Ever have a day when your kids are angels?  Me, neither.  That’s why when things went so smoothly with my two this morning I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.  So far, it hasn’t.  The foot metaphor is appropriate as, you can see, Charlotte decided to give her brother a foot rub, followed by a bottle.  She held him in her lap, wrapped him in blankets and stroked his hair!  Our outing to the library also was pretty stress-free.  Thomas slept for part of it and Charlotte only rearranged a few books.  After dropping them off at school/daycare for lunch, I was still energized enough to go home, organize the house AND jog around the neighborhood.  That run felt so good reflecting on the wonderful morning I spent with my children!  Let’s hope the euphoria carries over to the next meltdown.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

Curious about your thoughts on the following, for my future reference:

Is a kindergartner too young to ride the school bus?

When are a brother and sister too old to be in the bathtub together?

How old should a child be before he gets a cell phone?

Thanks!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

I laughed out loud at an email that came to me this week:

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

Charlotte was thrilled to go back to school today.  She’s been in Young Preschool since she was 18-months, so the process was easy on her.  Not so much for me.  I felt empty inside after dropping her off.  Weird for me, actually, because I have never experienced that emotion.  Reflecting on it I have come to the conclusion with two years to go until kindergarten, I am already close to pushing my little girl on to her next stage in life.  I tried to reassure myself that I’ve still got Thomas to baby… but then what? 

My career is always going to be there, if I choose, on some level.  But nothing compares to the fulfillment of being a parent, in my humble opinion.  If sending them off to elementary school feels like this, I can’t imagine the hole in your heart when they walk off to college.  Now I understand why my mom cried when she saw my picture after I left for a university halfway across the country.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

It must be challenging for the people in my neighborhood whose house does not include a kid.  In fact, I know it is because I have talked to them about it.  I can totally relate since, only three short years ago, I used to be right there with them.  After living in an apartment for a while, moving into my house (initially without Dave) launched me into a world of Desperate Housewives.  At first I thought the kids on my street were as bad as Lynette’s twins.  Remember when they jumped in the pool at the funeral?  Watching them through the kitchen window tearing through my newly-sodded yard, riding their bikes too close-for-comfort to cars and flower beds, darting out from driveways without looking as you slammed on your brakes… it all made me crazy.  Then only two months later, I got married and got pregnant three weeks after exchanging vows.  Now I’m on the other side of the white picket fence.  Or in my case a black chainlink fence often scaled by the snot-nosed variety.  When Thomas arrived, he was the 17th child on the street followed by a baby girl two houses down, #18, shortly after.  Did I mention most of these kids are 10 & under?  So, I do feel the pain of the one couple with no kids and no plan to have any, as well as the empty nesters down the street.  Only when you become a parent can you truly grasp how hard it is to control a child at almost any age.  Need I remind you about my post last week that I’m still hearing about?

Rick and Abby from Cedar Falls

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

Having two kids IS much harder than one. 

Pregnancy scares are not as funny when you are struggling with the ones already here.

Being honest about how challenging it is to be a parent isn’t always well-received.

Intimacy is tough when kids are in your bed, across the hall or hanging on your ankles.

Napping when the kids nap is not a suggestion, it’s a requirement.

Weekends used to be for going out late, now trying to make it past 10.

There is no such thing as a mess-free food that can be served to a child in a high chair.

Wood floors and carpets can look nice, if your house is occupied by people over 18.

Justin and Collin from Evansdale

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

So many of you were right.  Thomas had ear tubes put in this morning and the surgery was quick.  The worst part was soothing his upset tummy in recovery.  Charlotte stayed home with Papa and called twice to check on her brother.  She was quite concerned about him getting the mask over his face like she did last week.  Bad memory!  This time around I didn’t go in the operating room, just handed him over to a nurse.  I didn’t question this approach as my presence may have made putting him under more challenging.  Nana went with me as Daddy was at work.  So fortunate to have parents who can drop everything and drive here to help.  Now looking forward to some relief for Thomas after 5 or 6 ear infections since the spring.  I’ve lost count!  So thankful two surgeries in two weeks for two little ones are over.  The experience is tougher on the parents, no question.  I think we made the right decision in both cases.  Of course I have to believe that after what I put them through!

Bryce from Kansas City

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

Despite the chaos of my life as a mom, I now get what people meant when they told me it would get easier.  A year ago this week Daddy was back at work leaving me with a 3-week-old and a 2-year-old.  I served breast milk and freezer pops for breakfast.  365 days later I am a more comfortable mother.  The fact I am typing this from home speaks volumes.  Thomas is taking a long nap in his crib.  Charlotte is on our backyard swingset with neighbor kids.  So my world is spinning a bit slower.  No question the diet and exercise have helped.  Getting my weight under control and toning up the post-baby bod have helped put me back in the driver’s seat, so to speak.  More sleep also has an impact.  I definitely don’t want the kids to grow up but I imagine with each passing year some of my confidence will be restored-in myself and as a parent.  Could this mean when I’m totally prepared to handle them is the moment they’ll leave home?

Landon from Ft. Atkinson

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

Like so many posts before it, I’m sure this one will anger a few readers.  Why do so many women, and some men for that matter, criticize working moms for being away from their children but don’t question how much dads are gone when they’re the sole breadwinners?  I don’t get it.  Sure, ideally both parents would be home with the kids round-the-clock… but if one has to work, why should Dad get the short straw and be forced to punch the clock?  Being female does not guarantee you’re superior in all things domestic.  I’m inferior compared to a lot of guys I know.  So instead of the push for more moms to be stay-at-home, let’s consider another option:  Both parents working fewer hours so not just one, but BOTH can spend close to equal time with their offspring.  It makes sense to me.  I know there are a lot of obstacles to that scenario… some people end up spending their entire paycheck on daycare or can’t find a job that offers flexible hours.  I get all that.  I just don’t understand why the onus is on men to take care of the bills and women to focus on the children.  I can’t tell you how many times I have told Dave that if his job required travel I couldn’t handle it.  Of course were that the case I wouldn’t have a choice and I would learn to accept it… but I have seen so many men rushing through airports and racing down roads likely heading home from another long week away from Mom and the kids.  And I sure don’t expect his wife to be waiting at the door in heels and an apron like June Cleaver.  I would be so frazzled, the minute he hit the front step I would want him to take over.  But he’d be too tired from working!

Cole from Ankeny

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13

Hard to top yesterday’s post.  The morning was so eventful I forgot to mention what happened the night before.  Charlotte was too busy playing to make it to the potty on time.  She told me peeing on the floor by the toilet was “just an accident.”  Of course it was at the moment I came inside and rememebered to go clean it up that I heard a clanking sound coming from the bathroom… followed by a bump.  You guessed it.  Thomas had waltzed in there to throw a plastic letter in the toilet only to slip on his sister’s pee.  He soaked his clean pajamas.  I got my jean cuffs wet, too, rushing in to scoop him up.  We all three ended up in the bathtub… and had to drain the water after it started filling because, wait for it, Thomas peed in the tub!  Update from yesterday:  I did not take Charlotte’s bike away.  She was up too early, had to get her stitches out later that morning and simply missed her daddy.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Kaylynn from Waterloo

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13