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Wow, what a great winter weekend to take the family on a camping adventure - Especially when your friends have a heated, pop-up trailer! The thought of having yet another cold winter weekend stuck in the house was just too much for us, the parents, to bear. So we were invited to head down to Lake Wateree State Park, near Columbia. It was Charlie & Sara’s first big camping trip out of the backyard ..Charlie has been talking about camping for a long time now, and he is only 2 1/2! Sara, our almost 6 yr old, has camped with her Dad in our backyard, but it was really a 1st for her too. They love going canoing with us, so of course, our canoe came too. A few other folks joined us; Jackie & Riley, her 3 yr old; & the Berry clan! what a motley crew : ) Riley, Sara & Charlie did well together, although each having a few meltdowns about one thing or another. Jeb, the Berry boy, is 12 & is so awesome about playing with them! They all think he just hung the moon. All in all, it was a great trip–with toddlers involved I think you just have to realize that there will be some issues, but they’ll pass.
Also, We, as a family, really needed some..guess you could call it “Bonding time”–Boy I thought I’d never be saying that (Mom!). Anyway, I think everybody gets a little stir crazy now & then, including our kids. Sometimes you need to ignore your phone &/or simply leave your home, even just for a few hours. Sara has recently said to me on more than one occasion, “Mom, you could take me to Chuck-e-cheese, you know, where a kid can be a kid?!” She got on my nerves initially when she said it, since I thought she was being whiny, ungrateful, etc, but as I really thought about it & started thinking about places “where a kid can be a kid”. There aren’t really a ton of them out there FREE! Its fun to just do something unplanned & out of the ordinary. Maybe that helps bring out the child in all of us…

APRIL 10th, 2008
PINETUCK GOLF COURSE
3rd ANNUAL D.H.F. GOLF TOURNAMENT

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT www.DALTONHELPFOUNDATION.ORG

I read something the other day; how it’s important, as a parent, to remember you are your own person (of course!)..and that you need to think of your child as their own person.

I mean, it seems obvious, BUT do you think most parents remember this, the majority of the time? Your “little Joey Jr.” or “little Susie’s” are their own little beings. I think some parents get caught up in the thought of mini-me’s, clones (haha), etc, that they forget what the whole purpose is. I think we all know parents like this.
It is so interesting to watch their little personalities grow throughout childhood, and to me, particularly toddler-hood. They are learning so much daily, their own sense of being, their own likes & dislikes of everyday people, foods, music, things, the list goes on & on…(its probably a little overwhelming if you think about it..) And attempting to please you, the parents, on MOST occasions! I have to remind myself of all these things. Anyway, I think the idea of a “little clone” is sort of funny, but inappropriate, really. Let them be who they want.

ALOT is in the news about this topic..Read this article if you have a Toddler!

more info

I have to rant about this, just a little…A major Pet Peeve of mine. How many times have you been at a fast food restaurant or park with your baby or toddler, have a diaper change to handle, and not able to find a changing table?? OR they just have them in the womens restrooms??! Do they not think their Dad is ever allowed to change them??
Some of the places I go to regularly are the most un-child-friendly. and boy, is it a pain!! For instance, I was with Charlie at a local PARK today that has a pitiful bathroom..and NO changing area, A PARK! I don’t think alot of BK’s have them either…and they have play areas?? How many times have you had to lay down the seat of your car and change a big boomboom. Oh man….

“How To Con Your Kid” by David Borgenicht and James Grace is a great book. It gives parents ideas on how to “trick” your toddler or child into doing something that they do not want to do..The chapters are based on various issues that affect many families at one time or another (& sometimes all at once)…Grooming Cons, Getting Ready Cons, Behavioral Cons, Household Cons, and Mealtime & Bedtime Cons…It’s funny, down-to-earth, and easy to read.

Dalton Help Foundation is participating in the event… learn more here

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation. C. Everett Koop

Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to drain it dry. Alvin Price

A mother understands what a child does not say. Jewish Proverb

Just a few of my favorites to think on…

Where do we even begin with the whole potty training adventure? It varies between children, but it usually starts around age 2 or even a little before..Toddlerhood is the prime age for potty training. When they begin talking about it or showing any interest, you can chat with them about the potty in general. There are also several potty training books available that are geared towards each gender. Go ahead and think about ways to praise them when they are successful. Cause it will happen eventually! A few accidents are sure to happen here & there so be prepared..I’ve heard boys are a little harder to potty train & we are finding that to be true..I think they have to get to a point that they are sick of it all themselves, being wet/dirty, wearing a diaper, the whole deal. The entire process does take a while though..It certainly doesn’t take a week or two, like I naively assumed pre-kids!

Toddlers are infamous for being hard to understand..They babble alot & usually know a few words, but conveying that message to you is frustrating (on both sides). BUT the “toddler babble” is part of their learning..They are just practicing saying what they hear everyday, which is adult conversation=babble!
What I try to do is listen for a few key words & give him some time to say it himself, then attempt to see what our toddler, Charlie, is trying to say. If you listen very carefully and try not to rush them, they’ll get it out easier..Guessing 50 times and talking over them isn’t going to help the matter, just confuse things! Charlie is learning to speak sentences right now, and told his teacher last week “Ms.-Jo-, -I -opened -the -gate” on the playground! She told me she let him get out the whole sentence, even though it took a few seconds. Listening to him and not assuming what he was going to say may have helped avoid a potentially dangerous situation. Give them a chance, they’ll get it out!