Puke Happens

As my daughter gets fussier than normal in the back seat of the car, and my nerves are on edge because I can't understand why on earth she's being this ornery, I finally tell my husband I'm going to climb in back to keep her entertained until we get home. As I position myself to get over the middle console, vomit blows out of her face.

My heart breaks, and I feel guilty for initially being upset at her fussing, when in fact she was trying to express that she wasn't feeling well. As I try to wipe her clean a bit, and comfort her, she suddenly realizes that she smells and is drenched in chunks. I try to distract her to avoid noticing, when that little face looks up at me with crocodile tears, holds out her finger with puke on it and says in such utter disgust and horror, "Mommy yuckyeeeee!!!" I held back laughter because it was so cute but sad at the same time. My little princess realized -- to her horror -- that she feels icky, so much that she began sobbing and repeated over and over again, "Yucky." I tell her it's okay because we're almost home and can take a bath, and then I use a variety of distraction tactics to keep her mind occupied because God forbid she wants me to take her out of the car seat, causing vomit to come in contact with everything other than its strategically isolated car seat.

After her bath and a bite to eat, she snuggles up with me on the couch. She's been ill overnight, and I can't explain it, but the love you feel as you stroke your child's head because they're exhausted from a restless night, you're exhausted from a restless night, but you feel the love. You get joy from being able to get an hour of sleep only to have to repeat the same thing over again the next day.  It's truly a priceless feeling. As I continue to comfort her, I feel comfort and realize that, sick kids bring out the real mother in you.

-OzzyMommy

P.S. A helpful hint to get vomit out of furniture:  Use one part vinegar, one part water and some baking soda.

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Flunking Kids 4 Sports?

I was stunned to see this topic on the morning news. What a joke. A recent trend among parents is emerging, where some parents are delaying their child's enrollment into Kindergarten and/or holding the child back a year in school, in order for their young athlete to have a competitive advantage over the other athletes. Some parents say that it allows their child to be the star, and therefore provides a greater advantage for them to obtain a scholarship and/or become a professional athlete.

As a former athlete, I believe if your parent has to hold you back so that you can be one year older and better than the competition, then you sucked to begin with! And, your parent is an idiot for drumming up this idea of redshirting you. It's okay to suck as an athlete. Not everyone is athletic. But to the parent holding their kid back because they want them to have an advantage, your kid does have a gift. Perhaps sports isn't it. That's just my opinion, and raising kids today to be losers -- yes losers because they can't deal with true competition (in their same age bracket); learning that not everyone gets a trophy; not everyone is an athlete; everyone has a special gift, perhaps athleticism isn't it, is a part of life. We live in a society filled with kids entering the real world without accountability, where parents have made excuses for them their entire life, then wonder why they grow up to be failures. Parents, you're not doing your kids any favors redshirting them, because it will catch up sooner or later.  Being the older, bigger kid on the team because you were held back by your parents is not cool, and I am certain, hurts their self-esteem later in life. A true and stellar athlete plays up, not back. That's how it was when I participated, and that's how it's still today. Good athletes that are younger get to play up, and with the older kids, moving as a freshman participant to junior varsity or varsity. That's cool. Not the other way around!

As I am watching this special, they indicated that the kids that were redshirt are twice as likely to drop out of high school. That is an astounding statistic, but it also makes perfect sense given the blow to a child's ego. If you are the older bigger kid on the team (at least back in my day), we just assumed you flunked and that was not something to be proud of, regardless how good you were athletically. We actually excused a good athlete for losing to the older kid, because they had an unfair advantage. But even then, a true athlete beats out all the competition, same age and older. Shame on parents for messing up their child's social and educational opportunities by forcing them to live out some self-fulfilling athletic dream, and redshirting them to accomplish this. Good athletes are already crushing the competition in their current grade. I'm sure I'll receive some nasty emails from parents that disagree, but really think about it. If you're holding your kid back, in attempts for them to move forward, isn't that counterintuitive?! Good luck.

For more on this topic, view this video from Good Morning America.

-OzzyMommy

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Urine the Wrong

It never ceases to amaze me how some people will bug out over the dumbest things, yet if they put into perspective what they should be mad at, it may make them reconsider.

As I'm listening to a girlfriend vent about her Playa del Carmen swimming pool experience, I could relate to the instance she was talking about. The same thing happened to me when my infant was just eight months old. My daughter has always loved the water. She loves taking baths, swimming in pools and the ocean. So it's natural when your kid takes to the water, that you allow them to partake and enjoy as you do.

My girlfriend Kelly was at an all-inclusive resort with her family, and she and her six month old son were swimming along, enjoying the sun and sights. Her son giggled with excitement as the water splashed his face, when Kelly saw the glares of a few early to mid 20's guys sitting poolside. She wondered what their problem was, when she overheard one of them say to another, "That's nasty that she has a baby in here without a diaper. I sure hope it doesn't pee or poop." While I understand their concern -- more so Kelly's frustration with their mentality -- I told her that the best answer to these guys judging a mommy for swimming with her precious infant is, "Worry about the sloppy drunks pissing in the pool next to you! Yes. The one's who have been sitting at the swim up bar for hours and ironically haven't had to use the bathroom once!" It's rather interesting that they should notice and worry about the innocent and harmless baby pee comprised of breast milk and/or infant formula, versus the sloppy, sweaty adult man urine enclosing the very area they've been marinating! On that note, just keep swimming. Just keep swimming! One point Kelly, zero points fellas. Better luck next time.

-OzzyMommy

Mickey Mouse Watch Out!

I don't think I've witnessed anything more funny, than my 16 month old crying hysterically because she's upset that Mickey Mouse is dancing with Minnie. As I was washing dishes this afternoon, my little Layla went from yelling "No! No! Noooo!" at the television, to crying hysterically. I rushed to see what was going on, and we're not talking phony tears on her little face, we're talking major crocodile tears streaming like a waterfall. So as I finally realized that she was upset because Mickey Mouse was dancing with Minnie, I couldn't help but laugh and tell her, "Layla. Minnie and Mickey can dance together because they are friends. It's okay." So as I chuckled a bit more and was consoling her, I managed to tie this instance with the situations where she's upset at daddy for hugging me.

Our daughter is going through the toddler phase of attachment, where she refuses to let daddy close to mommy. I believe this in turn, is  how she viewed Mickey with Minnie. Every time he (daddy or Mickey Mouse) attempts to get close, our toddler gets so upset that she tries as far as physically pushing daddy away, or yelling to get her point across. I've heard stories of attachment personality growth phases, and children build such close bonds with the primary care-giver, that any outside interference to this attachment is met with resistance. We find it adorable and throughout these bonds and stages, she's learning trust, love, and autonomy. I can't wait for the next phase. Perhaps she'll get mad at Goofy!

-OzzyMommy

Tornado With Kids

Earlier this year my family moved from Denver, Colorado to Kansas City, which is located in Tornado Alley. As most parents, our child's safety comes first above all. So when the tornado siren went off this morning, I freaked out.

As my toddler innocently sat on the balcony, blowing bubbles and feeding make-belief snacks to her Doc McStuffins doll, she jumped up as the siren went off, thinking it was a fire truck. As I begin to wonder why there was no television warning, and I couldn't find any alerts online, plus the weather didn't seem tornado-like (not that I would know anyway), I called the city's  non-emergency line to confirm if this siren was in fact alerting us. The woman on the other end of the phone laughed and said this area rarely sees tornados, yet confirmed this was a tornado siren, but only for a monthly test they perform. Well thanks for the warning! I was about to go fallout shelter mode!!!

With all the natural disasters and tornadoes we've been hearing about in Texas and Oklahoma, my first instinct was to protect my daughter. After confirming all was safe, I called my husband at work and we shared a good laugh. What was most refreshing is knowing and reaffirming what my boss once expressed during my pregnancy. "Never underestimate the love a parent has for their child. You will never truly understand love, until you have a baby. You can love family members, a spouse and friends. But the love you have for your child cannot be described." She was right.

-OzzyMommy

Mothers Day

I thought I'd share the above because it certainly hit the nail on the head for me, and I want to thank my husband for accommodating the mommy wish list.

To all the moms out there, I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day, to help make up for all the sleepless nights, stretch marks, and exhaustion. You are devoted to your craft, and I hope that you were able to thank your mom and appreciate the thanks from everyone around. My day was filled with love, rest and relaxation. Thank you for the warm wishes, and most of all, I thank my husband for making the day magical. Moms have the strength  of silent warriors, battling odds through difficult times, tears and the ups and downs. Most of all, moms experience the priceless happy moments, and in my eyes, moms are superheroes. May the rest of your year be filled with joy and unconditional love.

-OzzyMommy

Muddy the Waters a Bit

What ever happened to the days where rain enabled kids to play in puddles, make mud pies, and kids go outside and play until the sun goes down?

It's rained here a few days and is over 70 degrees, and immediately following rain, there's sunshine, the sounds of kids playing outside, the smell of barbecue, and all I can do is smile as I reminisce on the times I'd rush outside to bike through puddles with friends in the neighborhood, to chase the end of the rainbow, and I'd come home filthy!

Today I took our toddler outside to the playground, and while en route, her first instinct was to run through puddles. My initial thought was, "No way! You're too little and you'll get dirty." But I decided that's no fun, and let her merrily stomp through the water as we walked to the playground, and boy did she giggle with excitement as though it was the best thing in the world. Her joy melts my heart. As we approached the playground and she observed the muddy mulch, she wanted to explore its new texture. I lightened up because after all, that's what the bathtub is for.  I saw the much fun she was having, and how she self-entertained by making mud pies in various shapes and sizes. She wiggling her toes in the mud, and I couldn't help but think about how sad it is that many kids aren't allow these simple gestures because God forbid they get dirty. So many kids don't experience the joys we had as children, because times have changed so drastically that parents would rather their kid stay glued to the television and video game console, not getting any exercise or sunshine in an effort to remain clean. While my style of parenting may be completely different from some, I implore parents to let their child live a little.

My daughter loved playing in this yucky muck so much that she did not want to go inside. Not once did I have to participate. I simply sat back and read a book for two hours as she entertained herself; boy do I wish it would rain more often!  I also wish I could go back to the days when I was this young and didn't have a care in the world; where the only worry was if we had enough people to play kickball; where coming home dirty was just part of being an active kid. Needless to say, playing in muddy waters was so draining for her that following her bath, she's sound asleep and I will continue to read a few more chapters. Have a great weekend.


-OzzyMommy

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Baby Piercing: Cute or Cruel?

Babies are not personal property, and piercing a baby's ears is cruel and takes away the child's freedom to make this choice when they get older. These are some of the arguments from parents opposed to piercing a baby's ears. Many moms simply feel that "It's just not right." While I understand the concerns surrounding the decision, I ask, "What's it to you?!" I think it looks adorable, and apparently so do many other moms that have done it before and will continue doing it. I could also argue that it's better than forbidding it, because those strict parents we've all witnessed, who refuse to provide these freedoms to their kids, also end up with the 18-year-old that moves out of the house, and the first thing they do is get a piercing or tattoo! So which is better?! I think there's a fine line between one end of the spectrum and the other, but if there's no harm, then no foul.

I've gone back and forth in my mind, debating whether or not to pierce my daughter's ears following her two-year birthday. I've received mixed reviews, but have certainly seen more girl toddlers with pierced ears, than not. I have a number of girlfriends whose girls have pierced ears, and they say at this age they don't fidgit with them as opposed to when they get a few years older. I also had my ears pierced when I was approximately three. I cannot understand why there is a big debate.

As my daughter becomes more aware of me wearing jewelry and tries putting earrings on me, or hands them to me for pretend wear, I feel the overall notion of piercing a baby's ears is a matter of parental preference.

-OzzyMommy

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Just Saying No!

So my 16 month old's vocabulary continues to grow day-to-day. She's in that phase where she understands the meaning of words and comprehends instruction, but I was not prepared for the "no" phase of her talking. There are instances that are hilarious, but some of her new found defiance is driving me nuts!!! Because of her limited vocabulary, this is one of the reasons her reaction to many questions is no. So I've found several ways to help deter a "no" response, and I thought I'd share some of them as follows:

1. Limit your use of the word no so that your child avoids hearing and using it. Responding with no after your child says no is counterproductive, but I understand it's difficult sometimes to react differently, especially when you're frustrated and just want your child to calm down or take a nap. Respond to your child's "No," with something like, "Maybe tomorrow," or "Let's not play with our food, let's eat it,"or "The couch/bed is used to sit down on nicely. We don't jump on it." Explaining to them the reason is a good way to engage them, as well as make them understand.
2. Offer choices. If food is the dispute, offer an alternative that s/he may like. If it's clothing, provide an option as well so the child feels empowered and has a way to vocalize an answer other than no. For example, "Should we have hamburgers or hot dogs?" "Should we wear the blue outfit or the red one?"
3. Teach other responses. For example, "How do you say yes? Can you say yes?" 
4. Redirect. Distraction and redirecting is my go-to method for just about every tantrum or negative response. Toddler attention span is so short, that there are times my daughter will cry and yell "No" about something, that I simply point to the sky and say, "Did you see that bird fly by (even though there wasn't one)?!" Or "Look at those beautiful lights on the ceiling." She immediately forgets why she was crying, looks at the sky and will usually make a birdy "tweet" sound, or she'll ooh and aah about the lights. 

And of course, sometimes as parents we just have to stand our ground. Despite all best efforts to negotiate and keep it cool, we can't always give choices or satisfy the mood of our little one. When that occurs, simply ignore and do not acknowledge bad behavior. After a while -- and it may take a long while -- they will readjust. Have a great rest of the week.

-OzzyMommy

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Parenting Confessions - I'm Not So Sorry

Before I proceed with this blog, I say there is a fine line between being a party parent that refuses to let go of their childhood and doesn't spend quality time with their kid, versus the parent that still enjoys the social scene. We are the latter.

Parents know that raising a child is the most rewarding, but hardest job on earth. Between the power struggles, tantrums and overtime needed to level the playing field, my husband and I can't help but laugh about some of the fun and struggles we've experienced. I recently read an article entitled #SorryNotSorry Parenting Confessions, where parents negotiate a middle-ground between a battle with their child. With that said, my parenting confession is party nights in, versus out on the town.

I confess, my husband and I joke about the denial of having a baby and being parents when fun events approach because, "Damn! How are we going to attend that event now that we have a kid?! LOL" I mean let's be honest, a child completely alters how we spend every waking minute, especially days like today, Cinco de Mayo, or events like Kentucky Derby, fights nights like Mayweather vs Pacquaio, or even concerts and shows. Finding and dishing out $80-$120 for a babysitter on top of what we're already spending out on the town, is no bueno! We're young parents enjoying life to the fullest, and the joys brought with parenthood are an added bonus. However, to accommodate our lifestyle as new parents, we must modify our social life and circles so that we don't completely change the way we love to live and play, particularly because we are foodies and also love to entertain. Given there aren't many family friendly places that host events, we are 'those parents!'  We are those parents that will put together the tailgate party, fight night, barbecue and host dinner events despite kids in tow. I mean, sacrifices have to be made, and we're willing to party with you! We'll take one for the team, and that's our #SorryNotSorry!

-OzzyMommy

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