Nix9to5

“Why All Parents are Better than You”

// February 18th, 2012 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Family

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josette-crosby-plank/french-parents-better_b_1281984.html?ref=parents

The Toddler Brain

// February 14th, 2012 // No Comments » // Children and Babies

(From Pinterest. It didn’t link to the original source. Sorry.)

Reflections of Motherhood

// January 13th, 2012 // 2 Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies

You may have already seen this video from Nummies, but if you are a mom or about to be a mom, and you haven’t seen it yet, you should.

Nummies says, “We asked moms if they could go back to before their first baby, what would they tell themselves. These are their answers. Everyone in the video is a mom.”

Are You Enjoying Every Minute? Really?

// January 6th, 2012 // No Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies, Family

Ever read something, and it resounds so clearly within you that you think, “Wow. I could have written that”? Or, in my case, “Wow. I wish I had written that.” Well, Glennon from Momastery has written the blog post that I wish I had written. It rings so true for mommy’s who, in the midst of a toddler tantrum or a day of endless whining, feel guilty that they are not enjoying every moment of ever day. I mean, let’s be honest . . . who just loves cleaning up pee dribbles off the floor for the eleventy-thousandth time?

Read the article “2011 Lesson #2: Don’t Carpe Diem” and then come back here to “discuss” it (I shared this post on Facebook, but I’m reposting it here for my readers who don’t follow Nix9t05 on FB.)

Done? Okay . . .

I wouldn’t trade being a mommy for anything, but there are times when it’s really, really hard. I have never begrudged anyone who told me to “enjoy this time,” because I don’t take it as “enjoy trying to manhandle your alternately limp and completely rigid child into a carseat.” I take it more as enjoying “time” in the Kairos sense of the word. I take it a support that, if can just make it through trying to get an overtired and whining to stop fighting his nap and for-the-love-of-Pete-go-to-sleep-already, there is a silver lining awaiting me. A cherished Kairos time.

However, there are times when I feel very, very guilty about not enjoying every single minute. I know women who have lost their pregnancies, lost their babies, lost their young children, or never even had the opportunity to have children, and I think, “What she wouldn’t give to be scrubbing dried spaghetti sauce off the floor. Again,” or “She would be more than thrilled to be reading the really poorly written dump truck book over and over and over and . . .” And I feel so guilty.

But let’s be real. Even these women who would give anything to have a baby, or to have their baby back, wouldn’t just love every moment. They wouldn’t be tickled pink to see their children lying right down and throwing a slobbering fit in the shoe aisle at Target because the Cowboy Woody shoes aren’t available in the needed size, and mommy can’t just INVENT the right size, now, can she?

No. They would give anything for the Kairos. That beautiful, blissful time that makes all the other stuff worthwhile.

It does go fast. Except for those moments that seem to last forever–when your patience is insufficient to meet the current demand and your child’s tantrum has exceeded your capacity for tolerating whining. But this too shall pass.

Hang in there, mommas. If you can make it through this meal, this fit, this mess, this embarrassment, this endless playlist of Cedarmont Kids, you’ve got a little Kairos coming your way.

It’s hard. But it’s so worth it.

Playing the Odds

// January 6th, 2012 // 2 Comments » // Children and Babies, Life in General

I had today’s post all planned out. I was ready to tell you about a little competition the Amazing Amanda and I have going, and I was going to invite you to join our challenge.

But I’ve been derailed by a two-year-old with a gambling problem.

That’s right. You heard me.

I was taking a few minutes to look at Facebook, and a friend posted a beautiful video made by her sister, the mother of a beautiful little girl with the happiest smile . . . and with Down Syndrome. Jamie made the video in honor of her daughter’s second birthday and all the accomplishments little Maddox has made in just two short years. If you work with children with special needs . . . and especially if you don’t . . . take a minute to watch this video.

Wait–go get some tissues first. I’ll wait.

Okay. Now:

Wow. Just . . . wow. I mean, could there possibly be any more love in that room? That right there is a mommy who is fighting for her daughter in a way that many of us will never have to. So maybe those of us who don’t have to fight for our own children like this should help fight for Maddox and girls and boys like her. Down Syndrome, autism, Asperger’s, Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis, and on and on and on. There are so many juvenile illnesses and disabilities and disorders that it’s really a miracle when our children are born healthy and remain healthy.

Let’s not hold children back . . . let’s encourage them to be their best whatever their needs or abilities. Let’s teach them to be kind and loving and accepting. And the best way to teach them how to be kind and loving and accepting is to show them by being kind and loving and accepting ourselves.

Happy birthday, little Maddox. Even though it’s your birthday, you’ve given all of us a wonderful gift.

To find out more about Jamie and Maddox, to read their story, and to learn more about living with and dealing with Down Syndrome, visit The McClintic Family blog.

Christmas Morning Menu (or something)

// December 21st, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Life in General

This morning, as Hot Husband, Bear, and I were sitting around the breakfast table, I asked HH what he thought we should serve for breakfast on Christmas morning. I was debating between breakfast casserole (super easy), pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon syrup (yummy and “festive”), or biscuits and gravy (mmmm-mmm, y’all). Before HH could even think about answering, Bear piped in:

“Um, celery, and noodles, and spaghetti. And eggs. And tortillas and crumbled up crackers.”

Deeee-lish!

The Art of Motherhood

// December 20th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Family, Life in General

We recently had a discussion on the Nix9to5 Facebook page about crazy things people say to pregnant women and mothers. It started out kind of funny, but then really got me to thinking about how much judgment we as mothers place on each other’s parenting choices: breast/bottle, front facing/extended rear facing, spanking/time out, co-sleeping/cry-it-out . . . an on and on and on.

And then I saw this list entitled “How to Feel Miserable as an Artist.” As you read this list, substitute “Mother” for “Artist,” and make other related substitutions–”client/customer/gallery owner/patron/investor” could be “child/grandparents/in-laws/teachers/neighbors/nosy lady at the grocery store” or whoever else is applicable in your life:

Being a good mother really is an art. Each day we sculpt a life a little more, helping to shape a person that must eventually shape himself or herself. It’s an important art. It’s a wonderful art. Let us not make ourselves miserable by bowing to the judgment of others and holding ourselves to the impossible goal of perfection. Love and be loved and be a mom.

A Child’s Countdown to Christmas

// December 4th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Activities, Children and Babies, Family

Each year, Bear understands more and more about Christmas and what a special time it is. This year, I wanted to capitalize on his sense of anticipation and to help him understand when Christmas actually is, and so I decided to do an Advent calendar with him. I was never really crazy about the Take A Candy Off The Calendar Each Day type calendar, and so I was looking for something a little different. I saw an idea (on Pinterest, of course) of replacing the candy with a daily Christmas activity. I liked that idea, but wasn’t sure I could actually plan something for every day. Then I realized that, with all the activities we already have planned, it wouldn’t take that much effort to make this work, and to help Bear connect each activity with Christmas. I think if the things we do are connected with Christmas, and not just random stuff we’re doing, it will help make even the small things more meaningful for him.

As I was in the beginning stages of planning the Advent activities, Bear’s Beela told me about an Advent Calendar she bought for him. It’s PERFECT. Once I saw it, I knew that I was definitely going to go through with the Activity Advent:

Precious, no?

Here’s how we’re implementing this tradition.

Behind each door, I’m putting a Hershey’s Kiss and a slip of paper with that day’s Advent activity (or “Abbent attibity” if you ask Bear). The activities range from so-simple-it’s-ridiculous to a little more involved and time consuming. However, the activities which require the most planning are things we were going to do anyway–I just plugged them into the calendar.

My first thought was to fully “stock” the train compartments, making sure to put each activity slip in the proper door. Then I realized that (1) that takes a lot of planning and (2) I’d probably get my days all mixed up and create a fiasco. I decided that I wouldn’t put anything behind a door until the night before. This had an added benefit: When Bear ~~pitches a fit~~ asks nicely to get the following day’s candy or activity, I can just open the other drawers and tell him nothing is there until the day we open it. Just a little bit of Christmas magic.

On Day 1, the “activity” was simply to unwrap a new ornament and put it on the Christmas tree.

For Day 2, we did a penguin ornament craft that I picked up at Target for $2.00. The felt penguins had precut adhesive felt, so there was no cutting and no gluing involved. The package said it was for ages 6 and up, but I found it to be just about perfect for a toddler’s skill level and attention span:

Day 3 was a big activity–breakfast with Santa and Bear’s beautiful cousins at a local church. This is something we were going to do anyway, but I refrained from telling Bear about it, and instead made it an Abbent Attibity:

In case you are trying to come up with ideas for how to do this kind of Christmas countdown with your child, here are some of the other activities we’re doing (in no certain order, with links where appropriate). Some of these ideas are local, but your community will have something similar.

Watch Frosty the Snowman (Bear’s fave) and make Frosty cookies (slice ‘n’ bake)
Make and drink hot chocolate
Have a pizza picnic in the living room and watch a Christmas movie
Drive around to look at Christmas lights
Go to the North Pole Adventure (local event)
Go ice skating at an outside rink with the cousins
Visit Santa at the mall
Make a Borax crystal snowflake
Make applesauce ornaments
Make a footprint Christmas tree
Attend a cousin’s Christmas concert
Decorate a gingerbread house (pre-assembled kit–I think from Walmart, but I wouldn’t swear to it)
Christmas tree lacing craft (another cheap craft kit from Target)
Paper plate snowman lacing craft
Make salt dough ornaments
Paint frost paint on the windows
Attend “The Real Story of Christmas”–a Christmas event for preschoolers at a local church
Make a puffy snowman painting
Make and eat snowman pizza
Make an edible Christmas tree
Make and decorate cookies for Santa

The great thing about NOT pre-planning these is that it’s very flexible. If, for example, something gets snowed out or someone gets sick or some other major catastrophe occurs, I can sub in just about any activity I want: string popcorn, make Christmas cards, play with Christmas stamps, stay in pajamas all day (wait–that happens a lot anyway) . . . the possibilities are endless.

What are you doing to celebrate with your kids? What are some of your favorite holiday traditions or activities?

Happy Thanksgiving from Nix9to5! (with pie recipes)

// November 24th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cooking, Family

Ahhh, Thanksgiving. It’s truly the kick-off to the whole holiday season. I hope all of my Nix9to5 readers, friends, and family have a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones. Since most of my readers are moms who are probably stressed to the max trying to make sure everything is perfect, I want to remind you all to stop and smell the ~~roses~~ pie. Nothing has to be perfect. Enjoy the time with your family–that’s what makes it perfect. Take some time to reflect on the things for which you are truly grateful. Nothing calms and soothes like gratitude.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for a job that allows me to stay home with my child and lets me exercise my creativity. I’m grateful that I have family nearby (Beela and Papa, Uncle Awesome and Auntastic, and The Bachelor Uncle) who can be a part of Bear’s life on a daily basis. I’m thankful for you, my Nix9to5 readers, who stick with me even when I disappear, and who challenge and encourage me with your comments, ideas, suggestions, and more. I’m also thankful for my MOM’s Group–a group of ladies I have had the privilege of meeting each week for the last couple of months, and who I’ve grown to look forward to seeing again every Monday morning. Thank you for your prayers and support.

There’s no way I can include all of the people to whom I owe my gratitude and love, but I want to take a special moment to mention The Amazing Amanda. We’ve certainly had our sisterly spats along the years, but I love this woman who is a part of me. She has helped me out time and again, and she’s proven that she loves me unconditionally–as I do her. I love you, baby sister!!

I can’t talk about The Amazing Amanda without thinking of her extraordinary cooking. Since I’m thinking of cooking, and since it is Thanksgiving, I’m going to leave you with a couple of pie recipes. These are not my own creation. They are from an old cookbook* an aunt gave me for Christmas several years ago (Thanks, Aunt Denise!), but the pumpkin pie is my absolute favorite of all pumpkin pies I’ve ever had. The apple pie I made for the first time last year, and it was delicious. I’m in charge of dessert again this year for Thanksgiving Dinner, and I’ll be bringing both of these–along with a Mrs. Smith’s cherry pie. I’ve never had any luck making cherry pie. If you have a good cherry pie recipe or tips on How Not to Ruin a Cherry Pie, I’d love for you to post them here.

One special note about these pies: I do not make my own pie crust. I did it once, and it tasted fine, but was totally ugly and not worth the time or effort in my opinion. Another thing: Both of these recipes call for a 9-inch pie shell. They do not specify deep-dish, but you either need to use a deep dish crust or it will make 1-1/2 pies. I’d rather have one thick pie than a couple of thin ones, but to each her own. Regardless, neither of these recipes will fit in a regular pie crust. Get the deep dish. Trust me.

Without further ado, here are the pies I’m taking for Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy.

Traditional Pumpkin Pie

1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pastry shell
1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin (2 cups)
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

Place rack in lowest position in oven; preheat oven to 425 degrees. In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except pastry shell (duh, but the recipe actually says this); mix well. Pour into pastry shell. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees; bake 35-40 minutes longer or until knife inserted near the edge comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

New England Maple Apple Pie

1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pastry shell
2 pounds all-purpose apples, pared, cored, and thinly sliced (about 6 cups–for me, this was about 5 apples. I used a combination of Granny Smith and some red ones. Braeburn, I think, but I wouldn’t swear to it.)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsifted flour
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/4 c. firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup cold butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans because that’s what I had, but walnuts would work, too)

Place rack in lowest position in oven; preheat oven to 400 degrees. In large bowl, combine apples and 2 tablespoons of flour. Combine syrup and melted butter. Pour over apples; mix well. Turn into pastry shell. In medium bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon; cut in cold butter until crumbly. Add nuts; sprinkle over apples. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees; bake 35 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Serve warm.

Note: The Bachelor Uncle thinks this would be better without nuts. I think when he brings the pie, he can make it however he wants.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

*Recipes adapted from New Treasury of Christmas Recipes from Your Favorite Brand Name Companies.

Toddler Fun: “Stained Glass”

// November 21st, 2011 // No Comments » // Children and Babies, Crafty Stuff

I was planning to write today about how to make liquid hand soap from bar soap, but right now, that project didn’t work out, and I’m busy Googling remedies to soap failure to see if I can salvage the project or if I have to start over with another kind of soap. Instead, here’s a different kind of project that worked great.

The Amazing Amanda judges the success of any kids’ craft project or activity by whether or not the span of time during which the kids were entertained exceeds the amount of time she spent setting it up. By that criteria, most of my projects with Bear are a Great Big Fail. We do have fun–it’s just that I usually spend forever getting it ready and finding the materials, and he is entertained for approximately 37 seconds. I get pretty excited about any project that gives us, as Amazing Amanda calls it, “Minutes and Minutes of Fun.”

This super-easy “stained glass” project was one that was a huge success. Bear stayed busy and was having fun for quite a while. I think his enjoyment had a lot to do with the fact that he got to rip things up without getting in trouble.

For this project you need:

Construction paper
Clear contact paper
Tissue paper

All we did was cut a “frame” out of construction paper and stick it to the contact paper, leaving a sticky window in the middle of the frame. Bear then tore off bits of tissue paper and stuck them to the contact paper. Once he filled the surface with tissue paper, I put another piece of contact paper over the tissue paper and frame to “laminate” the picture and seal the tissue paper into place. I taped it to the window, and voila, “stained glass.”