Monday, January 30, 2012

YOU are doing a great job!

I'm sure you say this numerous times throughout the day to your kids:  Great job! , I am proud of you!  Keep up the good work!.  How often does someone say that to you?  How often do you stop and take a moment to pat yourself on the back?  Stop and do it now!  Motherhood is one of the greatest Gifts. But it can also be thankless.  We are rewarded each day with hugs and kisses.  But when your 3 year old twins are both throwing tantrums it is hard to remember those smiles, kisses and tiny hands patting your face!

Over the past two weeks I had two night and day experiences at Wegmans with the twins.  Let's start with the bad one first.  We got to the store late afternoon on a weekend and needed to do a "big shop".  Big mistake - usual nap time for the twins and the store was very, very crowded.  After we finally found a parking spot, we went in only to discover that there were no "beep beep carts" (you know the large carts that look like a car and feel like pushing a semi down the aisle!).  Both twins melted down - all through produce, all through the bakery. Not even the cookie lady could calm them down.  So, we left and boy did we get some dirty looks that day. (You know the ones - the people who don't have kids glare at you like you should just make the kids shut up). At least with both twins screaming they cleared the aisles and it was easy to get out!

Rewind to the week before.  We went to Wegmans and scored a "beep beep cart".  It was 9:15am on a week day and I only needed a few things.  Twins did great - they were laughing and singing, helping find things on the shelves that we needed for supper.  All went well until it was time to leave.  Then the screaming started....this time it was "we don't want to leave, we want to look more!"  Finally got out the car.  It was very cold and windy that day. It was a circus act to get both kids in the car, the groceries in the car and hold on to the cart so it doesn't roll off with my purse, then once everything is loaded in I needed to take the cart back!  Out of the blue a lady came up to me and said "Let me help you, you are working so hard and doing such a great job, taking the cart is the least I can do. God Bless".  I did not know this woman and had never seen her before or seen her since.  At that minute it was exactly the help I needed, but more importantly, they were the exact words I needed to hear. 

You are doing a Great Job!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Magic of Potty Candy

Potty training is no easy task.  When you are potty training twins it can be daunting!  Keep in focus the light at the end of the tunnel - no more trips to the big box stores for diapers, pull-ups, wipes and triple paste!  Think of all the money you will save!  Your multiples are individual children.  It is something that each child needs to be ready for.  If potty training them at the same time is overwhelming and just too messy, just focus on one kid at a time.  Always invite the other kid(s) to go potty too and encourage them.  But keep the focus on one child.  Chances are the other one(s) will follow!

Be prepared and include the kids!  Take them to Target (or Walmart) with you - let them pick out their own potty, kando wipes, handsoap and big kid underpants.  It is important for each child to have their own potty to help them feel special and grown up!  Also pick up some books from the dollar section and designate these as the potty books.  Make sitting on the potty fun and special - not scary!  That covers the kids - for you, pick up a container of clorox wipes and some plastic gloves!

Praise and rewards are powerful!  Find and use what works for your kids.  That can be charting, stickers, prizes or candy! In our house stickers don't do too much.  But Hershey Kisses and M&M's have magical powers!  We dole out 1 piece of candy for #1 and two pieces of candy for #2 and it works!  Sometimes you need to confirm that the deed was done becuase my kids will go in the bathroom and flush and think they should get a hershey kiss!  Good luck!

About the author:  I am a full time stay at home mom of 4, who works part-time from home!  I had 4 kids in 4 years, including one set of multiples!  My kids are now 7, 5, 3 & 3, and yes it does get easier as they get older!  I currenlty have 3 kids potty trained and working on the last!