Where Have All the Nice People Gone?

My mommy rant for today...

I am a nice person, sometimes too nice.  I am always concerned about other people - what they think, how they are feeling, what might be beneficial to them - that I sometimes put my own wants/needs/feelings aside.  I think it was the way I was raised -- to be polite, considerate and to keep anything bad we have to say to ourselves -- and that has stuck with me all my life, but the older I get the more I am starting to realize that not everyone is as nice. 

I like to help others - to share and collaborate - without focussing on how it benefits me.  I like to go above and beyond when it comes to customer service, because I would hate for anyone to have anything negative to say about me and my store (that and customer service is extremely important to me!).  I want to make sure everyone is just plain happy with how things are going and would never purposely step on anyone's toes.

BUT  this way of 'being' doesn't seem to be the norm...people seem to be out for themselves, never seem to have anything nice to say to one another, forget to say "thank-you" - my list can go on and on...but the rant must stop somewhere!

After a few not-so-nice encounters with some 'not-so-nice' people, I think I have become jaded...so where have all the nice people gone?


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As a side note, I do know many wonderful people too...I guess I just had to get this off my chest!!  That's what rants are for :-)

It's Time to Get Organized!

Labour Day weekend seems to signal the end of summer even though it's officially not over. In our house, summertime is the time to just 'go with the flow'. We barbecue whatever we have for dinner, we stay outside all day and we just enjoy the weather as much as we can. Then September rolls around and all of a sudden I feel a panic to get back into some kind of schedule and to get organized. I will admit that I am a Virgo and should be organized, but in my home life, I am just the opposite. I need help!

As luck would have it, I met the most organized mama ever at our local indoor playground the other day. She was giving me pointers left, right and centre - so much so, I wanted to take her home with me and have her sort out my life. I was so in awe and impressed with how she organizes her home, her day and her family life that I just had to share some of her advice. To some of you this may be common sense, but if you are anything like me you may just learn a thing or two.

Some of her great tips included:

1. Try to get as much done the night before. For example, lay out next day's clothing for yourself and your kids, cut up fruits and veggies for the next day, make lunches, set the breakfast table, pack your day bag...just to name a few;
2. Do some simple meal planning, whether it be for the next few days, a week or for the month.  From this, create your grocery list and grocery shop once a week (on a set day if possible);
3. Once a week, take the time to de-clutter every drawer, toy box and closet in your house.  The less stuff, the less frazzled you might feel;
4. Put up a calendar in the busiest area of your house (read: kitchen) to keep track of your family's activities and appointments.

I can't tackle all of these tips at once, so my first step is to get as much done the night before.  Problem is it's almost 10 p.m. and I haven't even finished dishes from dinner...

Do you have any tips to share?

Kids...I mean Parents...Say the Darndest Thing

My best friend gave me My Quotable Kid: A Parents' Journal Of Unforgettable Quotes as part of a gift for my baby shower back in 2008.  I thought it was such a cute idea and was sure I would have plenty to fill it up with...and I have.  Nicholas has said some pretty funny things over the last couple of years - his signature saying is "that's so gooooood" (saying it with a funny accent). So this got me thinking...yes, it's great having a journal of funny things they are saying, but what about the things that I a) swore I would never say and b) can't believe these words are coming out of my mouth.  Is there a journal to keep a record of that?  Wouldn't it be so hilarious to read that one day when the kids are grown up? 

This journal may or may not exist, so I will share some of my personal favourites here.  Of course, I have the standard "I can't believe I am saying these things I swore I would never say!!!",  for example, "because I said so" and "don't talk with your mouth full".  

Then there are the things that make me wonder...
- "stop pretending your pee-pee is a gun and stop shooting your brother"
- "stop stepping in your poop!!!!"
- "stop touching your poop!!!"
- "get your finger out of your brother's nose, there's nothing in there"
- "don't eat the money"
- "don't splash me with your pee"
- "Alex, stop climbing the stove!!!"

I can probably add a new one to this list every day and they're the ones that I would like to remember, along with the silly things my kiddies say.

Have some to add?? Please share!

:: sonja

Potty Training Woes

Potty training...it became a royal pain in my a$$ over the last couple of months. 

It was June, my son Nicholas will turn 3 in October and Alex will be 1 in July, so it seemed like the perfect time to potty train Nicholas.  Even more perfect because we had just gone to IKEA and he really wanted to stay at the children's play area, however kids MUST be toilet trained to enter, so he wasn't able to go in.  Well as I am sure you can imagine, this was devastating  to him. 

We decided to use this opportunity to start talking about potty training.  I went out and bought Cars-themed underwear and Pull-Ups and off we went.  I decided to start on a Friday (in early June) and hoped he would be trained by the Monday...that's not unrealistic right?  Right....he was trained by the first week of August.

Things I learned through this process (please keep in mind, this was my first time PT):

- Boys can't aim...sit them down or spend a lot of time cleaning the floor;
- Better yet, use one of those seats that go onto the toilet (we got a Cars one of course)...oh wait, the inside of that will also be covered in pee.  Spend a lot of time cleaning that too.
- For boys, Hot Wheels make for a great reward (thanks for the idea daddy!)
- Don't bother with Pull-Ups.  Kids are smart...they know if they pee in there, it won't drip down their leg, so why stop playing?
- They don't like pooping in the toilet.  Really??  Crapping your pants is better?
- When they do poop themselves, be careful when trying to take off his/her underwear...poop may fall out and become a hazard.  As in they may step in it, then get scared, then spread it all over the place.  Oh wait, did I mention I have a 1 year old who loves to crawl everywhere...especially wherever his brother is???
- Invest in a serious disinfectant (see above).
- They'll eventually get it...and life is good!

Now, if only he can train Alex when it's his turn...

:: sonja