The Real Beauty of Sharing

A strange thing occurred today when my two sons were playing together. My three-year-old came to me with a monster truck in his hand, and asked "Mom, whose truck is this?" Now I understand this does not sound very profound, but in my house it most definitely is.

My kids have a bajillion toys that we have been collecting since they've been born. Although they have so many toys (especially cars and trucks), they have acquired their mother's skill and/or curse for being able to remember not only whose toy it is, but also who gave it to them! They have even made statements such as "I got this train set from Santa when I was three" or "You know Lisa gave you that car at your 'fire truck' birthday." They remember everything, which is why it struck me as odd when they didn't know who this specific monster truck belonged to.

After telling my three-year-old that it was, in fact, his truck, he went back to playing with his brother. I got to thinking that maybe, just maybe, they are beginning to share and use each other's toys so often now, that they are not keeping track of ownership as much.

What's the big deal? Well I'll start by saying that I am not the kind of mother who forces her kids to share. Of course I encourage sharing and playing together, but I am very practical about it. If you don't want to share with your brother, then don't be upset if he doesn't want to share with you. For the most part they will happily hand over their toy, but there is always that new or special toy that is just off limits. Fine with me. So today, I realized that I might actually be doing something right by allowing the boys to have ownership and make decisions about their own things. It seems they understand that they don't have to let anyone else use their toys, so there's no (age-appropriate) fear of not getting those toys back. Plus, they are learning to make choices that benefit others and they feel the joy of giving all at the same time!

So back to why I had to stop and analyze this...oh yeah. Because today I caught my kids just being kids. Playing together with no arguments or fights over toys, and simply enjoying their time as brothers. And that's enough to make any mom write a dang blog post! ;)

Saturday Mornings at Lowes

Twice a month, Lowes offers a FREE Build and Grow workshop for kids. I have been taking my boys to these workshops for about a year and a half and they really enjoy each project! 

 

Everything you need to build the project comes in a prepackaged kit, and Lowes provides child-size hammers for your kids to use all on their own.





 

Usually, an adult needs to help read (or interpret) the instructions, but the kids can help locate the pieces, do the hammering, add the decorations, etc. These Build and Grow workshops do not use paint as part of the activity, so you don't need to worry about your children staining their clothes! The projects are themed and are usually based on current movies. Each kit contains full color stickers, cardboard cutouts, and/or other materials for attaching to the project.

 

My boys love coming home to play with their new 'toys'. I love how they get to create something with real tools (and how the projects actually hold up during rough play).





 

Don't forget to pick up your FREE Build and Grow apron so that you can iron on all the patches you will be receiving at each workshop! *Note- You do have to preregister for each workshop. Sessions fill up quickly!*

 

 

Have your children ever been to a Build and Grow workshop? What do you think of the projects?



New Year, New Me?

In the past, I have occasionally made a few New Year's Resolutions. Strange how I can't remember what they were. I will just assume that I stuck to the resolution, was successful, and therefore forgot what the problem was in the first place. Sounds about right.

This year, I am setting a couple goals and, within each goal, I am setting up some resolutions.

1. Be a Better Mom!

Everybody Calm Down
I think I do a pretty good job showing my children how much I love them, but I also do a good job of yelling and getting mighty crazy sometimes. A while ago, I did this whole thing where I would start out telling my boys something very nicely and when they did not listen, I would gradually get more and more firm. After the third 'request', there was an immediate consequence. This helped me to get the point across to them without getting so aggravated right off the bat. We both knew that they had three chances to behave and that was that. I want to start doing this again.

Play WITH the Kids
One benefit of my two boys being so close in age is that they are each other's best friend. They play together really well right now and can entertain themselves for at least long enough for me to get a simple chore done. The downside is that I tend to let them do most of their playing with each other, and I don't join in very much. I will toss a ball or drive toy trucks around for a little, but I haven't really stepped inside their world and actually played like a kid with them in a while. I need to spend 20 minutes straight just pretending or playing a game with them. I hate to think that I would ever lose touch with my inner child! It sounds like a family game night will be in the works...


2. Lose the Laziness!

Exercise/Energize 
So, I don't think I have every really, truly exercised since PE in high school!!! Before having kids, I used to be super strong for my size and full of energy. Now that I think I am done having babies, I can no longer use the excuse of pregnancy or having a newborn to keep myself from getting in shape. I am definitely not trying to make the standard resolution of exercising every day, or joining the gym or anything, but I would like to just get the feeling of being energized. I basically have no energy or motivation to get up and go. I might have to start out simply by taking short walks with the kids or watching some beginner work out shows on TV. Maybe by the end of the year, I will have even gotten back to my pre-baby self!

See It, Do It
Going hand-in-hand with having no energy is just being downright lazy. I clean the house and do chores, but there is a lot that I pass up on a daily basis. Wash clothes, but later let them wrinkle in a pile on the floor; pick up all the trash in the kitchen, but cram the trashcan so full because I just don't feel like putting a new bag in; etc. My house is actually pretty clean and organized, but I know that I don't use my time very wisely. I have to be careful that I don't spend all day doing chores instead of playing with the kids. The solution is called NAPTIME. Fortunately, all three of my children take a nap at the same time. I actually have a good hour or more to get things done, but what do I do? Sit down, get on the computer, have a snack, take a nap, watch a show, read a book, tip-toe around the house looking at all the things I need to get done, but don't do because I don't want to wake up the kids... I just need to do stuff. I need to get my awesome time-management skills back that I used to have when I was a teacher.

Set a Schedule
I have this problem at the end of each day where I think of all the great things I did NOT do with my kids. I then think of all the lovely things that I will do with them the next day. Nope. Between the few hours of preschool, naps, meals, play time...I don't see when I can fit in anything special. It would probably be a good idea to write out a list of some cool things we want to do together like take a trip to McDonald's, go to a playground, Chuck E. Cheese, ride bikes at the park, etc. Then add these events to the calendar on my phone, which is practically attached to me anyway. My boys always love having something special to look forward to. Business people do it, right? Have schedules? I'm just going to have to pencil-in the fun stuff.


Well, there you have it. My resolutions for 2013. I reeeeeally hope that I stick to these goals because I know they would make me more healthy in both mind and body. Wish me luck!


UPDATE:  I did manage to do a game night with my husband and kids and it worked out really well. We played a few games and everyone got into it. Yay!

What are your resolutions for this year? Do we share any of the same goals?


  

Holiday Movies Around the Clock

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is watching a ton of sentimental, funny, and even cheesy holiday movies. A few memories from my childhood are singing along to all the Christmas songs with my sister from A Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, and arguing with her about which character we were going to be in The Nightmare Before Christmas! Jack -- Jackie. Come on! Another memorable movie for me is Home Alone. After watching Kevin defend his house when his parents forgot to take him on their trip, I felt completely confident that I could protect my house from any intruder! Not that my parents ever forgot about me. (That I know of).

Today, I see a lot more 'adult humor' in holiday movies. That's fine. I suppose I like to see an elf getting run over or Santa farting every now and then. I don't know when I will get a chance to watch any adult movies though. My children pretty-much rule the TV schedule right now. I'm not complaining though. I would be happy watching one of their favorite holiday movies like The Polar Express. I like how the boy realizes that it's not important to prove whether or not Santa is real. Instead he finds that the 'believing' is what made him happy all along. So true, so true. ;)

Whatever kind of holiday movie you enjoy, you are sure to find it within the next few weeks. Local channels, cable, on demand, DVD, internet streaming... 'Tis the season. Take a look at this year's Holiday Movie Lineup compiled by Chiff.com. Classics to contemporary. All. Day. Long. Go grab some popcorn and a blanket and start your movie marathon!

Plus, check out my store on Amazon.com to shop for your favorite Holiday Movies.

What are your family's favorite Holiday Movies?

Time To Get Holiday-y

Pronounced:  hol-i-day-ie; (adj.)  exhibiting sentimental and overly preparatory behaviors brought on by the upcoming holidays


There is only one week until Thanksgiving and I am beginning to get excited about the holidays. I am not exactly sure what 'excited' means though. The past few years have been very low key for us in terms of actual celebration. I have not been able to get together with extended family like I used to many years ago. Everyone seems to live too far apart now and with so many young children between us, nobody really wants to (or just can't) make a big trip during the busiest travel season. That's alright. My in-laws are close and I can usually meet up with my grandparents at some point in November or December. Plus, with this being my daughter's first Christmas, I am more than happy to wake up Christmas morning and simply enjoy my children's excitement.

I do, however, start to get a little hyped up about now. I tend to act like a Scrooge sometimes when  I see Christmas decorations start going up in stores in October, saying "this is rediculous" and "they start this earlier every year", but deep down I am wishing for snow and imagining my kids snuggled up with blankets and hot chocolate. Now that we are only a few days away from the official 'start' of the holiday season, I feel like it's okay for me to start getting holiday-y. My children and I have begun belting out Christmas carols and talking about what to ask Santa for. I am reviewing my very short gift list (thinking that maybe there is a plus side to not having to shop for ten million family members at Christmas) and mentally planning out how to decorate the house over the next few weeks. I have also switched over to my local variety station on the radio hoping to catch a Christmas tune. In short, I am doing my best to bring the excitement of Christmas into my home so that my children can enjoy the season as much as I did as a child.

But with the excitement comes a bit of sadness. I do miss spending the holidays with my family. We are one of those rare families that actually have a good time together and I can't help but miss the good 'ol days! I know that my children won't be growing up around their cousins, aunts and uncles, and all of their grandparents like I did. They won't have the same kind of Christmas that I had as a child, but they will have good memories. I know that one day, my boys will spend an hour untangling  a mess of Christmas tree lights for their kids just like their daddy does for them. My daughter will spin, and sing, and make her babies giggle over the silliest things like I do for her, the same way my mom did for me.

So time to start lighting the sugar-cookie candles and digging out the wrapping paper. And even if we don't have a white Christmas full of jolly visitors piled high with gifts, I will still be acting like a giddy child. (And don't worry, Turkey. I haven't forgotten about eating you. You'll see.)

The All NEW Build-A-Bear Workshop (and GIVEAWAY)!

This past Friday, my children and I had the privilege of attending the grand opening of a newly designed Build-A-Bear Workshop. Having never been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop before, I was unsure about what to expect. I had tried to imagine what the process of making a stuffed animal would be like and I pictured a large room where children would move along in some kind of line, selecting options for their animal. Wrong! The new design of the Build-A-Bear Workshop is NOTHING like that drab image of some assembly line that I had somehow pictured.

From the moment we walked into the workshop, we were met by smiling faces. We were greeted by several team members, including Jalissa, who were eager to point us in the right direction. Jalissa started us out in the new child-height Choose Me station, where my two boys got started picking out their new furry friend. I decided to make a bear for my six-month-old baby girl too and, of course, I had trouble deciding which animal to make for her. Jalissa recommended a baby-friendly bear with sewn eyes and allergen-free fabric, but I couldn't resist picking out a fluffy, classic brown bear. Then the fun began!



Filling their bears' hearts with special qualities.

Because the entire workshop has been redesigned to incorporate hands-on technology into every step of the bear-making process, the kids were involved the whole time. Even my three-year-old, with a short attention span, was engaged. They began by sliding 'qualities' into a stuffed heart using a touchscreen. This heart was in a way the 'life' within their bear. We then went to the Stuff Me station where the boys helped stuff their own bear and where they placed their special hearts inside their animals before Jalissa pulled the bears' seams shut. The boys got to give their new bears a wash in a virtual bathtub at the Fluff Me station and then pick out an outfit and some shoes to customize their bears.

  

Stuffing bears and inserting hearts.



Washing bears in a virtual bathtub.

We ended our adventure by naming the bears and receiving a birth certificate for each animal. It was amazing how attached we became to these stuffed animals so quickly. Both of my boys had the biggest smiles on their faces when their bear was stuffed and handed to them. I can't wait for my little girl to hug her bear because there really is a lot of love that went into it!

Putting the bears into their 'condos' for the ride home.

Here are some great features from the new Build-A-Bear Workshop:
- Find-A-Bear ID program (where a lost bear can be returned to its owner using a unique barcode placed inside the bear).
- Optional sound chips and scents can be inserted into the animals to make a more interactive friend.
- Interactive, touch-based stations for children to engage in.
- A HUGE selection of clothing and accessories to go with any mood, holiday, or interest!
- A friendly and interactive environment to make your animal friend.
- Fun for both kids and adults. A great place to have either a birthday party or a company team-building workshop!

 

Using a special lens to see inside their bears at the qualities they put into their hearts.

Browsing the sound station.

I really had a great time watching my children make their bears and I definitely recommend checking out the Build-A-Bear Workshop near you!

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Why Being a Mom Works for Me

Just over four and a half years ago, my life changed in a way that made me into the person I knew I was destined to be. I became a mom.

From as far back as I can remember, I always played the motherly figure. As a child, I would push dolls around in strollers in the cul-de-sac (in real baby strollers, mind you). My dolls would be carefully buckled into the car when we went out and their bodies were always neatly scrubbed. There would be no stickers or smudges on my babies!

But at some point, a girl grows out of dolls and moves on to bigger things. Babysitting. I was definitely the go-to gal when it came to childcare for nearly every family on my street and beyond. I did my job well and took it very seriously. I was, after all, responsible for REAL people now. There were games to be played and chores to be done. I enjoyed every part of being a babysitter from the cooking and cleaning to the playing and staying up very, very late.

Taking care of babies and children has always given me great joy. During high school, I took a class where I worked as a teacher for children who attended the high school's day care program. And I arranged my schedule so that I could leave school early every day to work at a real pre school. My first summer job was as a nanny for a family in my neighborhood. It just seemed that I couldn't get away from children! So naturally, I became an elementary school teacher. I used to tell everyone that I would either grow up to be a singer, a movie star, or a teacher. I guess I know where my true talents were.

When my husband and I decided to have a baby, you could imagine my excitement! I would now have my own little one to take care of, teach, play with, and love. Was having my own children everything I thought it would be? Of course not. How could I have prepared myself for the nights of no sleep, the constant worrying about them getting hurt or lost, the continuous and never-ending cleaning. Whew. And I never could have known that I would love them so much. It sounds cliche, but it's true. That feeling of pride and excitement, and that tingly feeling every time they smiled so sweetly was never there with other children. Becoming a mom has opened my eyes to a world that I never knew existed even though I was living in it for years. I've always liked kids, but now I know what it's like to love kids. I'm glad I took the route that I did to get here. I think the experiences I had growing up have allowed me to be a well rounded and fun mom. Am I the kind of mother that I 'thought I would be?' I'm not sure yet. I do know that amidst all the craziness, I am happy to be a Mom and I only hope for many more years of this wonderful life.

What is something you've experienced that has helped you become a better parent?