1 - Heard this song on the radio and loved it. I think it was on the alt station but maybe it was the pop station? Dunno... but I could see this being a song that I hate by the end of the summer because the radio is always playing it.
2 - I need help in the following three areas. Anyone with some good advice please leave me a comment below and give me your suggestions!!!!
- Monitor screen time for my kids in a way they understand and seems fair to them, as in everyone gets to watch something they like and they're not bickering amongst themselves and complaining to me.
- Teach my kids to be empathetic / sympathetic. Related to this is apologizing because they mean it and not because they think they're about to get in trouble.
- Read to my kids at the end of the day. You know, the end of the day when I don't want anyone to touch me or talk to me and I'm just done but the kids want to sit on my lap and have me read to them.
3 - Sneak peek of the truffula trees I made for L's upcoming 5th birthday party.
4 - Recently I learned that JF can eat Oreos. Oreos! I always assumed there'd be dairy in them but there's not (which is really probably very wrong but I don't care because I found something else my super-allergic kid can eat!)
I've tried making a few dairy and egg free cookies at home but no one really cared for them. They were all ones I found on Pinterest that said things like, "These are SO good and good for you!" and then my family and I ate them and we were all like, "These are SO good only if the only sugar you ever eat is in fruit. We should go to the lake and feed these to the ducks."
It's nice to have a treat I can give my kid that's actually a treat. Oreos!
5 - As I was putting the Oreos in my grocery cart I felt much guilt and thought, "What would Leanne and Cynthia think of me?" And then I thought, "Leanne and Cynthia won't judge. They won't judge." They're probably judging right now.
6 - Sarah at Fumbling Toward Grace has been running a series called "No More Mommy Wars" and it's been excellent. Various guest bloggers have covered a whole slew of topics including nursing, c-sections, and letting your baby cry it out. Sarah invited me to be a part of it and I discussed why we are not a co-sleeping family, why it just doesn't work for us. You can read it here, if you're interested.
7 - Today L is 5 years old. She is smart, caring, helpful, and beautiful. She is talented and creative and she impresses me every single day.
Happy Birthday to my sweetie pie! I love you, kiddo!
No to keep rubbing it in, but just wait until they're older and you can require them to come to an agreement on something to watch or they get nothing at all .
ReplyDeleteAs for all little ones, I like "kid of the day." Make magnets with their pictures and one little magnetic frame that says "kid of the day" and if there's a choice to make that day, the kid of the day gets to make the choice. Which isn't to say they get to rule over everything in the house, just the little things that would have to be decided in favor of someone anyway.
I just finished off my box of oreos today, and I'm not allergic to anything..I just think oreos taste delicious. From a dietitian who has worked with a few parents pleading for help for their kids with allergies..if their kid is able to eat oreos...I'd say please please please give your kid oreos and don't feel guilty about it.
ReplyDeleteHA! No judgement here from the lady who went crazy on Easter candy not so long ago... (I mean c-r-a-z-y). But seriously, I was going to send you a recipe for chocolate chip cookies I've been making that are, yes paleo, but also egg free. I like them a whole lot, my husband tolerates them. My kids love them. Super easy if you have all the ingredients. Let me know if you want to give it a whirl.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to beautiful little Lydia as well!
I would love the recipe! Thank you.
DeleteMy son is allergic to eggs and I use an egg replacer that i found in the natural foods section of our grocery store. It works really well, basically it is just a combination of starches and it is gluten free, wheat free, and free of egg, milk, lactose and soy. The brand is PaneRiso Foods. As far as replacing butter, have you tried coconut oil? I haven't done that myself but I know a lot of people using coconut oil and they really love it. Hope this helps...
ReplyDeleteI am familiar with egg substitutes but I've never tried coconut oil, mostly because it's super expensive, but if it can make a decent cookie for my son it may be worth it.
DeleteBUT - is coconut really part of the nut family? He's also very allergic to peanuts and we're supposed to stay away from all nuts. Anyone know?
Bonnie! (sorry to jump on here again). We use coconut oil for just about everything...but if he is allergic, there are other substitutes, like grapeseed oil for instance. If you are interested in buying coc oil, we get a HUGE jug from amazon that lasts us for months and months for a pretty good price.. Not terrible in the long run. I also get our alternate flours there too.
DeleteHere's a quick article on peanut allergies and coconut oil btw:http://www.livestrong.com/article/486549-can-i-eat-coconut-even-with-a-peanut-allergy/
I don't know if coconut is really a nut or not. One of our neighbors has a child that is allergic to everything and he can tolerate coconut products.
DeleteI've heard that Costco has coconut oil fairly cheap. If you don't have a membership, maybe you know someone who does and would be willing to buy you some.
Coconut is not a nut! I've even read allergy statements that say it's ok for nut allergies. Costco's is under 30 cents an ounce. I buy a 5 gallon bucket for 21 cents an ounce-but that's obviously extreme for you.
DeleteActually, coconut can cause problems for people who have nut allergies - not all people, but some. One of my friends is a nurse who specializes in pediatrics, and she has said that she does not recommend coconut for kids who have strong allergies to nuts, as they can also have a reaction to coconut. The reaction isn't at the same level as, say, a peanut, but they can still have one.
DeleteWell, maybe I can get my hands on some and do a skin test on James and just watch him for awhile in case he has a delayed reaction. He needs to see his allergist again anyways because he had a random reaction while playing outside the other day...
DeleteAnd so if cookies call for 1 stick of butter you use 8 Tbsp of coconut oil? Is that how it works? And it comes out the same?
Yes-8 tbsp. But I wouldn't say it's the "same". It wont be quite as delectable. But's it's as good as it gets. I've been popping popcorn on the stove in coconut oil and then adding melted oil on top with salt. It's dang good.
Delete4-I babysat for a large Catholic family that made the kids say "sorry" when they got out of time-out, etc. I thought it was so dumb. "They don't mean it. What's the point?" But after a while they began to say it on their own and actually mean it. It took a long time, and they still only meant it sometimes. But I think it's one of those "fake it til you make it" kind of things. I bet it'll be the same for your kids. Eventually they will mean it.
ReplyDeleteMy two year old is deathly allergic to nuts, eggs, peanuts and seafood and severely or mildly allergic to the rest of the world. Since there are very few processed foods that are not contaminated with allergens, I make almost everything. I use Ener G egg replacer for recipes that call for eggs (except scrambled eggs). She also likes oreos, fruit flats, chips, etc. Maybe that will help too?
ReplyDeleteNo!!!!! No judgment from me!! If the kiddo can eat Oreos, give him Oreos!!! Plus, I just stuffed my face the other day with White Castle! See, now who's judging who!?!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about all those foods that claim to taste great, but in reality taste like cardboard! Glad I'm not the only one! You have a tough circumstance!! Let me think and see if I can come up with any treats without eggs or dairy that taste good!
Happy Birthday, Lydia!!!
Oh, I love that series! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I remember when I found out Oreos didn't have dairy. I was both excited and appalled that a CHOCOLATE CREAM cookie didn't have dairy. But I think I bought like three packages at once.
ReplyDeleteOreos are a staple "treat" around here (by which I mean for special occasions)! I say "they're so artificial even my kids can eat them!" ...fortunately, being gluten-free myself, I'm not tempted to indulge, otherwise it would be too much temptation for me. Don't feel guilty! REJOICE that there's something your kids can enjoy that's "normal"!
ReplyDelete...you can also make pie crusts for fruit pies, etc. out of the vanilla ones by crushing them up.
Hi Bonnie - as far as the tv goes - our kids get one show at night before bed, and we have a schedule (I just wrote the kids name down on a piece of paper, and we repeat) of who gets to pick each night. If the others don't like it, they can go play or read a book. It worked wonders to stop all of the fighting to decide on a show.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the answer to having sympathetic kids. I did start making the boys give their sister a hug when they hurt her because that seems to make them not want to hurt her anymore! Otherwise, they just have to say I'm sorry and the offended person has to say I forgive you. If it makes you feel any better, my mom had 6 kids and she swore we would all kill each other before we grew up. We're all great friends now :)
I love the song! Very catchy!
ReplyDeleteTeaching empathy-you might check out this clip. I really like this discipline program, and have learned many useful tools. However the focus is on teaching the adult how to handle the situation and children learning from that. And just to be honest I have a love-hate relationship with Conscious Discipline, but I have found it to be what I want and desire for my parenting, even though many days I am far from accomplishing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P56f8v-DRTY&feature=share&list=PLE0DBE442E3E01146
Book reading-Maybe they each get their own seat or blanket to sit on and you read to them like a teacher would read to a class?
Love the truffula trees! Very over-achiever! You throw the cutest kids parties. I'm always so impressed!
I have really enjoyed the No More Mommy Wars Series. I can't wait to read what you wrote.
Happy birthday to Lydia!
I make the kids bring their pillows and blankets and surround the chair that I read in, because it's impossible for me to read with 2 kids trying to turn pages, etc. Then, I go in teacher mode and read as if I were in a classroom. :-)
ReplyDelete#6) I am all about what helps the sleeping, whatever that is. I do not function well on low sleep. For me that means we do a good bit of co-sleeping and, at least in these parts, that choice is the one that generates the criticism. People just can't believe I let the baby in my bed or nurse at night or anything like that. Because I'm spoiling them or something.
ReplyDeleteI think I need to set this song to play when my alarm goes off. I mean, I KNOW I "gotta get up". But it's just so hard! Thanks for sharing. I don't really listen to the radio, so I miss stuff.
ReplyDelete#2 For reading together, most often we sit together on a big blanket while I read. We had a phase where everyone was always messing with each other so I made little "reading rugs" so each child had her own space the others were not allowed in.
ReplyDelete#5 True friends don't judge!!!
#6 I LOVE this!! I don't see why it seems to matter so much to some mothers what other people do with their own children! We all have different personalities and circumstances..one size does not fit all!
Dairy-free surprises...Keebler makes a chocolate-dipped layered wafer bar that is dairy-free. And Mrs. Freshley's makes dairy-free Honey Buns. I have been baking milk-and egg-free for 10 years. I have found one good recipe each for cookies, banana bread, and birthday cake. Contact me if you'd like them. Also, check your frosting aisle. Several of the "chocolate fudge" frostings (not to be confused with "milk chocolate") are dairy free.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Marilyn, I have a great banana bread recipe and a "crazy cake" chocolate cake that's safe and good but I'd love to have your cookie recipes as long as they are nut free and don't taste like bananas. Please say you can help with this! :)
DeleteAll you smart ladies who suggested reading it teacher-style - you are brilliant! I am usually all touched out by the end of the day and reading to them wouldn't be such a big deal if they sat at my feet. Love it!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I forgot about in respect to screen time: At one point we did a "ticket" system. I printed off a bunch of tickets and cut them out, then handed them out to the children whenever I noticed they were engaging in desirable behavior (ie using words to solve a problem, asking for something instead of whining, sharing with a sibling, waiting their turn, etc.) Each ticket was worth 5 minutes of screen time, and whoever had collected and turned them in was the one to pick the show. It worked on a lot of levels because it limited screen time, it helped me to notice the children doing good things, it encouraged the children to engage in positive behavior, and it eliminated the screen time negotiating. Maybe this will work for you and maybe it won't.
ReplyDeletePS It was all Joey's idea.
Happy birthday, Lydia! She is so beautiful--she really, truly is. Even more importantly than that, though, it seems like she has a beautiful heart. I would expect nothing less from Travis and Bonnie's children! You guys are the best :) Hope Lydia enjoys her Lorax party. I loved that movie! Such a fun idea!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Don't worry about the Oreo thing, Bonnie! I bought an ice cream sandwich for after dinner. My Weight Watcher leader would probably not approve...but you have to enjoy life when you can!
ReplyDeleteI love your truffula tree!
ReplyDeleteI'm not so bothered by the dairy-free oreos, but it does remind me of the day I discovered (through a Jewish friend) that Doritos aren't kosher. The question of what it is about them that violates kosher law has bothered me to this day.
I have several severe allergies and a life saving cook book(s) for me are from Cybele Pascal. Her recipes are really good, so good in fact that things like her cookies are now being sold in stores. Her recipes are altered so all the top 8 allergies are gone while still tasting good. She is also a great person in general, if you like her facebook page and ask questions she even responds!
ReplyDeleteI have coconut oil you can use if you want, just fb me.
ReplyDeleteAFA apologizing, It makes me uncomfortable when an adult forces a child to say "sorry" when the child obviously isn't. What does that teach the child?
the empty meaningless word "sorry" makes things better? I should lie and say I'm sorry when I really am not, or else I'm in more trouble?
Sometimes they just don't understand and that comes with age. I like the idea of making amends - talk about how the child can make it better (sometimes it means an apology, asking for forgiveness. sometimes it's a hug or helping fix what was broken, etc). I hope that makes sense.
stefanie dingledine