Recently I read an email from a friend which brought up the Santa & kids telling other kids topic. Now, at this point, this is not an issue for us with Teeny. She doesn't even understand the idea of Santa let alone question his existence. It did get me thinking though-how did I come to decide that Santa didn't really exist? I can't seem to remember how I found out, but I do know I was sure not to tell my sister. I remember telling my parents very matter of factly that I no longer believed that Santa was real and I also remember them asking me if I was willing to take the chance of not getting any gifts on Christmas morning, extending my weakened belief by at least another year.
One year, a student in my fourth grade who was no longer a "believer" decided to start telling the other children in class, all fervent believers, that his mom had told him Santa was just a story and it was their parents that bought their gifts. This bit of knowledge left me with 20 something very upset children. Damage control was not easy-but I basically told them the story of Saint Nicholas and that I for one still believe, so of course he had to be real. The next day I got a phone call from the mother of my anti Santa student telling me how terrible it was that I perpetuate a lie and that all children deserve the truth. She felt fourth grade was way too old to still think Santa was real. WHAT!?!?!?!
As far as I'm concerned, there is no reason a child should have to stop believing at any age. In the world we live in, what harm can be done by allowing a child to believe in goodness, love and generosity? I hope Teeny believes in Santa for as long as her faith allows. Even though logic tells me Santa is only a story, a little part of me still holds onto the hope that maybe, just maybe Santa does exist. I would like to think that there is someone out there who is pure goodness, even as an adult. It may be naive, but I prefer to think of it as keeping the Christmas spirit alive!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
A Sneeze Can Say a Thousand Words
It has been so long since my last post-who thought not having a set schedule anymore could be so busy! Baby class update----We are no longer going! There you have it-we (more like I) gave up. After my last post, Teeny and I attended a few more classes, all of which included screaming, throwing ourselves on the floor and of course, commandeering the ball pit during circle time. The teachers told me many times that they were seeing an improvement in her week by week. And then it happened-I was asked to take Teeny out of Circle Time! The assistant told me they felt it would be better if Teeny did not sit in circle time because it was a distraction to the other babies, who would now follow her lead. After that class, I decided maybe a break was best for all involved. We are Baby School dropouts!
Now onto the newest news-Teeny has had a cold for the last 2 weeks. NOT swine flu, seasonal flu, pneumonia, etc. Just your run of the mill cold. I did take her to the doctor after 2 weeks of sneezing, coughing, a snotty nose and crying. Unfortunately, because every other baby & child in Queens has a cold, her doctor was busy and we saw a different doctor in the same office. After answering all the same questions about 3 or 4 times, she suggested a nebulizer! I may be a little bit of a nervous mom at times, but a nebulizer seemed a bit over the top to me, so I asked her to just check with Teeny's regular pediatrician. The nebulizer idea was then nixed and we agreed upon some saline drops if needed and keep using the humidifier. So we left the office, still coughing, but happy to know it was just a cold.
After our visit to the doctor, a trip to Stop n Shop was next on our agenda. While waiting at the deli counter, Teeny had a bit of a coughing episode. You know the kind, where you can't catch your breath, your eyes start to tear up and you sound (and feel) like you may actually cough out a whole lung. She and I moved over to be out of everyone's way and I calmed her down. Once we were all done with the major coughing, I went back over to the deli where I heard a man lean over to the woman he was standing with and say how terrible the coughing is and say something about my daughter probably having the swine flu! Those dreaded words-SWINE FLU!!!!! The two words no mother wants to hear linked to her child. As I stood there, watching the couple watching us, this very health conscious man proceeded to let out the loudest, biggest and sloppiest sounding sneeze I have ever heard-ALL OVER THE COUNTER! He made NO attempt to cover his face, wiped his nose with his hand and went on talking without skipping a beat. I couldn't resist. In my best stage whisper I said to Teeny and anyone else who happened to be within 30 feet, And my daughter's coughing is offensive to you-how disgusting! And then I left!
It is still taking work, but I am getting better at just accepting the fact that toddlers will cough, sneeze and even vomit wherever and whenever they feel the need. The CVS in Maspeth will attest to the last one-I think they still cringe when they see Teeny come in the door!
Still loving being home and finding out that I may actually have more patience than I ever gave myself credit for. And lots of coffee doesn't hurt either!
Till next time!
Dana
Now onto the newest news-Teeny has had a cold for the last 2 weeks. NOT swine flu, seasonal flu, pneumonia, etc. Just your run of the mill cold. I did take her to the doctor after 2 weeks of sneezing, coughing, a snotty nose and crying. Unfortunately, because every other baby & child in Queens has a cold, her doctor was busy and we saw a different doctor in the same office. After answering all the same questions about 3 or 4 times, she suggested a nebulizer! I may be a little bit of a nervous mom at times, but a nebulizer seemed a bit over the top to me, so I asked her to just check with Teeny's regular pediatrician. The nebulizer idea was then nixed and we agreed upon some saline drops if needed and keep using the humidifier. So we left the office, still coughing, but happy to know it was just a cold.
After our visit to the doctor, a trip to Stop n Shop was next on our agenda. While waiting at the deli counter, Teeny had a bit of a coughing episode. You know the kind, where you can't catch your breath, your eyes start to tear up and you sound (and feel) like you may actually cough out a whole lung. She and I moved over to be out of everyone's way and I calmed her down. Once we were all done with the major coughing, I went back over to the deli where I heard a man lean over to the woman he was standing with and say how terrible the coughing is and say something about my daughter probably having the swine flu! Those dreaded words-SWINE FLU!!!!! The two words no mother wants to hear linked to her child. As I stood there, watching the couple watching us, this very health conscious man proceeded to let out the loudest, biggest and sloppiest sounding sneeze I have ever heard-ALL OVER THE COUNTER! He made NO attempt to cover his face, wiped his nose with his hand and went on talking without skipping a beat. I couldn't resist. In my best stage whisper I said to Teeny and anyone else who happened to be within 30 feet, And my daughter's coughing is offensive to you-how disgusting! And then I left!
It is still taking work, but I am getting better at just accepting the fact that toddlers will cough, sneeze and even vomit wherever and whenever they feel the need. The CVS in Maspeth will attest to the last one-I think they still cringe when they see Teeny come in the door!
Still loving being home and finding out that I may actually have more patience than I ever gave myself credit for. And lots of coffee doesn't hurt either!
Till next time!
Dana
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Mommy's New Life
Okay-let me just begin by saying, my sister has been writing a blog for some time now, and she is funny, wistful and deep. I am not! I figured I would try it out-wanted to bounce my thoughts around. My blog is basically going to be about my new life as a mommy and the everyday challenges that all parents face. And of course, all the drama that goes with being me!
Now next, let me say-I have always felt that being a stay at home mom must be one of the hardest jobs ever. I always admired moms who were chasing their children around Stop n Shop and still managing to look calm and put together.
After teaching 4th Grade for about 7 years, my husband and I decided that I would join the legions of these mommy warriors. This is something I had always dreamed of doing, but never thought was in the cards for me. Being a stay at home mom to my 17 mth old daughter was something I did in the summers and it had a definite ending in September. Now the idea of being home was a chance to fulfill a long time dream. I had a romantic ideal of the perfect stay at home mom! I would look fabulous like the moms I saw in the mall-pushing their quiet children while looking skinny and glamorous. I would NOT be the mom with the screaming child covered in some unknown food with the knotty hair with bad roots. I would not rely on large doses of caffeine to get through my day. I was a teacher after all-if I could control a room of 28 feisty 8 year olds, then one 17 mth old was no match for me.
THE ROMANCE HAS DIED! Don't get me wrong, I still love being home and am so happy to have the opportunity to see my daughter change each and every day. It is just that now, there is no definite ending, no back to school. I don't really know any other stay at home moms in my neighborhood, so most days it is just Teeny & me, all day, everyday. The "Mommy show" is not as interesting to my daughter as it had been in June. To break up our days, we attempted a Toddler gym class-Teeny had a great time, I was stressed. My daughter was the one who wouldn't sit in circle time, threw the balls at other kids in the ball pit and had (several) tantrums. I stood there-the teacher who had prided herself on class control-with NO control over her own child! I felt defeated and looked at the other moms, silently pleading for some pity, maybe even some reassurance that they knew my pain. But no, I was only met with the type of look I had given moms in my parent conferences. The kind of look that says, "Get a grip on your child, who is the parent here?"
Am I giving up though? Am I waving the white flag? Heck no! I plan to push on, we will be going back to our gym class next week and my daughter will throw herself into the ball pit with gusto and I will try to appreciate that her joy in life's simplicities like a ball pit is what I love about her the most. And this time, instead of looking at the other moms with a look of defeat, I will smile and think-my Teeny is having fun! That is what being a 17 mth old is all about! Some days I am the disheveled mom who doesn't know what time it is let alone the date. Other days I'm the mom who is mostly put together and even managing to put on some make-up. No matter which mom I am on any given day, I would never change my decision to be home with my daughter. Tantrums and all, this is an amazing time for my girl and me.
Until next time, safe travels and lots of love!
Now next, let me say-I have always felt that being a stay at home mom must be one of the hardest jobs ever. I always admired moms who were chasing their children around Stop n Shop and still managing to look calm and put together.
After teaching 4th Grade for about 7 years, my husband and I decided that I would join the legions of these mommy warriors. This is something I had always dreamed of doing, but never thought was in the cards for me. Being a stay at home mom to my 17 mth old daughter was something I did in the summers and it had a definite ending in September. Now the idea of being home was a chance to fulfill a long time dream. I had a romantic ideal of the perfect stay at home mom! I would look fabulous like the moms I saw in the mall-pushing their quiet children while looking skinny and glamorous. I would NOT be the mom with the screaming child covered in some unknown food with the knotty hair with bad roots. I would not rely on large doses of caffeine to get through my day. I was a teacher after all-if I could control a room of 28 feisty 8 year olds, then one 17 mth old was no match for me.
THE ROMANCE HAS DIED! Don't get me wrong, I still love being home and am so happy to have the opportunity to see my daughter change each and every day. It is just that now, there is no definite ending, no back to school. I don't really know any other stay at home moms in my neighborhood, so most days it is just Teeny & me, all day, everyday. The "Mommy show" is not as interesting to my daughter as it had been in June. To break up our days, we attempted a Toddler gym class-Teeny had a great time, I was stressed. My daughter was the one who wouldn't sit in circle time, threw the balls at other kids in the ball pit and had (several) tantrums. I stood there-the teacher who had prided herself on class control-with NO control over her own child! I felt defeated and looked at the other moms, silently pleading for some pity, maybe even some reassurance that they knew my pain. But no, I was only met with the type of look I had given moms in my parent conferences. The kind of look that says, "Get a grip on your child, who is the parent here?"
Am I giving up though? Am I waving the white flag? Heck no! I plan to push on, we will be going back to our gym class next week and my daughter will throw herself into the ball pit with gusto and I will try to appreciate that her joy in life's simplicities like a ball pit is what I love about her the most. And this time, instead of looking at the other moms with a look of defeat, I will smile and think-my Teeny is having fun! That is what being a 17 mth old is all about! Some days I am the disheveled mom who doesn't know what time it is let alone the date. Other days I'm the mom who is mostly put together and even managing to put on some make-up. No matter which mom I am on any given day, I would never change my decision to be home with my daughter. Tantrums and all, this is an amazing time for my girl and me.
Until next time, safe travels and lots of love!
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