HL’s Birthday
Hey, HL’s birthday is coming up next month and he’s actually asked for a couple of specific things this year–Dinosaur Train interactive toys and pillow pets (the ladybug and elephant). I put the requested items on his Amazon wishlist, so if you’re planning to buy for him and you don’t know what to get, you might start there.
(If you get something off his list, but you don’t get it from Amazon, let me know and I’ll mark it purchased.)
(The boy is not suffering from any kind of toy scarcity, so don’t feel compelled–this post is really for family members who were going to shop for him anyway.)
(Also also also, HL’s Mimi arranged a trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for his birthday this year, so he’ll be in Florida from September 5-12. Just FYI.)
Filed under Gear, Holidays | Comment (0)
Boulder
Says Uncle Chris, “HL hoists an incredibly heavy boulder, shortly before ramming me in the knees with it and laughing.”
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)BabyCenter Update: Your 35 Month Old
Filed under Outside Experts | Comment (0)Your 2-year-old now
Try not to take it personally if your preschooler has begun preferring one parent over another (and you’re the odd man — or woman — out). She might decide one day that only Daddy can read the bedtime story, not Mom.
Habit is sometimes the reason: If Mom has driven to the babysitter every day, there’s a fuss when Dad does it. More obviously, a parent who’s been away on a trip might be shunned. It’s your child’s way of saying, “I really, really missed you and didn’t like it … I’m afraid you’ll do it again.”
Know that these whims are temporary. If you’re the one on the outs, don’t take it personally. If you’re on the ins, specify some activities that are done with the other parent so that you’ll get an occasional break. Continue about your usual routines with your child and things will fall back to normal.
Whatever you do, don’t try to win back your child’s affection with special toys or relaxed rules. You’ll only set a bad precedent and reward her behavior. Besides, the one thing she really wants (even when she’s acting like she doesn’t) is you.
Your life now
Feeling bored during your child’s tea parties, block-building, or attempts to play Candyland? Of course you do sometimes. Playing with a preschooler can be tedious business for grown-ups. They’re notoriously bossy, impetuous, and into doing the same thing again and again.
Don’t feel bad about encouraging your child to play alone sometimes; it builds her independence. Also look for alternatives you can do together without losing your sanity, like cooking or gardening, playing outside, or taking a walk. Or let your child imitate your activities while you work, for example, at her own “desk” or play kitchen.
Singing to Sister
She’s sleeping and it’s KILLING HIM that he can’t wake her up. I agreed to let him sing to her if he could do it quietly.
