Oh man, a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about J getting pinched by another child at daycare. Daycare-kid managed to pinch her so hard that the skin on her cheek broke.
I wasn't entirely concerned. I wasn't pleased, but these things happen when you have twelve kids aged 21 months to 2 1/2 years in one room all day, every day.
But then I started to notice this daycare-kid wasn't exactly gentle with the other kids. Daycare-kid is one of the youngest kids in the group and isn't as verbal as the rest of the kids. I've seen daycare-kid kick other kids because they were in the way. The other day when I dropped J off, daycare-kid came up and stood in J's space. Every time someone asked daycare-kid to move out of the way and talked about personal space, daycare-kid moved. Or J would get fed up with daycare-kid standing so close and she would move, but inevitably, daycare-kid ended up back in J's space over and over again.
Then last week when I picked J up I discovered that daycare-kid had bitten another child on the cheek. J was quite upset about this and she talked about it for a few days.
Which brings us to today and the call I just got. From the daycare. Did I have time to talk about J? Of course I did, but I wondered what she had done and why this was the first conversation about her behaviour we were having (they're very good at having discussions about problem behaviour at drop off and pick up).
It turns out the behaviour issue was daycare-kid's not J's. Daycare-kid had turned around, unprovoked, and bitten J on the back, so hard through her clothes that she broke the skin. Daycare-kid has a constant adult escort these days and has apparently singled out a handful of kids - J and the other little boy being two of them. The adult who was with daycare-kid is quite distraught that this happened - she turned to get the soap so that daycare-kid and J could wash their hands for lunch and that's when daycare-kid's chompers came out.
I had a good chat with the woman who called me. I feel really bad - for J because that's just not fun and for all the daycare ladies. J spent about half an hour with ice on her back getting rocked by one of her favourite daycare ladies. I feel really bad for all of the daycare ladies, especially the one in the bathroom. This isn't their fault and they are working on daycare-kid's behaviour. Today's incident was apparently the worst one and daycare-kid's parents are coming in for a meeting to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Daycare-kid understood that what happened was wrong - apparently through lunch and after daycare-kid muttered, "Big mistake. Big mistake." Over and over.
It's so frustrating! I just want to go get J now and take her home and spend the day with her and not be at work anymore, but that's not the right thing to do for either of us. I love her daycare. She loves her daycare. She loves the other kids and the daycare ladies and talks about them all the time when she's not at daycare. The daycare ladies love her. The other kids love her. This is a good place for her.
We've decided that since she was bitten through her shirt and her tetanus is up to date J's not going to the doctor...
But I'm not sure what to do about daycare-kid. For now, we're just going to leave it and support J and let her talk about it and see what happens. She's already been indicating that daycare-kid is her least favourite friend at daycare. Daycare-kid was away yesterday and J told me in the car on the way home that "Daycare-kid no come daycare today" in a very cheerful voice.
Has your kid been bitten at daycare? What did you do? Or do you remember being bitten by some other kid when you were a kid?
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
The Kitchen Book - Setting It Up
Okay, so before I started on my kitchen book, I did a lot of thinking about what I wanted in it. I took a look at FlyLady's suggestions but I'm impatient, so I did it all at once (well, over the course of a week once I decided what I was doing).
Before you start, think about what will work best for you. We keep ours in the kitchen, so I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to get completely ruined by water or smell from the cooking smells. If yours is going to live somewhere else - a bookcase near your desk, a drawer in the living room or whatever - you might not be as worried about waterproofness.
We started out with a 1" binder, a package of tabbed dividers and some sheet protectors. About four months later our binder has become two - a 1" and a 1 1/2" - (I'll get to that in a later post), two kinds of tabbed dividers (numbered to 7 and alphabet), sheet protectors and plastic pockets.
I love the sheet protectors and the plastic pockets are awesome!
I made sure the main binder had pouches inside the front cover (it has them inside the back too, but I'm not as worried about that). The front cover has any (non-bill) correspondence we need to deal with, stamps and return address labels in it. We have a stationery drawer, so if we need paper or envelopes, that's where they are, not in the pouch because they'd take up too much space.
Once you've got your supplies, you're ready to go! I started my book as some scribbles on a piece of paper - information we needed to give to a sitter or stuff that Alex would call me at work to find out or I'd call him to find out. I decided it should be in one easy to use, easy to find place instead of on scraps of papers or stored in our brains somehow.
So, grab a piece of paper or email me for my template or make your own...it's time to make a kitchen/house/control book for you!
Before you start, think about what will work best for you. We keep ours in the kitchen, so I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to get completely ruined by water or smell from the cooking smells. If yours is going to live somewhere else - a bookcase near your desk, a drawer in the living room or whatever - you might not be as worried about waterproofness.
We started out with a 1" binder, a package of tabbed dividers and some sheet protectors. About four months later our binder has become two - a 1" and a 1 1/2" - (I'll get to that in a later post), two kinds of tabbed dividers (numbered to 7 and alphabet), sheet protectors and plastic pockets.
I love the sheet protectors and the plastic pockets are awesome!
I made sure the main binder had pouches inside the front cover (it has them inside the back too, but I'm not as worried about that). The front cover has any (non-bill) correspondence we need to deal with, stamps and return address labels in it. We have a stationery drawer, so if we need paper or envelopes, that's where they are, not in the pouch because they'd take up too much space.
Once you've got your supplies, you're ready to go! I started my book as some scribbles on a piece of paper - information we needed to give to a sitter or stuff that Alex would call me at work to find out or I'd call him to find out. I decided it should be in one easy to use, easy to find place instead of on scraps of papers or stored in our brains somehow.
So, grab a piece of paper or email me for my template or make your own...it's time to make a kitchen/house/control book for you!
A blog worth reading
Every once in a while, you stumble across a blog that make you go, wow, this is something we should all be reading.
My former Pathfinder leader Pam posted this link to Single Dad Laughing on Facebook today. I only read two other posts besides the one on bullying - one called You just broke your child. Congratulations. and another called The disease called "Perfection". And then I had to stop reading.
Because I need to get some work done today.
I have no idea who this guy is or why he started blogging or anything. But I've bookmarked him and I'm looking forward to one day having time to do some browsing through his archives.
What got me about all three posts was that they seemed to speak to pretty much everyone. Who hasn't beaten themselves up at one time or another for not being perfect at something. I saw myself in a couple of the things he listed. Who hasn't witnessed parents in dire need of a dose of patience, a parenting course or a reality check? And bullying. We all know it exists and I think you probably live in a vacuum if you think it hasn't ever affected you - as the bully, the bullied, someone who intervened or was confided in about the bullying, or someone who stood by and watched. Bullying is a tough subject - especially around the last one - standing by and watching. Because sometimes you don't realize that's what you did until after when the light bulb goes off in your head and you think, hey, person A was bullying person B....maybe you were preoccupied, maybe it was disguised bullying, who knows, it happens.
Anyway, jumping of my soapbox, go visit Dan - I'm curious to see what other life lessons he's created thoughtful posts about...
My former Pathfinder leader Pam posted this link to Single Dad Laughing on Facebook today. I only read two other posts besides the one on bullying - one called You just broke your child. Congratulations. and another called The disease called "Perfection". And then I had to stop reading.
Because I need to get some work done today.
I have no idea who this guy is or why he started blogging or anything. But I've bookmarked him and I'm looking forward to one day having time to do some browsing through his archives.
What got me about all three posts was that they seemed to speak to pretty much everyone. Who hasn't beaten themselves up at one time or another for not being perfect at something. I saw myself in a couple of the things he listed. Who hasn't witnessed parents in dire need of a dose of patience, a parenting course or a reality check? And bullying. We all know it exists and I think you probably live in a vacuum if you think it hasn't ever affected you - as the bully, the bullied, someone who intervened or was confided in about the bullying, or someone who stood by and watched. Bullying is a tough subject - especially around the last one - standing by and watching. Because sometimes you don't realize that's what you did until after when the light bulb goes off in your head and you think, hey, person A was bullying person B....maybe you were preoccupied, maybe it was disguised bullying, who knows, it happens.
Anyway, jumping of my soapbox, go visit Dan - I'm curious to see what other life lessons he's created thoughtful posts about...
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
36.5 Try 50 new recipes - Turkey Sloppy Joes
Oh Martha, you've done it again! These Turkey Sloppy Joes were soooooo good! I think Alex had about 350 helpings!
Immediately though, I did something that I don't like doing the first time I make a new recipe. Can you spot it in this picture? (PS YAY for remembering to bring the good camera home and not having to use the cell phone)
Yeah, I used chicken. Maybe it's because it's Thanksgiving this weekend, but neither of the two grocery stores I usually shop at had ground turkey this week. So I substituted ground chicken thighs. And it was fine. I also missed the part where it says crushed tomatoes. Luckily I have a stash of canned goods for when the world ends. And while I didn't have crushed tomatoes, with a hand blender, a can of whole tomatoes can very quickly become crushed tomatoes.
These sloppy joes have a secret ingredient that totally ups the veggie content. Grated carrots.
Pretty orange, grated carrots.
Tasty, delicious sloppy joe! Can barely taste the carrots. And they were a hit. At least with two of us. J had already gone to bed. She didn't manage to eat her lunch or sleep at nap time at daycare, so she was exhausted and cranky. I got her in the door, got a peanut butter sandwich and an orange in her tummy, we skipped the bath, called Daddy at work to say goodnight, read two stories, and she was sound asleep before I finished singing song number two.
I sent some in her lunch today, so we'll see how it goes over. Daycare lunch consumption is not a gauge for whether or not she actually likes something. My leftovers were yummy though.
Immediately though, I did something that I don't like doing the first time I make a new recipe. Can you spot it in this picture? (PS YAY for remembering to bring the good camera home and not having to use the cell phone)
Yeah, I used chicken. Maybe it's because it's Thanksgiving this weekend, but neither of the two grocery stores I usually shop at had ground turkey this week. So I substituted ground chicken thighs. And it was fine. I also missed the part where it says crushed tomatoes. Luckily I have a stash of canned goods for when the world ends. And while I didn't have crushed tomatoes, with a hand blender, a can of whole tomatoes can very quickly become crushed tomatoes.These sloppy joes have a secret ingredient that totally ups the veggie content. Grated carrots.
Pretty orange, grated carrots.
Tasty, delicious sloppy joe! Can barely taste the carrots. And they were a hit. At least with two of us. J had already gone to bed. She didn't manage to eat her lunch or sleep at nap time at daycare, so she was exhausted and cranky. I got her in the door, got a peanut butter sandwich and an orange in her tummy, we skipped the bath, called Daddy at work to say goodnight, read two stories, and she was sound asleep before I finished singing song number two.I sent some in her lunch today, so we'll see how it goes over. Daycare lunch consumption is not a gauge for whether or not she actually likes something. My leftovers were yummy though.
Smooth running
Ever heard of FlyLady? A Guiding friend told me about the 27 fling boogie a few years ago and I went and checked her out. And then forgot about her. And then checked her out again. And then forgot about her...you get the picture?
I couldn't make all of her things work for me.
I hate wearing shoes, especially in the house.
I can't make the bed when I get up, someone is still asleep in it.
I often can't get up 15 minutes before my family because my alarm clock is often a small child, yelling "Mommy! I wake up! Mommy! Come! I wake UP!" And there's no predicting that.
There were lots of can'ts. Then I read One Year To An Organized Life and I realized that hey, there were lots of good things in both books and I could make MY OWN SYSTEM.
Wow!
What a concept.
So I made my own "Control Journal" but at our house we didn't like that name for it. It made me feel like the journal was controlling us, not that we were using it to control what was going on in our lives.
We call our the kitchen book. Mostly because it lives in the kitchen and we're not all that creative.
I've had a few people ask about it and I've even made up a template because someone I know was so intrigued she wanted her own.
And it makes our life easier.
And since a few more people have asked about it, instead of reeling off the same story over and over and over, I figured I'd blog about it.
But it will take a few posts. Because it's a big thing. If you just want to skip all that, email me and I'll send you the template. Blogger won't let me upload an Excel document.
EDIT: This is the table of contents...I think I'll break the posts down into sections...
click the picture twice to see a nice, clear image (the first click will open a new window, the second click will zoom)
I couldn't make all of her things work for me.
I hate wearing shoes, especially in the house.
I can't make the bed when I get up, someone is still asleep in it.
I often can't get up 15 minutes before my family because my alarm clock is often a small child, yelling "Mommy! I wake up! Mommy! Come! I wake UP!" And there's no predicting that.
There were lots of can'ts. Then I read One Year To An Organized Life and I realized that hey, there were lots of good things in both books and I could make MY OWN SYSTEM.
Wow!
What a concept.
So I made my own "Control Journal" but at our house we didn't like that name for it. It made me feel like the journal was controlling us, not that we were using it to control what was going on in our lives.
We call our the kitchen book. Mostly because it lives in the kitchen and we're not all that creative.
I've had a few people ask about it and I've even made up a template because someone I know was so intrigued she wanted her own.
And it makes our life easier.
And since a few more people have asked about it, instead of reeling off the same story over and over and over, I figured I'd blog about it.
But it will take a few posts. Because it's a big thing. If you just want to skip all that, email me and I'll send you the template. Blogger won't let me upload an Excel document.
EDIT: This is the table of contents...I think I'll break the posts down into sections...
click the picture twice to see a nice, clear image (the first click will open a new window, the second click will zoom)Why I need the crazy diet
This post was originally published at Get Fit Chicks. It may refer to posts on Get Fit Chicks that no longer exist. Please email me if you run into any of those and I will break the links. More information about the reposting is available here
Um, so I’m going back to the crazy diet because I need to feel less tired and more rested. Even though I made this decision after some careful thought and reflection and even though, as hard as it can be, I feel so much better once I’ve been on the crazy diet for a few weeks, I was not looking forward to it. If I was anticipating it, it was with dread, not joy.
But.
My brain needs the crazy diet because it’s so overtired, it’s broken.
BROKEN.
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:55 I walk down the road to the building where my office used to be. And I lay out my mat. And sit down. And at 12:00 I get to do yoga for an hour.
And today, I’m tired. The alarm didn’t go off. We all overslept and I’m still tired. And I needed yoga. Yoga relaxes me. Yoga forces me to let go of all the junk in my brain. Yoga helps me focus.
I’m not focused today so I really needed yoga.
And I totally forgot to go.
Grrrr…October 15, I will welcome you if it means my brain and my body will stop feeling so tired.
See.
I told you.
Overblogging.
It's not over yet!
Wait for it....
Um, so I’m going back to the crazy diet because I need to feel less tired and more rested. Even though I made this decision after some careful thought and reflection and even though, as hard as it can be, I feel so much better once I’ve been on the crazy diet for a few weeks, I was not looking forward to it. If I was anticipating it, it was with dread, not joy.
But.
My brain needs the crazy diet because it’s so overtired, it’s broken.
BROKEN.
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:55 I walk down the road to the building where my office used to be. And I lay out my mat. And sit down. And at 12:00 I get to do yoga for an hour.
And today, I’m tired. The alarm didn’t go off. We all overslept and I’m still tired. And I needed yoga. Yoga relaxes me. Yoga forces me to let go of all the junk in my brain. Yoga helps me focus.
I’m not focused today so I really needed yoga.
And I totally forgot to go.
Grrrr…October 15, I will welcome you if it means my brain and my body will stop feeling so tired.
See.
I told you.
Overblogging.
It's not over yet!
Wait for it....
36.4 Try 50 new recipes - Stir Fry
On Thursday, I left my camera at work. So, you'll have to excuse the horrible pictures here.
So, I've made stir fry before (hello, I was once a poor student...) - this recipe is more about the sauce than the actual stir fry.
And the photo quality is so horrible, I now don't actually have the recipe...so I'll have to go search it out the next time I'm at the grocery store.
ANYWAY.
These veggies were on super cheap a while ago and I grabbed a bag just too have on hand (and try out) some night when we were in a hurry. We buy their fruit whenever it's on sale, so I figured their veggies would be good too.
This is the Zen Garden mix - it has yellow and orange carrots, snap peas, water chestnuts, red peppers, baby corn and bean sprouts. I added the sauce on the back and I sliced up a couple of frozen chicken breasts.
I served it on udon noodles - the whole thing appeared very glutinous, but it tasted really good. J loved the baby corn and the noddles and the chicken. She ate most of the portion I put in her lunch the next day too (this is an achievement! Lately she's been rejecting leftovers in favour of sandwiches. I'm okay with that, I just need to stock up on sandwich fillings).
I will be buying more of these and stashing them in the freezer. I think it took a whole 15 - 20 minutes to make this whole meal. If I mixed up the sauce in advance, it would take even less time. And 15 - 20 minutes is awesome on nights like we've been having where I have to get J home from daycare, fed, bathed and into bed on my own because Alex is working.
I briefly considered buying and chopping my own veggies to freeze, but when I saw that these bags are 2/$4 at our local grocery store this week, I figure I can't go wrong buying them frozen. And I can always augment them with fresh veggies (like green beans or broccoli or bok choy or whatever) if we need to mix it up a little.
So, I've made stir fry before (hello, I was once a poor student...) - this recipe is more about the sauce than the actual stir fry.
And the photo quality is so horrible, I now don't actually have the recipe...so I'll have to go search it out the next time I'm at the grocery store.
ANYWAY.
These veggies were on super cheap a while ago and I grabbed a bag just too have on hand (and try out) some night when we were in a hurry. We buy their fruit whenever it's on sale, so I figured their veggies would be good too.
This is the Zen Garden mix - it has yellow and orange carrots, snap peas, water chestnuts, red peppers, baby corn and bean sprouts. I added the sauce on the back and I sliced up a couple of frozen chicken breasts.
I served it on udon noodles - the whole thing appeared very glutinous, but it tasted really good. J loved the baby corn and the noddles and the chicken. She ate most of the portion I put in her lunch the next day too (this is an achievement! Lately she's been rejecting leftovers in favour of sandwiches. I'm okay with that, I just need to stock up on sandwich fillings).
I will be buying more of these and stashing them in the freezer. I think it took a whole 15 - 20 minutes to make this whole meal. If I mixed up the sauce in advance, it would take even less time. And 15 - 20 minutes is awesome on nights like we've been having where I have to get J home from daycare, fed, bathed and into bed on my own because Alex is working.
I briefly considered buying and chopping my own veggies to freeze, but when I saw that these bags are 2/$4 at our local grocery store this week, I figure I can't go wrong buying them frozen. And I can always augment them with fresh veggies (like green beans or broccoli or bok choy or whatever) if we need to mix it up a little.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Announcing a new arrival
This post was originally published at Get Fit Chicks. It may refer to posts on Get Fit Chicks that no longer exist. Please email me if you run into any of those and I will break the links. More information about the reposting is available here
Our guest poster, Melynda, delivered a baby girl this morning at 1:24 am. Her name is Georgia Ruth and she weighs 7lbs 8 oz.
Congratulations Melynda!
Our guest poster, Melynda, delivered a baby girl this morning at 1:24 am. Her name is Georgia Ruth and she weighs 7lbs 8 oz.
Congratulations Melynda!
Saturday, October 02, 2010
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