How do you manage your time?
Some days I feel super productive but recently I feel the opposite. And how do you prioritize??
Raising the children is my #1 job, but sometimes the dishes need to be done and the laundry needs to be folded, or at least washed! Sometimes I need a break. Sometimes I feel guilty taking my kids to the park because it isn't "productive" but really spending time with them and letting them play and enjoy the fresh air is one of the best things I could be doing. But it means letting other things go....
Why is my house never as clean as I'd like it to be - and why can't I motivate myself to clean the windowsills that desperately need it??!
I feel like I used to be awesome at time management and now I am failing.
I think one of the big things is dropping the "do it all" mentality that is so pervasive in our society. So what are the important things. When Elaine is painting a picture, do I do the dishes or do I sit down at the table and talk with her? It probably depends in part on the day, but I've just been struggling with time lately. My days seem full but at the end of the day I've wondered what I have done. There is no good checklist for motherhood - so how can I feel satisfied and fulfilled with where I am, knowing that 10 years from now I may have more time for my personal "to dos" and less time painting and blowing bubbles?? It's tricky.
-Christine
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Veggies
Any ideas about how to get toddlers to eat more veggies? Drew was loving canned pumpkin, but with the pumpkin shortage, that's a no go now.
I admit that I'm not a veggie addict, but I've been working really hard to change to set a better example for Drew. However, I can't expect him to eat a raw cucumber or a piece of celery, and cooked stuff doesn't seem to interest him.
Any ideas? I'm concerned I'm teaching him bad eating habits.
But he did eat grilled polenta tonight. That's gotta count for something.
I admit that I'm not a veggie addict, but I've been working really hard to change to set a better example for Drew. However, I can't expect him to eat a raw cucumber or a piece of celery, and cooked stuff doesn't seem to interest him.
Any ideas? I'm concerned I'm teaching him bad eating habits.
But he did eat grilled polenta tonight. That's gotta count for something.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
What's for dinner?
Growing up, I can remember my Mom getting so frustrated when we would complain about what she made for dinner, or not eat the food she prepared. And I never understood why she got so frustrated.
I now understand.
Abby is a picky eater. And Lexi is only 1 and still is a little limited by the food that she can eat.
Dinner seems to be a battle every night.
I know that Dr's and Pediatricians are now really recommending that you don't force kids to eat ALL the food that is served them. That we need to let them learn to listen to their bodies, and decide what and how much they want to eat. I have totally agreed with this, I think this is a great tool to help fight childhood obesity. The rule at our house has always been, that Abby just has to take one or two bites of every food on her plate. She has to try it before she can say that she doesn't like it. (That being said, if she doesn't eat but a bite or two total during a meal, then she doesn't get any snacks. I'm no fool, and I know when she is really not hungry, or just being stubborn.)
I've also tried to not "cater" to her wants and desires. She can either eat what is for dinner, or go hungry. I'm not going to make her a special meal.
However, even with all these guidelines that I've set up, dinner time seems to be falling apart. It's almost like the line between following the rules, and breaking the rules has gotten a little blurry.
Example:
If we are having spaghetti for dinner, Abby doesn't like the sauce, so she just eats the noodles, with some cheese on them. I thought this was a nice compromise. But slowly, it's progressed to even more than that. If we are having taco's for dinner, she just wants a quesadilla. Now a quesadilla requires some of the same ingredients as taco's, just a different method of preperation. Another compromise, but the line is getting pretty blurry now.
It's just gotten easier to do it this way, there is less of a battle at dinner.
But dinner still isn't easy. It seems we are constantly negotiating.
Me: "Abby, just eat three more bites, then you'll be done"
Abby: "No, two more bites"
And so on.
I'm so frustrated.
The situation is even futher complicated because right now Cameron and I also have very different needs at dinner.
Cam is trying to not eat carbs after 4pm (something to do with his weightlifting, I'm not sure of the exact reason for this diet change). And me, because the baby is now occupying all the space that used to be for my stomach, have little room for a heavy meal. I also get horrible heartburn if I go to bed with food in my tummy, so I try to eat a light dinner (i.e. salad) so that most of the food is digested before I go to bed.
It now seems that there are multiple meals being prepared every night. A salad for me, a protien for Cam, usually chicken or some other meat, and then some sides that the girls will eat. Although the situation with Cam and I is only temperorary, I'm afraid that there is going to be some habits created that will be hard to break.
Any tips on getting kids to eat the meals that are prepared for them? I'm not going to have hot dogs and chicken nuggets every night for dinner, just to please the girls. I want real, good, healthy food. And no more crying and tantrums at the dinner table.
I now understand.
Abby is a picky eater. And Lexi is only 1 and still is a little limited by the food that she can eat.
Dinner seems to be a battle every night.
I know that Dr's and Pediatricians are now really recommending that you don't force kids to eat ALL the food that is served them. That we need to let them learn to listen to their bodies, and decide what and how much they want to eat. I have totally agreed with this, I think this is a great tool to help fight childhood obesity. The rule at our house has always been, that Abby just has to take one or two bites of every food on her plate. She has to try it before she can say that she doesn't like it. (That being said, if she doesn't eat but a bite or two total during a meal, then she doesn't get any snacks. I'm no fool, and I know when she is really not hungry, or just being stubborn.)
I've also tried to not "cater" to her wants and desires. She can either eat what is for dinner, or go hungry. I'm not going to make her a special meal.
However, even with all these guidelines that I've set up, dinner time seems to be falling apart. It's almost like the line between following the rules, and breaking the rules has gotten a little blurry.
Example:
If we are having spaghetti for dinner, Abby doesn't like the sauce, so she just eats the noodles, with some cheese on them. I thought this was a nice compromise. But slowly, it's progressed to even more than that. If we are having taco's for dinner, she just wants a quesadilla. Now a quesadilla requires some of the same ingredients as taco's, just a different method of preperation. Another compromise, but the line is getting pretty blurry now.
It's just gotten easier to do it this way, there is less of a battle at dinner.
But dinner still isn't easy. It seems we are constantly negotiating.
Me: "Abby, just eat three more bites, then you'll be done"
Abby: "No, two more bites"
And so on.
I'm so frustrated.
The situation is even futher complicated because right now Cameron and I also have very different needs at dinner.
Cam is trying to not eat carbs after 4pm (something to do with his weightlifting, I'm not sure of the exact reason for this diet change). And me, because the baby is now occupying all the space that used to be for my stomach, have little room for a heavy meal. I also get horrible heartburn if I go to bed with food in my tummy, so I try to eat a light dinner (i.e. salad) so that most of the food is digested before I go to bed.
It now seems that there are multiple meals being prepared every night. A salad for me, a protien for Cam, usually chicken or some other meat, and then some sides that the girls will eat. Although the situation with Cam and I is only temperorary, I'm afraid that there is going to be some habits created that will be hard to break.
Any tips on getting kids to eat the meals that are prepared for them? I'm not going to have hot dogs and chicken nuggets every night for dinner, just to please the girls. I want real, good, healthy food. And no more crying and tantrums at the dinner table.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Rights
I was given a handout with these rights on it, and it's been a good reminder to me. Enjoy.
SAMPLE LIST OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS
The right to have and express your own feelings and opinions.
The right to refuse requests without having to feel guilty or selfish.
The right to consider your own needs.
The right to set your own priorities and make your own decisions.
The right to change.
The right to decide what to do with your own property, body and time.
The right to make mistakes- - - - -and be responsible for them.
The right to ask for what you want (realizing that the other person has the right to say no).
The right to ask for information (including professionals).
The right to choose not to assert yourself.
The right to do anything as long as it does not violate the rights of someone else.
The right to maintain your dignity be being properly assertive- - -even if the other person feels hurt- - -as long as you do not violate the other person's basic human rights.
The right to be independent.
The right to be successful.
The right to have rights and stand up for them.
The right to be left alone.
The right to be treated with respect and dignity.
The right to be listened to and taken seriously.
The right to get what you pay for.
The right to initiate a discussion of the problem with the person involved and to clarify it, in borderline interpersonal cases where the rights involved are not clear.
SAMPLE LIST OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS
The right to have and express your own feelings and opinions.
The right to refuse requests without having to feel guilty or selfish.
The right to consider your own needs.
The right to set your own priorities and make your own decisions.
The right to change.
The right to decide what to do with your own property, body and time.
The right to make mistakes- - - - -and be responsible for them.
The right to ask for what you want (realizing that the other person has the right to say no).
The right to ask for information (including professionals).
The right to choose not to assert yourself.
The right to do anything as long as it does not violate the rights of someone else.
The right to maintain your dignity be being properly assertive- - -even if the other person feels hurt- - -as long as you do not violate the other person's basic human rights.
The right to be independent.
The right to be successful.
The right to have rights and stand up for them.
The right to be left alone.
The right to be treated with respect and dignity.
The right to be listened to and taken seriously.
The right to get what you pay for.
The right to initiate a discussion of the problem with the person involved and to clarify it, in borderline interpersonal cases where the rights involved are not clear.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Pasta dish
I made this dish a couple of times in the last few weeks. It's pretty good, and healthy. I don't really have an exact recipe, I just kind of put some ingredients together.
P.S I just made this recipe up. I think I was served a similar dish by my sister-in-law several years ago, and just kind of put together this recipe from what I could remember. So I'm sure there are many changes or additions to the recipe that would make it even better.
- Turkey Sausage (or regualar sausage)
- Penne noodles (or I'm sure speghetti would work well too)
- Canned, diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings (Basil, Oregeno)
- Spinach
P.S I just made this recipe up. I think I was served a similar dish by my sister-in-law several years ago, and just kind of put together this recipe from what I could remember. So I'm sure there are many changes or additions to the recipe that would make it even better.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Changing how we define ourselves
Today I was reading a blog, and the writer talked about changing the way that we define or describe ourselves.
She wrote: Sometimes we choose labels unconsciously with little things that we say to others like “I let X person take care of the finances” (trusting) or “I need coffee to start my day” (coffee addict)...
...Changing labels will start by changing the words that we say to ourselves and then being aware of the comments we make about ourselves. It doesn’t mean things will transform over night; but I can certainly imagine that if I say these things repeatedly about myself they will become true, simply because I will unconsciously beging to believe them…just like I believed some of the negative things I heard as a child.
This got me thinking about some of the labels I've given myself.
She wrote: Sometimes we choose labels unconsciously with little things that we say to others like “I let X person take care of the finances” (trusting) or “I need coffee to start my day” (coffee addict)...
...Changing labels will start by changing the words that we say to ourselves and then being aware of the comments we make about ourselves. It doesn’t mean things will transform over night; but I can certainly imagine that if I say these things repeatedly about myself they will become true, simply because I will unconsciously beging to believe them…just like I believed some of the negative things I heard as a child.
This got me thinking about some of the labels I've given myself.
- I love sweets, and crave them all the time
- I'm not a kid person
- I'm short on patience
- I'm super forgetful
- I'm feel miserable all the time (refering to the aches and pains that come with being pregnant).
- I love eating healthy
- I enjoy kids
- I'm learning to be more patient
- I am organized so that I will be less forgettful
- I feel good, and have a healthy pregnancy
Monday, February 28, 2011
For the Mothers of Boys
I'm sure this has happened to all of us, but to catch it on film? Priceless.
ENJOY!
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2011/02/28/baby-pee/
ENJOY!
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2011/02/28/baby-pee/
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