Tag: preschoolers

Elizabeth

Luke at Four

Kids

Hello, there! It is summer: smack dab in the middle of it. It’s hot. Also, the most ironic thing I’ve ever written was in my last post, when I said, “I think everyone is done being sick now.” The universe certainly took that as a challenge. I cannot even begin to explain the torrent of covid, strep throat, pink eye, ear infections, and other unidentified viruses we have experienced over the past two months in this household. So many plans canceled. So much sleep lost. So many doctor appointments. I am thankful for the age of the video visit, for those visual-diagnosis ailments, at least.

I don’t dare….

Elizabeth

Another Underwhelming Covid Birthday

Kids

So, yes, Luke turned four! But, it was during “coronavirus times.” So, it was underwhelming. As expected. Miryam had a lovely birthday in February 2020, pre-covid-panic. Justin had the first pandemic birthday, and I managed to actually take a photo of his birthday angel food cake this year, but otherwise it was not particularly exciting. Cecily’s birthday went not-as-planned… My birthday was downright depressing.

Luke’s birthday remained.

A couple months ago, I had dazzling dreams of his festivities. Maybe we would….

Elizabeth

Ode to the Balance Bike

Kids

Parents and grandparents of small-kids-who-don’t-know-how-to-ride-a-bike-yet, this post is for you. Here’s the punchline upfront: Buy that kid a balance bike!

We bought this balance bike when Miryam turned two. We’d heard and read about how it makes the transition to real bike riding pretty effortless. It was just the right size. I tried to help her learn to ride it a couple of times, but she wasn’t getting it, and I was getting frustrated, so it collected dust for a looooong time in various garages. We’ve moved twice between that birthday and this spring, when she finally took an interest in her three-years-old gift….

Elizabeth

Squishy Sand

Kids

Or, A Lesson in Flexibility, since a lot of the rules are changed these days.

I must preface this with: I love my next door neighbor, she is an absolute gem, and so thoughtful of my kids pretty much daily. She’s like an extra grandma for them, which is so special when their real grandmas are far away in other states. Like a grandma, though, she sometimes falls into thinking only of the fun the kids will have, and not the mess the mom will have to [at minimum help] clean up, when she finds something cool.

She’s been going through some old boxes in her garage, and my kids have been…

Elizabeth

Miryamisms (age 4)

Kids

I have already needed to write down more Miryamisms in her “age 5” google doc, so I thought maybe I should get around to publishing her “age 4” collection. She turned five last month. She’s lost three baby teeth already, can write her first and last name without assistance, and uses logic against me all the time. Here is a new sampling of her many funny and cute moments…

Elizabeth

Social Distancing Spelling Trivia

Kids

Taking care of three kids age five and under is full of interruptions, demands, cleaning up crumbs, and never sleeping more than four hours straight, like, ever. So, my brain is both in survival mode and at capacity. Blogging, as a non-essential activity, has been moved to the back burner. I think about it often, but seldom actually write words for it. However, since all my non-essential outside-the-home activities are currently canceled, here I am on the blog!

The English language is fascinating, wonderful, and sometimes a real pain. Today’s topic falls under “fascinating,” in my humble opinion. I do have a bachelor’s degree in English, so I think I’m allowed to have opinions on the subject…

Elizabeth

Luke is Potty Trained

Kids

or, There is hope for you, boy mom, and your little man. He will “get there”! If it takes a whole year, he will get there. And when someone asks you later, “When did you potty train little Johnny?” you will cite when he reached Potty Trained, not how long it took you to get there, and no one will ask more questions, and no one will notice you sweating from the stressful memories that just crossed your mind, or judge you for not doing it earlier. Some will say, “Wow!” Some will say, “Yep, no point in starting till he’s ready.” Some will ask for advice. Err on the side of giving moral support rather than methodological tips, unless specifically requested. Anyway. That was a long secondary title. Moving on…

Elizabeth

Charity Reset by Vomit

Kids

I got an unexpected “blessing in disguise” this week: My two preschoolers had a stomach bug. And Justin went out of town for work before it was over. Stay with me. I know it sounds awful. And….it was….but….it was also a good Reset for me.

Lately, I have found myself being a “hurry up and do what I said” mom more often than I’d like to admit. I said to do X, so do it right now. Don’t finish your picture first. Don’t get a book to bring with you. Just do it. 1….2….3….4….

*sigh*

That’s not really the kind of mom I want to be….