I recently attended a memorial service for a friend's dad. I have known this friend since second grade. Yes I would not classify her as a close friend and the only people to blame for that is us enitrely. I was thinking of this when I attended the serivce because all I could think was this used to be a girl I would spend every other weekend at her house sleeping over and spending two or three days with during the week. Yes friends grow apart for no reason at all and that is no one's fault but it always brings you back to that emotional moment when you think, "What happened to us?" I could not stop thinking of this throughout the service and begin to blame myself. Like maybe I was that girl that I hate seeing now in my class. The girl who talks behind the other friend's back because what they did maybe wasn't the coolest. I know I am rambling but this is a thing I believe many people deal with at a variety of different times throughout our lives.
The worst part about these thoughts is that I walked away from that friend after the service saying to one another, "Oh please let's get together soon and catch up." "Oh yes I would love that!" And in the back of your mind you know this is just us being polite and how much can you bet that neither will call the other and it will go on that way again until we see each other. It sounds fresh but I know that I am finally just saying what I feel after every single time that happens. I wish it was not like that but the only one who can fix that is me.
This is one of those moments that I feel like I have to write down in order to remind myself to teach Sara these things and just hope that one day your children will be better people than you are yourself. I am going to make the effort to make the call and reach out. I hope that this will be successful!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
A Farewell Tribute to Diapers
Well after my latest mental breaking point it is official that Sara is a potty trained 2 and a half year old. Yes she still has an occassional accident or struggles somewhat with her pooping but in general she does not require any diapers throughout the day. She even is passed the point where we have to remind her to go to the potty every 45 minutes or designated time...she will tell us she is going to have to pee soon and she makes a mad dash for the potty. It is an experience while being on the potty though. Depending on the individual who takes her to the potty she tries to pull different tricks with them...sometimes she requires a potty time story, sometimes she can't pull down or pull up her own panties, and other times she does or does not wipe herself. But I must say that I am so unbelievably impressed with her ability to make the transition and become such a BIG GIRL!!!
Dave is home from his little adventure to Louisana and is back to full blown work! The businesses are booming and he is working out all the kinks of getting scheduling situated, employees understanding their role, and partners to pull an even share. We may be getting out of one of the businesses and may be owning another one shortly. I will keep you updated as the progress is made. I can't wait to see it all unfold before my eyes.
Oh and for a school update....school is over in 38 more days and only 10 more days until the NJASK testing!! This year is definitely flying by!!
Dave is home from his little adventure to Louisana and is back to full blown work! The businesses are booming and he is working out all the kinks of getting scheduling situated, employees understanding their role, and partners to pull an even share. We may be getting out of one of the businesses and may be owning another one shortly. I will keep you updated as the progress is made. I can't wait to see it all unfold before my eyes.
Oh and for a school update....school is over in 38 more days and only 10 more days until the NJASK testing!! This year is definitely flying by!!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Potty Training
I truly thought this afternoon I would have a mental breakdown. I must say though...not having that break makes me feel like a much stronger mother. I had this genius idea to try really hardcore to get Sara into a potty training routine while I was off this week for Spring Break. Well the first day I tried was Monday (yesterday) and I will sum yesterday up to my fault because I was unprepared for it.We had two pairs of underwear for her and who was I thinking that she was not going to go through them in an instant and then I would be back to square one. She made it through most of the first morning and I thought "hey maybe this potty training will go smoothly...I mean after all Sara is a smarty pants for her age" (Yes I know I have a bias opinion on that) Anyways well that quickly changed because she went in the first pair then she came in the car with me on a ride to the store and when I got home I should have run her upstairs to try and I didn't. She peed almost instantly when I didn't immediately put her on it.
So now I was on my second day and I thought I got this. I went and bought a 7 pack of underwear, had the two pairs from yesterday all cleaned as well, so I thought she can't possibly got through all 9 pairs before 5 o'clock tonight. (You must know at this point it was 1:30 in the afternoon) By 3:45 she had been through 7 total pairs, specifically 5 pairs between 3:00 and 3:45. I had one of those scenes from a comedy sitcom. Anyone who knows me and Sara can picture the following vividly. At 3:00 she was sitting on the hardwood floor doing a puzzle and stood up quickly and said, "Mommy I am peeing." There was no running her to the bathroom in time because she was already going at that point. So I take her upstairs sit her on the potty take off her underwear and pants and we sit for about 4 minutes. I take her off because she did not do anything, put on new underwear, go downstairs to keep playing, set the timer for another 20 minutes to put her on the potty, and she stands up and goes, "Mommy I am peeing." You got to be kidding me!! Well that same scenario happened two more times and each time I put her on the potty afterwords for a significant amount of time and she did nothing. Well the last time I got downstairs and was getting Sara goldfish and had my back turned for maybe two minutes when out of no where Sara goes, "Mommy I am peeing!" I turn quickly to see if I can make it to the potty and the bag rips for the goldfish. Then not only does she pee in that second but now is tapping her feet up and down. So now you have to imagine that here is Sara tapping her feet in the puddle of pee up and down on the other side of the kitchen, goldfish spilled everywhere, and Sara telling me, "Mommy you made a big mess!" Oh boy that was it for me! I bit my tongue though and reminded myself that I can't get angry with her because then she will be hating this whole potty training even more than she does.
I truly hope tomorrow the potty training goes a lot smoother. Pray for me!
So now I was on my second day and I thought I got this. I went and bought a 7 pack of underwear, had the two pairs from yesterday all cleaned as well, so I thought she can't possibly got through all 9 pairs before 5 o'clock tonight. (You must know at this point it was 1:30 in the afternoon) By 3:45 she had been through 7 total pairs, specifically 5 pairs between 3:00 and 3:45. I had one of those scenes from a comedy sitcom. Anyone who knows me and Sara can picture the following vividly. At 3:00 she was sitting on the hardwood floor doing a puzzle and stood up quickly and said, "Mommy I am peeing." There was no running her to the bathroom in time because she was already going at that point. So I take her upstairs sit her on the potty take off her underwear and pants and we sit for about 4 minutes. I take her off because she did not do anything, put on new underwear, go downstairs to keep playing, set the timer for another 20 minutes to put her on the potty, and she stands up and goes, "Mommy I am peeing." You got to be kidding me!! Well that same scenario happened two more times and each time I put her on the potty afterwords for a significant amount of time and she did nothing. Well the last time I got downstairs and was getting Sara goldfish and had my back turned for maybe two minutes when out of no where Sara goes, "Mommy I am peeing!" I turn quickly to see if I can make it to the potty and the bag rips for the goldfish. Then not only does she pee in that second but now is tapping her feet up and down. So now you have to imagine that here is Sara tapping her feet in the puddle of pee up and down on the other side of the kitchen, goldfish spilled everywhere, and Sara telling me, "Mommy you made a big mess!" Oh boy that was it for me! I bit my tongue though and reminded myself that I can't get angry with her because then she will be hating this whole potty training even more than she does.
I truly hope tomorrow the potty training goes a lot smoother. Pray for me!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter!
Well I know I say this continually but I really need to get back on track with updating this because we do have some exciting things going on in our house on a daily basis that it is nice to let others know. Today is Easter. Sara and Mommy started off their day with going to church. We played in the nursery while Grammie sat in church. Sara tried really hard to make it through the church service but once the chimes went off and music started playing she got overwhelmed and wanted to go play with her friends.
Dave is keeping extremely busy these days! He and his three friends bought a Coldstone in Marlboro! Originally Dave and his friend Ray were the co-owners of the two stores, one in Holmdel and one at the Monmouth Mall. Then when the opportunity arose to take over this already established store in Marlboro, they took on the two other friends and they are all owning the three stores equally.
The store is a huge undertaking for Dave. If anyone knows him you know he likes things run and done a certain way and boy was this store he bought definitely not running like that. So he is putting in the time to make everything great and hopefully even more successful than it was with the other owner.
They are even looking into other locations to open up other Coldstones. This is a long process and a lot of responsibility but I know Dave can handle it and make it a wonderful success!
I am moving right along in my first full term school year. I am enjoying every minute of it. I am definitely learning many life lessons from both the kids and my fellow colleagues. I think that as a teacher that is the biggest thing I was not aware of. How much you have to still be aware of what others are doing either to help or harm you, both maliciously and accidently as well as depending on yourself more than ever. I think due to this job I have learned a lot about my own strength and my own weaknesses. Just as an example I have had to make some difficult choices to protect my students as well protect myself and my job. However though no matter what I would not trade a moment of it for anything.
We are exploring so many different things as family members yet growing together. It has been an adjustment for myself with all these changes. I am not afraid to admit I had some difficulties dealing with Dave being gone more busy with the business, trying to really lay some ground rules for Sara because she is at that age where she is trying to test me on everything she is doing.
Speaking of Sara...oh boy!! I feel like that is the best way to describe her. She is plugged in from early in the morning and goes non-stop. She is extremely smart, if I do say so myself, and she knows a lot for her age as far as physically climbing into or onto things. She also is smart in the way to try and test the limits. Often she puts up a fight that she "can't like that" even if she just did it,ate it, or tried it on. She and I are learning to bargain with each other often over the silly things and she is avoiding getting herself in "big trouble." She is enrolled in different activities with everyone who watches her. Her Grandma takes her to morning song and she has made some good friends and learned a routine. She even developed a playdate from the experience that we learned will go to kindergarten with her. She goes to Storytime with Grammie at the library. Also Grammie is going to start taking her to a dance class with the township. Should be interesting :) Mommy takes her to Gymboree classes and she is just beginning her new class there called Sports and Fitness Fun. She is learning to kick a soccerball, throw and catch a ball, and balance. All this in hopes to burn off her energy!!
I will update photos tomorrow from all our Easter fun and hopefully this time I will be more on top of updating!
Dave is keeping extremely busy these days! He and his three friends bought a Coldstone in Marlboro! Originally Dave and his friend Ray were the co-owners of the two stores, one in Holmdel and one at the Monmouth Mall. Then when the opportunity arose to take over this already established store in Marlboro, they took on the two other friends and they are all owning the three stores equally.
The store is a huge undertaking for Dave. If anyone knows him you know he likes things run and done a certain way and boy was this store he bought definitely not running like that. So he is putting in the time to make everything great and hopefully even more successful than it was with the other owner.
They are even looking into other locations to open up other Coldstones. This is a long process and a lot of responsibility but I know Dave can handle it and make it a wonderful success!
I am moving right along in my first full term school year. I am enjoying every minute of it. I am definitely learning many life lessons from both the kids and my fellow colleagues. I think that as a teacher that is the biggest thing I was not aware of. How much you have to still be aware of what others are doing either to help or harm you, both maliciously and accidently as well as depending on yourself more than ever. I think due to this job I have learned a lot about my own strength and my own weaknesses. Just as an example I have had to make some difficult choices to protect my students as well protect myself and my job. However though no matter what I would not trade a moment of it for anything.
We are exploring so many different things as family members yet growing together. It has been an adjustment for myself with all these changes. I am not afraid to admit I had some difficulties dealing with Dave being gone more busy with the business, trying to really lay some ground rules for Sara because she is at that age where she is trying to test me on everything she is doing.
Speaking of Sara...oh boy!! I feel like that is the best way to describe her. She is plugged in from early in the morning and goes non-stop. She is extremely smart, if I do say so myself, and she knows a lot for her age as far as physically climbing into or onto things. She also is smart in the way to try and test the limits. Often she puts up a fight that she "can't like that" even if she just did it,ate it, or tried it on. She and I are learning to bargain with each other often over the silly things and she is avoiding getting herself in "big trouble." She is enrolled in different activities with everyone who watches her. Her Grandma takes her to morning song and she has made some good friends and learned a routine. She even developed a playdate from the experience that we learned will go to kindergarten with her. She goes to Storytime with Grammie at the library. Also Grammie is going to start taking her to a dance class with the township. Should be interesting :) Mommy takes her to Gymboree classes and she is just beginning her new class there called Sports and Fitness Fun. She is learning to kick a soccerball, throw and catch a ball, and balance. All this in hopes to burn off her energy!!
I will update photos tomorrow from all our Easter fun and hopefully this time I will be more on top of updating!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)