No Girls Allowed
Posted Monday, April 05, 2010
I don't know about you, but when my husband and I decided to have kids, I had it all planned out. We were going to have two boys and if we were nuts, have a third and she would be a girl. All I knew was that I did NOT want to have girls. I even bought only boy clothes after we started trying.
Growing up, I was a complete wallflower, but minding my own business in the background did
not save me from the cattiness of girls. In junior high, there were girls that would call other classmates, pretend to be me, and say who knows what (curse the era before caller id). I know it was bad because one of the boys that asked me about it, wouldn't tell me what "I" had said. In any event, I had more boy friends than girl friends because I just didn't want to deal with the drama of it all.
Yup, I was going to have boys and avoid reliving my teenage years, even vicariously. I should have known. Statistically, I thought we had a shot, I mean there is a 51% to 49% ratio of male to female births. However, I married into a family where the odds aren't quite so even. Between my husband and his two brothers, there are nine, count 'em NINE, girls and no boys. How is this even possible? I suspect a government experiment using their tap water growing up, but we'll never know. :oP It would be an interesting study though.
While I still wonder what having boys would be like, I do love my girls and it's made me realize that you don't get what you want, you get what you need. And perhaps I will relive my teenage years through my girls, but having gone through it, maybe I'll able to make theirs better. Or at the very least, a little less traumatic. Time will tell. :o)
Written for The Mama Dramalogues.
Growing up, I was a complete wallflower, but minding my own business in the background did
not save me from the cattiness of girls. In junior high, there were girls that would call other classmates, pretend to be me, and say who knows what (curse the era before caller id). I know it was bad because one of the boys that asked me about it, wouldn't tell me what "I" had said. In any event, I had more boy friends than girl friends because I just didn't want to deal with the drama of it all.Yup, I was going to have boys and avoid reliving my teenage years, even vicariously. I should have known. Statistically, I thought we had a shot, I mean there is a 51% to 49% ratio of male to female births. However, I married into a family where the odds aren't quite so even. Between my husband and his two brothers, there are nine, count 'em NINE, girls and no boys. How is this even possible? I suspect a government experiment using their tap water growing up, but we'll never know. :oP It would be an interesting study though.
While I still wonder what having boys would be like, I do love my girls and it's made me realize that you don't get what you want, you get what you need. And perhaps I will relive my teenage years through my girls, but having gone through it, maybe I'll able to make theirs better. Or at the very least, a little less traumatic. Time will tell. :o)
Written for The Mama Dramalogues.
Wall Art for Little Bedrooms
Posted Wednesday, March 31, 2010
At the slightest hint of Spring, the cleaning, de-cluttering, purging, rearranging, and redecorating side of me jumps into action, especially in the kids bedrooms - holy moly kids can cram a ton of stuff in their rooms, especially over the winter, [what's with that?]! Once their rooms are sparkling and orderly, the rearranging and redecorating begins! In our house, this kind of redecorating is more rearranging than redecorating, 'cause there isn’t much budget for “decorating.” So we move furniture around, add and subtract accessories from one room for another, turn sheets into curtains, and do all we can to make the room look totally fresh and different.
Art work is always something I struggle with in my kids rooms. I want something fun, creative and inspiring, but I also want it to work for my 3 year old or my 10 year old, and still work when they're 16. [I know I ask a lot for my $1]
The EtsyKids team has an amazing selection of “wall art.” Prints or original works in a variety of different themes, colors, sizes and prices. How fun to be able to add a new dimension to a child’s space with an original piece of art. Here are four to get your search started.
Alligator Gator Love by weandthebean
Random Frogs by cicifactory
Underground Homes by LittleDumplingPrints
Oh by FlutterBrush
I'll be sharing more EtsyKids wall art over the coming weeks. Look for them on Wall Art Wednesdays.
Art work is always something I struggle with in my kids rooms. I want something fun, creative and inspiring, but I also want it to work for my 3 year old or my 10 year old, and still work when they're 16. [I know I ask a lot for my $1]
The EtsyKids team has an amazing selection of “wall art.” Prints or original works in a variety of different themes, colors, sizes and prices. How fun to be able to add a new dimension to a child’s space with an original piece of art. Here are four to get your search started.
Alligator Gator Love by weandthebeanRandom Frogs by cicifactory
Underground Homes by LittleDumplingPrints
Oh by FlutterBrush
I'll be sharing more EtsyKids wall art over the coming weeks. Look for them on Wall Art Wednesdays.
EtsyKids Design Challenge - We Have a Winner!
Posted Monday, March 29, 2010
Congratulations to the winner of this month's challenge 17.Build a Tree Decal Kit - Kids Decal by: trendypeas!Trendy Peas offers beautiful and affordable wall art for a modern nursery as well as very cute invitations and so much more. Their amazing wall decals are made of fabric and unlike vinyl, they are easily removable and reusable. Trendy Peas lovely and colorful images will surely brighten up your tot's room, just click here and see for yourself.
Etsy Kids in Full Bloom
Posted Sunday, March 28, 2010
EtsyKids team members kicked off the first week of Spring with a flower garden full of beautiful handmades for babies, kids and tots! All week long team members posted some of their favorite flower inspired EtsyKids finds on the Etsy Forums. Check it out to see all the amazing variety the team has to offer!
Peasant Dress in Mocca by ButterflyBabyPlace
Felted Flower Ring - buttercup by thecleverkitty
Red, Blue Flower Reversible Bib by brooksboutique
Everyday Necktie, Red Blossoms by Me and Matilda
Spring Bloom Crocheted Hair clip Set by AngelFishBoutique
Felted Flower Ring - buttercup by thecleverkitty
Red, Blue Flower Reversible Bib by brooksboutique
Everyday Necktie, Red Blossoms by Me and Matilda
Spring Bloom Crocheted Hair clip Set by AngelFishBoutique
Every Monday morning Liz of Daisy Creek Designs selects a new theme of EtsyKids handmades to highlight. Stop by and see the latest in chic designs for the little ones in your life.
5 Life Skills Every Kid Needs
Posted Saturday, March 27, 2010
I just finished reading a most interesting article in Parenting Magazine. I wanted share some snippets. If you'd like to read the entire article - it is from the April 2010 Issue called Parenting Early Years. You can read more at Parenting.com and also find them on twitter and FaceBook.5 Skills Every Kid Needs
1. How to be a loser
~Not the good for nothing loser but how to loose at something and still be okay.
!Lead by example...Model being a good loser over and over.
2. How to be a joiner
~Not that your child should be indistinguishable from the flock, but knowing how to join in an activity or a preexisting group.
!Teach your child to recognize the 'friendly vibes' that certain kids in the group may be giving off. Eye contact...instead standing outside the circle and asking 'can I play' and not being heard by anyone. They should approach the child that is making eye contact and smiling.
3. How to fight for what's right
~Being the defender of someone lower on the social food chain than you is enormously scary- it can feel as though your entire social survival is at stake, which is why almost all kids need help to do so. Having both the confidence and the moral judgment to not only refuse to join in the teasing but also walk away or even better stand up for what's right.
!All this takes is basic conversation...kids instinctively know that its wrong to hurt someone elses feelings.
4. How to be a good actor
~Knowing which emotions to reveal and which ones are better kept under wraps, to be expressed later. It also means learning ho to be less than honest at times for the sake of others feelings. You will no doubt teach your child to say to his well meaning great aunt who didn't get him a Wii 'Thank you, I can really use these thermal tube socks'.
!This one is all about impulse control. You can teach them how to keep from blurting out by giving simple guidelines and steps.
5. How to question authority
~A kid who questions authority and manages to do so respectfully and effectively is a kid who will do well for himself in the long run.
!Kids question authority naturally - the key is to guide them on how to do it politely and on your end, say yes whenever possible
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