Mamatography 2013 - Week 30

Day 202 - July 21

All wrapped up in a towel is somehow a great time for snuggles.

Germs are Bugs, Too

I was one of those kids in school that got lice over and over and over again. My mom was disabled and had a hard time combing through all my hair. She tried taking me to salons for help. Salons do not take kindly to anyone bringing lice into their establishment, with good reason. I remember being treated with shampoos many times. Please, do NOT do that! Read my other lice posts for reasons why.

My eldest daughter recently turned up with lice (again). Much like me, she has had many infestations. In the past, she has been treated with nasty shampoos and even ovacides. I've since done the research on those and they are seriously some scary things to be putting on our kids' scalps. She had plans she didn't want to miss, so she (for the second time) opted to shave her head. She wears it really well!

And then there's the stigma associated with lice. Let me be quite clear, anyone can get lice. And you know what? We all get all kinds of bugs! Ever had a flu bug? How about a "stomach bug?" Or "that bug that's going around?" But people feel embarrassed and ashamed about lice in their family. The only difference is that lice don't go away on their own.

Germs
Click the pic for Photo Credit

If your kid(s) turns up with lice, try not to freak out. Remember, that is still your baby... they just have "a bug." If your child has been around other people recently, tell them! By keeping it to yourself, you're only giving the lice a chance to spread, maybe even back into your own household again. And don't keep taking your child places! You wouldn't want to expose people to any other "bug," lice is no different.

Be honest with your kids. I discovered a bug on Sasha as we arrived at a play date. I immediately apologized to our host, explained and excused us. Yes, Sasha was crushed. Yes, I was disappointed. But my friends, I hope, appreciated that we did not want to expose their babies or their household to lice.

For lice treatments, please see my lice posts or check out Head Lice.org. Since Sasha was wearing her swim suit and expecting to play in water, I brought her home and stuck her directly into the tub to play... while I combed, trimmed and then fine-combed her hair. I'll continue to fine-comb it (in the tub, because its the best / easiest distraction for us) at least once per day until I'm sure they're gone. On the second day I was still finding babies, but no adults. She won't go to any play dates or have any friends over (we had no plans anyway). Yes, that can be a pain. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease was a pain, too!

What emotions are associated with lice for you?

Mamatography 2013 - Week 29

Day 195 - July 14

Sasha had been playing in her room and seemed awful quiet. This is what we found.
And this little stinker acts like she can't cover herself!

Mamatography 2013 - Week 28

Day 188 - July 7

My baby brother wanted to try on my Boba after his wife did.
Sasha was thrilled to be loaded into it!

Screen Time Test Runs

My husband's go-to parenting tool is shows. He loves movies and games, so it makes sense for him to offer the same to our preschooler daughter. I go through a lot of guilt or worry over all the screen time. Sunday I reached some sort of breaking point or felt extra determined or something. When she got onto the computer to watch a show, I set a timer for 1 hour (and told her as much). She didn't give me too much fuss about getting off the computer at the end of the hour.

Its surely easier to cut back now,
rather than when he is old enough to move a mouse, too!

I dug out busy bags, knowing full well that none of them keep her busy or entertained for very long and she quite often wants help with them anyway. It felt like a lot of work to keep her entertained (including getting her to entertain herself, I swear she is capable of it). Later in the day I let her have 1 more timed hour. She tends to fuss when she has to get off the computer, especially at bed time. I made sure not to let her on again that late in the day. Bedtime routine was a breeze!

It had not been so simple the night before. Monday I had 1 important errand and Spencer had 2 appointments. I relaxed about the computer, knowing Sasha would have lots of screen time while home with Daddy. But I was maybe overly lax because I also didn't have her step away from it while I was home between each of my stops. She was still at the computer come bedtime. She threw a fit! She yells and cries about having to stop watching a show. Sigh. Clear, anecdotal evidence that more screen time = more stress.

We've had 1-2 more days of evidence. I'm hopeful that if I can get through the stress of having to find new entertainment for her all the time, other stress will fade away and this will become the norm rather than the exception. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I think there have been days when she has basically spent her entire day on the computer, minus bathroom breaks and meals.

I'm sure we're not out of the woods just yet, as far as changing habits. But I'm really proud of myself for doing something about it! You can also read about how very many things it can take to fill an hour when cutting back on television as well as How to Wean Your Child (from TV), both from True Confessions of a Real Mommy. Jennifer has been such an inspiration to me in my parenting tools and choices!

How have you survived a switch away from a favorite activity?

Mamatography 2013 - Week 27

Day 181 - June 30

We finally made it to the Zoo this year!
Elmo and I were quite taken with this Naked Mole Rat exhibit, very cool.
I later took the littles to a park for my niece's birthday party.
We got lots of outside time on this day!

Diversity, huh?

Welcome to the July 2013 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Learning About Diversity

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared how they teach their children to embrace and respect the variety of people and cultures that surround us. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

I've gone from no idea what to write for this month's theme to too many ideas to write on the theme! So here are some free flowing thoughts and ideas on Learning / Teaching Diversity:

• I have always accepted people as they were, calling them by whatever name or gender they preferred. This includes my own children. Yes, I've been asked to call them by different names and gender.
  
  
• I don't make big deal over people being different from us because in my mind... they're just people. In doing that, I haven't really made any fuss or drawn any attention to diversity.
  
  
• I thought it was hilarious when my kid told me it was funny or silly to see two men kissing... since I had a husband and a wife a the time. It never seemed strange to see each of us hold hands or be generally affectionate.
  
  
• We donate to those less (or even equally) fortunate than us. We also shop at thrift stores and accept donated items.
  
  

  Truck loaded with donations to drop off.

  
  
• I just feel like I should say "we have rich people over for play dates." I think that's just a silly statement, but I guess it has been true. We've gone to play dates in houses much larger and furniture much fancier and toy collections much larger than our own. That one might be the toughest to explain to the kids that it is different, but not necessarily better.
  
  
• We recently moved into a new home in a neighborhood where we are a minority. We're not afraid to walk our streets or for our children to play with the neighbors. Although, I will admit: as a young Caucasian woman it has been a bit of a culture shock to be a minority in my home.
  
  
• I encourage whatever interests my kids.

So... how do you teach your kids about diversity? I feel like pointing out diversity is kind of like not fully accepting it, if that makes sense? It isn't about what's different, its that we're all human beings. But, then again, I appreciate a diverse group of people from diverse backgrounds and diverse opinions. It seems to be the way to get the most diverse set of ideas or solutions!

***

Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• A gift for my daugther — Amanda, a special education teacher for students with multiple exceptionalities, discusses at My Life in a Nutshell how she will enrich her daughter's life by educating her the amazing gifts her students will bring to the world.
• The Beauty in Our Differences — Meegs at A New Day writes about her discussions with her daughter about how accepting ourselves and those around us, with all our beautiful differences and similarities, makes the world a better place.
• Accepting Acceptance and Tolerating Tolerance — Destany at They Are All of Me examines the origins of and reasons behind present day social conformity.
• Turning Japanese — Erin Yuki at And Now, for Something Completely Different shares how she teaches her kiddos about Japanese culture, and offers ideas about "semi immersion" language learning.
• Celebrating Diversity at the International House Cottages — Mommy at Playing for Peace discovers the cultures of the world with her family at local cultural festivals
• Learning About Diversity by Honoring Your Child’s Multiple Heritages — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama looks at the importance of truly knowing your roots and heritage and how to help children honor their multiple heritages.
• People. PEOPLE! — Kellie at Our Mindful Life is trying to teach her children to use language that reflects respect for others, even when their language doesn't seem to them to be disrespectful.
• Call Me Clarice, I Don't Care - A True Message in Diversity — Lisa at The Squishable Baby knows that learning to understand others produces empathetic children and empathetic families.
• Diversity of Families — Family can be much more then a blood relation. Jana at Jananas on why friends are so important for her little family of three.
• Diverse Thoughts Tamed by Mutual Respect — Amy at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work thinks that diversity is indispensable to our vitality, but that all of our many differences require a different sort of perspective, one led by compassion and mutual respect.
• Just Shut Up! — At Old New Legacy, Becky gives a few poignant examples in her life when listening, communication and friendship have helped her become more accepting of diversity.
• The World is our Oyster — Mercedes at Project Procrastinot is thankful for the experiences that an expat lifestyle will provide for herself as well as for her children.
• Children's black & white views (no pun intended … kind of) — Lauren at Hobo Mama wonders how to guide her kids past a childish me vs. them view of the world without shutting down useful conversation.
• Raising White Kids in a Multicultural World — Leanna at All Done Monkey offers her two cents on how to raise white children to be self-confident, contributing members of a colorful world. Unity in diversity, anyone?

• Ramadan Star and Moon Craft — Celebrate Ramadan with this star and moon craft from Stephanie at InCultureParent, made out of recycled materials, including your kid's art!
• Race Matters: Discussing History, Discrimination, and Prejudice with Children — At Living Peacefully with Children, Mandy discusses how her family deals with the discrimination against others and how she and her husband are raising children who are making a difference.
• The Difference is Me - Living as the Rainbow Generation — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle, guest posting at Natural Parents Network, is used to being the odd-one-out, but walking an alternative path with children means digging deeper, answering lots of questions and opening to more love.
• Differences — sustainablemum discusses what she feels to be the important skills for embracing diversity in her family home.
• My daughter will only know same-sex marriage as normal — Doña at Nurtured Mama realizes that the recent Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage will change the way she talks to her daughter about her own past.
• Montessori-Inspired Respect for Diversity — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now tells about her multicultural family and shares Montessori-inspired ideas for encouraging respect for diversity.
• EveryDay Diversity — Ana at Panda & Ananaso makes diversity a part of everyday living, focusing on raising of compassionate and respectful child.
• Diversity as Part of Life — Even though Laura at Authentic Parenting thought she had diversity covered, she found out that some things are hard to control.
• Inequity and Privilege — Jona is unpacking questions raised by a summit addressing inequity in breastfeeding support at Life, Intertwined.
• 3 Ways to Teach Young Children About Diversity — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama recognizes her family's place of privilege and shares how she is teaching her little ones about diversity in their suburban community.
• Teaching diversity: tales from public school — A former public high school teacher and current public school parent, Jessica at Crunchy-Chewy Mama values living in a diverse community.
• 30 Ideas to Encourage Learning about Diversity While Traveling — Traveling with kids can bring any subject alive. Dionna at Code Name: Mama has come up with a variety of ways you can incorporate diversity education into your family travels (regardless of whether you homeschool). From couch surfing to transformative reading, celebrate diversity on your next trip!
• Diversity, huh? — Jorje of Momma Jorje doesn't do anything BIG to teach about diversity; it's more about the little things.
• Chosen and Loved — From Laura at Pug in the Kitchen: Color doesn't matter. Ethnicity doesn't matter. Love matters.
• The One With The Bright Skin — Stefanie at Very Very Fine tries to recover from a graceless response to her son's apparent prejudice.

Mamatography 2013 - Week 26

Day 174 - June 23

They play together a lot these days.