So teaching your child in the begging is as easy as teaching a cat to swim. It is frustrating , but beyond amazing when little things click in their minds.
Start small, start with the most important thing. Their name, start with highlighter on a paper have them trace right over the highlighter. Incorporate the letters of their names in a routine. Point out things that have the letters of their name.
With numbers focus on their age, not just the number but what the amount is. Use fingers, use food, use crayons, heck use random things in your bag while waiting in a office. Or at the store in counting items in the cart.
With colors use their toys, meals, outdoors, and indoor items.
With shapes use everything around you.
With patterns mess up songs. like.
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout
down came the walrus ... when they laugh say what isnt it walrus? This also engages them, and its great bonding.
See we as adults think well I know this so why do I need to say it out loud and often just give the answer. You dont need to spend money on flash cards, or work books. Even if it seems silly, start saying things out loud.
Like what color is the sky?
What letter starts the word apple?
Whats the first letter of your name?
Biggest thing you need to do, is make it silly and fun. When they ask you, dont just say I dont know, google it and learn with them.
Also Pinterest is amazing for printable education things. This is my pin-board for Pre-k and Kinder. I am always adding new things.
http://www.pinterest.com/pumagrr/preschool-kindergarten/
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Blending a Family, not so Brady Bunch.
The new family dynamic is becoming blended families, but the Brady bunch it will never be. My husband and I have a true yours, mine, and ours.
I have a son who is five, he has some challenges from being born early. His father was absent the first four years. My husband was the only father he knew until recently. ( He knew he had a "real" Dad elsewhere but did not know him.) I raised him alone for the first two years, along with the pregnancy alone. Its hard as a single Mother to take on a partner when you get accustomed to doing everything alone. You as a parent get a routine.
My husbands son I have been in his life since he was four months old, he sees me as Mom. But at the end of the day he is not my son, he has a mother and a father who have the final say.
Then there is Ours, the child who is here 24/7 365.
The boys see each other as brothers, no halves, no steps. Just brothers. Which is what is most important in a blended family. The kids should always be number 1.
The parents in the home need to come to an agreement on rules, standards, and expectations of the kids, each other and the household as a whole. Realize there will be arguments on parenting. But remember this happens in non- blended families homes as well. What matters is not letting these arguments become more than they are.
Do NOT pull the "your kid" , "my kid" blame game. Do Not get stuck in the comparison merry-go-round.
At the end of the day realize that no matter the blood in your veins, you are now a family.
I have a son who is five, he has some challenges from being born early. His father was absent the first four years. My husband was the only father he knew until recently. ( He knew he had a "real" Dad elsewhere but did not know him.) I raised him alone for the first two years, along with the pregnancy alone. Its hard as a single Mother to take on a partner when you get accustomed to doing everything alone. You as a parent get a routine.
My husbands son I have been in his life since he was four months old, he sees me as Mom. But at the end of the day he is not my son, he has a mother and a father who have the final say.
Then there is Ours, the child who is here 24/7 365.
The boys see each other as brothers, no halves, no steps. Just brothers. Which is what is most important in a blended family. The kids should always be number 1.
The parents in the home need to come to an agreement on rules, standards, and expectations of the kids, each other and the household as a whole. Realize there will be arguments on parenting. But remember this happens in non- blended families homes as well. What matters is not letting these arguments become more than they are.
Do NOT pull the "your kid" , "my kid" blame game. Do Not get stuck in the comparison merry-go-round.
At the end of the day realize that no matter the blood in your veins, you are now a family.
Breastfeeding... my take
My oldest son was born early, had severe reflux and colic. I was only 21 and a single mom, so I gave up and six weeks and did special formula.
My middle is my Stepson, and he was formula fed. Which is easier for a 50/50 custody obviously.
Well my husband and I's shared child I decided to Breastfeed. My milk came before the baby this time, night before the c-section I pumped a little colostrum. When books say there will be discomfort they are sugar coating is. The 6 first weeks of breastfeeding is like boot camp you make it past that and you are gold. I have had a love hate relationship with breastfeeding since day 1.
Yet here I am still doing it, for a two year old. Only reason is his Nut Allergy to be honest... I am slowly weaning him. Atleast he is out of my bed now.
But my take is this, breastfeeding is a personal choice, just dont make excuses for your choice. Stick to yourself, and do what you want for your child, and you. Dont be afraid to ask questions, and always do you own research, we have the technology.
My middle is my Stepson, and he was formula fed. Which is easier for a 50/50 custody obviously.
Well my husband and I's shared child I decided to Breastfeed. My milk came before the baby this time, night before the c-section I pumped a little colostrum. When books say there will be discomfort they are sugar coating is. The 6 first weeks of breastfeeding is like boot camp you make it past that and you are gold. I have had a love hate relationship with breastfeeding since day 1.
Yet here I am still doing it, for a two year old. Only reason is his Nut Allergy to be honest... I am slowly weaning him. Atleast he is out of my bed now.
But my take is this, breastfeeding is a personal choice, just dont make excuses for your choice. Stick to yourself, and do what you want for your child, and you. Dont be afraid to ask questions, and always do you own research, we have the technology.
Laundry...
Oh laundry pile over there
Taunting me with a smell in the air
Yes I see you I can not lie
Maybe I can let you go one more night
For Netflix calls and so does Pinterest
I have had a long day.. what did I just step in?
- Heather White
Am I the only one who loathes laundry? I don't mind washing, but the folding and putting away I could do without. Honestly boys stink... even this small. I am scared for the teen years. With a family of five total we go through a lot of clothes in a weeks time. This is just another part of adulthood that just sucks.
Saying your child's age in months past 3 years old...
Let me just say, that this is beyond true. My oldest Jude, I knew his age by days and weeks, my lovely Stepson Cedric I kept up with the months... but my youngest after he turned one year I lost count. Now that he is two I honestly do not see a point in the months thing. I guess its true what ever one says, first kid spills change the outfit, second kid spills you wipe them down, third kid you just hope the stain will come out on laundry day and that it wont be too hard to peel it off at bath time.
Pinterest oh Pinterest ....
Am I the only one who spend way too much time on Pinterest, pinning and repining things we all know we will never actually do... its a like a new form of hoarding isn't it?
Hoarding for the procrastination crowd. But at least with pinning we don't end up with a Garage full of unfinished projects.
Then there are those people, who need their Pinterest revoked. Like my parents neighbors, who have painted everything this bright robin eggs blue, and brown. When I say everything, I mean everything. Even the rocks in the planters are painted this blue.
Well I did attempt one thing off of the site, for my husband. A marsh mellow cover caked.
The inspiration...
Hoarding for the procrastination crowd. But at least with pinning we don't end up with a Garage full of unfinished projects.
Then there are those people, who need their Pinterest revoked. Like my parents neighbors, who have painted everything this bright robin eggs blue, and brown. When I say everything, I mean everything. Even the rocks in the planters are painted this blue.
Well I did attempt one thing off of the site, for my husband. A marsh mellow cover caked.
The inspiration...
And my version
ya... well ... I got nothing... it was so sweet too. I think I will stick to hoarding pins, and not actually being adventurous any more.
Why am I blogging?
Well its simple, I am a stay-at-home Mom to three kids who have barely started speaking. I need somewhere to let out my thoughts, because at this point I am annoying my loving husband.. much as he does with me with his ramblings. True love...
Portrait Photos and young kids... also know as the 4th level of hell.
My loving dear Mother in law wanted a portrait of the three boys done, at one of the chains... I stupidly mention a Groupon for J.C. Pennys , I know why do I do this to myself. She also bought them matching suits, those of you without young kids need to know that boys two and under have the attention the length of a fruit flies life cycle. Add a three year old who has learned making odd faces is pure gold, and a five year old who thinks he is a GQ model, and you're gonna have a bad time.
First the line up... much like trying to get marbles to stay in place on an incline you will have difficulties, so the pleading begins, followed by bribes. An hour later and 40 shots.. you find four good ones were they are at least looking at the camera and their faces resemble a smile.
All in all it went ok... next time though, I think it will be Grandma who takes them.
First the line up... much like trying to get marbles to stay in place on an incline you will have difficulties, so the pleading begins, followed by bribes. An hour later and 40 shots.. you find four good ones were they are at least looking at the camera and their faces resemble a smile.
All in all it went ok... next time though, I think it will be Grandma who takes them.
Boys....
I was an only child, an introvert. The stereotypical Suburban middle class family, born in Southern California raised in the valley... named Heather, and yes I am a blonde. Although now I dye it often to hide the blonde, and now gray.
Yet here I am in a blended family, a huge loud Hispanic family. Talk about culture shock. With three boys five and under, the two youngest only thirteen months apart. If I drank I think this would be enough reason.
Little boys are like sticking a squirrel and a cat in a sack , shaking it around. Then letting them lose in your home.
Quiet ... this is once they are asleep.
Clean.. what I do at least ten times a day.
People keep asking if I plan to try again for a girl.. honestly I don't know if I could at this point. I am so used to boys, it would be like starting all over again.
Yet here I am in a blended family, a huge loud Hispanic family. Talk about culture shock. With three boys five and under, the two youngest only thirteen months apart. If I drank I think this would be enough reason.
Little boys are like sticking a squirrel and a cat in a sack , shaking it around. Then letting them lose in your home.
Quiet ... this is once they are asleep.
Clean.. what I do at least ten times a day.
People keep asking if I plan to try again for a girl.. honestly I don't know if I could at this point. I am so used to boys, it would be like starting all over again.
Coupons for the not so extreme.
So like most with young children money seems to go as fast as socks in the dryer, coupon shopping has become its own hip new thing. With its own hit show... but honestly who need 500 razors, or 100 deodorants ( well maybe when my sons are teens). What works for me is getting coupons solely for items my family and I will use, mainly edible items. Here are some tips from what works for me.
1. E-Coupons so a few store have gotten rid of the loyalty cards, but if your's has not sign up. Then you simply go on that stores website and add them to your card by clicking the coupons you want. Then when you scan your loyalty card, or put in your phone number (Like me because I lose them often) all the coupons make the total drop fast. Also the loyalty card based ones often offer meat.
2. Check the Ads, if you don't get them in the mail, or on your front porch look them up online for your area. Look for those Mix and Match 10 for 10 deals. Notice that your coupons say Buy 1 or Buy 2. Well if you mix and match these coupons with the 10 for 10 it lowers it even more.
3. Make a list of only your coupon Items for your trip. Put a basic code next to each Item.
B = buy and the the number of how many you have to buy next to it.
Paper coupons rarely can be combined with paper, but ironically most E coupons are the paper ones currently in circulation without needing to print them, cut them, or just keep track of them.
My recent trip I bought food my family of 5 actually eats, and saved $125.86 from E Coupons and only 5 paper ones. So 99 items for $190 isn't too bad. I know I could have done more, but with little kids I enjoy my free time not to be full of task.
1. E-Coupons so a few store have gotten rid of the loyalty cards, but if your's has not sign up. Then you simply go on that stores website and add them to your card by clicking the coupons you want. Then when you scan your loyalty card, or put in your phone number (Like me because I lose them often) all the coupons make the total drop fast. Also the loyalty card based ones often offer meat.
2. Check the Ads, if you don't get them in the mail, or on your front porch look them up online for your area. Look for those Mix and Match 10 for 10 deals. Notice that your coupons say Buy 1 or Buy 2. Well if you mix and match these coupons with the 10 for 10 it lowers it even more.
3. Make a list of only your coupon Items for your trip. Put a basic code next to each Item.
B = buy and the the number of how many you have to buy next to it.
Paper coupons rarely can be combined with paper, but ironically most E coupons are the paper ones currently in circulation without needing to print them, cut them, or just keep track of them.
My recent trip I bought food my family of 5 actually eats, and saved $125.86 from E Coupons and only 5 paper ones. So 99 items for $190 isn't too bad. I know I could have done more, but with little kids I enjoy my free time not to be full of task.
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