How do you handle when the daily routine is interrupted?

With four children, three babies, we have a daily routine.  The kids get up at seven, the boys each get their milk.  I take my shower and get dressed while Paul takes care of them.  He leaves for work at 7:30.  Then the kids play a bit, and have breakfast at about ten.  The boys take their naps (usually) at about 10:30, and during the summer months Juliana plays or reads, or gets a chance to watch her shows while they nap.  I get my work done in these morning hours.

When the kids get up, we take baths and get dressed.  They watch a little TV and play a bit while I finish my work.  I like to wait until about 2pm, when the sun is gone from the yard, and we go outside.  The kids play in the kiddie pool or their slide, or they play trucks.  Juliana loves to play with her brothers, and she runs around and enjoys herself with the boys.

By about 4:30pm, we go back inside, and my mother comes to help me with the kids while I prepare dinner and finish up any laundry or cleaning I need to get finished.  Paul gets home at 5:30, we have dinner about 6, then the kids play a bit while we clean up dinner and finish up any chores we need to do.  At 8ish, we begin the night routine, get the kids ready for bed, give them their milk, and the boys are in their cribs at about 8:30.  Juliana gets to stay up until 10 on non-school nights (9 on school nights).  Paul goes to get our Dunkin Donuts iced coffees, and we sit in the living room and get some time for each other.  He usually checks his email while I do some more work, then we try to watch a little TV together for a bit before we go to bed. 

And then it starts all over again the next day.  But it is our routine, it works for us, and we enjoy it.  Weekends are different, as we have plans and parties and other things going on.  It all works for us.

We are spending the week on vacation with my family.  Seventeen of us in a huge beach house…  And of course because everyone has their own routines, my kids routines are disrupted…  My kids want to go with everyone else, they want to play, they want to be with the adults…  and it gets chaotic.  So we need to adjust to the change and deal with the different personalities and routines…  But it isn’t easy.  I just have to keep reminding myself that we are all on vacation to enjoy the beach and each other, and the week will fly by… We really are enjoying each other.

Krystle

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You know, I used to have style, but lately, I finding myself with unbrushed hair and in my pajamas most days. At least when I worked out of the house, I had a reason to get dolled up. It is a self esteem boost to dress up, so why don’t Mommies do it more often? Well, when you know your cute outfit will just end up covered in spit-up and other things, it’s not often worth the effort, right? I think that’s why mother’s groups were organized. Sure, they are a great support, but I think a lot of us just want a reason to pull out a pretty outfit, put on some earrings and feel pretty. Who is with me on this?

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a mommy makeover show? I certainly wouldn’t object to a new wardrobe, hairstyle and a coat of freshly applied makeup.

By Shannon

Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Where do you draw the line with social networking?

While at BlogHer’10, I was speaking with a few other bloggers on how big of an event this was.  However, we all agreed that anyone outside the “blogosphere” really knew nothing about this event and all the other events out there.  As a matter of fact, outsiders really don’t understand the whole social networking craze.  I laughed to myself seeing everyone with their Blackberries and IPhones texting and tweeting away through conferences, parties and chats…  this was one of the first events I was at that it was entirely appropriate to do so!  Normally, people see it as rude to start texting at a party or in the middle of a conversation, but at BlogHer’10, it was MORE than appropriate, it was EXPECTED! 

One question that arises is WHERE DOES IT STOP?  I know that my mother has told me that her friends know all about my travels and what goes on in my chaotic home with four children through my status updates on Facebook.  She has mentioned more than once that I shouldn’t post such personal information online.  I see nothing wrong with it.  My sister has posted status updates about her nights out, and I have  had to remind her that aunts and uncles are reading about how many shots she’s had and be careful so they don’t think she has a drinking problem!  Some family members were turned off that others announced a cousin’s death and funeral arrangements online, when others thought it was so much more convenient than making three hundred phone calls.  Some text and tweet while driving or stuck in traffic.  Some social networkers claim to do their best work while in the restroom, and some tweet such info that would make most people shout out TMI (too much information)! 

A fellow BlogHer’10 blogger was in the news back in December for tweeting right after finding her son who fell in the pool.  She asked her followers to pray for him.  And when the toddler didn’t survive, she tweeted again to announce his death and get support from her online friends.  There are two opinions on this: One is that this mother reached out for support from her online friends, who she values just as much as you or I would value our childhood friends.  The other is that this woman has serious issues and should be committed.  Regardless of which opinion you hold, this woman lost a child and what a tragedy that is. 

After my ectopic pregnancy loss, I found an online group with others who went through the same type of loss.  When, three years later, we met up in Ohio for a physical “re”union, most of my family and friends didn’t understand, and some thought I was crazy!  But these women were my lifeline for so long when I was going through loss and infertility, and most people in my immediate circle did not understand what I was going through.  I valued them as friends (still do, nine years later!) and am so thankful for their support and friendship.

So, I ask you this question: Where do you draw the line with Social Networking?

Jennifer

Mom of FOUR

www.nevaland.com , www.mymetronymommy.com

We moved her into a smaller room.  I must say, it really is adorable…  My mother-in-law  bought her a new bed and headboard with a new night stand…  She chose hot pink walls (which surprisingly look good) and went with Jonas Brothers LA theme bedding and curtains (I bought them on Walmart.com). 

But in the process, she had to downsize….  She’s STILL not done…  there are way too many Webkinz and clothes and such that have not been downsized enough…  And in the process of going through old toys (girly baby toys that we won’t use here anymore) all she kept saying was… “But can’t we make a box like Andy and put it in the attic?” 

Seriously…  are you kidding?  She has a huge closet and I let her keep MANY of her old toys, but she had to choose which went out the door.  And one very lucky little girl got a lot of toys donated to her!

Andy is all grown up and giving his toys away! Will my daughter ever?

Krystle

I have had other moms say they welcome the respite of summer. They enjoy days spent lounging by the pool and the fact that they don’t have to run their kids to school, after-school practices, soccer games, dance classes, etc. Maybe it’s just because I have a son who attends therapies to help him walk better and talk better and catch up with his peers, but I am always on the road or in an appointment. There aren’t many days where we just relax.

That being said, my three year old will start back to preschool later this month and my two year old will start Mother’s Day Out two days a week. Looking at the schedule that will leave me about two hours on Tuesdays and about two hours on Thursdays where I am completely alone without my sweet kiddos. What on earth will I do with all of this time? Anytime I procure a little time like this, I always seem to wander around like a lost puppy. While shopping, it just feels weird to not be wrestling two wiggly boys or constantly stopping to retrieve sippy cups that have been launched from the stroller. I love having them with me, so taking me time is a bit difficult. I know it is much needed though. It always refreshes me when I actually do it.

By Shannon

Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Am I the only parent that feels this way? I know parents who go to the gym and go to get massages and manicures and pedicures. I think maybe I should jump on that train. What do you think?

The last few weeks he has started to mimic all sorts of sounds and babbles on constantly. He is quite humorous. He likes to imitate quack (kack) and baaaa and moo and ball, etc. Recently, he started trying to sing the cleanup song.

For those that don’t know the song, here are the lyrics (it is usually sang by parents and teachers to get wee ones to help clean up their toys): “Clean up clean up everybody everywhere. Clean up clean up everybody do your share.” He says, “Ee up, Ee up” and then kind of makes a sing-songy sound with his mouth for the rest. It’s so cute! He usually only does it when we do it first, but yesterday he ran outside to play on his play climber. He climbed the stairs and when he arrived up top, he found a bunch of leaves and tiny branches from the tree above. He stood there looking perplexed for just a moment then proceeded to start throwing the debris off of his play equipment and onto the ground while loudly singing “Ee up, Ee Up”. I was at the door, giggling and as proud as a mother can be. He had no clue I was watching this as he was in his own little world.

Gotta love kids! What cute thing has your little one done lately?

Shannon
Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

So the “I don’t knows” have been replaced with “Whys”.  Not quite sure which one is worse.  I can’t begin to count how many times I have asked a question, such as “Why did you take off your shoes?” and would get the response “I don’t know!”  These are the joys of the double terrible twos!  I have to say that most of the time, I need to hide my head so they don’t see me laughing.  This dynamic duo is quite comical!  I never knew how much a pair of two year olds can actually argue!  They don’t actually fight, but they disagree.  I might be in the kitchen and I’ll hear “NO, NeeNee!” (what Louis calls Anthony), “Yes, NooNoo” (what Anthony calls Louis), followed by a “My turn!” and then some back and forth nos and yeses until I have to help them settle the argument, usually by asking where the other toy is (we have two of everything to prevent this type of argument) and the answer I get is always “I don’t know!”

So maybe this morning when Anthony kept asking me “Why?” I should have just answered “I don’t know!”

Jennifer Nevadomski
Paul’s Wife
Mom to: Juliana, 8 – Louis and Anthony, 24 months – Joseph, 10 months
www.nevaland.com