Category Archives: daughter

Bed Time Bottle

I love reading articles about parenting. A lot of them have tons of great information on how to reach different milestones, teach your kids to do stuff, etc. Some I like to read because they reinforce my own parenting practices, and make me feel like I am doing it right. Because who doesn’t want to feel like an awesome parent?
There is one topic in particular which has come up numerous times in a lot of magazines and online sites that makes me feel just the opposite. Especially because I know I am doing something wrong, I am well aware of what I should be doing, but I am doing nothing to stop.
I let my daughter take her milk and juice to bed. Apparently, according to numerous parenting gurus and pediatricians, this is a huge no-no, which leads to all sorts of problems, including cavities and horrible dental hygiene. Considering my own dental history you would think this is huge for me. I have suffered greatly at the hands of dentists and would surely not want my daughter to go through the same. But I can’t take her sippy cup away from her. She screams bloody murder, and won’t go to sleep. Which  makes me feel bad because I am basically allowing my daughter to ruin her teeth just because it is easier for me to let her have her milk and juice in bed with her. Yeah, I suck. Which is why it bugs me. I should be more firm, say no, and weather it out for a few nights until she gets used to the idea. And at one point I tried, but she wasn’t getting used to it, and I was getting very tired. It is bad enough Ducky doesn’t sleep very well, and two screaming kids was just too much. So, I thought “another day.” Except is has been many more days, and months, since then, and I am not doing anything about it. Some kids like to cuddle with their blankets. Others like to snuggle with stuffed animals. My daughter clutches a sippy cup in each hand to fall asleep.
The worst part is not just that I know what I should do, but I also know how to do it. I have read more essays and articles on this topic than I can count. I have methods, and tactics, but for some reason, when it comes to this, I have no discipline. Thankfully I won’t have to worry about this with Ducky for a few more months.
What do you think?

Ally Cat Strikes Again

I am taking my daughter trick or treating for the first time tonight. I am super excited. Probably more than she is. In fact, considering she is only nineteen months old, there is a pretty good chance she is not very excited at all since she does not know what Halloween is really. I have tried explaining it to her, but I might as well tried explaining nuclear fission (which I didn’t because I only understand about half of that myself).
She is going to be a kitty again. The costume was adorable on her last year, but she was too young to really be shown off, so we are doing it again. Hopefully.
I say hopefully for a few reasons. First, she has stranger anxiety. It takes her fifteen to twenty minutes to warm up to people, which is not really conducive to trick or treating that is more like candy hit and run. Can you imagine spending close to half an hour at each house?
Second, I got a call from day care earlier today. She is not feeling well. My husband left work early to pick her up, and we are investigating the severity of it. If she is really not feeling well, then we have to call it a night and Munchie will get some TLC while recuperating.
I am hoping for the best.  In the meantime, I really look forward to seeing all the neat Halloween costumes others will be wearing. Candy at our house!
Are you and/or your kids dressing up tonight? I want to hear about it!
P.S. That is really a picture of my daughter last year.