... on this baby. Ok, that might not be true, but I did love being able to celebrate Valentines Day with my love on Friday. (Figured we better get it in early with baby supposedly coming) I bought a Groupon last week for a place called Tapas Toro Bar, thinking it was an authentic Spanish restaurant (and too expensive for us... hence the Groupon!). Well it turns out that the menu wasn't so much Spanish food, except for the Paella, which we ordered. The waitress assured us it was a LOT of food and we'd definitely be taking some home. Nope! We were slightly embarrassed as she cleared our empty plates and commented that we must have really liked it. It was ok... we just like to eat....
Which is something I can't say for our kid! Abrupt change of topic.... I need some parenting help. I thought the current child was supposed to get ornery AFTER the new baby came, not before. He has been about all I can handle lately. He is the pickiest eater. Even foods that I know he likes, he won't touch. I dread dinner time. All we do is bribe, coerce and beg him to eat. I guess that goes for all meals. I used to watch parents do this and think, what's the big deal?! So they don't want to eat.... don't make them! They'll eat when they're hungry. But the thing is, that means they want to snack all day on crackers and junk and never eat {real} food. He also contradicts himself all the time. We were at Sam's Club yesterday and got a free sample. I tried to give him some multiple times but he wanted nothing to do with it. That is, until I threw it away. Then he went berserk, screaming and reaching for the garabage can. What am I missing here?
He is also big on {hitting}. When he gets mad, he hits. When he's not mad, he hits. On Saturday, he took a swipe at Gavin and I when I said, "don't hit", he looked at me with a smirk on his face and then hit him again! Time out isn't doing the trick. Saying sorry and giving hugs doesn't do it either. I find myself repressing a spanking most times. I mean how would that be effective. "Don't hit!" ... and now I'm going to hit YOU. Still.... it's tempting. And I suspect most will say it's just a phase. They will grow out of it. It may be true, but I still don't like that answer. Soooo, any good parenting books out there that are MUST READS?! I obviously don't know what I'm doing. And I just hate waiting on phases to end.... :)
And I'm also getting slightly impatient on waiting for this baby.... Not that that's a surprise. I had an appt. yesterday but he didn't check me. Can't say I'm sad about that. The {checking} ritual is already getting old. If I don't have him this week I have to go in for another ultrasound to check fluids and such. I'm pretty sure I'll be making that ultrasound. :(
On the plus side, I'm getting more odds and ends things out of the way. Including this gem of a craft! Rachel found something similar online and we decided to copy. We made them whilst watching the Bachelor last night and I LoVe the way it turned out. :) I also made a couple little hats for him yesterday since the hospital ones are so dreary. And I can't complain that I get to make it to Bunco tonight! So I'll just keep thinkin' on the postive while I wait and wait and......
10 comments:
I'm so glad you got in your big Vday date before baby comes. Heck, you might even get in another. :) I so wish I could give you advice about the kid & lack of interest in eating, but I'm in the same awful mess. And awful it is! So if you get any words of encouragement or advice PLEASE pass it on. I am so glad we did those blocks. They are adorable & make me smile every time I see it. I'm so proud of us :) And way to go on the babes little hats. They are so cute & tiny!
Love the blocks. You did a great job. What is up with that crazy Brad keeping Michele another week! I hope you have fun at Bunko. Picky eaters are a problem but you know what they grow up and go on missions and eat crazy things like chicken feet. Maybe if you limit the snacks, if you can indure the temper tantrum--maybe just walk away if you are at home, and then he might be more interested in eating at meals. I'm glad you and Trav got a Valentine's Day out. That paella looked pretty good. Have fun waiting! We can't wait to hear from you that the day has come.
Seriously...knowing what to do with kids is so hard. Your blocks are super cute! My blog selectively shows me pictures so i can't see the hats if you put a picture of them up. I am excited to meet your new babe!
Not that I’m any kind of an expert, but you just need to start enjoying the temper tantrum. I know it sounds crazy, but I do get a good tickle out of all the drama that goes into an out and out tantrum. The best was Liam when we went to California last time and he freaked out screaming in the hotel and the sound reverberated throughout the atrium. And since it had an atrium, everyone that came out to investigate on all 20 odd floors, including the people dining down below could see me and my child. Just shrug and wave. When he sees you aren’t paying him any mind he will stop. Every parent has dealt with a public tantrum and even if their first reaction is to look at you like you are a disturbing their peace with your child, I find if I smile and shrug at them in a "YOU know what I’m dealing with" kind of way, they usually smile back, or at least walk away. (The old goats)And hide all the snacks; kids won’t starve themselves...So says Dr. Phil. The worst thing to do is offer them something other than what the family is eating so they look at you like a short order chef. Not cool, and he will expect special meals when you go to friends/family’s houses. That probably wasn’t any help. Do nothing. But it’s what I do. :)
Oh Tollin. He's so little that when he hits the other kid wont even feel a thing:)
It's so hard to know what to do. I always felt like they were too young to even understand what a punishment was. Like associating time out because I hit. I was so wrong. Lane was smart for his britches and played dumb until I caught on to his scheme! I finally had to start taking away something that he loved dearly (red pants) until he figured it out. Being consistant is key too. With Rusty I decided I HAD to start young. He recently learned how to climb up the ottoman then hop over to the couch and almost plumit to his death. I told him no then put him down. He did it again so I put him in his crib for 1 minute. Throughout the week I did this and now he totally knows hes not supposed to climb up or he goes to his crib. IT'S AMAZING! So I think I let it slip way to often with Lane and thats where I went wrong. I don't know.
Anywho, yummy Valentines dinner. Im sure Duff enjoyed one of his last meals out inside the womb. I guess I can't call him Duff anymore. I will call him Westy boy!
the only bok I can reccomend is "the power of positive parenting" It is pretty much all about saying and doing everything positively such as instead of saying "don't hit" say "use soft hands". It's not a repremand, but a reminder. And give ALL the attention to good behavior and ignore or {silently move them away} during bad behavior. It works for some kids, others not so much. good luck. Collin can just feel the change in the air. :)
Have fun popping out your baby!
That craft is super cute!
I love the blocks I want to make one, and sorry about collin and the hitting, Kayda did the same thing and I would put her in timeout and it just didn't seem to work either. Kids are hard, but you are doing great don't worry about it too much.
My son who is about the same age as Collin has been doing the SAME things and I've been going CRAZY! Hopefully they grow out of it soon because I don't know what else to do either. Hope everything goes well for you and baby #2!
We can all relate. I don't think every child will respond the same way so you have to try different things. I read a lot of books when Gage was younger and loved Parenting with Love by Glenn Latham and Love and Logic by Jim Fay. Both sound similar to Jenni's book about creating a positive enviroment. They worked wonders and I should've read them again with Pax cuz I'm so forgettful and he can be a handful too. So I've been wingin' it, but that won't work well when #3 comes so I'm going to read them again. Like I say, they worked wonders for Gage and I need to be more positive with Pax instead of always saying "No". Good luck.
You didn't even look pregnant in your last picture with Travis, whatever. I can't wait to see pictures. (the blocks are ADORABLE)
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