What To Do?

I think the world of my son. He is the light of my life, the beat in my heart, my everything. He has the most beautiful smile, the cutest laugh and has the most adorable shining eyes that lights up every time he figures out a new thing (good and bad). I have already posted this once, but I will post it again...I don't know what to do. My kid hits, bites and pulls hair.

Literally this Mama has poured through countless articles on what to do. Some say bite or hit right back. I think the idea is stupid. Sorry if you don't agree with me, but its stupid. In my opinion it just reinforces the idea of hitting/biting but only if you are bigger then someone. Other articles talk about time outs, taking away toys, etc., I am game for that and have done that consistently. I look for behavioral signs if my son is tired, hungry, over stimulated, etc., It doesn't matter. He will do what he does (as embarrassing as it is for me) any time of the day or night. I also read where toddlers will learn quickly (which in my house its apparently not happening)while other toddlers will take their time and stop doing it after six months. Six months! REALLY? Please God no.

It sucks because you feel guilty for it happening in the first place. You feel bad for the other kids. You feel bad for the parents of the "victims". I have some parents where they understand. It sucks but they understand its the age (thank God). I have other parents where they kind of freak out on me. Its not like I want my kid to do "XYZ" to their kid and I am doing the best I can. Its not like I am encouraging the behavior by saying, "Go honey GO!" I find the parents freaking out me part just stresses me out ten fold along with the embarrassment/stress of my son's action(s).

My kid is head strong and I adore that about him. I doubt in life he'll be pushed around very much. However this biting/hitting/pulling hair issue I think is my biggest parenting challenge yet. Forget late nights/early morning, sleep deprivation, endless amounts of poop diapers, temper tantrums, never having a clean shirt on because something will be wiped or spilled on it because that has NOTHING on this challenge. I know in time this will be a distant memory. My son will learn that this negative behavior isn't cutting it. Until then, be patient. Don't yell at me and don't judge me because seriously I am doing the best I freaking can.

Two Toddlers, Twice the Fun and Double Tired

Today my sister flew out out on a couples vacation to Chicago with her husband. My parents were to babysit my little nephew who is just a few weeks older then my son. Because the day care was close to my work and because my Mom had to go to a doctors appointment with my Dad, it was up to me to hang out with both my nephew and son for a little while this afternoon. It was fun, a great bonding experience for all of us and I think I am ready to collapse (in a good way of course).

My nephew is a timid little guy. He's a very reserved child that is the type to look before he leaps. My son is the complete opposite. He is a little ball of energy with a lot of excited love behind his hugs/kisses. I wondered as I walked through the day care doors to pick up my nephew what his reaction would be. He obviously knows who I am, but would he be upset his Mommy wasn't there? Once he saw me, he was a little confused. His little eyebrows raised in curiosity, but was okay about it. After all, he got to escape to the outside world, wave goodbye to his friends and hear what a great time he was going to have that afternoon. It certainly is different having a little one on the commute home. He was just a chatter box talking away about this and that (I had no idea what he was talking about) and I found out he loved the Roadrunner as he would mimic every "meep, meep" with a "beep, beep".

Next we picked up my son whose day care is very close to my home. My son had the same curious look my nephew did of "what is going on" once he saw my nephew and I walk into his room. It was cute though. Both boys eyeballed each other as I placed them in their car seats and made the two second commute home. My husband was home early that day. I think he just wanted to see the two boys play really and helped unload the car of babies with me. The boys ran straight away to the family room with all the toys. My son jumped on his new prize toy (his wooden ride on) and my nephew eyeballed a vacuum that I failed to put away the night before. I know he really loves cleaning items like brooms, mops, etc., but I don't think his Mom intended for him to clean my house during his stay, so I refocused him to a different toy. The boys had so much fun playing together. They rode the ride on toys, played with blocks, danced to music, ate snack, etc., After a while it was time to go see his Grandparents, and together we all made the journey to my parents house (another two minute commute) to eat a pizza dinner.

Now you wouldn't think that my nephew had a fabulous time with me, which he did. His Grandma came into the picture and it was like "forget you Auntie". Thats cool. I can deal with that. Grandma is pretty cool afterall. We ate dinner and I cut up both boys pizza and got them drinks. It was only until after dinner I got the awesome acknowledgment that my nephew and I bonded. My nephew took my hand and wanted me to go see a toy he wanted in another room. Doesn't sound big, but this is big. His Grandma was two feet away. I was chosen over the "chosen one". My Mom and I both looked at each other in bewilderment as I walked away with my nephew pulling my hand.

It was a fantastic day. It was wonderful that my son and nephew got a chance to just hang out at a non-party atmosphere. It gave them a chance to just be and I think they did better because of it. My nephew and I also bonded which was really heart warming. I am glad that he loves and trust his Aunt. I want him to know that I love him and want the best for him. Two two year olds really are twice the fun and also have that amazing ability to just WEAR you out, but I hope that there will be many more days/evenings like this because really it made my day.

I Want...No Need A Vacation!

A few weeks back my wonderful husband surprised me with a trip to Sesame Place. It was a fantastic trip for the family and we had such a wonderful time. My only wish was that I wish it was just a bit longer.

I think I am having one of those summer itches of just wanting to get away. I want to get out of town with my family and be somewhere other then the week to week mundane work stuff and that looming feeling of guilt that I need to clean this or that in the household. To get away for me means quality time with my family, peace and relaxation.

Thankfully after a talk today with my girlfriends (the planners) and I started thinking about a trip to OBX. We went last year and I honest to god believe this is the best vacation spot to travel to that is close enough, far enough and relaxing enough with a toddler and with a great group of friends in tow. With a toddler (like it or not) you have to consider a lot of things like what is age appropriate, schedules, food, and perhaps some peaceful time once your toddler is asleep and this vacation was perfect for it.

We rented a six bedroom house with a pool that was in walking distance to the beach. Each night a couple or friend was assigned to make dinner, but lunches and breakfast were on you to do for yourself. It was so easy to wake up, walk to the beach and once nap time hit you just go back and have some quiet time. Night life wasn't about clubs and going out really. Its not something that is me anyways. It was fantastic knowing the kids were fine in their designated rooms while we played Tripoly, a rendition of the Newly Wed game (which was the most hilarious thing ever) and just enjoyed actual adult conversations. In all I think the trip for us for a week including food and stay cost under $500. Where in the world can you stay for a week where it costs that little?

So the plans are coming together. We have some interested parties. I just know in just a few months I will be relaxing on the beach with some fantastic friends and my wonderful family. I Just wish that it would be tomorrow, because this woman/Mama/Wife/friend NEEDS a vacation!

Hockey Withdrawal

I understand why people can get into more than one sport. There is sport withdrawal! I for one am having a major withdrawal when it comes to hockey. After my beloved Caps lost in the Stanley Cup playoffs from those nasty wuss Penguins, I even (gulp) watched them in the last Stanley Cup series win against Detroit (I was rooting for Detroit).

Hockey is a sport I have loved since I was a child. My Mom will always tell the story of my first hockey game when I was three years old. My Mom had sprained her wrist the day before and my parents decided to take my sister and I to a minor league game (Winston-Salem Thunderbirds), because it was easy to get to and quite affordable. My Dad had told me about the game and the basics of it, but wasn't sure if I quite got it or not because I was so young. I was all in wonder observing the men skate around on the ice as if they were flying and watching the puck bounce back and forth around the rink. Then the Thunderbirds scored a goal and I raised my arms up and slammed them down on the arms of my seat yelling "YES". Unfortunately my Moms sprained wrist was on one of those chairs and that gave her a bit of a hurtful shock needless to say. My parents knew I had got the gist of the game. We continued watching the game and of course there would be those occasional fights or penalties (I loved that), which I learned that the penalty box was "the bad boy box". Easy concept for a kid to get. If they are bad and do something wrong then they need a time out.

In 05-06, I finally went to my first NHL hockey game, which I believe we played against the Flyers (I got beer spilled on me that night by one of their drunken fans). It was Ovechkin's rookie year and although was a promising player was not hyped like he is now. It was also the season guys like Mike Green, Sydney Crosby, Henrik Lundqvist all played their first NHL games. It was also the season where Mario Lemieux, Brian Leetch, and Brett Hull played their last game. I found watching an NHL game is so much more different then watching a regular minor league game. There are tons more people and less fighting as I once watched a minor league game that was so bad that EVERYONE on both teams were fighting including all the guys from off the ice came on the ice and the lights had to be eventually shut off to stop the fight. It was AWESOME (especially to a eight year old). However, I never stopped loving watching the game of hockey rather it be an NHL game or a minor league game. I started a new love for the Caps that year.

Thankfully with that new love came the NHLs mandatory 82 games that my team played in the regular season unlike the NFL that players 16 games and the NBA that has up to 36 games depending on what team/conference they are on. I came to love the Caps, their players, etc., How I love my Brashear! I started highly disliking our rival teams like the Penguins, but had a little soft spot for the Flyers because of their goalie Biron. That is one nice looking man...damn. My team finally started doing well in the past two seasons, which was so exciting. When Fedorov joined the Caps, my husband was ecstatic as it was his favorite player when he was growing up. To have him on OUR team was amazing. We were a hockey family. My son's four word was "goal" and he said that before he said, "Mama".

When you love a team, you care. You know everything there is to know about them like the Don Cherry incident, Leonsis Bucket List, Mike Green scoring a record year and wondering why the hell Easton won't remake the famous blue and black Easton Stealth stick. Then when its all over you feel a void. A void that really sucks and nothing can replace it. I can not wait until the new season begins again. Where there is a promising hope for a Stanley Cup win. When you can see your players back on the ice and talking the same smack as they did last year (Avery/Crosby). I just miss it. I truly miss it. I am having some major hockey withdrawal.