A rant to the "I know what I'm doing" caregivers

 As a child care provider (please note that means I have changed more diapers and cared for more kids in my working years than I do or will as a mom!!!) I have and would NEVER tell another parent, "I have done this before, I know what I'm doing." Here is why, and it's common sense: Every single parent and family is VERY DIFFERENT.  Allergies are SCARY. Safety is IMPORTANT. It's easier on all involved to keep routines at a norm, including what they eat, do, sleep, dress etc etc the list goes on.

Who wants to throw a child off schedule, risk an allergy or be the one in charge when that thing that "never happened to my kids" happens to the kids you're watching? Routine is probably the number one rule in helping a child earn your trust along with their rightfully over protective parents who work very hard to keep their kids safe and happy.  I know I put a lot of time, stress, and tears into worrying about my kid. I work way too hard to make everything as good as I can for him to have someone blow me off. "I've done this before" puts my kid and my parenting in a category with everyone else and that's simply not okay.

I'm aggrivated for the moms in my mom groups who constantly talk about rules being broken when their kids are in someone else's care. 4 month olds getting solid foods introduced when the parents have not yet done so, hellooooo allergy risk. Sugary foods given to a toddler when Mom doesn't allow that. TV time, arguing the schedule, forward facing in the car too early, not using straps because the child can't role yet (the straps are to prevent suffocation, people!). Yikes!!!

If I put 10 women in a room together who have "done this before" and asked them specific questions as to how they feed, sleep, entertain, and keep their kids safe-absolutely no two women would be the exact same. So really, it's more than rude, it's stupid. Not to mention horrifying for the mother who is about to leave her baby behind.

I try to listen to the parents. They are entrusting you with their most precious bundle on the planet and will probably walk away playing crazy scenarios of "what ifs" in their head as all of us do. Help them rest easy by showing them respect and listen. I listen also to know how to keep that child on a schedule that will help them trust me and so I know what to do when one of the inevitable twists that kids throw at you comes up. I ask myself most often "what would Mom or Dad do" in this situation? I can't very well figure that out if I haven't listened.

I just saw a particularly irritating story on a mom group post and had to vent for her. We've all been there. 

  

Welcome back?

In attempt to keep away from Facebook, I'm going to try blogging more. We both are! We will post pictures here and on our Google Drive folder, which I'm happy to share with our friends and family!

Today is our gender reveal day! Our anatomy scan is in 75 minutes. Lennon is asleep and Jeff is at work while I anxiously wonder if this kid will have their legs crossed or not. I'm finally starting to feel little kicks and movements - 21 weeks this Sunday.

Lennon started taking steps in the last few weeks, and last night really decided it was time! He prefers to stand and walk away from objects as opposed to dropping to the ground and crawling at lightning speed now. (It really is lightning speed, I thought I was just a biased Mommy but multiple women have commented in the last few weeks at his speediness!) He is getting more and more into books this month which is really exciting for us! He always loved them and turning the pages but is now pointing at items and taking one or two books off the shelves (as opposed to every last one) before sitting and flipping pages in a particular book now. He has a silly "woof woof" that really sounds more like panting or grunts that he likes to imitate every time he sees a dog, cat, fish, or bird. We cannot WAIT to take him to the zoo as a family! He is SUPER vocal and although words aren't quite associating with objects to our ears, he has got a lot to say and ask about. It's great. 12-36 months has always been my favorite age as a nanny. They are learning something new by the second and getting into a number of things. As exhausting as that can be, it's very fun!

I've been watching multiple kids at different times and so far I'm loving it! I have one kiddo here "full time" (Tues-Thurs) Penelope, who is one next week. Some of you have heard me talk about Luna, the 1 year old Lennon and I would watch together last semester at her home. Luna is now joining us two times a week! Otherwise I have asked to do drop in care which works really well with my Golden connections. A 2 year old is coming by 2 mornings a week in February and yesterday I tried my hand at a 4 year old visiting. He was SUPER FUN! I miss my preschool kids! He was all about outer space and learning about he sun and solar eclipses, we had a great time going through the World Books Jeff's parents just passed onto Lennon! Lennon seems to love it and doesn't have a hard time sharing Mommy, so relieving. He is quite possessive of his toys at times, but Miss Peepers (our nickname for sweet Penelope) really holds her own! Very fun to watch. My back is killing me this pregnancy and the toddler lifting doesn't help. I'm not a fan of slowing down so I'm going to try a chiropractor and see if that helps; I want to keep this up until 36 weeks at least!

Off to wake that kiddo and pick up Daddy for the big appointment. We are having a little get together to celebrate with friends tonight. I'm so tempted to fill a box with green balloons and confuse everyone :)

Neither Jeff or I have a big feeling this time. We are pretty convinced we will only have boys though.

Our 3rd Ullr Grass! Last year this little man helped direct his first festival! This year he enjoyed spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Klenske and still got to join the fun for a bit all three days. 

We are letting him co direct it with the organizer's daughter next year. Should be great. 

Half way Ullr Sunday! What a weekend for us all....I'm super shocked my legs and body held up like it did. 9 am to 2 am 2 nights in a row, plus all the hours that went into this festival in the weeks leading up. Wouldn't trade it for the world, we love this fest! 

Ullr Sunday was a gorgeous day! 

The day I fed 4 kids lunch at the same time. Piper didn't know what to do with himself. 

HE OR SHE!?!?!? Mommy needs to stop eating all the chocolate, it better get eaten up at tonight's gender reveal.