My boys continually amaze me as they grow and change, which I love. However, it is the constantness of change that is sometimes exhausting. On the one hand, it’s great because it keeps me on my toes, but on the other hand just when I think I have one of them figured out, he stuns me by doing something completely unexpected. Just the other day my four year old, for the first time in a long time, actually didn’t stop before a cross walk, he just kept running straight across – I almost fainted. On another day not too long after that, my two year old, who rarely strays more than a few feet from my side, ran straight away from me as fast as could be. This time not across a busy road but straight to a garbage can to put his cracker package away (one point for cleanliness, minus 500 points for the shock to my system). I actually stopped the nearest mother at the water park to tell her what just happened, just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
So when do I take them aside to go over the rules (again) and when do I let them run and hope they stay safe on their own? I wish there was a book that told me all the answers, but in the end probably following my instincts will prove best. That, and secretly watch what other mothers are doing – so if I’m watching you, I’m not judging you. Oh no, I’m learning from you – so thanks.
Now with all that said, what the heck is it with them having to stand right ON my feet?!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
NUTRITION 101
Nutrition 101
Nutrition will, I believe, always be a challenge for anyone who feeds a family. My little family has a number of strikes against us.
(1) I am the primary food provider and I don’t like to cook. Bake yes. Cook no. What this means is that my kids eat a great breakfast and a wonderful muffin for snack and the rest is a bit sketchy.
(2) I am a vegetarian. The rest are not. Meat, even when cooked yucks me out. I’m working on this.
(3) The 4 year old is in the very picky stage and the only fruit he will eat is raspberries – not MIXED berries, no no no, only raspberries. Oh ya, and pasta – with ketchup only. The 2 year old will eat most of anything. Mostly. But rarely will all three (son #1, son #2, dad) eat the same thing on the same night. Sigh.
(4) Did I mention that cooking does nothing for my joy of life?
So, I took some steps and endeavor to plan my menu every week now – try to get at least yogurt and raspberries and brown rice down their throats every week and try not to count the number of cinnamon toast sandwiches we’ve had in one day! (Is Mr. Christy a food group???) I’ve done all the tricks – added veggies to pasta sauce, cut up healthy stuff using fun shaped cookie cutters – bribed them with, well, unhealthy food (oops – that one back fired). Anyways, we are not doing too badly and I think I’m just encouraging one of them to pursue a career as a chef, even if it’s just for the survival of family.
Sigh, well, they’ll always love my French toast…
Nutrition will, I believe, always be a challenge for anyone who feeds a family. My little family has a number of strikes against us.
(1) I am the primary food provider and I don’t like to cook. Bake yes. Cook no. What this means is that my kids eat a great breakfast and a wonderful muffin for snack and the rest is a bit sketchy.
(2) I am a vegetarian. The rest are not. Meat, even when cooked yucks me out. I’m working on this.
(3) The 4 year old is in the very picky stage and the only fruit he will eat is raspberries – not MIXED berries, no no no, only raspberries. Oh ya, and pasta – with ketchup only. The 2 year old will eat most of anything. Mostly. But rarely will all three (son #1, son #2, dad) eat the same thing on the same night. Sigh.
(4) Did I mention that cooking does nothing for my joy of life?
So, I took some steps and endeavor to plan my menu every week now – try to get at least yogurt and raspberries and brown rice down their throats every week and try not to count the number of cinnamon toast sandwiches we’ve had in one day! (Is Mr. Christy a food group???) I’ve done all the tricks – added veggies to pasta sauce, cut up healthy stuff using fun shaped cookie cutters – bribed them with, well, unhealthy food (oops – that one back fired). Anyways, we are not doing too badly and I think I’m just encouraging one of them to pursue a career as a chef, even if it’s just for the survival of family.
Sigh, well, they’ll always love my French toast…
MY PEEPS
I find between work and kids, and more work and more kids that I seem to get “out” about once a month. You know – with adults (only) at establishments that don’t sell Kool-Aid. And I’m okay with that. I have a new business and 2 little boys, so this season of my life is filled with these wonderful blessings. But I cherish oh so deeply when I do get a night out.
First of all, the night out requires a special arrangement of babysitters, coverage from work activities and of course, keeping things even. You know, with the husband. If I get a few hours “out” so does he – so really, I’m trying to coordinate 6 hours of freedom. When the stars align, the coordinating is done, I find myself out driving alone to tunes that don’t rhyme with silly or noodle, ordering food that is actually still hot when I get to eat it and buying a drink that I don’t have to share with anyone or that someone hasn’t tested by putting their little fingers in. At this time, I sometimes find that I am speechless and just sit back to enjoy the company - and then I realize that I am so unprepared for the night’s conversation. Someone mentioned there was a new movie out – I’m still trying to remember which Backyardigan is Tasha and which one is Tyrone! People are using big words and sentences that don’t start with “mommy” or “I gotta tell you something” or “I need you” and the jokes are terribly inappropriate and everything is funny to me and lovely because it’s not about me or someone wanting me or needing me to do anything for them – it’s just a night “out”. So thanks to all my peeps for making this month’s night out worth every effort.
First of all, the night out requires a special arrangement of babysitters, coverage from work activities and of course, keeping things even. You know, with the husband. If I get a few hours “out” so does he – so really, I’m trying to coordinate 6 hours of freedom. When the stars align, the coordinating is done, I find myself out driving alone to tunes that don’t rhyme with silly or noodle, ordering food that is actually still hot when I get to eat it and buying a drink that I don’t have to share with anyone or that someone hasn’t tested by putting their little fingers in. At this time, I sometimes find that I am speechless and just sit back to enjoy the company - and then I realize that I am so unprepared for the night’s conversation. Someone mentioned there was a new movie out – I’m still trying to remember which Backyardigan is Tasha and which one is Tyrone! People are using big words and sentences that don’t start with “mommy” or “I gotta tell you something” or “I need you” and the jokes are terribly inappropriate and everything is funny to me and lovely because it’s not about me or someone wanting me or needing me to do anything for them – it’s just a night “out”. So thanks to all my peeps for making this month’s night out worth every effort.
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