She hit the nail on the head!!!

A few months ago my best friend and I were visiting and I mentioned how we had a similar pet peeve. The mis-use of the word tattling and children. She wrote a blog that hit the nail on the head, and I wanted to share it with my readers as well.

Click here --------> "It's Not Tattling"

I remember working at a daycare when I was out of high school and a child would come up crying to their teacher and before they were allowed to open their mouth the teacher would say "If your tattling I don't want to hear it" and the child would put their head down and walk away. I remember thinking "what if he really got hurt.... what if another child is being really mean to another child".... as I became a parent I realized that my children are coming to me because they are KIDS and they don't know what to do or how to handle every situation and they need my help to figure out what to do....

Ok I'll quit because Chrissy's blog is more than sufficient!! But I will add one more quick thing.... I know there are some kids who do "tattle" and only the parents know their children, so you have to use your own parental judgment and knowledge of your kids....so please don't think I am judging every parent or teacher that says it.. I'm just speaking from what I have seen in my life and how most children aren't given an opportunity to even speak before they are turned away... just makes me sad....

Ok Im done! :-)

tying shoes.....

Last year when Joseph was in kindergarten they would send home progress reports saying "joseph needs to learn to tie his shoes". I just let it go because I was perfectly content having him be able to put on his shoes, pull the velcro and be on our way.

Last night I received an e-mail from his teacher stating that he would have to stay in from recess each day until he learned to tie his shoes and that it was a skill that should have been mastered in kindergarten.

At first I was upset, because I felt bad that Joseph was going to be punished for a decision I had made as his mom. I knew other moms with 7 year olds that also did velcro and I remember wearing velcro shoes at his age and so I didn't see the big deal. I also felt a little ashamed... I mean was I being lazy in not teaching him? Being the internet junkie that I am I googled it and read how other moms were "appalled that 6 and 7 year olds could maneuver cell phones and computers but didn't know how to tie their shoes".... Yikes!

I could also see their point in wanting him to learn and I began to realize part of the reason he didn't learn was because I was trying to make things a little easier on myself and I thought on him as well. I was worried teaching him would take a long time and that he would struggle each morning to tie his shoes or that at school he would be having to constantly stop and re-tie his shoes. I know I'm a worry wart.... I know it shouldn't be something to get worked up over... but I'm going to use pregnancy as an excuse here! lol :-)

I was texting my best friend Chrissy and she helped me to see that the school wasn't pushing something on us, but that it was something that most children know how to do by this age and they wanted Joseph to master it.

Recess isn't that big of a deal, however to Joseph it's huge and so I thought... well.... why not just start teaching him tonight. I thought I would e-mail his teacher and let her know we are going to start working on it but not to penalize joseph for my decision as a parent and that we would work on it with him each night.

Well..... he learned in about 30 minutes! I was so shocked and it made me think "Why did I wait so long?"..... Mike took our other 2 boys upstairs to play and joseph put on one of my shoes.... and he learned. He said he wanted to wait about 10 minutes to show his dad to see if he still remembered, and 10 minutes later he tied his shoes for his dad... then this morning before school he did it again.

I'm also thankful that Joseph didn't care at all that he didn't know how to tie his shoes yet, he was just worried about missing recess!! What a motivator! :-)

I don't know if there is a "moral" to this story or not.... but I know I learned something as a mom.... I was putting it off thinking it would make life harder,but I underestimated my son.... he did great and we are going to buy some shoes with laces probably this weekend. Samuel my 5 year old is now begging to learn to tie his shoes..... :-) My babies are growing up on me!

Almost there!!!

Wow I haven't blogged in a while! Well here's what's going on with my life. I am currently 33 weeks and soooo looking forward to my first little girl coming into the world. She is a very active baby which brings me much comfort as I feel her moving alot during the day. Due to high blood pressure I go twice a week for non-stress test, but I don't mind at all because I get to hear her heartbeat and it just comforts me knowing she is doing good.

We have had her first name picked out since my first pregnancy... "Anna" however the middle name is still up in the air. Hopefully we will decide before she gets here! :-)

Last week my husband and my older 2 sons helped me get her room ready. It was as exciting for them as it was for me. They were so happy to see her crib going up and the pink decorations. They even got to help put the crib together.

After we got her room all set up, with the exception of curtains and some pictures that need to be hung, I decided to go through her clothes. As I picked up each piece of clothing I got a little more excited. I was just as excited with each of my boys and this time the excitement is two-fold. I am not only excited about meeting this little baby that I already love so much, but I am excited about the new experience of having a daughter.

Mike is looking forward to having a daughter for the first time. I am excited to see how he is with a little girl. I have seen him with my nieces and little girls at church and he is just so great with them... I just can't wait to see how he is with our daughter.... wow..... "daughter"... I am so excited to get to say that.

Well that's all for now! :-)