Daycare/Pre-School Woes-Advice for the Future

Sweet Liam,

I'm so thankful I can still call you "Sweet" Liam, terrible-two have not taken hold of you (I'm hoping our consistent parenting will help them pass over our family).

You go to Daycare/Pre-School for many reasons two of which are 1.) I put myself through college, I want to work and 2.) have student loans so with our mortgage I have to work for our family. It is not a burden for me to work but a choice I willingly make. Your Grandma Patty is semi-retired, she did this so she could watch you three days a week, it's an incredibly blessing for the whole family! The other two days a week you go to Daycare/Pre-School near Dadda's work, the teachers and other students there love you and you enjoy it....except for first thing in the morning when I drop you off. It breaks my heart how you cry and so "NO Momma, NO!" Even when you and G wave to be out the window you cry as I sign "I love you" to you (our new thing, you giggle any other time I do it!). I know the rest of your day is wonderful, your teachers send me pictures to prove it but dang is it hard on me. I don't know how to make it better, I've tried countless things and nothing works. You go there Monday & Tuesday mornings and Monday is by far the worst, I dread it but try not to let you sense it for fear of making it even worse.

I know these days are fleeting, these moments I may not even remember one day. Is it bad that I pray I won't recall the times I cried on the way to work? Part of the point of this blog is so that I recall everything I can about your childhood, both the good and not so good because it's all so important to me. The other part of that is I want you to have these memories from me, I want you to have them to reflect back on one day perhaps when you are raising your own child (hopefully I'll be around for that, even near-by maybe!)

Parenting is not always easy my love, there are hard choices to be made and even when you know you are making the right one it can sometimes feel like an incredible challenge. Trust yourself if you are reading this and pondering your own parenting decisions, trust your gut....I pray that we've raised you to have a wonderful and loving childhood that you can reflect upon and cherish. I'm always just a phone call away!

I love you Liam, I will always be proud of you!
Momma

Your Second Halloween {Parenting Fail}

Peanut,

So, to say your Dad and I are newbies at this parenting stuff is putting it lightly.  Sometimes it's glaringly obvious you are our first child.  Like this Halloween, your second.  We had the brilliant idea of dressing you up and parading you all over town to see people....we didn't think about the fact that your costume (a Rooster!) didn't work in your car-seat, we ended up having to put you in and out of your costume over and over.  Oh did I mention you don't like your car-seat right now?  Hot mess. 

You did great at the first house, Dad's co-worker and ok at the second which was my boss' home.  But after driving clear across town and back to Aunt E's house you were totally over it.  And understandably too.  We spent a good 20 or so minutes there just letting you run around and play (you liked the cat and a stuffed spider Auntie had).  But at 7:40p (10 mins after your regular bed time) you melted down and were totally done.   We loaded you up once more and headed home. 

The next day I let you enjoy your little bag of m&m's and you happily carried around a mini Almond Joy (where did that go anyway, ut oh!) 

Needless to say next year we will be staying in our own neighborhood and letting people come to you!  Next year you are going to get to enjoy it lots and lots like you should!  Sorry about this year peanut!  (Side note; for some reason I've been calling you peanut a lot lately.....even shortening it to Pea and you respond to me!  Yikes, I should probably get better at calling you Liam!)

Much Love,
Momma

Goodbye Morning Nap, Hello Molars

Sweet Liam,

Holy Smokes, it's true when they say your child(ren) grow up so fast!  It feels like just yesterday you couldn't hold up your own head how you're a running fool!

A few weeks ago you started to transition out of your morning nap and like all other things so far we've let you take the lead on being ready or not.  You were clearly ready, so we had Nanna encourage it a little.  Within just two weeks you were fully transitioned, we had one little set back while you weren't feeling so great but now we are clear on the side of no return.  And ya know what?  I'm so happy!  I know a lot of parents morn the loss of the morning nap because they fit in more "me" time or clean or whatnot and I certainly did use it as "me" time on Saturdays.  BUT this whole single two hour nap in the middle of the day is delightful!  We can leave the house for more than two hours at a time, why hello going to church!  You are clearly happy with the change as well.  It makes fitting a weekend workout in a little trickier for me but it's ok, I'd rather have the extra time with you anyway.

And in similar news you have a mouth full of teeth!  Seriously!  I had no idea this is how teething went!   You started in March and it's been pretty much back to back teeth!  Now you're getting molars! Molars! What?!  You just don't seem old enough for this business!  Poor little guy, man they tell you molars are a b---h and they are!  I couldn't for the life of me figure out why you'd been so incredibly grumpy lately then I stuck my finger in your mouth, because that is what moms do....and hello THREE molars trying to come in (one had at least broken through the skin and two others are super puffy).  Duh Jen!  Gosh I felt like a bad mom, all you wanted was teething tablets!!!  And you was a saint after I gave them to him.  This whole parenting thing sure has a learning curve!

I love you so much and love watching you grow up!!
Momma

Your mom used to be a news junky

Until you came around....
I used to watch the news sssooo much.  I'd start the day with the morning news...well part of the local and part of the national.  I'd get home in time to catch some of one national, the full other nation and one local news....yeah I was a total junky.

Then you came around.  Not only do I not want to waste the time it's also so much harder to listen to the horrific stories.  Lately there have been so many crimes against children, one was so horrible, I had so much anger and sadness built up I couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, my heart broke in a whole new way for the child that died.  You have already changed my life love, my news addiction has been replaced by you, time with you and your smiles.  I couldn't be happier!
Love-
Momma

Responisbility

Dearest Liam,
I've been thinking a lot about the new responsibilities you've brought into my life.  There are many, they are vast and complex...and I would not trade them for anything this world has to offer! 
Sometimes I stand looking at you while you sleep and I'm a bit afraid, how will I ever accomplish all these responsibilities?  How will I teach you to be kind and loving, how will I ever teach you all you need to know about God, how will I ever potty train you??? LOL!  I know I am not alone in these duties but as your mother I consider it the most important thing I will ever do in raising you.  I likely won't ever have a Ph.D or be a CEO but I will always be your mom.  I will always, always, always do my best for you no matter the cost.
So forgive me when I screw up ever now and then, we are both learning at the same time after all, but I promise you I'm doing 110% everyday, all day.
I love you,
Momma