Mommy Health Day

My sister in Law and her boyfriend are now two of my favorite people, they took Braxton to the beach today.  I am using this time to just do odds and end things around the house and relax.  I am enjoying it so much.  I have been able to do some catching up on TV shows and clean up around the yard and house.

I truly believe that every now and then we need a mental health day away from everything, I wasn't going to pass up this opportunity for anything.  Even though I haven't done much I am hoping that it re energizes me some.

I think I am going to make some tea and relax now.  Have a great Day!

Crazy Kids

Well, Braxton has been know to some pretty "creative" things before but lately he has been topping even himself.

Last weekend we were up at my parents hose for a visit and he decided he wanted a snack, so  asked for fruit trucks, aka fruit snacks, so my mom went and got him some.  So about 10 minutes later he walks back into the house and comes out with another package of them. I know that wouldn't sound like a big deal except they were UP in a cupboard that he couldn't reach.  Here is our conversation.

Me: B what do you have?
B: Fruit trucks Momma.
Me: Where did you get them?
B: the cupboard.
Me: How did you get in the cupboard?
B:  I used the stools Momma.
Me:  Which stools?
B: White and grey stools.

I decide to go in the house and see if I could figure out what he had done and he had taken two small foot stools and put the smaller one on top of the bigger one and gotten his fruit trucks.  I was just thankful he had put the big one on the bottom.

OK so fast forward to Yesterday.... 

Braxton goes running into the bathroom, like he always does when he has to pee, but he seems to take a long time.  I decide I had better go in to make sure he is not putting a whole roll of toilet paper in the toilet.  Nope not a chance! He is standing on top of my washer with his pants around his ankles. He had taken a wastebasket and turned it upside down and his stool and used them like stairs.  I didn't even know what to say, I just pulled his pants up and told him not to climb up there anymore. Oh and did check to make sure he hadn't peed off the top of the washer. :)

Grandparents

I know this can be a touchy subject for some due to family issues but I think it deserves it day in the sun.

My Parents are very active in Braxtons life, as they still are mine :).  I only live a few minutes from them, and my Mom actually built herself a home office in my upstairs (whole different story).  My husbands father is not in great health so he is unable to spend any one and one time with Braxton.

I Love that my parents spend time with him, let him spend the night and take him places (or us if the hubby is working) what I do not love is how they try to correct his behavior or talk over me when I am talking to him. I also do not love how my dad insists on treating him (when he is upset) almost as poorly as he treated my sister and I.  Do not get me wrong I love my parents but my dad has no patients, and reverts to name calling and threats of "getting your ass kicked" and my Mom insists on screaming instead of ignoring when he is having a fit.

I have a very hard time getting it through to them that this is a different time than when we were little and he is a very active little boy, not a shy little girl like my sister and I.  I know Braxton has issues with controlling his emotions and he often gets very upset when he isn't happy.  He also gets very upset when things don't go exactly as he wants them to and he tends to yell and scream. I usually just ignore it or I take something away, like outside time, or TV time, my Mom and dad on the other hand prefer to Yell at him and tell him he can't act like such a little baby (or Girl if it's my dad).  I have to remind them that he is 3 and as long as they yell back he is getting their attention. And I remind my dad that I know a lot of girls that could "kick his ass". 

I really wish I knew exactly what to do. I can't keep him from them because they live to close and My Mom works in my house plus that would be punishing him too as he LOVES his grandma and Grandpa.  I just keep telling myself if I can get his attitude under control I can theirs too.

Super Nanny or my sanity

Lately my son has been having some attitude issues and I am not sure how much more I can take.  He has learned to push every button I have and dance on my last nerve continuously. 

It is like living with Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, one second he is helping me load he dishwasher and the next he is standing in front of me with his arms crossed telling me to pick up his toys because he's not going to do it.

I am now dealing with trying to keep him in time out for 3 minutes, last night I said, "you can get up when I say you can get up"  He turns his head and looks at me and says "Just say it then!"  WOW!!  I try not to scream at hm but I find myself doing more and more all the time.  I am not a big believer in spankings even though I was spanked, and came out no worse for the wear but I really am trying to do things more positively.

I just wish there was an answer for what will work, timeouts seem to make him scream more and more, and then my husband gets cranky.  My husband believes that spankings even though he threatens more than anything, which I am not sure helps anything.  I just need to try to keep the peace and keep everyone calm and maybe it will all start to fall into place.  Or maybe in 15 more years the kid will move out and I can relax then.

Summer Fun

 I love summer but along with comes a lot of questions.  Is it too hot?, does he have enough sunscreen on?  Is it the right sunscreen?  Why won't he keep his sunglasses on?  I could go on forever.

  I read up on all the sunscreens and decided I am now more confused than I was when I started.  It just depends on what the article was focusing on, environmental impact, sun protection, "possible" long term effects...I started to get a headache. I finally just picked the Target brand one that sprays on, and left it at that. 

Then I start reading about how the kids should stay inside during peak sun hours, and if they ave to go out in peak hours, keep them in light weight long sleeves.  UGH I don't want to be out sweating in long sleeves why should he.   The next article was about how kids spend too much time inside... the one following that talks about keeping your kids for dehydrating when they sweat too much.  It is all so mind boggling to me.

Maybe I'll just move to Alaska and keep him outside from 10 pm to midnight during the winter months.