Baby E came into our lives the day after she was born. She weighed 5 pounds and 6.25 ounces. We had a Graco SnugRide infant carrier that we had successfully used with many of our foster babies, but it didn’t fit E. E swam in that seat. I did everything I could to try to make the seat fit so she’d be safe. I’m a Child Passenger Safety Technician and I know what adjustments can be made to a seat without compromising the integrity of the seat. Nothing was helping to make the seat work. A good friend of mine … Continue reading →

Today the girls and I went out to lunch with my moms’ group. We sat at a table with a bunch of my friends. Baby E sat strapped into the booster seat. I had another device for Jessie. It wasn’t meant to boost but rather keep the child from falling out of the chair. I didn’t install it all that well and Jessie wriggled out of it when she was done sitting. These luncheons with my moms’ group are informative and fun. Not only do we all learn something from the speaker, but I get foster parent education credits. Today’s … Continue reading →

I want my children to be well-mannered. I want them to know how to properly sit at a table and eat and drink correctly. I want my children to be polite as well as friendly and kind. When I was a little girl my family ate dinner together at the kitchen table. Mom and Dad taught us kids how to behave while we tried to or not to kill each other. My family’s lifestyle is different, though. We don’t typically eat dinner together. Jessie has her own table and chairs where she eats her dinner early. Chris and I eat … Continue reading →

My mom called recently to tell me that their beautifully decorated Christmas tree fell over. The tree took its plunge while Mom and Dad were sleeping. The tree was newly bought, installed, and decorated. The gallon of water keeping it fresh and supple burbled out onto the floor all night. Mom and Dad righted the tree and cleaned the mess. A few days later the tree fell over again. My parents’ tree had never fallen over before; a faulty tree stand is to blame. The neighbors’ tree fell over one year and our cat climbed our tree toppling it our … Continue reading →

My son’s new thing is whining, which I find very annoying. I want to understand why he is doing this and I’m trying very hard not to lose my patience with him. It is the constant sound of the whining that bothers me. While explaining this to my mother, she asked me how I could handle the tantrums he throws and not the whining. I answered that whining means he isn’t mad enough or upset enough to throw a tantrum, but he can’t just be okay with whatever is going on. I know this isn’t the scientific version of whining … Continue reading →