Freeze Frame

by Melissa & Megan

School pictures are a time capsule of our progress through our school years. Laying them all out and comparing them as they grow so we can gauge their growth and stages. It is such a lovely thing (when it's done) but like most things we undertake as parents easier said than done.

Teen and Tween Tintype

SO...
I woke up today thinking that it would be like most other school days. Quiet to start, with a splash of early morning drama (you know the kind we all love, they can't find their everything or they don't want to make a lunch). I mean we are 8 weeks into this school year, they have adjusted to getting up and functioning (barely) at least 5 days a week and now don't "meltdown" so much after 3 pm (sort of).

Let me start this story stating that I am a BOY mom, so my picture days, I'm sure, are VERY different than a lot of GIRL parents. That being said, it can still have it's own version of NUTS! I have to say the teenage version of this is getting better except our hated enemy ZITS. And also, I have stopped fussing and he no longer (sniff) wants any help from me. Post picture review, the teenager realized as we were comparing pictures, that he wore the exact same shirt for this years picture that he did for last year (which I said - and he stated with conviction  I was totally wrong). AHEM!

Life lesson #187-sometimes Mom is right. (which no one LOVES to admit)

NOW the preteen or tween version is about the same as it used to be when he was little. All I needed to do was help him with his hair this morning and he really wanted NONE of it. I believe his aversion to touch and stimulus (sensory issues) makes this small thing a NOT so small thing.

And also I feel I would be leaving something out and being dishonest if I didn't add this side note, I am a former hairdresser, so not messing with hair is REALLY hard for me. I have sort of a compulsion to fix stray hairs, fluff flat hair, smush (that's right SMUSH) cowlicks or too much poof, and also a little eyebrow smoothing or combing. Now you know that I have a bit (of my own baggage) that might ADD to this drama.

So I got gel, comb and water (really needed a hair dryer but I made it work because that would have made for an angry tween). I chased him around the dining room a couple times before I finally cornered him and got to work.  He looked good, after 2 kinds of gel and a LOT of water. He didn't whine too much but every 15 seconds I had to ask him to hold his head up, as he slowly tried to slide away down in the chair. When he was younger (or last year), I started as soon as he was seated and eating his breakfast because then at least he was distracted and it cut the whining down to a minimum AND he did not want to leave the food so he STAYED PUT. So I guess baby steps.
As he was getting out of the car at school, he looked at himself in the mirror and said "I wish my hair looked this good everyday."  UGH!

Do you think when they go off to college I can get copies of their school IDs?

Preschool picture perfect

SO...
What the...actual hell...happened around here this morning?  It was going fine... a little PJ Masks (kiddie tv), some waffles, cuddle time on the couch before getting dressed, just your typical day before school.  Now, this was our first "official" picture day because last year it was super laid back and I didn't make that big of a deal about it.  I had NO clue how incredibly traumatizing picture day could be for a 4 year old boy (and more importantly, me!!!).

Where to start with the problems?  Let's start with the attire for the day.  I had the nerve to not let him wear the Batman t-shirt for the 100th time this year (how dare I?).  On top of that, I made him wear a shirt with NOTHING on it.  There were stripes, he'd worn it before and commented on how cuddly it was, it was a completely perfect choice for pictures.  Today it was made of sandpaper and razor blades.  Don't even get me started on the complaints about the pants (which were completely off and then back on BACKWARDS before the day was out).

If you can believe this, the clothing portion of the struggle was the easy part of the battle.  Would you like to know what caused the most screaming, running, hiding, and crying?  Hair "goo" (as he likes to call it).  I honestly thought I was ripping his hair out ONE by ONE and then soaking him in acid.  He screamed like he has never screamed before.  It was all I could do to not just drag him into the bathroom and shave his head!

The kicker of all of this is, we finish, he looks in the mirror and comments about how good he's looking.  GREAT.  I can't wait to hang it up on the wall and remember this day forever ;)



As usual, if you have any "precious" picture day moments please share.  We love hearing that this is all part of the parental process. We try to put something out there to give you a laugh and maybe make you remember "it takes a village," so FOLLOW us either on Facebook, Twitter or here on our page.
Have a great day!

School's in Session - the Pre-K episode

by Megan

Can I just tell you all how excited I was for our 4 year-old to start preschool this year???  I was so excited!  4 days a week. 3 hours each day.  Things were starting to look up around here.  I was going to have those mornings to be home alone with our 2 year old and really work on stuff!  Clean the house, play games with him, take care of therapy appointments with no older brother causing fights.  It was going to be a game changer.

Let me tell you something... the game has definitely changed...

What in the world has happened to my kid???  He used to be so sweet and happy and now he screams, cries, whines, and has temper tantrums.  He comes home from school "hangry" and ready to fight with anyone who gets in his way.  Everything is a struggle for him and it seems as though he walks around this house like he owns the joint.  Like he pays the bills, does the shopping, cleans up, makes dinner, does laundry.  Well guess what little man?  Last time I checked you do none of those things.

Now, there is something that makes me feel better about all of this.  I've been doing some informal research among friends and family and it seems like this is a world wide epidemic.  Preschoolers and toddlers all around the country are going through the exact same things.  This whole school thing is some serious business.  Being a former kindergarten teacher I know how hard the first month or so of school is for those kids. On top of it all, I taught full day so it was really something to watch those kids just LOSE their minds by the time lunch was over.  Never ever, not once, did I ever think about what their parents went though once they got home.  Pre-school is just a few hours... what the heck will happen when he's in kindergarten next year??? Perhaps an even more frightening question is, what will happen if my soon-to-be 3 year old starts in January?  I can't even begin to think about that yet, first we must get though this.

So, what do we do about all of it?  We live in a small house and the boys share a room so it's pretty hard for any of us to get any personal time or to have a room to ourselves.  Plus, they are little still so they can't handle not being close enough to touch me for more than 30 seconds.  I tried to reinstitute nap time for the 4 year-old and that was met with so much protest and flailing that I soon gave up that fight.  To make things even more interesting, the 2 year-old has decided that now would be a great time to start skipping naps.  Did I mention he has sensory issues and does not do well with change?  I've tried quiet time, exploration tubs, books, movies, iPads, games, coloring, 1-on-1 time, bribes, and none of this has worked.  I hate to say this, but I'm still trying to figure it out!  Most nights my husband just gets them to bed and I sit on the couch thinking about all the things I should be doing.

I guess what I'm getting at with all of this is that I have no clue what I'm doing. None.  I do my best every day and every night, once they are asleep, I sneak in their room and stare at them sleeping.  I love those little psychos with all of my heart, no matter how hard they try to drive me insane :)

Anything you have come up with to help you though all the changes this time of year?  Post in the comments and let me know... I need the help!!!