Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Over the weekend we celebrated Haley’s third birthday! I can’t believe how quickly time has gone by. I know that’s a cliché, but it really boggles my mind that I am the mother of a three year old. I think the transition from baby to kid is truly complete. Haley can express herself very well, can feed and somewhat dress herself, and is very close to being completely potty trained. When she was younger, I looked forward to this time, believing everything would be easier. Sure, I’m not utterly consumed in caretaking of an infant, but I’d hardly call raising a three year old “easy.”

Haley was looking forward to her birthday for a long time. Then when it was actually upon us, it was almost too much for her. Sometimes it seems like kids enjoy talking about things theoretically more than experiencing them in reality. But she was back to being excited once her birthday party started, guests began arriving, and presents started to accumulate.

For the third year in a row, we skipped a celebration with Haley’s little friends in favor of a party at her grandparents’ home with the extended family present. Haley’s party had a princess theme (a far departure from last year’s dinosaurs!), with matching cake, balloons, napkins, cups, party hats and noisemakers. She loved it. She had so much fun blowing out her candles and playing with the many, many toys she received.

It’s exciting to see Haley grow up and change as time goes on. I’m looking forward to all the birthdays to come throughout her childhood, and to see how those changes take hold in my little girl. I just hope it doesn’t go by too fast.

From Friday Mom – Erin:
As I mentioned last week, Rory has started to develop some very strong preferences and opinions. At the moment, this is manifesting itself with outright breakdowns when he does not get his own way. When we tell him it is time to come in from playing outside on the front porch: red face, tears, and screams. When we tell him he can’t climb up the stairs carrying a beach ball: red face, tears, and screams. When we stop him from pulling the entire roll of toilet paper off the roll and tearing it to pieces: red face, tears, and screams.

Are you beginning to get the picture?

It’s not easy to turn away or sit and watch while he flails about in his mini-tantrums. But I know that giving in and letting him get his way, just because the alternative can be difficult, is not the right approach. My typical approach is to tell him, calmly, why it is that I did the thing that has made him so upset. I know he doesn’t understand (or maybe he can’t even hear me over the screaming); but my hope is that, over time, he will start to hear and acknowledge the reasoning.

We are also trying to work on patience. Such as when he comes up to me or his father with a book in hand and pulls on our legs to get us to read it, but we’re in the middle of brushing our teeth/drying our hair/or getting dressed for work. Although I have become a pro at reading books one-handed while putting on knee-highs, there are times when I end up telling him that he needs to wait a moment until mommy is ready to read.

I know both of these endeavors will take some time, but as long as I remember my own patience, we’ll all get through it just fine.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
In my life, spring means flowers, warmth, flip-flops, and baseball. I grew up playing softball and watching Red Sox games on TV.  I am enjoying watching my children take an interest in it, as well.

Jack just started another season of baseball. Jack is young enough to remain in the buddy ball league this year.  He’ll work with his coach (and us) on building a solid foundation of basic skills this year, in order to move up to the “big league,” next year.  He knows that will be very challenging.  He was happy with playing another year on the same team and gaining more confidence.   I am happy, too.  I‘ve seen the talent some of the older kids have demonstrated. I think Jack will perform better next year with another year in the younger league under his belt.

For the third year in a row, Jack is a Yankee, but we’ll let it slide again this year (We’re a Red Sox family.) I hope Jack’s team comes out with a win on opening day, unlike our beloved Sox.  As long as everyone is having fun, that’s all that matters.