Parenting Check-in March 7th

[mahler5]

What's going on everybody?

QOTW: let's talk about discipline. Or for those with little babies what you plan to do when disciplining your child. What seems to work? What doesn't? Any thing you wish you would have done differently that you are correcting now?

[2brides]

School. Science fair projects. Required computer based work. Did I mention science fair projects? OMG. Shoot me. Of course we are going to be gone 2 entire weekends for spring break which means we have 3 weekends left to finish. And I think L is forgetting this isn't a PhD dissertation.

I am so ready for summer. So ready for the kids to play outside, go bike riding, go swimming...we all need a break from the school year. 3.5 more months....

QOTD: It has certainly evolved as they have gotten older. We started with short time outs (1 minute per age.) We only did that for egregious offenses. Stuff where we knew they were tired/hungry/overstimulated we did "meditation" (starting around age 3 or so.) Time out was effective till about 5-6 when we started revoking privileges. Electronics is the highest commodity in our house so that is what is typically taken away...for big stuff. We need to work on minor stuff since we typically send them to their room..where they are happy as clams reading.

We've never used physical punishment (though once I tapped C on his bottom as he was doing something unsafe in the bathtub - couldn't be classified as a 'pop' or 'hit' )- and he went to his PK teacher and told her that I smacked him. Thankfully she knew better.

[mahler5]

C is 2. I still can't believe it.

Well, C has been throwing more tantrums and they have gotten more out of control. She threw one after church at the playground when i told her we had to leave and had to physically carry her kicking and screaming to the car. This has happened a few times lately. I often hang out with her in the front seat and wait for her to calm down before attempting the car seat but then she gets all upset again so I may need to rethink that.

I threw my back out yesterday. I don't know how exactly. I was bending down to give c a yoghurt when she was on the floor still mid-tantrum after 15 minutes and I got a sharp pain. Then an juke later I bent over to pick up a sippy cup and was in debilitating pain. I'm thinking the trek from the park to the car carrying a screaming child may have done it but didn't feel it until after.

Anyway, I need to rethink how I carry her or how to avoid carrying her really. She will walk most places and hold my hand now but it's when she is defiant I have the problem. I don't want us cooped up all day but that may be what happens. L took her to school today. I want to pick her up early but I'm afraid to put her in the car seat. Maybe I will ask the guy at the front desk. I called in sick to work today as my back is still really sore. So I'm taking it easy.

C is generally doing well. She had fun at grandmas this weekend. She is talking a lot but harder to understand. She has been peeing in the potty some and will sit on it while she watched tv sometimes. I think we may be starting a bad habit there. Saturday she actually went over to it and peed within a minute of sitting on it which was awesome! Usually it takes a few minutes at least and a lot of time she won't pee at all. It's progress at least!

QOTW-- we have been doing some select time outs but not a lot. I often take things away from her which is punishment enough but that doesn't work in all situations. I do wish I was more consistent with telling her no to the same things. I'm also working on getting her to clean up. We usually watch about one hour of TV a day now so I will try and make her clean up before we put a show on. Again I forget about this sometimes. I am wondering if in a year I am going to wish I was stricter with her now. Time will tell.

[serpentine85]

mahler5 I can't remember where I read it but I think I remember someone with a toddler and baby-on-the-way who was neading to avoid lifting/carrying. She got a little stepstool (the kind LO uses in a toilet) and kept it in the footwell of the car. With a bit of encouragement and a hand for support, her toddler learned to use the stool to get into her carseat. Not sure if it's helpful but thought I'd mention it.

Having crazy busy morning but will check-in later. Hope all is well with everyone.

[Deleted]

When I had my hysterectomy I made DS get on the bed or couch before I would carry him- so as to "not lift anything over 5 lbs" ridiculous with an almost 2 year old... step stool sounds like a good idea!

[sdfonz619]

Mila seems to have regressed sleep wise and wants nothing to do with her crib. It started right after we left her with a friend to babysit while MW and I had date night. It was only for about 4 hours, but it seems to have completely thrown off her usual bedtime routine. Needless to say, I am really hoping this is short lived.

Milestone wise, she is still working on being able to consistently turn from her tummy to her back. While she can do it, it's not as easy as it is for her to go from back to tummy so she ends up getting frustrated. My only concern with this is when she rolls over onto her tummy in her crib. So, we have been working with her as much as possible to help guide her to roll when she starts getting frustrated.

MW received good and bad news regarding her military career. The good news, she was promoted. The bad news, the promotion made her ineligible for two career advancement opportunities she would have otherwise been eligible for at her previous rank. We were really hoping she would be able to make one of these transitions soon and she is absolutely heart broken.

QOTW: We are leaning towards taking a Montessori approach, or at least, using some of the ideologies when it comes to discipline. It is very similar to how my parents were with me discipline wise.

[karlamo]

Checking in...

We had a dozy of a week last week. The universe was not happy with the Karlamo's apparently. On Thursday I brought my car in for a $40 oil change and walked out with $4,000 estimate for repairs! The car is 10 years old but showed no signs that it was in rough shape. We knew we were going to need to buy a new car at some point, we just didn't think it would be last week! The whole process was ridiculous with the dealership making mistake after mistake. At one point they sold us the wrong car! Yeah, talk about sloppy work. It actually worked out in our favor because we got a more expensive car for less. The short of it is we are the proud new owners of a 2016 Forrester. If the week couldn't get any worse, I missed L's 6 month check up, I got the time wrong and then got a jury duty summons in the mail.

The weekend made up for the crappy week. On Saturday we had R's 2 year photos done along with L's 6 month photos. They came out fantastic. On Sunday we met a friend who has twin 5 year olds for breakfast at a place that serves vegan food. A round of mimosa's didn't hurt one bit either:) Afterwards we checked out a new park that is AWESOME. I finished the day off with a 4.5 mile run.

QOTW: We've been doing time outs for 2 min against a wall for physical offenses. So far it's working really well. For the other stuff, we're using Love and Logic.

[karlamo]

2brides, How do you handle discipline now with the boys? Or are they perfect angels so it's not needed?

[cetcar]

Mar 8, 2016 11:15:46 GMT -5 karlamo said:

Checking in...

We had a dozy of a week last week. The universe was not happy with the Karlamo's apparently. On Thursday I brought my car in for a $40 oil change and walked out with $4,000 estimate for repairs! The car is 10 years old but showed no signs that it was in rough shape. We knew we were going to need to buy a new car at some point, we just didn't think it would be last week! The whole process was ridiculous with the dealership making mistake after mistake. At one point they sold us the wrong car! Yeah, talk about sloppy work. It actually worked out in our favor because we got a more expensive car for less. The short of it is we are the proud new owners of a 2016 Forrester. If the week couldn't get any worse, I missed L's 6 month check up, I got the time wrong and then got a jury duty summons in the mail.

The weekend made up for the crappy week. On Saturday we had R's 2 year photos done along with L's 6 month photos. They came out fantastic. On Sunday we met a friend who has twin 5 year olds for breakfast at a place that serves vegan food. A round of mimosa's didn't hurt one bit either:) Afterwards we checked out a new park that is AWESOME. I finished the day off with a 4.5 mile run.

QOTW: We've been doing time outs for 2 min against a wall for physical offenses. So far it's working really well. For the other stuff, we're using Love and Logic.

Hope you don't mind me asking, how did you get back into running post baby? Any tips?

[2brides]

Mar 8, 2016 11:39:58 GMT -5 karlamo said:

2brides , How do you handle discipline now with the boys? Or are they perfect angels so it's not needed?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  Yea, right.

99% of the time, it is loss of something they love (ie. their electronics (ipod or PS4.) And like I said, we need to work on minor offenses, because sending them to their room is a dream come true for them (they don't have toysin their room, but they love to read. So laying in bed reading is not a hardship.) Thankfully, they are really good most of the time. Our biggest issue is them trying on teenage attitude for size and getting a bit disrespectful/mouthy - but even that is often associated with being tired and/or hungry. We are very fortunate that neither are risk takers and still will tattle on themselves.

[karlamo]

Mar 8, 2016 13:59:28 GMT -5 cetcar said:

Mar 8, 2016 11:15:46 GMT -5 karlamo said:

Checking in...

We had a dozy of a week last week. The universe was not happy with the Karlamo's apparently. On Thursday I brought my car in for a $40 oil change and walked out with $4,000 estimate for repairs! The car is 10 years old but showed no signs that it was in rough shape. We knew we were going to need to buy a new car at some point, we just didn't think it would be last week! The whole process was ridiculous with the dealership making mistake after mistake. At one point they sold us the wrong car! Yeah, talk about sloppy work. It actually worked out in our favor because we got a more expensive car for less. The short of it is we are the proud new owners of a 2016 Forrester. If the week couldn't get any worse, I missed L's 6 month check up, I got the time wrong and then got a jury duty summons in the mail.

The weekend made up for the crappy week. On Saturday we had R's 2 year photos done along with L's 6 month photos. They came out fantastic. On Sunday we met a friend who has twin 5 year olds for breakfast at a place that serves vegan food. A round of mimosa's didn't hurt one bit either:) Afterwards we checked out a new park that is AWESOME. I finished the day off with a 4.5 mile run.

QOTW: We've been doing time outs for 2 min against a wall for physical offenses. So far it's working really well. For the other stuff, we're using Love and Logic.

Hope you don't mind me asking, how did you get back into running post baby? Any tips?

Not at all:)  I'm one of those weirdos who love running.  Before I got pregnant with L, I was in good running form.  When I got pregnant I made the decision to stop all running, cause I was paranoid.  I started back running at 3 months PP.  I was cleared to run at 9 weeks, but my vagina wasn't happy with it.  My first run was only 1.5 miles.  Cardio wise I felt surprisingly great, but my legs felt like tree trunks!  I ran 2 days a week for a awhile at 1.5 mile runs, then I moved up to 3 miles, hung there for awhile and am now at 6 mile runs.  I've been working on my running base because I'm starting training for a half marathon in June.  It'll be my first half since Oct 2013!! 

As for tips, you know your running abilities best.  For your first run, I would only plan to do 1 mile and see how that feels.  I was not as sore after my first run as I thought I'd be.  I actually think my body was like, "oh right, this is what we do."  I was more uncomfortable than sore for the first few weeks.  My thighs were fighting for real estate space in my running tights and my milk filled boobs were bouncing around like a scene from Baywatch.  I also wouldn't worry about your time, that will come as you get back into it.  I'm already back to my normal min/mile time. 

Just enjoy it!  I loved my first few PP runs.  It felt great moving my body after almost a year of not. 

BTW, if you haven't caught on I love to chat about running:)

[cetcar]

Mar 8, 2016 16:42:51 GMT -5 karlamo said:

Mar 8, 2016 13:59:28 GMT -5 cetcar said:

Hope you don't mind me asking, how did you get back into running post baby? Any tips?

Not at all:)  I'm one of those weirdos who love running.  Before I got pregnant with L, I was in good running form.  When I got pregnant I made the decision to stop all running, cause I was paranoid.  I started back running at 3 months PP.  I was cleared to run at 9 weeks, but my vagina wasn't happy with it.  My first run was only 1.5 miles.  Cardio wise I felt surprisingly great, but my legs felt like tree trunks!  I ran 2 days a week for a awhile at 1.5 mile runs, then I moved up to 3 miles, hung there for awhile and am now at 6 mile runs.  I've been working on my running base because I'm starting training for a half marathon in June.  It'll be my first half since Oct 2013!! 

As for tips, you know your running abilities best.  For your first run, I would only plan to do 1 mile and see how that feels.  I was not as sore after my first run as I thought I'd be.  I actually think my body was like, "oh right, this is what we do."  I was more uncomfortable than sore for the first few weeks.  My thighs were fighting for real estate space in my running tights and my milk filled boobs were bouncing around like a scene from Baywatch.  I also wouldn't worry about your time, that will come as you get back into it.  I'm already back to my normal min/mile time. 

Just enjoy it!  I loved my first few PP runs.  It felt great moving my body after almost a year of not. 

BTW, if you haven't caught on I love to chat about running:)

Thank you! I also am a runner but didn't stick with it while I was pregnant. I've gone on one 2 mile run and while it felt great to be doing it again, I felt so slow and loose down there if that makes sense. I'm being impatient and want to be back at the fitness level I was at before but it's really encouraging to hear where you are now! Thank you again. I need to give it more time and find a better sports bra. Finding the time to fit it in is another challenge. Starting to incorporate more strength training again as well.

P.S. I'll always talk about running too

[karlamo]

cetcar, FFTC: I haven't upgraded my sports bras. The girls are all over the place. I figure after I'm done BF I can always get a boob job to put them back into place:)

[cetcar]

karlamo, Haha! That works.

[kona]

How have I been in this group for so long and not know there were other runners!!!

[cetcar]

Mar 11, 2016 21:17:08 GMT -5 kona said:

How have I been in this group for so long and not know there were other runners!!!

We should talk about running more
Going to go out for a short run this morning.