Every fall I take out the time to get real photos of my babies. Moving forward I would love to do them every season but the level of struggle they give me is so R E A L.
The tweenager doesn’t want to smile because the braces don’t look right, and the other thinks she is a diva in training. I wish I could say I enjoy capturing these photos of them as much as I love looking at them but I don’t.
Here are a few of their fall 2015 shots. They’ll love me for these later they say?
I have been compensated for this post. It is my desire to bring you information about brands that may be useful to you and/or your family. All opinions are mine.
One part of being a mother is always being prepared and thinking through everything making sure you have an arsenal of products ready and available to ward off any type of accident or ailment. I am currently in the process of stocking my car with things that I will need for the colder months. I keep hand sanitizer, bandages, wipes and a plethora of other products in my car because you just never know what you might need when dealing with children.
As the holidays approach we all know there will be lots of errands to run, tons of time spent getting in and out of the car with children, and with the cold and dry weather, lots of wiping of runny noses. I keep tissues in my car but repeated blowing and wiping leaves little noses raw and uncomfortable. Keeping smaller tubes of Aquaphor Healing Ointment in the car to soothe and relieve raw noses, lips and chapped hands, is a great tool for the whole family to use in combating some of the discomfort caused by cold weather.
Additionally, Aquaphor, is great for helping protect skin to help heal minor cuts and scrapes If you have a little runner like I do, you may know all too well about those little hand and knee scrapes that happen at the most inopportune times. For those moments, I suggest storing a tube of Aquaphor in your car or purse to help with those little nicks and scrapes while on the go.
The .35 oz. size is great for travel, sticking in your purse, or in your kids’ pockets to give them relief when the elements get to be too much and they need something to soothe windburn or other uncomfortable conditions that result from being outdoors, and in my daughter’s case running and tripping!
When it comes to family use, Aquaphor is a must-have product to have on hand for all seasons. From battling weather extremes, to bandaging boo boos, to giving your lips a little shine and protection when you need it most, you will definitely find great value in all Aquaphor products.
On my post regarding the 5 lists you should create weekly to simplify your life, I got some requests for information on where I got my list pads. I own quite a few, well okay a lot. Amazon is my friend as well the dollar spot at Target, Dollar Tree and the stationary section of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Homegoods.
Here are four of my favorites that I own and help me keep things in order around here.
For the past 5 years I have likely spent more time than not perusing the interwebs connecting and engaging with other moms. These interactions have exposed me to a variety of different parenting methods, and have offered more than a fair share of “Dear lady at Target that didn’t side eye me when my child threw a tantrum and broke a Lilly Pulitzer for Target vase.” You know of these articles of which I speak where we are all asked to have compassion for that mom struggling with her child because as an outsider looking in we don’t know that her child my have developmental or behavioral issues. I have read these articles and appropriately not side eyed that mom in the store and have at times offered my assistance if I see someone having a really hard time.
Compassion is a real thing and we all need to have it and display it when necessary.
That being said, if we are encouraging one another as moms to be more compassionate and less judgmental in our dealings with one another, let’s be mindful of how we let our children and their freedoms infringe on others.
Case in point.
In my daughter’s ballet class there is a student that is just….let’s say out of control. She is a constant disruption to the class, yells out and refuses to do what the teacher asks. The teacher reasonably tries to accommodate and encourage the child but depending on the day and how the wind is blowing she may or may not chose to participate. Here’s the thing, as a parent while I may exercise my right not to discipline my child, I would have to step in when I felt that my child’s issues were starting to impact and take time away from other students whose parent’s spend their hard earned money for uninterrupted lessons.
This is where I draw the line. While I can be compassionate and think about all of the reasons why a child may have a behavioral issue, please be mindful of the money I spend monthly to have my child participate in an activity. As a mother I don’t think I could sit back and watch my child no matter what his/her issue may be completely take time away from other paying customers without stepping in and disciplining when needed or maybe finding my child a private lesson if necessary.
The way my level of compassion is set up currently, if your child rams into my cart in Target while running full speed down a Target aisle as if it is a drag way (this happened), before issuing a side eye I kindly think your child has some behavioral issues and you deserve to be in Target like the rest of us because simply there would be no way that you would let that happen unless there were factors driving such behaviors that you have no control over. However, if you are continuously letting your child be a disruption in a setting outside of a public classroom, I’m handing out side eyes like candy on Halloween.
Seriously, I implore us all to really consider how our parenting methods affect those around us. My child won’t ram into your cart in Target without issuing an apology, and I expect the same respect…but I get it. If you are one of those that feel the need to let your child run free and disrupt others void of an apology I would hope you would expect to receive a side eye and not feel any kind of way.
This has been a NaBloPoMo rambling. Since I’m blogging everyday and this scenario has had me a little perturbed all day this has been my vent for the day. Thanks for listening?
Am I wrong? Am I still lacking in the compassion department? What would you do?
