Bribery

I find the age of 3 years to be quite a challenge, but the one upside is that my 3 year old daughter responds rather well to bribes.  For example, hurry up and get dressed and you can watch a TV show ... or if you leave the park now without throwing a fit, I'll give you a cookie when we get home.  Many bribes revolve around convincing her to go potty when we have the chance.  With all the bribery going around, we have had to become more and more creative.
A few weeks ago, we were finishing up lunch and had to run to Lowe's before going home for nap time.  I wanted her to potty before we left the restaurant but, as usual, she was taking her sweet time.  I decided to make Lowe's more enticing ... "Don't you want to go pick out pink paint for your new room? You have to go potty if you want pink paint" (We are moving in the next few months and have talked a lot about our new house).  An older woman overheard our conversation and chuckled.  I guess the bribe sounded pretty ridiculous.  I'd like to say it worked but we were still standing outside the bathroom talking about pink paint 5 minutes later.
Mom of the year ...

PS- I'm not even sure I'm going to let her paint her room pink!

Beach bums

We recently returned home from a 10 day vacation at the beach.  We enjoyed ourselves but more importantly, we all survived the trip without too much drama.  It's funny how I always feel like I need a vacation from my vacation these days.
My 3 year old daughter was amazingly well-behaved for the majority of the trip but of course had her moments.  And I guess I had my moments too.  I had become accustomed to having sand all over me, but I wasn't a huge fan of that gritty all-over feeling.  One day, while playing in the sand, my daughter launched a shovel full of sand all over me.  She looked me right in the eye when she did it so I know it was no accident.  I've never claimed to be mature enough to be a mom.  In fact, people who know me well think I often act like a 6th grader.  Maybe that explains why my first instinct was to throw sand back at her.  Unfortunately, my aim wasn't great and it all went in her face.  Oops... sorry sweetie!  She cried for a few minutes before she forgave me.
Mom of the year ...

Happy Mothers' Day

I feel negligent in my role as "Mom of the Year" letting Mother's Day go by without a blog post.  I'm sure I'm the only "mommy blogger" that would allow a slip-up of that magnitude.  Of course, I did work the 24 hours prior to Mothers' Day so I will use that as my excuse.  As for the holiday itself, I had a beautiful day, despite being exhausted from work.  How could I not enjoy the day with these cuties?

I hope everyone enjoyed Mothers' Day.  If yours was similar to mine, it revolved around spending time with the family, more specifically the children.  As much as I love my children, part of me wanted to slip away and sleep the whole day (oh wait, I did sleep half the day).  It puzzles me why Fathers' Day is depicted in all the Hallmark cards as a day off for dads ... playing golf, fishing, lying in a hammock.  Mothers' Day on the other hand seems more focused on spending time together with the children.  Am I the only one who would have enjoyed a day off?  Now I sound ungrateful.  I am very thankful for my 2 healthy children and my own wonderful mother and mother-in-law.  I just think moms could use a day off too.  Who's with me in 2013?
Mom of the year ...

Tale of a tail

Tonight, I was especially impatient with my 3 year old daughter getting ready for bed.  She has a tendency to take 30 minutes to complete a 3 minute task.  I was holding her pull-ups and trying to get her to come over to me to put them on.  Finally, exasperated, I raised my voice and said (aka I yelled) "Get your tail over here now!"  She responded very matter of fact-ly, "Mommy, I don't have a tail!"  I couldn't help but burst out in laughter.  Well, at least she diffused the situation.
Mom of the year ...

Officially Satan

As the mother of a 3 year old, I am officially self-proclaimed Satan.  When people tell you that 3 is harder than 2, it's hard to believe (at least when you're the mother of the most stubborn 2 year old you know).  Well, it's true.  3 is definitely harder than 2.  It's hard to pinpoint exactly why that is until you're in Lowe's and your previously content and acqueisent 3 year old is suddenly on the floor screaming bloody murder.  It's at these moments that I find I have no coping mechanisms, especially when these moments occur post call.  After spending more than 5 minutes trying to stuff our hyperventilating, fighting 3 year old into the carseat, I was spent.  We started to pull out of the parking lot when I realized she had managed to wriggle both arms out of the carseat straps.  Seriously!?!  We pulled over so I could wrestle her back in at which point I tightened the arm straps as much as possible.  "I'm too tight, I'm too tight" ... more screaming bloody murder and crying.  Well, I finally decided I couldn't take any more.  I opened my window and held her lovey (Lamby) out the window.  "I'll throw him out," I threatened!  "No Mommy, don't drop him!" The tears disappeared and her expression was pure terror!  My husband cracked a smile ... I guess it was pretty hysterical.  I wonder what people in cars behind us must have thought with my arm out the window, "Lamby" hanging on by a thread.  Oh well, it worked.  She stopped crying and within 10 minutes, was back to her pre-tantrum, sweet demeanor.  Is my child bipolar ... or is she just 3?
Mom of the year ...