The little things

Stuff experienced mom's already know but newbies may not

- Do not announce that it is "Time to Go" until it is really time to exit out the door. Saying, "Come on let's go!" before socks, shoes, bags and whatnot are on and ready makes for very impatient children. Go means go so don't say the word otherwise you'll be prying their hands off the door handle to get a jacket on them.

- Park next to the basket/cart return. Just because you have children does not mean you should ignore social courtesies. Parking your car right next to it allows you to grab a basket to throw your bundle(s) in and also allows a quick return of the cart to its rightful place.

- Do an activity before feeding in the morning. When your newborn baby wakes up in the morning, do NOT shove a bottle or boob straight in their mouth. Change their diaper, change their clothes, do a dance around the room to a song, SOMETHING. Otherwise when you drop the bottle/boob, your baby is going to be quite miffed when they are not instantly met with some snacks. I'm not talking a half hour or anything but at least 1 minute of something other than shoving something in their mouth. It also teaches them that their reward for waking up in the morning is you! (awww smile) not their tasty breakfast shake.

- Let them smash their finger in a drawer at least once. Don't yank their hand out the way. It's the only way they will learn that it hurts and stop doing it.

- Don't let them carry their sip cups all over the house. I'm mega guilty of this and it's on my "to do" list to break. Drinks belong on a shelf or table during the day and on their tray/table at meals. Letting them just carry it around everywhere leaves you cleaning up messes and teaches them to just toss it wherever they please.

- Make something off limits. Pick something. One figurine, one lamp, one pillow...something! and have a zero tolerance rule for it. Teaching them "no touch" on something at home can prepare you for when you go out in public or to another person's (un-babyproofed) house. If they have never heard "no touch!" or have never been punished for touching something you told them not to, you're in for a battle in public.

I reserve the "NO TOUCH!" command to use only in serious circumstances. It has worked wonders, when we're at a doctors office and they are reaching for the instruments, all I have to say is "No touch!" and their hands quickly recoil.

- I feel the same way with STOP! I never say "stop" in the house (like if they are running away from me because they don't want a bath). The only time I say it is if we are outdoors and it's something serious. Like running into a parking lot or street. We practice "Stop" at home in the driveway. They know mama means business when I say that word.

- Sometimes whispering something in their ear means more to them than yelling.

- Give them their own drawer or cabinet. My kids have their own drawer in my bathroom and their own drawer in the kitchen. It's full of their stuff (plastic food, toys and utensils in the kitchen and old empty bottles and containers (empty deodorant, travel size shampoo bottles etc.) in the bathroom). That way they can have some ownership of something without rummaging through your junk. When they open your cabinets and drawers, tell them that that is not theirs....but THIS drawer is theirs. Ask them frequently where their drawer is and let them show you the stuff inside, it's kind of fun because they tend to squirrel stuff away in there.

- Constantly throw away toys. I hate what I call "shit toys" those little tiny things that come in kids meals or little plastic rings. That stuff that just collects and takes up space. Let them play with it for a week but then toss it!