Here's to Brave Moms Everywhere

I spent the day with my friend Lilli and her two little ones. Her three year old Grace did not eat her lunch. Lilli told her that if she chose not to eat her lunch she would not be able to eat any snacks until dinner.

A couple of hours later we decided to take the kids to Arctic Circle to have ice cream and play. In the craziness of the afternoon, Lilli (and I) forgot about the promised lunch consequence. After ordering our treats, Lilli remembered. Instead of going back on her word, she chose the hard road of calmly and kindly telling Grace that she could play on the equipment, but she couldn't have any icecream because she chose not to eat her lunch. Grace wailed and cried. She even exclaimed through tears, "I just can't believe it!" Lilli persevered through the embarrasing display. The kind employees at Arctic Circle even came into the play area twice to offer courtesy cones in hopes to help calm Grace. After a few minutes, she resumed playing. This was a small victory in teaching Grace that our choices carry consequences. When we make a choice, we had better make sure we want what comes with it.

I admire parents who choose to be conisitent and do what they say they are going to do. This builds trust and enstills a sense of security in children. Children who can trust that their parents words and behavior will match feel safe. How wonderful to learn important life lessons when you are three years old in Arctic Circle rather than when you are an adult, and there is much more at stake.

Pics at the Park

Suggestions?

Logan started sleeping through the night when he was 10 days old.  For those of you who hate me now, don't.  I've had plenty of other rough things to make up for that lovely blessing.  Anyway, he learned how to climb out of his crib recently.  This new exciting activity has greatly disrupted his consistent sleep habits.  Basically, whenever it is time to sleep he climbs out of his bed and stands at his door and screams.  He can't open his door because after several days of him escaping, I put a handle on it that he can't open.  I've had a few suggestions already:

1.  Put his crib upside down (cage him in).  

2.  Take the springs off of his crib all together and put the mattress on the floor.  The top of the mattress is still higher than the bottom of the crib.  Hopefully dropping the mattress a few inches will make it so he can't escape.

3.  Benadryl.

4.  Just give in.  Give him a toddler bed and accept it.  This, however, still doesn't solve the screaming at the door problem.

So far, I'm considering option two as a temporary fix.  Has anyone else figured this one out yet?