Middle child syndrome strikes again!

Sometimes we really suck at putting the kids to bed! A combination of things cause our good parenting skills to take a hike… work, tiredness, or exhaution, too many kids, dishes to be washed, decreased number of brain cells that day… mostly, because parents are not ‘always’ good parents.

Like tonight, kids watched a movie in our room (so we could get some work done) before bedtime… instead of a song and a book. After it was over, my 3 year old, aka first born, said to his dad “I want you to lift me up and take me to my bed”. My husband cradled him, pillow and blanket in tow, and put him in bed. Meanwhile, my 2 year old stood up, hugged his pillow with one hand, used the other hand to drag his blanket, and started to make his way to his bed.

My heart broke to see my poor little son, so used to being left out, so used to having to do everything on his own, with a very confused, sad, but strong and determined look on his face. I rushed to get him, almost throwing my laptop off the bed, scooped him up in my arms… pillow and blanket and all… covered him with kisses and took him to his bed. Guilt? Love? I don’t know which feeling was stronger.

Guilt for all the times that he has been passed over because he is not the first (or the last), guilt for all the times that I forget that he is only 2 years old and still just a baby, guilt for all the stories that I read to my first born but not to him, but the love is just the same… never compromised.

Being the first born, I cannot relate… but I am sure my sister can write a book on the topic!

The addiction.

I often have very brilliant ideas… ask my husband! That, together with my tendency to make “impulse” purchases via the internet and prioritize blogging to house-cleaning makes me one of those wives that the ‘in-laws’ can be proud of!

Two months ago I decided that I would “impulsively” buy a flat screen monitor and bring the computer up from the basement to the living room… you know, so I can do my work and still be around the kids.

And it has worked out really nice. …For my 3 year old!

My 3 year old is now favouring playing on the computer to going outside! I had to beg him to go for a walk! My husband’s parents were over today and his dad asked my 3 year old what game he was playing on the computer, to which his response was “arrrgh, Just Stop It!”… Ok, so now I am not only failing as a wife, but as a mother too! Great!

So, here I am again trying to find the balance… it is nice that the computer games are stimulating, challenging, and is helping him learn to read, but its not that nice when its giving him an addiction… this is all he can think about these days! My son is 3 going on 14 here, giving us attitude and talking back when we tell him computer time is all done. I am hoping that he would get over it soon, and get back to normal, but is ‘this’ the new normal??

And now I have to pretend that I am actually using the computer to do my work! At least I still use it for my work…

Parenting, one of those days.

My precious newborn (5 month old) is teething.

My 2 year old is showing me the meaning of the term “terrible two’s”.

My 3 year old is discovering his “private parts”.

Its 10:30pm and no one is asleep yet.

Need I say more?!

Modest Mums nursing covers.

Since I had my first son I’ve been looking for a nice nursing cover… a nice, working, pretty nursing cover! What I found with my first son was a blue gingham, thin, flannel one, that was not even big enough to cover the baby… much less for me and the baby!

Finally, I found the “prefect” thing… And I do mean perfect!

The Modest Mums cover is made by a mum, it is the perfect mix of function and beauty. Although I have boys, I decided to get a cute pink one… mainly because this was the one on sale, but also because sometimes I get tired of the blue… after all, ‘I’ am a girl! The cover is big enough to cover everything, and it has a bit of piping at the neckpiece… which I think is complete genius because it allows the neck to stay open, allowing me to see the baby, as well as allowing him to see me. The other great thing is that the fabric is sturdy, so I am not struggling to keep it in place, but it also has a white side, so if at a picnic or something, then the baby won’t get too hot.

Now, I don’t really nurse my baby in public places, but even at my mom’s house sometimes I like to be around everyone, and this way I know I am totally covered. But, I really got it because its summer, and its great for picnics and parks.

Additionally, I got a burp pad with the purchase as a promotion… and its great… cute like the nursing cover… and also functional. The burp pad is made of the cloth diaper material, so that its really absorbent (especially handy for number 3, as he loves to puke).

Great stuff, and I love that its from a ‘Work at Home Mom’. Here is the site http://www.modestmums.com. Great for every nursing mom, and a great gift idea of a baby shower! Enjoy!

Monday Morning Blues?

Kids make everything change… even the Monday morning blues!
I realized that weekends are really my week… it’s the time that I am the busiest, and these days it’s the only time that I am out of the house.

I am really happy that it is the weekend and my husband is at home, but I think that I usually take the opportunity to get a lot of things done… either things around the house, or my own part time work that I need to accomplish.

So Monday mornings I tend to “relax”… its weird but getting back to routine is comforting, and although its back to being only me with the kids, its somehow less stressful!

Now, don’t get me wrong… by Wednesday I am totally ready for the ‘real’ weekend, I get very tired of the “babysitting” and I am begging my husband to stay home! J But Mondays are nice now… and I think even the kids appreciate the ‘back to routine’ that a Monday brings. They play in their room by themselves, their shows are at their regular times… it’s like the world is back in its order!

Funny thing is that I think my husband appreciates Mondays more now too… the ‘joy’ of escaping the madness that can sometimes exists in our home!