Thursday, March 31, 2011

reading with grandma

it has been one month since grandma sherrill was admitted to the rehab facility 
in order to recover from breaking her hip
she doesn't like being there one bit!
every day, several times a day she "packs" her bags 
and tells whoever is listening that is time for her to go home

she claims to have some serious grocery shopping to do
and weeds to pull in her yard

despite where her mind may take her within the course of a day
she ALWAYS remembers that she has a home and
this place IS NOT it! ha!!

she still is unable to walk unassisted
and at 89 years old she'll more than likely be restricted to at least a walker forever
but we just need her to be more stable on her feet in order to take her home
and in order for that to happen she needs to participate well in her therapy sessions
but, i think she is being quite a pill sometimes!

molly always enjoys visiting grandma sherrill 
and she is a favorite guest now at the nursing home/rehab center
she frequently walks into other rooms as we are going down the hall
i think everyone there is just happy to see a toddler for a change!

recently we went to visit and took along some of molly's favorite books to read with grandma
molly has now gotten into "reading" the books after i read them
i find it to be a great lesson in retell and comprehension
as she studies the pictures and "reads" the story as best a two year old can!










molly and grandma shared some cake
molly insisted on "feeding" grandma, but mostly got it in the bed!


she has to take her fum out first!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Zoo Day

on one of my days off during spring break molly and i enjoyed the beautiful spring weather and spent an afternoon at the zoo
it was so fun and beautiful
she loved it!  
this was her 3rd time to the Nashville Zoo














ps, thanks for all the sweet comments here and on facebook about my earlier post!
i'm so happy to say that we had a wonderful and quiet evening tonight.

i told a friend earlier...as i thought about the events of the morning
somewhere around the time she was throwing herself in the kitchen floor and screaming i thought
it would have been so much easier to just let her wear the tennis shoes and not have forced the rain boots! ha!
was it really worth it?
then...i start to think ahead and ask myself 
will i give her a way out if she talks back to me at 8 years old?
will i give in when she wants to stay up too late talking on the phone at 12 years old?
what about when she wants to wear that inappropriate mini skirt at 16 years old?  will i back down then?
then my mind wonders on....fearful of what the future may hold
i don't want my precious child to turn into a disrespectful, slutty teenager with a potty mouth!
so, i guess i'll keep standing my ground on these little issues while i can because this is what lays the foundation for the bigger issues ahead.

and unless you are living in a bubble you also realize that so many parents do not parent any more.
in most situations, there are no boundaries.
have you seen the sense of entitlement and rudeness so many young people today have?
unfortunately, as a teacher i see it on a daily basis:(

too bad molly has a teacher for a mommy!

terrible two's?

sometimes i make bad choices on wednesdays
it's the mid-week tiredness and junky house that get to me
by wednesday i have laundry in the hall, toys in the living room, and dishes in the sink
by wednesday i have no food in the fridge and no gas in the car
by wednesday i have errands to run and lots of papers to grade
by wednesday my girl is ready for some real one on one mommy time
frankly, i'd LOVE  to have wednesdays off!!!!
but that will probably never happen.

this morning was a rough one! 
most of the time molly is so good, but when she sets her mind on something... that's it! 
i guess it's a combination of so many things going on in her little mind
or maybe she dislikes wednesdays as much as i do! 

today she didn't want to get up, she said, "no mommy, back to sleep"
sounds like a smart girl to me!! 
most days she gets right up, but sometimes she is sleepy still at 6:50 a.m.
my goal is to have her up at 6:30 a.m., but sometimes we are both running late.
it was a rainy morning and i put her rainboots on her and she screamed and cried.
she wanted her tennis shoes, but i didn't budge. 
sometimes she has to just do what i say...that is part of mommyhood, right?

once she begins to have a meltdown, everything after that is something that makes her cry even louder!
she didn't want me to brush her teeth or wash her face.
she screamed when i did her hair and put on her raincoat.
on the way out the door she threw herself down on the kitchen floor and cried to be held
i was running so late, was mad at the whole situation, and screamed and yelled for her to come on!
we drove the whole way to daycare without singing or talking.
when i took her to daycare, i told mom...it's been a rough morning.
as i left she kissed me, with her lower lip quivering from her crying spell
i wanted to scoop her up and go home to be with her for the day
but, i know this is all a part of it.
we have to learn to move on and keep going, even on bad days.
i'm sure she was happy again within a few minutes of my departure, but i've thought about it all day.

motherhood
wednesdays
terrible two's
what's it all about, anyway?
i've really not bought into the whole terrible two's phenomenon
i think all of these things are just a part of human development...you know, children trying to grow and mature and parents trying to lead them in the right direction.
i pretty much realize that most crying spells, tantrums, and fits at this age are just her way of expressing that she is overwhelmed, tired, or trying to communicate something she can't.
but, it's also...sometimes...a test of wills.
ms. molly has a SUPER STRONG will and DETERMINATION! 
most of the time it is a good thing, but on morning like this, it's rough!
I have a strong will too...a strong will to teach her what is right and a strong will to be her parent and not her friend!
so when we put our 'forces' together we can really back each other into a corner! ha!
me...the 36 year old single mom and her...the 2.5 year old waiting it out to see who will back down first!

we went through a similar crying/fit/rage on sundy after church.  i put her in her carseat and she wanted to buckle herself in which she can't quite do just yet. 
so i buckled her seat for her and she screamed and cried for about 20 minutes.
i even went through the wendy's drive thru with her screaming in the background!!
the guy could hardly hear my order and probably thougth i had kidnapped an innocent child!


my fear is that this "phase" doesn't subside, but my prayer is that it will gradually get better as she learns and comprehends the difference between choices and consequences. 

so, i'm documenting this yucky day in hopes i can look back and say...
look how she's grown and matured! 
now she can calm herself down.
but right now, she can't.

so now, i'm off to drag out my copy of the strong willed child and dare to discipline
i think i need to read up!!

do you have any suggestions or tips?  feel free to share!!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

where's spring?

we've had a cold and wet weekend here and are awaiting for the return of our pretty spring weather
these pictures were taken a couple weeks ago,
before all of my beautiful tulip tree blooms fell off in the wind and rain

















Saturday, March 26, 2011

random spring pictures

it's a rainy, gloomy Saturday afternoon
molly and i have been busy today planting a few things in the yard this morning
we made perfect timing and got everything planted and cleaned up before the rain hit
now i'll let mother nature water all my newly planted flowers and shrubs all night
so happy i don't have to haul that hose around my yard!!

these are just a few random pics we haven't posted yet...

molly's spring and summer wardrobe in the making
i got a little crazy at target
i couldn't pass up these shorts and tshirts for $4
so cute!!!!
a few other brands are scattered in the mix

i can't wait to get these outfits on her
these short skirts and the yellow ruffled sweater...
i'm so dying!!!
i wish i was a size 2T!
a day at daycare...madison was visiting on this day (spring break) and regan is in the middle
regan is molly's friend...but sometimes molly hits her
she will get in the car in the afternoon and start confession
"mommy, i hit regan....poor regan"
i hope i'm not raising a bully!
the whole gang


mom's bradford pear tree above and my tulip bush below



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