When David went to a bigger daycare centre, I continued to get the skinny on his eating habits daily, and his ‘list’ is still growing. Lately he has graduated to sitting on a bench at our kitchen table. Last night he enjoyed his chicken, rice and beets with his fork, and also had apple crumble afterwards, all by himself. Lots of praise from both mom and dad made him beam with pride, and will hopefully reinforce such great dinner success.
Here is a haiku that I wrote when he was younger (from my book ‘Scallywag: Confessions of a multi-mom’, available at all online retailers).
-
You test us, challenge us, make us smile;
You try us, delight us when you enjoy your meal;
You teach us more about truth and trust
and give us an excuse to munch finger foods.
-
First week of school went well!
This week marked the first time that I had to prepare a lunch bag daily for D, because he started Kindergarten. Things are going well so far, thanks to Planning. My strategy is to take a few minutes on a Saturday afternoon and plan the meals for the coming week. I plan the lunches as well as dinners. Then I head to the store on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning, and only buy the items on the list.
Some winning lunch ideas that my son David likes include:
Perogies with Sour cream (packed in separate small containers); these work well because they can be eaten unheated.
Maple sausages with kethup (also packed in separate containers)
Sandwiches with Dill Cream Cheese (Philly) , packed in a small zip lock baggie.
‘Tuna Melts’ - A few tablespoons of tuna and sour cream mixture, with grated cheddar cheese, on an English Muffin or bun.
Cut up strawberries work well for morning or afternoon snack, paired with a small wrapped cheese.
Cut up cantaloupe are also a great favourite, packed in a baggie as well.
I like to bake muffins and mini-cupcakes on weekends and freeze them. Then in the morning they are popped in the microwave for a few moments before going into the lunch bag. Store-bought muffins can also be frozen and used in this way.
David loves ‘Gold Fish’ crackers, but I try to limit his intake of these, and I buy the Multigrain ones.
I have to say something that doesn’t work, is those long wrapped ‘string’ cheeses. They are tasteless and David never eats them.
I pack a small juice bottle filled with mineral water.
For David’s school, everything has to be labeled, even his shoes. So I use Mabel’s Labels http://mabelslabels.com. They are super. Have a super week, enjoy the last few days of ‘official’ summer!
Serenity: Eye Candy
Sometimes I feel my son has had too much ‘screen time’ with TV and computer games with his Dad. One strategy I devised is to show him lovely images, and he really enjoys it. Google Images I love you! Eye candy is good for the soul and keeps a young child riveted for quite a while. Here is how: Go to Google and click on Images. Then type in search terms like ‘Spring Flowers’, ‘Kittens’ etc. Little kids love to browse through the images and choose their favourites. One could even print a few for them.
Go to Google Images
The Power of Gratitude
Today I would like to share a coping skill that has helped me through many rough patches as an ‘older’, working mom. I will name a few challenges and then share the surprising decision that changed things for me.
1 Sleep-deprived nights:When my son D was younger there were many nights I had to rise more than once to attend to him when he awoke. Thankfully this phase is over and he mostly sleeps through the night.
2 Sleep-time Struggles: There was also a pattern of the nightly strain of trying for an hour or more to get him to sleep. This is also a thing of the past, since he doesn’t nap in the afternoons anymore.
3 Refusing to eat: When D was a toddler, there were many mealtime struggles when he refused to eat. This is also thankfully a phase that has passed, since I’ve learnt the magic of timing and knowing when he would be more likely to have an appetite.
One evening, as I was sitting on the floor next to D’s bed, legs aching from sitting in one position for too long, singing to him and stroking his back to help him sleep, I remembered what a musician friend had told me. He said “remember, it is a season”. And it is true, your child’s baby and toddler days actually last a very short time. The challenges do pass and things become easier. In that moment, I closed my eyes and gave thanks that my son is normal and healthy. I gave thanks for the tremendous joy I feel when he tells me: “Mamma, I love you” , just before he falls asleep. I gave thanks for the privilege of being able to raise my son, with help from an angelic partner and hugely supportive family, like Barbara, Elizabeth, David, Wrensch and others. A deep sense of peace came over me, which still lingers.
The simple decision to be grateful for all the good things I have, is a daily choice, and a daily source of power to overcome and endure in my home life and professional life. Let’s make it our own. It may stand us in good stead. Have a healthy and positive day.
More lessons from a Four-year-old
My son D is four with a twelve-year-old mouth. One night, as he was playing in the bath, he uttered a word which he knows doesn’t belong in polite company. So I told him “That’s a bathroom word” and his prompt reply: “But I am in the bathroom!”
To all the moms with young kids, I want to give some hope. The first four years of a child’s life are busy and challenging to mothers. There are many bumps in the road and it feels like you have lost your life completely, especially if you are a working mom. But it does get easier. I’m eternally grateful that I could have one full year of maternity leave, which is statutory here in Canada. I think that moms and babies really need that time together, it is crucial for healthy development of the child. It’s astonishing to me that mothers like Marissa Mayer could think having a child is a two-week project. I’m left feeling sad for the baby after reading such stories.
While D still needs a lot of attention, he is able to keep himself happily busy for longer periods of time. Yesterday he casually informed me: “Mom, I’m going to watch some TV, you can work on your computer, it’s okay” [big smile]. Furthermore, D goes to bed early in the evenings now, since he is not napping anymore in the afternoon. That leaves some time for me at night and I really feel I can achieve some dreams again. I have to admit that I still sometimes sneak into his room at night just to watch him sleep and hear his soft breathing while I make sure he is snug and covered. My approach is to enjoy every stage of D’s young life and savour the moments, it’s really the moments together that matter. Have a great day.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise… ?