Meet the Newest Member of our Family

Notice his fancy, dangley, carefully-crafted earring.  Compliments to my sister-in-law for that special touch.

Does anyone have name suggestions?

Yesterday Morning Logan's Cousin Came Over to Play

We missed a really darling picture of them both pretending to be asleep in Logan's bed.  George cooperated when we asked them to re-stage the cute scene.  Logan didn't.

This Morning...

Logan: "Mom, is George coming over today?"

Mom: "No, not today."

Logan: "Oh, crap."

Play Kitchen

Sometimes Logan pretends to prepare food for me.  He stands behind his toy box and uses it as a counter.  Today he asked me for my order, which he normally prepares promptly.

Me: Can I have some strawberries?

Logan: No

Me:  How about bananas?

Logan: I don't have any.

Me: Do you have any apples?

Logan: I don't have those either.

Me: Pizza?

Logan: No pizza.

Me: What can you make for me?

Logan: Coconut Extract

Me: Smile.  

What a well-trained child.  In two short years he has learned the secret of a gourmet chef!

Who Said Two is Terrible?

Logan loves kangaroos.  Sometimes he asks if he can sit in my pouch.  That means he wants me to sit cross legged and let him sit on my lap.

When I do something he wants me to do he smiles and says, "Yes!  Good job!"

Sometimes he makes up words and asks me to repeat them syllable by syllable.  He always praises me after I repeat them correctly.

He is "reading books" to himself and to me.  He has the text memorized in some of his books, which he recites.  In others, he makes up the story as he goes along.  Even if he is saying "made up" words, he still says them slowly and pretends to sound them out.

He is also still calling Santa Claus, Noah.  I just can't correct it.  I love it.

By Request

Some of you have asked that I post the reasons why I didn't like Where the Wild Things Are.  To be clear, I think it would be a fine movie for adults to see.  I may have enjoyed it more if I hadn't seen it with Logan.  It was free from language/sex.  There were a few intense emotional scenes but no violence.  My main problem was that it was marketed as a children's movie, but it did not appeal to children.

Here it is in short:

1.  It was very gloomy.  There are very few laughs.

2.  The movie is about everyone's "issues".  Max and the Wild Things and everyone else all have "issues".

3.  Out of control behavior from children is presented as acceptable.

4.  There are some dark intense scenes that are frightening for young children.  We took Logan out for part of the movie.

If anyone has seen it and has an opinion to share, I would love to hear it.

Do Yourself a Favor

Don't bother going to see this one with your kids.  We saw the movie last night.  I won't subject you to the oration my family had to listen to about all of the reasons why.  If you insist on seeing it, wait until it comes out in the Redbox.

More Love and Logic

Another jewel from my studying this week:

Parents of young children should allow them to make mistakes and learn from them.  Every mistake is an opportunity to learn.  The price tag of learning from mistakes made by a three year old, is much lower than the price tag of learning paid by a 20 year old.  

Comment of the Day

Today we were walking through Lowe's.  Logan saw a huge blow up statue of Santa and Mrs. Claus.  He became very excited and said, "Look, there is Noah and his sister!"

Runner up comment of the day:

"Mom, my nose smells runny."

Love and Logic by Jim Faye

Have you read this book before?  The version for teachers was one of my favorites when I was in the classroom.  I'm now reading the early childhood book as a mom.  The principles taught are so helpful.  My reading came just in time for some of the "negotiations" (i.e. tantrums) Logan likes to put forth.

Here are a few principles from this week's reading:

1.  Even though children don't act like they want boundaries and limits, they do.  Boundaries and limits make children feel safe.

2.  Give children lots of choices about little things that you don't care about.  When they are sharing in the decision making on the little things, it helps them be willing to comply on the big things.  Below are a few of the choices Logan has been making.  I have been giving him dozens of choices each day.  Even though if feels silly to me, he loves it.

-Would you like to read one story before bed, or two?

-Would you like to wear your basketball shirt or your dinosaur shirt?

-Do you want to get out of the bath right now, or in 5 minutes?

-Do you want to eat apples or cantaloupe  with your lunch?

3.  Show empathy.  When they make a bad choice and get a consequence, let them know that it is a sad thing.  No need to get angry (sometimes very difficult).  Each time I have administered a consequence this week I give him a hug and say, "This is so sad."  The authors suggest using the same phrase each time a consequence is administered.

4.  Let consequences teach, not words.  If they are making a mess with their food, take the food.  If they hit someone with a toy, take the toy.  If they are climbing up the stairs when they have been asked not to, move them to a place where they can't go up the stairs.  Consequences are more effective than reminders, scolding, and lectures.

More to come...

Calming

We head up to the mountains to find water when we can.  There is something peaceful about sitting by a river.