then at other times when we want their attention they are no where to be found  Kids are silly little creatures.

I suppose if I really wanted their attention all I would have to do would be to either walk into the bathroom or put my phone up to my ear.  Those two events are bound to draw them to me like magnets.

Countdown to Christmas Begins

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Posted by :SuziQ On : November 28, 2012

Category: Decorating, Family and Friends, Holidays

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Countdown to Christmas

image credit: Jamie in Bytown

The countdown to Christmas has already begun in our house.  The kids ask daily how many more days are left until Christmas is here.  I haven’t quite figured out a fun and creative way to count down the days with the kids.  Right now we are just marking off the days on our wall calendar.  It’s not that exciting and definitely not pretty.

Occasionally, I’ll feel crafty so I’ve decided to take a look around Pinterest to see what might be fun and not that hard to make.  The standard paper chain is my back up and I know I can manage to glue or staple a few strips of construction paper together.  No matter what idea we decide to go with, I just want it to be something that is fun for everyone.

What kinds of things do you do in your family to count down the days until Christmas? I’m open to suggestion and would love to hear from all of those crafty people out there that have ingenious ideas that I could never come up with on my own.  I promise I’ll share your ideas with other families that are clueless about what to do too, honest.

27 days before Christmas, let the countdown begin.

Supplies for Adventures in Potty Training

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Posted by :SuziQ On : October 1, 2012

Category: Family and Friends, Parenting

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Potty training is big milestone in every child’s life.  It can be harder than people think and take pounds of patience.  It’s important to make sure you start potty training when your child shows you signs that he/she is ready.  If you force it on him/her it probably won’t turn out like you expect. There are a a few things that you will need in order to be successful in your potty training adventure.

Potty training supplies:

1. Pull Up training  pants – feel free to get your favorite brand or even the local store brand. I’ve tried a few different brands and found that it really depends on the child.  Some brands have characters that children prefer over others.

2. Child size potty – I like the kind that is convertible.  We have one that turns into a step stool when the lid is closed.  It also plays music as a reward when anything is out into the potty.  Another great feature about the potty we have it that the seat that the child sits on can be used on a adult sized toilet as well so you don’t have to buy any additional inserts.

3. Child size potty seat insert – this is important if your child is really little.  A big adult toilet can be scary.  Kids can often be afraid of falling in when there is a lot of open space around them. A child sized seat will eliminate all of the extra room and prevent and accidents of falling.

4. Stickers – we have always used stickers in our home.  Our kids love to have stickers.  We tried temporary tattoos once too because they don’t peal off when you put them on a hand.

5. Incentive chart – When children can see their progress they get excited.  My girls like to count the stars or stickers they earn on their charts when they use the potty.  We always give 1 sticker for pee and 2 for poop.

6. Lots of dry clothes – accidents are inevitable.  It’s always a great idea to travel with a few extra sets of dry clothes with your kids during potty training time.

7. Patience – Remember your child will learn to use the potty.  It probably won’t happen over night.  Just keep encouraging your children and before you know it you will have your own potty training success story.

 

Cell Phones for Children at What Age

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Posted by :SuziQ On : August 30, 2012

Category: Family and Friends, Life, Opinion

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It took me a very long time to get a cell phone.  I was very anti-cell phone actually.  I thought of them as electronic leashes and I didn’t want to have anything to do with them. That changed one year when I was a senior in college and my car broke down in the middle of an intersection.  I was all alone and needed help.  At that moment I realized that having a cell phone in case of emergency was probably a good idea.

Now, my kids are starting to ask when they will be able to have a cell phone of their own.  They use mine all of the time to play games.  They don’t use it to make calls because they aren’t old enough to want to hang on the phone for hours.  Right now I think it’s more a fascination with all of the apps on the phone that serve as entertainment.  But I’m starting to ask when will that age be gone and it be time to get them phones for emergencies.

I’m thinking when the kids are in middle school will be a good age.  I will have strict rules about NOT using the phones during school to play or chat or text friends.  I don’t want them to disrupt other students or break school rules.  However, I do want them to be safe if they are walking home from school or are hanging out at the mall with friends.  I guess I’ll take it one day at a time for now.  I still have a few years to go before I really have to worry about it.

Afternoon in the Garden

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Posted by :SuziQ On : February 26, 2012

Category: Family and Friends, Food and dining, Gardening, Home and Yard, Outdoors

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This afternoon I spent time assembling the upside down hanging planters that I got at the really great price.  I let the kids help put the soil and the plants in each planter.  I let them use some of the toy gardening tools that I found for them at the toy store.  First, they carefully put the baby plants in each planter. They both had smiles on their faces as they heaved small shovel fulls of soil into the planters.  They carefully put the baby plants in each planter.  We had one for peppers, one for tomatoes, and another for strawberries. Once all of them had enough soil they sprinkled on some plant food and topped them off with water from the toy watering cans.

I labeled each of the planters with pictures of each type of fruit that the girls colored for me.  Their favorite one was the planter with the strawberries.  This didn’t surprise me in the least.  The strawberries always go first when ever we have fruit.  I’m excited to watch the planters produce some yummy food and the girls are excited to eat it.