I will never....

Before you have kids, you think you know everything.  I would always say, if that was my kid Id beat the crap out of them or oh no way my kid will ever act that way.   I would also say, look I dont know anything, I dont have kids, but I do know a thing or too, its kind of common sense.

We have all said it. 
When I have kids, I will never do XYZ.  For example.....

I will never co-sleep with my kids.  I kept to this.  For the first month, they slept in the pack-play in our room.  After that first month, they were in their own room, in their own cribs.On the rare occasion, I would feed them, fall asleep but then Id wake, realize what I did and put them back to bed.  Now am I saying they will never sleep with me if they have a nightmare or if its once in a blue moon? No, but I refuse to have a 6-yr old in bed with me because that is what they know.

I will never baby talk.  I goo-gooed and gah-agahhd for a min.  Then I would snap out of it and realize I sound like a retard.  I talk to my kids like I talk to anyone else, like a person.

I will not use a pacifier.  Lets face it, it happens.  Cole is the only one who used one since Elyse's thumb was attached to her face when she was tired.  Good thing though, he only used it when he slept.  The day he turned 1, they all went in the trash.  No exceptions.  He did not need it and it was not a big deal.

I will never cook 2 separate meals for the kids.  I need routine.  The kids need routine.  Because of this, they eat as close to 630 as possible.  If dinner that Im making isnt ready, grilled cheese and veggies it is.  I dont feel bad about it for one minute.  Now if dinner is ready, they eat what I eat.  If they dont want it, they dont eat.  When they get up from the table, I ask if they are finished.  If they say yes, the plate is gone. So do I make 2 meals, yes, more than I like to admit but at least they eat and dont ask for separate meals.  (IE going to 4 drive-thrus to get what everyone wants..EFF THAT , you eat where we go or you dont eat, simple as that)

I will never ignore screams.  Ahh, this is tough.  There is a difference in screams and if you have a kid you know what I mean.  If I hear that I go running.  If its not one of 'those' screams, I tune it out.  I have no problem letting them throw a fit on the floor. People look at me like Im crazy but hey , my kid isnt screaming bloody murder in the store (eeek yet)

I will not curse in front of my kids.  I should have known that wouldnt happen.  Im a sailor and drop F-Bombs all the time.  I really need to quit it, I have2 parrots that follow me everywhere. That and its embarrassing when I stub my toe in public and all I hear from the cart is "Oh Shit, mommy you ok?" 

I will not let the TV babysit my kids.  I dont have a problem with TV.  I love TV.  I do have a problem with parents who plant the kids in front of it for hours upon hours so they dont have to deal with them.  Do I do it?  Sure.  Ill pop in Dora or a Elmo movie so I can finish dinner or do the dishes or some other mundane chore that has to be done and I need them away for a few.  When thats done, we go play.  I dont use it as a 8-hour babysitter, just 20 minutes here and there.  Thats ok right?

I will not give my kids candy.  For the first year, I stuck to this.  No sweets.  I got so mad at my mom one time for giving them a sip of a shake that I cried. It was my rule and I didnt want it broken.  Since then, they eat candy.  They eat ice cream.  They eat cake.  They eat it all, but in moderation and not every day. If they eat all of their dinner, why cant they have (literally) a spoonful of ice cream?  They dont get it daily so I dont see the harm.  Im not gonna lie, M&Ms are great bribes, so are snow cones.  :)

Anyway, we all have said it in the past.  When I have kids, blah blah blah.  Reality is, you really dont have a clue what you will and wont do until you have kids.  Ive stuck to my guns but have loosened the grip.  Im sure there is someone out there who will give me a disapproving look but oh well. All I can do is do the best I can and hope I dont screw up to much.

What are some things that you said youd never do?

Kids say the darnedest things

The kids give me constant entertainment.  Sometimes the things they say make me go huh? and then make me laugh.

For instance

Cole: Mom, go away
Me: Where do you want me to go?
Cole: I dont know (in a very high pitched i DONT KNOW sound like hes questioning something in his head)

Elyse (Shrieking in the back of the car)
Me: Hey, thats enough
Elyse: Hey is for horses
Me: (In my head) Huh?  I wasnt expecting that

While walking to the car through the sprinklers
Cole: Water
Me: Yes sweetie come on
Cole: Its raining
Me: No its the sprinklers
Cole: No its RAINING (then he begins to dance)

Daddy: Where did you get that?
Elyse:  Its not your business
And so it begins.

This happens nightly.
Elyse is playing in their room.
Cole is in the living room.
Me: Cole, heres your cup, can you take this to Elyse?
Cole: Yes mommy.
He then runs to the door yelling "Elyse Elyse Elyse"
He drops to his knees and yells "Im coming Elyse, IM COMING" as he wiggles his fingers under the door.
He then opens the door, hands her whatever it was (usually her cup) and says "Here", leaves and shuts the door.
He then repeats.
In living room, yells "Elyse", runs to door while yelling "Im coming Im coming", kneels down, wiggles his fingers under the door, stands up, opens door then says "Hi Elyse" then closes the door. And repeat.

And finally, this was yesterday on the drive home.
Elyse: Mommy
Me: What baby
Elyse: I dont want to go home
Me: Ok where do you want to go
Elyse: Go bye bye
Me: To where
Elyse: To get donuts
Me: Why donuts?
Elyse: I take donuts to pool
Me: Ok sweetie
Silence
Elyse: Mommy
Me: Yes baby
Elyse: I need ice cream
Me: Giggles, Ok baby
Elsye: Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Wordless Wednesday

He orchestrates the circus,

as she eyes the cotton candy.

The Greatest Show on Earth

We did it. We went to the circus. With two 2-yr olds.  And they LOVED it.

Here's a recap.
Im not sure how much they understood, but the whole drive there, the two kept saying "Going to circus, see elephants, going to circus, see elephants"  They seemed really excited to go,even if they had no idea what the circus was.

 We got there early so we went down to the floor to watch the pre-show.  Cole freaked out and wouldnt let go of anyone.  Elyse was ecstatic and kept pointing and saying "Look, whoaaaaaaaaaa, Look"  This is her impersonating the elephants.

(Use your imagination since you cant hear her making the noise)

Im not sure what it is about glow sticks, but they will keep my kids entertained for a long time.

I dont know about you, but when I think circus I think of clowns and cotton candy. Consider dinner spoiled.

They stared intently at the show, even if they wouldnt sit in their chairs 100% of the time.

And of course more cotton candy and some popcorn

Cole was super excited about the elephants, especially the baby elephants.

When they left the arena, he kept yelling "Bye bye baby elephants, bye bye"

They were my favorite too.

Im so glad we got to spend the day having so much fun, even if it ended with sugar rushes.
Who says you cant eat cotton candy for dinner?