Tag Archives: toddler

Fridays come and go

Posted by adrian's mom in being a mom, Dream Project, parenting, toddler living and tagged with , , , , , , ,

Another friday, already.

I have been swamped with my pivitol tracker messages… so much work and so little time.  But this is great news, which means I am closer to launching, the soft launch.  Lets be honest, the test launch.

On another note, I have noticed that my son, has suddenly stepped into being TWO.  Now I have begun to understand why they shake their heads and say something like, “Oh yeah, the terrible twos”  Last night after I had just finished cutting all the broccoli and chard for my son we went BOOM.  He ran up behind me and bites my, bum… hand on pot stirring veggies, food went flying, we fell to the floor and suddenly I couldn’t figure out how we got there.   Scared that something had burned him, and shocked that I didn’t start screaming from the bite… we sat with pieces of broccoli and swiss chard scattered on our kitchen floor, gas flame still dancing. This became our first official TIME OUT, I sat him down quietly and said now you don’t bit mommy, you need to sit and be quiet by yourself!  Low and behold… he sat.  I think it helped that I had the music on, as he started to snap his fingers and pretend to play the drums, I reminded him to be quiet and still and he did…
WOW.

I guess there are first for everything.  We are at 2, what am I to do?  Teach, love and remember that he is only two, yes only 2…
Until next time.

A mental health day-off

Posted by adrian's mom in being a mom, being a wife, everyday family life, i forgot about me, parenting and tagged with , , , , , ,

Last Friday I took a personal day… a leave of absence so to speak, or you could call it a mental health day.  I was sick of it, all of it.  Fortunately for me I have a wonderful friend who came to my house and gathered me and my bag for an overnight respite.  She asked me on the way out of the city what I wanted to do, if there was somewhere I wanted to go, or if I’d like to just go rest.  Now, first I thought, oh this will be perfect I will get so much done, I can work, work, work… then what came out of my mouth was entirely different.  “I want to sit.”  She took me to her beautiful home, yeah.  I began to melt, I unpacked.  I sat.  And then the little screaming bug went off in my head, YOU have to get stuff done, there is so much to do… and up and out came my computer, my paperwork, pen, iPad… I began.  The results, nothing to my satisfaction, so I quit!  I retired at 4:00.

The rest of the day was pleasant I felt the blood coming back into my face, the corners of my mouth began to perk up and my shoulders began to fall, at least a half-inch.  I didn’t have much to say, which for  me is rare, but my tank as they say was empty.  I drank more water.  We got in her cute little green VW bug and went for a drive and watched the sun begin to settle down this side of the planet.  Beautiful.  Breathing.  I began breathing again, full breaths, down to the bottom of my lungs, and my shoulders had fallen another half-inch.  By nightfall, and after eating a perfectly cooked streak from the grill, I indulged in my favorite treat… peanut M&Ms!  Life at that moment, perfect.  I could barely carry a conversation, as my mind began shutting down on me, so I retired to the bed!  I don’t even remember putting my pajamas on or taking the pillows down, did I say I was tired?  I think I was more exhausted at that moment, then when I encountered sleep exhaustion from when my son was an infant.  I slept peacefully.

On awakening, I pulled my yoga mat and did my usual routine which brought me a full smile.  My shoulders at this point back to resting position.  My stomach was no longer tied in knots either.  YEAH!

Later that afternoon when my son, and husband came to get me, I ran to see them.  Let me say that again, I ran to see them!  I was excited.  Happy.  And I was suddenly reminded of what is important, and why I have a family, and why I do this life that I do.  I realize that at any point, we as moms can make decisions that will affect the rest of our lives, and when slammed against the wall, we, me, I can make decisions that don’t make sense to me or anyone else, but they can be made in an instant of insanity.  Those moments are real.  Those moments are the ones we, me, I have to beat…  I have to take these mental health days, I must have these days off… I love my husband, and my son… and I certainly don’t want to make a dreadful decision in the exhaustion.  Moms, I think we should have a once a month mandatory day off, what do you think?

Today is Monday, and I can successfully face the world, my shoulders are relaxed, I’m breathing, and my stomach is back to normal… oh what a wonderful adventure being a mom!

Im going to pull out my hair and then his…

Posted by adrian's mom in parenting and tagged with , , ,

JUST KIDDING!

I have to say that this parenting stuff is not easy!  We are now at the picky eater stage… thank goodness for all these tips from Dr. Sears!

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-infants-toddlers/feeding-picky-eater-17-tips

Check them out if you are in my shoes!  I'm really practicing number 13 and 17!  oh, yes thank you to those who walk before me!

the importance of time

Posted by adrian's mom in Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

I was recently thinking about time, the time that I have had without picking up a drink, or a chocolate doughnut; both of which have been many long years.  Then I started thinking about time in regards to my son, and how quickly it passes.  Which then brought me to the simplicity of time, and the only way it passes…  minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day.

Some people I come across have no regard for time, and I believe I use to be in this group, that is until I became a mother.  Now, time is precious, and even more valuable then the present moment, if that makes any sense.  I believe that I need all the time, and experiences that I have had, up to this point to deal with and know how to handle the trials, smiles, qualms, and spats of parenting, motherhood, being a wife and a entrepreneurial business woman.

I talk to a lot of people who shrug their shoulders and say, “Yes, I know, I know…”  I think (I could be totally off on this point, but I don’t think so…) what is happening is that they are interpreting the subject that I am speaking of how they want to see/hear it, then slightly change the subject, and say, “Yes uhuh, I totally get it.”  Now this is where time comes into play, and experience.  Unless you are a mom, married, parenting a toddler right now, and creating a business, then NO, you, do not say, yes you get it.  YOU don’t get it.

One thing I really appreciate is sitting with other women who have walked before me, the ones who are rich with life experience.  Years of time.  I admire, and look up to these ladies, they have families, husbands, companies… They are the ones with time who understand.  They have the time to listen with intent, to offer ideas, suggestions, and opinions in which I can honestly listen too.

As I grow in time, and years I find it more of a challenge to find these women.  But the women who I do have on my hit list of names to call, I value, they are my lifesavers!  I adore them, and to them I owe this post, the unsung heroes of motherhood and life!  Thank  you.

Lessons I'm learning as a Mother

Posted by adrian's mom in being a mom, parenting, toddler living, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , ,


Lessons I’m learning as a Mother.

Honestly, there are so many discoveries and obstacles and triumphs that I come across each day as a mother I thought that it might be helpful to start recording them…

1. For the most part I am not qualified to judge what my son needs to eat, his stomach tells me loud and clear!
2. Sleep is not necessary for survival, but water is absolutely.
3. He knows when he is tired, I don’t have to force him to sleep.
4. I need to eat in order to keep up with him, or else I become, well not very nice…
5. It’s okay to cry in my closet alone, with a friend on a playdate or on the toilet in the middle of the day.
6. Mommy friends are absolutely necessary to have in order to vent about the husband.
7. Alone time has to happen at least once a week, more than the jaunt on the toilet.
8. My husband needs “Dad” time.
9. All the books don’t have the answers, but intuition will help with finding answers.
10.I can’t do this all by myself, when they said it takes a village…they weren’t kidding!

I’m going to keep recording them… and I may just go back to day one…  Like… he didn’t just pop out and end up on my boob… and say yum this is how I’m going to feed myself… NO there was teaching involved!

Needed: Spiritual Awakening.

Posted by adrian's mom in parenting, toddler living, Uncategorized and tagged with , , ,

being a toddler
Well, here I am, a mom. Yes, indeed eighteen months later and it is truly starting to settle in, and I’m beginning to feel resentment. I can’t stand this horrible feeling. I am the type of person that can’t afford to be in any kind of resentment, let alone let it fester for days! I am resenting just about everything… my lack of enthusiasm, my tiredness, my lack of sound sleep, my inability to brush it all off, the gluten-free animal crackers that taste like sawdust, the constant trimming of my son’s nails, the scratches on my face when I don’t trim his nails, lack of time, my inability to truly care for myself, let alone the dog, my husband or the car! I am in deep trouble here.
Today while I was at the park, I met another mom, her and my son were born about three weeks apart and recently she moved to LA (my old digs!). While I was with her today, I realized that I am a train wreck, literally! She showed up all bright and shiny, new shoes, well manicured nails, calm brushed hair and a truly peaceful presence! Her son, calm. He has always been rather chill; he sleeps 2+hours a day and all the way through the night, he talks, does his sign language and plays nice… meaning he shares. I watch her and her son together, there is an element that exists between the two of them that I don’t’ have with my son, and I’m envious. I asked her how she does it, she tells me that it’s natural for her. She is a natural at being a mother? I can’t stand that thought. I am not a natural, but isn’t that why women are here, to help reproduce our species? I am puzzled. She also told me that she didn’t want to miss anything that her son experiences and she had made a decision with her husband that she would not be going back to work anytime soon, that she would care for their son full time. WHOA… here I am counting the moments until my helper comes to relieve me three days a week, and trying to figure out how I can get back to work, or create enough money so that I can get more help… something is terribly wrong with me.
I took my son to Whole Foods to buy our groceries, I sat him in the shopping cart with his monkey, he listened to the music that played overhead throughout the store. He began to swivel in his seat, rocking from hip to hip. A totally new movement, then he added his head nodding back and forth, all to the beat of the song. I watched him without him noticing that I was watching, so he would continue to enjoy his moment, AHHH-mazing! He was having a great time with me. I told him that we had to find Dada’s coconut juice and he went crazy when we finally found it… happily bouncing while pointing to the juice. Are these the moments that my friend is talking about? I think they are, these are the moments that my husband misses, parents that work full time miss, parents that are absent or crazy like I have been. We miss these first time moments, these precious, never going to happen again, FIRST(s).
I think this is where the spiritual awakening has to come into play. In order for me to survive (this) toddlerhood and parenting I think I must have some kind of awakening to it. I want to wake up in the morning and be ready to play, make eggs and be happy to pick them up when they land on the floor after he had thrown them around the room. I would like to be able to deal with tantrums and sand in every crevice of his body. I would like to acknowledge him when he wakes up and starts saying, mama, mama, mama. I need something to kick in and start working for me, please.
As this day ends I realize that if I just keep asking to be a better mom I may end up there, right? Tonight, I am truly grateful that I was able to spend the day with him, and watch him dance in his seat, and lean into me and snuggle. Tomorrow, I pray for the spiritual experience to be a better mom, to be present, aware and honest with myself when I need to stop and look at him for who he is… he is my perfect son, a gift.