Now, I want to apologize to the friends that I have made here in Batesville, (future reference will be referred to as "boring-ville.") I really hope this post doesn't offend you and that isn't my intention.
But, Boring-ville is boring. I mean, the most excitement here is Wal-Mart. Well, if you count the McDonald's play place, I guess there's two exciting places.
Boring-ville isn't so bad when there's pretty weather. We live on 3 acres, so if the weather is pretty we are outside. Parker loves to play in the woods, play on his playground his daddy built him, wash cars, walk the dogs etc. There's actually a lot to do around our house. But, it's a different story if it's raining or we are having stormy weather.
Let's look at the past few days. On Tuesday and Thursday morning Parker has Mother's Day Out. (Which is GREAT and he loves going there). It has been raining here the past few days and we are tired of being inside. Parker is getting frustrated and bored with his toys. I hate for him to sit in front of the TV (not that he would sit for more than 15 minutes anyway), so that isn't an option. Little Parker has to be busy constantly. If he starts getting bored it's going to get rough. He starts getting frustrated and crying. So, I know to keep Parker very busy. He likes to be doing things and he is a very active little boy.
We've done just about EVERYTHING I can think of the past few days. We've cooked, we've baked, we've dyed eggs, we've danced and sung, we've cleaned, and we've played countless hours of hide and seek. Parker was excited to go to gymnastics class on Monday night, but he was mad that we didn't go because the teacher cancelled because of the weather. It would be nice if Boring-ville had a PlayTime pizza, chuck e cheese, wonder place, or museum of discovery. I mean, the only things there are here are McDonalds and WalMart. (And, even wal mart is very old these days.) Parker doesn't have any friends his age to invite over to play (which stinks).
If I were in Little Rock, we'd be at the Wonder Place or Museum of Discovery stimulating his little mind. We might go to playtime pizza to let him run around like a wild little boy and of course, eat pizza!
I miss my mom and dad SO much. I think about being away from them everyday. It stinks. I miss our precious neighbor Mr. Cox. I miss my friends. (thank God for facebook). But it's not like I can go meet them for a play date. It really stinks that Parker doesn't have any friends he can invite over to play. I hate that for him and I wish it were different. There are other kids in his mother's day out class but I don't ever see the parents. Even at our church, there doesn't seem to be any kids Parker's age. There are several that are older and there are several that are younger. I just don't seem to fit in here.
I have met some nice people and made a few friends here. But I often feel like an outsider when i'm with them because they've been friends since they were kids.
I'm just homesick right now and I don't like living here. But, that's just life I guess.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
It was a battle of the strongest will...
So, if you have been around my child you would see that he is a very good little boy. He gets his feelings hurt very easily. He, for the most part, listens to myself and Bradley. For example, if we ask him to help pick up his toys he does. We try to make a game of it by getting his beloved Cat involved in helping pick up the toys. But there are sometimes that he has to go to time out. It is usually for hitting the dogs or if we ask him to not do something and he continues to do it. He hasn't been in time out very many times. Maybe he is put there once every couple of weeks. I mean, he is a really good boy. Time out has always worked for him...until this past Saturday.....
Batesville had some kind of kite flying event that was held at the State Fairgrounds. I thought it would be fun to take Parker and watch the kites. Maybe he and his daddy could fly a kite. We talked to him about it and he seemed to be on board with going. (which could totally change at any time.) We were in his room playing with toys. We had his SpongeBob Domino's out and we were matching up characters on each domino. These aren't the plastic kind of domino's, they are porcelin. So, if thrown, they could break, if thrown at a window ...could break a window, if thrown at a mommy, daddy, or dog, could hurt.
I guess maybe I was sitting too close to Parker, maybe I had the domino he wanted. Who knows. He was not a happy camper Saturday morning so anything was going to set him off. He got mad and threw a domino. I gave a warning, "Please don't throw your toys." He threw a second domino. I told him, "Parker if you throw another domino, you will sit in time out." And, he threw a third domino. I picked up my mad little boy and sat him in the time out corner. Now, I will stop here and say that every other time he has been sat in time out, he has stayed. He faces the corner and he quietly sobs to himself. This time, by the time I had turned around, he was standing behind me. I looked at Bradley, and couldn't believe what I was seeing. I took a deep breath and placed him back in the corner. This went on for over 5 minutes, but it seemed like an hour. I couldn't count the number of times I placed him back in the corner. 100 maybe? My child was pissed and definately testing me to see how far he could go. At one point, Bradley asked if I wanted to switch out. I said no, because I was the one who placed him there and I need to follow through.
At one point during the battle I just had to laugh. (I hid my face so little mad boy wouldn't see...for fear of him getting madder). I laughed because if I didn't I was going to become angry and frustrated. I'm not going to lie, after placing him in time out for the 50th time, thoughts went through my mind that I wanted to spank him really bad. Which is why I laughed. I never want to hit my child. Spanking is hitting. It sends the wrong message and damages their spirit. I never want to do that to my child. Never.
Finally, I asked Bradley to bring me the beloved Cat. I gave it to Parker as I placed him in time out AGAIN, and said, "Parker talk to Cat about why you are in time out." And....he stayed. He stayed for the whole 2 minutes. I defeated a 2 year old and it felt great. After the 2 minutes were up, I sat down by him and asked him to tell me why he was in time out. He said, "throw toys." I then explained to him why you don't throw toys. I told him I loved him very much, gave him a hug and he gave me a five. And, I think he learned a big lesson.
I'm sure this won't be the first time he ever does this. And it really broke my heart to keep putting that sweet little boy back in time out. Tore my heart up. But, I knew if I gave in, or I let walk out of time out, he doesn't learn anything and in fact, I have just made the battle worse. I would say, this was a really hard day in my 2 years of parenting.
I am very thankful for my GOOD, well behaved little boy. I think it reflects off of the attention he gets from myself and Bradley. We don't watch TV while Parker is awake...unless it's Nick Jr. and we are usually watching it with him. We don't have computers out or cell phones out to distract us. We are giving him our undivided attention and I believe that this is why he does what he is asked.
What kinds of things do you put your kids in time out for? Ever had a similar story?
Batesville had some kind of kite flying event that was held at the State Fairgrounds. I thought it would be fun to take Parker and watch the kites. Maybe he and his daddy could fly a kite. We talked to him about it and he seemed to be on board with going. (which could totally change at any time.) We were in his room playing with toys. We had his SpongeBob Domino's out and we were matching up characters on each domino. These aren't the plastic kind of domino's, they are porcelin. So, if thrown, they could break, if thrown at a window ...could break a window, if thrown at a mommy, daddy, or dog, could hurt.
I guess maybe I was sitting too close to Parker, maybe I had the domino he wanted. Who knows. He was not a happy camper Saturday morning so anything was going to set him off. He got mad and threw a domino. I gave a warning, "Please don't throw your toys." He threw a second domino. I told him, "Parker if you throw another domino, you will sit in time out." And, he threw a third domino. I picked up my mad little boy and sat him in the time out corner. Now, I will stop here and say that every other time he has been sat in time out, he has stayed. He faces the corner and he quietly sobs to himself. This time, by the time I had turned around, he was standing behind me. I looked at Bradley, and couldn't believe what I was seeing. I took a deep breath and placed him back in the corner. This went on for over 5 minutes, but it seemed like an hour. I couldn't count the number of times I placed him back in the corner. 100 maybe? My child was pissed and definately testing me to see how far he could go. At one point, Bradley asked if I wanted to switch out. I said no, because I was the one who placed him there and I need to follow through.
At one point during the battle I just had to laugh. (I hid my face so little mad boy wouldn't see...for fear of him getting madder). I laughed because if I didn't I was going to become angry and frustrated. I'm not going to lie, after placing him in time out for the 50th time, thoughts went through my mind that I wanted to spank him really bad. Which is why I laughed. I never want to hit my child. Spanking is hitting. It sends the wrong message and damages their spirit. I never want to do that to my child. Never.
Finally, I asked Bradley to bring me the beloved Cat. I gave it to Parker as I placed him in time out AGAIN, and said, "Parker talk to Cat about why you are in time out." And....he stayed. He stayed for the whole 2 minutes. I defeated a 2 year old and it felt great. After the 2 minutes were up, I sat down by him and asked him to tell me why he was in time out. He said, "throw toys." I then explained to him why you don't throw toys. I told him I loved him very much, gave him a hug and he gave me a five. And, I think he learned a big lesson.
I'm sure this won't be the first time he ever does this. And it really broke my heart to keep putting that sweet little boy back in time out. Tore my heart up. But, I knew if I gave in, or I let walk out of time out, he doesn't learn anything and in fact, I have just made the battle worse. I would say, this was a really hard day in my 2 years of parenting.
I am very thankful for my GOOD, well behaved little boy. I think it reflects off of the attention he gets from myself and Bradley. We don't watch TV while Parker is awake...unless it's Nick Jr. and we are usually watching it with him. We don't have computers out or cell phones out to distract us. We are giving him our undivided attention and I believe that this is why he does what he is asked.
What kinds of things do you put your kids in time out for? Ever had a similar story?
Friday, April 8, 2011
Things you MIGHT not know about me..
If you've known me for sometime then you may know some of this already..maybe not. (In no particular order..)
1) I am a preacher's kid (PK!) Yes, my dad is a United Methodist Preacher. I loved being a PK. We moved around a lot and my brother and I make friends easily. It was really cool to go to college and already have friends.
2) I have a hard time answering the questions, "How many siblings do you have?" Well, I have two brothers but my oldest brother died when he was 4. So I get a little confused whether to answer 1 or 2. Usually I say 2 brother's and that's enough for most people. Sometimes people will ask questions about them and I explain. He died when I was 2. I don't really remember him but he has impacted my life greatly. It has shaped my life and makes me the mom I am today. I'm not sure how my parents survived his death...but I guess they had too, they had myself and my younger brother to take care of. We named Parker after my oldest brother. I know that he is in heaven looking down on me and watching over me.
3) I used to be a vegetarian. I was one for a long time. Then I became pregnant with Parker and all I craved was fried chicken and bacon. I remember going to Sam's one day, while pregnant, and passing by a sample of fried chicken. It was the only thing I could think of the rest of the day. I finally gave in and ate meat. I hope to one day go back to being a vegetarian.
4) I had my concealed hand gun permit. Yes, I packed heat. I let it expire when baby Parker was born. Didn't really think it was appropriate to carry a gun in a diaper bag. I will get it back one day. I enjoy shooting my pistol. I carried a 380.
5) I think potty humor is funny. Enough said.
6) I have slight OCD. For example, every Friday I put our bath towels we have used for the week in the dirty clothes. When I wash, I put the most recently washed towels on the bottom and the ones on top we use first. Same with wash clothes and Parker's pajamas.
Have a nice weekend!
1) I am a preacher's kid (PK!) Yes, my dad is a United Methodist Preacher. I loved being a PK. We moved around a lot and my brother and I make friends easily. It was really cool to go to college and already have friends.
2) I have a hard time answering the questions, "How many siblings do you have?" Well, I have two brothers but my oldest brother died when he was 4. So I get a little confused whether to answer 1 or 2. Usually I say 2 brother's and that's enough for most people. Sometimes people will ask questions about them and I explain. He died when I was 2. I don't really remember him but he has impacted my life greatly. It has shaped my life and makes me the mom I am today. I'm not sure how my parents survived his death...but I guess they had too, they had myself and my younger brother to take care of. We named Parker after my oldest brother. I know that he is in heaven looking down on me and watching over me.
3) I used to be a vegetarian. I was one for a long time. Then I became pregnant with Parker and all I craved was fried chicken and bacon. I remember going to Sam's one day, while pregnant, and passing by a sample of fried chicken. It was the only thing I could think of the rest of the day. I finally gave in and ate meat. I hope to one day go back to being a vegetarian.
4) I had my concealed hand gun permit. Yes, I packed heat. I let it expire when baby Parker was born. Didn't really think it was appropriate to carry a gun in a diaper bag. I will get it back one day. I enjoy shooting my pistol. I carried a 380.
5) I think potty humor is funny. Enough said.
6) I have slight OCD. For example, every Friday I put our bath towels we have used for the week in the dirty clothes. When I wash, I put the most recently washed towels on the bottom and the ones on top we use first. Same with wash clothes and Parker's pajamas.
Have a nice weekend!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
