So Cameron is a pretty shy kid. Unless you get to know him, and on his turf - then its a totally different ball game. But in general, he's pretty shy.
And I started noticing I would see him in school doing a lot by himself, and not really playing with the other kids. It made me sad to see, and to be honest, kind of concerned. I didn't want my son to the be the "loner" in class. Chad of course said I had nothing to worry about. And that he had seen him playing with other kids all the time. But until I saw it with my own eyes, I didn't believe it and had been worried about it.
Until last Monday.
Cameron's teacher told me about his "best friend" at school. I was on cloud 9 to think my little man has not only made a friend, but a BEST friend. So that night on the way home from school I asked him about it. He told me that his best friend's name is Kayvan, and that they do EVERYTHING together. I was so excited and told him how cool it was that he has a best friend. He just sat and smiled. :)
Since then, I have snuck up to the classroom window to take a peek before I go in, and have seen them playing together. It melts my heart every time.
A couple days later, I noticed another little boy in their class, Greyden. He had been happily greeting us at the door, shouting "Cameron!!!", everyday. So I asked Cameron about this new friend the other night. He said to me, "me and Kayvan and Greyden are bestest buddies, mommy".
So this morning, Greyden greeted us with his normal shout. And Kayvan got up from the table to come say hi to Cameron. Cameron and Kayvan stood and chatted (about what, none of us will ever know lol) for a few minutes while I talked with the teacher about potty training progress. I glanced over and saw Cameron was putting his hat on Kayvan. They were smiling away and having a blast.
When I left the classroom, I stopped at the window to wave goodbye to my little man, like I do every morning. And there sat Cameron, Kayvan and Greyden, smiling, all waving back at me. As I walked away Cameron looked at Kayvan and smiled.
And I couldn't help but notice the ear to ear smile I had on myself.
: )
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Get The Bowl Flushing
For the last 3 months we have been "trying" to potty train my soon-to-be 3 year old. It started in about May when we tried to get really serious about it. But there was zero cooperation from my little one. (I may be biased) but he is quite intelligent for his young age. So we were so frustrated and confused as to why we just couldn't get him to do it!!
About a month ago, his teacher at "school" said to us that it might be time to try big boy underwear again. So, we took a deep breath, sent him in the underwear, and hoped for the best. And whaddya know, he was doing great! Of course, accidents happened here and there, but overall, especially compared to how the first trial run went, he was actually doing it. So we started with diapers at nap time and bedtime only, and after about a week, moved to diapers at nighttime only.
We tried lots of different things this time, learning from our first failed experience. We let him doing it standing up, like Chad (which he loves to do anything like him). :) We threw some Cheerios in the toilet, to help with aim, since it can be frustrating to have pee all over your bathroom floor everyday (especially for people like me, who are bare foot most of the time). And we went out and got him the coolest monster truck, Mickey Mouse, and race car underwear we could find. Everything was going pretty smoothly...
The only major issue we were having was "number twos". He just wasn't getting the concept of going to the bathroom for that. Not sure why.. because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to walk around with that in my pants for the day. Plus, the school was just tossing the underwear when there was an accident, which wasn't turning out to be very friendly on our bank account.
Friday night was a rough one. He peed in his pants because he didn't want to pause his movie (that he watches religiously everyday) and then dropped a lovely present for us in his new underwear, so frustrations were high. We calmly tried talking with him that night (which we have done every time) explaining to him why he needed to use the potty. Of course Chad and I walked away from the conversation with our 3 year old thinking nothing had changed and we had just taken a major step back. We put him to bed, cracked a beer and hoped for a miracle for the rest of the weekend.
Then came Saturday morning. He went into the bathroom on his own to pee. Chad and I sat there smiling, so thankful that he had taken that upon himself to go, when a shout comes from the bathroom "I POOPED IN THE POTTY!!!". We both kind of sat there puzzled for a minute, is he bluffing? (Which he has done before in an effort to get candy - like I said, the kids pretty smart). So I got up to go check out the situation and low and behold.. he did it!!! He actually went all by himself!!!
You would have thought we just won the lottery with how we all oooh'ed and aaah'ed over him and the toilet. But apparently that's the reaction he needed because the rest of the weekend, we would hear that random shout from the bathroom, and we would both go running. You could tell he felt like a rock star when we would give him the praise. Which is always a cool feeling, because you know he is proud of himself.
So this morning off to school he went. With great news to report to his teachers. My fingers are crossed that diaper days are far behind us. And "number two" accidents (for the most part) are as well.
I guess he just needed a little time, and a little more encouragement from us, to get the bowl flushing. :)
About a month ago, his teacher at "school" said to us that it might be time to try big boy underwear again. So, we took a deep breath, sent him in the underwear, and hoped for the best. And whaddya know, he was doing great! Of course, accidents happened here and there, but overall, especially compared to how the first trial run went, he was actually doing it. So we started with diapers at nap time and bedtime only, and after about a week, moved to diapers at nighttime only.
We tried lots of different things this time, learning from our first failed experience. We let him doing it standing up, like Chad (which he loves to do anything like him). :) We threw some Cheerios in the toilet, to help with aim, since it can be frustrating to have pee all over your bathroom floor everyday (especially for people like me, who are bare foot most of the time). And we went out and got him the coolest monster truck, Mickey Mouse, and race car underwear we could find. Everything was going pretty smoothly...
The only major issue we were having was "number twos". He just wasn't getting the concept of going to the bathroom for that. Not sure why.. because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to walk around with that in my pants for the day. Plus, the school was just tossing the underwear when there was an accident, which wasn't turning out to be very friendly on our bank account.
Friday night was a rough one. He peed in his pants because he didn't want to pause his movie (that he watches religiously everyday) and then dropped a lovely present for us in his new underwear, so frustrations were high. We calmly tried talking with him that night (which we have done every time) explaining to him why he needed to use the potty. Of course Chad and I walked away from the conversation with our 3 year old thinking nothing had changed and we had just taken a major step back. We put him to bed, cracked a beer and hoped for a miracle for the rest of the weekend.
Then came Saturday morning. He went into the bathroom on his own to pee. Chad and I sat there smiling, so thankful that he had taken that upon himself to go, when a shout comes from the bathroom "I POOPED IN THE POTTY!!!". We both kind of sat there puzzled for a minute, is he bluffing? (Which he has done before in an effort to get candy - like I said, the kids pretty smart). So I got up to go check out the situation and low and behold.. he did it!!! He actually went all by himself!!!
You would have thought we just won the lottery with how we all oooh'ed and aaah'ed over him and the toilet. But apparently that's the reaction he needed because the rest of the weekend, we would hear that random shout from the bathroom, and we would both go running. You could tell he felt like a rock star when we would give him the praise. Which is always a cool feeling, because you know he is proud of himself.
So this morning off to school he went. With great news to report to his teachers. My fingers are crossed that diaper days are far behind us. And "number two" accidents (for the most part) are as well.
I guess he just needed a little time, and a little more encouragement from us, to get the bowl flushing. :)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Whatever You Need Them To Be, When You Need Them To Be It
"What allows us, as human beings, to psychologically survive life on earth, with all of its pain, drama, and challenges, is a sense of purpose and meaning." - Barbara De Angelis
"A sense of purpose and meaning". I feel like this is something I have been searching for, for most of my short life. I think its something we all search for. But what I have realized lately is what gives you a sense of purpose and meaning isn't necessarily something you have to search for.
For some people, I think for most of society, their sense of purpose and meaning comes from their career in life. So I think part of me had been searching and brainstorming for that "perfect" career. The one that motivated me to wake up every morning and that I should actually be excited and proud to tell people I did for a living. But no matter how much I brainstormed, or how many different college majors I thought about going back and trying, I couldn't quite find my niche.
That's when it hit me, I had already been doing what I felt gave me that sense of purpose and meaning in life. Being a mom. And I don't just mean being a mom in taking care of my child. A "mom" has so many more roles that are not even thought about. Moms don't just take care of the kids. They take care of (just to name a few), the house, the pets, the man of the house, (and lets be real) the dirty work no one else really wants to do. :) Moms have to remember the details that no one else thinks of for longer than a split second. Moms are the personal assistants, the chefs, the maids, the chauffeurs, the rule enforcers, but they also have that soft side too. The "boo-boo" fixers, the tear wipers, the listeners, the lovers, the "whatever you need them to be when you need them to be it".
And I am happy to say, I am PROUD to be a mom. The first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning is what I need to get done for my family. And what can I do to make today a great day for the ones I love?
I have never felt more alive inside than when my home is in order and I have 2 happy boys in it. There is no greater feeling. <3
"A sense of purpose and meaning". I feel like this is something I have been searching for, for most of my short life. I think its something we all search for. But what I have realized lately is what gives you a sense of purpose and meaning isn't necessarily something you have to search for.
For some people, I think for most of society, their sense of purpose and meaning comes from their career in life. So I think part of me had been searching and brainstorming for that "perfect" career. The one that motivated me to wake up every morning and that I should actually be excited and proud to tell people I did for a living. But no matter how much I brainstormed, or how many different college majors I thought about going back and trying, I couldn't quite find my niche.
That's when it hit me, I had already been doing what I felt gave me that sense of purpose and meaning in life. Being a mom. And I don't just mean being a mom in taking care of my child. A "mom" has so many more roles that are not even thought about. Moms don't just take care of the kids. They take care of (just to name a few), the house, the pets, the man of the house, (and lets be real) the dirty work no one else really wants to do. :) Moms have to remember the details that no one else thinks of for longer than a split second. Moms are the personal assistants, the chefs, the maids, the chauffeurs, the rule enforcers, but they also have that soft side too. The "boo-boo" fixers, the tear wipers, the listeners, the lovers, the "whatever you need them to be when you need them to be it".
And I am happy to say, I am PROUD to be a mom. The first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning is what I need to get done for my family. And what can I do to make today a great day for the ones I love?
I have never felt more alive inside than when my home is in order and I have 2 happy boys in it. There is no greater feeling. <3
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
When you thought I wasn't looking.
A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be
When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say, 'Thanks' for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'
Each of us - parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend -
influences the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today?
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be
When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say, 'Thanks' for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'
Each of us - parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend -
influences the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today?
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
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