Tuesday Tips & Tricks - Beach Sand and Baby Powder

I'm the Sand Man!

The past few weekends have been sunny and hot - perfect beach weather wherever you live and plenty more to come over the next few months! We happen to reside less than an hour from the gorgeous Lake Michigan shore and have found a favorite spot at the Saugatuck Dunes State Park. It's a hike from parking to playing in sand and surf, but it is well worth it.

If you have children, you know that any trip to the beach or even a sandbox at the park ends with sand everywhere on (and sometimes in) your child's body! A simple trick to reduce the amount of sand that ends up in car seats or all over your house is with the use of baby powder! 

The sand can be wet or dry, it doesn't matter. Strip them down and sprinkle baby powder over every sandy spot. Rub vigorously, yet gently, and watch the sand fall right off. It's a little trickier with older kids who don't want to bare all with everyone watching, but have them hold a large towel around their shoulders and just reach up underneath. You can even put it in their hair, knowing they'll be getting a shower or a bath later anyway.

Now you can enjoy your day at the beach knowing you'll be taking a little less sand home with you! 

Birthday #7: The Age of Reason

My baby is turning 7 tomorrow, technically tonight, since she was born in Singapore. Some call it the "Age of Reason." It's a beautiful transition out of temperamental early childhood. It's a deep breath before the moods of adolescence strike.

The other day, my 2-year-old boy burst out in tears when I sharply told him "No!" as he attempted to jump on  the ukulele he was playing with. My daughter went over to him and comforted him. She said, "It's OK, buddy. Mommy loves you and she loves that instrument. You have to understand that she doesn't want you to break things. You could get hurt."

When her 5-year-old sister reacted strongly in the negative to the dinner they were served, she said, "I know this is healthy for me, so I'm going to eat it. I think I'm getting more reasonable now that I'm turning seven."

Indeed, she is. I am cherishing this "space between." She still wants me near, to cuddle close, to climb into bed with her and sing her a lullaby each night. I know things will change in a few years. I remember going from loving to hating my own mom; my intention is to have an entirely different relationship with my own daughter. Healthy, loving, open, accepting, yet with firm rules and expectations for behavior.

How have you seen your relationship change with your daughter during this age? What's the best parenting choice you've made with your "tween" daughter or that your own mother made with you?

Oh, how time flies!

Summer Reunions - A Mom, Her Razor and Shaving Soap

I used to take time and care when shaving. I enjoyed a long, steamy shower to loosen up those follicles, used plenty of shaving soap or cream and a high-quality razor. Before kids, shaving was a calm, stress-relieving activity. Then I had a baby; then another and another. 3 little kids = little time for shaving, but now that the warm weather is here to stay, I need to add it back into my routine.

Men only have faces to shave. We have two legs. Consider the difference in area (as a mathematical term, not the location). We have so much more ground to cover. It takes so much more time, especially around bony ankles and knees.

I've devised a maintenance plan for this shaving season. Twice a week, I’ll shave only above the knees and up to 3x a week, depending on the weather and beach or pool plans, I will shave knees and below! 

I'd so much rather spend an extra 10-minutes in bed sleeping (or at least trying to over the 6am shouts of "Mommy! I want to get out!" from my crib-confined 2-year-old). Yet, we can't run around looking like Mother Bigfoots, can we? 

So, how do you fit in shaving and what’s your product preference? 

When Raising Bi-Lingual Children Goes Wrong - A Laugh for Your Monday

My children speak French (Papa's native language) and English (mine). My two-year-old son speaks a combination of both within any given sentence. Fortunately, I can understand nearly everything he says, regardless of which language he's speaking, even when it's all mixed up, such as, "Mama, I want to eat flocons d'avoine (oatmeal)."

The clarity of his speech is that of a typical two-year-old. Sometimes he is very easy to understand and other times it requires astute listening and translation to make sense of what he's saying. "Yes, I did," comes out very clearly, whereas, "Ookit! A nunna fie," meaning, "Look it, another fly!" doesn't. He can't quite get the "L" sound in where it's needed.

This weekend we had a huge garage sale, with strangers tromping up and down our driveway while the boy played. The day before, we had walked to and from school, about a mile away, and he ended up with very big blisters on the sides of his toes. In French, the word "blister" is "cloque."

In front of several people, including a friendly, 70-ish, grandma-type, my son loudly called to me, "Mommy!  See my big cloque?!!"

He said it very, very clearly. As usual, sans (without) the "L".

He always makes me laugh!

To My Mom on Mother's Day

Dear Mom,

I've learned that the perfect mother doesn't exist.

We are all just women, in love with our children, trying to do our very best.

You always said, "One day you'll understand."

And you were right.

As my children leave their baby and toddler years behind,

I understand that I have so much learning yet to do.

But if there is one thing I am already certain of, 

it is how glad I am that you are my mom.

Happy Mother's Day.

Love,

Tam

© Tamara Vellozzo 2012 

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