WAIT!!! One more thing...

As I am new to this thing. I posted my last entry without finishing it. After I saved it as a draft, I couldn't find it.

I just wanted to add that our children only know the time we spend with them. They don't compartmentalize like we tend to do as adults. And for all the time Audrey gets to spend at school with her friends.. she is happiest at home when mommy and daddy give her full attention as she acts out (dramatically I might add) something she remembers from the day..

On a personal note: Andrea rocks as a mom!! (shh... don't tell her I said so, but she never gives herself the credit she deserves..)

Jenn

I have been thinking about the "stay-at-home" title and the "Am I giving my daughter enough" question. I preface all I am about to write with one fact, I am a out-of-house working mom. I make that a clear distinction. I don't believe in the two titles that have now become ground for war amongst some mothers. There is no such thing as stay-at-home and working mothers.. All mothers are WORKING mothers. The difference is where we choose to work. I choose to work out of the house and Andrea chooses to work in her house. One is not easier than the other (although I have had the opportunity on occasion to have to stay home with Audrey just the two of us - and I have to admit.. I would say dealing with 20 15-18 year-olds is a lot easier to handle then one 2 1/2 year old.)

I think, as an out-of-house working mother, that work-at-home moms put way too much burden on their shoulders, and really should be asking themselves "Am I giving myself enough" first. Most of my friends work outside the home as well so I don't have experience to go on here. I am just stating a view. I apologize to those who I offend and offer up all my admiration to those (Especially Andrea) who I see work really hard to wear their many hats of woman, mother, wife, daugheter, educator, friend, sister, secretary, psychologist, (Andrea is my personal one at times..lol), and put your dreams and desires on hold to make sure they raise another soul to believe they can do it all too.

In the end all that matters most to our children is that we take care of ourselves so we are around to enjoy many years of love and happiness with them.

Staying at home

Sometimes as a Stay-at-Home-Mom I wonder if I am giving my child enough. Is she getting enough stimulation every day? Is it wrong that I am her primary companion?

I mean, she has friends, but not the *see you every day* kind. But does that matter at age 2-1/2? She knows who her friends are, she talks about them regularly. Can she even tell that she hasn't seen them in a few weeks? A few days? Longer?

I am not exactly homeschooling. That's pretty big in the South. But we don't have a set curriculum. We don't do the same things regularly, we just sort of go with the flow. Is that okay? I mean, I feel like it is, and I know she's advancing, but there are some days (like when we were sick these last few weeks) when it seems like Dora and Diego are the only ones talking. That's a bit harsh, I'm exaggerating. My child speaks so often during the day that there have been moments where I am on overload. I'm not even sure where to begin with answers to her questions, or activities for her to do next.

But I am her primary teacher. Officially or not. Aren't all parents for their kids? Don't we all guide them, especially during these early years? Whether they're in school or not, whether we work out of the house, in the house, or not at all? It's amazing how when they start to seem older, more grown-up, if you will, that we start to question whether we offer them enough. I know I try. I know I give her as much as I can. But sometimes ... well ... I just question it. But I'll keep on trying and keep on trucking. So what if she learns her Spanish from Nick Jr? I'm the one who is reinforcing it in conversation. I'm the one who is answering her. So it's okay. For now, anyway.

In the meantime, Diego is waiting for us. And I need to get back to my art-work. Because, apparently, I'm the person in her world who can draw anything, at any time. People, animals, cartoon characters ... I'm your woman. And I'll tell ya', I kind of like being that go-to-gal!

It's Impossible

I hear you, Jenn. I think that it's impossible to watch your child get completely messy without flinching at least once. Or twice.

That's when I strip her down naked, or mostly naked, except for an apron, and put newspaper down on the kitchen table (the one that was my parents' long before you knew us!) I got these cute little aprons at Michael's, for $1, so we bought a few of them, and it's so nice to not worry about her clothes getting covered.

But believe me, I much prefer the simpler crafts. Like construction paper and sticky foam animals. Just make sure they're fresh enough that you don't need to use glue to get them to stick to the paper, or before you turn around your child might be stamping the glue stick in a circular pattern around said kitchen table, and on your hardwood floors.

Washable markers are easy, as are crayons. You can use the post I linked to where small crayon scraps are used to melt down into new, large, round crayons with a simple muffin tin! I bet A would enjoy that!

Oh, and another easy activity, which is somewhat messy but simple to clean up is water play. She can stand on her potty stool in the bathroom all day long and fill up the sink w. some water and soap, give her some tupperware and random cups to play with and we're good to go. Simply strip her shirt beforehand or after, and get a towel ready to wipe down the floor and tah dah! So much fun! Bubbles are another fun water sport in our house, but my main problem is that there is no way she can play with them without spilling the entire bottle on the floor. And my poor hardwoods just can't take that to often.

As for your Operation PC, I think it's a great idea. Let me know how it has been going for you. In the meantime I can barely figure out portion control when it comes to food, and being home all day doesn't give me too many options, so I'll have to think it through before committing, but I am FULLY behind you and you have my support! Go forth into this good night ... and day ... and whatever!

And now I have to go stop her from taking the pickle jar out of the fridge ... Lord help us all!

What To Do?

As I am sitting here thinking of what to write my mind is on two trains of thought... First of all, the links that Andrea sent were awesome ... However, I have to admit (and this is not easy as a mom) that I do not like to get messy and have a really difficult time watching Audrey get messy. I seriously can't be the only one. Am I??? It is one of the things I love about having her in daycare (and yes I also admit that as well) . She can get down and dirty at school, and I don't have to feel my anxiety level rise as I TRY (not always succeeding) not to get anxious about it. Needless to say we use lots of crayons at home and play more with toys than with crafts (for now). Oh yeah! and while I am on a role I can also admit I don't know the difference between Than/Then (in writing - so I apologize, in advance, for any incorrect usage)

So, the question becomes how does a mother who physically feels the symptoms of anxiety help her daughter to become creative and expressive???

My second train of thought is leading in the direction of time. I had an epiphany today. Everyone is always talking about portion control when it comes to food, but what about taking that same principal and applying it to your day. Can that even work? I am going to experiment and see. I am calling it Operation PC. Breaking up my day systematically in order to have enough time to do all the things I want for that day.. Each day... for one week?? Andrea - You interested??? I am even including doing nothing time... (the joy diet modified... to about 10 minutes or so.. depending on how the rest of my day is broken up...lol) For experimental purposes I am going to start tomorrow 10/22/09.. Wish me luck!

Fall Activities

Well, the weather is getting cooler and crisper here in NC. I'm thinking it's a little bit ahead of us in NYC, so we'll all be needing fun weekend ideas and crafts to help us out with our little ones.

I found a bunch of really cute fall craft ideas and I decided to be lazy for this post and share these with you guys (you - of the nonexistent follower society,) so this way my lil sis can see them, too.

* Paper Plate Spider Craft by Susana at My Family, My Forever.

* Pumpkin Pie Play Dough by Jennifer at The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.

* Make your own crayons at No Time for Flash Cards. [Thanks to Michelle at Her Cup Overfloweth for this tip!]

* Make your own campfire at Family Corner. [Thanks to Michelle again for this tip!]

* No Mess Finger Painting by Sandy at Moments of Mommyhood.

* Here are several fall crafts over at Just Playin' Around with Julie.

* Apple Blossoms over at What Do We Do All Day?

So enjoy yourself as you make your way through this list of wonderful and fun fall activities! And enjoy the cooler weather. I know we are!

Here I go!

Hi - I am, by the first official post, the little sister : ) I am doing something I have promised myself I would never do BLOG! .. I never even read a blog until Andrea introduced me to hers, and even now she has to forward me her posts b/c I don't know how to sign up.

Of course b/c I am cautious by nature I researched and looked up a few different blogs just to see what this is really all about. What a world unto itself. It's amazing how many people (particularly women) have to say. I LOVE IT! I am, by all means, a blog convert (Thanks Ann!).

Although I don't consider myself the most articulate person when it comes to speaking and/or writing (I think when Audrey came out a few brain cells and a lot of vocabulary slipped out with her) I am going to do my best.

Now let me get to Andrea... What can I say.. SuperMom, SuperBlogger and SuperSister. Don't tell my husband, but she is one of the reasons I chose to say yes..lol After years of being an only child (side note: loved the whole not having to share anything and having all the attention) I finally got the sister I can confide in and trust and we didn't have to go through any teenage sister drama.. We were compatable from the minute we were introduced. : ) I say introduced b/c like she mentioned for years we were out at the same bars/clubs on the same weekends doing the same things.

Anyway, as always I am off to do what I do best. Read! : ) Enjoy the day

Let me introduce you ...

To my little sister. Well, technically she is my sister-in-law, but we don't think of each other that way. This is our story!

Although Jenn and I didn't know one another prior to her dating (and subsequently marrying) my brother, we swear that we probably hung out at the same clubs, bitched out one another's friends on the dance floor and likely knew someone who knew someone who dated someone and so on and so forth.

We got married 3-1/2 months apart, our daughters are about 6 weeks apart, and we're probably closer than we would have been if we had grown up together, if you ask me.

We've done SELF workouts in the park, gone to concerts, chatted over Starbucks treats in Barnes and Noble, spent hours on the phone watching and discussing American Idol, "Loved Our Trees," and so much more.

Unfortunately with my relocation "Down South," and her stay-location "Up Nawth" we just don't get to see one another or connect as often as we would like to. So that's what this blog is for. That, and maybe we'll entertain a few people along the way ... once we make this public, of course.

So that's my take on it. I'll let her fill you in, as well.