Proof

Just a little proof that it isn't all yelling, crying and complaining around here.

Climbing down from the Table

Each day I wake up, I have a choice. I can cry over spilled milk (or watered down Pepsi- love ya Andrea!) or I can respond with love and grace. While in my head the obvious choice is love and grace. I'm having a hard time putting that into action.

For example- the kids pulled the hose off the wind up reel thingy today while I was making sandwiches for lunch. Instead of having them help me fix it or calmly dealing with the situation- I grumbled, I grumped, I complained that I can't get one little thing down without the two of them making a mess (yup-those were pretty much my words!), and I wouldn't let them help when I was fixing it because I just didn't want to deal with more messes.

So you all want to sign up to have me watch your kids now, don't you??

The thing is- this isn't me. As a teacher- I pride myself on my classroom management. I always get compliments on my class behavior and difficult students often don't appear as difficult in my room. This isn't to imply my classroom of students are perfect- far from it. But it is a controlled and managed chaos. And, for that, I have always been proud of myself.

So, why is it, at home, I am not good with just two?

When I was teaching in MD we had this one teacher who had no classroom control. One time he stood on his desk and yelled "I'm the teahcer!" Well, let me just tell you- if you have to tell them you are the teacher- you not really in charge, they are. I know this because his classroom was right beside mine and we heard everything- to the point where during my observations, the principal would have to go into that classroom and settled them down because he could hear them in my room. Needless to say that teacher was helped to find another position in a less challenging area.

I feel like at home, I'm standing on my kitchen table yelling "I'm the mommy!"

It's a choice each day to wake up and make the most of the day or cry over the hitting, pinching, fighting and constant choas. It isn't the choice I struggle with- it is putting that choice into action.
As I have been teaching Ashlyn when she gets upset- I'm going to try to take a deep breath and calm down before getting angry- just as soon as I climb down off the kitchen table.

Keeping Busy

We are almost one week into the 'new' for our family. I am happy to say Gary loves the job. Now, of course, it is summer and so there are not the full blown headaches the year will bring - but I'm glad he is loving it.

I've just been trying to keep the kids busy. Monday and Tuesday were a bit rough around here dealing with toddler (and mommy) tantrums. Wednesday I was lucky enough to have my dear friend Kelly and Lisa bring their girls over to play and tie dye some shirts. It was fun and kept my kids busy so there were not many issues (well, except that Riley pushed Kelly's daughter down because he didn't like that she had a toy he wanted.....) Today I am not feeling well. Somehow I caught a bug in the summer!?? My throat hurts and I feel like someone parked their truck on my face. If it was you- could you move it please? I took the kids to my school today so I could print out some units/lesson plans I had been working on. Of course, I wasn't able to print (long story!) and don't know when I will - but I tried to get a few other things done. Let me just say, I have no idea how I will get my classroom ready with two kids in tow this year (Gary and I always took tuns going to work in our classrooms before so one of us took care of the kids while the other worked on school stuff). Then we played on the playground a bit. I brought the kids home for lunch and it took everything I had to make it until nap time today. I just needed to get R in bed so I could lay on the couch. A is playing on the desktop while I lay on the couch with my laptop. Sadly, I canceled plans for tomorrow because I just don't think I could drive if I feel this badly again. :(

But all in all, we are hanging in there. Riley has his up and down moments and I am trying to work on not over reacting to little things so that he understands when he is in trouble for the big things. You know- pick and choose your battles.

The potty training is still going....he has great days like yesterday when he doesn't have any accidents and then other days like today where he will just stand in the yard and pee on himself. I can't imagine that is a good feeling- but at least it was in the yard and not the house, right?

I'm off to lay here so I can hopefully make it until hubby gets home tonight....oh crap- I just remembered he has a softball game tonight. sigh....oh well, at least supper is made for today- gotta love the crock pot!

A New Chapter

Today was Gary's first day at his new job- his frist day as Principal an no longer teacher.

Change is inevitable and going to happen at some point. And so with Gary's new job- we are dealing with change. Not all change is bad, but it is still change and it still means an adjustment on the part of everyone involved. For example- today Gary had to get up and go to work- no longer on summer vacation and no longer able to sleep in. But this is good change for him and once he gets his routine down and learns a few thins to help him feel more at ease, he will do a great job! He has already learned the names and grade level of his staff and some things about them (some are Steelers or Penn State fans so he is happy about that!). He checked out all their class websites to get a jump start on his new life. He has jumped right into this new challenge. I couldn't be more proud of him.

But with his new job means change on the home front. While I still get to be home and enjoy my summer- I am the only one here with the kids. yeah, I know- I'm not getting any sympathy from all of you, this is your life and you do it everyday. But for me, this is a bit new. A change that we need to adjust to. And it is a slow process - Riley is so very strong willed and stubborn and I'm having trouble. That isn't easy for me to admit. I'm so good at classroom management as a teacher- it is my strength and I am confident in my ability. But at home- it is a different story. Riley has gotten the best of me and I'm not sure how to teach him to follow the rules, be nice, and show love.

We are off to a rough start. Riley is 2, so that means he is by nature an irrational being and there will be tanrums. But his level of strong willfullness is beyond what I know how to deal with. He is mean too- he will go up to Ashlyn and pinch or hit her for no reason. Of course I need to deal with that, but then his strong will kicks in- he will not sit in time out- he keeps getting up and I keep putting him back- for well over 30 minutes. He will not apologize, he will not stop doing it despite my best efforts. So unless I can divide my house in half to seperate my two children- I need to fix this part of his behavior and so far this summer, I have not made any head way with him. But that is just some of the problem. Riley does not listen to me. If I ask him to do something it is nothing short of a small war. I try the normal- give choices, reward and praise when he does listen, etc. But still I am met with defiance. Sadly- at this point, I'm looking forward to school starting because I'm just don't seem to know what to do with him.

So, think of my family as we start this new chapter in our lives. Think of my hubby and pray that he is an amazing leader who shines with integrity, understanding, support, and inspiration. And think of my children and I as we keep trying each day to help Riley be more loving and obedient. I know I can use all the extra well wishes and prayers.

Clearing My Brain

I'm home- from 9 days/8 nights at my inlaws. There is nothing more to say about that here, but if you really want to know- check it out here.

Gary starts his first day of his new job as principal Monday at 7:30am. Good luck hubby! I know you will be great!

I'm working myself out from under the ton of laundry- but making head way with it.

Hope you all had a great 4th of July! I tried to skim through all the posts, etc- but after all those days of not being on the computer, I got quite a bit behind!

Riley did really well with the whole potty thing while we were away- woo hoo on that! We are still working on it- but making lots of progress and I feel better about the whole thing now. He seems to have the hang of it - way to go little man!!

I posted a bunch of pics from the trip on facebook- too lazy to repost here...sorry!

You would think after all this time I would have something worthwhile to say. Oh well! Maybe next time :)

Random

Gary and I finally got away for an overnight trip without the kids. Last time we were away overnight without the kids- 3 years ago! Oops! How did 3 years go by before we managed to do that? We had a nice night and it was much needed for both of us.

Today I got to see my brother-in-law. He recently came home from Iraq. It was good to see him. He is pretty much the only one of G's siblings that I like and talk to. I knew he was home safe- but it is much better to be able to see him in person and chat for a few minutes.

Riley and the potty is...well, it is going. We have some good days, we have some not so good days. My son - like all things in his life- marches to his own beat. The boy has figured out the pooping on the potty thing, but not peeing. This is not the normal pattern- but, what else would I expect from my little man. And, hey, pee pants are a lot easier to clean up than the other stuff, so for now, we are still working on it and happy he has part of the process figured out.

I've been hanging out on Facebook a lot lately. If we're not FB friends- add me. :) If you are not on FB- join up- it's fun. Then add me as a friend :)

Ashlyn is loving summer. She has really been into playing basketball and soccer outside lately. She figured out how to dribble the basketball and does it well! For a 5 year old, I think she is doing awesome with it! We bought her a pink soccer ball and she has been having fun kicking that around too. All this soccer and basketball practice should count as my exercise, right?

Gary is gearing up for his new job. He has taken care of a lot of the paperwork and things he needed to do to begin being principal in July. He is going to do a great job- and hey, if anyone needs a job as a teacher, I know a principal, I can put in a good word for you :)

Tomorrow we leave for vacation to go visit G's parents for a week. We stay until after the 4th and then head home. It isn't my favorite vacation- but I guess I can't complain too much since I did get my week at the beach. I'm not big on the bugs and mountain life- but the kids have a great time and that is what is important. Not sure if I will be on the computer or not- they have upgraded from dial up to high speed internet- but I'm not sure I will get on the computer much.

Enjoy your 4th of July!

Summer Ideas

Since Gary now starts work at his new job right after the 4th of july, I will be home with the kids for the summer. I have a few ideas of things I would like to try with them - library days, playground trips, tie die shirts- but I am in need of many more ideas of things to do this summer. Riley is a terror when we are home- he does things just to make Ashlyn or I mad- and he doens't stop there, he just keeps pushing and pushing until someone is screaming and crying (usually me!). So in order to save my sanity- I need to keep them busy. Please share all your summer fun ideas- what do you do to have fun in the summer? what do you do to keep your kids busy and from fighting all summer long?

Seriously- if you don't help me, I'm going to go insane. I will have to call SuperNanny and then the whole world will know my dirty secret that I can't handle my 2 year old. So, please, save me from all that and just share your good ideas :)