My apologies...a glitch in my system hasn't allowed me to post to my blogspot for three weeks now. But I'm back and just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here's a quick one tough mother thought as you load up your van today and hit those 4:00 am sales for whacked-out consumers (btw, I'm way to old for such a thing--I'll amble my way in around December 23rd and find something that works for everyone on my list) and it is this: Don't lose your mind during these next four weeks! Don't try and make up for all relational dsyfunction by charging gifts you can't afford for people you don't particularly like and say no, and say it often...
"No, I'm not buying you the New! Improved! Nintendo/PlayStation/Strawberry Shortcake Galactic-Mafia-Be-a-Pimp-for-a-Day game station and accompanying $125.00 games!"
"No, we will not event attempt to hit five different homes with five different sets of relatives in a five-hour time frame!"
"No, we will not feel guilty about the above no."
"No, I'm not going to count the carb/fat/calorie levels of the plate in front of me...or someone else!"
"No, I will not choose to defile the sanctity of the holiday dinner table hour to hash out all my pent-up issues with my brother and/or sister."
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Kristen, Ricky Neal, and Patrick
As a mom you get lots of advice. TV shows, magazines, cyber-sites, friends, your own mother (and mother-in-law) are all telling you the best way to raise your kids. But all this well-meaning counsel can paralyze you...Enough Already! Unapologetically raucous and refreshingly relevant, Julie Barnhill, (One Tough Mother author and mom to three spawnlings), offers SANE and SENSIBLE conversation to help you STEP UP and be the firm and effective mother you were meant to be.
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Q: I want to take our 3 children on vacation to a family theme park in July. The problem that I have is that my oldest is a diabetic, so the heat will be a bit of a factor in how we do things, my 4 year old has an anxiety disorder and hates crowds, people, noises etc., and my 2-year old is just like her brother but maybe even a bit worse. I am dreading the airplane ride and getting them back and forth from the park to our hotel. Any advice?
A: Um, why on earth are you embarking on this trip with all these factors at play? As the mother of three (19, 18, 13) and veteran of numerous horrific vacations and a few gems, I would recommend you down-size your trip. The crowds can be crushing and while theme parks such as this market themselves as "family destinations," let me tell you, the lack of attendee empathy for moms and dads with small ones can be nerve-wracking. (Memory circa 2002.)
Pick a smaller park within a short driving distance of home. Maybe a water park friendly to small ones. Hold off on this sure-fire Mother Lode of Vacation Angst for several more years. You'll save money and your sanity. And relax, The Mouse will be there in five years and your children will be able to remember it a lot more too.
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2 comments:
Julie, you would have been so proud of me. My 4yr old was having a major meltdown about bedtime and after lots of screaming on his part I grabbed him by his little shoulders and said "who is the boss" and he said "you are" and I said "who is going to win" and he said "you are" and I said "Why am I going to win" and he said "you are because you are the boss". I told him to get in bed and stop AND HE DID!!!
My husband looked on while this whole scene played out and when the child got into bed, my husband gave me the nod of approval!
Hey Julie,
Have you started your Christmas letter yet? I emailed you mine like you asked at the MOPS convention! Have a great Christmas!
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