Wow, it's been a while. I've been keeping myself pretty busy, but hopefully I can not let the blog slide again this time.
So........ tonight, I had a moment with my munchkin. We hit one of those "Big Girl" milestones. Lately, the whole big girl thing has been great! She got her big girl bed from grandpa for Christmas, she is proud to brush her teeth, and wash herself in the bath like a BIG GIRL! This has been great for her behavior! Dramatic changes in her listening at home! It's wonderful.
But the big girl moment tonight, well it made me realize how real the big girl thing really is! I actually teared up, and just squeezed her so close when I realized she has two loose teeth. One of which is REALLY loose! Wow... where did the time go? When did she get this big on me? Why can't I pause it, or at least find the slow motion button?
I mean, she has had milestones on and on since birth. You know... crawling for the first time, saying her first word, or even standing up and taking a few steps across the room! WOW, how amazing?!! I mean, I didn't get this emotional the first time she wrote her own name.
No, there really is something about her losing those baby teeth that really hit home. Maybe it's the fact that it's the last "Baby" part of her left?!?! Or maybe its that its just so different than all the other milestones?!? All I do know is that, even though its amazing, it's happening too fast. Can't she just stay my little girl FOREVER? Nice idea, but unlikely.
Anyways, as I sat there on the edge of her bed, squeezing her and cryin' a little, I realized that this is only the beginning. In just 8 short months, she is going to be starting KINDERGARTEN! Oh man, really? And then I thought further ahead.... she's gonna start to like boys in the next 10 years! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Or even worse, she is gonna grow up and get a drivers license! Then what?!?! Graduation? College? MARRIAGE?!?!?!?!?!
Yeah yeah, she is a bit young for me to be thinking about those things but I wanna be prepared. I saw that tooth wiggle and I LOST IT! I mean really? I get to be the tooth fairy now? HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!
I remember every one of those milestones thus far, and each had an impact. I cherish every moment, and will continue to. But wow... she's really becoming a BIG GIRL. I'm sad, Im happy, I'm proud, I'm excited, I'm well.... just an emotional mess right now! And I LOVE IT!
When you get your moments, milestones, and adventures, CHERISH THEM, 'cause they don't stay that size forever!
Thanks for reading! Happy new year and may 2012 treat you well!
Goodnight,
Chris
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Let Them Live, Let them Learn!
Children are educated by what the grown-up is and not by his talk.
~ Carl Jung
If you give a man a fish, you feed them for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed them for a lifetime.
~ Chinese Proverb
I started this post with a couple quotes because I feel they are entirely true. We as parents need to live as examples, not just as teachers. When I child goes to school, they will get plenty of lectures. But what they really need, are the people they look up to most setting good examples for them.
As I was growing up, my dad never told me how to live, he showed me. I’m 27 now, and he is still my idol, my hero and the man I want to be most like. He was and still is an amazing father and man in general.
I look at my dad as a parent, and see that every day I am more and more like him. He was always there for me. He taught me the value of hard work, and how to appreciate what you work for, not by telling me to, but by doing it. He showed me, never told me, how to do things. Now sure, there were times where a short lecture was necessary, but what I really learned from were the things he did and the way he did them.
At the same time, my father was there to catch me when I fell, but was never hesitant to let me fall. He could have stopped me from every stupid little thing I ever did, but then, would I have made the mistakes and learned from them? Absolutely not. You cannot protect someone from every little thing the world throws at them, but you can support them, and help them through it.
Another thing, my dad did for me as an example, was showed me the importance of life enriching activities, the importance of love and care and the lack of necessity for material items. He never spoiled me with fancy things; he spoiled me with love, with life and with dedication. Now sure, we all want the fancy stuff right? Sure, but if you want it…. You have to WORK FOR IT. This is why I had a job at 14. My dad would provide me what I needed, but would always make sure I knew that if I wanted something more, then I would be responsible for the difference.
So I look at my relationship with lil’ miss Aubrie, and see that, she, like any child, responds better to actions rather than words. Its funny, cause even though she isn’t my blood, she is SO MUCH like me. She wants to do the same things I do, just cause I am doing them. She wants to say the same things just because I am saying them. It’s cute, scary, but cute.
As I notice this behavior, it is extremely important that I take note of what I am doing and how I’m living. For example, if I brush my teeth every morning, and then again at night before bed, it’s astonishing how easy it is to get her to do it too. In fact, she usually wants to stand right next to me in the bathroom, and will even brush the same ways I do.
On a not so positive note, she picks up my bad habits too. When she sees me drinking a soda, guess what she wants to drink? That’s right, you nailed it…. SODA. If I let a word I shouldn’t have said slip… guess what her little mouth utters? That’s right, the same thing I said, but wouldn’t want her too. A child is a sponge, and any little example we set, or any little choice of words, they will most likely follow and say. Gotta be careful, they may not always listen, but they do observe.
At this point, the munchkin is still pretty young, but I see myself often letting her learn on her own. Sometimes, she gets frustrated, but that doesn’t mean I just step right in, fix the problem, and let he move on. Sure, I will help her through it, but if I do it for her, she will never learn. Here, I’ll give you and example…… Just this morning, she was having trouble getting her shirt right. It’s a cute shirt, with two little buttons at the top in the center. I could see the frustration building, and I watched her get mad, and throw a fit.
She looked at me and said, “Daddy do it”
I replied, “No honey, you’re a big girl, you can do it”
She said the word I hate to hear most….. “No, I CANT”
And man, do I really dislike that word.
So I looked back with a smile, and said, “Yes baby, you can. Don’t get mad, try again”
After a few tries, she was still unsuccessful. She was, at this point, very upset, and ready to rip the shirt off. She said, “Daddy, I can’t do it, I can’t do it”
So, after letting her struggle some, I said, “If you would like help, ask for it.”
She looked at me kind of funny, and said, “Please, can you help please” (Always a please first, and another please after)
I said, “Okay baby, I can help.”
I grabbed the hole, and said, “Okay, Ill hold it, you put the button in”
And at last, we had a button done! After the first one, she wanted to do the second one on her own, so I let her. She accomplished the task and got a big high five.
Now, I could’ve just done the buttons, avoided the fit, and left quickly this morning, but I didn’t. I took the time to let her learn. She learned that getting frustrated only makes it more difficult. She learned that asking for help is better than demanding it. And in the end, she did her own button.
I guess what I am saying is that we as parents are here to protect our children. We are here to make sure they can be functioning members of society when they grow up and step out on their own. But, if we provide everything for them, if we always tell them how to live, if we always spoon-feed them and never allow them to learn and live, then how can they every truly live?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Dating with Children
Well, I am back to blogging. I had some things that distracted me from it for a while. Hope those of you that read are as excited as I am to be back in action! Tonight, I want to talk about dating with children.
Relationships can begin and end, but your relationship with your child is FOREVER! I was in a relationship recently, and well, it didn't work out. The problem, is that my daughter got attached, and she got hurt too. Unfortunately, there is no way to protect a child from everything, but I felt bad that she was hurt. She asks questions about my ex, and it sucks to tell her that she wont be back.
Is there a good time frame for introducing your child to a new lover? I waited almost three months before they met. Our relationship got a bit more serious, and well, I wanted to include my ex in my life completely. So for me, the three months seemed like plenty.
Looking at it now, I wish I would have been more careful. My daughter is very attention driven. Having a woman around takes some of my attention away from the munchkin. Is that fair to her? No. Is staying single and not having that adult company fair to me? No. So where is the line? I, like many people, get into a relationship, and devote my heart to that person. Sadly, I think I devoted too much, and might have made my daughter feel less important. She was looking for attention and would tend to throw more fits than usual. At the time, I was blinded to that fact by the relationship I was in.
After that relationship ended, my daughter has asked about my ex. She gets upset, and thinks that they aren't friends any more. That's tough, what do I say? The only thing I can really say is, "Well honey, she isn't going to be coming around anymore. You are still friends, and she does care about you" I tell her "It's not your fault, but her and I just aren't able to make it work" The problem is, that my four year old doesn't quite understand.
The good thing, is that now we have more one on one time together. And she really enjoys that! Truthfully, we both do!
Beyond those feelings though, there are more underlying issues. If you're dating, and have a child from a prior relationship, there is always the other parent. The other parent may feel as though you are trying to replace them in your child's life. This can be dangerous. It can cause you and the other parent to have additional disagreements, which are not good for your child. Last thing two separated parents need are more reasons to argue, especially in the presence of the child.
On top of this, the new lover might have issues with you having to deal with your child's other parent. Man, that's not fun at ALL! First of all, unless you are living together or planning to get married, its really none of your partner's business how you handle things with your child's other parent. Plain and simple. But if they care about you, and your child, it will come up. Sadly though, they probably don't completely understand the situation and it's delicate nature. They may have a different point of view on the way things work. No fun for anyone.
Another difficult thing about dating with a child is that it can change the routine your child is used to. My daughter THRIVES on having a routine. During my most recent relationship, that routine was compromised. I found myself giving in more, letting her stay up later, and letting her get away with things that she wouldn't have gotten away with if I were single. I lost track of my priorities.
Simply put, dating with children can be VERY difficult.
It can be even harder when your new partner has a child as well. In my situation, she did. Her son was 2 years younger, and a really cool kid to be honest. Now, it was great at times because Aubrie had a friend around. She had another child to play with and bond with. But, it wasn't always good. Sometimes, she seemed a bit jealous that I would give my ex's child attention. At other times, she wanted to fight with him. Over toys, attention, pretty much anything. This was stressful on ALL OF US. Even worse when she decided to act down to a lower age, rather than being a big girl and setting a good example.
Now, it can really be wonderful to have that new lover and a second child around. Doing family activities like coloring Easter eggs, or going to the amusement park for a day.... that's things can be really awesome! Taking them to family gathering together can be really awesome. Even a trip to the park can be GREAT. No need to be afraid, just careful.
BUT.... there is one thing, however, that is completely unacceptable in my mind; addressing someone else's
Nobody wants to sit around and be single. We all want, and frankly, need someone to love, and someone to love us back. We need that company, that adult conversation, that feeling of desire and appreciation. Love is amazing, falling in love is amazing, and we ALL deserve it. But we have to remember that when dating with children we are not the only person involved. Our child needs love, attention and time just like we do. Our child wants to have someone show them the love they want to show in return.
So........................
When is it right to introduce a new lover? How do you keep your child from getting hurt? What is the best way to get two children of different relationships to get along consistently? How do you get your child to understand that it is okay when or if a relationship ends? How do you give time to a new partner and their children without compromising any time with your own? How do you know if its a good fit?
Well, unfortunately, there is no "dating with children" instruction manual, I don't know the answers to those questions. But, if I ever figure out the magic key, I'll pass it on! :)
Thanks for reading!
Chris
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Co-parenting
So, its been a few days since my last post. Sorry, it's been CRAZY!
Tonight, I decided to talk about my thoughts on co-parenting. Its not easy, not even close, but it is important.
For some, it may be much easier. There are some broken couples that have very similar parenting styles, very open lines of communication, and have nothing to gripe about when it comes to the other party. For those of you in this situation, congratulations, you should be commended.
For some of us however, there isn't the same kind of luck. Some couples who have split up, split for very obvious reasons. In my situation, there are trust issues, inability to communicate on all levels, different views on parenting, and a very different idea of stability and consistency.
Things have gotten better over the years as now we can for the most part remain civil and try to talk things out. But at times, we still see things very very differently. And when we don't see eye to eye, it makes for uncomfortable meetings.
Its hard, with the past issues, to know that the important things are done consistently. It's even more difficult considering that we have a hard time believing what the other person says. Also, in raising a little girl, some things that may be okay for mom, are not okay for my house. For example, a little girl can sleep in mommy's bed, or take a shower with mommy, but then when she comes home, she wants to do those things with me.
Obviously, I have to say no. It would not be appropriate for a 4 year old girl to take a shower with daddy. I tried to make this point, but it seemed that the request for consistency was ignored. So, I had to take a different approach. I told Aubrie that mommy is a girl, and she is a girl, and that certain things are okay in that situation. Daddy is a boy, so at daddy's house, things are different. At first, it was a tough concept for my little lady to grasp. As time went on, she started to understand. Did I do the wrong thing? Well, I tried not to, but when there is no cooperation, I am forced to follow another route.
At the same time, my daughter has a very creative mind. Sometimes, what she says, isn't quite what happens. So asking her if she brushed her teeth or slept in her own bed, may have a twisted answer. I don't want to put her in the middle by asking questions or probing, but I need to know these things. I mean, don't we all want to know that our children are doing what they need to do?
So, how do we get to a point where we can trust and communicate when it seems all the trust, and willingness to communicate are nonexistent? It would be great if everyone had Pinocchio's nose wouldn't it?
The fact of the matter is that not all co-parents will see eye to eye, or answer questions honestly. All we can really do is hope that that will someday change in the best interest of the children, and that eventually we can get to a point where that line of communication is straight forward and open.
Well, daddy is tired and has to be at work early tomorrow in order to get home in time for the munchkin's first soccer practice. I hope everyone has a great evening.
Thanks again!
Chris
Tonight, I decided to talk about my thoughts on co-parenting. Its not easy, not even close, but it is important.
For some, it may be much easier. There are some broken couples that have very similar parenting styles, very open lines of communication, and have nothing to gripe about when it comes to the other party. For those of you in this situation, congratulations, you should be commended.
For some of us however, there isn't the same kind of luck. Some couples who have split up, split for very obvious reasons. In my situation, there are trust issues, inability to communicate on all levels, different views on parenting, and a very different idea of stability and consistency.
Things have gotten better over the years as now we can for the most part remain civil and try to talk things out. But at times, we still see things very very differently. And when we don't see eye to eye, it makes for uncomfortable meetings.
Its hard, with the past issues, to know that the important things are done consistently. It's even more difficult considering that we have a hard time believing what the other person says. Also, in raising a little girl, some things that may be okay for mom, are not okay for my house. For example, a little girl can sleep in mommy's bed, or take a shower with mommy, but then when she comes home, she wants to do those things with me.
Obviously, I have to say no. It would not be appropriate for a 4 year old girl to take a shower with daddy. I tried to make this point, but it seemed that the request for consistency was ignored. So, I had to take a different approach. I told Aubrie that mommy is a girl, and she is a girl, and that certain things are okay in that situation. Daddy is a boy, so at daddy's house, things are different. At first, it was a tough concept for my little lady to grasp. As time went on, she started to understand. Did I do the wrong thing? Well, I tried not to, but when there is no cooperation, I am forced to follow another route.
At the same time, my daughter has a very creative mind. Sometimes, what she says, isn't quite what happens. So asking her if she brushed her teeth or slept in her own bed, may have a twisted answer. I don't want to put her in the middle by asking questions or probing, but I need to know these things. I mean, don't we all want to know that our children are doing what they need to do?
So, how do we get to a point where we can trust and communicate when it seems all the trust, and willingness to communicate are nonexistent? It would be great if everyone had Pinocchio's nose wouldn't it?
The fact of the matter is that not all co-parents will see eye to eye, or answer questions honestly. All we can really do is hope that that will someday change in the best interest of the children, and that eventually we can get to a point where that line of communication is straight forward and open.
Well, daddy is tired and has to be at work early tomorrow in order to get home in time for the munchkin's first soccer practice. I hope everyone has a great evening.
Thanks again!
Chris
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Picking your battles
Sometimes as a parent, you have to know when to fight something, and when not too. There are things that really aren't worth the fight, and others that you must fight. When it comes down to it, the hard part is knowing the difference.
We all want to maintain control, and to know that our children will listen when we tell them to do something, but are all things really necessary to control? In my opinion, some are most definitely not.
I'll give you an example....
Just tonight, my daughter wanted to "pretend" to be a baby. Now generally, she eats her dinner at her table, in the same spot every night. Today, in the act of acting like a baby, she wanted to sit in her old high chair and eat there.
My initial instinct was to tell her no, that she is a big girl, and big girls eat at the table. But what is really important on this one? Where she eats? Or that she eats? To me, it is more important for her to eat. If she wanted to pretend to be a baby and eat in the high chair, then so be it.
I chose not to fight this battle because it really isn't hurting anything. It was part of the play she was having, and I really just wanted to make sure she ate. To me it was not worth a fit, delaying dinner for time out, and possibly having her not eat at all. In the end, we both one. She ate her entire dinner, which made me happy.... And she ate in her highchair so she continue pretending to be a baby which made her happy.
On the otter hand, there are some battles I MUST fight, I'll use another example from this evening.....
After he dinner, I told her it was bath time. At first, she didn't want to take her bath and brush her teeth. To me, this battle is a must for a few reasons.
First of all, I made it very clear that she had to do it. I had to make sure to put my foot down, so she knows that when daddy says it, he means it.
At first she said, "Daddy, I'm not stinky."
I replied with, "No, you're not stinky, but you don't have to be stinky to take a bath. If you don't take one, you can get stinky, but it's really to make sure you are clean."
She got upset and yelled, "I'M NOT DIRTY DADDY."
I told her, "No, you're not, but if you don't take a bath, you can get that way."
After this, the fit began. She dropped to the floor, and started yelling, screaming and kicking. I told her, that if she wanted to continue acting that way that she would end up in time out. I started counting, got to 5 and the fit hadn't stopped, so into time out she went.
After 4 minutes of time out, she calmed down, and I had her come to me. We talked about why she was in trouble, she said sorry, I gave her a hug, told her I loved her, and she took her bath. After the first break down, she agreed to brushing her teeth and hair without trying to avoid it.
This too was a win win situation. She learned again that what daddy says goes. She learned that I love her no matter what, and that acting the way she did was not okay. She also learned again the importance of personal hygiene,
For me, I maintained my control, and got her to learn the things above. So again we both ended up happy, even though we struggled for a moment to get there.
Now, I'm sure battles are different for every family, and that some people may fight some battles others wont. For me, both of these battles were wins on both sides, and everything necessary was accomplished.
My apologies to anyone who reads consistently for no entry last night. After dinner I was feeling a bit under the weather and decided it was best to get some sleep to make sure I was feeling better for work this morning.
Well, thanks again for reading and I wish you all the best!
Chris
We all want to maintain control, and to know that our children will listen when we tell them to do something, but are all things really necessary to control? In my opinion, some are most definitely not.
I'll give you an example....
Just tonight, my daughter wanted to "pretend" to be a baby. Now generally, she eats her dinner at her table, in the same spot every night. Today, in the act of acting like a baby, she wanted to sit in her old high chair and eat there.
My initial instinct was to tell her no, that she is a big girl, and big girls eat at the table. But what is really important on this one? Where she eats? Or that she eats? To me, it is more important for her to eat. If she wanted to pretend to be a baby and eat in the high chair, then so be it.
I chose not to fight this battle because it really isn't hurting anything. It was part of the play she was having, and I really just wanted to make sure she ate. To me it was not worth a fit, delaying dinner for time out, and possibly having her not eat at all. In the end, we both one. She ate her entire dinner, which made me happy.... And she ate in her highchair so she continue pretending to be a baby which made her happy.
On the otter hand, there are some battles I MUST fight, I'll use another example from this evening.....
After he dinner, I told her it was bath time. At first, she didn't want to take her bath and brush her teeth. To me, this battle is a must for a few reasons.
First of all, I made it very clear that she had to do it. I had to make sure to put my foot down, so she knows that when daddy says it, he means it.
At first she said, "Daddy, I'm not stinky."
I replied with, "No, you're not stinky, but you don't have to be stinky to take a bath. If you don't take one, you can get stinky, but it's really to make sure you are clean."
She got upset and yelled, "I'M NOT DIRTY DADDY."
I told her, "No, you're not, but if you don't take a bath, you can get that way."
After this, the fit began. She dropped to the floor, and started yelling, screaming and kicking. I told her, that if she wanted to continue acting that way that she would end up in time out. I started counting, got to 5 and the fit hadn't stopped, so into time out she went.
After 4 minutes of time out, she calmed down, and I had her come to me. We talked about why she was in trouble, she said sorry, I gave her a hug, told her I loved her, and she took her bath. After the first break down, she agreed to brushing her teeth and hair without trying to avoid it.
This too was a win win situation. She learned again that what daddy says goes. She learned that I love her no matter what, and that acting the way she did was not okay. She also learned again the importance of personal hygiene,
For me, I maintained my control, and got her to learn the things above. So again we both ended up happy, even though we struggled for a moment to get there.
Now, I'm sure battles are different for every family, and that some people may fight some battles others wont. For me, both of these battles were wins on both sides, and everything necessary was accomplished.
My apologies to anyone who reads consistently for no entry last night. After dinner I was feeling a bit under the weather and decided it was best to get some sleep to make sure I was feeling better for work this morning.
Well, thanks again for reading and I wish you all the best!
Chris
Monday, August 1, 2011
Extra Curriculars
Since I went to my daughter's parent's meeting for soccer tonight... I decided I would talk about extra curricular activities. I am a firm believer in the fact that they are important for many reasons!
First of all.... I think a child who stays busy and participates in sports, music, or other things like it, are far more successful in other aspects of life.
As I grew up, I was involved in many things... Karate, baseball, music, boy scouts etc. I truly believe that my success in academics, my social skills, and my ability to set goals and accomplish them, had a lot to do with the activities I participated in.
For example... when I was in fifth grade, I was having some behavior issues in school. I was supposed to test for my high blue belt in karate, and was held out of that test as a result of my actions in school. After that rude awakening, I consciously made an effort to correct my behavior.
I also feel that because I was so busy, I was able to focus more when it came to school and personal care. The skills I got from being involved in extra curricular activities translated directly into the more essential parts of my life.
I also feel that my dad, being there for my activities, showing his interest and care, pushing me to do what I wanted and do it well was crucial. I mean, he never took my to an event, and just left me there like a day care. He stayed, from start to finish, watched, cheered, supported my successes and kept my head up after failures. Its strange to look back and realize how I tried to impress him, even though I knew I couldn't disappoint him for trying my best.
When it comes to the munchkin, I just want her to do what she enjoys, at her ability level, with a smile. I'm not planning to be the parent that tries to force a high level of performance to live vicariously through her. I just want to support her interests, whatever they may be, and to teach her to do her best. I think that positive reinforcement will make her stronger, more independent and of course, happy!
In my personal opinion.... I don't see a reason to spoil a child with whatever material items they want. They should learn to value money, and to work for the things things they want, beyond what they just need. I do, however; believe in spoiling them with life enriching activities. I believe that they will make her more well rounded, teach her to follow her dreams and will provide a foundation for other successes in life.
It honestly breaks my heart to hear about art programs, athletic programs, music programs among others being cut from school. Those things are amazing activities for children. There is a need to work the creative side of the mind. Also, those group activities are also necessary for building social skills and teaching the importance of teamwork. Where is else one supposed to learn those traits at such a young age?
Whatever activities Aubrie decides to undertake, I will be there for her, with her and supporting her, every step of the way. Cheering in the stands, walking with her door to door to sell girl scout cookies, watching her draw and paint or sing and dance. Whatever it may be, I'm supportive.
I hope other parents do the same!
That's all for tonight folks! Have a great evening! And enjoy your extra curriculars as well!
Thanks again,
Chris
First of all.... I think a child who stays busy and participates in sports, music, or other things like it, are far more successful in other aspects of life.
As I grew up, I was involved in many things... Karate, baseball, music, boy scouts etc. I truly believe that my success in academics, my social skills, and my ability to set goals and accomplish them, had a lot to do with the activities I participated in.
For example... when I was in fifth grade, I was having some behavior issues in school. I was supposed to test for my high blue belt in karate, and was held out of that test as a result of my actions in school. After that rude awakening, I consciously made an effort to correct my behavior.
I also feel that because I was so busy, I was able to focus more when it came to school and personal care. The skills I got from being involved in extra curricular activities translated directly into the more essential parts of my life.
I also feel that my dad, being there for my activities, showing his interest and care, pushing me to do what I wanted and do it well was crucial. I mean, he never took my to an event, and just left me there like a day care. He stayed, from start to finish, watched, cheered, supported my successes and kept my head up after failures. Its strange to look back and realize how I tried to impress him, even though I knew I couldn't disappoint him for trying my best.
When it comes to the munchkin, I just want her to do what she enjoys, at her ability level, with a smile. I'm not planning to be the parent that tries to force a high level of performance to live vicariously through her. I just want to support her interests, whatever they may be, and to teach her to do her best. I think that positive reinforcement will make her stronger, more independent and of course, happy!
In my personal opinion.... I don't see a reason to spoil a child with whatever material items they want. They should learn to value money, and to work for the things things they want, beyond what they just need. I do, however; believe in spoiling them with life enriching activities. I believe that they will make her more well rounded, teach her to follow her dreams and will provide a foundation for other successes in life.
It honestly breaks my heart to hear about art programs, athletic programs, music programs among others being cut from school. Those things are amazing activities for children. There is a need to work the creative side of the mind. Also, those group activities are also necessary for building social skills and teaching the importance of teamwork. Where is else one supposed to learn those traits at such a young age?
Whatever activities Aubrie decides to undertake, I will be there for her, with her and supporting her, every step of the way. Cheering in the stands, walking with her door to door to sell girl scout cookies, watching her draw and paint or sing and dance. Whatever it may be, I'm supportive.
I hope other parents do the same!
That's all for tonight folks! Have a great evening! And enjoy your extra curriculars as well!
Thanks again,
Chris
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Recapture the Routine
I am a firm believer in that every child needs some consistency. At the same time, that consistency is good for us parents too! Now, the degree to which the routine is established is probably different for every family, but for my munchkin and me, the more consistent and strict the routine, the better we both do.
Lately I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to our routine. Our bedtimes have been different daily, our dinner time has been different daily, and pretty much everything in between. To be honest, I'm actually disappointed in myself for letting it get this way.
For some people, a routine is simple....
They wake up at this time, eat at these times, and go to bed at this time. The stuff in the middle is probably very different on a daily basis. For some people, I would assume they have more family members or different activities that may cause the routine to vary. For others, the routine may be lee important and it differs on that fact.
For other people, there may be a little more in depth of a routine....
They may do the things I listed above, as well as including things like a bath, or TV time... whatever.
For the munchkin and me, our routine needs to be very well thought out and planned or we both tend to struggle. I like to schedule everything! Literally everything, and when I do, we are both at our BEST. No Aubrie will be starting soccer in the next week, one weeknight each week, our night time schedule will have to change. Also, if something special came up, our schedule might be slightly different, but there are some things (like quiet time, getting ready for bed, bed time, and the morning schedule) that would not change at all.
As Aubrie is moving into her Pre-K class at school tomorrow, and into Kindergarten next year, I decided that we need to get back on our routine, and to do it the best way I can. For us, it means scheduling out the entire day minute by minute. Now, I do tend to schedule blocks of free time periodically, but this is because there are things that come up, and there might be unavoidable reasons why we may fall a bit behind. Now, even though we may fall behind there are some things that will under all circumstances remain at their times.
Here is a sample of one of our typical weekdays days...... (I hope I don't look too OCD after you read this) ha ha
6:15-6:30 Shower
6:30-6:45 Get ready (brush teeth, comb hair, get dressed etc.)
6:45-7:10 Get Aubrie ready (Brush teeth, hair, get dressed etc.)
7:10-7:20 Take Aubrie to Primrose
7:20-8:00 Drive to work
8:00-4:30 Work
4:30-5:30 Drive to Primrose
5:30-5:40 Get Aubrie and get home
5:40-6:30 Free Time (Play outside, swimming, coloring playdough, etc.)
6:30-7:00 Prepare dinner
7:00-7:30 Dinner
7:30-8:00 Bath Time
8:00-9:00 Quiet Time (Generally we sit and watch TV together, or color together, then pick up)
9:00-9:05 Brush Aubrie's Teeth and Hair
9:05-9:15 Story Time at Aubrie's Bed
9:15-9:30 Quick Clean up (I find that if I do this daily, the house stays in much better condition!)
9:30-10:10 Daddy Time (Writing, cleaning, relaxing, whatever)
10:10-10:15 Ready for bed (Brush teeth, shave, etc.)
10:15 Bed time
Everything where the time is in red are things I would like to keep consistent EVERY SINGLE DAY! I know, that is not always possible, but that's how I would prefer it.
On weekends, There are generally much more free time, as well as cleaning time, and the bed time may differ slightly depending on the activities of the day. I mean, weekends are the only times where we can do pretty much whatever without the hassle of having to be somewhere at a certain time the next morning.
I'm sure for some people, this strict of a routine would be BORING, but for us it works. It keeps us fresh, it keeps us balanced, and it keeps us comfortable. We thrive in it, others may not. In fact, I'm sure there are people who don't believe in routine at all.... some who think that routine leaves very little open for chance, luck, and creativity. If I weren't a single father, or a father at all... I would probably not live with such a routine either. It is very possible that I would make choices on the fly. But since I am a daddy, and the only person to make sure her life is straight, the routine I will follow!
Obviously, there will be special occasions or circumstances where the routine is compromised, but on a general basis, it remains the same. Well, at least if I can stop slacking on it, and get back in line!
Speaking of routine.... I'm past my bedtime HA HA HA!
Goodnight all,
Chris
Lately I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to our routine. Our bedtimes have been different daily, our dinner time has been different daily, and pretty much everything in between. To be honest, I'm actually disappointed in myself for letting it get this way.
For some people, a routine is simple....
They wake up at this time, eat at these times, and go to bed at this time. The stuff in the middle is probably very different on a daily basis. For some people, I would assume they have more family members or different activities that may cause the routine to vary. For others, the routine may be lee important and it differs on that fact.
For other people, there may be a little more in depth of a routine....
They may do the things I listed above, as well as including things like a bath, or TV time... whatever.
For the munchkin and me, our routine needs to be very well thought out and planned or we both tend to struggle. I like to schedule everything! Literally everything, and when I do, we are both at our BEST. No Aubrie will be starting soccer in the next week, one weeknight each week, our night time schedule will have to change. Also, if something special came up, our schedule might be slightly different, but there are some things (like quiet time, getting ready for bed, bed time, and the morning schedule) that would not change at all.
As Aubrie is moving into her Pre-K class at school tomorrow, and into Kindergarten next year, I decided that we need to get back on our routine, and to do it the best way I can. For us, it means scheduling out the entire day minute by minute. Now, I do tend to schedule blocks of free time periodically, but this is because there are things that come up, and there might be unavoidable reasons why we may fall a bit behind. Now, even though we may fall behind there are some things that will under all circumstances remain at their times.
Here is a sample of one of our typical weekdays days...... (I hope I don't look too OCD after you read this) ha ha
6:15-6:30 Shower
6:30-6:45 Get ready (brush teeth, comb hair, get dressed etc.)
6:45-7:10 Get Aubrie ready (Brush teeth, hair, get dressed etc.)
7:10-7:20 Take Aubrie to Primrose
7:20-8:00 Drive to work
8:00-4:30 Work
4:30-5:30 Drive to Primrose
5:30-5:40 Get Aubrie and get home
5:40-6:30 Free Time (Play outside, swimming, coloring playdough, etc.)
6:30-7:00 Prepare dinner
7:00-7:30 Dinner
7:30-8:00 Bath Time
8:00-9:00 Quiet Time (Generally we sit and watch TV together, or color together, then pick up)
9:00-9:05 Brush Aubrie's Teeth and Hair
9:05-9:15 Story Time at Aubrie's Bed
9:15-9:30 Quick Clean up (I find that if I do this daily, the house stays in much better condition!)
9:30-10:10 Daddy Time (Writing, cleaning, relaxing, whatever)
10:10-10:15 Ready for bed (Brush teeth, shave, etc.)
10:15 Bed time
Everything where the time is in red are things I would like to keep consistent EVERY SINGLE DAY! I know, that is not always possible, but that's how I would prefer it.
On weekends, There are generally much more free time, as well as cleaning time, and the bed time may differ slightly depending on the activities of the day. I mean, weekends are the only times where we can do pretty much whatever without the hassle of having to be somewhere at a certain time the next morning.
I'm sure for some people, this strict of a routine would be BORING, but for us it works. It keeps us fresh, it keeps us balanced, and it keeps us comfortable. We thrive in it, others may not. In fact, I'm sure there are people who don't believe in routine at all.... some who think that routine leaves very little open for chance, luck, and creativity. If I weren't a single father, or a father at all... I would probably not live with such a routine either. It is very possible that I would make choices on the fly. But since I am a daddy, and the only person to make sure her life is straight, the routine I will follow!
Obviously, there will be special occasions or circumstances where the routine is compromised, but on a general basis, it remains the same. Well, at least if I can stop slacking on it, and get back in line!
Speaking of routine.... I'm past my bedtime HA HA HA!
Goodnight all,
Chris
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Being the Mr. Mom
Tonight, I decided I would write about something that's been getting to me a lot lately..... trying to play both parts. As a single parent, and the primary residential parent, I struggle with this. It is a pleasure to be with my daughter nearly 100% of the time, but I am not a female.
The past few years, every female who has touched my daughter's life has pretty much been in and out. Some have been there a lot and just vanished, and some have been there for a little while, left, came back, and left again. It's hard to watch, and even though she is young, I know it hurts. Its not her fault by any means, and I hope she knows that.
Don't get me wrong, I don't at all mind being there for her all the time, but I truly wish she had a consistent, positive female role model. There are so many things I worry about when it comes to this.
For example, someday she is gonna start wanting to wear make up. I know nothing about the stuff. Sure I know what eye shadow is, I know what foundation is, I know what lipstick is, but I haven't got the slightest clue how to help her use them.
Oh.... and what about the big thing thats gonna come up some day.... you know.... the period. How could I possibly begin to help with that?!? I mean, I have designed tampon instruction pages and packaging ha ha, but really? Is she gonna be comfortable talking to me about it? Am I going to be comfortable hearing about it?
Now, I have done pig tails, french braids and I have painted nails. Anything to help my baby feel like a princess, but some things are beyond my level of knowledge. I wouldn't know what to do when it's time to get bras, or buying her underwear, or even the prom dresses and those types of things. Wow... there are so many things Im clueless about, good thing I have some good female friends I can go to for advice, right?
Either way, being Mr. Mom can really only go so far. I mean, I'm flattered when my friends wish me a happy mother's day when they notice that I play both parts. But it certainly isn't an easy thing to do. I freak out a bit when I think about the things a woman should be there for her for. Will she be okay talking to me about boys when she is old enough? At the same time, will I be able to talk to her about boys without being too protective? I want to be, but thats my baby girl, seeing her get her heart broken would be so hard to do.
I read once that a father is responsible for more than 90% of his daughters self confidence, and self esteem. If I show her how she deserves to be treated, and make her feel as beautiful as she really is, then she will feel that way, and believe it beyond a doubt. Now, I'm sure there are people who would disagree with that percentage above, but in my case, I have to be responsible for 100% of it. That can be quite difficult. I really hope that I can do that for her.
I know I am young, and that someday I will find my Miss Right, but she needs a female role model now. Someone who can be there for her consistently, and who can fill she shoes I can't. Who is going to show her what a strong, independent female is? Who is going to be her example of what an educated, goal oriented, ambitious female is? That, I simply can't do. I don't want her to have to rely on celebrities and other lime-lighted females for her examples. I want her to know a strong, powerful, everyday type of woman!
All I can really do, is be there to love her, answer questions when she asks, and make her feel amazing about herself. I am going to make sure she knows she is beautiful, make sure she knows what she is worth, and make sure she knows that SHE DESERVES the BEST!
So for now, I gotta step up and be her daddy, the one who makes her feel beautiful and special. The one who treats her in a way that will ensure that she will refuse to let a man treat her any differently! On the other hand, I will have to be the one she can trust, and confide in. Someone who she can go to with her female problems as well. Someone who will listen without being the overprotective father.
I have to play both roles, and play them well, because all she has.... is a Mr. Mom!
Well, I guess thats all for tonight.
Thanks for reading, and sleep well!
Chris
The past few years, every female who has touched my daughter's life has pretty much been in and out. Some have been there a lot and just vanished, and some have been there for a little while, left, came back, and left again. It's hard to watch, and even though she is young, I know it hurts. Its not her fault by any means, and I hope she knows that.
Don't get me wrong, I don't at all mind being there for her all the time, but I truly wish she had a consistent, positive female role model. There are so many things I worry about when it comes to this.
For example, someday she is gonna start wanting to wear make up. I know nothing about the stuff. Sure I know what eye shadow is, I know what foundation is, I know what lipstick is, but I haven't got the slightest clue how to help her use them.
Oh.... and what about the big thing thats gonna come up some day.... you know.... the period. How could I possibly begin to help with that?!? I mean, I have designed tampon instruction pages and packaging ha ha, but really? Is she gonna be comfortable talking to me about it? Am I going to be comfortable hearing about it?
Now, I have done pig tails, french braids and I have painted nails. Anything to help my baby feel like a princess, but some things are beyond my level of knowledge. I wouldn't know what to do when it's time to get bras, or buying her underwear, or even the prom dresses and those types of things. Wow... there are so many things Im clueless about, good thing I have some good female friends I can go to for advice, right?
Either way, being Mr. Mom can really only go so far. I mean, I'm flattered when my friends wish me a happy mother's day when they notice that I play both parts. But it certainly isn't an easy thing to do. I freak out a bit when I think about the things a woman should be there for her for. Will she be okay talking to me about boys when she is old enough? At the same time, will I be able to talk to her about boys without being too protective? I want to be, but thats my baby girl, seeing her get her heart broken would be so hard to do.
I read once that a father is responsible for more than 90% of his daughters self confidence, and self esteem. If I show her how she deserves to be treated, and make her feel as beautiful as she really is, then she will feel that way, and believe it beyond a doubt. Now, I'm sure there are people who would disagree with that percentage above, but in my case, I have to be responsible for 100% of it. That can be quite difficult. I really hope that I can do that for her.
I know I am young, and that someday I will find my Miss Right, but she needs a female role model now. Someone who can be there for her consistently, and who can fill she shoes I can't. Who is going to show her what a strong, independent female is? Who is going to be her example of what an educated, goal oriented, ambitious female is? That, I simply can't do. I don't want her to have to rely on celebrities and other lime-lighted females for her examples. I want her to know a strong, powerful, everyday type of woman!
All I can really do, is be there to love her, answer questions when she asks, and make her feel amazing about herself. I am going to make sure she knows she is beautiful, make sure she knows what she is worth, and make sure she knows that SHE DESERVES the BEST!
So for now, I gotta step up and be her daddy, the one who makes her feel beautiful and special. The one who treats her in a way that will ensure that she will refuse to let a man treat her any differently! On the other hand, I will have to be the one she can trust, and confide in. Someone who she can go to with her female problems as well. Someone who will listen without being the overprotective father.
I have to play both roles, and play them well, because all she has.... is a Mr. Mom!
Well, I guess thats all for tonight.
Thanks for reading, and sleep well!
Chris
Friday, July 29, 2011
It's the Little Things
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to be happy is something to be enthusiastic about"
~ Charles Kingsley
This quote comes to mind because so many of us wish we had the money, the riches and all that fancy and so-called "fine" things. I too am guilty of these wishes. But taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, I realized that those things are nice, but not necessary. All we really need are the little things, the things that we can be enthusiastic about, to be happy.
Tonight my beautiful daughter and I had a nice evening at home. It was kinda like one of those master card commercials.....
Redbox movie rental..... $1
Movie style candy..... $3
Popcorn.... $2
Making it seem special by creating a new and unique environment for movie night.... PRICELESS!
So there we were, after having dinner and cleaning up the toys and things in the living room, laying out blankets and pillows on the floor in front of the T.V. together. We placed two water bottles, our candy bags, and a freshly popped bag of popcorn next to her Disney Princess sleeping bag and Lady Bug Pillow Pet atop the blankets.
She sat down, grabbed a handful of her Swedish fish, smiled and said, "Take my picture."
I turned the lights out, started the movie, sat down next to my munchkin to hear the four greatest words I have ever heard, "Daddy, I love you."
Little did she know that those four amazing words made my night. I kissed her on the forehead, smiled and replied, "I love you too sweet peas."
It was right then that I determined my topic for tonight.
It truly is the little things that matter the most.
For her, the "movie night" was unique and special. We didn't have to go spend 30-50 dollars at a fancy theater to be surrounded by other people in uncomfortable up right seats to have a great night. For the all mighty cost of 6 dollars (after tax ha ha), and with 10 minutes of prep time, we got to lay side by side, eating snacks, talking if we so chose, and watching our movie.
For me, seeing the smile on her face, and hearing her lovely little voice say those four unforgettable words, was the highlight of the evening. I didn't need to go beyond my means, nor waste funds on unnecessary pleasures, I made my daughter feel special, and she did the same for me.
It is amazing to me the power of the little things. And it really doesn't take much to provide them. A little thought, a little time, and a little love can make all the difference.
The movie itself was okay, nothing to write home about. But the time, the smiles, the enthusiasm and the other "Little things" could make the worst of movies feel like 10 time Oscar winners!
For anyone reading, I hope you enjoyed this post, and do me a favor....
DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS! They really mean so much.
Goodnight, and I hope you sleep as well as she is,
Chris
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Answering the Tough Questions
There comes a time when every parent will have to answer the tough questions. No, I'm not talking about "Where do baby's come from?" or "Is Santa Clause real?". I'm talking about the REALLY tough questions, which I am sure will be different for EVERY parent, single or not.
Lately, I have been thinking about how I will answer questions like "Why didn't you marry mommy?" or "Who is my real daddy?" or "Why do I see mommy so much less than you?"
Granted, my daughter is only 4, and those questions are still far from becoming an issue, I still can't help but wonder how I will answer them among others. I struggle with how to answer these types of questions honestly without bashing, bad mouthing, or tarnishing the image of her mother.
Of the three questions listed above, "Why didn't you marry mommy?" is probably the easiest. Our relationship was unhappy, unhealthy and it lacked the love that was necessary to allow it to grow. We tried to make it work, for Aubrie's sake, but it was just not right. It wouldn't have been fair to any of the three of us to be in an unhappy household. At the time, i still wanted to make it work, as I was clinging to the idea that we should be a family, however; looking back, it is better this way. I can only hope that Aubrie will see the explanation as reasonable and fair.
But sadly, some questions are far more difficult than others. For example, with the "Who is my real daddy?" question... what can I say that is honest, but not negative? I refuse to be the parent that sets out to make mom look bad. I don't want Aubrie to resent her over it. But that is a tough line to walk. I mean, the subject will come up eventually, as much as I try to avoid it.
Truthfully, I do feel it is fair for her to know. Obviously, I will tell her that I was unaware that she wasn't mine until she was beyond two years old. And I would tell her that it all came out during court, which was unavoidable.
The tough part is, I don't really know the answer completely myself. Was I lied to the entire time? Perhaps I was, perhaps mom really didn't know, and actually thought I was her real father. I know what my OPINION is, based on how I think she would have handled it, but that is exactly that.... an opinion. I don't want to put my opinion in Aubrie's head, she should learn the "facts" and form her own. This too is difficult, because what if the facts are twisted, and her opinion ends up being based on false truths if you will. What happens then?
The best thing I can tell Aubrie in this situation is........
"Aubrie, it is true, I am not your biological father, but I AM your daddy. I love you, and no amount of blood could ever change that. You were born my daughter, and I will always treat you as such. I don't know exactly what really happened. But when mom was pregnant and told me I was your father... I made the choice to stand up and be there for you. When I found out you weren't mine, I felt no different. I watched you grow, I raised you, and I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU! As for your biological father, I do not know him personally."
Is that a fair answer? Was that honest? Did I give enough without hurting anyone else? I think so. I hope so!
The third question above is challenging as well. This question can be answered with facts and it is likely to be the first one to be asked. The problem here is that this is harder to avoid without making another person look bad. I don't want to say "Mommy was doing this, and in turn that happened. But how do I explain the issues? Do I tell her very truthfully what exactly made things the way they are? I know what mom's answer would be... as I have been accused of trying to hurt her since day one. But the truth is, her choices resulted in consequences. Sadly those consequences can in turn hurt Aubrie.
The best answer I can come up with is.....
"Mommy made some poor choices. She did things that I am sure she is not proud of. So I felt I had to do what was best in protecting you and providing for you. I only want what is best for you, and that means that we have to live this way for now."
I still feel that in telling her like that, I will appear to be trying to "bash" mom. It is not my intention by any means, but I cannot lie to my daughter. I don't want to drop bombs on her with exact details, but I also do not want to sugar coat a thing. How will she learn that there are consequences for actions without seeing that there really are?
I guess what I really need to know is....
Are there ever good answers to the REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS? I can try and try to come up with the right way to say it, but I cant help but wonder if there really is a right way. As I said above, I want my daughter to be able to form her own opinions without anyone pushing her one way or another. The best thing I can do is control my answers and actions and hope she can see the truth in them. No matter what the tough question is, no matter how painful the thoughts might be, she deserves the honest truth.
On a side note....
Aubrie will be moving up into the Pre-K classroom at Primrose next monday! She will have Kindergarten curriculum and will be wearing uniforms 4 days of the week. I think I might be more excited than she is. HA HA HA. Also, I think that she will be challenged more in the next level, which could help to combat some of the recently developed behavior issues. Only time will tell. Either way, its exciting. Her last year before entering a going to an actual public Kindergarten program! Wow, she is growing TOO FAST!
Don't worry, I will post some pictures of her cute self, in her cute Primrose uniforms, next week.
Thanks for reading!
Chris
Lately, I have been thinking about how I will answer questions like "Why didn't you marry mommy?" or "Who is my real daddy?" or "Why do I see mommy so much less than you?"
Granted, my daughter is only 4, and those questions are still far from becoming an issue, I still can't help but wonder how I will answer them among others. I struggle with how to answer these types of questions honestly without bashing, bad mouthing, or tarnishing the image of her mother.
Of the three questions listed above, "Why didn't you marry mommy?" is probably the easiest. Our relationship was unhappy, unhealthy and it lacked the love that was necessary to allow it to grow. We tried to make it work, for Aubrie's sake, but it was just not right. It wouldn't have been fair to any of the three of us to be in an unhappy household. At the time, i still wanted to make it work, as I was clinging to the idea that we should be a family, however; looking back, it is better this way. I can only hope that Aubrie will see the explanation as reasonable and fair.
But sadly, some questions are far more difficult than others. For example, with the "Who is my real daddy?" question... what can I say that is honest, but not negative? I refuse to be the parent that sets out to make mom look bad. I don't want Aubrie to resent her over it. But that is a tough line to walk. I mean, the subject will come up eventually, as much as I try to avoid it.
Truthfully, I do feel it is fair for her to know. Obviously, I will tell her that I was unaware that she wasn't mine until she was beyond two years old. And I would tell her that it all came out during court, which was unavoidable.
The tough part is, I don't really know the answer completely myself. Was I lied to the entire time? Perhaps I was, perhaps mom really didn't know, and actually thought I was her real father. I know what my OPINION is, based on how I think she would have handled it, but that is exactly that.... an opinion. I don't want to put my opinion in Aubrie's head, she should learn the "facts" and form her own. This too is difficult, because what if the facts are twisted, and her opinion ends up being based on false truths if you will. What happens then?
The best thing I can tell Aubrie in this situation is........
"Aubrie, it is true, I am not your biological father, but I AM your daddy. I love you, and no amount of blood could ever change that. You were born my daughter, and I will always treat you as such. I don't know exactly what really happened. But when mom was pregnant and told me I was your father... I made the choice to stand up and be there for you. When I found out you weren't mine, I felt no different. I watched you grow, I raised you, and I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU! As for your biological father, I do not know him personally."
Is that a fair answer? Was that honest? Did I give enough without hurting anyone else? I think so. I hope so!
The third question above is challenging as well. This question can be answered with facts and it is likely to be the first one to be asked. The problem here is that this is harder to avoid without making another person look bad. I don't want to say "Mommy was doing this, and in turn that happened. But how do I explain the issues? Do I tell her very truthfully what exactly made things the way they are? I know what mom's answer would be... as I have been accused of trying to hurt her since day one. But the truth is, her choices resulted in consequences. Sadly those consequences can in turn hurt Aubrie.
The best answer I can come up with is.....
"Mommy made some poor choices. She did things that I am sure she is not proud of. So I felt I had to do what was best in protecting you and providing for you. I only want what is best for you, and that means that we have to live this way for now."
I still feel that in telling her like that, I will appear to be trying to "bash" mom. It is not my intention by any means, but I cannot lie to my daughter. I don't want to drop bombs on her with exact details, but I also do not want to sugar coat a thing. How will she learn that there are consequences for actions without seeing that there really are?
I guess what I really need to know is....
Are there ever good answers to the REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS? I can try and try to come up with the right way to say it, but I cant help but wonder if there really is a right way. As I said above, I want my daughter to be able to form her own opinions without anyone pushing her one way or another. The best thing I can do is control my answers and actions and hope she can see the truth in them. No matter what the tough question is, no matter how painful the thoughts might be, she deserves the honest truth.
On a side note....
Aubrie will be moving up into the Pre-K classroom at Primrose next monday! She will have Kindergarten curriculum and will be wearing uniforms 4 days of the week. I think I might be more excited than she is. HA HA HA. Also, I think that she will be challenged more in the next level, which could help to combat some of the recently developed behavior issues. Only time will tell. Either way, its exciting. Her last year before entering a going to an actual public Kindergarten program! Wow, she is growing TOO FAST!
Don't worry, I will post some pictures of her cute self, in her cute Primrose uniforms, next week.
Thanks for reading!
Chris
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