The Benefits of Playdates

Rick and I had a playdate with Soren over the weekend.  We had the chance to spend some time with two really cool parents and one very cool little dude.  We've had a chance to playdate with this family a couple times before either at parks or museums, but this was the first time we were able to chat with them - since our toddler boys are just that.  Boys!  They are into EVERYTHING!

On our way home, I couldn't help but think - who was this playdate for?  Soren - or us?!  I learned so much from watching another set of parents with their wee one.  Soren is about 6 months older than his playmate - but as they grow older, the gap between them grows smaller.  This playmate was quite the 'sharer', it was amazing watching him bring things to Soren the entire time.  I was SO impressed - and then embarrassed (and of course - it's not about me).  Soren wouldn't share - in fact, he would hoard this little guy's toys!  

I felt so bad and didn't really know how to help Soren.  I was inspired by his playmate's mom to gather some reading materials.  I noticed last night that I have been so focused on my doula training - I have been reading A LOT about birth, but not near enough about toddler development.  She 'wow'd' me with her knowledge of parallel play and how they both choose certain words and sentence structures to encourage their little guy to not only use his words - but to interact patiently with Soren.

Now, I am sure that Soren benefited from this experience, but so did I.  We are both sets of attached parents - so our mentality about parenting is very similar, but you can always learn something when you choose to open up to other parents.  I am grateful they had us over, even more grateful for the knowledge they have shared with us.

Today I am stopping at the library to pick up this read.

And read this fantastic article about toddler sharing last night.  It's amazing how much my actions trigger poor sharing skills, when trying to improve them!

Cooking with Kids

Food is a test of patience for almost all parents, well let's be honest all parents (enough to make you want to yell...).  I don't care how good your little eater is - every time that wee person with a very large will munches on something foreign and new and goes back for their second piece you are singing with joy deep down.

Eating is an adventure.

So is cooking.

Soren has been my kitchen buddy since I can remember.  I want him to grow up with vast culinary knowledge.  I don't want him to remember learning to cook - I want him to always have known how to cook, for it to be something inherent, second nature.  Like I was playing piano…  I don't remember learning, I just always knew where the keys were - my memory was too young to register it.  

Although it is messy - almost all the time now - I love it.  A couple nights ago, Soren made our salad , he made ice cream with me, we made cookies - he even poured the flour into the mixer! - and now, he rolls out dough with me, cuts it and monitors me putting it into the oven exclaiming 'hot!  momma - hot!' and I respond, my heart swelling with joy - 'yes, sweetie - VERY hot.  sssss..ow!'

Cooking is fun - more now than it ever was….

JoAnne is teaching Soren how to juice a lemon - takes a lot of strength!

Toddler Train Tote

Since my craft supplies have finally been unpacked, organized and ready for crafting - the bug has bitten.  All the random supplies I've discovered only feeds my quest to conquer new projects.  Fabrics from quilts I made 4 years ago, turtles I stuffed for Soren over the summer and a ridiculous amount of yarn - which coincidentally all have a similar color theme...hmm...suspicious?  So, I made a pact with myself - no more supplies purchasing until I make it through the majority of what exists.  The last thing I want is to run my family out of house and home with fabric and yarn!  

Lately, Soren has been perpetually stealing my bag filled with Goodwill donations (more on that later...), dumping out the donations and filling it with 'choo choo's'.  Carrying and dancing around the apartment, proudly toting the bag.  

With the old quilt fabric pieces and new rubber stamps (which is a more recent obsession of mine.  Aren't these awesome!) - I quickly got down to business in my new sewing station!  In Soren's 2 hour power nap, I was able to make him this train tote.  He immediately knew what it was!  He stuffed it full of 'choo choo's' and proudly 'toted' around the apartment.  Love!

What Moms Say

I have always admired mothers - how they adore their children, have wrinkles of wisdom (no matter how old you are, you end up with a few once you reach toddler-hood!), and they say the most incredible things.  But now that I myself am a mother, these words, their facial expressions and smiles hit me harder than they ever did before.

For instance:

1. New mother - pregnant with her first, little girl texts me 'So, I spent most of the class watching my belly bulge and wiggle because baby girl was mad at me for not eating before I went.  I'm amazed that I can see my belly move, she's no little alien anymore'.  Whenever I hang out with this mom, I always catch her looking down at her belly in admiration.  It makes my heart sing every time.  I know that feeling, that deep love for someone I hadn't even met yet.  I see such a proud, loving mom in her.

2. A mother blogger I follow wrote 'They make my heart swell up just looking at them. This is my family. I really can’t get over that we have 2 beautiful children. How did I get so lucky?'  I love reading this blog, I highly recommend it Jen Loves Kev.  This is a mom so in love with her family and her smile in these photos... leaves me speechless.

3. An absolutely wonderful, unconditionally loving mother I have had the pleasure of being best friends with for more than a decade wrote me this in an email recently '[my Son] is all my joy wrapped up into one little package. I cannot get enough of him.'  This flat out made me melt.  I started tearing up as I read this line.  It might be my favorite.  I love this woman - she is a pillar of strength and courage and so loving.  I wouldn't expect anything but this line from her.  She nailed it - this is motherhood.

4. Last but not least, this blogging momma and participant of 52 portraits. From her site Normal is a Setting on a Dryer, writes 'Sometimes, my child is so cute that it kind of hurts.  Or maybe that’s the boundless love of mother for child…'  Spot on!  I know this mom personally and this line suits her to a 't'.  

I love all these mommas and feel incredibly grateful that I have some as friends and others as authors to read.  They are wonderful and I appreciate their words... more than they will ever know.