Well, I have my fair share of parenting books. I love information on how to be a better parent. I am super guilty of expecting my kids to be by the book, etc. Hence my title "Nap Nazi". Hence my aggravation and frustration when either of the kids do not stick to there expected routines.
Running off track here... choo choo... so, now I am a huge fan of Toddlerwise. It's a continuation of the book, "Babywise", which has been super controversial in the parenting society (okay, more like the information hoarding parent's society). Back to Toddlerwise. It's a bit more structured and strict than the other books out there. The new thing in parenting is to protect your child's feelings, let them be an individual, give them space. Space, schmace. They're 2! They don't know what space is! They need to be taught what space is, dang it!
Really the whole point of this post is not about space but about how we have been going in the wrong direction with Carter regarding meal times. We have started asking each other, "at what age can you make a kid eat something"? Most of my books say never force anything on your child because then you will traumatize them and they will never want to experience it again (including broccoli). Well, that technique went out the window with Carter's swimming lessons, and seeing how well he did as a result of being pushed allowed me to push him at the dinner table.
When I once "altered" his meals so that he would eat a nutritious meal but still eat, he is now expected to eat what we eat for dinner, salad and all. We started on Monday and it has been very successful. A few times have been challenging (tomatoes aren't his favorite and it takes a lot for him to not naturally spit them out!), but all-in-all, it's been a great learning experience, knowing that they are very capable of doing things that you are afraid of pushing on them...
It also helps to tell them that they will look like Michael Phelps if they eat that last cucumber... (a new hero in our household--oh, and now he wants to be a gymnast, too).
Another thing I have been working on is the amount of television time. Both Jason and I were raised without TV and know the benefits of this, so it disgusts me anytime the television is on. I have dealt with that disgust the first two months of Everett's life as it was so difficult to balance both boys with all the meal times, diaper changes, and naps (as well as my own lack of sleep)... but since Everett has been 2 months old, we have been working on less and less TV. We are now down to 20 mins a day! Whoo hoo!
Running off track here... choo choo... so, now I am a huge fan of Toddlerwise. It's a continuation of the book, "Babywise", which has been super controversial in the parenting society (okay, more like the information hoarding parent's society). Back to Toddlerwise. It's a bit more structured and strict than the other books out there. The new thing in parenting is to protect your child's feelings, let them be an individual, give them space. Space, schmace. They're 2! They don't know what space is! They need to be taught what space is, dang it!
Really the whole point of this post is not about space but about how we have been going in the wrong direction with Carter regarding meal times. We have started asking each other, "at what age can you make a kid eat something"? Most of my books say never force anything on your child because then you will traumatize them and they will never want to experience it again (including broccoli). Well, that technique went out the window with Carter's swimming lessons, and seeing how well he did as a result of being pushed allowed me to push him at the dinner table.
When I once "altered" his meals so that he would eat a nutritious meal but still eat, he is now expected to eat what we eat for dinner, salad and all. We started on Monday and it has been very successful. A few times have been challenging (tomatoes aren't his favorite and it takes a lot for him to not naturally spit them out!), but all-in-all, it's been a great learning experience, knowing that they are very capable of doing things that you are afraid of pushing on them...
It also helps to tell them that they will look like Michael Phelps if they eat that last cucumber... (a new hero in our household--oh, and now he wants to be a gymnast, too).
Another thing I have been working on is the amount of television time. Both Jason and I were raised without TV and know the benefits of this, so it disgusts me anytime the television is on. I have dealt with that disgust the first two months of Everett's life as it was so difficult to balance both boys with all the meal times, diaper changes, and naps (as well as my own lack of sleep)... but since Everett has been 2 months old, we have been working on less and less TV. We are now down to 20 mins a day! Whoo hoo!