Christmas Confusion

This is the first year that Babykins really gets the idea of Christmas.  She knows that Santa will bring presents, and she made a special request for a scooter.  Every morning when she wakes up, the first thing she wants to do is add a piece to the advent calendar.  And she is now able to sing a good selection of Christmas carols.

But in true toddler fashion, she still finds a few Christmas concepts a little hard to grasp.

Last weekend, we went to Carols in the Park in the park across the street from our house.  There was a barbecue followed by Christmas carols.  In between the Christmas carols, a puppet would pop up, and the pastor would use the puppet to talk about the meaning of Christmas.  One of the things they talked about was how Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  That idea really stuck with Babykins.  Later that week, I mentioned to Babykins that we needed to get a present for her to give to Babyroo for Christmas.  She looked at me and responded, "I can't give a present to Babyroo!  It's Jesus' birthday!  Only Jesus gets presents!"

Interesting.  So I responded, "Does that mean Santa shouldn't bring you any presents, either?"

"No!  I can still get presents!"

Ahh...

Then on Thursday, Babykins had her Christmas concert at daycare.  After watching a roomful of toddlers sing songs and shake bells (absolutely adorable), we had morning tea followed by a visit from Santa.  When Santa appeared, the look on Babykins' face was priceless.  Each child was called up to meet Santa and received a bag of candy.

Babykins came running over to me holding up her bag of candy.  She was super excited, and she immediately recounted for me how Santa had rung his bells and gave her a present.  Then she stopped and informed me, "Santa gave me candy, but I didn't get a scooter!"

Oh, no.  I quickly explained to Babykins that Santa only gave presents like scooters on Christmas.  Before Christmas, he only gave out candy.  Thus reassured, Babykins commenced to tell me about Santa's visit the entire walk home (a 20 minute trip, by the way - it's amazing how many times a toddler can re-tell the same story when they're excited).

I can't wait for Christmas to come.  Knowing how excited Babykins is for the day has re-kindled my own excitement for the joys of Christmas.

Gender Norms

Recently, Babykins and I were talking about work, when she comes out with this statement, "Boys go to work.  Girls don't go to work."  Oh, no.

Now, I have spent 11/2 of the last 2 1/2 years as a stay-at-home mom.  Which means that although I have been home with Babykins a lot, she has seen me go to work.  But apparently this hasn't quite left its mark, so I quickly correct her, explaining that BOTH men and women can go to work.  I remind her that I have worked, and will go back to work when Babyroo is older.

Anti-feminist crisis averted.

Until Friday, when, on the way home from daycare, Babykins suddenly announces from the back of the car, "Boys go to school.  Girls don't go to school."  WHAT?!  Who is putting these ideas in my toddler's head?  It's not like we live in some scary country where girls are banned from education.  I once again correct her, assuring her that both boys AND girls go to school.

Then, over the weekend, we're getting ready for bath time, and Babykins tells me she has to go to the bathroom.  She walks over to the toilet and stands facing it.  "Mommy, boys do wee-wee like this."  Then she turns around and sits down.  "And girls do wee-wee like this."

Finally, a boys vs. girls statement I can agree with.

Permission

Recently, I've seen quite a few people post a link to a blog entry titled, "Why You're Never Failing as a Mother."  The basic point of the post is that you're doing a good job and there's no need to be perfect, so give yourself a break.

It got me to thinking about all of the things that have happened to me as a parent that I was surprised/confused/felt guilty/annoyed about.  Things I usually didn't want to admit to the other mommies at playgroup who seemed to have it all together.  Things that, when I did mention them to another woman, she had also experienced.

So here, as a follow-on to that other blog, is my list of:

5 Things I Hereby Officially Give You Permission To Do:

1. Cry - When you're waking up to a screaming baby for the 5th time in one night...when you're cleaning up pee from the carpet for the third time TODAY...when both kids are crying and screaming at once and you need to triage which to attend to first...when you're hungry, need to pee, teeth aren't brushed, house is a mess, food's burning on the stove, and you look over just in time to see your toddler take a bite out of your brand new lipstick (why do they do this, Lord, WHY?)...go ahead and cry.  You'll feel better.
2. Turn on the TV - There are parents out there who somehow manage to raise their children without letting them watch TV.  I am not one of them.  Turning on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is the only way I am guaranteed 20 minutes each day where my 2 year-old will sit on the sofa without moving so that I can take a shower.  Thank you, Mickey, thank you.
3. Compare yourself to other moms - My hair is in a ponytail every day.  And not just any ponytail...a wet ponytail.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse only lasts 20 minutes, after all.  I felt bad about this.  I thought the other moms looked like they were much more put together than me.  Then one day, I reallllly looked at the other moms.  And I realized an amazing thing.  80% of them had their hair in a ponytail.  Most of them had dark circles under their eyes.  Some of them weren't wearing makeup.  And the majority of them still had some baby weight to lose.  At quick glance we see what we expect to see....which is usually that others are doing a better job than we are.  But when you look closely, you see that most moms are in the same boat.
4. Give them a vitamin - Most days, Babykins has 3 major food groups: fruit, dairy, and cereal.  On a good day, I can get her to eat a sausage or some chicken nuggets.  I worry.  I fret.  I bribe, cajole, and plead.  And then I remember this sage advice my pediatrician gave my mom when I was a picky little kid, "Is she growing?  Then she's fine.  Give her a vitamin and stop worrying."
5. Pretend not to hear the kids wake up on Saturday morning, in the hopes that your partner will get out of bed first, and you can sleep for 5 more minutes.

There you go.  Permission granted.  Enjoy.

Boast Post

Let me be upfront - this post is designed for no other reason than to let me brag about my genius Babykins.  She is now 2 1/2 years old.

So the other day I'm sitting at the table doing some work while Babykins is "writing" with a pen on a piece of big cardboard in the kitchen.  I can hear her talking and singing to herself, but I'm not listening very closely....until I hear some letters, and my ears perk up.

I hear an "S."  I listen closer.  Then an "o."  I'm even more focused.  And as I continue to listen in amazement, I realize that Babykins has just correctly spelled her name!  She has been over there this whole time pretending to write her name, and although she can't actually form the letters, she knows what they are.

My daughter is a genius.  Feel free to be jealous.

Ok.  Enough bragging...for today...

Baby Terms: US vs. Australia

Although they speak English in Australia, it's not US English - which is confusing.  So for the uninitiated, here is a short guide to US vs. Australia baby terms:

Diaper = Nappy
Stroller = Pram
Baby = Bub
Nurse = Breastfeed
Cuddle = Nurse
Pacifier = Dummy

And, the word "heiney" doesn't exist here.

I hereby officially declare you fluent in a second language!