I'm so thankful for Carrie...because she and I are very much in the same stage of life, with kids roughly the same age, and definitely the same genders. And also, she's always about 6-12 months ahead of me since her kids are older...so she has great advice. Anyway, we were talking yesterday and at one point we were both just like "Man...this parenting business is hard."
Here's why I think it's hard- okay in reference to these night tantrums...on one hand, part of me feels like if I have learned one thing over the last 3 1/2 years of being a parent it's that consistency is key. And so part of me feels like consistent rules and feedback are what Davis needs each night. "No you cannot eat at 2:00 a.m. No you cannot get up out of bed. Yes, you will just lay on the floor if that is where you choose to throw your tantrum." It's just like crying it out at bedtime. You are teaching them what is expected and sticking to it is the quickest way to get it done.
But the other part of me is like "Okay, something is clearly bothering him. What is it and what does he need emotionally to feel better?" And I just don't know the answer to that. Maybe it's hunger, but even when he's full after eating at 2:00 a.m. he is still crying and shouting. So I don't know that that is the WHOLE solution. Is he scared? He says he isn't. Is he sick? He is perfectly fine all day. Is he growing or does he have something hurting him physically that he can't articulate? He says "no".
So I've prayed over him, I've laid with him, told him how much we love him, everything emotionally supportive I can think of...and I'm sort of at my wit's end.
Hmmph. This parenting business really is hard.
P.S. sorry I've been a little heavy on the blog lately- just wanting to document my real life as it happens- and this is actually what is happening.
BUT I HAD A BLAST LAST NIGHT WITH MY GAL PALS. AND I LIKE MY NEW HAIR...AND TOMORROW IS NIKKI'S BIRTHDAY AND SATURDAY HONEY IS TAKING DAVIS TO FRED FOR THE DAY!!! SO THERE IS SOME POSITIVITY FOR YOU. :)
3/22/13
3/21/13
Shake Shake Shake
Okay, here's what I'm thinking, after Davis has woken up right around 1:30 a.m. the past 4 nights, saying he is so hungry.
1) He really is hungry. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.
2) I have realized when my REM sleep happens- it's between 11 and 1:30...because when he wakes me up, I am in such a deep sleep, I think it's like 8:00 a.m.
3) Maybe I need to start feeding him more...but wait, he is such a picky eater, it's hard to get him to eat anything, so...wait for it...maybe I need to start making him "chocolate" shakes that are actually protein shakes that will fill his belly up.
I mean look at these kids I found on the interwebs. They look happy and healthy and it's probably because they are sleeping through the night, not waking up screaming their brains out at 1:30 every morning. It's clearly the shakes.
Thoughts? Advice? Recipes?
I'm about to get all pinterest-y and mommy forum-ish up in here trying to find a solution. I'd rather not- so if you have advice- please share. Happy Thursday.
Also, and separately, and as mentioned...I just finished reading Lean In, and even more recently, I wrote a blog post about it on GSD&M's blog. If you would like to read it, click HERE.
1) He really is hungry. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.
2) I have realized when my REM sleep happens- it's between 11 and 1:30...because when he wakes me up, I am in such a deep sleep, I think it's like 8:00 a.m.
3) Maybe I need to start feeding him more...but wait, he is such a picky eater, it's hard to get him to eat anything, so...wait for it...maybe I need to start making him "chocolate" shakes that are actually protein shakes that will fill his belly up.
I mean look at these kids I found on the interwebs. They look happy and healthy and it's probably because they are sleeping through the night, not waking up screaming their brains out at 1:30 every morning. It's clearly the shakes.
Thoughts? Advice? Recipes?
I'm about to get all pinterest-y and mommy forum-ish up in here trying to find a solution. I'd rather not- so if you have advice- please share. Happy Thursday.
Also, and separately, and as mentioned...I just finished reading Lean In, and even more recently, I wrote a blog post about it on GSD&M's blog. If you would like to read it, click HERE.
3/20/13
Romeo
When Davis isn't acting like a total pain in my side, he is really quite the charmer. In fact, sometimes I almost feel a little awkward. For example, he's really going to know how to kiss a woman. Last night, as I was giving him a kiss and a hug before he went to bed, he paused, looked deep into my eyes and gently, but firmly, put his hands on each side of my face, and said: "I lub you. I lub you always, mommy." And then he kissed me ever so gently on the lips.
I couldn't decide if I should laugh, or swoon, or say: "Well Davis- I love you too- but I feel slightly uncomfortable about all of this, er, passion." Hehehe.
Hope you're having a great week, and a solid Wednesday. We didn't have community group tonight- a few people are sick, a few are out of town- so Bennett and I went to dinner instead. We ate at this cute little Italian place, Vespaio. We sat at the bar, and laughed the whole way through dinner. I love nights like that.
Tomorrow after work, I'm getting my hair done, and then meeting some girls out. Doing lots of fun stuff these days. Live like you're leaving, I guess!
I couldn't decide if I should laugh, or swoon, or say: "Well Davis- I love you too- but I feel slightly uncomfortable about all of this, er, passion." Hehehe.
Hope you're having a great week, and a solid Wednesday. We didn't have community group tonight- a few people are sick, a few are out of town- so Bennett and I went to dinner instead. We ate at this cute little Italian place, Vespaio. We sat at the bar, and laughed the whole way through dinner. I love nights like that.
Tomorrow after work, I'm getting my hair done, and then meeting some girls out. Doing lots of fun stuff these days. Live like you're leaving, I guess!
3/19/13
Packing it In
Guess who's going to see Dwight Yoakum at Stubbs with Kirsten and Karen next Friday? ME!
What a stallion. I mean who can pull off a fringed leather jacket and thin feathered hair the way Dwight can? Nobody. In the meantime, I'm listening to his tunes on Pandora all week so I can sing along like the biggest fan. This will be Kirsten's first real night out since she had Frances...and really, Kirsten and I's first night out together since she moved back (as I was pregnant with Holden when they moved back) so it's going to be wild. No promises on good behavior, nanny. ;-)
Bennett just called me at work and informed me that while he will keep working out- he's not going to be so strict on his diet. He wants to have a good time before we go. Me too. We're trying to pack in as many fun things as we can...beginning with Dwight. Well actually beginning with Nikki's birthday dinner this weekend at Hillside Farmacy. Between Nanny and Nikki- Davis and I have been practicing singing "Happy Birthday" all month.
Au revoir for now.
What a stallion. I mean who can pull off a fringed leather jacket and thin feathered hair the way Dwight can? Nobody. In the meantime, I'm listening to his tunes on Pandora all week so I can sing along like the biggest fan. This will be Kirsten's first real night out since she had Frances...and really, Kirsten and I's first night out together since she moved back (as I was pregnant with Holden when they moved back) so it's going to be wild. No promises on good behavior, nanny. ;-)
Bennett just called me at work and informed me that while he will keep working out- he's not going to be so strict on his diet. He wants to have a good time before we go. Me too. We're trying to pack in as many fun things as we can...beginning with Dwight. Well actually beginning with Nikki's birthday dinner this weekend at Hillside Farmacy. Between Nanny and Nikki- Davis and I have been practicing singing "Happy Birthday" all month.
Au revoir for now.
Happy Birthday Nanny!
Today is my grandmother's birthday!
Let me count just a few of the ways she is great:
1) she has always given the best hugs- even though for a while when I was little I would tell her she hugged too hard.
2) she used to play Edelweiss on the piano and sing with me
3) she would always let us hook up her little toaster oven and "cook" Grands biscuits
4) she is a smart woman- loves to read and travel and learn new things
5) she tells it like it is
6) she is determined
Happy birthday nanny! We love you.
Oh, and here is a cute picture of Holden, just for fun. My mom took it last week.
Let me count just a few of the ways she is great:
1) she has always given the best hugs- even though for a while when I was little I would tell her she hugged too hard.
2) she used to play Edelweiss on the piano and sing with me
3) she would always let us hook up her little toaster oven and "cook" Grands biscuits
4) she is a smart woman- loves to read and travel and learn new things
5) she tells it like it is
6) she is determined
Happy birthday nanny! We love you.
Oh, and here is a cute picture of Holden, just for fun. My mom took it last week.
3/18/13
Lets Be Real Honest...
It's the 3s that are terrible. Terr.i.ble.
I have started dreading nighttime because I know it's going to be such a battle...and that he is then going to proceed to wake me up several times throughout the night. It's exhausting. Literally exhausting, both physically and emotionally.
I think back on the old days, when he was 2, and I was just a smug parent who thought she was sailing through the terrible 2's without incident. My child was an exception. I was such a good mom, I wouldn't even have to deal with such an issue. Well. I will be the first to tell you: I had no idea what was coming. I didn't know shit.
I constantly have to remind myself of a few things:
1) it's silly to let a 3 year old alter your mood
2) it's a phase, it too shall pass
3) his determination, will and wit will be a big part of what makes him an awesome human being
4) one day, he will have kids
So that's all I've got. For now.
I have started dreading nighttime because I know it's going to be such a battle...and that he is then going to proceed to wake me up several times throughout the night. It's exhausting. Literally exhausting, both physically and emotionally.
I think back on the old days, when he was 2, and I was just a smug parent who thought she was sailing through the terrible 2's without incident. My child was an exception. I was such a good mom, I wouldn't even have to deal with such an issue. Well. I will be the first to tell you: I had no idea what was coming. I didn't know shit.
I constantly have to remind myself of a few things:
1) it's silly to let a 3 year old alter your mood
2) it's a phase, it too shall pass
3) his determination, will and wit will be a big part of what makes him an awesome human being
4) one day, he will have kids
So that's all I've got. For now.
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