The Ministry of Motherhood (Week 2)

Dog ate my homework? My sister spilled her milk on my paper? My printer ran out of ink when I went to print my assignment this morning? (my favorite.) I loved the reasons why my kiddos didn't have their papers and projects done on time. I tried to give them some grace knowing that I'm not always perfect and some things happen that are out of our control. So I'm guilty this time. I ordered the book on half.com the day after Jess informed me of the book club, it shipped last week, but it's not here yet. So, I've kept up with the scripture reading, but will have to play catch up with the book reading. Shoot!


I have been very encouraged with the scripture reading. I LOVE that it is one or two verses a day to digest. I tend to be the type to read the entire [insert type of document here] and then don't give myself time to process thus learning and remembering very little.

In week one I was especially drawn to the verse in 2 Timothy 1: 5 where Paul is reassured by Timothy's ability to lead because his grandmother and mother have such a sincere faith that they have passed down to Timothy. I really, REALLY can have a huge impact on the lineage Kipp and I have created. Sometimes I just naively think Little Belle will turn out just fine if I have all of my parenting tricks up my sleeve ready to be whipped out in time of need. I know in my head how important it is for me to set a good example, and that my everyday language, choices, and reactions are what will primarily make or break a great lineage.

The subsequent verses in our daily reading have been about some part of this concept that it's really MY character that will influence the character of my children. "Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." Well, some days I don't want Little Belle to be like her teacher (me), and that's no good. "A wise woman builds her house with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." I don't want to be foolish! "Her children arise and calls her blessed; her husband also praises her." Whoa. I want my kids to look back on their experience "under my wing" and be encouraged by the type of woman that raised them.

And, this type of woman is wise. These verses about being wise were in perfect timing with a sermon at church that discussed what it meant to be wise.
--Pure
--Peace-loving
--Considerate
--Submissive
--Merciful/good fruit
--Impartial
--Sincere

This is great. Sometimes I think of a wise person as being insanely smart. A person doesn't have to be smart to be able to love people impartially. To treat all people with dignity and respect and truly love them despite what they bring to the table.

Remember Jessica at Who Left the Light On? is also reading through the study and posting her thoughts. In the words of Mamma Odie in Princess and the Frog (yeah, I've seen it once or twice), "Oooooo, this is gone be goooooood!"

Book It! : Bossypants by Tina Fey

I finished another book on my list of books to finish before 2012. Bossypants by Tina Fey was an excellent and quick read. I love comedy, and I especially love women in comedy. Molly Shannon has always been my favorite simply because of her light-hearted, goofy characters. However, Kristin Wig, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey are also on my list of favorites.
The overall theme of Tina's book was women in the "bossypants" role. She wrote about her experiences as a woman in comedy at The Second City in Chicago, then at SNL, and finally as the producer and creator of 30 Rock. Throughout her autobiography she comically touches on women and some of the junk we have to deal with as far as image goes. She writes this about photoshop: "Do I think photoshop is being used excessively? Yes. I saw Madonna's Louis Vuitton ad and honestly, at first glance, I thought it was Gwen Stefani's baby."

And, she also touches on being a working mom. Here is the advice she gives about getting "me time":
-Go to the bathroom a lot
-Offer to empty the dishwasher
-Take ninety-minute showers. (If you only shower every three or four days, it will be easier to get away with this.)
-Say you're going to look for the diaper creme, then go into your child's room and just stand there until your spouse comes in and curtly says, "What are you doing?"
-Stand over the sink and eat the rest of your child's dinner while he or she pulls at your pant leg asking for it back.
-Try to establish that you're the only one in your family allowed to go to the post office.
-"Sleep when your baby sleeps." Everyone knows this classic tip, but I say why stop there? Scream when your baby screams. Take Benadryl when your baby takes Benadryl. And, walk around pantless when your baby walks around pantless.
-Read! When your baby is finally down for the night, pick up a juicy book like Eat, Pray, Love or Pride and Prejudice, or my personal favorite Understanding Sleep Disorders: Narcolepsy and Apnea; A Clinical Study. Taking some time to read each night really taught me how feign narcolepsy when my husband asked me what my "plan" was for taking down the Christmas tree.

The Ministry of Motherhood: an online book club (who knew?)

I've been trying to figure out how I can host a book club during the day and without kids. Kind of impossible. Last summer a couple of friends came over during the afternoon. Our girls napped upstairs while we discussed Same Kind of Different as Me. It was great, but probably not likely to happen again this summer.

When Jessica from Who Left the Light On? contacted me about this online "book club", I was thrilled. Perfect timing. We'll be reading through The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson and looking at some scripture that kind of goes along with the reading. I'm excited to be held accountable to read scripture and process it, read the book and blog about it, and ultimately grow as a mom, person, and daughter of the King. You all know that this stay-at-home mom gig wasn't what I had in mind, but the journey that we've gone through as a family has really been rewarding.

I love this: If you feel like a hamster on a wheel–you’re running, but you’re not getting anywhere–then The Ministry of Motherhood is for you! Sally Clarkson inspires us to step off that wheel and parent with purpose, not by adding something else to our hectic schedules but by bringing God into everything we do. With down-to-earth, practical examples, she shows us how we, too, can build disciples as we reach our children’s hearts. A very encouraging and easy-to-read book!
–Sheila Wray Gregoire, author of To Love, Honor, and Vacuum

You can read on Jess's blog that Good Morning Girls is hosting this lovely book club. Feel free to join in with comments, etc.! It's always great to come together and grow as women and moms.

I need a glass of wine (no, not WHINE)

At least it's after lunch.

And, the sad part is I was without Little Belle for 4 hours this mornings, but the MINUTE she sees me it's like she flips on her whiny switch. People who watch her tell me she's so sweet and listens and I'm SO thankful for that, but why do I get the short end of the stick? Me. The one who makes sure her snack cup is full, her drink is cold, and her toys are fun all the while looking like I just ran a marathon (which is how I feel).

I'm exhausted.

It seems like just about every other aspect of parenting I have had such confidence in what to do. If she is about to hurt herself or someone else (or does hurt someone else which rarely happens), we go to the chart, talk about the characteristics and if it continues she gets spanked (yep, we do that.) Or if it's blatant disobedience we do the same thing. But, with whining I canNOT come up with a consequence that will help it to stop. I don't feel justified in spanking her when she whines (although I'm to the point where I'm open to that idea). So, I've put her in a timeout. Last week she put HERSELF in a timeout. So, that must be affective. I've put her in her room, and she just screamed and screamed. I put her in her bed telling her she must be so tired if she's whining, and that was 2 hours ago. She's still up there kicking her bed, jumping in her bed, and making herself gag (seriously, who does that?).

And, let me describe the whining. It's not like she's whining to GET something. She's literally talking in a whiny voice. So, the obvious is to not give her something when she asks in a whiny voice, but that's not always the case. Sometimes she talks in a whiny voice and then smirks because she knows it drives me nuts.

I talk with her about whining like she's one of my 7th graders, so that clearly isn't going to register with her little 2 year old brain. It sure makes me feel better though, because I just pretend like she's comprehending all that I say.

With all of that said, I'm looking for ANY advice or tips to help me deal with this road block in parenting. I've been praying about it and praying about it, and it's time I solicit some advice from other moms (or dads) who have done something that seems to work. I know all kids are different, but I just need another tool to at least try.

Tot Trays

I love this "tot tray" idea found here, here, and here.

We started with our first tray today using beans ($1.20 for a small bag), some big cups, and small cups. First we worked on pouring (with the ultimate goal to be able to pour water without spilling) between the bigger cups. We then worked on pouring between the little cups. Finally, we poured between a big cup and a little cup. Little Belle did pretty well, but didn't quite catch on to concept that pouring from the big cup to the little cup means ALL of the beans don't go in, because the little cup doesn't hold as much as the big one. Good skills to learn!

We also did a little counting by putting the beans on that number sheet. We usually use raisins and then eat them, but beans worked just as well.



Then I got an ice cube tray and Little Belle put beans in the little holes using a spoon.




Little Belle came up with this activity all on her own. : ) Not sure what skill it's working on, but it was pretty funny. She held the ice cube tray on her head like a hat and then spooned beans into the holes. Now that's talent!



Overall, this was a great activity that kept us busy for 30-45 minutes. It was cheap, and Olivia liked being able to manipulate the beans (and sometimes making an intentional mess, but, hey, they're beans...not too messy).

Kid's Clothes Week Challenge

Elsie Marley is hosting a Kid's Clothes Week Challenge. She asks us to sew ONE HOUR per day for our kids. If you're anything like me, you have TONS of sewing "wants" on the docket. Unfortunately, the idea (and sometimes the supplies) is about as far as I get. It's time to finish up all of those started projects, and attempt some new ones in my crafty folder.

First Up: Dana's Warhol Dress

 

over at MADE
The Goodnow Hall t-shirt has a lot of memories for us. My husband worked there when we met, it was our first "home" as a married couple (someone arranged to put a sign in each window of the 6 story building that read "Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke when we got home from our wedding), and it's the "home" we brought our Little Belle to after she was born. I won't wear this t-shirt, but it's sure special that Little Belle can. I attempted this dress, but it didn't gather as much as it needed to on the top. I need to fix that and shorten it before she wears it.

And, I'd like to make another one out of this Cookie Monster shirt.

2nd: Diaper Cover (again, over at MADE)
Little Belle doesn't wear a diaper anymore (Yippeee!), but she still needs an occasionally diaper cover to hide all of those Dora's on her undies. I need a white one.

3rd: Lazy Days Skirt (free pattern from oliver + s)

4th: Dahlia Headband on kojodesigns

5th: The J.Crew inspired ruffly dress on kojodesigns

I'm going to stick to 5 things on my list to get done. As a beginner sewer things take me a bit longer than originally anticipated. BUT, if I get done with these projects. There are some others I'd like to try.
Big Girl's Romper
Dana's 90-minute shirt (I swear I've had these materials for almost a year now.)
The Shirt Dress I made one last year, but it didn't quite turn out the way I anticipated. I'm hoping for better luck on the second one.

If you're feeling ambitious. Sew along with the rest of us!

Categorizing

Isn't it a wonder why young adults categorize each other into "groups" when as children we encourage categorization? For example, I came up with this activity for Olivia to complete today. I sectioned off a basic piece of printer paper into four spaces. Then using my books of stickers (because ALL teachers have stickers, right?)I had Little Belle categorize various stickers. We started with the basic smiley face sticker and categorized by color. Then we branched out to animals, bugs, and finally ended with types of balls.
She loved playing with stickers, and categorizing ITEMS is a good skill to develop, I suppose.