calm

As my friend and I sat watching the children run roam and climb around the area my friend commented that I'm so calm as they are doing things that would cause her to panic.  People often tell me I'm calm but this was the first time someone identified specifically what I'm calm about.  It's true I let my kids climb and do things many parents don't let them do.  But I try to not let them sass or be mean.  I come down on them when they hurt other people or are rude.   I wasn't at all calm today after I'd told lP we were leaving the pool and she jumped back in. 

If the kids get hurt, I know a magical place where people can fix just about anything.  But if my kids act like monsters, that's on me.  I ask them "Do I look like the kind of mom that is going to just let you act like that?"  B has a lovely habit of saying "Yes mom" and "No mom" so appropriately. 

LP has a bad habit of complaining.  We're working on it.  She'll complain that I did something wrong and I'll say "Is that how you're going to get it fixed?"  or "Do you think talking like that is going to make me want to help you?"  And as soon as she asks like a kind child, I'm very eager to help her out.  It's a process...

intercoastal

We went on a walk with my friend who lives by the intercoastal.  The breeze was strong and the temperature was perfect.  We found this nice grassy area with an amazing tree.  It was a wonderful way to spend an evening.  I'm so grateful to live in this beautiful place and know people full of such grace.

I love living here.

new van

Did I mention we have a new van?  It's pretty cool to have all the big kids in the back row because there are 3 shoulder belts back there.  And with this car, the middle row seats turn around.  So it's a big, loud party back there.  And I fixed the movie players, yes, there are movie players, for $20 instead of $1000.  So when we're on a longer trip, like 2 hours, I turn the little ones around so they can watch a movie.

It's also nice that the space between the driver's seat and the middle seats can function as semi-permanent storage for spare shoes and diaper bags.  And the area between all the kids feet stays less messy.  It's easier to clean out somehow when the seats are facing each other.  The kids really like the new van and feel like it is very fancy.  Heck!  So do I.

baby whisperer

P is very good at baby training.  He trained B and L to go to sleep to counting.  He frequently took an inconsolable baby from me and counted them to sleep.  Now he has another routine that is amazing.
We have scriptures and prayer at 8.  M and P brush teeth and go to their room.  G does his online math class.  B and L watch 2 episodes of Signing Time.  B gets a diaper and prayer, goes to bed.  L gets a bottle and watches the "My Day" episode of Signing time with the lights off, and he goes to sleep.  I am so amazed at P's ability to create routine and structure in a real way for the children.  I am even able to duplicate these results because of P's good teaching of them and me! 

The cat came back

I took a sudden trip out to visit family.  It was cool to visit and go places without worrying about the kids safety and entertainment.  But I missed them a lot and by the end of my visit I was falling apart.

The fun things I did were several family picnics and seeing folks I hadn't seen for years.  I also got to go to Bridal Veil Falls and just enjoy the place without worrying about keeping kids safe.  I wandered Ikea and got lost without anyone crying. 

P was able to take some time off to parent 24/7.  He took the kids to the library, museums, a tour of Everbank field, the natural history museum, the Lightner museum, the Governor's house, the GRM nature center, and the Moma!  He also fed them every day!  At each of these locations P had the children answer questions that he later used to have them solve the puzzle of when I was coming home.  He's so awesome.

Now that I'm home I find the children are so willing to help out.  They are loud, but not fighting so much.  They also put themselves to sleep.  It's strange and wonderful.  I need to spend more time hugging them.

When they picked me up from the airport L wouldn't get close to me.  He was mad I think.  He's come around now and I can be more grateful for all his love and attention.