June 26, 2008
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Mr. Mom
EDIT ADD:
Thursday:
The kids wake up around 8am and stumble into the kitchen for their morning bowl of cereal–which they finish by about 8:30 (finally…geez…I can knock out a bowl of cereal in about 5 minutes…3 if I try).
At 8:55 Noah comes in to the dining room where I’m sitting and asks “Can I have soooooooome lunch?”
“Noah…you just had cereal. How could you want lunch? No…no lunch. Have some water.”
“OOOOOOOOOOOH! OK! COLD WATER!!!!”…problem solved.
Now they are playing Go Fish. Super cute.
I greatly underestimate the value of mom-hood…but more on that in a minute…Christy loves school. She loves it a lot, and she happens to be a very good student. She spent 5 years getting her B.A. (thank goodness…since my freshman year was her 5th year in college…in other words, if she had graduated on time, we would have never met) and has been enjoying the process of getting her master’s degree in Pastoral Studies at APU.
Today was the first day of “The Great Test of Daniel’s Fatherhood Abilities of 2008″…also known as GTODFA’08.
Christy is taking this 7-day, 9-to-5 class at APU…leaving the kids all to me for this week…and it is a little overwhelming. I don’t think I have EVER spent this much un-interrupted time with the kids, and I’m noooooooot exactly sure what to do with them…
Which brings me back to this time when Nathaniel was just like a week old. And you know babies, when they’re only that old they just sleep and poop and sleep some more (sheesh, thank goodness THAT is over). And Nathaniel was a good baby–we just hauled him around and he was content with whatever in his carrier. But this one day I just looked at Christy and said–totally serious–”So…what do babies do when they get older? I mean…like before preschool or whatever?” Like I just couldn’t fathom what a child would do all day without being at school or having some sort of organized activity to take up their time. I think her answer was something along the lines of, “I think they just play with toys and stuff…”
“Oh…right. Toys.”But I still don’t really understand what these kids could possibly do ALL DAY for 6 more days.
We certainly can’t play Playstation the WHOLE time…right?
WHAT DO I DO WITH THESE LITTLE, WONDERFUL PEOPLE?
I kind of also thought about this movie…which is soooooo old…
Comments (9)
Aren’t you sweet…tell them to play outside- or take them to the library park.
Daniel, you have got the BEST opportunity in the world right now. Think of each day as making WONDERFUL memories with your boys! Make some instruments out of some crazy household items, (like a drum out a pot and wooden spoons) or if they already have instruments play marching band. Color with them. Make a story book out of pictures you draw or color together! Seize the moment Man!! Ok I am getting a bit carried away! lol But really Daniel, you have a great opportunity here to make some really great memories with your boys. Make um while you can!
OK…good thoughts for starters…but let’s remember here people…I got 6 MORE DAYS TO GO. We can do coloring and the park in a half a day…I NEED MORE IDEAS!
The library usually has preschool/early ed programs. Especially during the summer. When you go to the library there is always an information center. Take walks around your neighborhood, I used to turn these trips into learning sessions, lets look for all of the shapes, colors, numbers you can find, one concept at a time. They see everything around them, and it improves speech, like we need them talking more, tee hee hee. This also give you a chance to see your new neighborhood closeup.
>> “So…what do babies do when they get older? I mean…like before preschool or whatever?”
That is seriously the funniest thing you’ve ever said in your life.
My rule of thumb with your kids – when they get antsy I just throw them around on the sofas or spin them in the air. Or throw pillows at their faces. Yay for having boys.
But if I were in your shoes I’d actually do one thing: buy lots of legos.
As a full-time SAHM for the last six years I feel I am qualified to give advice.
This is a great job, but very overwhelming if you don’t have balance.
After breakfast, I do a little housework (put away dishes, start a load of laundry, make the bed, etc) get ready for the day (get dressed, put on makeup, drink my coffee and check email, whatever) while the kids play on their own or watch PBS Kids. Because when you stay at home as a parent, you’re not only in charge of the kids but the general upkeep of the house too! Yay! Then we pack some snacks (together, they get to pick) and water and hit the park before it gets hot. Come home, eat lunch, have a rest (they don’t have to sleep, but they are quiet–read, play video games, whatever, while I rest or do something grown-up-ish.
After rest, I try to have some one-on-one time with each kid for like 15 minutes each like play UNO or have a water war with Gabe, or play paper dolls with Anna or fridge magnets with Ben. Then I go work on what I need to work on, and if appropriate, I invite a kid or two to join me. If I am baking, sometimes someone will enjoy baking with me. Or if I’m out in the yard picking up, maybe Ben will accept my invitation and come “help.” And if they choose video games, that’s fine with me, because everyone should have a choice to pursue what they want to do, generally.
The most important things that I remember that help me keep my joy and have fun while getting stuff done are: 1) Live in the moment and enjoy it. For example, if you are trying to dress everyone and pack snacks to get to the park at a certain time, and you are thinking that being at the park is your only goal and getting frustrated because it’s taking a long time to get there, then you are missing it. The entire process is important and worth living and enjoying. It is a journey, not a destination, as they say. 2) Do not think in terms of schedule, but in terms of routine. Schedules induce time constraints that frustrate a parent with small children, and put stress on everyone. Routines are comfortable and flexible. Knowing that after we get up we will be eating is nice to know when you’re hungry, isn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be scheduled.
Well, that’s all for now. If you boys want to come by and play with the Mann kids, or we could meet halfway, that would be fun since we are running out of things to do also! Let me know!
One of the best books ever published is “Fun and Educational Places to Go With Kids and Adults in Southern California.” No say it ten times fast, or I won’t give you any ideas….I’m waiting.
Ok, so in Burbank alone you have several options: Falcon Theater, Gordon R. Howard Museum and Mentzer House ($1 ea, 1pm-4pm), Johnny Carson Park (on Bob Hope Drive and Parkside Ave, free- combine with picnic and studio tour), NBC Studio Tour ($7.50 for you, $4 for Nathaniel and Noah’s free- 3000 W. Alameda Ave, 70 minutes long, tickets go fast), Stough Canyon Nature Center (2300 Walnut Ave, free), Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour ($$$$ this one is pricey- $39 each plus $5 for parking). In Pasadena there are a billion things to do: Tournament House and the Wrigley Gardens are free (but tours are only on Thursday). Head over to Zoo Drive and spend some time at Griffith Park and Travel Town (also free- 5200 W. Zoo Drive).
Another at home idea, use your point and shoot Canon camera and have the kids help you make a movie for Christy. Nathaniel can come up with the story, and he and Noah can act, then shoot and you all can edit it in probably an hour or two using imovie. Burn a disc, then pop some popcorn and screen it together.
Also check out Summer Sounds at the Hollywood Bowl (hollywoodbowl.com).
The Huntington Library (though pricey if you are trying to keep the costs down $) is a great half-day to full day trip- especially with the children’s garden (put them in their swim trunks and let them play for hours, wear sunscreen). Descanso Gardens aren’t too far from you either.
I remember people used to tell me to come up with activities like blowing bubbles or making collages out of construction paper. Yeah those are great, and we still do that stuff, but really they take just a tiny chunk of the day and I found that it’s best to get out with a plan. Pack snacks and lunches to cut cost and like someone else said- don’t put pressure on the schedule at all, that’s the surest way to become frustrated with the day.
And of course, go see Wall-E.
Hope this helps, D!
These are all great ideas!!!
WOW. I’m impressed, Rachel, Amanda and Willie!
And I want to go on the NBC studio tour, Daniel!