Now that Case is getting a bit older I have a couple questions. First of all he is eating with Cody and I almost every evening meal. As a mother, am I supposed to be providing some kind of dessert for him? I have friends with kids and it seems like every time we eat with them or they come over for dinner, dessert is a part of the meal. Just wondering what ya’ll do with your kids.
Second, I have finally finished scrapbooking Cases first year. It was a huge undertaking but the book is complete. And I must say that I am really pleased with myself. Every milestone and development is eternally scrapbooked. In fact every blog entry you all have read has been printed, photographed, papered and put down in the book forever more. I actually don’t know who will ever care about all the work I did except me. I mean really, Case is a boy and probably won’t care one hoot when his first tooth came in, how old he was when he smiled, or what he was for his first Halloween, but I think it is important to have it documented nonetheless. Needless to say the book is pretty large, so in an effort to be a good mom, am I supposed to do a book for every year?
Third, Case is a big boy now, but doesn’t like milk. He still prefers formula. Am I supposed to be pushing milk or is formula okay? Actually his drinking system is off. He drinks milk before naps and bedtime (save your finger wagging, it is what it is) and drinks water throughout the day. I know they say to give them milk at meals, but he just doesn’t want it. What am I supposed to be doing with this situation? Sounds like a lot of books. What are all the moms doing?
Fourth, to baby proof or not to baby proof. I talked to a mom the other day who actually made me feel bad about using baby gates for the stairs and locks under the cabinets. Her tone and look told the entire story. She was like, ‘oh we never used those things. We just taught him not to get in certain cabinets or go certain places.’ I don’t give a flying hoot, we still installed the locks this weekend and have been using the gates since he started rolling, but I was just wondering, did ya’ll baby proof?
Finally, he has lost interest in his books. Before he was all about playing with his books and being read to but now he won’t have any of it. Reading is important for their intellectual growth, so how do I get him back on books or is this just a phase and I should wait out. Thanks for all the help from the moms who are in the trenches everyday.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
What are all the moms doing?
Posted by Holly Gray at 5:18 PM
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8 comments:
Well, obviously, I'm not a mom. So I really honestly don't know anything about raising a child. Still, I did want to say that getting advice from other moms is smart, but you are an amazing mom (I've seen you in mommy mode!) and you and Cody will do great whatever you decide to do about all of these things.
Awww, shucks. Thanks, Krystal
Baby proof the house if that makes your life easier! We baby-proofed some cabinets and not others, you have to do what works for you. Try mixing milk in with his formula so he gets used to the taste, and then slowly add more milk and less formula every few days. Eventually he'll decide he likes it. If that doesn't work, you could always add some chocolate or buy Pediasure and mix that in for some flavor. Ultimately, as long as your pediatrician is cool with him still drinking formula, then that works. If you make dessert every night and want to share it with Case, that works, but if it's not something you already do, why add the sugar?? I think one day Case will enjoy having his first year scrapbooked. The milestones at subsequent years aren't as numerous, so I'm sure you could get buy with combining years and not doing one each year. He will regain his interest in books. Mira went through that stage as well, but is back into them.
I agree whole-heartedly with K and G. And then here's my 2 cents:
1. Do you get dessert with every meal? I don’t, and I think that if I give my kids dessert all the time, they might come to expect it as the norm. That being said, I give Hazel dessert whenever we have it in front of her. Usually I save it until she’s gone to bed. Sometimes if she’s done exceptionally well eating, then I’ll reward her with some fruit snacks. She never expects this and never asks for them.
2. The first year is pretty full of the biggest moments. From here on out, I would say that you just need to focus on big things or momentous occasions like the pumpkin patch you just visited. I don’t know if you’ve seen them, but there are sites where you can have your blog printed directly into a photo book. That could save you some time.
3. Milk – I don’t know. Hazel likes it a lot, so we have never struggled with it. Our pediatrician would tell us to give milk as the only choice until he got the picture that it was milk or nothing. He’s pretty hard core. My sister-in-law can only get her kids to drink milk if it’s flavored (choc or strawberry); she says she’d rather them get their milk even with extra sugar then worry about them not getting it at all.
4. As far as baby-proofing, I say YES! There are times (chosen or not) when you are not going to be right on the tail of your little guy, and I think it’s better to have safety measures in place. For instance, right now when I’m sitting to feed Zeke, I can’t be Hazel’s shadow and so I feel better knowing that I’ve taken a lot of risk out of her environment. Also, I think that at home it’s nice to create an environment (when possible) that means as few “nos” as possible. You already have to say “no” so many times a day that it’s nice to reduce the number of times you have to say (and enforce) that word. And besides, even as adults, there are safety checks everywhere put up for our own protection (speed bumps, barriers, do not enter, hazard, etc), so it might be good for our little ones to learn those lessons early.
5. Hazel goes in and out of her interest in books. Sometimes its all she wants to do, and other days she will never even touch one if I didn’t bring it to her attention. I just try to give her the opportunity every day. I’ve heard the best way to promote reading is to model, and I know you like to read, so just let Case see you do that. It will get easier as he gets older and doesn’t need your attention 24/7. While he’s playing with his toys, he can see you reading and learn by example that reading is a pleasurable activity.
So I think about the dessert thing that I created a "snack" monster. Cayman has come to expect that because I like it and really, it's not the best idea. Like Julie, I agree that your kids learn it from your behavior.
As far as milk. Just keep the little bugger hydrated. You cannot force a child to drink something they don't like.
Books...I suggest beating him with them and telling him he'll be no good if he doesn't love them. Hmmm...perhaps not so much.
As far as babyproofing. We never did but we only had him part time. I think the full time moms are right.
AND FINALLY. All I have to say is if there is a SECOND baby Gray you'd better do the SAME for him or her on the scrapbook thing (spoken like a true second born. My mom didn't even keep my birth certificate and there are no pics of me in the hospital being born. I still need therapy for this. :) )
You're so awesome. Love you~
W
No, No, 1/2 and 1/2, Yes-duh, wait.
That is great that you put together a scrapbook for him. I think things like that are really for us because they grow so fast and it is wonderful to be able to look back to see how little your baby once was...
As far as baby proofing and other things such...you do what is best for your family. You know what work best for you and it is too bad that some moms have to give "the look" or question you decisions. I love seeing the recent pictures, he is such a cutie!
Wow, I learn a lot from your parenting questions/posts! I think you've gotten plenty of great advice. I just love that you're asking the questions :).
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