Skip to main content

Such a mess.


My 18 mo. old daughter loves to make a mess. My 40 yr. old husband doesn't understand why I clean up after her 5... 6... 20 times a day. To my understanding, making a mess is what she DOES. It's learning, it's playing, it's figuring things out, it's exploring, it's creating, and a gazillion other toddler-appropriate things. If the toys get thrown around the living room and stay there, how is she suppose to do all those things? So I put them back in their place, arrange the books yet again, and sort the blocks out from the stacking cups for the umpteenth time. It's work .... but she is more interested in the toys when they're neatly on the shelves than strewn all over the floor. And I WANT her to be interested in the toys. If not, then it's up to me to be her entertainment and I just can't handle that every-waking-moment job!

Other things my daughter loves: Laurie Berkner videos Confession: These videos give me 20-30 minutes of PEACE. To prepare dinner, pee, make a phone call ... she's mezmerized by this woman (even though some of her songs grate on my nerves!)

After a brilliant discovery today, I was thinking about how my 18 mo old seems more like a 5 year old to me and I wondered if other parents were rushing childhood with their hopes and dreams for their genius like I was! So tonight after bedtime I did some googling. I stumbled across some interesting websites that encouraged me to let her be a child. More specifically, a toddler. Less videos and more mess.

Grass Stain Guru "Childhood was meant to be messy."

Sadly, when you google playtime activities for toddlers you end up with pages from unrealistic well-to-doers suggesting you spend money or engage in "simple" play things like this. But quite honestly, it's CRAP advice. I need real suggestions, people. Talk to me about how to handle the "my daughter is tearing apart the house, I just want to turn on the videos, but I feel guilty if I do!" Ah ... here it is! Something that's actually helpful! Thank you Rachel Lister!

And if you're like me and just want some fresh ideas ... check out these sites:

Free Range Kids
playborhood.com "Let your kids go outside and play"
activekidsclub.com

Comments

Adrienne said…
Jacqui they grow up way to fast, and it is not unusual to always think ahead ... what will they be like, or I can't wait til... but do enjoy the moments.
I agree with the pick up thing...kids tend to go for the organized toys. I always wondered how Noreen did it... How did she get her boys to pick up their toys and their rooms were ALWAYS in order- so one day I asked (albeit too late for some of my kids) She looked at me with that incredulous look only Nor can give, and essentially said "are you Nuts?? I do it! They do some, but when they are gone to school, or out to play... I finish the job..they do so much better if it is organized!" Duh...
And don't be surprised when one day for a split second, and only a split second you see your child and you see an image of them as an adult.. weird...but true..Enjoy the moments and the messes... this too shall pass
10:20 AM, July 18, 2009
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

April Fool's Day Pranks

Oh what joy this day brings. Just thinking about pranks thrills me to tears! I decided to make up a tasty treat for my family along with a few other low-key pranks. Enjoy! April Fool's Day Chocolate Chip Cookies: She wasn't very happy with me when I told her what they were ... she was too keen on these - knew something wasn't quite right and never actually tried one. Did you figure it out?  These are baked taters and black beans!!! Simply delicious if you're expecting garlic, salt, sour cream, and potatoes!  Here's how: 1. Whip up your favorite mashed potato recipe (I used 3 medium potatoes) 2. Mix in a few drops of yellow food coloring (3 drops was enough for this batch) 3. Stir in 1/2 can rinsed black beans 4. Then drop on a cookie sheet in a 350* oven for 30-45 minutes ... until golden on the top. These will taste delicious with a little salsa at dinner time!  By the way: I did make REAL cookies so as not to comp...
6 comments
Read a little more >>

What I didn't learn from my mother

I am learning. I am striving. To be more like Him. I am desperate to be more like Him. The alternative? Be more like my mother. I was asked to share a story or two about her on Mother's day many years ago. The request caught me off guard and left me speechless. It wasn't the 300 member congregation that deterred me. It was that fact that I couldn't think of a SINGLE good thing to say. Nothing honoring to utter. We had good times and I certainly had good memories but for many years all I could feel and focus on were the negative, harsh, and hurtful things. So I did what I always do when I have something heavy to work through: I sat down with a trusty pen and blank sheet of paper. I was determined to write something positive. I sat for a while thinking about the things I hated. I was angry and determined to not be like her. And I realized: The things I didn't learn FROM her, I learned BECAUSE of her. There were plenty of things I learned by her good example. F...
6 comments
Read a little more >>

I love this girl.

My almost-3-year-old talks and looks bigger than she is. She says things like,"How was your day Mom?" and "Of course you can!" So many things that I want to remember and retell her. So many things I don't write down and wish I did. We went out to a few shops this afternoon and she was so busy watching other people she ran into a brick wall. Her forehead has the mark to show it! "The sunshine is Lento, Mom" She says this at 6:15am as she opens the door to our bedroom. She pushes me over and continues "The sunshine is slow." Yes, dear. It's slow. Why her internal clock is set to wake before 6:30am is beyond me. I tried to convince her to stay in bed until the sun has ACTUALLY risen. That lasted about 15 minutes. She bounced into bed with me proclaiming "The sun is up! Wake up everyone!" She is quite the ray of sunshine herself. Always dancing, singing, laughing, smiling. Well. That, and she's always asking for a ...
4 comments
Read a little more >>