Parenting the Preschooler

I feel lost in the world of preschool parenting. The Preschooler came home yesterday talking about kids getting to play T-ball. What? I didn't know anything about a T-ball sign up or even soccer for that matter. Come to find out the kids have to be 5 by February and sign ups were two weeks ago. I DIDN'T GET THE MEMO! Sorry kid. You won't be 5 by February anyway. I'm not against T-ball for kids or any other sport for that matter, but the thought of having to keep up with an extracurricular schedule for a 4or 5 year old kind of stresses me out.

Friday's are known as "Fun Friday" in preschool because it's show and tell day. I even enjoy Friday's because the Preschooler tells us all about what each child brought that day. Each toy is supposed to start with whatever letter they are learning that week. We've been known to stretch it at times or even ignore the letter "rule" when we can't find anything. Both last week and this week's focus was on the letter N so last week we took a Mr. Potato head and his "nose". ha! This morning was madness by my own fault so he quickly grabbed an ambulance on his way out the door. We've been known to take happy meal toys from the backseat of the car as a last minute resort.
While eating dinner tonight, we start the who's who conversation for show and tell toys when the Preschooler says D brought a DS and he wants one for his birthday. After his description of the said DS, I googled pictures of a Nintendo DS and he confirmed it. Really? A Nintendo DS for preschool show and tell?!

What next? An iPhone in kindergarten? Tell me I didn't miss that memo too. It's too much!!

I grew up riding my light blue $40 scooter that I bought with my own money or riding my bike with a banana seat through the neighborhood visiting every house along the way. If my parents needed me then they started calling one house or another until I was told to go home for supper. Now I watch the Preschooler as he runs one house down until he makes it inside safely and would never dream of letting him jet off through the neighborhood so it didn't help matters when I stumbled across this article about America's parenting styles. It turns out I gained some awareness as to being quite the helicopter mom--you know hovering over kids 24/7, checking every little skinned knee, and disinfecting the house to an extreme so little germs can't reach little mouths. I suppose this realization explains some of my most recent stressors.

A backlash from this style of parenting has emerged and it's being referred to as slow parenting, simplicity parenting, free-range parenting — but the message is the same: Less is more; hovering is dangerous; failure is fruitful. This style of parenting is so foreign to me; however, I'm embracing the simplicity approach as recommended by weeding out the unnecessary stuff, turning off the screens and phones, and finding the space we used to have before it was over run with toys and such. Even the candy/snack jars are over flowing in our house with left overs from Christmas and Valentine's Day.

We as helicopter parents are being urged to simplify our lives and let go of perfectionism in all its tyranny. I'm thankful to have GOD, my friends, and family to help guide and direct my path along the way or I'd be completely and utterly lost in this challenging, rewarding, life experience of parenting.

Much Needed Bathroom Makeover.

Have you redecorated a room or are in the mood to redecorate a room? I need your help.
I've been slowly trying to makeover the Preschooler's bathroom and by slowly I mean over a three year time span. In those three years, I have replaced a burgundy floral shower curtain, burgundy and tan towels, and transplanted a vase of dried flowers from the bathroom counter to the spare bedroom.
That's all the Preschooler has known to be his bathroom for those of you keeping tabs on my nomination for mother.of.the.year. :)
Today I met the Commander for lunch at Atlanta Bread Company which is right next to one of my favorite stops, Tuesday Morning. I found some cute towels that I THOUGHT would look OK and add to the lacking decor in this pitiful space, but they are indeed TURQUOISE so I've decided they look better in the store and must go back.
Here is the more age appropriate shower curtain that now resides in the bathroom:

And here are the new towels.
It's too bad they didn't have them in various colors because I really like them. Don't you think Navy would have probably worked OK?
As you can see space is very limited so I'm up for any suggestions on how to turn this into a more kid friendly environment. You have any paint color suggestions? Lets hear 'um. I'm up for anything. Don't hold back. The tan rugs clearly have to go too, but I just can't seem to find the right ones.





Look who kept busy while I was getting these pictures ready for you.

Nope, he didn't hold back.

Now let me hear what you've got. If you've been lurking for awhile or just stopping by please feel free to chime in with your thoughts. This is not my specialty for sure so I could use all kinds of help.
THANKS!

Simple Pleasures.

Here's a completely random post of my simple pleasures that I felt obliged to share today.
1. Walking into a clean house.
2. Fresh, clean sheets on the bed.
3. Gerber Daisies



4. York Pieces candy. OH.My.Word.

5. A pedicure
6. Starburst
7. Sitting outside with good company.
8. Hearing your favorite song
9. Finding a "must have" bargain.
10.Sunny, Blue skies.
11. The Preschooler's innocence.

12. The Wild Thing's Waddle. (makes me smile every time)

13. A fresh hair cut.
14. Diet Coke
15. A good lip gloss.

I keep wishing for #1 to happen on its own, but the longer I sit the messier it gets so I'm off to make my favorite simple pleasure today's reality.
Have a good weekend.

Odds are...It's in the Washing Machine

These are the things that have recently been pulled out of the washing machine.
1. A DVD.
2. Toy trucks.
3. The clothes I put here.
4. The Wild Thing.
5. A sippy cup of juice.
6. A pacifier

We have to keep the laundry room door shut at all times because the Wild Thing has a radar for when it's open. He's excellent at hitting cancel in the middle of a cycle too. I never know if I should add more detergent and start over or just hit start again. It's usually the latter. One time I looked all over the house for the lint filter. It was hidden in a closet. He also hunts down the remote controls. We've fished two out of the toilets now. I heard yesterday that it has snowed 13 times this winter so we've been inside for most of the month. It's been like my very own version of a work out plan. You don't need a gym. Just come to my house. :)

Dear Mr. Ritchie,

We are the World was my favorite song 25 years ago. Today..not so much. I'm going to go ahead and say that my friends and I did a better job performing it in front of the fireplace in my living room. I can send you the video if you'd like. I had Tina Turner's part down!
Today's version..WOW! It started out great, but what was that in the end? I've heard it a few more times and it's grown on me some, but I was far from impressed the first time I heard it. Almost appalled, really.

I love Vince Vaughn, but wasn't it a little random for him to be in the top row?
Were you just looking for familiar faces to place amongst the group of randoms?
I also think you should have redone the part with Janet and Michael as her lip singing was completely OFF from the lyrics.
The newer version could have been really great especially with all the talent available to you.

Disappointed fan,
ToolWoman.

Winter Park Days 1-3

We made our flight out Monday barely missing another round of snow and ice in our area. The Preschooler was excited about co piloting the plane.

He's saying "hi mom" over the plane's intercom. He "drove" the plane from his seat and referred to it as Dynaco (from Disney's Cars).
We met up with Molly and her mom at the Cherry Cricket in downtown Denver. I have not stopped talking about their award winning burger. OH. MY. WORD! It was so good.
We do NOT have a good burger place where I live so between the shopping, burger, and good friends, I might need to move to Denver. (The skiing is not so bad either). :)
Next, We picked up groceries at a Super Target (another reason to live in Denver) and headed to our resort.
Thank you Molly and Molly's mom!


Tuesday-The Preschooler did OK in ski school. He learned to snow plow with a tip clip while the Commander and I spent time on the mountain. I can tell we are older this year because we weren't the first ones on the slopes or the last ones to leave.
We also took an extra long lunch which was fine with me because the view was amazing.
Wed-Remember this famous scene?

Yep, the Preschooler learned the hard way why we don't go around licking ski racks. After a pep talk and some $10 Ora gel he was ready to attempt ski school day two. We found his class on the mountain and he was lagging behind the group, falling down, and overall did not appear to be loving it AT ALL. We overheard his instructor tell the snow mobile driver to take him to the base so we followed him. The Preschooler was DONE with ski school so we took our ski school drop out to the bunny slope and taught him to ski ourselves. The Commander and I took turns making ski runs while the other one coached him. He slowly started to enjoy skiing again WITHOUT his tip clip. We've spent the evening sledding, buying T'shirts and eating pizza so now I'm ready to watch Modern Family and call it a night.

Finally Friday!

Wow! I went on a short blacation didn't I? Well, we are leaving soon for our real vacation. I can't wait to see Molly's mom then hit the slopes.
I had an x-ray of my tailbone on Monday. It's fine. Only swollen and bruised, but not broken so that's good news. Ibuprofen is my new best friend.
The preschooler has a nasty cough and the Wild Thing started running 103 fever so both kids were hauled to the pediatrician on Tuesday. After finding three ear infections (the Wild Thing had a double), a case of wheezing, two antibiotics, an inhaler and a much despised spacer, we're finally on the mend. I'll be catching up with the blog world soon and look forward to hearing about your weekend.