Comments for The Calm Mom http://www.thecalmmom.com Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:52:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Greed and the Holidays by Talia http://www.thecalmmom.com/2012/01/03/greed-and-the-holidays/#comment-761 Talia Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:52:10 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=463#comment-761 Great post Deb! One way we manage to stave off the "I want"'s is by putting away a portion of Zoe's toys for a month or so so that they feel "new" when taken out again later on. It also encourages our little One to enjoy and savor a few toys at a time. The other thought I had, though, reading your entry is that sometimes its as hard for me to resist the temptation to buy her things! (which I attribute in part to my old friend, working mom guilt!) Great post Deb! One way we manage to stave off
the “I want”‘s is by putting away a portion of Zoe’s toys for a month or so
so that they feel “new” when taken out again later on. It also encourages our little
One to enjoy and savor a few toys at a time. The other thought I had, though, reading your entry
is that sometimes its as hard for me to resist the temptation to buy her things! (which I attribute in part to my old friend, working mom guilt!)

]]> Comment on Family Meals – Some Collected Clever Ideas by Lisa http://www.thecalmmom.com/2011/03/02/family-meals-some-collected-clever-ideas/#comment-233 Lisa Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:48:34 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=458#comment-233 Don't forget build your own pizza night. We use large pita breads instead of fiddling around with crusts. I also find if you are having a family meal to put everything on the table in serving trays and bowls so the kids can regulate how much they think they can eat rather than giving them what you think they will eat. Don’t forget build your own pizza night. We use large pita breads instead of fiddling around with crusts.

I also find if you are having a family meal to put everything on the table in serving trays and bowls so the kids can regulate how much they think they can eat rather than giving them what you think they will eat.

]]> Comment on Family Meals by Kelly http://www.thecalmmom.com/2011/03/01/family-meals/#comment-222 Kelly Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:18:51 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=453#comment-222 Hi Deb, We have used a couple strategies at our dinner table that have worked so far. So, here's my 2 cents: First, we usually read 3 books to my daughter before bedtime. Around the time she approached 3 and became increasingly, shall we say 'spicy', we decided that she would have to earn her books. One for eating dinner, one for putting on pajamas without arguing, and one for brushing teeth without arguing. It has worked as a motivator when she doesn't like the meal we are having. I can say "one bite does not equal dinner, and so far you don't have any books tonight". It usually helps. One night we were in a battle over eating corn and I finally said "If you take one bite of corn, I will tell you something really interesting about it". For some reason this worked. She took a bite and I explained that you can dry and pop certain kinds of corn. She laughed and took another bite and I told her that corn plants were taller than mommy. She got a big kick out of it and finished all of her corn! Good luck on the battle front! :) Hi Deb,

We have used a couple strategies at our dinner table that have worked so far. So, here’s my 2 cents:

First, we usually read 3 books to my daughter before bedtime. Around the time she approached 3 and became increasingly, shall we say ‘spicy’, we decided that she would have to earn her books. One for eating dinner, one for putting on pajamas without arguing, and one for brushing teeth without arguing. It has worked as a motivator when she doesn’t like the meal we are having. I can say “one bite does not equal dinner, and so far you don’t have any books tonight”. It usually helps.

One night we were in a battle over eating corn and I finally said “If you take one bite of corn, I will tell you something really interesting about it”. For some reason this worked. She took a bite and I explained that you can dry and pop certain kinds of corn. She laughed and took another bite and I told her that corn plants were taller than mommy. She got a big kick out of it and finished all of her corn!

Good luck on the battle front! :)

]]> Comment on A Great Resource for New Parents by Bruce Wilson http://www.thecalmmom.com/2011/01/22/a-great-resource-for-new-parents/#comment-190 Bruce Wilson Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:59:57 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=440#comment-190 I AM A SINGLE DAD AND CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY WHAT GREAT PRODUCTS THEY HAVE ON www.BoxedForFun.com FINALLY, THERE ARE GIFTS THAT CATER TO PARENTS AND SIBLINGS WHICH INCORPORATE EDUCATION, UNDERSTANDING, THOUGHT, FUN, CARING, DEPTH AND FAIRNESS FOR EACH SIBLING. EVERYTHING IN THEIR GIFT BOXES WERE WELL THOUGHT OUT AND BOTH EASY AND EDUCATIONAL FOR BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS AND PARENTS. I'M TELLING MY FRIENDS I AM A SINGLE DAD AND CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY WHAT GREAT PRODUCTS THEY HAVE ON
http://www.BoxedForFun.com

FINALLY, THERE ARE GIFTS THAT CATER TO PARENTS AND SIBLINGS WHICH INCORPORATE EDUCATION, UNDERSTANDING, THOUGHT, FUN, CARING, DEPTH AND FAIRNESS FOR EACH SIBLING. EVERYTHING IN THEIR GIFT BOXES WERE WELL THOUGHT OUT AND BOTH EASY AND EDUCATIONAL FOR BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS AND PARENTS.

I’M TELLING MY FRIENDS

]]> Comment on Managing Sibling Rivalry: Getting a Good Start When A New Baby Arrives by Jason http://www.thecalmmom.com/2011/01/14/managing-sibling-rivalry-getting-a-good-start-when-a-new-baby-arrives/#comment-188 Jason Sun, 23 Jan 2011 02:30:50 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=428#comment-188 I have worked in a number of different classrooms with children ranging in age from 3-8. Despite ages differences, I have consistently seen the stress of transitioning from only child to older sibling take its toll on children. Dr. Ledley makes some wonderful suggestions. I thought her last point about telling the big kids what they CAN do was unique. It makes so much sense! I'll certainly make sure to pass this along to all the parents who approach me for advice. Thanks Dr. Ledley, keep up the helpful work! I have worked in a number of different classrooms with children ranging in age from 3-8. Despite ages differences, I have consistently seen the stress of transitioning from only child to older sibling take its toll on children.

Dr. Ledley makes some wonderful suggestions. I thought her last point about telling the big kids what they CAN do was unique. It makes so much sense! I’ll certainly make sure to pass this along to all the parents who approach me for advice.

Thanks Dr. Ledley, keep up the helpful work!

]]> Comment on The Power of Sleep: Part II by calmmom http://www.thecalmmom.com/2010/11/16/the-power-of-sleep-part-ii/#comment-180 calmmom Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:59:07 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=414#comment-180 HI, This is a super question...not an easy one to solve, but here are a couple of thoughts. First, I might dial bedtime the bedtime routine back a bit. Do jammies, teeth, and then give them 20 minutes to be totally goofy with the door closed and you not in there. Then, some quiet reading and then lights out. You would be recognizing that they WANT this goofy time together (and it must be very tempting for three active boys!), but you would be incorporating it into the bedtime routine so that they don't miss out on valuable sleep. Once you have lights out, I would give them each one "get out of bed free" card per night. This card would entitle them to a bathroom visit, a question to you, water or whatever. They would really have to think about how to use it because they only have one! And, here's the neat part. Set up a point chart and if they DON'T use their card on a given night, they get a point in the morning. Once they accumulate a certain number of points (5 is a good place to start), they can select a reward. Even for people who are not financially strapped, I always recommend rewards that are not monetary like choosing what the family has for dinner one night, selecting the movie you will all watch on a Saturday night, etc. Finally, with the morning, put their light on a timer set to go off at "wake up time". If they wake up and the light is not yet on, they must lay quietly in bed or grab a book to read/look at quietly. If the light is on, they can get out of bed and do noisier things. Hope this all helps. Keep me posted!!! HI, This is a super question…not an easy one to solve, but here are a couple of thoughts. First, I might dial bedtime the bedtime routine back a bit. Do jammies, teeth, and then give them 20 minutes to be totally goofy with the door closed and you not in there. Then, some quiet reading and then lights out. You would be recognizing that they WANT this goofy time together (and it must be very tempting for three active boys!), but you would be incorporating it into the bedtime routine so that they don’t miss out on valuable sleep. Once you have lights out, I would give them each one “get out of bed free” card per night. This card would entitle them to a bathroom visit, a question to you, water or whatever. They would really have to think about how to use it because they only have one! And, here’s the neat part. Set up a point chart and if they DON’T use their card on a given night, they get a point in the morning. Once they accumulate a certain number of points (5 is a good place to start), they can select a reward. Even for people who are not financially strapped, I always recommend rewards that are not monetary like choosing what the family has for dinner one night, selecting the movie you will all watch on a Saturday night, etc. Finally, with the morning, put their light on a timer set to go off at “wake up time”. If they wake up and the light is not yet on, they must lay quietly in bed or grab a book to read/look at quietly. If the light is on, they can get out of bed and do noisier things. Hope this all helps. Keep me posted!!!

]]> Comment on The Power of Sleep: Part II by Sarah http://www.thecalmmom.com/2010/11/16/the-power-of-sleep-part-ii/#comment-169 Sarah Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:49:02 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=414#comment-169 I have three boys ages 7, 4 & 4. I am a single Mom and unfortunately because finances are so tight, we live in a two bedroom apartment and the boys sleep in the same room. I have a heck of a time getting them to take me seriously at bedtime. The second I turn the light off and shut the door, they are up playing with toys, getting into things, talking and laughing. They usually take about 2 hours a night to finally fall asleep after getting up out of bed several times for the bathroom or to ask me a question, or water and so on. How do I break this pattern, what am I doing wrong? I'm sure they are exausted because I AM! They then also wake up before I do in the morning and I can't seem to get that to stop either. I have three boys ages 7, 4 & 4. I am a single Mom and unfortunately because finances are so tight, we live in a two bedroom apartment and the boys sleep in the same room. I have a heck of a time getting them to take me seriously at bedtime. The second I turn the light off and shut the door, they are up playing with toys, getting into things, talking and laughing. They usually take about 2 hours a night to finally fall asleep after getting up out of bed several times for the bathroom or to ask me a question, or water and so on. How do I break this pattern, what am I doing wrong? I’m sure they are exausted because I AM! They then also wake up before I do in the morning and I can’t seem to get that to stop either.

]]> Comment on Babies and iPhones: Is Calm Always Good? by peter http://www.thecalmmom.com/2010/10/19/babies-and-iphones-is-calm-always-good/#comment-140 peter Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:16:28 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=393#comment-140 <strong>peter...</strong> excellent info, keep it coming... peter…

excellent info, keep it coming…

]]> Comment on Sleep Training and New Babies: It’s Hard Work, but You’ve Got to Do it! by Speed math http://www.thecalmmom.com/2010/09/23/sleep-training-and-new-babies-its-hard-work-but-youve-got-to-do-it/#comment-137 Speed math Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:43:19 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=372#comment-137 <strong>Thanks...</strong> Thanks for sharing this with us. I've quite enjoyed the experience of visiting your blog so far. Maybe some cliff notes at the end would be a useful addition to summarize the lessons... Anyway I will be checking back here so keep up the fantastic writ... Thanks…

Thanks for sharing this with us. I’ve quite enjoyed the experience of visiting your blog so far. Maybe some cliff notes at the end would be a useful addition to summarize the lessons… Anyway I will be checking back here so keep up the fantastic writ…

]]> Comment on Sleep Training and New Babies: It’s Hard Work, but You’ve Got to Do it! by Another Blog Title http://www.thecalmmom.com/2010/09/23/sleep-training-and-new-babies-its-hard-work-but-youve-got-to-do-it/#comment-136 Another Blog Title Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:09:03 +0000 http://www.thecalmmom.com/?p=372#comment-136 <strong>Title...</strong> Everyone has different sleep needs... Title…

Everyone has different sleep needs…

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