The children and I visited the National Harbor after getting my son from sleepaway camp. One of the main reasons that we headed over there was to check out the new National Children’s Museum that had opened up, or so I thought. Unfortunately for us, they still had not officially opened up. The girl told us that they were going to have a workshop soon in a bit.
While we waited, we went to check out the man who is coming out of the Earth. This was something that I remember when I was a kid, so I am glad that my children are also able to experience this amazing sculpture that is part of my childhood memories.
After we left out of there, we headed to get some gelato. Cebastian got strawberry; Isabelle got lemonade; and I got french-vanilla cappuccino.
It was time for us to go to the National Children’s Museum for the class. It turned out to be about fireflies. If you don’t know already, fireflies are disappearing. There is a program called Ready, Set, GLOW to teach children about how fireflies are going extinct and enlist their assistance.
“Ready, Set, Glow! has its origins in NCM’s commitment to creating experiences that engage kids with the outdoors in fun and exciting ways. NCM Manager of Science Programs, Linda Coulombe, participated in a meeting hosted by the Museum of Science, Boston to discuss ways in which the National Children’s Museum could collaborate in the public dimension of anentomological research project led by Fitchburg State College and Tufts University. With the help of the Museum of Science, Boston, the research would result in a Citizen scientist project.”
Cebastian decided to go to the reading station, while Isabelle and I created portrait of fireflies flying in the night. We learned that male fireflies are the ones who fly around to attract the female ones who are on the ground. They only live one week, so their whole purpose is to procreate. They want to have children try and find fireflies at night. If they do see them, they want them to count how many they see. Children would use these special tracking sheets, and then upload the completed ones to the Museum of Science in Boston.
I am definitely going to have my children participate in this effort. If they are part of volunteering in helping the Earth, then maybe they will make have more of an initiative to make a difference when they are adults.
Parenting is trial and error. You try and figure out what works and what doesn’t. Since I was pregnant with my first born, I have read every parenting book that has come out. I wanted to make sure that I was the best possible mother. As every parent, there have been mistakes that I have made, but I learned from them and tried to not repeat them again.
My sister called this morning saying that she is really upset with my ten-year old niece. She reprimanded her about something, and my niece started talking back and slamming things. Her fiancee and her told my niece to stop, and she kept doing it. My sister spanked her and my niece started yelling at her. She is sending her to sleepaway camp with equestrian lessons, and then throwing her a birthday party when she returns. I told her to cancel the birthday party because it’s too late to cancel the camp. She hesitated.
“Should I?”
“YES!”
She said that she knows I am right, but she would lose $100. I told her to lose the money, and make my niece pay for it doing extra chores and not getting her a birthday present. My sister said that she asked my daughter Isabelle, who is at her house, the following question:
“Do you know why Kayla got in trouble?”
“Yes, cause she talked back to her mommy,” Isabelle answered.
“Do you think that is bad?”
“Yes! Cebastian and I NEVER talk back to mommy because we would get in TONS of trouble.”
She said that she sees how different Cebastian and Isabelle are compared to her children, now that they are with her. My sister has never watched my kids. This is the first time she has ever had the with her for longer than a day, so she is finally seeing the differences on how her kids behave and mine. My niece and nephew don’t help her clean, talk back, and don’t respect her the way they should. Even with this, she gives them whatever they want and defends them when they are rude. When they are with me, they don’t act the same way. I used to think it was because children usually behave one way with their parents than they do with others, but it’s cause they no that I don’t play.
I told my sister that she needs to understand that she is not doing her children any justice by giving them everything they want, even when they don’t deserve it. If I were her, I would make that girl realize how it would be if she didn’t have everything that she has now. I know that I am a strict parent, but I want my children to not be brats, now and in the future. I hope my sister learns that as well and stops spoiling her children.
Today was Cebastian’s Cupcake Party to say goodbye to his last days of First grade. Tomorrow is Isabelle’s Kindergarten graduation, and she will be heading to Cebastian’s school. I know that before the week is over, I am going to cry knowing that my children are one day not going to be children. They will one day be adults and have their own families and lives.
I have always been overprotective of my children, so I don’t know how I am going to let them go. I wonder if I am going to be the meddling mother who is always trying to tell them what to do, even when they are 50. Eventually, I will have to though and hope that I gave them the skills to be functioning adults. My paranoia with something happening to them is over extreme, so I am not sure how I will do this.
Scary thing happened yesterday that tested this:
I come to my son’s babysitter house, and I see him crying outside her door saying that no one was home. Her kids weren’t on the bus either. I called her and emailed her saying that I will make sure she never watches children again. It’s sad that this woman is a mother and is so inconsiderate. However, my sister says that maybe something happened to her, so I should call the police. I am still debating cause I don’t want to waste the police’s time on checking up on this woman, and finding out she was just being negligent.
This situation stressed me out because all the “what-if” scenarios that ran through my head. Someone could have taken him or he could have gotten hurt. Luckily he did what I always told him and just sit where everyone can watch him and not move.
I think I am overly paranoid and protective of my children, but they are my everything: my companions, my true loves, my happiness, and I can keep going. My life without them would have no meaning.
Cebastian and Isabelle,
I know that one day I will have to let you go, so that is why I am now living in the present and not thinking about the past or future. I want you to know that having you has been the best part of my life. Life before you didn’t exist. I will always love and be proud of you.
When do you introduce your significant other to your child(ren)? I have only had two people meet my children: First, was someone I knew for over a year, and we dated for nine months or so; and second was someone I dated for three years, and the kids still know. I have a huge issue with my ex. Every time he meets someone, he has them around my children. He is now on the tenth one.
This morning while I was getting the kids and I ready for school/work, my daughter says, “Hope is really nice.”
“Who’s that?”
“She is daddy’s new friend.”
I was ready to scream. This guy doesn’t know when to quit. He only has the kids four days out of the month, and he doesn’t even bother to see them more than that. You would think that he could just tell her that he will see her the 26 days out of the month when he pretends he is a 22-year old man. No, seems he can’t.
I wrote him right when I got into work:
“Just heard from the kids today that you have another girl around them. I am sick of it. This is the 10th girl, and it needs to stop. Unless you are going to marry this girl, and you have been dating her for over six months, I don’t want her around my children. I don’t want Cebastian to turn out like you, and I don’t want Isabelle thinking it’s ok for men to do that”
He ignored my IM because he is going to continue to do it.
I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel that this will cause some issues with the children later when it comes to their future relationships because of this man not being able to think with the right head. How do I make him realize that having every random girl you date around your children isn’t healthy for them?
I usually wait six months before introducing someone to my children, and now that I am thinking marriage, I won’t unless we have discussed being together for the rest of your lives. I hope that one day my ex realizes that this is the best policy.
Last night I was sleeping and dreaming about winning a race when I start hearing, “Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy…” At first, I thought it was part of the dream. There is no way that someone would interrupt this wondrous moment. After another few minutes of this mommy chant, I open one eye to see my son standing next to the bed. He kept going, and then I finally said, “WHAT!” He stops. Finally after a few seconds, he responds.
“Can you move over?”
I moved over. If it weren’t for the fact that I was half asleep, I probably wouldn’t have been as nice as I was.
How do kids have the stamina to keep repeating the same word over and over again? I don’t even think they breathe when they are doing this? I wonder what would happen if I kept repeating my kids’ names over and over again. Would they also try and ignore it before finally yelling “WHAT!?” Or would they respond in a calm and collected manner?
All I know is that as much as any parent tries to not yell at their kids, whenever they begin the mommy or daddy chant, a parent loses any composure he/she thinks he/she has.
