Potty Training While Traveling

Image: Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I find myself to be an optimistic person- the glass is usually half-full type of gal. Until recently when my family and I had taken a family vacation: A 10 hour car ride with three children 6 and under traveling through 4 different states to visit various attractions and family members. Yes- the thought of that type of traveling may make you sick to your stomach and leave a sour taste in your mouth for the next week. And I do understand that from the outside looking in I may need a straight jacket with a rubber round room to accompany my mom sized-ego. Would you believe me if I told you that keeping the kids occupied during the ride was the least of my worries? Hello to portable DVD players and sticker books and "Uh- come on now" to potty training!

If there is one aspect about my personality (or flaw as my husband will vouch for) is that I am stubborn. I understand that my little man is not 100% (what I would consider-to-be) potty trained. He is very skilled at peeing on command but lacks in telling me when he has the urge to go on his own. So, unless I am on top of his business he will have an accident. Rest assured he does tell me AFTER the fact that he needs to go when he is soaked in urine. We simply need to fine-tune his timing! Long story short- I refused to put him in diapers for the road trip!

By now you may be wiping the sweat off of your brow and begin to mutter the words- what did you do to prevent accidents while in the car???

Here are three tips from the trenches that I can share with you:

1. {And the most important} limit liquids. We took breaks every two hours from driving and stretched our legs and bladders for a half an hour or so at a time. About twenty minutes before we were going to make a stop I allowed my toddler a non-sugary drink (aka water). Can't get your little one to drink water? I suggest extremely watering down the juice (sugary drinks such as juice can loosen bowels if taken in high amounts). Limit this source of liquid to no more than 6 ounces.

2. Too scared about the no diaper thing when you know no potty is in sight? Remember that changing pad you used to use? Tuck that under your little one to protect the car seat while on the road.

3. At your rest stop take your youngster straight to the bathroom- first thing. Hang out for twenty minutes or so and have them go again to help empty his bladder. I refrained from any major liquids during the rest stops knowing that we would be back on the road again for two hours before we were able to stop again.

There you have it. 10 hours from point A to point B (well, 12 hours with scheduled stops). And another on the way back and only one accident due to an upset belly from eating like a vactioner.

Have you traveled with your not-so-potty trained toddler? What worked for you?

8 month old with RSV

It's that time of year again- January. My husband and I cringe every 01 of every year. For some unknown reason there has been one common denominator- RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus. My poor little man; he is just one week shy of being 9 months old but sounds like a 40-year smoker. It has been a long few evenings (I have my little man on my lap now as I am typing). I want to write this post to make you  aware of the signs and symptoms and to provide you with further information.

RSV is commonly confused with a cold. One major difference that I have witnessed with all three children is the loud wheezing and a cough that doesn't help at all. Today, when I brought Gavin in to be checked out, my pediatrician informed me that one tricky aspect of RSV is that it can become serious rather quickly. Anthony, my first born, held true to that notion when we had a 2 a.m. rush to the hospital in January of '07. He gasped to breathe; his lips turned a shade of blue; he was lethargic but could not sleep- I don't remember a time when I was so scared because just a few hours prior he simply had "the sniffles." Luckily, upon arriving at the hospital, we were seen right away and he was given Albuterol to help open up his lung passages. No other medications help "cure" RSV.

RSV is most commonly a threat to premature babies, or infants who have poor lung functions. I am very fortunate that neither of my children fall into that category, however, one of my girlfriend's little angels does (both actually). Her little girl has been taking a preventative RSV shot every few months during peek season for the last two years. Talk about scary.

RSV is very contagious and can be spread in numerous ways. Good old fashion hand washing and staying away from those who are sick is the best advice that I have researched. In my opinion (and I have a lot of them) that is not easy to do with a preschooler in the house!

Some good Websites to further educate yourself with (also my resources):
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/rsv.html
http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/

First Born Acceptance to Sibling

When my son was born almost 5 years ago, he was the center of my universe. He was the first grand-baby on my husband's side and the second on my side (of many to follow). Needless to say, there was not much in competition. Flash-forward one and a half year and one miscarriage later, he remained the center of my world. After the loss of my second baby (as a rebound) we (I) had decided to get a puppy in which my son had named. Over the next week the puppy, Coco, had received a little extra attention from strangers and family members than my son Anthony. My then  18 month old had a very hard time dealing with the fact that he had to share his spotlight. It was that exact experience when I realized we were in for it when the time came for baby number two. About two weeks after we had purchased the puppy, and unbeknownst to myself and my husband, I had learned that I was about 10 weeks pregnant!

And so it began......................

Maybe it was poor timing, or maybe I should have skipped on the puppy, because I cannot even begin to explain the hardship and pain that became between me and my first born child. As my pregnancy with Aryanna became more real to Anthony, he became more out of control. I swear to you that the "terrible two's" hit my son full force during my pregnancy and the first 6 months of Aryanna's life worse than I had ever seen in a child. Now I know that EVERY mother has probably declared that at one time or another- but just trust me when I say I spent many countless nights crying and blaming myself. I felt like I betrayed him.

After Aryanna was born he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her and acted up every chance he had. He did anything for attention- and he did not care if the attention was good or bad as long as he was getting some. He started hitting, crying and throwing fits for no reason whatsoever. I did what all the "experts" suggested to get over this jealousy hump: I'd encourage him to help with his little sister- he'd pitch a fit. I spent extra time with him by going on mommy dates- he'd act up when we got home. I did everything under the sun and even took some parenting classes and read numerous parenting books. You know what worked? Patience and time.

I promised myself that I would let nature takes it course and allow him to accept her on his terms. I only preached that one day Aryanna will be very special to him.

Finally that day came when she was just under 1 year old. They began to play- together. They shared- together (well, for the most part- let's not go crazy!). They laugh all the time. And yes they have their sibling squabbles- but at least it's together! Finally I felt as though there was a break through. Then I got pregnant again........

This time I was especially nervous. I thought for sure that I would start from square one: the obnoxious behavior for attention, ignoring of the baby, always angry and on and on and on. For nine long months these thoughts rolled in the back of my head while I watch a little boy blossom in front of me. He began to mature (slowly).

My third child, Gavin, was born about a little over 7 months ago. We have had our ups and downs with some aspects of attention-grabbing behavior, but nothing like it was the first time. Gavin is absolutely in love with his older brother, Anthony- and Anthony is always a BIG help to his little bro. This time around he wants to help! He loves to make his little brother and sister laugh and is very protective of them.

I by no means am a parenting expert, but I can suggest this to you: you know your child. If he feels pressured if you ask him for help or force him to accept a younger sibling take a step back- especially if you have/had a difficult toddler like Anthony was. I know this is hard to swallow, but time, patience and a little extra love will get you through this. To this day I can tell when Anthony needs a little extra love and feels like he is lost in the mix. I try to do a little something special WITH him. Whether it be going to see a movie, playing a board game just the two of us, or hopping around in a creek (tomboy at heart) it is a time in which I can show him that he is still very special to me and that because he is the "Big Brother" he can do some things that babies cannot do. I am very proud of his acceptance to change today, and look forward to watching the three of them growing up- together.

Top Ten Tuesdays

I consider myself to be a pretty "hardy" person living in an area that endures 4 seasons of weather. One would think that I would be used to the cold and snow by now; considering I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Yet- a looonnnggg winter can bring on an even longer day when you are stuck inside with the little ones. Here is a list of ideas of what you can do with your bambinos during the winter months.

Sometimes my Top Ten Tuesdays are fun- sometimes they are useful. This one is both fun and useful:

10. Good ole' fashioned tents out sheets and chairs. Turn it into a book nook by having your child use a flashlight and pile of books.

9. Make popsicles using a Popsicle tray. We made ours with yogurt, juices and Kool-aid. Or use recycled yogurt containers and spoons. Freeze accordingly or use the great outdoors if you get cold enough!

8. Have fun with shaving cream- great sensory play. Add food coloring to make it into a lesson about mixing colors!

7. Rice bucket- can't get outside to play in the sand? Get an old bucket or tray and fill it with rice for another great sensory play. My kids love it when I hide items in the rice and let them try to find it!

6. Turn snow into a work of art! Fill spray bottles with water and food coloring and tie-dye the snow.

5. Have your little darlings draw and color a picture on a sheet of white paper, laminate it and cut it into puzzle pieces for them to put together.

4. Have a scavenger hunt around the house to introduce/reinforce letters and letter sounds. Example: Tell your little one that they need to find 5 items that start with the letter "R."

3. When I was a child, we played a game called "Sardines." If you are not familiar with this game it is the complete opposite of Hide-n-go-Seek. One person hides and everyone else counts. When they count to 10 they then search for the one person who is hiding. The twist? Once you find the person who is hiding- you hide with them until only one person is left searching. It's pretty amusing having everyone squeezing into one area and still hide- no laughing ;-)

2. Make homemade play dough- (I use 2 cup flour, 1/2 cup water, 1 cup salt, 1 teaspoon oil- mix together in bowl). Create something cool and allow drying and hardening. Paint with tempera paints when hardened completely.

1. Take out your Camcorder or digital camera and create a short film. (I will be making a tutorial on this at a later date: TBC................)


Where I hopped today: 

4 Year Old Attention Seeking Behavior

There comes a point in every mother's life when she needs to take a step back and analyze a situation that is reoccurring more often than not. When I was studying to be a teacher, we were taught constantly to re-evaluate every aspect of what happens in our classroom every day. Whether it is a lesson plan taught- how can I do it better for the next class? A behavior management technique- could I have done it a different way? Or a time management issue- I need to spend less time talking and more focus on the activity! As a parent, I think we get caught up too much with our emotions and our every day struggles to take a step back and unveil what the true problem is behind our child's behavior.

Although I am not a behavioral specialist, I can tell you one thing for sure- your child's personality traits play a major role in how your child reacts and acts to any given situation. For instance, my eldest of 3 children, Anthony, is four years old and has a very complex personality. He is by far the most outgoing, caring, goofy boy that you can ever meet- he always asks me to smile and wants a hug constantly. He can go a little far off the deep end with his goofiness- but it's all in good nature. However, he is (what I believe) immature for his age, has issues with jealousy, and is very competitive.

Where does that leave me? Picture this: I am playing with one of his siblings because at that moment he is doing something independently. He then notices I am paying attention to someone else so he first attempts to do something goofy (or at least appears to be) and accidently hurts me. Once he notices I am displeased he then wants a hug and nudges his younger sibling off of my lap. Once I believe the situation is being handled, he then asks me to do something that is unreasonable to do at the time. So I reply with a "No- not right now." Then he begins to whine and cry.

He has also begun debating- EVERYTHING -and apparently with everyone. This constant form of arguing adds stress within the home and makes me feel that I have no control- which I hate!

So step back. What has been different? When it begin?

Looking way back my son's behavior grew worse after the birth of my second born. Once my daughter was able to play with Anthony- she was all right and his behavior also began to improve. What did I do to ease some tension during this time? We did some mommy and me things together and I also implemented behavioral sticker charts. My son's behavior improved and everything was at ease.

Looking back (within the past 6 months or so) what happened? Well, he started preschool everyday and I gave birth to his baby brother about 7 months ago. So a lot has been going on in this little guy’s life. What have I been doing differently? Well, I haven't spent much mommy and me time together- simply because it's harder now and his younger sister either wants to attend or he asks for her company. (Twisted turn of events here!) I also haven't done a behavior modification system as of yet.

What's a classifier with no time to do? Well, it's obvious he needs some attention. I think to start I need to make a conscience effort to give him a little more throughout the day- or set some time for just us two- even if it's reading him an extra story before bed time. If after a week, I see no improvement (or not enough) I will then put on my Super Nanny cape on and set some ground rules down (again). And because he is older, and needs to learn how to control his emotions and jealousy, perhaps instead of a sticker behavior chart, we can track how he feels in situations and then come up with resolutions and solutions. I may make a chart or something of it's sorts for you to share if I come down to it.

All in all, if you take a step back and analyze the whole picture, sometimes you realize that there are reasons as to why your child is acting up. Even if it means you start a parenting journal or blog to account for you and your child's actions!

What about you? Have you ever experienced a situation like mine? Please feel free to share how you over came your child's attention-getting behavior!

6 month old not sitting yet!

Being a mother of 3, I find it very hard at times NOT to compare one child to another. Yes, I know that all the experts and great parenting books out there will tell you not to and that it will drive you insane if you do. Thank goodness I am already insane, because I do secretly compare one child to another in my clan and to other clans as well.

Is it evil that I do so? Well, yes- but I usually just do the comparison in my head and never aloud. For instance, my little man at 6 months of age was not sitting unassisted for more than 30 seconds at a time. Was I worried? Yes! So worried that I thought it was noteworthy to mention it at his 6 month check up. So worried that I dove into my previous children's baby book to see when they sat up alone. My daughter was 4 months old, and my eldest son was 6 months. Why panic then? Because I recall that my eldest could and would sit unassisted for long periods of time.

The peds assured me that my little man is just active- that it's not that he can't do it- he just refuses to practice. It also doesn't help that he is a larger baby (21 lbs. wide and 29.5" long)! They recommended exercising his core muscles to strengthen his back so he can site more efficiently. But how does a mother of a very active 6 month old ensure that he gets the practice in?

Strap him in! The first thing I started doing was placing him in his highchair and giving him toys to play with while I put the dishes away. This way he can not move or flop himself over. He usually lasts about 5 minutes before he protested.

The next thing I did was obtained a Bumbo Baby Seat, Blue. I know, I know- this is my third child and I just got this now! I really never had a reason to use it before- my first and second born would sit (or try) to with a few toys placed in front of him or her. This child throws himself to the floor the very second he is placed into a sitting position- regardless of what toy I used!

We are now approaching the 7 month mark and have been exercising his core for two weeks or so. Once balanced he can sit unassisted for about 2 minutes before he thinks to himself "Forget this lady- I'm making a break for it!" Where he then throws himself to the floor and rolls and scoots forward to get his wiggles out. It's not what my other two were doing, but hey, we're getting there!

Toddler Weaning From Naps

Ti's the season to be napping- fa, la, la, la, la- la, la, maybe not.

There comes a time in every child's life, that viscous cycle, when you make the break from infancy to toddler to preschool. It kind of goes by the theory of you start your life in diapers to usually end your life in diapers- the same goes for naps. My daughter, who is approaching the 2 and a half year mark, is now breaking away from the napping ritual- and mom who just hit 31 begs for one everyday!

If you are reading this and banging your head against the wall- join the club. After going through this with my first born, I see the signs in my daughter: the inconsistent sleep patterns (waking up early one day, sleeping in the next), the has a hard time falling to sleep at night if naps more than 3 days in a row, is unusually perky during the time in which she should be napping, however, is ready to pass out by 6 pm.

If you feel that you are in the same boat- hang in there. I find that if every third or fourth day I allow her not to nap, it's less frustrating. I honestly thought that she would hold onto naps later than her older brother, whom, was a shy over 2 before he gave them up. Nope not my children. However, I do hear that there are children out there who nap until 4 or 5 years of age. I have actually witnessed it working in the day care field for several years.

Typically a child my daughter's age should be sleeping 12-14 hours per day, including naps. I find on the days where she does not need to nap she will sleep about 12 hours at night. On the days she needs a nap she sleeps 10-11 hours at night and will take a 2 hour nap. The days I coax her to nap (because I want to prevent meltdowns for a late afternoon outing) she sleeps 8 hours at night and is miserable the next day.  Although 12-14 is not a magical number, lack of sleep can be devastating to your day and your child's! Read more about your Children's Sleeping Habits to get more information.

Today, my daughter did not need to nap. I knew so because she gave mommy the gift of an 8 o'clock waking (rare occasion- trust me!). The only aspect that bugs me about the nap- no nap- nap again until I get old enough to go without- is that if you do not keep a close eye on your child past 5 pm you may be like me and find your child asleep on the couch- sitting straight up!

Toddler with a sprained ankle!

Just when I thought life can't get any more complicated- my 2 year old sprained her ankle during an adventurous hike in a local park. Thank goodness it was at the end of the walk- because as you may all ready know she is #2 of 3 and we were pretty deep into the woods at one point during the walk. Not to mention she is all drama on top of the fact that a sprained ankle does really hurt! I do have to say that she took it very well. So well that at first I honestly thought she just had something stuck in her sock from the leaf pile she was jumping in. Actually, the only time she really had an issue is when she tried to walk and when the incident occurred it wasn't swollen yet. That was until she woke up from her nap.

My daughter Aryanna is a very independent 2 year old little girl. So, when she refuses to get out of bed from nap and walk out on her own you know there is something wrong. That is when I called her ped. and explained that "My 2 year old was taking a hike today in the woods and twisted her ankle. It didn't appear swollen at the time, however, after she passed out in the car and............" At that moment the nurse stopped me as she shuttered "Passed Out? Why did she pass out!"  Being the calm cool sarcastic woman that I am, I simply replied "uh she was tired from the hike so she took a nap." However, I really wanted to say "Well, she fell from a cliff, slammed her head, twisted her ankle and then passed out. I thought that it would be good to wait 3 hours later to place a phone call" -but I held back! I mean really. Anyway, she wanted x-rays just confirm there was no break. I was fine with that and my daughter was thrilled that her ankle was going to get a photo-op.

3 hours later- 5 stickers (because the nurses couldn't get over how cute she was being), and 15 trillion times I had to remind her that she can't stand on her leg to run around and play- we get the diagnosis: a sprained ankle. I left you (the reader) out there on the cliff, didn't I. Hey this posting isn't mystery diagnosis.

The outcome: plenty of rest, Children's Ibuprofen, stay off the foot, keep it elevated, ice for first 2 days and then heat after that if needed. Can we say milk it? "Mom, I can't stand can you hand me my milk cup" (which is located right in front of me.) Ok, so at times it is cute, looking at her little foot with an ace bandage wrapped around it and the fact that she is extra cuddly. We did get to spend some extra alone time together in the ER, and she was pretty cute when she told everyone the story on how it happened.

What really gets me excited is that I can put to use all of the Singleton socks that I have been collecting for months!

Update (4 days later)- She is finally walking on her leg with a limp ;-( My poor little girl. I am going to give her 2 more days and then I will call her ped. once more if she continues. I know a sprained ankle can take some time to heel- so parent's if you come across this post and are going through the same thing- stay calm and patient- but, if you feel that something is not right call your doctor!

When Time-outs Don't Work, Try This!

When Time-outs don't work, it is time for you to find another effective discipline tool. I am a firm believer that you never stop learning- even if something is your “craft” or “specialty,” there is always room for improvement. (So strange coming from an educator- huh?) Throughout my short 4.5 years of being a parent, I have enrolled in various parenting classes and read numerous books. I took these classes and read these books so I could, for lack of a better term, “enhance” my parenting skills. Every class I took emphasized on one aspect of discipline- Time Outs. Yes, the BIG T.O. of discipline. The instructors of these parenting classes and books give you the guidelines, the do’s and the don’ts, but never really covered the will not’s or the “doesn’t affect my child” aspect!

I found time-outs to be more effective with my first born, although I have to say he never really learned anything from them. I found it to be more of a break from the situation (and for me) than an actual learning experience. Now, I am not saying that time-outs NEVER work- they do, I feel it is more how your individual child handles them. Time-outs influenced him more if he were to sit out from a group activity than if he were to just do something in the private of our own home where he would scream “No I don’t want to” for the entire duration on the time-out step. But, he did stay in one spot. I do have to say that I am very fortunate that neither one of my children will get up and leave from that spot once sent there! My humble apologies and empathy goes to you if you have a child that does refuse to sit ;-(

My daughter, now 2 years and a few months, thinks time-outs are funny. It is so frustrating when I put on my “Super Nanny” face, go through the time-out routine (say sternly, face to face why your child is going to sit in time-out) send her to the time-out step only to have her display a smirk that would make you cringe! Once in time-out she sings and talks to herself. So a time-out is more of a place where she can spend some “me” time and not reflect whatsoever on the issue at large. I (stupidly) still set the timer and ignore her tactics, but am convinced that it really just does not affect her and that she sometimes prefers to be there.

So, I called in the forces. I taught preschool and subbed in on enough Kindergarten classes to know that not everyone uses time-outs all the time. What I find to be more effective at home has all ready been used in many elementary and early education classes for years. The “Traffic Light” concept is a beautiful tool because it not only allows the child to physically see that they are having a “rough day,” you can also carry this system everywhere you go and use it in conjunction with a time out! I used checks, (See Example Here!) but you can use faces, x’s or whatever your heart desires. I found it more of a lesson if the child himself flips over the check to green- to yellow- then to red. I usually use green as a first warning and an age appropriate time-out. Yellow is a second warning, an age appropriate time-out and I take something away. Red is the BIGGIE- time-out, something is taken away and early to bed. This may be too harsh for you (or not enough) but believe me, once you find your groove; I find this to nip bad behavior in the bud pretty quickly.

Add stickers to the pocket to make in more personal.

As I said- I am not against time-outs, because they do work for some, if not most children. If you are all for time-outs, great- just make sure to pick a time-out spot that is not the child's bedroom, that is just out of reach to human civilization and is boring. I have a set of steps that I use off of my kitchen; so my children can hear everything, see a little and participate none. However, if you have a little darling like mine, or are over using time-outs, you need a different system or you are just wasting both of your times. I provided you with a free template- but hey- get creative with your “Traffic Light” chart. Just make sure you make it so that it is portable and laminate it so it doesn’t fail due to wear and tear. Teachers purchase pockets from teaching stores, but it is just as easy and less expensive to make one yourself. This tool became so effective in my household that all I had to say is “you want a (insert color here) check?” and the behavior stopped on a dime!

This is how it looks like at the start of the day!

For more on behavior modification see: http://www.classifiedmom.com/p/resources.html

Web site Spotlight: Parents.com Happy Kid. Healthy Family

From the popular magazine Parents, Parents.com offers advice, recipes, community support, etc. for a variety of families. With subjects broken down into categories, and even subcategories; this Web site has information regarding every topic in pregnancy, babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.

I personally have received newsletters from Parents.com for a long time. I was very impressed with the newsletter’s plethora of information and its relevance to my parenting experience. Best of all it is a free service!  Just recently I have signed up to be a member of their community, and was instantly hooked.  You may participate in various groups, community boards and even have chances to make new friends and receive advice from parents like you!

Parents.com is absolutely a Web site that should be on every parent’s Web list- especially if you are into social net-working. Visit their site located at http://www.parents.com/ and make sure to subscribe to their free newsletter and the Parents Community!

“Owning Up”

Ok, so if there is one lesson you learn in life, it is learning from your mistakes. I may be making a bold statement here, but that is one thing that this new generation is lacking. Being a 'semi-retired' teacher, there are many things I have taught my own children; their ABC’s, 123’s, shapes, colors, etc. Today I taught my son a lesson in “owning up to your mistakes.”

Of course, out of all the days I was unable to pick my son up from preschool, he had gotten in trouble. AAARRGGGHHH- but hey it happens- and that is why I deliberately hid my photo album from high school. I guess a friend of his was sent to time-out (reason unknown and none of my business anyway) and my son had to see what the issue was by sitting next to his friend on the time-out step. The teacher asked him to remove is body from the step, and in return my son had told his teacher “no” and insisted that he had to get to the bottom of the problem. So, his teacher said “fine, now you’re in time out.” Right-on teach! Sorry I would have done the same thing.

By now you may be thinking- “aren’t you going to defend your son?”  Innocent until proven guilty? Well, 1. My son (love him to death) tends to think that he makes the rules from time to time forgets that adults are the crème of the crop. 2. My father. Dang him, I do hate when he has a point with his “When I was Growing Up” stories. And I quote “When I was growing up teachers were always right and you were guilty until proven otherwise. In my day, you were afraid of a teacher (more of a respect) and more importantly you were scared to death of your parents if your teacher called home.” Although it has been 45 years since he has been in school, times have changed.

Today I took my son to school and had him apologize to his teacher for being insubordinate. I also gave him a HUGE lecture and early bed time, of course, but I think that “owning up” to what happened made it more of a lesson learned and a lesson earned. I also got kinda teary-eyed when my son hugged his teacher and said he was "so, so sorry." I get teary-eyed over everything, trust me, but this was one of those "Hallmark Moments."

Parents, do not be afraid to talk to your child’s teacher. Being a teacher myself, I really enjoy the open communication. I feel that children need to be held personally accountable for their actions, even at 4 years old.

Link of the day: http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/talking_teachers.html - Tips for parents about talking to your child’s teacher by PBS.org

Web site Spotlight

Free Printable Behavior Charts  Free printable behavior, chore, potty charts and more with lots of helpful parenting tips and information!

Behavior Modification is simply one of the best approaches one can take as a parent (and teacher). Instead of always correcting your child for improper behavior, try reinforcing the good. In conjunction with a time-out, a behavior modification chart can be a powerful tool to “re-teach” your child acceptable behavior. 

One way I use them is with my 4 year old son who has a premature love for video games. Instead of always saying "no," I have a chart set up for him. By completing chores, displaying exceptional behavior, and finishing homework, he can earn stickers on his chart. When he earns 10 stickers he can play one video game. This chart allows him to see when it is an appropriate time to ask to play a video game and eliminates the nagging (for the most part. He is 4.)

The Free Printable Behavior Charts Web site offers tips and charts for children ages 3+ in areas of behavior, anger, potty training, chores, homework and much, much more! Filled with information on parenting and classroom management, this Web site is simply a one-stop resource for both parents and teachers alike! I have used their charts in my house as well as in my classroom. Enjoy!

Introduction

Why, as parents, do we always have this overwhelming urge to judge and compare our parenting skills amongst our parenting peers? Don’t even roll those eyes at me, missy- you know you do it. I do it, your mom does it, the “mom” cashier at your local grocery store does it too! OMG your BFF does it as well and her kids are furry with four paws. Lol, lol, lol.

Bottom line: it is only within our nature to do this. Ever hear of the saying “We are creatures of habit?” Think back to what I like to call “Judgment Day: Middle School.” Yup, I said it. The frizzy hair, zit cream, brace face, awkward moments of judgmentville. It was a time when we were very unsure of ourselves; who we were and what we were doing 99% of the time. Wow, weird that you are back in that spot again? Only this time you are the- dum, dum, dum…………… the parent. With no one-size-fits-all manual, you are armed with previous knowledge and collective experiences, trying not to mess up too badly this beautiful child (ren) that you have brought into this world.

Why call this blog Classified: Mom? According to the Yahoo Dictionary (http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/classified), the term classified is an adjective meaning:
1. Arranged in classes or categories.
2. Available to authorized persons only, as for reasons of national security: a classified document

We can have soooo much fun with this one. First of all, just to be categorized as a mom is a blog post within itself…………………….. I like numero dos. “Available to authorized persons only.” (I think I am going to make a lame kitchen plaque with that saying on it.)

Now let’s look at the word Mother (taken from http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/mother)
1. A woman who conceives, gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child…………….
So let’s put it together (isn’t this sooooo much fun?):
“Available to authorized persons only”: “A woman who conceives, gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child.”

If there is one goal I wish to create from this blog, it is to help moms everywhere find humor in parenting- that parenting should be viewed as an enlightening experience. I would like to use this place to share with you stories, tips, ideas, and since I am very Web savvy, many Internet sites that you may find very useful. Please feel free to share stories, feedback and idears. We are all in this together- so let’s take off the white wigs, set the gavel down- court is adjourned. Now let’s have some fun!