Sunday 31 July 2011

Copy Cat

I love watching my kids play. It's one of my favourite "mum" activities. Of course, sometimes the kids fight, but that's to be expected. No, my favourtie thing to watch at the moment is Copy Cat.

Copy Cat is a very simple game. Megan does whatever she likes and Alex copies her...exactly. She might be sitting reading, or running up and down the hallway. And Alex will be right there with her. The part that keeps me enthralled, however, is the way he is so calculated in his copying.

Alex studies Megan, he matches his hands with what hers are doing, his feet are in precisely the same position, head facing the same way. It's hilarious!! I haven't managed to get a video of him doing yet, but it's a personal mission to do so.

Saturday 30 July 2011

Sand

I hate sand. It sticks. It scratches. It itches. It gets everywhere.

We have a sandpit. The kids love it. I hate it. Sand comes inside. Its hides away for days. Sand gets everywhere.

Megan and Alex love the sandpit at creche. I hate it. Sand gets on their clothes. Sand gets IN their clothes. In pockets. In hoods. Down backs. In nappies. EVERYWHERE.

I hate sand!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Hysterics and Tantrums!

We attempted grocery shopping after dinner tonight. BIG MISTAKE!! The kids were obviously more tired than we thought, because we had teary, ratty, naughty offspring by the time we left the supermarket.

So when Mike tried to convince the kids that they WANTED a shower before bed, the fun began... Tears and refusals to get undressed from both Megan and Alex. Increase to screaming and refusals to get into the shower from Megan.
"You just need to get your hair washed, then you can get out", I reasoned.
"I dont want my hair washed" screamed Megan...and Alex agreed and refused in his own toddler-y way.
"Too bad, I'm the boss!" was my witty reply.

In the end, the hair got washed, bodies cleaned and shower turned off... (and of course that's when Megan screamed "I dont want to get out of the shower yet!) By this stage, both had upped the anti so much the word HYSTERIA was more than appropriate. Exhausting!

Luckily cuddles and some warm milk makes all right with the world again. But gee...what horrible parents were are...trying to put food on the table and keep little bodies clean!!!!!

Movin' on up!!

We got great news from Megan's day care today. She is "gradutating" from the toddler room to the pre-kinder room. Yipee!! Older children in the room. Good role models for routines and behaviour. Different/higher expectations from staff. All our troubles should be over, right? No more toilet training accidents, no more day sleeps, no more thumb sucking...a happy and healthy little girl all round, right??

NO.....

Wet undies, "I had a big sleep today, Mum!!" and thumb placed firmly in the mouth.... :(

Oh, well... early days yet...I am still hopeful...I think!!

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Working mum...

Going back to work after Megan was born was not a tough decision. I was looking forward to the adult company and conversation and a few days a week away from me would not hurt Megan. Taking on a 4 day working week this year with 2 littlies has been a different story. Super organisation needed for both work and home, trying to get the correct work/home balance. Adding to my guilt, are little comments from Megan which, in her eyes, are completely harmless and should not make me cry. They do however....

Example #1- Waking up in the morning, Megan asks with a sigh..."Where am I going today, Mum?"

Example #2- Getting ready in the morning, she says "... but I dont want to go to creche, I just want to have breakfast at HOME!!"

Example #3 (and I think the most telling..)-Searching for the right name for the adult in front of her... "Nana, I mean Grandpa, I mean Mum..."

Sunday 24 July 2011

Yuck!!

I washed Moo and Robbie tonight. Washed is a rather loose description. More like soaked, disinfected...scourged! The water was putrid, absolutely revolting, when I tipped it out. I could not believe that something so innocuous could be in such a state.
I suppose that it is not that surprising. A child’s security blanket or toy is SO important that it goes everywhere, does everything. That is definitely the job description for Moo and Robbie. Megan and Alex love them so dearly that if they were ever lost, our house would crumble around us, or so my kids would think. Mike and I have often discussed whether it is worth having a “back up” set of Moo and Robbie’s, just in case they did disappear one day. We haven’t done so yet, but I am seriously considering the wisdom of our laziness.
 We had to wash Moo and Robbie over night so that the kids would be able to go to sleep with their beloveds and wake up the next morning with them freshly laundered and smelling like roses...or sunshine, according to our washing powder! While balking at the sight of the murky, grey water washing down the sink, and thinking that I would never let my face get close to something that could produce such filth, I thought about why my kids love these toys so much. Security blanket and toys don’t talk, are happy to be dragged, squeezed, cuddled, thrown or laid upon, smell just right and are always there (hopefully!). Kind of like the toddler version of a best friend. They are happy to just hang out and do whatever, always ready for a laugh or chat and comfort you when you are upset or feel crappy.
Come to think of it, if I couldn’t find my best friend, my world would probably fall apart a bit too!
 

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