Most of the time Evan is a little angel and is as sweet as can be, but there are some times that the devil takes hold of him and he turns into a monster. Thankfully these Dr. Hyde moments have been at the house and I can deal it with him without being embarrassed or judged. But, with any luck streak it ran out and lately this not so nice side of Evan has been coming out in public.
I've read about it in every toddler development book and shouldn't have been surprised when it happened, but I was. My son is a hitter. I have no idea why he decided he wants to hit people, pets, and things but he has and I'm dumbfounded by it. It started happening a few weeks back when he'd get upset at me or John for not letting him do what he wanted, he'd walk up and hit us. I'd promptly put him in time out and tell him no hitting, to which he'd cry even more but then walk over and give us a hug. In my mind, this was making progress and I had the problem under control.
Fast forward to Evan's Kindermusik class this past Saturday when Dr. Hyde decided to pay a little visit. We had just walked into class, when Evan decided to walk up to a baby girl that was 6 months old and hit her in her head. For no reason. I was mortified and jumped up immediately to discipline Evan, but the look on the mom's face said it all. And it didn't just stop with just the one baby. Half way through the class Evan decided he didn't like how his friend Michael was shaking his maraca and hit him. Thankfully the mom of Michael was more understanding and told me it was ok while giving me a sympathetic look. Sigh! I'm almost embarrassed to see what this week's class is going to bring because I don't want Evan to be labeled as the class bully.
I then took Evan to John's softball game this past Sunday because the weather has been so nice and he adores being outside. As with any softball field there are kids everywhere, which meant more opportunities for Dr. Hyde to rare his ugly head. Anytime Evan sees a kid he is drawn to them and runs right up. Most of the time it's ok and I'm usually thankful that he's so outgoing, but not this time. The first kid he saw sitting on the bleachers he decided to run up and hit. So, the rest of the night was spent with me trying to play buffer between Evan and any kid he saw. It was exhausting.
Everything I've read said that this is just a stage and it will pass, but I'm ready for it to be over now. It's embarrassing and I don't want people to think this is how we raise Evan. I've been working with him to try and channel his anger or whatever this feeling is inside of him that is making him hit into other ways but it's hard to do with a 17 month old. Hopefully as his language skills develop he'll get better with emotions, but until then I'll be taking every preventative measure necessary to keep Dr. Hyde at bay.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Frugalista
I've always been one to admire a great do-it-yourself project or craft and secretly wish I was the next Martha Stewart (minus the insider trading jail stint she did). Time, lack of motivation, or plain old creative block usually gets the best of me and I don't normally make my own things. The only real thing I can claim that does save our family money that I love is cooking and even then I don't cook as much as I'd like to.
Having a child did something to me. I now try to be frugal where I can. It's like the instant I had Evan not only did it trigger my hormones to go ape shit it also released a hormone in my brain to appreciate DIY projects and actually try them myself. And so far I've enjoyed every project I've actually tried and they've all turned out pretty good.
My best friend recently turned me on to this website called pintrest, which if you haven't checked it out YOU MUST DO SO NOW! And yes that's an order! Pintrest is the mecca of all crafty, do-it-yourself, cook to your heart's content websites the web has to offer. It allows you to see what other people have posted and if you like it you can post it on one of your boards which is like a saved file for all things cool. I'll admit, I'm addicted to this site like crack heads are to crack. I love seeing all the cool things that are out there to make and I'm determined to make everything I've pinned to a board.
My first try at one of my pintrest finds was Oreo cheesecake cups, which turned out divine. I made them for a get together my friend had and ate about half of them the night I made them. If you'd like to try them too (and believe me you do) you can find the recipe here http://daintychef-krissy.blogspot.com/2011/09/oreo-cheesecake-cups.html
My next pintrest try fuel my frugalista side and will save me money for years to come, homemade baby wipes. If you're like me, you are probably thinking, what? homemade baby wipes? That's right folks; you can make your own wipes that are even better than the store bought kind. I was a bit skeptical myself, but once I saw how easy they were to make I got right to it and loved the outcome so much that I don't think I'll be buying wipes from the store ever again. And since I did graduate from college, I had to put the pen to the paper just to see how much it would save me and was even more surprised. A package of wipes is roughly around $3.50 which we would use about one package every week or so(you don't even want to get me started on the number of arguments John and I have had on the number of wipes he uses at one diaper change). That averages out to about $182 a year just in wipes. Multiply that over 5 years and you are spending close to $1,000 for basically a piece of wet paper towel. I don't know about you, but I could do something a lot more fun with $1,000 than wipe someone's butt with it (pun intended).
So, if your feel the same way I do check out this website http://www.homemademamas.net/2010/07/homemade-baby-wipes.html and start making your own wipes. You can thank me later :)
Next on my list of DIY to do's homemade Febreeze (http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/2011/07/fake-febreeze.html) and I'm actually really excited about it!
Look out world there is no stopping this frugalista!!
Having a child did something to me. I now try to be frugal where I can. It's like the instant I had Evan not only did it trigger my hormones to go ape shit it also released a hormone in my brain to appreciate DIY projects and actually try them myself. And so far I've enjoyed every project I've actually tried and they've all turned out pretty good.
My best friend recently turned me on to this website called pintrest, which if you haven't checked it out YOU MUST DO SO NOW! And yes that's an order! Pintrest is the mecca of all crafty, do-it-yourself, cook to your heart's content websites the web has to offer. It allows you to see what other people have posted and if you like it you can post it on one of your boards which is like a saved file for all things cool. I'll admit, I'm addicted to this site like crack heads are to crack. I love seeing all the cool things that are out there to make and I'm determined to make everything I've pinned to a board.
My first try at one of my pintrest finds was Oreo cheesecake cups, which turned out divine. I made them for a get together my friend had and ate about half of them the night I made them. If you'd like to try them too (and believe me you do) you can find the recipe here http://daintychef-krissy.blogspot.com/2011/09/oreo-cheesecake-cups.html
My next pintrest try fuel my frugalista side and will save me money for years to come, homemade baby wipes. If you're like me, you are probably thinking, what? homemade baby wipes? That's right folks; you can make your own wipes that are even better than the store bought kind. I was a bit skeptical myself, but once I saw how easy they were to make I got right to it and loved the outcome so much that I don't think I'll be buying wipes from the store ever again. And since I did graduate from college, I had to put the pen to the paper just to see how much it would save me and was even more surprised. A package of wipes is roughly around $3.50 which we would use about one package every week or so(you don't even want to get me started on the number of arguments John and I have had on the number of wipes he uses at one diaper change). That averages out to about $182 a year just in wipes. Multiply that over 5 years and you are spending close to $1,000 for basically a piece of wet paper towel. I don't know about you, but I could do something a lot more fun with $1,000 than wipe someone's butt with it (pun intended).
So, if your feel the same way I do check out this website http://www.homemademamas.net/2010/07/homemade-baby-wipes.html and start making your own wipes. You can thank me later :)
Next on my list of DIY to do's homemade Febreeze (http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/2011/07/fake-febreeze.html) and I'm actually really excited about it!
Look out world there is no stopping this frugalista!!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Every parent does it!
Every parent does it....and if they tell you they don't they are liars! What am I referring to you might be wondering? Comparing your child to someone else's. This is something that I'm not proud of and that I fight really really hard not to do, but against all my will and might it still happens.
I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I spent tossing and turning about when my sweet little Evan would walk. Friend's that had baby's around the same time I had Evan kids were walking and in some instances running! I had visions of carrying Evan across the stage at his high school graduation because he still hadn't learned to walk. Every month starting at 11 months, I would do everything I could to encourage him to get up and take off. Nothing. I read countless books and talked to his doctor about it. I felt like he teased me by scooting around holding on to the couch or his walker, but never really letting anything go to walk on his own. Then one day while I was talking with John's mom he just stood up and walked over to her. Wha?!? When did this happen? Did I really just see that? Now he is walking all over the place, and I could kick myself for every worrying so much about it.
I wish I could say that was the only thing I worried about because of comparing him to other kids, but it's not. When a friend's baby was eating solids, I thought why doesn't Evan like solids? When he did start eating solids and I saw my best friend's son eating vegetables, I thought why won't Evan eat vegetables? When out eating with Evan my husband and I struck up a conversation with a couple sitting next to us at a table who also had a 16 month old, but not just any 16 month old one that could sign like pro. The couple explained they started teaching their baby sign language at 3 months old. Why hadn't I done that? The list goes on and on and it's almost shameful when I really think about it.
The latest thing I was comparing Evan too has to do with his vocabulary. Evan is very smart (if I do say so myself) and understands almost everything you say to him. I can ask him to bring me something, put something away, to go somewhere and he'll do it but as far as him talking to you with words you can understand it ain't happening. He can mimic your words when he's focused but doesn't just say them on his own (other than dadda and nana). My comparing mind kicked in and I started comparing him to other children which lead to me wondering if he is developing ok which lead to more sleepless nights. I decided this has to end. I can't keep doing this to myself or my child.
Evan has hit all his developmental milestones just fine. He will do it when he is ready and I can't...CAN'T....compare him to anyone else because he is his own person. This epiphany, if you will, is what lead me to writing this entry. To remind myself that I have to enjoy every moment as it is with Evan and he will be fine. Evan is Evan not anyone else. So note to myself: Stop comparing and Enjoy!
I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I spent tossing and turning about when my sweet little Evan would walk. Friend's that had baby's around the same time I had Evan kids were walking and in some instances running! I had visions of carrying Evan across the stage at his high school graduation because he still hadn't learned to walk. Every month starting at 11 months, I would do everything I could to encourage him to get up and take off. Nothing. I read countless books and talked to his doctor about it. I felt like he teased me by scooting around holding on to the couch or his walker, but never really letting anything go to walk on his own. Then one day while I was talking with John's mom he just stood up and walked over to her. Wha?!? When did this happen? Did I really just see that? Now he is walking all over the place, and I could kick myself for every worrying so much about it.
I wish I could say that was the only thing I worried about because of comparing him to other kids, but it's not. When a friend's baby was eating solids, I thought why doesn't Evan like solids? When he did start eating solids and I saw my best friend's son eating vegetables, I thought why won't Evan eat vegetables? When out eating with Evan my husband and I struck up a conversation with a couple sitting next to us at a table who also had a 16 month old, but not just any 16 month old one that could sign like pro. The couple explained they started teaching their baby sign language at 3 months old. Why hadn't I done that? The list goes on and on and it's almost shameful when I really think about it.
The latest thing I was comparing Evan too has to do with his vocabulary. Evan is very smart (if I do say so myself) and understands almost everything you say to him. I can ask him to bring me something, put something away, to go somewhere and he'll do it but as far as him talking to you with words you can understand it ain't happening. He can mimic your words when he's focused but doesn't just say them on his own (other than dadda and nana). My comparing mind kicked in and I started comparing him to other children which lead to me wondering if he is developing ok which lead to more sleepless nights. I decided this has to end. I can't keep doing this to myself or my child.
Evan has hit all his developmental milestones just fine. He will do it when he is ready and I can't...CAN'T....compare him to anyone else because he is his own person. This epiphany, if you will, is what lead me to writing this entry. To remind myself that I have to enjoy every moment as it is with Evan and he will be fine. Evan is Evan not anyone else. So note to myself: Stop comparing and Enjoy!
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