Comments on: At least it is spring. http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/ Tue, 22 May 2012 22:40:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Amanda http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/comment-page-1/#comment-37820 Amanda Sat, 24 Mar 2007 00:12:37 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/#comment-37820 In my house growing up, that time was referred to as "arsenic hour." It does, does, does get easier. Not for a while. But it does. As the oldest of 12 kids who spent my teenagehood as a stay-at-home-mom in many ways, the best antidote to crazy is socialization. Call people. Talk to grownups. Call someone who will say hi to M on the phone and then chat yourself while carrying the meeping baby around (how cute is "meep"?) So this is all unsolicited advise from a snot-nosed 24 year old, so feel free to feel if I'm too big for my britches, but here's one more thing. You know the phrase "a tired dog is a good dog"? It applies to toddlers and preschoolers. Is there something particularly physical you can get M interested in before this scary 4 o'clock time? A little rebounder for bouncing? Jumping on the bed? Racing her imaginary friend around the backyard? (do you have a backyard? I seem to remember a War of The Root or something but I might be hallucinating) Are you "wearing" L? I know a good back-sling can work wonders for the never-ending carrying. Also, can you stand to involve M in dinner-making? "Dump this, stir that, can you grab mommy the frying pan?" This is one way I dealt with whiny I AM HUUUUUUUUNGRY pre-schoolers. They feel important and they also have physical evidence in their own hands that dinner is coming. I am also a huge fan of the carrots and wheat thins trick. They aren't very filling, but they can 1.) Be chewed on, satisfying the DEATHLY HUNGER of the minute 2.) Involve going in the mouth, which involves shutting up. Which I am about to do. Shut up, I mean. keep going, rockstar. In my house growing up, that time was referred to as “arsenic hour.”

It does, does, does get easier. Not for a while. But it does. As the oldest of 12 kids who spent my teenagehood as a stay-at-home-mom in many ways, the best antidote to crazy is socialization. Call people. Talk to grownups. Call someone who will say hi to M on the phone and then chat yourself while carrying the meeping baby around (how cute is “meep”?)

So this is all unsolicited advise from a snot-nosed 24 year old, so feel free to feel if I’m too big for my britches, but here’s one more thing. You know the phrase “a tired dog is a good dog”? It applies to toddlers and preschoolers. Is there something particularly physical you can get M interested in before this scary 4 o’clock time? A little rebounder for bouncing? Jumping on the bed? Racing her imaginary friend around the backyard? (do you have a backyard? I seem to remember a War of The Root or something but I might be hallucinating)

Are you “wearing” L? I know a good back-sling can work wonders for the never-ending carrying.

Also, can you stand to involve M in dinner-making? “Dump this, stir that, can you grab mommy the frying pan?” This is one way I dealt with whiny I AM HUUUUUUUUNGRY pre-schoolers. They feel important and they also have physical evidence in their own hands that dinner is coming. I am also a huge fan of the carrots and wheat thins trick. They aren’t very filling, but they can

1.) Be chewed on, satisfying the DEATHLY HUNGER of the minute
2.) Involve going in the mouth, which involves shutting up.

Which I am about to do. Shut up, I mean.

keep going, rockstar.

]]> By: Deirdre http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/comment-page-1/#comment-37757 Deirdre Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:38:27 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/#comment-37757 Number two is almost a year old ... and I'm still waiting for the "easy." I don't cook most nights. Number two is almost a year old … and I’m still waiting for the “easy.”

I don’t cook most nights.

]]> By: DS-L http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/comment-page-1/#comment-37750 DS-L Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:06:35 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/#comment-37750 Two is WAY more work -- 3 put me over the parenting edge! :) Kidding -- but after 4:00 is certainly lunacy in my house too! My boys are older so we have books on tape. I pop them in while I cook and let the J meister wander the kitchen. Also we have LOTS of outdoor time from 3 until 4 or 4:30 so they are tired. It does get easier and easier. Then they hit 2! DS-L Two is WAY more work — 3 put me over the parenting edge! :) Kidding — but after 4:00 is certainly lunacy in my house too! My boys are older so we have books on tape. I pop them in while I cook and let the J meister wander the kitchen. Also we have LOTS of outdoor time from 3 until 4 or 4:30 so they are tired. It does get easier and easier. Then they hit 2!
DS-L

]]> By: 3cmum http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/comment-page-1/#comment-37746 3cmum Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:59:37 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/#comment-37746 My girl will be just 6 when we go to China this summer (we are Nov 7LID) and the difficulties of 1 vs 2 is exactly what I am dreading most. And the evenings..These tips are great..and any solutions you come up, do post!! I too am going on faith that I know there is an end in sight. My girl will be just 6 when we go to China this summer (we are Nov 7LID) and the difficulties of 1 vs 2 is exactly what I am dreading most. And the evenings..These tips are great..and any solutions you come up, do post!!
I too am going on faith that I know there is an end in sight.

]]> By: Krickett http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/comment-page-1/#comment-37742 Krickett Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:20:14 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/03/22/test/#comment-37742 I agree with Parodie - crockpot it. You can even buy decent frozen crockpot dinners now. Open the bag and throw it in and forget about it. I remember after my daughter was born, I'd put her to bed and assemble lazagna. Put it in the fridge and pop it in the oven the next day for dinner. When I actually wanted to cook I had to put my daughter in one of those swing contraptions. I have a LID of 3/14/06. Estimate is by Christmas we will be going to China. My daughter will be six. Sometimes I wonder if I'm up to starting it all over again.... I agree with Parodie – crockpot it. You can even buy decent frozen crockpot dinners now. Open the bag and throw it in and forget about it. I remember after my daughter was born, I’d put her to bed and assemble lazagna. Put it in the fridge and pop it in the oven the next day for dinner.

When I actually wanted to cook I had to put my daughter in one of those swing contraptions.

I have a LID of 3/14/06. Estimate is by Christmas we will be going to China. My daughter will be six. Sometimes I wonder if I’m up to starting it all over again….

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