Blogtember

(Since I did such a great job in May, ha!)

 

 

I'm starting with Day 3: Unsolicited Advice.

 

I spent my fair share of time sitting on the side of an 18 inch baby pool this summer.  While there I got to watch parents and their kids navigate the joy of swimming.  As a former swimmer (almost every day of my life from 8-18), lifeguard (3 years in high school at an indoor pool = year round) and swim coach (my sister and I were co-head coaches of our neighborhood team when we were 18 and 19 and our team grew from about 70 to nearly 130 kids in the 3 years we coached) I feel qualified to give some advice on how to teach kids how to swim.

 

So here we go:

1. Don't make your kid spend every moment in some sort of floatation device.  The first part of learning to swim is learning to float and it sure is hard to learn when you are strapped into or stuck in a tube.  Buoyancy takes time and it feels a little weird, but kids need to experience floating on their own.  Also, telling them they can't swim without it will cause dependency.  (Yes, I know they probably can't swim without it, but look at number two.)
2. Watch your kids like it is your job while you are around water.  BECAUSE IT IS!  I don't care if there is a lifeguard or another parent around, be aware.  There is nothing worse than having your child drown because of negligence.  Also, it is so super hard to erase that scary memory if your child has a near drowning, for you and your child.  The last time I was at the pool there was a mom there with a 3-4 year old and an 18 month old.  Her son older son made it out of the gated baby pool area to the big pool by himself and was standing near the steps for almost 5 minutes before she realized he was gone.  She also was not one of the 6 moms sitting on the edge of the pool and her 18 month old was pulled up out of the pool more than 4 times by other moms.  If your child can't stand up when they fall in shallow water you shouldn't be more than an arm's length away and your child shouldn't be in the water without you if they can't swim on their own.  (And I mean without a floatation device on their own.)
3. Watch your reactions.  Your child goes under, you're close by so they aren't under long... celebrate!  Tell them how great they did and how awesome it is that they got their face wet and went underwater.  Even if you have to take deep breaths to control your racing heart.  Little people learn by watching us.  If you act scared that they were under water, they're going to be scared to go under.
4. Teach your toddlers how to get out of the pool.  Make them climb up the ladder or out of the side of the pool. 
5. Make sure your child knows the expectations and rules to follow while you are around water.  Two good basics that are non-negotiable:
• Don't get in the water until I get in. 
• Always give a signal for jumping in also.  (Wait until I say 3.  1, 2, 3...)
 

Most of all have fun with your kids around the water.  If you love it (or you fake it), they will too!

 



Micellany Monday

 

1. Today was our first day back to work after summer break.  I have always struggled with transitions.  I LOVED my summer vacation with my little family. 
2. My daughter, E, decided to push more than just "her" button on my keyboard.  (Her button is the HP sign on the bottom of my keyboard.)  Now my screen is super enlarged, but only the Internet.  I wish I could figure out how to make it normal.  Maybe she'll fix it.  I figured it out!
3. Speaking of E... she is learning so valuable life lessons today.  I'm not sure I'm ready to discuss body parts with her but I guess that comes early with a twin brother.  I think she gets that girls, like mommy and E, don't have P's, as she was calling them today. 
4. As well as starting a new school year I'm starting a new job at a new school.  I decided that after 9 years at my old school it was time for something different.  My new school is pretty different than my old school.  Larger, newer and with a much different population.  I'm excited, nervous and hopeful.
5. One of the reasons we picked this house to move into last August was the neighborhood pool.  We didn't use it as much as I thought we would this summer, but we did use it pretty often.  I am amazed at my little swimmers.  I can't wait until I can get them into non-parent/tot lessons this winter.  S is really getting comfortable in the water.  He blows bubbles, likes to try to float on his back on his own and is loving the noodle.
6. I'm super weepy this week.  Not sure what is up with that.  Back-to-School Blues?

Worst Traits

(A continuation of Blog Every Day in May, which I didn't do.)

 

1.  Procrastination

2.  Difficulty finishing stuff-- like blogging every day in May

3.  Lack of Courage  (I hate confrontation.)

Miscellany Monday

 

• I'm in a funk this week.  Mr. P has surgery on his ankle on July 3rd and I've been nurse/stay-at-home mom for the last almost week.  It is exhausting!  I've never had a calling to be a nurse and I don't love taking care of people.  It is incredibly frustrating annoying not sure what it is but it isn't fun to be in charge of everything and have your right-hand man there but unable to do ANYTHING.  Ugh. 

  
• We had a great 4th of July.  We went to a parade, took good naps and watched fireworks.  Mr. P was a trooper and even made it out.  I wasn't sure about walking in the dark, with crutches on the rocks but he made it!  E spent the show with her fingers in her ears.  She still doesn't love loud noises.  I think she liked the actual fireworks though.  The funny thing was when we made it back to the car she asked for a wipe.  Her whole hand was covered in melted chocolate.  I guess she spent the whole time with an uneaten M&M clutched in her fists. 

 

• I took the kids camping over the weekend.  Not by myself though.  There were 21 of us in total, over half were "kids" although two are technically adults.  It was a great time but man, again, I missed my other half.  It was great to get out of the house. 

• While we were camping we spent quite a bit of time throwing rocks into the nearby reservoir.  If you look close you'll see that S's clothes are soaking wet.  I encourage getting your feet wet, it is kind of my thing.  If you are close by you should get in, if it is allowed.  Well we all got our feet wet and S and E started picking up rocks while still in the water.  S lost his balance and fell.  He only fell to his knees and it didn't faze him a bit. 
• Today is Mr. P's birthday... number 34.  I've totally failed on the celebrating this year.  I'm hoping to have a redo next month.  Maybe we'll be able to actually celebrate.  We did go to his favorite restaurant for lunch and got 1/2 price shakes at Sonic.  It was the first time he'd been out of the house since the 4th.
• I decided today was a good day to try again with potty training.  S was doing great about 6 weeks ago but now has no interest in going on the potty.  E just wants the M&M, so she'll try as often as you let her.  She actually went first thing this morning and proudly wore her sticker all day.  I'm looking for any tips.  I bought big boy/girl underwear to try.  Maybe being wet will help them.  Any thoughts?  Should I give up trying to do both at the same time?

 

What Makes Me Really Happy...

Today I'm playing catch-up.  Here we go, Day 14 on Day 18, ten things that make me really happy:

1.  A good night's sleep or a much needed nap, especially in clean sheets.
2.  Sitting down and reading a magazine from cover to cover.
3.  Snuggling with my kids.
4.  Laughing so hard it makes my cheeks and/or my stomach hurt.
5.  Getting great deal on something I really wanted.
6.  Shopping with my mom and sister.
7.  Watching cheesy Christmas movies, under a warm blanket with a cup of Chai Tea. (This only happens during the holidays.)
8.  Helping my kids learn something new or when one of my students at work finally gets it or when they are engaged in what we are doing in class.
9.  Swimming.
10.  Being able to capture a special moment with a picture.

Public Apology

Dear Family,

I apologize for my lack of patience.  Some days it all gets used up with the big kids I teach at work.  They do their best to get to me and most of the time I make it home with a tiny bit of patience in my reserve.  I try to not let the toddlerness get to me but lately I just can't seem to get past it.  I know you are little people trying to learn  your limits and I'm trying my best to keep calm when you repeatedly ignore my requests or shriek/scream when you don't get your way.  I promise I will try harder to relish in the little moments that make me love being your mommy. Oh, and I'll promise I WILL make dinner for you more than once this week so you can learn good eating habits.

Mr. P, I'm sorry to letting my mind get in the way of my heart.  I still struggle every day with baby-wanting fever, even though we are so lucky to have two jumping, screaming, giggling toddlers running around our house.  I get stuck in the fact that my body doesn't work the way it should and that interferes with other wife stuff.  You are certainly growing into being a daddy and I am so glad that you are able to calm the shriek/screaming little girl when I can't do it anymore and that you and I are on the same page with a certain little boy who is testing us. 

Love,
Mommy

Non-related picture of the perfect spring evening we had here.  Can't wait for summer!

I miss...

(I'm really liking these posts that I can just write a list.)

• Free time.  You remember the days, don't you?  It was summer vacation and you were childless and you didn't have any obligations or anything to do.  I love just sitting with my scrapbooking stuff and creating or sitting on the couch vegging or wandering around the store looking for nothing in particular or staying up late and sleeping until you felt like getting up.
• Living near/with my friends.  I often need outfit advice and I miss having friends that live in the next room.  Our I'm watching The Bachelor and I need someone to talk to.
• Working out.  My body seems to fail me a lot lately; my shoulders hurt when I swim, my knee hurts when I run and so on.  I miss working up a sweat, pushing myself, and the great feeling I had when I was done.  Maybe yoga will be my answer, now I just need to find the time.
• Snugly babies.  Or I should say MY snugly babies.  One of my favorite parts of being a mom is napping with my tiny little baby.  The heavy weight on your chest, you just can't beat it.  Not to say you can't snuggle with a toddler, it is just more like holding a barn cat.

Me and E almost a week after she got home from the hospital.