Approach With Caution....

Today while I was out by myself with my children, my two year old had a breakdown. Because she was disobedient, I put her back in the stroller while the meltdown continued. Imagine this sweet little angle screaming, thrashing about with a red face and an arched back like a mad cat. Yes, what a lovely picture this paints.
This wasn't the first time (terrible two's are in full force), and I know that restraining her (in her stroller/car seat away from home or in her room alone at home) is the best/safest way to let her cry it out, regain control, and calm down. After the storm passes, I am able to talk to her on her level.
HOWEVER, not all parents act in the same manor. I will not say that my way is the only way, but I know what works best for my children. So, other mothers are apparently appalled that I am not picking her up (which is not physically safe for her or me when she has no self control....plus, I feel it rewards her bad behavior with attention due to negative behavior) and soothing her.
So much so, that another parent decided to come up to me (mid tantrum) and ask if she could please hold my daughter because she just wanted to get out of her stroller and be comforted. With one eyebrow raised, I politely (maybe a bit sarcastically) declined; then, another lady came up and took it upon herself to try to "distract" my screaming child with comments on her appearance, REALLY? I stood there with a smug grin as my child screamed in her face. Internally, I was boiling...
I would NEVER have the audacity to walk up to a parent/stranger and try to help them co-parent their child. Unless the child is being physically man-handled or abused in some way...let the parent, parent....Have sympathy for the adult, not the kid....hello?
Maybe this is the reason why so many of "kids today" run a muck and can't behave. Maybe their parents decided to give in and coddle them instead of sticking to their punishment? Perhaps not because of their children, but from the disgust from peers around them?....just a thought....I know that I am a good ten years younger sometimes than other parents around me, but that doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm doing. Worry about your own children running around that you can't control and leave me and mine alone.....approach with caution....I may be the one who needs restraint...

Terrible....Just Terrible

We've officially crossed over into the terrible two stage. How does this little girl with such an angel face turn on a dime and throw such a fit and reach scream octaves that only dogs can hear? What a challenge to deal with a small person screaming in your face for no logical reason. The beast lies beneath, and you don't know when or what will make it surface. For now, I send her to her room, close the door, and I wait until the quiet resumes. If people didn't think that I had self control before this little girl came along...spend a day in my shoes and see how hard it is to not lose it during these times. I know that this one day will pass...be consistent...and NEVER GIVE IN!

Lookin' Good

It is a tradition where my husband comes from for a family to dress from the same material during a wedding. So, in honor of Cwidi and Keri getting married, Barb and Denny had these made for the family, and we wore them for the rehersal dinner. Vive L'Afrique!

From the Mouth of Babes

On the ride home from school today my five year old was sitting in the back seat looking out the window. Sprinkles of rain hit our windshield and then it began to rain harder. While driving I heard a little voice from the backseat....

"Mommy, I think that I know why it is raining. Maybe there are baby clouds, and they are jumping up and down on their Mommy and Daddy clouds. That's why its raining their water is coming out."

I responded with, "That sounds pretty good..."

Later on in the day, I had gotten something back from the tailor. I tried it on, and came out to model it for the family. My five year old smiled from ear to ear and said,

"Oh Mommy, you look very distinguish....Daddy you should tell her the same thing."

My sweet little man....his little voice and ideas always bring smiles to my face...