February '09 Mamas ~ Childhood Chat :) - Page 43

[AKislandgirl]

I have decided on Little Bird Naturals. Excited!

[Mal85]

Sue, that one was my favorite from your options, love it!

Happy birthday to my Owyn!! I think she rounds out the birthdays for our group! She opened her presents from DH and I this morning. I was all set to make her a big breakfast (she loves bacon and eggs!), but she said no. All she wanted was toast and chocolate milk. Easy for me! Her party is tomorrow, so I've been cleaning like mad all morning trying to get my house ready for it. Oh, yes it's another snow day here, so I actually get to spend the day with her, unexpected surprise!

We actually haven't had school since Monday this week. The country roads are a disaster here and the wind keeps blowing, which just drifts the snow back across the roads. And I had a job interview yesterday! It was likely the longest job interview of my life (over 2 hours!), but I thought it went well. They'll let me know in the next couple of weeks. I think I was their first interview, so they have some to get through first. As of right now, they are still waiting on some funding to come through so the position is officially part time instead of full time, at least for now. They couldn't say when it would go full time, so that is something to think about... I'm supposed to be meeting with the principal and board president Monday evening, so hopefully I'll get an idea of what the school is thinking...

[AKislandgirl]

Happy Birthday Owyn! A 2 hour job interview! Holy Mack! I bet you nailed it!

[mckittre]

Happy Birthday Owyn!  And good luck on all the job stuff Mal. Sounds exciting.

Sue - I like Little Bird Naturals.  It has a nice feel to it, but is pretty flexible with what you can sell and still have the name make sense.

Socialization: Here's a question for you all. How social are your kids?  K plays with his little sister quite a bit, and other kids occasionally, but really could care less about friends most of the time.  He's not shy at all, just not kid-oriented. Happy to talk to adults, happy to do his own thing, happy to play with other kids' toys, but pretty uninterested in the kids themselves.  I've wondered about this, now that we've pulled him out of preschool. He still sees other kids regularly, but I'm not going out of my way to give him social time he's not asking for. He can visit preschool as a guest if he wants, which he usually doesn't, and when he does, he plays with the toys and enjoys the special activities (like swimming) while ignoring the group stuff the other kids are doing. The preschool teacher kind of implied it was a shame to take him out when he was just starting to interact with other kids -- as if I should make sure he has MORE time with them if he's "behind" in that way. Mostly, I feel the same way about socialization as I do about academics -- if I wouldn't push him to read before he's ready, why should I push him to have friends before he's ready?

That said, these kids, for better or worse, are his social group. I do worry that by the time he cares about them, they'll all be tightly knit together and he'll have a harder time making friends.

[Everrgreen]

Happy Birthday to Owyn!!!

And that's awesome about the interview!  I hope you get it :D

I'm still waiting to hear from the job I applied for in my hometown.  The closing date was last Friday.  They said they'd let me know either way though.

Sue - I love the name!  

Erin - I wouldn't worry about it.  Everyone's different and some people are just more introverted.  Nothing wrong with that!  If he seemed unhappy or like he really wanted to participate with other kids but was shy/didn't know what to say etc.  Then I would intervene and help.  But it seems like he's happy with doing his own thing.  With Royce I also find myself over-analyzing areas where he's different/behind other kids.  It's hard not to worry sometimes!

[Nillarilla]

I haven't read everything I just wanted to reply to Erin while my thoughts were fresh.

My ds was not really into other kids at this age either. He would rather hang with the adults. He was articulate like K. I believe it may have been because he could hold longer more interactive conversations with the adults and sop up that knowledge. Even last year in Kindie he had friends but he wasn't one to run off with them when we dropped him off. He still isn't. However I know that when we leave he interacts with his peers because he tells me all about it. It seems to be painful for him a lot of the time and he struggles to process it sometimes. I wouldn't change anything I did in the earlier years though. That's who he is. Now he would rather be with the kids because the conversations are more interesting there than with the adults. It may be this way for K as well in a few years. If he ran screaming from the other kids or was violent or mean then I would worry. We have intellectual little souls and they will go where the learning and best conversation is IMO. 

[Nillarilla]

My fingers are crossed that everyone gets the jobs they are hoping for.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get a 6 almost 7 year old to get. out. the. door. for well... just about anything. He just sits on the couch doesn't move or if propelled to the door stands there head against the wall whining away about being cold or hungry or whatever. It's happening every morning, even weekends when the thing to get out the  door for is hockey which he loves. I've tried the natural consequences of if he doesn't make it out the door without a fuss we don't do what he wants like a friends party or whatever weekend thing is planned for him. But that doesn't work either. He's too big to carry to the van and he often makes everyone late in the mornings which makes me angry and resent him (bad mother moment). I've tried the make it a game thing and race him. No go there. I've tried the logical explanations. I've tried taking things away (not my favourite tactic). I need some ideas. 

Birthday- Dee got a giant sliver in her foot that weekend and we spent the morning in the ER having it sliced out. Not fun since she could feel it even though they used topical and local anaesthetic. Poor Dr. was so rattled at her screaming "Stop cutting me!" She then needed stitches which I had to remove because they got infected (how the heck do you keep a 4 yr olds foot clean and dry at all times?), she is now on antibiotics because nothing I tried was working and it wasn't healing. So we just went to the movies for her birthday. The restaurant we could get GF fish and chips at closed :( so her birthday dinner was tacos like she requested. The presents she got some movies, lots of doll clothes and from my mom geesh this little things that you pull out and they spin and look like animals oh and a puppy with little babies inside of it. I wanted to make her a doll house out of dresser like this one but never got there. 

AFM: I am in my last IT coop. I am interviewing people for their requirements for an electronic record system. It's interesting but I feel like it's a bit of a make work project because the choices are already made. Not sure if I'm going to stay casual there after this or not. I think I might need a break from all this complex writing I am doing here. A part time home care job was posted which is 3 days a week 830-415. That is just enough hours for me. But I would need to lease another vehicle. I could write it off but it's a payment for the year that we would have to deal with. Plus then I couldn't make my commitments to the clinics I have hours booked in over the summer. I would like to try some different nursing like home care but I suppose I could try and get hired casual and then I could choose my hours and balance them between the other places. 

[starling&diesel]

Sue ... LOVE the name!  Perfect, perfect.  I've been struggling with what to name my new story website ... and a lot of it is dependent on the web address being available.  I'm so stuck!  I don't want to commit and then not love it. Sigh. LOVE your name.

Nilla ... That is a tough one.  I'm going to think on it.  Six is such a different age than four or two.  Hmm.  I'm not usually one for charts, but for an older kid, I think I might do one.  A schedule, sort of.  With stickers.  So have the steps broken down into do-able parts, and once he's done the task, you or he puts the sticker in the right place. So, say:

- wake up (an easy sticker)

- get dressed

- eat breakfast

- tidy dishes

- brush teeth

- shoes, jacket, backpack

- sitting in car with seatbelt on

A week of completed daily tasks gets him something coveted, but not too big or splashy?  Hockey cards?  Pack of gum? DVD rental? Date with dad?

I think I'd be more likely to do something like that for a short-term strategy to get him into the groove.  Set it up that you can do this for a week, with the expectation that he'll keep on doing it once he gets the hang of it and sees how much smoother and happier life is.  Not sure what I'd do if you did it and then he still dug in his heels.  

Erin ... E is exactly the same way.  Don't worry about it.  And don't let the teacher pressure you into thinking that there is anything wrong with him whatsoever.  She's working from a totally different paradigm than you.  I worry about E's quirks enough as it is without introducing anyone else's opinion.  E never asks for a playdate, never asks after her 'friends,' never flocks to them at the park or outings, would rather talk to the adults or do her own thing.  I think it's fine.  H is totally different, even at 17 months.  He's a natural and charismatic leader. At the park, the other kids follow his lead and want to do what he's doing.  He likes to play with everyone's toys and talk to all the kids and get them to join him in his play.

I figure if both kids can be so different, it's not a matter of what we're going as parents, per se, but is more about individual personalities.  We are all about fostering the individual, right? I know that having a kid like E makes me doubt myself, sometimes, but mostly I love that she's so unique and blatantly herself.  

Hello to everyone else!  

We're in sunny and hot San Diego having a blast.  

We have a meeting with the adoption recruitment coordinator when we get home ... exciting!

xo

c

[starling&diesel]

Oh!  And I meant to also send good wishes to all the mamas with career changes/opportunities on the horizon ... myself included!  Exciting times!

[Thursday Girl]

hey, I'm trying to win my friend a baby sleep hammock, she's having twins and I figure any little bit can help. My photos are on page 3.

[Everrgreen]

Voted for all your pics!  And they were on page 7, not 3 :)

[Vegan Princess]

Everr and Mal: Good luck with the jobs!

Sue: I love the name! :-)

Starling: I hope you are enjoying lots of yummy mexican food for me!! 

Erin: M is very very shy but is SO into her friends. It's not a good day if she doesn't get to see lots of friends. She does run to them at school and often goes into the classroom hand in hand with one or two of them. I think it's really the girls that do that though. At the parent teacher conf they talked with me a lot about how her social skills are just developing - like she is slow to mix in with the other kids after circle, preferring to go to the art table first. No surprise to me. Anyway, we are doing some playdates with kids from school outside of school to help her (and the other kids) feel more comfortable. But I wouldn't be concerned at all. Different personalities and also I think a gender difference. 

AFM: Hawaii was wonderful! About as relaxing as a trip with 2 small kids could be. :-) Aria did great on the flights. M cried at 2 landings bc her ears hurt. Thankfully M's tonsils didn't bother her while we were there.

Today M got casts put on her feet to return flexibility to her ankles from the toe waking and hopefully to retrain her brain to walk flat footed. She got a purple and a pink. She cried when they put it on bc it heated up as it dried and she didn't like that. But she has taken them in stride otherwise. I am quite proud of her! I took her to one of those places where you can paint your own plates, etc after as something special to do. That was a lot of fun. She still wanted to go to school today. I stayed for circle time and explained to all the kids that she doesn't have broken feet or any boo boos in there, how it's to help her walk on her flat feet and that she can still walk and play. The teachers asked if any of the kids had a question and so many raised their hands. They were sooo adorable! Mostly just saying they liked the colors and one girl said she really loved them and one boy just raised his hand to say he is 4.5 yrs old. LOL. They certainly made me smile!! So precious. Oh and one boy had his own explanation of how they would help her walk flat footed - talking about traction and everything! Anyway, hopefully they won't be on longer than 4 weeks. She gets them changed every monday. And I have NO clue how I will manage to wash her hair when she already fights me on lookig up when she is sitting in the bathtub normally! Ha!

And Aria is napping in her crib for the first time ever as I write this! :-) 

Cindy

[Thursday Girl]

Cindy, can you get the waterproof material for the lining of the cast? That's what Jo had when she broke  her foot. It's great they can get in any water, tub, pool, etc.

[Vegan Princess]

Wow, Courtney - I had no idea they made that! Is that the type of cast they put on? Bc they definitely didn't offer that to us and when I asked about bathing they suggested sponge bath. 

Poor M was up crying half the night bc her feet were bothering her. She said they hurt - I'm not sure if it was the cast feeling funny, not being able to get comofortable, maybe her feet fell asleep inside or if she was just sore from them stretching her all day. She was fine all day. DH spent the entire night on the couch with her crying and walking around every little bit. She came back to my bed this morning about 6 when DH got ready for work and she woke about 4 more times in the next 2.5 hours before Aria demanded we get up. It's 9 and she is still sleeping. She is so exhausted - DH said she finally would just cry and fall right back asleep bc she was so worn out from crying all night. I sure hope every night is not like this!!! If it is, this is not doable for a month! I should call today and ask them...

Cindy

[mckittre]

Cindy - That sounds awful! Did she sleep any better the next night?

Nilla - Hmm... No great ideas for you. Is there a time where you could safely leave him behind when he dawdles? (when another adult is at home to watch him) And then maybe take Dee to do something extra fun?

Starling - I know you can search for web domain availability. But yeah, once you pick a name and get a website and then actually get a few people to go there, you're kind of stuck with it!  I've wondered at times if we should have chosen something different for our nonprofit, but I don't have any other brilliant ideas, and changing is hard.

Socialization: OK, I feel a bit better about it now -- that I'm not stunting my kid by letting him be his adult-focused self at this age.

AFM: We are leaving, for 4 month, in 2 to 3 weeks. Everything is crazy here -- boxes all over the house, lists of gear on the white boards, etc... I'll be happy when this part is done and we're actually walking, even as I have my moments of dread about how hard it will be to move camp every day with both kids.

[Everrgreen]

I'm home sick today :(  I was planning on skipping class today because I have two midterms tomorrow morning.  But I've accomplished zero studying so I'll be skipping those..  I was feeling off yesterday but thought it was just stress and also AF is due.  But then last night I was really ill.  I'm better today but I'm tired, weak, and my stomach hurts.  It's just one thing after another.  All the time.

And I'm having some stress from the job hunt.  A friend of mine got called Monday for an interview at the job in my hometown.  I didn't.  She lives 2 hours away and has no better work experience than me.  Plus my grades are higher.  Plus I actually edited her resume for her because english isn't her first language.  My friend wouldn't even take it if she got it because it's too far, but she needs the practice for an interview in her city the following week.  (My friend is a really nice person and I'm not saying she doesn't deserve an interview, but I'm just shocked that she would get one when I didn't, you know?)  It seems like everyone else in my program at least got an interview in their hometown/city.  It's a really specific program and the only one in my province so I know who I'm up against.  I don't understand it.  How could they not even give me a chance to interview?  The woman I usually speak with there hasn't returned my call.  I emailed her today and another HR woman I know there through my mom.  Just to see if I can be considered.  I know for a fact I'm the only local person that applied.  It's really a slap in the face that I'm not even getting a chance to interview...

Oh just got a reply.. A simple "you weren't selected".  That's it.  Wow.

I need to go cry now :(

[AKislandgirl]

Flipped on the TV last night (PBS) after the kids were in bed. Guess who I saw?! Our very own Erin. Caught it in time to DVR it but only saw the last 10 minutes or so last night. Loved seeing you on your hands and knees as you walked to the hospital to have Katmai! Made my night! Can't wait to actually watch the whole movie tonight!

Everr:- so sorry Mama. Job hunting sucks big time. Hugs to you!

Cindy- Was M's night any better last night? Poor girl! I loved your description of circle time though!

[Vegan Princess]

Erin you are my hero!! I can't imagine packing up camp and setting it up again every single day with 2 kids in tow! Or meal planning for 4 months!! It's hard enough to get out of the house sometimes. I'm feeling all frazzled today and we just went to the cast room at the hospital and to a play space. Not sure why I'm so stressed today. Probably M's attitude.

Everr: Hugs! I'm so sorry you have all this stress on top of being sick! I hope the perfect job comes along for you! I hate interviewing. I once went through 2 rounds of interviews at a company with something like 10 people and in the end I didn't get the job and one of the guys I interviewed with asked me out on a date (after I didn't get it)! So bizarre. Feel better soon mama!

AFM: So M had another rough night. Not quite as horrid as the night before but still waking up crying every hour or so. I took her back into the casting room at the hospital today. The man who did her cast is a grandpa and so nice. So he cut her cast open so it was basically a top and bottom and then rewrapped it so it was still in the same position but looser. He pressed on her toe nails and they weren't going to white and then pink quite like they should so it likely was too tight. So fingers crossed that she is better tonight! BC she really cannot deal with any boo boos or anything bothering her these days. It's meltdown/freakout city! Like hyperventiallting freakout. It all started when her tonsils were bothering her. Her tonsils seem to be a bit better btw. No snoring or apnea right now. They still look big but she isn't having trouble swallowing anymore either. So I am going to try to hold off on having them out.

Cindy

[Nillarilla]

Everr hugs to you. I hope this means that a much more fabulous opportunity is opening up for you. I hope you feel better. 

Erin I can't wait to hear about your adventures

Cindy I hope M sleeps well tonight and that her anxiety settles.

Well with Em we did actually do a checklist of sorts but it was after an all out blow out in which he threw toys around the room and proceeded to lose them all. If toys fly in our house they are gone. So he had a checklist of behaviours and chores to get them back slowly. It's working. I actually think some of the behaviour might be another allergy, possibly to corn. He's had some gut issues when eating corn lately and won't finish it saying his stomach hurts. We are cutting it out and will try 2 weeks off and then test it. He's very willing he was so sick the other night when we had cornmeal coated chicken. 

Dee's foot with the splinter in it I think might have a piece still in it. There is a hard lump under where it was cut out. It also might just be scar tissue but she says it hurts. Might need another visit to the Dr. 

[Mal85]

Everr: So sorry about the job! I can't believe they wouldn't even give you an interview, weird. I just know something will come together for you. It's just tough not knowing what's going to happen... I'm with you on that one!

Sue: So jealous! I checked into my local PBS to see if I could find the movie online somewhere... looks like it just played in Alaska from what I can see. I should probably just buy it since I've wanted to see it for so long!

Cindy: Poor M! I hope she had a better night after they made her casts more loose. I don't blame you for wanting to hold off on the tonsils, sounds like she has enough going on for now!

Erin: You've probably said this already and I just don't remember, but how long will you be gone this time? You are like a warrior woman in my mind, no way could I handle all of that with two little ones in tow!! You came up with my kindgarteners the other day! We were talking about different kinds of houses people live in and I showed a bunch of different pictures of all the different kinds of homes people can have (this was a social studies lesson). We talked about you when we talked about living in a yurt, they were fascinated! It led to a whole discussion about life in Alaska and the longer days/longer nights, etc. The loved it!

Nilla: Poor Dee! I can't even imagine a splinter bad enough for an ER visit. I probably couldn't have handled it. Things like splinters and loose teeth just really squick me out. 

Starling: Hope you are having (had? are you back, can't remember) a fabulous time in California!

AFM: The girls are doing well. Owyn celebrated her birthday at school the other day and that was the one that almost brought me to tears. I remember working there when I was in college and their birthday celebration is really special and meaningful and I've always looked forward to when my own kids got to do that. Of course, Owyn loved it and it was great to see how much she has grown and become comfortable in the classroom with her teachers and classmates. 

I'm leaving tonight for my conference for work. I'm really looking forward to it. I convinced a close friend of mine to come with me since she works in the field too and no one from my school was going, so I would have been on my own. We're making a girls trip out of it and I can't wait for the break and the learning opportunity!

Work is still going along. We met with the president of the school board, but of course she couldn't really give us any answers yet. The rest of the board meets tonight, but I'm not sure if we'll get any answers even tonight. They invited the kindergarten teacher to come share her thoughts and speak for me since I will be gone for the conference already, but then she'll be dismissed when they discuss it as a board. So, could be another couple of weeks before I know anything for sure. Contracts will go out around Easter, so they'll have to decide something quick! Keep the positive thoughts coming my way!