Seven Quick Takes: Toddler with a Sucker Stick Edition

This edition of Seven Quick Takes, sponsored by Conversion Diary, is in honor of the child who is not sleeping.

One

I think my children have an Ambition Radar.  So the second I think an ambitious thought - such as "maybe I'll empty the dishwasher" or "maybe I should see if the laundry room floor is still down there;" my ambitions don't get too far these days - a siren and clanging bell sound in their minds.  DISTRACT!  DISTRACT!  DISTRACT!  and they a) wake up, b) refuse to sleep, c) begin pulling each other's hair, or d) yank on my legs and demand, "UP UP UP UP UP!"  Someone should do some research on that, because I don't think the phenomenon is restricted to me.

Two

I don't know exactly where this thought came from, but you know something that's making me mad?  People insulting the teeth of British people.  This is in the context of Facebook discussions on health care, some of which I think are wonderfully well-reasoned even if I don't agree, and some of which just make me want to sic a toddler with a sucker stick on someone.  The argument goes something like this:  "We don't want British medicine!  Look at their teeth!  I'd rather die!" except with lots of words spelled wrong.  (Is it ironic that that's an option in American health care if you get cancer without insurance?  Dying with good teeth.  At least it's a stated goal.)  Now I know from Austin Powers that the British are supposed to have bad teeth, but I've been picking my brain trying to remember the teeth of my British friends, and I really can't think of any that were noticeably awful.  I kind of take offense on their behalf, because they were all pretty awesome people and I really don't think it's very nice to make fun like that.

Three

Yesterday my daughter shoplifted for the first time, thankfully (?) in a pretty dramatic way.  We were in the Disney store (also for the first time in her life) (and maybe the last) after buying her little sister some shoes and Asparagus was playing and having a great time.  I was wearing Lichen on my back and had the lightweight folding stroller all weighed down with bags.  Asparagus found a Buzz Lightyear suitcase allllll the way on the back wall of the store and decided that it was the best thing EVER.  She started playing with it and said, "Bye, Mama!  I go work now!" and trotted (read: ran like holy blazes) toward the front of the store... to the front of the store... out the door... running... running...  Until a kindhearted mama slowed her down long enough for me to catch up.  The whole time I was running behind her (as well as I could with a baby on my back and an upended stroller in one hand) yelling at her to STOP!  Which she clearly didn't.  We went back into the store and replaced the suitcase and she had to tell the clerk that she was sorry for going out without paying, but I don't know what kind of impact it made.  It was the first time that I was truly embarrassed by my child's behavior.

Four

And so the mama smackdown has begun.  Or something.  We've been having trouble with Asparagus not listening for a while now, and that was my last straw.  I keep reading about a parenting philosophy called Love and Logic, and will be going out this afternoon to buy the book.  We will also be attending one of their seminars in Troy this January if we can arrange a few hours' of babysitting.  I've read a few summaries and whatnot on their website and already feel like things are a little more under control and like I have a few more tools at my disposal.

Five

I made an awesome dinner last night.  I baked halved acorn squash and filled it with a mixture of quinoa, Italian sausage, red peppers, and spices.  It was awesome.  The sausage gave it great flavor, but there was so much vegetable in the dish that it still tasted really wholesome.  Mmmm!

Six

Would you believe that Lichen is finally sleeping?  It's not been a good couple weeks for sleep in our household. Lichen is on some crazy sleep strike and has nearly cut out her morning nap (and almost her afternoon one, today) and Asparagus is getting her two-year-molars (note: this may have something to do with the out-of-control-craziness lately).  But it's quiet here now!  Ahhhh...

Seven

Maybe I should leave it at that... ahhhhh.  The sun is shining through the window and I feel a fresh breeze coming in the window.  Confused crickets are chirping in the garden and the only sounds in my house are the ticking of the clock and hum of the refrigerator.  And the neighbor's industrial lawnmower.  Whatever.  It's the version of peace we get here in suburbia. Have a safe and blessed Labor Day, everyone.

Comments

[Ben Wildeboer]

Sounds like you're staying fit (physically) even if you're being driven mentally insane in the process. ;-)

I know a bit about Love and Logic since it's also promoted as a discipline method in schools. While I'm not an expert, most education people who I've really come to like for their views have said that Love and Logic is B.F. Skinner's behaviorism with a friendly face & vocabulary.
I've read several articles and books by Alfie Kohn on education where he is critical of Love & Logic and other behavior management systems (what he calls "pop behaviorism"). He wrote a book (Unconditional Parenting) where he describes why he's against "pop behaviorism" and offers alternative approaches. I've never read it, but I have found most of his education-related stuff to be excellent. I'd imagine it'd at least be a thought provoking read if nothing else.