Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

I officially took the sunshine of central California for granted before moving to central Mississippi. It rained more in the first month here than in the five years we lived in California. Even when the sun has broken through, the temperatures are 15-20 degrees colder than we are used to this time of year. This is Jack’s first taste of an actual winter.  It is not as cold as the winters of my childhood in Pennsylvania, but it is certainly colder than the 50 degree lows in Hanford, CA.

Thank goodness we didn’t move to Minnesota.  I would really be in for it.  For those of you from that area, I’m sorry for complaining.  All in all, winter months mean having to entertain your kids in other ways than just outdoor activities.  Our winter goal is to find something new to do every day we can’t get outside, and make it a learning experience (as well as a way to burn some energy).  As long as Jack shows me that big grin of his, I know everything is going to be okay.

Please share any fun ideas you have when you are cooped up inside.  Comments and suggestions are always welcome!

As I look back on 2009, it has been a tough year. While I am proud of the successes of the year, I am ready for 2010! I am sure it will still be a bit of a struggle getting used to the single parent thing. But I am ready to take it ON! In honor of the New Year, I have done a TOP TEN GOALS list for myself (for you). I would love to hear your goals for the New Year, feel free to comment.

1. Brady will be potty trained during 2010.

2. Forgive those who have hurt me and accept things that are out of my control.

3. Get Brady into monthly service projects, even if it is just a visit for an hour to a local nursing home. Something to foster a sense of selflessness, not selfishness.

4. Get completely unpacked (seriously, still have a lot to do).

5. Find a better balance of working at home and playing with Brady.

6. Go back to making lists. I used to be so good at this (back when I had time). I had my strict budget, grocery list, to do list, and more. I feel so much better about life in general when it is organized and I can check off those items!

7. Fly on an airplane again, and take Brady (let’s just say that I have been in two emergency landings and have a slight phobia of flying). But I want to get over this, so my fear doesn’t rub off on Brady.

8. Visit the gym twice per week (yes, it should be more often, but I am trying to be realistic)

9. Step back a little bit and let Brady be his own person (safely and age-appropriately, of course). Each year I let go a bit more, because I am often reminded, I am not raising a little boy, I am raising a future MAN. So I need to slowly cut the strings, so he is ready to face the world when the time comes.

10. SURVIVE!

Leaving behind the snow and frigid temperatures in New Jersey, we headed down to Florida on Christmas. It’s actually not a bad day to travel, as only the non-Christmas celebrating folks fly that day. It just might be the only time we didn’t spent an hour trying to clear security…

I’m not a great traveler. I like to be organized. I hate packing at the last second. And I don’t like to feel rushed. Throw a child into the mix and it just adds a whole new level of complexity to things.

Sometimes it’s easier to bring the stroller, strap Andrew in and wheel him through the airport. Of course, if he doesn’t want to be confined, he bawls the entire time and causes a major scene. I know other people have kids, and kids who cry, but I still feel badly when it’s my son doing the screaming.

And you have to get the stroller through security, which is a chore in and of itself. So juggling a crying toddler, a diaper bag, a purse, a back pack of my own stuff, take out my lap top and collapse a stroller, while taking off shoes and jackets and somehow managing to get everything onto the conveyor belt… it’s an interesting experience to say the least.

Then you have the option of seating on the airplane… Do you get your kid his own seat or do you try to have squirmy child sit on your lap the entire time. If you can spare the bucks, I recommend the extra seat.

How do you entertain the little one on the plane? If you’re lucky, he sleeps most of the way. If you’re NOT lucky…then you have a lot of time on your hands and need to fill it creatively. We come packing toys, snacks, a portable DVD player with a favorite movie, books, coloring books with lots of crayons. After somehow managing to pack all that into the diaper bag without popping off the zipper, we cross our fingers and hope that it’s enough.

It helps that Andrew is totally obsessed with airplanes right now. He stares out of the window, checking out the planes on the ground before we’re in the air. He eagerly checks out the lights of the city as we’re landing. And he usually nods off right around takeoff.

Whether it’s a good flight or a bad one, the thing to remember is that you’re cooped up in the plane for a finite amount of time. In a couple hours, it’ll all be over and you can enjoy your destination.

Happy New Year everyone. Hope it’s a happy and healthy one.