DC Metro Mom

If you’re like my boys and me, you’ve been chasing around space shuttle Discovery over the past week. I heard about the shuttle coming up from Florida to the Air and Space Museum by Dulles a few months ago from one of my wonderful Northern Virginia mommy blogger connections and have had the days blocked off on my calendar ever since then. My twin boys are obsessed with all things space.  

On Tuesday the boys and I went down to the National Mall to see the shuttle fly over atop a modified jet. What I found the most intriguing was the sense of waiting expectantly with so many other people--  on the ground or on the tops of buildings— all waiting for the same thing.  We were by the Capitol, and judging from the crowds on the terraces, there were not many people left inside the Capitol. Everyone looking at the sky.

I love living in the DC Metro area. It has taken me awhile to arrive at that conclusion as a mother, however, considering my rural upbringing. I spent many summer days making mud pies at our creek, raising 4-H sheep, and harvesting a mammoth garden. I guess I always thought I’d raise my kids in a similar environment. I’ve now been here in the area for almost 10 years. I loved it when I was single; it was the fast-paced change from Idaho that I needed—a fresh, exciting start. I liked it when I was engaged; living a little farther out from the city, but still riding the metro to work every day, planning a wedding. I liked it when I was married and pregnant; my doctors were great, my new home was fun to decorate, my new job fulfilling. But for some reason the idea that here my kids would most likely not know how to identify a carrot plant from a bean plant by the time they were two, or how to milk a goat, or collect an egg from a feisty hen, made me feel guilty or inadequate or something like that. It was a feeling that was hard to explain and articulate.

Down time has a new look these days.

Yesterday, I laid in bed for 1.5 hours with my baby. This is what we did.

A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING.

K is a horrible eater. Has been since she was a toddler. Now, at 6, she eats NO vegetables, and NO fruits. Seriously. She eats baby food banana/mixed berries and she eats applesauce, but that is it. She also eats no meats. Chicken nuggets only. No hamburger, no hot dogs, no grilled chicken or chicken in any form other than nugget, no red meat, no pork, no turkey or other poultry. She is pretty much surviving on dairy (yogurt, cheese) and grains (bread, bagels, cereal, pasta). She will eat peanuts and cashews to help with protein and she likes quiche (with cheese only, of course).

B, at 4, is a much better eater. She loves all fruits, many veggies, but is also bad on proteins. She will eat chicken nuggets and grilled chicken pieces - but that is about it. She also like nuts, but does no like eggs. Worse, K has started to wear off on her and she is getting picky.

Big Man eats everything and lots of it (he moved up to the 20% at his 2-year checkup - yay!).

This is something I have wanted to work on for a while, but just haven't had the will. A few weeks ago, the straw broke the camels back. I had taken the girls berry picking and we made a beautiful strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry pie. It smelled soooo good. B eats all these berries and LOVES them. She also like bread. So pie should be right up her alley. I knew K would scoff at it. When it had cooled and I cut a slice for B, she refused to even taste it. I was so angry. I actually left the room and went upstairs so I didn't just kill them. When I came down I was still really pissed. I basically told them that I had had it. They were not going to continue to eat like they were and when I got back from vacation we would all eat as a family. Whatever mommy (or daddy) cooked for dinner was IT. Nothing else unless you clear your plate, and no snacks when they come home from school (they get a snack at school at 4pm).

This week we started it. And what a joy it has been. Monday I played it easy on them - homemade chicken strips and McDonalds french fries. I actually went to Mickey Ds and bought the fries. Big Man gobbled it all up and wanted more. K and B sobbed to the point of hysteria all through dinner. DH decided that they could not leave the table until they had finished their plates. They had about 4-5 small pieces of chicken. K finally finished around 8:15 (15 minutes past bedtime). B didn't finish until nearly 9:15, after I had coated each piece in grated cheese.

Tuesday we had pork tenderloin with rice and green beans. The rule was you could leave the table after you had tried a bite of everything on your plate, but no more food unless you finished your dinner. This got all three of them screaming crying. Big Man liked the rice and green beans, but the pork was too much chewing for him. He had two pieces, and cried when I wouldn't give him yogurt. I could not get him to understand he had to eat the other two first. But I didn't want to break the rules in front of the girls. K and B again had sobbing crying fits. B eventually ate enough to get a cheese stick. K ate one piece and was done.

Tonight we are having chicken Marsala with pasta. Should be lovely. I think we are in for a few weeks of this, but I am hopeful we will someday have our nice, pleasant dinners. At the very least, I think I am going to need a nightly glass of wine with dinner to get through all the tantrums!

Cross posted on http://www.threetimemommy.blogspot.com/.

We had a lot of picnics in Paris. We would grab some baguettes, some cheese, some wine and some pasties and just pop a squat. One day, while picnicking near the Eiffel Tower, I decided to get a group picture. I carefully set my camera up on top of some plastic cups and set the timer. As I ran around my friends to drop into the picture, I slipped and slid on the grass and sort of ended up sliding into my spot. It didn't hurt, and was completely hysterical - especially the way I am looking happy and perfect in the picture while all my friends are looking at me.

But the best part is in the background of the picture. Over my shoulder is a police officer. He saw the whole thing and has the most priceless expression. Here it is blown up:

He looks so appalled. I can barely type this it makes me laugh EVERY time. He actually jumped over the little fence to come to my aid. He had a little hanky out for me to wipe the grass stains off my leg. I just couldn't stop laughing.

Here is the pretty version of the picture:

So I am in process of planning two big vacations. What I cannot do without is a notebook. I have three dedicated notebooks for my trips - where I write down, and tape in, anything to do with the trip.

1) My trip to Paris. This is next week and I cannot wait. I am going with 6 of my girlfriends. Of the 7 of us, 4 turn 40 this year - so we are celebrating. A whole week in an apartment in the City of Lights - without kids or husbands. I am sooo excited. For this trip I have all information in a pretty travel journal with tabs. I have sections for shopping, eating, sightseeing, logistics and other. I have either written down information or cut and pasted information in. I plan to bring this with me on my trip.

2) DisneyWorld. We are taking our girls on a trip to Disney in November. I have been planning this from last February. I have a simple spiral notebook that I have used to write tips I have heard/seen, all of our advanced dining reservation confirmation codes, etc. I have even started to paste in maps and such. These notebooks are the way I stay organized, and have all the information I need in one place. That is what works for me! For more tips visit rocks in my dryer!

Cross posted on http://www.threetimemommy.blogspot.com/.

So, we hit a bump in the road with Emily's "Big Girl Bed".  The transition from the crib went so smoothly at first.  She's not getting out of it on her own....but it's so much harder to get her to fall asleep.  We made the mistake of falling asleep with her.  NOT GOOD.  Now, we have a whole new routine of books and cuddling and prayer with her.  And lately, she only wants Mommy.

At 7:35pm....Greg tried tonight to help and do the bedtime routine...but she cried off and on for an hour screaming MOMMY!  I finally went up to calm her down, cuddle, read her "tractor" book that she loves...and 30 minutes later I'm still trying to "get away"...but her please of "one more minute mommy" mealt my heart and I stay.

Then, my mommy creative hormone kicks in...a lightbulb moment...I ask her..."do you want me to get you a mommy doll?"  Her eyes lit up, her mouth wide open, "yeah," she said.

So, I walked downstairs to dig down in a drawer full of stuffed animals to find one that she's forgotton about...a big white fluffy bunny struck me as extra "cuddly".  As I walked back up the stairs I heard her asking, "Mommy....got da Mommy doll yet?"

Whenever I am talking to people at work or something and mention we went out to dinner, people always say, "Oh, I can't take my kids to restaurants". It makes me want to scream. The reason why kids "can't" go to restaurants is because the parents don't take them to restaurants. The only way kids learn how to behave in restaurants is to go to them. We make a concerted effort to go out with the kids every two weeks or so.

Now, I'm not saying we bring them to Ruth Cris Steakhouse or some high-end restaurant (although we do occasionally)..but just going to the neighborhood joint or a chain restaurant like Chilis or Olive Garden or something is enough.
And you can't expect little kids to just sit there, wait for their food, and make polite conversation. You have to be prepared. We carry crayons and coloring books, as well as aqua-doodle sheets and pens. It is not always easy. Especially with Big Man - keeping him in his seat is not an easy task.

Some times it is a nightmare, and we end up getting our food in boxes and leaving. But I think that has only happened once. More often we don't have a leisurely dinner, but more sort of rush through a bit so that the kids can handle it. But most of the time it works out just fine. The kids understand how to behave, amuse themselves with crayons or the like, and we have a nice family dinner. But we think it is important that our kids learn how to behave in public. And the only way that will happen is if we do it. (And it means we go out for dinner without paying $15/hour for a babysitter.)

Cross posted on http://www.threetimemommy.blogspot.com/.

Not a new idea, but one that works for me!

A few weeks ago I started writing notes to my oldest and putting them in her lunch box. She has just started to read on her own, and I thought this would be a way of encouraging her.

It has been such a great thing. Everyday I send her a little note, and every day she writes me a note back. It has been so great. Her notes usually respond to something I said. Recent quotes from my sweet girl, "You are a good mom to me be cas you alp me wan I am sic"..."I am hipe that you love my school wrc", and my personal favorite "I love you becas you are my boust friend mom". Obviously spelling not a big concern in kindergarten. But is surely has been a great way for use to communicate! And helping her read and write is a bonus!

Go over to Rocksinmydryer for more ideas!

Cross posted on http://www.threetimemommy.blogspot.com/.

I will admit I am a marketer's dream.  If there is a new product, movie, event, etc....I want to check it out.  I have this insatiable need to be running with the pack.  As my 3rd official Mom's Day drew closer and I thought about what I wanted to do to celebrate, I realized I was doing the same thing with the event of Mother's Day.  I was falling prey to the hype and Madison Avenue expectation of Mother's Day.  In years past, I would mandate a beautiful brunch with a well coiffed family and a special day in DC.  Why...because it is what folks do on Mother's Day...right?? 

Well I have come to realize that my daughter appears to like dining with us even less than we enjoy the experience with her.  Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter.  She is a high energy bundle of joy who NEVER wants to sit down.  It is not her gig.  If she is in a new environment she MUST check out every nook and cranny of a house, restaurant, park, etc.  It makes playdates virtually impossible as she will never sit still and is typically discovering someone's upstairs faucet after 30 minutes at a playdate.  I have come to expect this behavior and have planned around it.

Gia thrives in an open environment where she can run and explore.  I often feel the same.  I have never been one to shop with people.  I like my own schedule.  I hate making fixed plans with other couples.  There is no wiggle room if you are early or late.  So I guess I shouldn't be shocked to see my own hyperactivity and restless spirit in my child.  With this in mind, this Mother's Day I picked an event that would create harmony for the whole family.  My little one got to stay home with her father that she adores!  She watched her favorite shows and played for hours on a rainy Sunday.  As for me, I enjoyed 3 hours rooming the mall.  I gave myself carte blanche to linger in Restoration Hardware, fend off Gymboree and shop without a frustrated toddler.  It was the first time I have done so, guilt-free, in almost 3 years.  I loved every minute of it.  I also felt the pain of the mother in the adjacent fitting room, who told her 4 year old to return to her father because "You are making mommy nervous".  She wasn't enjoying her shopping trip and it ended abruptly 5 minutes later, without a purchase.

My long winded point is this...maybe we owe it to ourselves and our kids to break the mold and the stereotype of society's accepted behavior and go with what works for us and our family.  I have learned this lesson the hard way.  I have a full list!  Failed attempts at toddler ballet, acquiescing to other people's schedules that in no way helped me or my child, disjointed playdates that left my daughter irritated, listening to unsolicited parenting advice that in no way jived with my daughter's personality and countless other tales of woe...

At the end of the day and to borrow an overused line from every season of "The Bachelor", we really do need to be "True to ourselves".  It is not always easy, but I have found in my 37 years that the more you try to win a popularity contest with society the greater the chance of failure!  Impress yourself and your family first, it makes life a lot easier and a heck of a lot more pleasant.  Happy belated Mother's Day.