Tag: preschoolers

Elizabeth

PJ Masks and Humility

Kids

A scene from last week.

I’m 39 weeks pregnant and in full-on Nesting Mode. Also, Luke wakes up by 7:00am no matter what time he ends up falling asleep at night. So, it’s time to finally hang curtains in the kids’ bedrooms, to block early morning sunlight. We already have curtains available, brought from our other house and still in a box nearly 11 months later, but we left the old curtain rods mounted in the old house. Justin needs to go to Staples anyway, and Target is right across the highway. Let’s all go—I probably need the movement anyway, if you’re willing to walk at my waddling pace…

Elizabeth

I’ll have the routine, please.

Kids

I began the thoughts on this post the last time I took a 10-day road trip with the kids. It’s now the second time in four months that I’m doing so, and I’m pondering the same thoughts again.

It starts like this.

I want to go see new places, visit my people, have fun experiences, leave room in the plan for spontaneity, and live in the moment. Including for and with my kids.

But I also want to keep the routine.

Why are kids so dependent upon routine? One would think that if a kid is tired, and it’s dark outside…

Elizabeth

Miryamisms (age 3)

Kids

My girl, Miryam, turned four earlier this week! So, here’s a fun little compilation of some of the hilarious and thought-provoking things she uttered as a three-year-old. (The ones I remembered to write down at the time, anyway.)

As a side note, if you have a child close to you in your life, I highly recommend keeping a running google doc or “Note”–something you can access from your phone at a moment’s notice–to jot down the funny and profound things they say, right away. I can usually remember the gist later, but…

Elizabeth

Toddlers and Time Zones

Kids

A week or so ago, we took a family trip to San Diego, CA. My dad always said that when you take the kids with you, you really can’t call it a “vacation.” I’ve only had kids for about four years, but so far, I tend to agree with him.

We still have lots of fun on our family “trips,” don’t get me wrong. At the end, I still think it’s worth it. But I’m usually exhausted, rather than refreshed; and relieved, rather than reluctant, to get back to my own house and routine. Specifically, the kids’ routine.

I forgot about timezones until the day we were leaving…

Elizabeth

Actually, they’re not all that picky.

Kids

Things I do to encourage my kids to try new foods, without power struggles.

My kids don’t love leftovers. That’s fine, for now. I encourage leftovers with things I know they remember they like, and I figure we’ll work on it. So they eat a lot of grilled turkey-and-cheese sandwiches while I eat leftovers for lunch.

In spite of the monotony of their lunches, I would not categorize my kids as “picky” in the typical toddler/preschooler sense of “all she will eat is yellow foods!” (Chicken nuggets, applesauce, macaroni and cheese, toast, etc.)

It’s just that I prefer to choose my battles, and leftover brussels sprouts is a battle I’m unlikely ever to win.

However…

Elizabeth

Beep Beep Crash

Kids

It’s not terribly often that I “get on the floor and play” with my kids and genuinely have fun doing it for more than a few minutes. I always have a hard time setting aside my mental lists (or…my phone) and fully engaging with them. I’m guilty of half “playing” (being in the same room and commenting on their play) while cleaning up other toys or random items nearby. And sometimes I honestly just get bored with whatever entertains 1 and 3 year olds.

Seriously. How many times can we make and eat Bunchems “cake”?

Anyone relate?

Yesterday evening, though…