Bedtime Business Blues

The routine is the same, night after night, 8:00 p.m. is "bedtime business" time.

Jacob learned this from Blue's Clues... first, p.j.'s (and he HAS to wear zipper jammies that he can zip up a time or two), the toilet, then washing up and brushing his teeth. This has been something we have done together for a while now... the other night, it was different.

It was 8:00 p.m and I announced to him that it was bedtime business time... he raced me down the hall. When I finally reached the bathroom, he was already going potty. He finished and I asked him if I could help him with his jammies (sometimes they get turned inside out).

"No Mama" he said, "I can do it by myself."

"O.k." I said as I watched him struggle to finish, but he finally did it.

Then it was brush teeth time. I got up to help him and he told me to wait. Then the little stinker climbed up onto the sink just enough to reach everything. He even put his toothpaste on his brush.

The tears started dribbling down my face.

"Why you crying Mama?" he asked.

"This makes me sad." I told him.

"What?"

"That you can do this all by yourself. That means your getting bigger bigger now" I told him.

"Yeah, me are" he said.

Then he came over and gave me a hug, "but don't you worry mama, I may get bigger bigger, but I will always be your baby."

He's right. He will.

Chores

During a recent visit to my sister's house, Mark and I learned about a wonderful system she has for her children to do chores and get rewarded... but the rewards are enough to make them want to do the chores. We liked this and decided to start a similar system at our house. Even little Kyle has a chore! :)

Today, Jacob started his morning helping me clean. He yelled at me because I did one of his chores (cleaning off the tv with glass cleaner/paper towel) so I let him do it again. Though our system really doesn't start until Monday, these chores and the points he will receive must be on Jacob's mind.

At dinner time, Jacob announces to Mark and I, "Mommy, your chores can be 'portant stuff, cleaning, vaccuuming, laundry, cooking and hmm... I think that's all. Daddy, your chores can be battling with me and playing Spyro (on PS2)."

Mark and I both laugh... only 4 years old and he has the boys role all figured out.

Snow Day

So Mother Nature decided to dump about 5 inches of snow on us today. Of course, for those of us in the working world, this sucks - having to get up, shovel, and make it to work on time. Well, this didn't happen for me today as the plows decided to skip over our little country road today. So it was time for me to try to shovel out.

I was outside for about 5 minutes when the front door flew open "Mama! Mama! I am coming out to play with you!!"

That little boy had been sound asleep 5 minutes earlier... I couldn't believe he could be so wide awake and ready to play that quick - but he was.

I went inside and dug out his winter clothes and then Mark got him ready. 2 minutes later he was outside throwing snow at me.

We had fun.

I shoveled and he threw snow at me.

We laughed as we jumped around in the snow. It was really a great morning. But I still needed to get to work, so it had to end....

"Mama, can I go in and have some hot coffee now?"

No, I don't give my 4 year old coffee - he meant cocoa!

"Of course you can baby doll" I smiled at his little red cheeks and nose.

We went inside and I made him a cup of hot cocoa.

"Mama, you make the bestest hot cocoa" he smiled at me.

"Thank you buddy."

"You're welcome."

"Thank you for playing with Mama today - that was the best" I said to him.

"You're welcome," he said again and then gave me a big hug and kiss.

I think I like snow days.