Approximately one year ago, my dear friend who also happens to be my neighbor, brought up the suggestion of doing a Date Night Swap. No, not swapping boyfriends or husbands, but babysitting for our kids. One weekend she goes out and I would watch her little girl and the next weekend my hubby and I go out and she would watch our son. This was the perfect situation because our children have to same schedule so the plan was always come to the person's house once the chickadees were asleep. Then life happened and she was blessed with a baby boy and we took a break from that......
Well when I became a Stay At Home Mom...Sort Of, I got a real quick reality check when I found my house was not spotless like I assumed it would be if I was not working outside the home. Amidst my frustration, the wheels got to spinning and I came up with another swap. "Day Time Swap"! I brought it up to my friend and we have been doing it for the past few months. We each take each other's kids for 3 hours once a week, rotating each week. I have got everything done from deep cleaning the kitchen to running errands like I did before I became a mommy. My friend also usually cleans up, but one day treated herself to a shopping trip (Bjorn in tow of course) and was in heaven. The best part is it works on either end. If you are watching the kids, you child gets a play mate AND the hours we chose includes lunch so when you pick up your kid or the other goes home, it's nap time.
I recommend this to anyone who has friends or a friend that you trust with a child the same age. Even start as a trial. It is the greatest thing ever. I am so grateful for my friend for coming up with the first swap, leaving me comfortable enough to suggest the second.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Adventures In Crafting: Shapes Week
This was another week that brought out the good ideas....and the cold virus.
Monday
I copied a craft I found online where you use Q-tips to create shapes. This was the best as it required no purchases.
Here I printed out connect the dots shapes for coloring. Just as I learned from my other crafts, he was clearly not able to draw the shapes. But I drew them and he began to recite the color and the shape so he still learned something.
Tuesday
I made play dough using this unimaginably easy recipe and leftover food coloring. Side note: I had such a good time making the dough, I had to force myself to stop after the third batch. I didn't have the right shape cookie cutters so I used a knife. He wasn't really interested in the play dough, but really focused on the shapes I had made. You see the pattern here...mommy has fun, CJ learns.
Wednesday
I finally got myself together enough to make pancakes in the morning and cut them into the shapes we're focusing on this week. For our activity, I cut sponges into basic shapes and put paint mixed with water (had to save the paint) onto plates and let him soak and smush away on sheets of printer paper I taped together. I also found pages online where there are hidden shapes and put them in a binder and even tried to make a story out of it.
By Thursday, the cold had overtook the household and we just tried to rest and keep him distracted from the fact that he wasn't going outside. I really had to be creative here.
Things I Learned:
1. Kids have endurance when they are sick so don't count them out.
2. When the kids are sick, rest, because you could be joining them soon.
Monday
I copied a craft I found online where you use Q-tips to create shapes. This was the best as it required no purchases.
Here I printed out connect the dots shapes for coloring. Just as I learned from my other crafts, he was clearly not able to draw the shapes. But I drew them and he began to recite the color and the shape so he still learned something.
Tuesday
I made play dough using this unimaginably easy recipe and leftover food coloring. Side note: I had such a good time making the dough, I had to force myself to stop after the third batch. I didn't have the right shape cookie cutters so I used a knife. He wasn't really interested in the play dough, but really focused on the shapes I had made. You see the pattern here...mommy has fun, CJ learns.
Wednesday
I finally got myself together enough to make pancakes in the morning and cut them into the shapes we're focusing on this week. For our activity, I cut sponges into basic shapes and put paint mixed with water (had to save the paint) onto plates and let him soak and smush away on sheets of printer paper I taped together. I also found pages online where there are hidden shapes and put them in a binder and even tried to make a story out of it.
By Thursday, the cold had overtook the household and we just tried to rest and keep him distracted from the fact that he wasn't going outside. I really had to be creative here.
Things I Learned:
1. Kids have endurance when they are sick so don't count them out.
2. When the kids are sick, rest, because you could be joining them soon.
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