Warner Bros. and Sister: August 2012

I have a such a love-frustration relationship with toddlerhood... I can feel so overjoyed with the new things Lili B, West and Jack are doing and saying one minute, and in the next minute feeling like pulling my hair out. This week I had to pull the car over. Yep... we're there. Klint and I just had a conversation about how these three are the funniest little cats we know. Jack is amazing at distracting. If he knows he is teetering on trouble's edge, he breaks out all his best jokes. If that doesn't work he starts passing out kisses like a politician in a crowd of babies. Jack also enjoys helping me determine when would be a good time for one of his siblings to have a "Tim out." I don't know how this unknown "Tim" became involved in our family's "time outs," but according to Jack, it's "Tim out." West is a super sneakster. He "helps" his siblings with toys "I fix it, I fix it" and then all of a sudden it is in his control and someone is screaming, "Take it! West take it!" Lilibeth has busted out with the total girl scream. Only a slight change of octave indicates whether the scream is one of delight or disgust with her brother(s).

Where is the mother in this sweet little piece of chaos? She is pouring the coffee that grew cold in her cup hours ago over ice (and aren't we all thankful that we are past those Mad Men days of the 60's and coffee is the only thing I'm pouring over ice at 9 a.m.?) and repeating my mantra...
"We don't take"
"Kind and gentle hands"
"Feet on the floor"
"We sit on the furniture"
"Our food stays on the table"
"It is your choice... you may give (any given toy, piece of trash, shoe, vacuum, etc.) back to your (brother/sister) or go to time out."
"I am happy that you made a good choice"

OVER and OVER and OVER

As my mother laughed at me the other day, I said, "I repeat the same thing over and over all day every day." She kindly reminded me that I am an elementary school educator. Why is this any different than what I have done every day of my entire adult working life?

Here's how it's different... as much as I loved (and still love!) my students, these babies are OURS. These babies say, "I miss you, Mama" (Jack when I came home from a few days away), "I love you, Mama... Squeeze" and she hugs me as mightily as her little arms will allow (Lilibeth), "I comin', I comin' (when I am coming toward West) and then "Up, up... I hold you" when I reach him. It is different and so good.