So, I have mentioned how Carlos is taking over Dom's place as my inspiration for this blog. He has really grown in his development in communication, so I have this little guy running around all day repeating everyone, asking questions, or just talking to himself. However, he does think sometimes it takes a little action to get his point across.
I need to start off by letting you know, that he is a very strong minded individual. Once he makes up his mind about something, that is pretty much it. I try to nurture this about him and let him make age appropriate decisions about himself (within reason). Just two months shy of turning two, he decided that he no longer wanted to wear clothes when he was at home. Since it was July and our house would heat up into the low 90's, I didn't blame him! I allowed this, unless there was guests over. I told him if he wanted to be a jay-bird, he needed to learn to use a toilet. In less than three weeks, he was completely potty trained. I mean, no diaper or pull up of any sort and no accidents (Sorry, but in my opinion, if your child is not exclusively using the toilet to take care of business, he/she is not potty trained).
So, a year goes by, and I think this kid had ONE accident, and it was only bc he waited too long to get to the bathroom and started before he had his underwear completely off. Then one day, Dominic comes running up to me saying Carlos peed on him! My first though was, what? This kid doesn't have accidents! Upon further probing, I come to find that Dominic wasn't sharing a toy Carlos wanted. Instead of coming to an adult about it, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He climbed up to the top bunk and proceeded to tinkle on his older brother!! I honestly didn't know whether I should laugh or be angry. I kind of did both. It's really hard to discipline your child when you are trying to conceal laughter, I'll tell you what. Since it was a first offense, I explained to Carlos that it wasn't a nice thing to do and tried to reinforce that pee belonged in the toilet. Just a few days later, he did the same thing while his cousin was over, except, it was on a toy he wanted. What was this kid doing? Marking his territory?! I then had him clean up the mess then take a time out. This behavior lasted a few weeks...
To this day, I can't tell you exactly why he did it. He knew exactly what he was doing, I just can't wrap my head around getting so frustrated with someone you would pee on them or their things. Luckily, like all other phases kids go through, it passed. My only advice to someone else in a similar situation is to be consistent, make sure your child knows they did something wrong, the punishment fits the crime, and to have patience. It will go away someday. I promise.
Oh and for those of you wondering, I did eventually get him to wear clothes! Granted, it is a shirt and underwear, but it's a start! Kid doesn't even like to sleep with a blanket, so I think he just gets hot easily :-P
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
It's been awhile!
I've been so busy working, and dealing with the holidays and other headaches, I haven't had much time to write about the crazy things my kids have put me through, at the moment nothing comes to mind, but I'm sure I'll think of something soon! For now, enjoy this photo series I have been wanting to start on Carlos
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
"That's Oppan Gangnam Style, Mom!" Carlos, pointing at a sweater in a catalog
As of late, there have been not so many crazy/funny things Dom says/does, but Carlos has more than picked up the slack. I kind of want to make a twitter for him, not for everyone to know everything he says/does, but just so I can keep track. That's the great thing about the internet, it always holds your stuff for you. I could keep a journal, but that would get lost. I could type one out and save files to my computer (I did this when I was in high school and aspiring to be a writer), but I know very well that those don't always survive, either.
Dominic does these crazy things, but it only happens every so often. Carlos, on the other hand, reigns it in a bit, but will give me blog fodder every thirty seconds! As I type this, he is skipping down the hallway, chanting, "boing! boing! boing!" It is nonstop with this kid, I don't understand how he never runs out of steam or takes a minute to just sit there and be... normal?
I absolutely LOVE how completely different my children are. They are constantly reminding me that, I may have been there before with another child, but this one is going to do it with his own flavor. It definitely keeps me on my toes as a mom.
Dominic does these crazy things, but it only happens every so often. Carlos, on the other hand, reigns it in a bit, but will give me blog fodder every thirty seconds! As I type this, he is skipping down the hallway, chanting, "boing! boing! boing!" It is nonstop with this kid, I don't understand how he never runs out of steam or takes a minute to just sit there and be... normal?
I absolutely LOVE how completely different my children are. They are constantly reminding me that, I may have been there before with another child, but this one is going to do it with his own flavor. It definitely keeps me on my toes as a mom.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
"Mom, what's a super moon? Does it have a cape?" -Dominic
As parents, we teach our children safety from a young age. Don't touch the stove it's hot, don't climb on things or you'll fall, look both ways before crossing the street. One thing I think EVERY parent makes sure their child is aware of is stranger danger. How do they differentiate between safety and manners, though?
When my six-year-old, Dominic, was younger he would hear someone at the door and go running to open it by himself. It took a while for me to get through to him that he shouldn't answer the door unless an adult is present. Fast forward to present day. He now knows to always ask who is at the door, and to get permission to open it. Normally, if it is someone we don't know I answer the door myself, because it is usually a salesperson or a Jehovah's Witness and I would end up talking to them anyways.
Yesterday, we were all hanging out in the living room watching TV when I hear a knock on the door. It's really soft, it sounded exactly the way our neighbor (also Dominic's friend from school) knocks. So I told Dominic to go ahead and open the door and talk to him. He opens it, we hear someone speaking softly in Spanish asking if his mom was home. Without a word, he slams the door in this person's face! My initial reaction was confusion, was there not anyone at the door and I had imagined the knock? I have him reopen the door and there is a young woman standing there with her mother. I was completely embarrassed! They just wanted to sell tamales! We apologized and ended up buying tamales out of guilt for what my son had done. When I asked him later why he did it he just shrugged and said, "I didn't know them." Hallelujah! He does listen, after all! Trying very hard to keep a straight face, I had to explain to him that it's extremely rude to slam a door in someone's face, even if you don't know them. I told him next time to just get an adult.
So he's getting to that age where he understands being safe around strangers. Now it's a matter of explaining to him the proper etiquette when dealing with strangers. Just because you don't know them, doesn't mean they are automatically bad people who are going to hurt you! I guess I can sleep peacefully knowing that, for now, if he encounters a stranger at our door, he will just close the door on them, eliminating any danger.
When my six-year-old, Dominic, was younger he would hear someone at the door and go running to open it by himself. It took a while for me to get through to him that he shouldn't answer the door unless an adult is present. Fast forward to present day. He now knows to always ask who is at the door, and to get permission to open it. Normally, if it is someone we don't know I answer the door myself, because it is usually a salesperson or a Jehovah's Witness and I would end up talking to them anyways.
Yesterday, we were all hanging out in the living room watching TV when I hear a knock on the door. It's really soft, it sounded exactly the way our neighbor (also Dominic's friend from school) knocks. So I told Dominic to go ahead and open the door and talk to him. He opens it, we hear someone speaking softly in Spanish asking if his mom was home. Without a word, he slams the door in this person's face! My initial reaction was confusion, was there not anyone at the door and I had imagined the knock? I have him reopen the door and there is a young woman standing there with her mother. I was completely embarrassed! They just wanted to sell tamales! We apologized and ended up buying tamales out of guilt for what my son had done. When I asked him later why he did it he just shrugged and said, "I didn't know them." Hallelujah! He does listen, after all! Trying very hard to keep a straight face, I had to explain to him that it's extremely rude to slam a door in someone's face, even if you don't know them. I told him next time to just get an adult.
So he's getting to that age where he understands being safe around strangers. Now it's a matter of explaining to him the proper etiquette when dealing with strangers. Just because you don't know them, doesn't mean they are automatically bad people who are going to hurt you! I guess I can sleep peacefully knowing that, for now, if he encounters a stranger at our door, he will just close the door on them, eliminating any danger.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Lost in Translation
No, I'm not going to talk about the movie where the actor meets the new wife and they hang out in Japan. I haven't even seen that movie because it doesn't have a talking car or a panda doing martial arts. No, I'm talking about how I tell my kids something and their minds process something different. We've all been there haven't we?
Something that happens daily is how my oldest two behave when they come home from school. Though they both KNOW where backpacks and shoes go (we are an asian household, so no shoes indoors), I often find myself tripping over their belongings in the entryway. It's as if these things over encumber them so much they literally need to shed themselves of their heavy load as soon as possible and forget about it. I even got into the habit of telling them, as we turn the corner of our street, to make sure their things are put away correctly when we get home. Somewhere in the two minutes it takes me to tell them this, park the car, and go into the house, their minds have already gone off track to other things.
It's not always a frustrating thing. Sometimes, it's funny. I've been trying to get my two-year-old in the habit of making his bed in the morning. I never expected him to be great at it, I just want him to know this is what we do after we get out of bed. I figure if I start on him now, he'll pick it up before grade school starts. It is really interesting to see what his perception of bed-making is. Most days, he knows to just grab the covers and pull them up. Today, was a bit of a challenge because everything was untucked and on the ground somehow (maybe he had a really epic ninja battle in his sleep). He picked up the side of his blanket, looked at his bed for a second, then leaped across it, spreading the blanket across it as much as possible. He then stood up, looked at me, and proudly said, "DONE!" I just had to laugh, because to my toddler, making your bed means making sure it is covered as much as possible with your blanket.
So if anyone figures out how to break the code and get kids to really LISTEN and follow through with directions the first time, let me know. For now, I'll just sit here and constantly repeat myself for the next 16 years or so. I'll just make sure to take time to appreciate how Carlos likes to make his bed.
Something that happens daily is how my oldest two behave when they come home from school. Though they both KNOW where backpacks and shoes go (we are an asian household, so no shoes indoors), I often find myself tripping over their belongings in the entryway. It's as if these things over encumber them so much they literally need to shed themselves of their heavy load as soon as possible and forget about it. I even got into the habit of telling them, as we turn the corner of our street, to make sure their things are put away correctly when we get home. Somewhere in the two minutes it takes me to tell them this, park the car, and go into the house, their minds have already gone off track to other things.
It's not always a frustrating thing. Sometimes, it's funny. I've been trying to get my two-year-old in the habit of making his bed in the morning. I never expected him to be great at it, I just want him to know this is what we do after we get out of bed. I figure if I start on him now, he'll pick it up before grade school starts. It is really interesting to see what his perception of bed-making is. Most days, he knows to just grab the covers and pull them up. Today, was a bit of a challenge because everything was untucked and on the ground somehow (maybe he had a really epic ninja battle in his sleep). He picked up the side of his blanket, looked at his bed for a second, then leaped across it, spreading the blanket across it as much as possible. He then stood up, looked at me, and proudly said, "DONE!" I just had to laugh, because to my toddler, making your bed means making sure it is covered as much as possible with your blanket.
So if anyone figures out how to break the code and get kids to really LISTEN and follow through with directions the first time, let me know. For now, I'll just sit here and constantly repeat myself for the next 16 years or so. I'll just make sure to take time to appreciate how Carlos likes to make his bed.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
"My invisible compass says we're lost" -Dominic
I have to start by saying that I have three incredible children. While my life is full of drama, tears, fights, messes and financial strain, I go to bed every night thanking God for giving me my babies. Even if I have tears in my eyes from the stressful day I had. I don't think my experiences with my kids are out of the ordinary. I decided to share them to show other parents that there is no need to worry because there are other kids out there that are just as off the wall as their own.
My main inspiration for all of this is my middle child, Dominic. Of my three genetic gems, I would have to say he keeps me on my toes the most. My parenting skills have been put to the test (and sometimes failed, I must admit), constantly proving to me that I am never really done growing as a parent, that I do not know it all. I have resorted to extremely creative parenting techniques because of him and I have learned that what works for some, may not work for others.
I'm really looking forward to sharing (and documenting for trips down memory lane) all the random, crazy, weird, and amazing things my kids (and sometimes other people's kids) say and do.
My main inspiration for all of this is my middle child, Dominic. Of my three genetic gems, I would have to say he keeps me on my toes the most. My parenting skills have been put to the test (and sometimes failed, I must admit), constantly proving to me that I am never really done growing as a parent, that I do not know it all. I have resorted to extremely creative parenting techniques because of him and I have learned that what works for some, may not work for others.
I'm really looking forward to sharing (and documenting for trips down memory lane) all the random, crazy, weird, and amazing things my kids (and sometimes other people's kids) say and do.
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