Yes, moulding.
Everything we do as parents shapes the people that our children are in the process of becoming. The reinforcement, encouragement and love but also the not so good stuff.
I worry on a regular basis about whether or not we're doing the right thing. If Noah doesn't want/like what we're eating should I give him something else? If he has a temper tantrum should I let him wail or try to console him? If he squishes berries into mush should I let him to help him develop his senses or scold him for making a mess? If he's learning something new and it's dangerous do I stop it or allow nature to run it's course?
It's so hard to say sometimes!!
One thing I do know is that a storey I heard today from an amazing Mom has forever shaped how I will react to challenges that Noah may face growing up when dealing with other people and confrontations about who he is as a person.
I always thought you should sympathize, explain that's how the world is sometimes, tell them the other person is at fault and that things will get better and to turn the other cheek.
After hearing how my friend's child turned out (strong, self-assured and amazing) I realized that there is a better way of going about situations where your child is being criticized that creates a strong, morally sound and a REAL individual.
What I vow to do is to tell him (or her if we have a girl someday) that the way he is IS perfect, he is a leader, he is strong and amazing. That the person who is bothering him is likely only doing it as they're not confident about themselves and that he should actually feel bad for the bully. That what other people say and do is a reflection on them and not really about you. To not let the person see that what they are saying is bothering you and the next time HE should bring up the joke and toss it back to the bully to show that it didn't stick.
Instilling you child with a sense of self and helping them understand that individuality matters (and is amazing) is a much better route than allowing them to become a victim.
Random post but I didn't want to forget this awesome tidbit I picked up!
Who knows if I'll ever use it - maybe someone reading will one day.
xo
Jenn
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Time sure does fly...
So much has happened since I last posted that I just don't know where to start.
I've been working part-time serving. I have been enjoying it for the most part with the exception of how much they've been scheduling me. When I took the job initially the manager and I had discussed 2 shifts per week and they've been giving me more like 3 or 4. Given that I'm already working full-time and I work a few evenings at that job it's getting to be too much with the two combined. I feel like I don't see anyone enough - not Alex or Noah (who I see the most) and especially not my friends and family. I'm so pooped on the nights that I'm not working that I don't have the energy to do much of anything.
I'm at the point now where I either talk to the manager and tell her I can only do 2 shifts or I flat out quit. To be honest, quitting for the most part is where I'm leaning but at the same time I feel like the burden wouldn't be too bad if it was only a couple of shifts per week and the money is fantastic. So what I've decided I'm going to do is talk to the manager, scale down my shifts then give it a month or so and see how I feel. I'm going to quit by the summer regardless so I should be able to suck it up for a bit longer.
On a much more exciting note, Alex and I went to Europe and it was amazing - so much more than I could've ever expected and so good for us to get away and have some quality time. We went to London, Paris and Amsterdam. We were so fortunate to have a friend in London (Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Camden Market, pubs, pubs and more pubs) to show us around and stay with. We saw so much over the 4 days we were there that it was unbelievable. We took the "chunnel" to Paris had another amazing time hitting up all the monuments (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Lover's Bridge, Notre Dame, Moulin Rouge) and of course drinking coffee/wine and eating delicious food. We took the train to Amsterdam where I fell in love. It is hard to explain what I felt in Amsterdam - the best way to explain it would be to say that I felt like I was home. As if I could've gone home and picked up Noah and we could've easily just settled into a life there and been very happy. The architecture of all the homes was amazing. The intricately designed roofs, the colours the homes were painted and the slight angle some of them were built on. The canals, birds and boats. The LACK of cars and the abundance of bicycles. Everywhere I looked I found something else that I loved more than the thing before. It was a truly inspirational experience for me and really got my creative juices flowing in terms of décor. The other amazing thing is the fact that for the most part there isn't a defined cuisine there - Indian, Thai, Indonesian, pubs, Mediterranean, cheese and wine shops. The only true Holland-ish meal we had were pancakes on our second morning. I had a mushroom, tomato and ham one and Alex had a bacon and banana one. It was just outstanding. The way everyone is accepted - the red light district workers, the people in the "coffee shops", the fact that the city erected a monument for all the gays, lesbians, bi-sexual etc. people who had ever felt wronged or persecuted. The Anne Frank house - oh my word. It was so chilling to see but also so eye opening and enlightening.
On to the next thing, Noah...oh my little baby boy. He isn't so little anymore! He's 20 months in a couple of days and he is the most beautiful, sweet and funny boy you'll ever meet (I am partial but I think most people would agree). He is running, singing, dancing and my favourite - talking. When we left for our trip (19 months old) he was saying ma-ma, da-da, bath, bubbles, baby, bottle, sus (soother), and other small easy words. The week we were away he had a full out word explosion. He can literally copy most words we say and he can put 1 to 3 words together. "I did it!" is probably one of his favourite expressions - just today I showed him how to un-zip his zipper on his jacket and he proceeded to undo mine and then take off his zip-up sweater right afterwards. These kids are so freaking smart! He is honestly the light of both mine and Alex's life - I don't know what we did without him. Just seeing his little face makes my day. He loves jumping - especially into our arms from the top of the stairs or jumping off the bottom step and then clapping and yelling "Yayyyyy" for himself. Oh my love.
Ok, that's all for now. Will try not to wait too long before I post again.
xo
Jenn
I've been working part-time serving. I have been enjoying it for the most part with the exception of how much they've been scheduling me. When I took the job initially the manager and I had discussed 2 shifts per week and they've been giving me more like 3 or 4. Given that I'm already working full-time and I work a few evenings at that job it's getting to be too much with the two combined. I feel like I don't see anyone enough - not Alex or Noah (who I see the most) and especially not my friends and family. I'm so pooped on the nights that I'm not working that I don't have the energy to do much of anything.
I'm at the point now where I either talk to the manager and tell her I can only do 2 shifts or I flat out quit. To be honest, quitting for the most part is where I'm leaning but at the same time I feel like the burden wouldn't be too bad if it was only a couple of shifts per week and the money is fantastic. So what I've decided I'm going to do is talk to the manager, scale down my shifts then give it a month or so and see how I feel. I'm going to quit by the summer regardless so I should be able to suck it up for a bit longer.
On a much more exciting note, Alex and I went to Europe and it was amazing - so much more than I could've ever expected and so good for us to get away and have some quality time. We went to London, Paris and Amsterdam. We were so fortunate to have a friend in London (Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Camden Market, pubs, pubs and more pubs) to show us around and stay with. We saw so much over the 4 days we were there that it was unbelievable. We took the "chunnel" to Paris had another amazing time hitting up all the monuments (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Lover's Bridge, Notre Dame, Moulin Rouge) and of course drinking coffee/wine and eating delicious food. We took the train to Amsterdam where I fell in love. It is hard to explain what I felt in Amsterdam - the best way to explain it would be to say that I felt like I was home. As if I could've gone home and picked up Noah and we could've easily just settled into a life there and been very happy. The architecture of all the homes was amazing. The intricately designed roofs, the colours the homes were painted and the slight angle some of them were built on. The canals, birds and boats. The LACK of cars and the abundance of bicycles. Everywhere I looked I found something else that I loved more than the thing before. It was a truly inspirational experience for me and really got my creative juices flowing in terms of décor. The other amazing thing is the fact that for the most part there isn't a defined cuisine there - Indian, Thai, Indonesian, pubs, Mediterranean, cheese and wine shops. The only true Holland-ish meal we had were pancakes on our second morning. I had a mushroom, tomato and ham one and Alex had a bacon and banana one. It was just outstanding. The way everyone is accepted - the red light district workers, the people in the "coffee shops", the fact that the city erected a monument for all the gays, lesbians, bi-sexual etc. people who had ever felt wronged or persecuted. The Anne Frank house - oh my word. It was so chilling to see but also so eye opening and enlightening.
On to the next thing, Noah...oh my little baby boy. He isn't so little anymore! He's 20 months in a couple of days and he is the most beautiful, sweet and funny boy you'll ever meet (I am partial but I think most people would agree). He is running, singing, dancing and my favourite - talking. When we left for our trip (19 months old) he was saying ma-ma, da-da, bath, bubbles, baby, bottle, sus (soother), and other small easy words. The week we were away he had a full out word explosion. He can literally copy most words we say and he can put 1 to 3 words together. "I did it!" is probably one of his favourite expressions - just today I showed him how to un-zip his zipper on his jacket and he proceeded to undo mine and then take off his zip-up sweater right afterwards. These kids are so freaking smart! He is honestly the light of both mine and Alex's life - I don't know what we did without him. Just seeing his little face makes my day. He loves jumping - especially into our arms from the top of the stairs or jumping off the bottom step and then clapping and yelling "Yayyyyy" for himself. Oh my love.
Ok, that's all for now. Will try not to wait too long before I post again.
xo
Jenn
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