40 Things Kids Think About During Nap Time
40 Things Kids Think About During Nap Time
Nap time used to be my favorite time of the day.It meant a relaxing break from the chaos of the day. Now, my two big kids think they're too big for nap time. Instead of happily going to bed like their baby brother, they try to get out of it the whole time!Not to mention they act like they've never had a drink of water in their lives.I get tempted to let them drop their nap, but they are so much happier after they finally give in and take one. I've always wondered what goes through their minds while they lay in their beds.What is it that keeps them up for SO LONG!Here are a few things I'm sure go through my kids heads when they're trying to take a nap! What would you add to the list?
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Ooh I forgot to get a drink of water.
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Hmm.. I don't think I have to pee, but I'm going to try anyways.
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Mom said I cant go to the bathroom during nap time anymore!
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What if I really do have to pee!?
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I'm thirsty.
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Bedtime is so boring!
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I'm too big to take naps!
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I'll never fall asleep.
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Only babies take naps.
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I'm really thirsty.
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Where is that toy I played with yesterday?
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Mom's making me so mad!
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Why can't I just get up!
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Mom's up.
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Mom's not taking a nap.
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I'm so thirsty!
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I have to pee!
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Oooh. Mom got really mad!
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I should go down and tell her I love her.
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She didn't want to hear it!
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She's so mean!
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I'M THIRSTY!
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I hate naps!
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I haven't eaten all day!
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Mom said I just had lunch and I think she's lying.
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I'm starving.
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I'm SO THIRSTY!
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Why won't she just let me get up!
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OK. I'm going to ask one more time.
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Mom's not taking a nap because she's not a baby!
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I'm not a baby!
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I haven't had anything to drink in SO LONG!
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I should see if my brother is sleeping.
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HE'S READING BOOKS!
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MOM!!!!!!!!
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I'm never getting out of here!
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I hate this room!
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This is why I never play in here!
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Mmmm. I'm getting really sleepy...
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I'm thirs........ zzzzzzzzz
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Raising Grateful Children: Thank You For My Siblings!
Have you ever wondered if you're raising grateful children? If your children are grateful for the people they love in their lives? Here are a few things you can start doing today to make sure you're raising grateful children!
Raising Grateful ChildrenI don't know what it is, but have you ever noticed that every time you need to make an important phone call your kids go crazy?This afternoon I had to call my health insurance company. I only had an hour before they closed and I figured I would try and call while my two youngest were napping. They usually answer pretty quickly so I thought I could get it all done before my boys woke up.After about 15 minutes on hold I realized quick wasn't in the cards for today.Then my three year old woke up and thought it would be helpful to wake up his baby brother. I went up there, phone up to my ear, to grab them. Baby Luke's crib was full of toys along with a 3 year old big brother.They were both grinning ear to ear and loving their mischievousness!I ended up letting them destroy their room so I could finish my supposedly "quick" phone call. I have to admit, I love that they're getting closer.It's one of the reasons I wanted to have my kids so close together. I knew it would come with it's own set of craziness, but it would be worth it. I wanted my kids to be close.I was worried in the beginning because all my boys would do was fight! My husband and I joked about their love-hate relationship, but deep down I was worried they wouldn't be as close as I hoped. Now that they're a bit older, I'm starting to see how deep their brotherly bond really is.
They all look to each other for approval, wanting to make sure their brothers think they're doing something amazing. The best is while we sit down for meals. They start telling jokes and instantly look to make sure their brothers are laughing at them! Even Baby Lucas joins in! No one knows what he actually says, but they love that he's trying and think his' hilarious!I want them to continue getting closer as they get older.I want my kids to be best friends.
3 Ways To Ensure You're Raising Grateful Children
This month, I want my kids to take a moment to be grateful for their siblings. The more they learn what they love and value in each other, the closer they'll be.
Lead By Example
If we want to teach our kids to be grateful, we have to start by being grateful ourselves. Kids are always looking to their parents to figure out what to do. If they can see us being grateful and loving to those around us, they'll follow suit.Parents can model gratitude by verbally expressing it, sending thank you notes, and even giving little gifts.Remind your kids how important to be thankful for people they love and talk to them about it. Let them know why you're thankful for them!
Create A Habit
Instead of being grateful once a year on Thanksgiving, make it a year long routine. Create a habit in your home to talk about what your thankful for. Whether it's over dinner each night, as you tuck your kids in bed, or on the way home from a busy day.It doesn't matter when you do it, just do it. Create those conversations early on so they become normal.
Sibling Dates
As your kids watch you leading a grateful life and a let it become a habit in their own, it will quickly start to affect their relationships with their siblings.You can foster their relationships with each other more by letting them have sibling dates!Do something fun and take them to a movie! Let them choose what they want to see together and their snacks! Or let them come up with their date night on their own. Encourage them to have fun thinking up the whole night and what they're going to do.The most important thing you can do as a parent is to help your children build strong relationships with each other.These relationships are going to last for their entire lives. By helping your kids learn how to be grateful for each other, you're making sure they have a strong foundation that can last through it all.
What tips do you have for helping your kids be grateful for their siblings?
How To Stay Sane Over The Holidays
The holiday season has always been a busy time for families. Last year our family learned just how crazy it could get. Between the months of October and December we have 2 birthdays and 3 major holidays. It may not seem like too much, but keep in mind all five of these events require planning, some of them mean traveling, making elaborate meals, and parties.I feel like we're planning and hosting a part every other week!
10 Ways To Stay Sane Over The Holidays
This year my husband and I have decided to keep things simple. We want to let go of all the holiday stress and just enjoy it.
Give Group Gifts
When you're giving presents to different families, you can end up getting dozens of gifts for all the family members. Try to think bigger this year and give group gifts rather than all individual ones.
Don't Overextend Yourself
It's easy to overcommit to way too much over the holidays. You want everything to be perfect and take it all on yourself. Be sure to think about what your taking on. Is it possible with your schedule? Write it all out and decide on which tasks you can do yourself and what you can hand off to someone else.
Make A Holiday Budget
This is the perfect time to make a holiday budget. Think about any meals you may be hosting, if you have family planning to visit, presents, travel, etc. Make a realistic budget that you can try and stick to over the holidays.
Remember What It's All About
Sometimes we lose sight of what the holidays are about. We give in to the craziness and stress and forget. This year make sure you remember why you're doing it all.
Be Sure To Rest
The only way you will be able to get everything on your to do list accomplished is by taking care of yourself first. If you're only focusing on those around you and forget to rest you'll end up getting sick. Be your best this year by resting when you can.
Buy Presents Early
Plan out your gifts and purchase them early this year! If your kids are anything like mine, they already have their Christmas lists going. Take a look at the lists and buy something from it every pay check. This helps to spread it out and means you're not doing it all last minute!
Be Thankful
Take time every day to think about what you're thankful for this year. It's going to help you prioritize because you'll be thinking about what actually matters.
Take Time For Yourself
In addition to resting, take time for yourself this busy season. Find time to go out with a friend or go and get a delicious pumpkin spiced latte. Don't get so busy that you only think about those around you for the next few months.
Stay In The Moment
During the holidays a lot of us think about what's next. Instead of just focusing on the holiday at hand, we get lost in planning for the next one. Stay in the moment this year and relish in the holiday traditions, your kids, your family, and you'll be making memories that last.
Take A Deep Breath
At the end of the day, things will get crazy. Things may not go the way you planned, but it's ok. Take a deep breath and remember that no one is looking for a perfect holiday. They just want time with the people they love.
Incredibundles Is Just What You Need To Simplify The Holidays
Today I'm partnering with Incredibundles to make your holidays a little easier. They've done so much of the work for you and just want to help you find the best gifts for the littles ones in your life.Whether you're looking for a group gift for a family, a gift for a new dad in your life, or you're prepping for your holiday gifts early Incredibundles is for you!We got our first bundle last week and our kids loved it! We created our own and included age appropriate gifts for all of them! I love how many options they! They have year long subscriptions, one time bundles, essentials, and so much more!
What Does Incredibundles Offer?
First Time Daddy BundleOne Year Subscriptions (Books, Diapers, or Toys)Create Your Own BundlesLearn and Grow BundlesSleep BundlesBath Bundles
Incredibundles is giving away a free bundle! You can use this as a gift for the holidays, to spoil your kids early, or just something fun for a little one in your life! Be sure to enter in to win your own Incredibundle!
How To Prepare For A Multicultural Family
How To Prepare For A Multicultural Family
While I was pregnant, I found myself daydreaming over my little baby. I wondered what he would look like, what type of personality he would have, and how my life was going to change forever.
As a mother expecting a multiracial baby there were a few other things that came to my mind as well. I started to wonder how I would raise a biracial child.
How would I be able to blend cultures in their life?
Would I be able to show them the best from both of their cultures?
Would it be possible to teach them about Indian culture as I was just learning myself?
I had to remind myself I had time to figure it all out. My baby wouldn't come out expecting me to have their whole life planned out. All my baby wanted was my love, cuddles, and kisses right away.
When people ask me how they can prepare for their own multicultural family I talk to them about three things that have helped my family tremendously.
Start Building A Foundation Of Communication
As I welcomed my newborn into my life, I quickly realized how important communication was in our family. Raising a biracial child means you're going to have to talk about everything from racial identity to what they want to be when they grow up.It's important to think about how you can create open lines of communication from the beginning. Obviously, you have a few years before these communication skills will mean anything to your little one, but the more you work on it now the more natural it will be as they get older.Often times, we think we have all the time in the world and end up waiting. Even as a toddler, your children need to know they can come to you with anything.Start building this foundation in your relationship as parents and then it will be natural to continue it with your children. Your child will look to their parents to figure out what good communication looks like and whether or not it will be important to them.
Establish A Family Identity
My husband and I started to develop a family identity as soon as we got together, but it changed when we had our baby.When you welcome a child into your family, your family identity starts to change again. Now, you and your partner aren't the only important things in your lives. Now, you have a beautiful little baby you have to consider in all decisions you make. It's important to think about your family identity early on.How will your family blend cultures?What values will your family pull from your culture?What traditions do you want to pass on to your child?As you think about these things, you will begin to develop a family identity. No two family identities look exactly the same and that's what's so beautiful about it. You have the freedom to make it what you want. As time goes on, you'll even notice things changing. Things that worked at the beginning may need to be different years from now.That's ok. Your family identity will change and mold into what you need at each season. The most important thing is to discuss your values, beliefs, culture, and traditions as time passes. Then you can hear what everyone needs in each season.
Bring Diversity Into Your Child's Life
As parents of a multiracial child, it's your job as a parent to teach them the beauty in diversity. Many children face a time in their life where they struggle over being different. They want to be like their friends and look like the people they love.It's your job to remind them diversity is beautiful. How can you do this? Show them how diverse the world is.While you're pregnant, be sure to think about diversity when you register for baby items. Look for books that show main characters of different ethnic backgrounds. Find baby dolls in an array of colors. As they grow up they should see diversity as the norm.It's important to be intentional in teaching your child about the world around them. The more they learn about the world around them, the more comfortable they'll be in their own identity.
Start Preparing Today
As you prepare for your multicultural family, think about how you can begin to think about all three of these things. They're going to help you as you prepare for your new baby and throughout their childhood.
Today, I'm joining up with four beautiful mommas to talk about multicultural motherhood!
What to Expect When You’re Expecting Multiracial Babies/ De Su Mama
Will My Child Look Like Me? Thoughts from a Multicultural Mom /Raising Whasians
Books for the Multicultural Family / Are Those Your Kids
Raising Multiracial Babies: Expectations vs Reality / Baby Making Machine