Love of lawnmowers

If Mason is in love with just one thing, it's lawnmowers. He spots them absolutely everywhere! Whether you're driving down the road, getting out of the car at Home Depot, leafing through a WalMart flyer, or watching the neighbour cut the lawn, he is an expert at spotting them. He doesn't pronounce the "L" though, so he says "awnmower". Too cute. Best of all, he loves when Daddy takes him for a drive on the 'awnmower'.



His favourite toy, which he carries around with him ALL THE TIME and even sometimes takes to bed (!), is this toy lawnmower. Loves the thing.



As parents, we hope this love of lawnmowers will NEVER leave and that as a teenager he'll still love lawnmowers as much when he has to cut the lawn every week.

Newborns, 2 year olds, crying, and parenting

I can't stand to hear newborns/babies cry.

When Mason was born, the lady next door had just had a baby too and it cried the whole time I was there. It was awful. She just left the baby in his bassinet until it was time for his feeding.

The other day I was at a store in the mall and heard this baby cry. You could tell he/she was newborn...so tiny. The baby cried and cried and cried and mom just shopped and shopped and shopped.

A couple years ago I was at a food court with my family. A lady next to us had a little baby who was screaming his head off. "My meal comes first," she said to him.

Those are just a few examples I've come across in which I had to leave just so I wouldn't hear the poor babe cry. I mean, what am I going to do? Tell the mom to feed the baby or pay attention to him? I would love to do that but realize that won't help. So I just leave.

I never used to be like this. Before I had kids, I was fine with hearing a baby cry in public. Didn't bother me. Now, however, it literally tears my heart out. I feel sick listening to a tiny newborn cry and cry and cry. Now, I know babies cry. I've had 3. I know they do. But I've always tried to do what I can to soothe them. Especially when they're that little. An older child crying doesn't bother me as much. I guess it's because they're that little bit older and know the world a little bit better. But a tiny little newborn who doesn't know the world and depends on his or her mom for everything...that just tears me up.

That's newborns.

I was at my obstetrician's office this week. After a few minutes, 2 moms came in with their boys. One mom had a 1 year old and the other had an almost 2 year old. There were a few toys in the office and the red headed mom told her almost 2 year old boy to get a toy. He wouldn't as I was sitting next to where the toys were. She deduced that he was afraid of the plant next to the toys.

I was thinking to myself, OK. That's interesting.

Next, as I was reading my book, she said he couldn’t sit on her lap. He had to sit on the floor to play.

Then, he wanted to climb on the chair next to her. Fine, she said, but you have gotta stay on it. Now, he’s 2. He’s not going to stay, seriously! So he got back down. Then he got reprimanded for going down. No more going on the chair, she said, or you’ll have to sit on my lap. He’s 2 so of course he climbed back on the chair. She grabbed him and restrained him on her lap. He started crying. After 30 seconds of this, she said, No, you’re staying here for a 3 minute time-out.

After this, he got to get down and goes right back to the chair next to her. No more climbing up, she said. He climbs up. She threatens him with a 5 minute time-out. Then he goes and gets a book for her to read.
He climbs on mom’s lap and she starts to read. He wants to turn the page but she won’t allow it until she finishes reading the page. He’s 2! He’s got the attention span of a goldfish! I know this – I have a 2 year old boy!
Next she wants him to get “The paperbag princess” book (because she likes this book). He doesn’t.
He walks away from her a bit.
Benjamin! She yells.
All throughout these 45 minutes I have to listen to his name over and over and over. Sometimes it’s: Benjamin. Sometimes it’s: BENJAMIN!. And sometimes it’s NO, Benjamin. Then it’s : Benjamin! You have the same toy at home and you don’t play with it. Shall we donate it?

What 2 year old knows the word “donate”?

Then she proceeds to threaten him with going to the car if he doesn’t listen to her.

All in all, this lady certainly was something.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a perfect parent. Not at all. But she was far from it. Makes you wonder what goes on at home. It’s kind of like the newborns crying. I can’t stand to see a mom treat her 2 year old that way. Even though I know 2 year olds are challenging (I certainly have a little troublemaker on MY hands), there are things you just don’t say or do to them.

They don’t get big words.
They don’t get inconsistency.
They don’t always listen to the whole story.
They don’t sit for 45 minutes at the doctor’s office and play with just 1 toy quietly.
They are energetic and loud and independent.

I hope I don’t run into her again or I might recommend a couple of parenting books to her. 

Not until I say "I do"

Ian and I have been attending a parenting class every Sunday, while Sunday school is on, at our church. From 8:45 till 9:45 we talk about all sorts of interesting things. Last Sunday was our last meeting and Pastor introduced us to "Worldview Everlasting". Very very interesting. The topic addressed in this youtube video (he apparently broadcasts every week) is dating in your late teens and early twenties.

Abstinence. No touching, no hand holding, no hugging.

It was very interesting to hear everyone's opinion on the subject.

Listen to the video. It's 20 minutes long and he addresses so valid points. Also some points that I don't agree with, personally. But I'll let you decide for yourself what you think.

WORLDVIEW EVERLASTING - CLICK HERE

Wedding Announcement

Our daughter informed us yesterday that she got married. She has had "J" as a best friend since they were 3, and now, at 6 (J actually just turned 7) they decided to get married.

Sadly, we weren't invited to the nuptials because they took place at lunch recess. I heard it was a beautiful day and the wedding was attended by many friends. These friends urged the happy couple to seal the deal with a kiss but the bride and groom were not "into that".

The groom went home that night and wrote a letter to his dad's boss to ask if his dad could have the day for the wedding off work. (I guess perhaps they are planning a wedding for the family after all??)

Megan has decided to call J "husband" now.

We asked if the wedding was a long one but Megan told us that No, J's friends wanted to "go play something else then". I responded by telling her that "marriage is not all play" :)

We wish the happy couple lots of happiness and are very happy with our new in-laws, as Megan's mother-in-law also happens to be her teacher.

Details to follow in case they decide to have a ceremony involving family.

Hilarious

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there! We had a wonderful day. Lots of fun homemade gifts, good food, and relaxing...

Here's something really funny a friend posted on her facebook:

Mason's 2nd Birthday!

Although today is officially Mason's 2nd birthday, we celebrated yesterday with family and friends. He had a wonderful day. I will elaborate in a few days on his wonderful birthday and the fun we all had. For now, here are a few photos of his cake (my first attempt at fondant - even the cows are all edible!)