Blog Archives - SuperMomsSuperKids

Your Information on the Internet

1/28/2012

    If you read this page it is possible that you notice I try not to reveal much personal information. Just enough to give some context to situations, or general things. The world is changing, and while I've heard reports that crime is actually down from a few years ago, that doesn't mean it never happens.
    Fewer children being abducted doesn't mean none do. Fewer people getting attacked on the street doesn't mean it never happens.

When we were younger they made sure we knew not to wear clothing with our names. Don't talk to strangers. Don't get in a car with someone you don't know. I'm willing to bet that you still tell your children the same things. Then, do you post pictures of them online? Do you share what team they play on? Or what school they attend? You may as well put their name on their jacket.

Now they say don't give out your passwords. Don't share personal information in an email. They warn you that there are people our there who can hack into a computer and get information, they can break into your bank accounts, your emails, send spam from your email address.Yet don't we share that exact information? We post our town, our friends, our likes and dislikes.

   How much information is too much? What is safe to share? How can you find out where to draw the line?
I'm not sure the answers to that, but I do know that there is enough information about all of us available that I don't need to add to it intentionaly. I will share some, and keep some to myself. I wish for my personal life to stay personal, and my private life to stay private, but I also want to be able to communicate and network and talk to my friends. I'm looking for the bal

If SHE is sick why am I so tired?

1/26/2012

Finally I asked a simple question.

It's because we care more. When they are tired, they are tired, and when they are sick they usually want to sleep. So they sleep.

I don't. I worry. So while I hear the quiet snoring, I'm just waiting for the tell tale "Mommy" that means I have to change the sheets...again. It makes for a very long night. And how is it that they can go back to sleep after that? I get up and change sheets and wipe down everyone, tuck a snuggly clean toddler or baby back in bed, and I'm wide awake. Until the next time, then I'm suddenly very tired and it's hard to get out of bed. My solution? Layer an extra blanket under the sheets, and put towels on top, so I can just whisk away the dirty towels, mop off the almost naked child (why use so many pairs of pajamas when they wipe off so much cleaner?), put down clean towels, and snuggle them back to sleep.

Then I worry. Dehydration? Infection? Food poisoning? New tooth? It could be something so harmless or something scary, so I expect the harmless and prepare for the scary.

Maybe a u

Do we need to operate in extremes??

1/25/2012

I just read a blog that I found via a FB post. In reading it, then some of the comments following it, it occured to me that everyone seems to want to work in extremes. If you love spending every minute with your children (even the hard ones) then you're making it up or lying, or just off your rocker, but if you admit that it's hard to parent and sometimes you look forward to bed time, then you are not a good enough parent and you are wasting time.

    Well, I stand in the middle. I LOVE my time home with her, and I wouldn't trade it for everything, but when the whining and screaming and throwing and sometimes even hitting becomes too much, yup, it's early bed!
    In all honesty, I miss her about 5 minutes after she falls asleep. However, those first five minutes, when I can look at her innocence and listen to the slow breathing, I know why I do it all. Someitmes, I need that time. To look at the day and remember the amazing parts, to assure myself that tomorrow I will see more of them and less of the coffee addiction causing chaos that is the rest of the day. Maybe it won't work, but such is life as a parent.
    Knowing our limits, running out of energy and patience, does NOT make you less of an amazing parent, it makes you human and honest. It might not be great, and yhou may feel bad, but getting frustrated sometimes and telling them enough is enough, take a nap, well maybe they'll learn that when I'm tired I should sleep, or if I'm mean to someone else there are consequences. I'd rather she get me mad and see that there are small consequences (time out, no dessert) then go out in the real world having never heard someone raise their voice and spend the whole day in tears because the teacher soke loudly to be heard over the noise (and yes, I have seen this, it was hard). And you may all judge me, I expect it, but she's even heard me say the odd bad word! Usually I stick to crud and oops and holding my breath, but sometimes she'll hear an "oh crap that hurt" but that's the real world. I get the typical "that's a bad word" but that just leads to a chat on why we don't use bad words and how they make other people feel. But, real world, she's going to hear it somewhere someday.

I am not a bad parent. I am human. I get tired. I get frustrated. I earn the right to go to bed early with a good book once in a while. This is reality, and these things do not mean we don't enjoy the good times, or even the bad (I'd rather be exhausted and close to tears with her yelling across the room then not have her any day!) but it does mean that no one is perfect, including out children, and everyone may as well realize it now and live with it.
    You are a good mom if your chldren are clean more often then not, if they almost always have full tummies (I said eat your broccoli or no dessert is their choice, not your fault...) and if they know you love them and they are safe with you.

Weekends at Home

1/22/2012

It's such a busy world we live in. Even the children notice that they are getting busier and busier. It seems that sometimes even they want to just stay home and relax. I've actually been told a few times, that we need ot stay home "I've been too busy this week mom"

So, what do we do on our weekends at home?? Well, for starters, a good breakfast. Sometimes, I even reward good behaviour by making breakfast (often apple pancakes posted on the recipe page) and we eat in it my bed while we watch a movie. This is frequently followed by dancing around the living room, and maybe even a game of laundry-ball (who gets the most dirty laundry into the hamper from how far) to get all the clothes that didn't quite make it during the week. This also works for getting the laundry from the hamper into the washer!

After all that laundry and dancing, it's time for lunch. I will admit, lunch is not always the most healthy meal here. Kraft Diner is often requested, but you can sneak a variety of vegetable in there without complaint. That also works with other noodles, and leftovers are a great choice for when you don't want to cook a whole meal in the middle of your Saturday. Puzzles, stories, and crafts (check the craft page) make up a winter afternoon, which is also a great time to get some baking done.

It is entirely possible to spend a whole weekend resting and bonding, while still getting just a few things done. Remember, if you, as an adult, feel run down on a weekend, like you just did too much, chances are your children feel the same, or worse, as they need more rest in their little bodies then an adult does.

Network, Network, Network

1/19/2012

I used to worry that I spend too much time on the computer. Now I know I do!! It seems vital to so many things though. I need to meet people, and yes, I can meet them if I go out too, but will I meet the right ones? Or will I meet one, then what? If I go online I can contact hundreds of people, in the demographic I'm looking for, in just minutes.

Mutually beneficial and work together are common concepts, both in the real world and online, and in order for that to help, you need to be in contact with so many people. Selling something? You need to meet more people. Looking for advice? The more people with tips, the more you have to consider before you pick the one you like the most. Lonely? People online will talk to you, and there is almost always someone on somewhere.

What are the consequences? Well, wearing your glasses more often is one. You may foget how to communicate in person. Perhaps you have fogotten social graces... Is an online friend better then a real life one?

I saw, everything in moderation!! Find contacts online, but remember to meet people outside too. The more you meet, the more they'll introduce you too!

Go out and have fun! Meet people and share information.

Field Trips? Do you go or not??

1/19/2012

Today I have a question that I've struggled with before, and I'm interested in your opinions.

Do you go on field trips with your children? I love to be involved, and I want to go on every one of them, but is that best? Sometimes I think that a child needs to grow apart from their parent, as well as with them. If I go everywhere all the time, where does that sense of independance come from? On the other hand, I want them to know that I'm there when needed, and that they don't have to do e

How to pick a school (preschool too!)

1/15/2012

I hope that my title has not mislead anyone into thinking I have all the answers on this, but I'm sure if we work together we can figure it out!!

    Not everyone has learned yet how competitive it can be to get into the school or the class you want, but this lesson becomes clear very quickly. And with all the choices it's hard enough to decide which school/preschool you want, nevermind to wade through the paperwork and wait lists to get the day and time you want.

    Most schools, at the beginning ages, have at least 2 or 3 options. Preschools run two or three days a week, for a couple hours, and often you can choose between morning or afternoon classes. So once you pick the school, it gets simpler. But choosing that school can be hard. Here are a few things to consider:
    1.where is it?
    2.what is the programming like? (play based or do they sit at a desk and do work? Do they provide a snack or do you? What do they learn? Is there a focus on arts?)
    3.is it subsidized?
    4.does it have a religious affiliation?
    5.is it connected to a school? This can make it easier to get the kindergarten you want, as sometimes parents with children in the affiliated school get first choice, sometimes they don't...
    6.what are the fees like?
    7.what are the facilities like? do they have access to additional locations (ie do they use the gym or library at the school or across the street)
    8.do they go on fieldtrips?
    9.what is parent involvement? does that work with your lifestyle?
    10.how do you feel about the teachers?

After you get through preschool, you get to start all over again with kindergarten.
    1.is it full day or half day, and which days?
    2.catholic school or not?
    3.is it close to your home?
    4.do they offer busing?
    5.what is the rest of the school like? If you go to kindergarten there, it is likely that you will stay there for all of elementary as well. Do they have good academics for later years?
    6.do they have a focus on what you need them too (arts, academics, physical activity...)
    7.what are the facilities like?
    8.do they have appropriate field trips?
    9.what is the level of parent involvement? is this appropriate for your family?
    10.how do you feel about the teachers?

After all of that research, you can get registration packages and start the process in JANUARY of the year before you begin class. I know that is earlier then a lot of people think of it, so make sure you are watching around town, or you may miss out on the school or class you really want. Often, even with everything you've looked in to, the school districts have rules of the closest schools, or busing rules, or maybe, you just have to meet the teacher and see how it feels.

Good luck!! And don't let anyone pressure you into a decision, you

Joining The Internet World!!!

1/15/2012

I have decided that if I want this site to grow, and I do, that I must do it all the way!! In the spirit of that, I have formed a new e-mail address, which also allowes me to connect via Messenger. More communication will lead to more ideas, and more things to share with others. I am still looking for more bloggers, to offer a different perspective of the world, just fill out a comment form on the main page of this site and I will get back to you as soon as possible!!

It's an exciting world we live in, and there are more ways then ever to connect with old friends and new people. I look forward to expanding our community!!
Perhaps next will be a Facebook page...

You know you're a mom when...

1/9/2012

It happened. You're a mom.

4 30AM is now a time to get up, not a time to go to bed

Cold pizza is no longer a valid breakfast food

Midnight on New Years Eve? Oh, yeah, that's when the fireworks 10 miles away wake up the kids and they need to be cuddled back to sleep

Grocery shopping includes milk, vegetables, and fruit EVERY time, not just to fight a cold

Putting on coats and shoes takes twice as long as your shower

You dream of the perfect hot shower and perfect hair, or sh

:Bad" things even GOOD moms do!

1/9/2012

We all have our dirtly little secrets. Things we do that we don't want other moms to know we do...

1. Give your chld donuts for breakfast when you just don't want to cook those pancakes from scratch and a pound of bacon.

2. You don't notice that there are 3 open bottles of nailpolish being used in your living room because *gasp* you tried to do dishes while they were awake.

3. Forget, or almost forget, to buckle their seatbelt. They can do everything but carry their own stuff and buckle their own seat. Now unbuckling it, they learn that early.

4. Pretend your asleep when you jsut don't want to get up yet. They can watch cartoon for 30 mins, it won't hurt...

5. Find a reason NOT to play dolls, or Barbie. Sometimes it's just enough.

7. Tell them it's just to cold outside when you really just don't want to put all those layers on...

8. Run out of time for lunch, or a bath. Sure, snacking isn't the best, but if it's healthy is it really that horrible to not have a complete meal? And really, how dirty can they get if they miss just one bath...

9. Let them where the same clothes all day, then to bed. If it's a favorite, at what point is it no longer worth the crying and yelling just to put pajamas on? Besides, no one needs to know.

10. Use TV as a babysitter. Sure, we all know it's not the best solution, but the laundry just won't wash itself and sometimes, it's nice to have some w

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SuperMomsSuperKids

a mom blog community!

Author

I am a Work from home mom. I have worked in child care and management, and now chose to stay home, as this is where I am happiest.

Please feel free to leave comments, it is only through encouragement and critisism that we grow.

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