ElPasoMommies: Wonk Wonk Wonk ~ How to Train Your Kids to Ignore ...

ElPasoMommies: Wonk Wonk Wonk ~ How to Train Your Kids to Ignore ...: 8:54 AM | Posted by The Mommies Network | | Edit Post
It started with a trip to the grocery store. While I waited for the cashier to ring up my items, a mother behind me was delivering a soliloquy (only she didn't recognize it as such!).

"Suzy, you're not going to take that home."
"Suzy, you can carry that around but I'm not buying that."
"Suzy, you've been naughty. Why should I buy that for you?"
"Suzy, put that away. I'm not paying for it."
"suzy, everyone is looking at how much trouble you're causing."

And on and on and on...

I was so thankful when the cashier gave me my total. I was tired of this woman blathering on and I don't have to live with her! Poor Suzy. She is being trained to ignore her Mother. The more Mom talks, the less she hears.

Mom needs to learn rule number one:

Less Talk, More Action

Remember the Peanuts cartoons? When one of the adults spoke, all the kids heard was "wonkwonkwonkwonk". The more you lecture, threaten, warn, count to 3, etc... the less your child listens. Stop diluting your effectiveness as a parent with these non-actions. Use natural consequences as often as possible, and deliver the consequence calmly and swiftly. For example:

If your two year old won't stop running into the street, clearly explain to her that if she does it, she will be taken inside for the day. Then, when she does it (and she will, of course, cute little Scientist that she is!), calmly and without fanfare, escort her inside. Don't give her warnings or "another chance".

Toddlers and young kids don't understand an abstract concept like getting hit by a car... something they've never seen, felt or tasted. So talking about it until you're blue in the face is unlikely to do any good.

But what they DO understand is cause and effect. "If I do "X", then Mommy does "X"....EVERY TIME. Even young babies learn this. Ever noticed how excited your baby gets right before you feed him? He's learned that when you hold him a certain way, food is forthcoming. Our kids are smarter than we think sometimes.

Another example: Two siblings are fighting about a toy. Don't waste your time trying to figure out who is in the wrong, it's virtually impossible and just encourages tattling. The children will learn how to work out their own negotiations if involving the parent means unpleasantness. The toy is put up for a period of time. End of story. Toy squabbles will dramatically decrease almost magically!


Let Your Yes Mean Yes & Your No, No

Do what you say you will do. If you tell your child that acting up in the grocery store means no cookie from the bakery at the end of the trip, MEAN it. I'll never forget the look on my 2 year old daughter's face as she watched her brothers eat huge chocolate chip cookies while she went empty handed! Few things impress a young child more than you holding to your words, calmly and without a lot of emotion (that just makes you look like an idiot). Children don't respect you if you are always swinging back and forth like a pendulum. Decide what's important to you and expect those limits to be respected.

This rule makes parenting so much easier because your kids will stop testing you so much, which is just their way of saying "Do you really mean it?".

The flip side of this is that when you promise something positive, you had better make good on it! If you do this, your children will learn that you mean what you say.

{Originally posted on SaltLakeCityMommies}

Whoa, Half A Year!

Our cuddly boy is 6 months old now! So much is happening with him too. He reaches out to be picked up, he sits really well,he pats our backs when we hold him, he blows raspberries on my shoulder when I'm carrying him, he can support himself on his hands and knees, but his belly is still close to the ground. He looks like a frog when he does this. He also goes from sitting to on one knee and his hands-but then he gets stuck.

We had our 6 month appt today and the doctor said he's looking good. He is now 16.035 pounds (between 25-50th percentile), 26 1/4 in. (just under 50th %), and his head is 44 1/4 in. (75th %). He looks great!

He has now had organic green beans, sweet potato, banana, and avocado. We got this mesh feeder thing at Target, and he loves to have "popsicles" using any of the aforementioned items.

We had a great First Father's Day with Daddy. We gave him a backpack style carrier, and boy do these boys look cool! We also got to go visit Corban's Great Grandparents, his Mimi and Poppy, his Papa and Uncles B, C, and D, and his Mammy and Grandpa! It was a doozy of a day! But loads of fun!

Now, here are some pictures from our summer so far!

Swimming!

Today for our playgroup we went swimming! Corban had a blast in the water. I love that he is a water baby! He squeeled,kicked, smiled, and splashed around. I put him in the float for about 5 minutes, then held him the rest of the time-swooshing him around the water. The temp of the pool was a little cool, but we were both just fine, and so happy to be in the water. I think he gets that from me, I could be in water all day. He looked absolutely adorable decked out in his suit, hat, and shades. When we got home, he nursed and we took an hour and a half long nap. Worn out! Can't wait to swim again!

Big Day

Today was my 32nd birthday and it was wonderful. My mom came over with a delicious salad and played with Corban so that I could go to the grocery store, and take a long shower...even shave my legs!! It's the little things you know :O) My sweet husband gave me a lovely card this morning and I got a clothesline! I know, it may not sound exciting to some, but to this mama, it's wonderful. Now I can hang my diapers outside instead of finding random spots to place them in hopes that the wind won't take them. Also, t shirts dried by the sun. nice. My whole day was just great. I received lots of sweet well wishes from friends and family. My mom, Stan, James, and Dennis took me to early dinner at State Line and it was good family fun. My mom made a delicious cake and they brought it out for dessert. Yum! Corban entertained everyone by sitting and balancing himself on the table, while grinning from ear to ear.
Something that I had looked really forward to all day was James getting home from work. Reason being, we let Corban try his first food today! It was a really special birthday treat for me to see him take his first bites! He had sweet potato! My Grandmother would have been tickled. Here is a pic of a very happy me, with our curious baby boy. We had a special prayer and then it was time to dig in!


Corban seemed to really like it! So cool!!
Proud papa!



Yum!





Happy boy



Videos documenting the experience!

FIVE Months!!!

Can you believe it? Me either! He loves tummy time,can sit for a few seconds unassisted, he has a little tooth coming in on the bottom right. He laughs, cracks up at funny faces, melts my heart with every smile. Our big boy! Corban coos,blows raspberries, rolls, grabs for objects then puts them directly into his mouth. He loves standing, and is so strong. He screams like a pterodactyl! He puts his hands around our neck, nuzzles and hugs. He's so happy and wakes up with a smile. He talks really sweetly at bedtime. We kiss on him constantly.

Corban at 5 days old



Here he is at 5 weeks old -I really feel like this was yesterday.




And now! On the day he turned 5 months, we went to the Balloon Festival.





He kicks and turns pages in books, they make him so happy!




We also went to hang went to Best Buy and Brandon had us all cracking up



Then it was time for cake to celebrate his 5 month mark!



I'm going to try to get some videos uploaded by this weekend-it's been a busy last week at school. Their last day is tomorrow, Friday, June 3rd. I get out on Monday. Can't wait to spend the summer doing what I truly love-being with Corban 24/7.

Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day was wonderful. It started off with our smiley baby boy cuddling with us in the bed. Then, my sweet husband made me chocolate chip and pecan pancakes! Delicious! Next, he gave me the sweetest card from Corban. It was very touching and made me tear up.
We made it to church on time for Corban's dedication. What a neat way to celebrate my first Mother's Day. Being his mother has been such a joy and I just feel so fortunate-so happy. As we stood in front of the church I felt overwhelmed with love and happiness that we are, due to God, able to stand before him and state that we will do our best in raising Corban in a Christian home. God first. Pastor Mike introduced all of us, then he pointed out everyone's families that could be in attendance. My Dad, Mom, Stan and Dennis were there-but we were the only family that had the Great Grandparents there also! So glad the Billstone's were able to join us for the service. After introductions and a prayer; the congregation closed the Dedication portion by singing "Jesus Loves Me."
After church it was off to my Mom and Stan's for a delicious lunch. It was pretty special having The Billstone's over as well. We all had a nice Mother's Day celebration. My sweet husband surprised me and my mom with matching "MoM" charms for our bracelets. Very thoughtful. All in all, just a beautiful day-

Corban at the First Neon Desert Music Festival

4/30/10
The show brought in more than 11 thousand ppl. It was great for EP. Our very close friends pulled this together over the last couple of years. Corban was the only kid rockin' noise canceling earmuffs and lots of random ppl came up and wanted pics of him. Others gave us the thumbs up. It was awesome. Daddy worked his tail off making shaved ice for the masses. He is such a hard worker. Proud of him.