and running
and running
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Television
I was interested in all the buzz around the Tiger Mom. So when I saw the article on the cover of my Time Magazine, I dove right in to read all about it. And I have to say that the article made me think.
After reading the article, I asked myself these questions:
Do I slather too much praise?
Am I too indulgent?
Am I too lazy?
And finally, what's one way that I can improve my parenting?
For that last question, I had a fast answer: the television.
Those of you who've been following the blog for a while know that I love to create teaching opportunities here at home for Kylie. Here is an example from a while back. Right before Kylie started preschool, I started getting some resistance from her. For a few months after starting her at preschool, I pulled way back on "teaching" her. I was content to let her teachers teach and let me "just be Mommy" for a while. I think it helped our relationship at that point in her development. But slowly I started putting teaching back on our agenda for our time together.
But when we weren't playing together or having a teaching moment, I have to admit that the tv was on to one of the many cartoon channels. I would turn it on to entertain her so I could peacefully fold laundry or clean the bathrooms or cook dinner. Sometimes, she would keep right on playing and the show would just be background noise. Other times, she would sit right down and watch an entire show.
And I would feel that little ping of guilt. That "Oh-oh, that's not good" moment.
So after reading the article, Karen and I had a talk about appropriate tv time. It's interesting because we can't really rely on our own experience as children. Our parents (who did a great job raising us!) didn't have 24/7 cartoon channels and computer games and iphones to contend with. But we do.
So after a wonderful conversation (where I again marvel at how Kylie has two parents who will spend hours talking about a topic like tv time for children because we care so dang much), Karen and I decided to PULL OUT THE TV FROM THE TOY ROOM where Kylie plays.
We are on day two of it being gone. And Kylie has adjusted beautifully.
The only difference is that she wants more of me. Which is what I figured would happen. So we are reading together more, coloring more, playing with play doh and fusion beads. And I'm teaching more- more math with her abacus, more matching games and so forth. She's completely happy. I'm the one adjusting back to being needed so much.
She has two "free play" time for 30 minutes. Once when we first get home and again when I'm cooking supper. Free play means that Mommy is busy and can't play therefore Kylie needs to play by herself. Otherwise, from 12:30 - 4:30, I'm hers.
It's hard to know how much to give. I have some friends who tell me they rarely play with their kids the way that I play with Kylie. Other friends play (and give their kiddos their undivided attention) more that I do. It's hard to find the correct balance.
But I'm pleased with our tv decision. Kylie has access to my iPhone to play preschool apps from when she wakes up until breakfast. She can watch a tv show when we are in the car. And we watch one 15 minute show on our only television in our living room before her nighttime bath. We always watch that show together on the couch as a family.
This feels better. Healthier. Less lazy. We'll see how it goes.
After reading the article, I asked myself these questions:
Do I slather too much praise?
Am I too indulgent?
Am I too lazy?
And finally, what's one way that I can improve my parenting?
For that last question, I had a fast answer: the television.
Those of you who've been following the blog for a while know that I love to create teaching opportunities here at home for Kylie. Here is an example from a while back. Right before Kylie started preschool, I started getting some resistance from her. For a few months after starting her at preschool, I pulled way back on "teaching" her. I was content to let her teachers teach and let me "just be Mommy" for a while. I think it helped our relationship at that point in her development. But slowly I started putting teaching back on our agenda for our time together.
But when we weren't playing together or having a teaching moment, I have to admit that the tv was on to one of the many cartoon channels. I would turn it on to entertain her so I could peacefully fold laundry or clean the bathrooms or cook dinner. Sometimes, she would keep right on playing and the show would just be background noise. Other times, she would sit right down and watch an entire show.
And I would feel that little ping of guilt. That "Oh-oh, that's not good" moment.
So after reading the article, Karen and I had a talk about appropriate tv time. It's interesting because we can't really rely on our own experience as children. Our parents (who did a great job raising us!) didn't have 24/7 cartoon channels and computer games and iphones to contend with. But we do.
So after a wonderful conversation (where I again marvel at how Kylie has two parents who will spend hours talking about a topic like tv time for children because we care so dang much), Karen and I decided to PULL OUT THE TV FROM THE TOY ROOM where Kylie plays.
We are on day two of it being gone. And Kylie has adjusted beautifully.
The only difference is that she wants more of me. Which is what I figured would happen. So we are reading together more, coloring more, playing with play doh and fusion beads. And I'm teaching more- more math with her abacus, more matching games and so forth. She's completely happy. I'm the one adjusting back to being needed so much.
She has two "free play" time for 30 minutes. Once when we first get home and again when I'm cooking supper. Free play means that Mommy is busy and can't play therefore Kylie needs to play by herself. Otherwise, from 12:30 - 4:30, I'm hers.
It's hard to know how much to give. I have some friends who tell me they rarely play with their kids the way that I play with Kylie. Other friends play (and give their kiddos their undivided attention) more that I do. It's hard to find the correct balance.
But I'm pleased with our tv decision. Kylie has access to my iPhone to play preschool apps from when she wakes up until breakfast. She can watch a tv show when we are in the car. And we watch one 15 minute show on our only television in our living room before her nighttime bath. We always watch that show together on the couch as a family.
This feels better. Healthier. Less lazy. We'll see how it goes.
Friday, January 21, 2011
{this moment} 01/21//11
{this moment} - a Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
This moment posts are inspired by SouleMama's Friday posts
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
This moment posts are inspired by SouleMama's Friday posts
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
At the beach
Aunt Amy and Uncle Tony came to visit us and we got to show them "Kylie's beach". It's colder than usual in Florida and we needed lip balm from the strong ocean breezes but we had a good time.
Lots of books
For Christmas, we got Kylie
The Kissing Hand
Sunshine on My Shoulders (John Denver Series)
Cat & Mouse
The Magic Rabbit
These were all books that I had gotten for Kylie at the Library. We both loved them and I'm so pleased to add them to our collection of books at home.
We also got
Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters
because I saw it in the bookstore before Christmas and couldn't resist it.
And the last book we got for Christmas was a special order one from Little Wonder Company. Go check out their website and take their virtual tour through one of their books. We were so tickled with our Little Girl Wonder girl book with Kylie's name and likeness.
I saw on someone's blog (sorry, don't remember whose blog it was) where they got their son a book for each of the 12 days of Christmas. Isn't that a great idea? I think I'll do that next year!
Here are some more books that Kylie has enjoyed recently from the library.
Annie's Chair
Kylie really loved this one. We read it every day, sometimes twice a day, for a week.
Widget & the Puppy
Duck, Duck, Moose
I loved this one because the animals move to Florida for the winter.
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep!
Think Big! (Nancy Carlson's Neighborhood)
I hope you found some book inspiration here today!
The Kissing Hand
Sunshine on My Shoulders (John Denver Series)
Cat & Mouse
The Magic Rabbit
These were all books that I had gotten for Kylie at the Library. We both loved them and I'm so pleased to add them to our collection of books at home.
We also got
Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters
because I saw it in the bookstore before Christmas and couldn't resist it.
And the last book we got for Christmas was a special order one from Little Wonder Company. Go check out their website and take their virtual tour through one of their books. We were so tickled with our Little Girl Wonder girl book with Kylie's name and likeness.
I saw on someone's blog (sorry, don't remember whose blog it was) where they got their son a book for each of the 12 days of Christmas. Isn't that a great idea? I think I'll do that next year!
Here are some more books that Kylie has enjoyed recently from the library.
Kylie really loved this one. We read it every day, sometimes twice a day, for a week.
Widget & the Puppy
Duck, Duck, MooseI loved this one because the animals move to Florida for the winter.
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep!
Think Big! (Nancy Carlson's Neighborhood)
I hope you found some book inspiration here today!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Privacy please
Kylie's new thing is to go to every bathroom in every building she walks in--restaurants, grocery stores, Target, libraries--anywhere and everywhere. AND she wants to go into the stall herself. She sometimes has trouble operating the door lock so I end up wanting to hold the door for her which irritates her. "I need privacy please!", she says in an aggravated tone. I hear this all the time.
Of course, she still has absolutely no problem walking in on me in the bathroom.
Kiddo is growing up!
Of course, she still has absolutely no problem walking in on me in the bathroom.
Kiddo is growing up!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Interview
After dinner on Saturday, we ended up having an impromptu interview with Kylie. She kept handing us her toy microphone. I would ask her a question and she would take the microphone and answer. Here's what she said.
What's your favorite show?
Little Einsteins
Who's your favorite character?
June
What's your favorite color?
Purple
What's your favorite animal?
Snake
What's your favorite sport?
Basketball
What's your favorite dish?
Macaroni
What's your favorite drink?
High C
What's your favorite dessert?
Cupcake and ice cream
What's your favorite ice cream?
Strawberry
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A doctor
Who is your best friend?
Lily
Who is your favorite princess?
Ariel
I think she felt very grown up being asked questions with the microphone. It was fun.
The pictures are from Saturday afternoon. We played in our backyard for a bit. She was completely ignoring me and the camera and was absorbed in her play. I don't ask Kylie to pose very often (she makes really goofy faces and I would rather have natural-looking photos) but I really wanted a shot of her pretty eyes. So I asked her, "Kylie do you see any clouds in the sky today?"
Ha. Gotcha.
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