Finally something I can agree with...

A friend of mine posted about this on her blog http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/alaska-mom-dr-phil-show-charged-child-abuse/story?id=12788468. So of course I googled it and found a news story about it. What a bad situation. I felt very bad for the child. What I found interesting was the child psychologist's take on the situation. Usually I find these people (child psychologists) too liberal and only educated not experienced. He had two really good points when it came to disciplining your child.


First of all if you watch the video of the Alaskan mom she is putting hot sauce in her child's mouth and then a cold shower all the while yelling (or should I say screaming) at him about what he did wrong. I don't think either form of these two disciplinary actions is ok, with that being said, he said that explaining the correct behavior while your disciplining is not effective, the child is more focused on the disciplinary action than on what you are saying. Obviously the burning going on in the boy's mouth would probably be what he was focused on. He said wait a few hours until the child is more mentally prepared to focus on you as you explain better behavior to them. Also I add that this allows you time to cool down too and be able to more effectively explain what you want in a calmer way.

The psychologist also said that a lot of parents use a "time out" with their children, but when this doesn't work sometimes your child needs a "time in", which means that your child's behavior is sometimes a result of lack of attention and so they are acting out to get it. A "time in" means spend some quality time with that child let them feel loved and cared for and that they are part of a family.

I should show this video to my kids and let them know how easy I am on them :)

What did we do before Google?

Have you ever asked yourself that question lately? I know that in the olden days we actually used encyclopedias, but we haven't seen those for years and they didn't hold information that would help us find basically anything pertaining to life. Lexi and my friend C live for google. Lexi whenever stuck with a question will always think to google. For instance one day I told her that if they were all good at church they would get a treat that started with an S when they got home. She went directly to the computer and typed in treat that starts with S. It was pretty funny because the computer told her there were over 10 pages found that matched it, but she couldn't find smoothie from it. Also with her homework it can get a little stressful sometimes as I try to remember my math and she won't believe me on some things I try to explain to her so we have to go in the computer room and google it to make sure I am right. How many times do you google a day?

Lexi's Big Party

This year for Lexi's birthday party I decided that we would wait until after school started back up from the break. Usually we have it on her birthday (in December), which has been either the last day of school before Christmas break or during the break itself. It is a crazy time of year to try to have yet another party. Me being so smart by changing the month we do it I didn't take into consideration that more people would be able to make it. We usually invite all the girls in her classroom (around 10) then nobody has hurt feelings and usually only 4-5 come. We do have a million cousins that we invite so it turns out to be a big party. Well the day of the party I started to get a ton of phone calls telling me that their daughter would be coming. Much to my surprise every single person we invited came. Fourteen girls besides Lexi rode the bus to our house that day. 7 cousins and 3 other friends met at our house. Needless to say it got a little loud and a little crazy (we played minute to win it), but I think everyone had a good time. Lexi got some really nice things and told me thank you all night.

Mine

Hallie lately is so in to having things that are just hers, which I don't like because I try to teach my kids that we share nothing is "ours". The other day she walks up with Lexi's purse and says "can this be mine" and I just smile because she does this all day. So I tell her she'll have to ask Lexi, but it doesn't have to be hers she can just play with it. She comes back a little while later and says "Lexi said this can be mine, just don't tell her okay." Pretty cute Hallie and she wonders why I laugh.

Hunter's life story

From the mouth of Hunter at the breakfast table. "Mom, when I was 5 I was a boy, when I was 6 I was a geek, Now that I am 7 I am a stud. When I'm 10 I'll be a man. When I'm a grandpa I want to be like the Up (movie) grandpa. I can't wait for life's adventures."

About me...

Low on blogging ideas for this week so I just thought I'd give you an up to date on me :)

Favorite Show: Modern Family - seriously makes me laugh so hard. I love it!

Obsessions: Trying to beat Suzanne's high score on our wii sports resort basketball 3 point challenge (don't find too much pleasure in this Suzanne I am close!)

Favorite snack: Veggie chips...No explanation for this one. Suzanne's mom brought them once for a get together at our house and I can't get enough of them ever since. Thanks Julia.

Weaknesses: The computer - I am obviously on it right now. Any questions. I guess it could be worse (I don't facebook on MY own account)

Hobbies: Playing basketball - I just can't get enough of it right now. My body certainly reminds me when I try to get up that it isn't as young as it use to be and it is feeling all the activity.

Also three of my kids are on a team right now, so our Saturdays and weekdays are filled with running them around right now. I seriously had a duh moment when I signed Karlee up. She wants me to hold her hand the whole time, yeah that works while playing basketball. I figured out that I just have to remind her that she wanted to play and unless she plays and has fun she can not do any sort of gymnastics or dance ever again. Tough love right.

Favorite movie: I took the kids to see Tangled - loved it. As far as all time favs I'd have to go back to the 80's just pick one I love them all. Molly Ringwald, Patrick Swayze, Sarah Jessica Parker...

Favorite restaurant: Hearthfire - they have a m-f 4-6 early bird dinner that gives you three courses for $16.95. It is the best!

Favorite store: Still a Macy's girl.

When I'm not on the computer: I am cleaning and organizing like crazy right now. Even though most of the time my cleaning efforts are hard to notice as it seems like I go in a circle when the kids make a mess I clean it just to turn around to find a new mess. I did clean our garage though (pictures to come).

Wishful thinking: I wish I could get caught up on scrapbooking. I was on such a good run, but Karlee hasn't been picking that during naptime (games and the wii has been her choice lately for our naptime dates).

There you have it me right now in a nutshell.

Have you ever wanted something so bad...

I was in love when I spotted this coat I can't stop thinking about it. The price wasn't bad, it was around $25. The only problem was that there was only one coat left and it was a size 12 girls. Unfortunately I was in Gymboree. I wanted it for myself. I even tried it on (hopeful) and couldn't even get my arm in the hole. I only would need to lose about 60 pounds and I bet it would look great. I might look a tad bit deathly, but the coat for sure would fit. I wish that some of the clothes and shoes that I find for my girls were made in my size. I would sure spend a lot more money if this were the case :)