Thursday, July 31, 2014

5 Tips on How to Deal with Separation Anxiety

Here we are another week passed and we're ready for our "One Year and Beyond" series, this week's topic? Dealing with separation anxiety. And boy do we have that over here. This is how we deal with it, although I'm looking forward to seeing what other people have to say.

Although I am gone all day, Baby Fox is with the same person all day everyday. We have never dropped him off somewhere, so when he turned 18 months and could communicate with us we started taking him to the gym daycare. It was only for an hour, but it was somewhere that we could drop him off and pick him up. We were pretty consistent in taking him at least once a week. But the thing was, he was always the ONLY kid in there. So not much different from a regular day. Now that we belong to the new gym it's a whole different ball game. They have 50-100 kids going through there at any given time, it's crazy busy. It's overhwhelming for Baby Fox, this are 5 ways how we've dealt with the separation anxiety for our 3.5 year old.



1. I have to remember that this is the best for him. One day I am going to have to drop him off at school, and there are going to be a LOT of kids, I would rather him figure it out an hour or so at a time then have to be there all day trying to figure out. To me that seems traumatizing.

2. There will be crying and that's okay. It breaks my heart every single time. I cried, he cried, I got frustrated, he cried some more, I cried way more. To hear him crying when I leave and yelling for me not to leave him is heart breaking. But I know that I have to do it. Most of the time though, the teacher distracts him with something shiny and he stops crying 30 seconds after I walk out of the door. But I do have to say that the first 5-6 times we went, they had to call me back to the daycare because he had been crying for more than 10 minutes, but it does get better (coming from a mom with the most clingy kid)

3. We bring something from home that he can carry around with him. We bring something that isn't necessarily his favorite, but something that he can hold and feel a little bit at home. Mostly it's one of his hundreds of stuffed animals.

4. I bribe him. I am not beyond that, seriously, desparate times calls for desparate measures. He's 3.5 and LOVES chewing gum. So we made a rule when he is at the gym he can chew gum, and that is the only time he can chew it (besides when he is with my parents, they seem to always give him a piece), so he basically wants to go all the time so he can get some gum.

5. At the beginning we started to give him rewards, so we would tell him, hey if you go to the gym today you can pick something out of the toy bag (we have a bag of cheap $1 toys, mostly it was for potty training but still had some left over, so we started using that). Then after the first couple of times, we said if you go 3 times you can pick something out. Then I bought him something he wanted (a baseball bat) and he had to go 4 times, then the next time he wanted the balls that went with the bat, and he had to go 5 times. So over the course of a few months (going twice a week) it slowly got better. Don't get me wrong he still cries when I leave, if I'm leaving him with someone he doesn't know (I try to go when there are teachers there that he knows, but it doesn't always work out), but usually 30 seconds after I leave he's done crying, and when I get back, he's playing and doesn't want to leave, so I know he's really okay. 

I just have to keep reminding me, this is good for him. He needs to play with other kids, I would rather do this now then at preschool in the Fall. I can do this!

Here are the previous topics:

Week 1 - Keeping Your Marriage Alive with a Toddler
Week 2 - 10 Fun Summer Activities for Toddlers 

Week 3 - Toddler Communication   

 

Dealing with separation anxiety can be tough for any mama.  Be sure to check out the other mamas in our series for their helpful posts.  If you've got a post on separation anxiety, don't forget to link it up with us below!

July 10:  Keeping your marriage alive with a toddler
July 17:  Favorite summer toddler activities
July 24:  Helping Your Toddler to Communicate (Words, emotions, etc.)
July 31:  Dealing with Separation Anxiety
Aug 7:    Car Trip Necessities
Aug 14:  Deciding when the time is right for baby #2 (and/or how to handle these questions)
Aug 21:  Tricks for eating out with your toddler
Aug 28:  Feeling confident as a mom (How to feel this way, Your struggle with, etc.)

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

#YESMOM - Water Balloons

Sunday was hot and humid so I wanted something cool, but nice to wear to church. I've worn this dress in the past, with the added belt it makes it feel/look like a completely different outfit. Which I love how just a few accessories can go a long way.

Dress - Target (old), Belt - White House Black Market (old),  Necklace - Stella and Dot, Shoes - Toms



Have I told you how much I love bright lips? Sorry about the squinting, it was bright outside and I was facing the sun so I wouldn't get really weird shadows on my face, like last time.


I love the back of this dress.


Moving on the perfect #yesmom momment.

Two words: Water Balloons

We got them for our Christmas In July package from Jasam, perfect for this heat! When I got home from work I thought this would be the perfect time to do this with Baby Fox. Mini Fox was down for a nap, so it was something we could do with just him.


Before we even started the water balloon fight, Mr. was spraying me with the hose, and Baby Fox thought it was hilarious! Also, Baby Fox took this photo with my iPhone. I think he did pretty good.


We filled up 10 balloons at a time, and then just hit each other...fyi: if the balloons don't pop right when they hit you, they HURT!


Getting Daddy





Getting Mommy



And since we were all soaking wet at the end, we all jumped into the pool. Baby Fox had the best time, and seeing this smile makes it all worth it, cause you all know how many times I get in the pool, definite #yesmom momment.


Linking up with Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, The Pleated Poppy, and Tucker Up
Also Linking up with Ashley and Jess for "It's the Little Things".

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Let's Talk Top Coat

Linking up with Andrea and Erika for a Favorite Things Party. I have been meaning to tell you guys about my new favorite thing, and here's my chance. It's a life changer, seriously.

I know you guys can't wait to hear what it is...

This bottle of top coat is life changing. I can't even tell you how much I love this stuff. I found it through this girl, on her Manicure Monday. I bought it from Drugstore.com* for $5.99. Seriously, it makes your nails dry within 5 minutes of putting it on, and it gives your nails that salon feel, you know your nails feel super thick and great? Yeah, this stuff does that. Only one coat and it feels/looks like you've been to the salon. I always have the problem where I'll do something and there used to ALWAYS be creases in my nail polish, no more, this completely makes that go away because it dries so quickly. I can't tell you how much you guys need to get this stuff. It does have a strong smell though.

*I was going to buy it through amazon, but there were some reviews saying that it was fake, so beware if you buy it through amazon.

Monday, July 28, 2014

2 Parties, 1 Day, No Naps = Fun, Right?

Guess what we did this weekend? Yep ANOTHER birthday party, but not just 1 but 2, yep, two birthday parties in 1 day.

For those of you that wanted to know what the Pearl Nume Wand did, this is what it looks like.


We got invited to the graduation of the kids graduating  at Baby Fox's new preschool, starting in the Fall, sniff, sniff...is it okay that I think/know I'll probably cry when I drop him off?

It left my hair super curly, which I totally loved, but it's super humid (80%) here right now, so by the end of the night, it was just wavy, and by Saturday morning it had come out almost completely. I think I need to figure out some product to make stuff last longer. Usually I just curl and leave, with no product, maybe more product would work?


The preschool had a cute performance, they did a couple of songs together and then each kid got to do something to showcase a talent...


We're waiting for the performance to start.



So cute, and I can't wait for Baby Fox to get out of his little shell, I can't believe next year he's going to be up there performing, I just can't picture it, he's so shy, I hope over the next year will help him with that.

Saturday our first party started at 11, about a hour drive away from us. We got to their house and these guys were there, see that there? It's wood buring pizza stove, how cool is that?


How great are these party decorations? I'll recap this party later in the week. My cousin did such a great job, just walking up was so much fun and really festive.


They had a ball pit for the kids


Someone was excited to get some cake. He wanted me to feed him his cake and kept dictating to me what he wanted, I want vanilla cake with frosting, I want chocloate with frosting, I want chocolate with fudge, he's so funny.


And only my kid leaves half a piece of cake. He was done and didn't want any more. Good for him most of us would finish just to finish. Notice how all the frosting is gone...


Happy birthday little A, we're so happy to watch you grow up and can't wait to see what next year has in store for you!


We were able to put Mini Fox down for a small nap at this party, thankfully! We would have had a bigger meltdown if she didn't get any nap.

Our next party was another 25 minutes north of where we were...it was a gymnastics party. We were hesitant, as was Baby Fox, he doesn't really like stray too far from us, and we've tried gymnastic classes before and he cried the whole time, but this time, this time was different and he participate and my heart beamed with pride.


They had the kids doing various things back and forth on the floor.


They did some stretching exercises and Baby Fox showed us how flexible he really was...yikes, that hurts just looking at him.



Mini Fox just watched, wishing she could participate.


Then they had the kids do an obsticle course, and Baby Fox rocked it.





And then they had a zipline, and Baby Fox was the only one that they just sent down the line. Most of them the lady would run with them and a good portion of the kids fell off. I asked the teacher why she just sent him down without running with him, she said I could tell when I put him up there that he wasn't going to let go, do you have him in gymnastics? Cause you should.

I hope this sparks his interest in going to gymnastics at our gym! I think he would have so much fun.


They had the kids get up for a picture


And this is just after Birthday Girl, Cutie #4's mom (Cousin #3) anncounced it was time for cupcakes


And then more sugar was consumed


Took a cousin and kids picture...love it. Two more cuties on the way, coming this Fall.


Baby Fox loves the littlest Cutie #7, and wanted to help her to the car cause it wasn't safe to walk in the parking lot alone. We made it home safe and both kids slept in the car on the way home, thankfully!


Sunday was pretty chill,  I woke up earlier to go grocery shopping, seriously, nothing better than going grocery shoppoing first thing Sunday morning, no lines and produce is full.

Seriously, I never see the produce this full, I used to go during naptime on Sundays and a good portion of this is gone

On our way home from church. He's happy gets more sugar (donuts)


Then Baby Fox made me some food, cause I was "sick" and he was making me food to get better. Nothing cures sickness like ice cream and pizza right?


After nap time we had some friends over for swimming


And some more ice cream making, we were smart and prepped everything last night, so it actually worked, unlike last time.



Checking out the ice cream, or what is going to be ice cream

I can't wait for Mini Fox's hair to grow out so I can do it everyday. I gave the kids bathes and asked Ms. J if she wanted her hair done, she said she wanted braids like Princess Anna.

After dinner, while sitting enjoying being outside, we had the most gorgeous sunset.



Mr. W and Mini Fox (9 months apart, but not much size difference), he's such a little nugget.


I am fully going to use these pictures for these kids if they ever get married.


One last picture, here's Mini Fox wearing those Jammies I bought last week. We ended up not wearing them to bed, cause it was just hot, but thought I was snap some pictures before we changed her.

What's with her and always sticking her tongue out?
Good weekend, but much too short! Glad that his weekend is a 3 day weekend and we get to see the cousins again, Cousin #9 is getting married!

Hope you had a good weekend, Happy Monday!

Linking up with Faith, Sarah and Heather for Mommy Moments
and with Bella & Lisa