Monday, April 4, 2011
Make the voices stop...a quick 10 step guide to surviving toddlerhood
1. Give up the delusional dream that you may in fact at some point get your house clean. It will not happen.
2. Put away everything in your home that may be of value, as this will be the one thing that will get broken. And lets be honest, buying new furniture is an investment best saved for the empty nest stage.
3. Naps are not created for kids, they are created for moms. If your toddler has given up naps (bless you my friend) then start a "quiet time" routine. He can spend an appropriate amount of time alone in his room, playing, reading or listening to stories. (I'm actually laughing at my own idea here) hey, it could happen!
4. Speaking of naps, if you are lucky enough to still have yours napping, I'd say take one with him, but since we all know that with all the mess he has created that is totally unrealistic; so at least give yourself permission to sit down and eat, watch a tv show, read a magazine or better yet exercise. There is a reason it is a law that employees must take breaks, and let me tell you..moms deserve them most!!!!!
5. Have a regular bed time and for mercy sakes, get him in his own bed already! This may sound a little harsh, but I am speaking from experience here ladies. It has not been an easy road, but we now have both kids in their own beds by 8:30 (excuse me while I jump for joy) I don't think I could handle being around anyone 24/7. We need time to be without them in order to have the desire and energy to be with them. nuff said.
6. Never underestimate the power of a good scream. You know that moment when you just don't think you can take it any longer? (I can't be the only one!) Find a dark closet, lock yourself in it and let it go! Ahhhhh the healing power of a good tantrum!!!
7. For those of you easily offended, please do not do this one. But for those that are not, and need a pee your pants kind of laugh to get you through the day...go to damnyouautocorrect.com. These are text messages that people send when their phone has auto corrected it into something horrible. Call me crazy, but crying my eyes out with laughter makes everything better. (you have been warned that it can be offensive though k?)
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| Lindsay and I with our two toddlers... oh and she has another one!! and don't let the cute faces fool you! |
8. Make sure you have a non-judgmental BFF that has toddlers too! t It is imperative to be able to complain, cry, melt down, discuss the challenges with someone who can relate!
9. Whoever says that kids should not watch t.v. I'm guessing has never been a parent! A little t.v.for the sake of your sanity is ok...although using it as a full time nanny maybe just a bit overboard.
10. Have very low expectations of what you will be able to accomplish in the hours that your toddler is awake...unless you are the mother of the little girl that will set and color for hours, have sweet tea parties and play make believe with her stuffed animals all day (sorry, I just got lost in my past) expect to get nothing done, and then if you accomplish anything, your day will feel successful!
So ladies...now it's your turn!!! Please leave your best advice below, weather you are in the thick of it, past it, or coming into it; we want all you've got!!!
Please remember to invite your friends here to hang with us, and follows us...Pretty please ;) And one more thing...You will not want to miss this weeks Earth Monkey special!!!
Don't Forget to {Go Blue} for autism awareness month.. Check out these amazing mother warriors and do your part to spread awareness about autism this month!
Don't Forget to {Go Blue} for autism awareness month.. Check out these amazing mother warriors and do your part to spread awareness about autism this month!
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