Life according to little people

Whenever you need a laugh, just look me up. My children are the funniest people even when they have just called me old. Little children have such a different approach on life.

This is Bailey's number one rule:
If I am your friend one day I am always your friend.

Samantha says" There is nothing better than Jesus and pancakes."

Katy is a bit moody these days, but guess that is a eleven year old girl thing.

Instant gratification generations

I have been really thinking about this problem our children face now......instant gratification. Can we really blame them for the need to have it, and have it NOW? Are we not a little to blame for this. I don't necessary mean, we as the parents as I do "we the society".

Everything is received instantly after all.
1)We can get our food fast, which is why more people spend money on fast food than cooking.
2) We have TIVO's in our houses on all our TV's. Which just means our children do not know what it is like to have to watch the commercials. (not saying I really miss this one though, just saying)
3) We have all day Cartoon networks. Which means kids today do not know what it is like to be so excited for Saturday morning cartoons! I sure do miss those days.
4) All the information you might ever need for a homework assignment at the speed of a .....ENTER button, or Google.com as my six year old says. Remember what it was like to look everything up in a old Encyclopedia? We actually had to look things up the hard way.
5) We don't even need to send birthday cards anymore. I could go on the computer, and instantly send you a E-greeting! How cool is that? :o
6)And another one. If I hear some really good gossip, um information. I don't even have to wait to see you, or get home to tell you. I just whip out my super cool, smart phone. So smart it out smarts me everyday.

The list could on and on I'm sure. All i really wanted to say, was is the Information technology age really a great thing for our kids. Of course I guess it is our job to teach them patience.

Just a ranting from me!

A lesson in budgets and Allowances 101...for a 9 year old

After noticing how much a certain nine year old was having the I WANTS! I decided after getting a reminder on budgets, that she needed one. From began the family discussion on what a want and a need is, and how to differentiate between the two.
It is never to early to learn how to budget, and what to save, am I right?

Part A: how can you earn income as a nine year old? Simple...Chores...Extra Chores...Birthdays and Christmas money.

Part B: How much for each of her five chores. Her Weekly allowance is $10.00, thus making each chore worth $2.00 each.
Chores:
Clean room
Vacuum room
Vacuum Living Room
Sweep and mop kitchen once a week
Empty trash cans in bathrooms

Part C: How to budget her money wisely. Using the 80/10/10 split
She can spend 80% of her money just to spend, 10% into savings, and 10% into her Essentials
( which could be the I NEED NEW SOCCER SOCKS when I really don't) Here is what Love and logic says about kids and money.
"Getting kids involved is the best way for kids to learn the values inherent in wise money management skills, such the difference between their needs and wants and how to delay gratification. This is also how kids can become exposed to the skills associated with money management such as saving money for a specific goal, budgeting their allowance and earnings and spending based on priorities. It truly is the ultimate gift."

So Wish us luck on the journey to raising a financially responsible child, in a non responsible financial society.

TTFN, as Tigger always said, Wendy!

Why is being a mommy so hard?

I feel like a failure as a mommy. Why is it so hard to have kids? What happen to the "cookie cutter" ones?

Katy is absolutely a different child than she was a year ago. Why? Is it because of dad dying? She always seemed fine? She won't talk to anyone, even the socail worker. I know she was close to her papa. Is it the ADHD? Can it make her such a different child? We are really struggling with meds, and finding a good dose? It is expensive though, even though the insurance copay is only $20.00, if you keep changing that or the doses it adds up. They are going to test her for dyslexia in the spring. Will this make her so upset and make homework batteles seem 10x worse? She screams at her sisters constantly, and us. She seems to throw these 2 year old tantrums when she doesn't get her way, which she rolls herself into a ball and cries. It is like a complete meltdown. Her grades are still good, all A's and B's. She is good at school. I worry about Katy everyday. I feel like her self esteem is a little lower than her sisters. Not sure if that is because of some of the girls in her class. I know some of the girls give her a hard time because she is a tomboy, and not a girly girl like them.

Yesterday was just my mommy meltdown day. Sam woke up early and then didn't nap. I saw that she was at her wits end. My mom came over and needed me to take her to the store. Bailey and Sam wanted to go with her. I tried to get Sam to stay here, but she cried and nana gave in. So I knew moms back would be hurting worse if she took Sam, So Katy and I went too. Katy threw a fit because she had to get off the Wii. She cried and rolled herself into the ball again. We get to teh store and she is in a crappy mood, Sam won't sit in the cart. Bailey is fine and just happy go long. Katy keeps asking for stuff. Got really bad when I told her no to a stuffed animal. You have to earn toys, and that behavior wasn't earning it. So almost done, and Samantha just loses it. she is tired and just had it. It was 7:30 at night. She threw a 2 year tantrums. I took her and Katy out of the store with Sam kicking and screaming. Put her in her carseat, which was a struggle. She screamed for a good while, and Katy cried. I stood outside of the car. till mom got there. I just had too much. I put them to bed when we came home.

What am I doing wrong. I don't know what to do with Katy. I feel like I have failed her. What do I need to do? Maybe I need a parenting book?

Samantha binky update

So far so good. It has been since Friday. There have been a few rough patches, but they only lasted a few mins. I was starting to feel guilty about taking it away when I did. She came down with a little cold this weekend too. We are not going back though. We have made it this far. Now if we could just get her pottied trained.

Why King Size the only size available?

As I lay in bed at 6:15 this morning, surrounded by my loving, yet snoring husband; my beautiful curly headed princess; her lovely, yet bed hogging 2 year old sister; my mom's dog and cat who we are pet sitting. It occured to me as I was the only one practically falling out of my own bed.........We need a bigger bed!!!!!

Do they make a bed bigger than King? They need too for the unexpected visitors of the night.