Mom On The Run » Family Life

Kids Say The Darndest Things #4

Janice — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:37:19 +0000

Tonight I was nagging my 3 yo to pick up her shoes (she has an insane obsession with shoes!). Our conversation went something like this:

Me: “Brooke, pick up your shoes and put them in your bin.”
Brooke: “No!”
Me: “Well I’m not putting them away for you, I’m not your personal slave”.
5 yo Sierra: “No, that’s because your mine”.

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

Kids Say The Darndest Things #3

Janice — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:44:46 +0000

Apparently, when I get angry with my kids, I mutter obscenities under my breath. The extent to which my children notice this wasn’t apparent to me until the other day when Brooke interrupted one of my rants to correct me:

“Mommy, I’m not Jesus Christ – I’m Brookie!”.

I’m just waiting for the day Sierra tells me she’s not God dammit.

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

The 5 Year Old Hypochondriac

Janice — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:38:45 +0000

I love my 5 yo, Sierra, and am impressed with her interest in the human body and the way it functions. The other day she was telling me all about breathing and eating and how there are two tubes, one for air and one for food. I’m sure she gets her love of anatomy & physiology from me, though my hubby was also a Kinesiology major and has an aptitude towards understanding those things as well. Unfortunately, sometimes she arms herself with too much knowledge and constantly worries and complains about nothing. Often I will pick her up from daycare and her teachers are concerned about Sierra’s ailment du jour. Eye infections, ear aches, sore tummy etc… Hubby has actually been called to pick her up for an ailment. I usually just tell the teacher to pay her some attention and see if she’s the same in an hour.

Sierra claims she has allergies – her latest is she’s allergic to pasta with sauce on it. She says she can eat pasta, and she can eat the tomato sauce, but that she’s allergic to having them together. In fact she loves both the pasta and the sauce. There’s a little girl in her class who has a lot of severe allergies and I’m sure Sierra wants to be like her – imitation is the highest form of flattery. Sierra really likes this girl and has a lot of compassion towards her. I think that’s where her sudden “allergies” are coming from.

This past weekend we were up at a friend’s cottage. Our friend had surgery on her throat to relieve a constriction. One of the kids must’ve told Sierra about it, or Sierra overheard a conversation about it because for two days we had to hear about how Sierra couldn’t eat because her throat was sore. Oddly enough she had no problem swallowing ice cream, yogourt, cookies and brownies…

It’s tough being the parent of a hypochondriac. I want to believe her, I really do, but I take everything she tells me with a grain of salt and do more digging. Who at school hurt their foot? Who got stung by a bee? We took Sierra to the dentist because her teeth were hurting – Sierra was convinced they were falling out and that she had cavities. Instead her jaw is growing, making room for her adult teeth.

Is she doing this for attention? Are we not paying enough attention to her? Will this get worse when the baby comes? (I suspect it will during an adjustment period). Have your children gone through this? Do I foster her interest and teach her more about the human body? That would be attention right? And a learning opportunity?

Sigh – this parenting stuff isn’t easy. I feel a headache coming on…

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

Kids Say The Darndest Things #2

Janice — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:41:00 +0000

This past weekend, we were up at a cottage with two other couples and their children. We had just finished a meal, hubby was washing the dishes (he’s great, isn’t he?) the kids had run off to play and all of the parents were relaxing in the kitchen. Our 3 yo, Brooke, went to the potty (by herself) and was leaving when hubby stopped her and asked, “Brooke, did you wipe?”. Of course the answer was no, so she went back in to wipe, but being three, she didn’t close the door. While she was in there, we all heard her mutter:

“Jesus Christ daddy, I just flushed! Where do I put the paper?”

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

Wordless Wednesday: Sierra’s 5th Birthday Party

Janice — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:49:32 +0000

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

Pool Safety Reminder: It Can Happen So Fast!

Janice — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:43:44 +0000

Pools are dangerous

The other night, I looked out of Brooke’s bedroom window while I was waiting for her to finish going potty before bed. As I was looking out, I saw a bird land in our pool and begin to struggle. My lifeguarding instincts kicked in, and I told the kids that mommy would be right back to read stories and tuck them in. I ran down the stairs, went outside, and grabbed the pool skimmer to scoop up the poor bird. By the time I did all of that the bird was lifeless. Thinking perhaps he/she was in shock I gently put it down in the grass and went back to finish putting the kids to bed. (Sorry – despite my background, mouth to beak resuscitation isn’t my forte). After the kids were snug and safe in their beds I went back outside to check on the bird. It was dead – the poor thing drowned in our pool.

You know what shocks me the most? How FAST that happened! I reacted quickly, got the bird out quickly and did all that I could (given that it was a bird). Pool accidents happen VERY quickly and contrary to popular belief a drowning person doesn’t make a sound – there is often no screaming or splashing. I often take for granted that my pool has a separate enclosure from our house, and I don’t often look outside to ensure no neighbourhood children have hopped our fence. Is that my duty as a home owner? I’m not sure and for now I’m thankful that this time it was just a poor little sparrow.

I think, given that it’s summer, the pool safety tips I posted after a tragic accident last winter, deserve to be brought to our attention again:

We all know we should watch our children around pools, that our children should wear life jackets if they can’t swim, to keep our pool gate and sliding doors locked etc… But are you aware of these tips that aren’t so obvious?

Never, ever leave toys in a pool – these are child magnets, typically a child falls into a pool while reaching for a toy. This includes any pool – wading pools, above ground pools and inground pools. Clean up all of the toys when exiting the pool so these won’t tempt a child.
Teach your child to lay belly down on the pool deck to reach for toys in a pool. I have an inground pool in my backyard and have taught both of my daughters how to reach for toys. Model this behaviour – when you reach for things in the pool, lay down. The chances of falling in are greatly reduced when your center of gravity is low and children will do as you do, not as you say. (This also applies to those of you who don’t own pools as children visiting a house with a pool often don’t know basic pool safety).
Keep a working phone on your pool deck. You never ever know when you’ll need to make an emergency call. (I’ve actually dropped one of our phones into the pool while following this advice – hubby was mad that we lost one of our handsets, but at least I was trying to be safe).
Don’t answer your phone if it rings while you’re on the pool deck with your kids. Accidents can happen in that second when you turn your back to answer the phone – turn the ringer off if it’s too much of a temptation for you.
If you ever have to rescue someone that has fallen into a pool keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be pretty – jump in and grab them by anything you can grab – their bathing suit, hair etc. The goal is just to get that person out of the pool ASAP.
Educate your guests. Before allowing your friends and their kids to go into your pool go over some safety rules ie:* Tell your guests to watch their own kids.
* Tell them where the phone is
* Teach them and their children how to reach for objects in the pool
* No running on the deck (this is because you can trip and fall in)
* If you can’t swim wear a life jacket
* Model pool safety

My final bit of advice is so important that it deserves to be bolded and in a paragraph of it’s own:

Please do not put a pool in your yard, or buy a house with a pool without taking a lifeguarding course. Swallow your pride and join the 18 yr olds at your local community center and learn some pool safety, learn how to rescue submerged victims, perform A/R, CPR and some basic first aid. Why live with a ticking time bomb in your backyard without learning how to detonate it? The cost is minimal compared to the cost of a human life. You will learn a ton about pool safety that will eliminate the need to ever do a rescue.

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

How Do You Fit 3 Car Seats Into 1 Car?

Janice — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:11:57 +0000

Me - Zooming to work in my Santa Fe

I drive a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe that I love, love, love! Yes it’s old, and yes the kids have spilled sticky weird things all over it, and yes it has a very funky smell inside – but I’m sure a trip to a car detailing place to have it cleaned and shampooed will take care of all of that. The best part – we own it. Yep – we finished paying it off two yrs ago and it has been cheap driving ever since – unlike my hubby’s 2007 Mazda 6 that he gifted himself for Christmas after I gave him socks & underwear. Hubby’s POS car cost us $8 grand in repairs this past spring!!! (We had to replace the engine on it exactly TWO WEEKS after the warranty expired). Obviously I’m no longer a fan of Mazda ‘cause the 8 grand could have been used to stop my damn bathroom from leaking into my kitchen….

My Santa Fe has been super reliable, besides oil changes, tires and brakes my “truck” hasn’t cost us a dime. BUT… (‘cause there’s always a but) we have a third child on the way and we have no idea how to fit an infant carrier, a booster seat and a car seat in the bench seat across the back. So we’re stuck with a dilemma:

* Do we try to squish the three seats in?
* Do we buy a new 7-seater (SUV, Cross-over or the dreaded Mini-van)?
* Do we lease a new vehicle?
* Do we take over a lease of a vehicle, then buy it?
* Do we keep our beloved Santa fe or trade it in?

We need to come up with an answer soon too ‘cause I’m now at the half-way point of my pregnancy (yes – already!). Summer will go by fast and before we know it we’ll be on baby count down!

So here are my questions for all those moms of three out there:

* Do you have any tips on fitting three seats across the back bench of a vehicle?
* If you drive a seven + seater:
* What vehicle do you drive?
* Do you like your vehicle?

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

Mondays Are the Highlight of My Week

Janice — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:05:18 +0000

Monday nights are the reason I had kids – I could not wait to cheer them on at their various sports. Some people may find that part of parenthood a chore, but I was always very active in sports when I was little. I couldn’t wait to chauffeur my kids around. Thus far, the girls have taken swimming lessons and gymnastics and now soccer too! This fall a whole new world of opportunity awaits Sierra because she can take swimming, gymnastics, skating lessons and participate in Sparks (girl guides for 5 yr olds). Brooke can also take swimming, gymnastics and skating (not Sparks yet). I have no idea how I can afford it all (or juggle it all with a new baby too) but I want them to be active! I read somewhere that teen girls are more likely to take the actions necessary to prevent teen pregnancy if they are optimistic about their educational and career opportunities. I honestly feel that developing a confidence through sports contributes to that. I was a very active teen – I played Field Hockey, Softball (on 3 different teams) and swam on the swim team – sure I had “boyfriends” but damn! There was no way I was going to get knocked up! Who the hell wants a big ugly ol’ belly preventing them from playing sports? Heck! I’m almost 35 and it’s driving me nuts that pregnancy #3 means I can’t play soccer, softball or train for a marathon (or triathlon) this summer!
Last week Monday, Sierra started her soccer that I signed her up for (way back in February). She plays on a co-ed team with about 4 other girls and 6 or 7 boys. I’m actually rather surprised at how many girls there are and I think it’s fantastic that so many parents share in the belief that involving girls in sports is important. I digress…
Sierra is having a blast! She has a fun coach who so far appears to be one of the best in the league and he keeps the game/practices fun and entertaining for both the kids and the parents. Besides having a fun coach, Sierra seems to have a genuine love for the sport. The first 30 min she and the rest of her team have a practice – learning basic soccer skills like passing, shooting, dribbling, throw-ins etc… And for the second 30 min she plays a game against another team. It appears so far that every kid plays in the game – there is no subsituting and all the kids chase the ball in one big swarm. Every once in a while the swarm is so big that the ball doesn’t move from all the kids randomly kicking at it and it almost looks like a big 5 year old rugby scrum – it’s so cute! Sierra plays her heart out – she runs after the ball as fast as her little legs can take her – trying to keep up with the boys who pretty much dominate the game. In her first game she got the assist for her team’s only goal! Woot! At one point in last night’s game she stepped on a boy’s hand and he whined at her, she turned around and looked at him, then ran off to chase the ball. Another little girl ran up to the boy helped him up and kissed his hand better. My girl is a true athlete! She’s not maternal and has never had an interest in dolls – while her younger sister is the opposite and would have spent the entire game kissing every single fallen player’s boo boos.
Another part of the fun night is that Brooke insists on wearing her “soccer uniform”. She wants to play like her sister (she’ll be old enough for 4 year old soccer next summer). Last week there were 3 or 4 other 3 yr old siblings at the game, so Brooke thought they were on her “team”. She was really looking forward to bringing her ball to play soccer with them this week too. Unfortunately no one from her “team” came this week L and she kept asking where her team was, so Hubby and I had a “practice” with her until Sierra’s game started. When Sierra’s game starts, Brooke happily sits on her chair and cheers her sister on (I swear Brooke is going to be an awesome soccer mom when she grows up!). Monday nights are really a fun outing for the whole family and we’re having a blast!

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

Maybe Blogging About It Will Make It Seem Real

Janice — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:33:50 +0000

Folks I have some breaking news for you….

I’m pregnant.

Yes – this’ll be baby #3. Yes – we’re insane. Yes, I’ve been slow to tell you because basically I’ve been in denial.

You know why I haven’t told you? It’s because I’m scared.

I’m scared of postpartum depression. I feel like I *just* recovered from the last baby, even though she’s turning three years old in a month. I’m so scared of the grey cloudy fog in my head, that I didn’t really tell anyone. We told my parents on Mother’s Day and hubby’s parents the weekend after. I told work last week only because they figured it out on their own and a certain individual pressured me into telling.

I’m so not into this pregnancy thing. ‘Cause I also hate the attention it brings. I hate people judging everything I eat and do. I hate people telling me I shouldn’t run, or questioning whether I should be exercising. And most of all I hate the attention it brings. It embarrasses me.

Yeah, yeah – I have a blog so you would think I’d be a “look at me” kind of person – but truthfully in real life I’m not really. Take for instance 2 months ago when I ran the kick ass 5K in 25:26 – I didn’t tell a single soul at work about it.

Anyways – now my “secret” is out. I’m 17 weeks pregnant and due Remembrance day (should be easy to remember, right?). Baby will probably make a fast entrance prior to then because Sierra was 4 weeks early and born in 5 hours, and Brooke was 2 weeks early and born in 3.5 hours.

Here’s my baby “bump”:

(It kind of looks more like I’m super bloated, and if you block out the belly you can’t even tell).

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...

Happy Mother’s Day!

Janice — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:12:00 +0000

Wow! I can’t believe this is my 5th Mother’s Day already! Where has the time gone?

I know it’s only 7:45 am and the day isn’t quite over but so far Ive been completely spoiled by my wonderful hubby and Sierra and Brooke. Last night I got to sleep in our master bedroom by myself (my hubby snores so this is a nice treat). Then this morning I got to sleep-in (I woke up at 7 and found my laptop waiting in the room for me), and I could hear the kids busily helping hubby make coffee, writing their names in cards, and making me breakfast. They each gave me a card, and together they gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Later we’re all going to go on a nice Mother’s Day family walk. Oh! And they also gave me this:

Homedics Bubble Spa Foot Bath

What a great gift for an active mom! My feet are always sore (especially now that I have plantar fasciitis – which according to my Physiotherapist is going to take a while to heal and may get worse before it gets better ).
*Tears* My family made me feel so special this morning that I cried! I truly am so lucky and blessed to have them all in my life – I love you guys!

I hope all of you moms are getting the same royal treatment today (’cause you certainly deserve it)!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Mom On The Run - My life is a marathon, not a track meet...