Archive for April, 2009
PDX Mamas
Hello,
I’m back from my blogation with some great resources for all of you wonderful Portland mamas. Enjoy this beautiful place we call home… (and please check back often, as I will add resources from time to time).
Childcare Info
Oregon Child Care Resource and Referral Network
Cloth Diapers/Diaper Services
Sweet Peas Diaper Service (Bend)
Tidee Didee Diaper Service (Portland)
Coupons
Education
Metro Parent’s Education & Enrichment Fair (November)
Family Friendly Restaurants
The Old Spaghetti Factory (3 locations)
Papa’s Pizza Parlor (6 locations)
Local Parenting Publications
Local Directories & Parenting Websites
Redirect Guide Portland/Vancouver
Places to Go & Things to Do
Green Sprouts Organic Baby and Family Fest (September)
Imago Theater’s “Big Little Things”
Metro Salmon Festival at Oxbow Park (October)
Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
Oregon State Fair (August)
Portland’s Downtown Fountain Walking Tour
Providence Bridge Pedal (August)
Support Groups & Organizations
Spring “Blogation”
Dear Readers,
I am taking a vacation from my blog this week in honor of TV Turnoff Week, April 20th-26th. Please join me! Visit the Center for Screentime Awareness for more information.
See you next week!
Sincerely,
Michelle
P.S. Some other resources to inspire you:
Kids & Commercialism brochures and info by New American Dream
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
Unplugged Play: No Batteries, No Plugs, Pure Fun by Bobbi Connor
Out of the Mouths of Babes
My 4-year-old daughter seems to be contemplating some very mature concepts (such as growing older, death, and dying) these days. It has led to some delightful discussions of late, although I feel that I’m always walking the fine line of providing just the right amount of information without overwhelming her or causing excess worry.
Here are some of my favorite recent questions/quotes:
1. “Why is the sky up?”
I may have been prepared for the notorious, “Why is the sky blue?” question, but why IS the sky up!? It must have something to do with gravity? Hmmmm? “Go ask Daddy!”
2. “When I get older, will I be your Mommy?”
Well, maybe so!
3. “Who made the first dinosaur?”
My lame response to the above question was “I don’t really know. Maybe God?” which led to this follow-up comment that is just precious:
4. “Mommy, that’s silly. The dinosaurs would eat God.”
I love it!
5. “When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina or a fire truck.”
Not a firefighter, mind you, but a fire TRUCK!
6. “How old was I when you married Daddy?”
I actually knew the answer to this one!
7. “Can we get a dog when our cats die?”
Yes dear, but we will miss our kitties, right?
8. “When I grow up, I’m going to buy the house next door, so I will always be near you and you can visit my kids every day!”
That was so sweet…I hope she does!
9. My daughter recently stepped on an ant outside ON PURPOSE and I (trying to instill some humane education) said something like, “Oh poor ant! What if his Mommy & Daddy are waiting for him to come home?” Without batting an eye, her response was:
“Well, they’ll be waiting a long time because he’s dead and dead is forever!”
I guess I have my work cut out for me.
10. And my absolute favorite:
“Mommy, who will I marry when I grow up?” I said something like, “It depends on who you fall in love with when you grow up.” Her response, “Well then, I want to marry Aunt Leonna (my sister).”
What can I say? My daughter has great taste!
Be Well, Michelle
Mommy List # 3: When You Feel Like “Losing It”
10 Things To Try Instead
1. Ask for support. Call a friend or, better yet, tell your spouse, “Tag, You’re It!”
2. Get on the “same team” with your child. (“You don’t like cleaning up. I don’t really like cleaning up either. What can we do to make this more fun?”)
3. Location, location, location. Tell your child, “If you want to (fill in the blank), that’s okay, but you’ll have to go to (fill in the blank) to do that.”
4. Take a break. Tell your child that YOU need a “time out”…and then take one.
5. Take a breather. Inhale deeply…and breathe out LOUDLY.
6. Be a good role-model. Tell your child how you are feeling and how you are going to cope with your feelings (“I am really, really, frustrated, and I’m going to take a walk around the block until I feel better.”)
7. Offer to help your child. Tell your child, “As soon as you (calm down/be quiet/give the toy back/etc.), I can help you (figure this out/solve the problem/find something else fun to do/etc.).
8. Tell your child a funny story…”Once upon a time, there was a very naughty princess who would never listen to her Mommy…”
9. Offer two alternatives. “No, you can’t have cookies for dinner. You can have mac & cheese with peas or a PBJ sandwich with carrots”
10. Go ahead and lose it….sort of. PRETEND to throw a fit. Stomp your feet, cross your arms, pout, and shriek “wah wah, boo hoo, no one is listening to Mommy…that’s not fair…” and so on. Be sure to exaggerate your motions and words so your child can tell you are pretending.
More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle
Activity Suggestions for April
Activity suggestions to share with your family this month….
In honor of International Children’s Book Day (April 2nd), collect new or gently used books to donate to children overseas. Go to the American Library Association website for more information and a list of participating organizations.
Color your Easter eggs with natural dyes made from teas, spices, berries, and more! See the Amazing Moms website for step-by-step instructions.
April 22nd is Earth Day 2009. Be an advocate for “greening” your child’s school. Check out the Earth Day Network for tips and resources.
Plan a garden with your child. Give them a small portion of the family garden to plant whatever they would like. For inspiration and tips, visit KidsGardening.org, a service of the National Gardening Association.
Happy “No Housework Day”
Remember, today is No Housework Day!!!
No dishes.
No laundry.
No floors.
No toilets, sinks, or showers.
No dusting.
No straightening.
No.
No.
No!
If you really MUST do something, get outside and work in the garden!
April Showers
“April showers bring forth May flowers” — Traditional
What’s coming up this month?
April 1st is All Fool’s Day
April 2nd is International Children’s Book Day
The theme for this year is “I am the World”
April 7th is No Housework Day (Sign me up!)
April 8th at Sunset — Passover begins
April 12th is Easter Sunday
April 22nd is Earth Day
April is also Keep America Beautiful Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and National Garden Month.
Books to share with your child this month:
April Fool’s Day by Melissa Schiller
Barefoot Book of Fairy Tales by Malachy Doyle
I Don’t Want to Clean My Room by Hope Vestergaard
Miriam’s Cup: A Passover Story by Fran Minushkin
Family Easter Treasury by Michael Hague
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales by Dawn Casey
Check back soon for activity suggestions for your family.
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