Super "Miracle" Bubbles

For my three year old, Lucas', birthday this year, while searching the toy isles of Wal-Mart, I found a six pack of bubbles. They were cheap and there were multiple bottles so he could share with his brother and have plenty more for himself later. These boys love bubbles. There were other packs around these Super Miracle Bubbles, but I believe these were the cheap ones (aren't all bubbles the same?). So I grabbed the pack, and finished up in the toy isle to head home and wrap.

Lucas opened his presents the next day. He was happy to get Paw Patrol toys, and of course a new ball for the park, robots, dinosaurs, fire trucks, and transformers, even a new tent! Of all the toys he opened he first asked to go blow bubbles. So we opened the bubbles and went outside. He tried for a few minutes to do it on his own. He usually blows to hard and it pops before it blows up so I thought I'd give him a little time before I assisted. 

Eventually he got frustrated and came to me for help. I tried to show him the proper way to blow a bubble but I couldn't even get bubbles on the stick. No matter how many times I dipped the stick there was no way I could even blow a bubble. I swear all six containers must have been filled with just water. NONE of them made any bubbles. I didn't have another set of bubbles so we ended up making some out of soap; Cheaper, more effective, and kid safe.

I cannot believe these "bubbles" are even on the shelves. I didn't bother taking them back to Wal-Mart, I got my money's worth, I suppose, but I encourage all of you to avoid bottom shelf items! Note to consumer: the "miracle" would be the bubbles actually working. Do not buy.

Influenster and Me

Just one month ago, I joined Influenster.com and starting filling out surveys about myself. When it felt it knew enough about me, the website directed me to the "Reviews" tab where I chose from eight different categories, health & beauty, food & beverages, mom & baby, home, pets, entertainment, fashion, retailers & services. Once you choose a category, I did a lot of mom & baby and food & beverages, you have smaller subcategories to chose from which eventually leads you to something like AirHeads Bites (follow the link to see reviews). Then I give my opinion (A,B,C,D,F) and a short message about the product and my personal opinion of it.

Here's the fun part, in less than one month I got a package in the mail from Influenster called the Dean's List VoxBox. Inside it was a package of AirHeads Bites, a two pack of pens from Pilot's FriXion Clicker series, SinfulColors No Text Red™ nail polish, Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes, Luden's® NEW Blue Raspberry Throat Drops, a Softlips® Cube of lip balm, and a box of Playtex® Sport® Fresh Balance™ tampons. All of these things were sent to me for free!

Now once they send you their box, all they ask in return is for your opinion. So now my job, besides enjoying those sweet little candies they sent me, is to let everyone know how awesome all this stuff is and that I got it for free, just like you can, if you sign up.

The first thing I did was eat my candy, definitely not the airheads I remember These smaller "bite-sized" pieces were hard and didn't taste a thing like the original candy. As I always do, I gave every watermelon piece away, and ate the rest until I had emptied my bag and thrown it away. Oops, I was going to take a picture of that.

Next I grabbed out my pens, I use pens a lot so I was mildly excited to get a couple more pens but when I went to do a review for them I found out, these pens ERASE! Of course I tried it out too, and let me tell you, these erasable pens are NOT like other "erasable" pens. They actually erase! The eraser, which is right on the top doesn't wear down like other erasers and it doesn't leave a residue behind.

The next three items I played with were the beauty products. The lashes, nail polish, and lip gloss. When I finished my little glamour session I had long voluptuous eye lashes, red finger tips, and shiny lips. Please excuse me, I've never used fake lashes before and I definitely didn't get them on there perfectly, but for a first effort, I thought I did pretty good.

I haven't found a use for my remaining items but I still have forty-six days to use and review them. That's what I love about Influenster. Free stuff, all for voicing my opinion, and let me tell you, I'm VERY good at that.

Dealing with goodbye

There comes a time in every parents life when they have to leave their child with someone else for the first time. This can be a time of high anxiety for both baby and parent. How you as a parent react will help your child adjust to the new changes as well. It's important to take it step by step but to not try to much to prolong the process.
In my experience the best way to deal with a goodbye is to handle it like a band aid. When you get to the babysitters house, promptly tell your child goodbye and express you'll be back later. If your child is old enough to sense a passage of time you can explain it'll be when the sun goes down, or just after lunch.
If your child is much younger or especially shy, bring some of her favorite toys with you to give her a feel of comfort as you leave. Give them to the babysitter. Allow the babysitter to play with your baby to show they're not a threat. Try not to overcompensate by giving your child a pacifier or a safety blanket to comfort his loss. In the end it'll create more attachment to an object you'll eventually have to remove and it'll put "going to daycare" in the same list as "getting vaccinations." Don't be afraid of tears! We know it breaks your heart to see your little one so upset over your departure but unless you have one of those cool jobs where it's okay to bring your kids to work with you, you're only prolonging the inevitable and creating a longer time your child will be upset for.
One thing you have to understand is that once your gone the "out of sight, out of mind" tends to take hold and soon your child will see new opportunities to explore without you. This is where the parent root comes in. Are they going to grow up while you're gone? Not entirely, but once they start getting into routine dealing with goodbye will get much easier and you'll be able to see your child's progress increasing with each passing day. You can come home to your little one telling you his favorite color is now yellow or that he knows all the words to "twinkle, twinkle little star."
Don't be afraid to miss a couple things. I know there are a few milestones we want to see our children reach but understand that you didn't miss it intentionally and there will be more. This can be a hard truth to swallow, working parents don't have the luxury of spending all day at home. We can't capture every moment on film and chances are you'll come home with things to add to the baby book. Don't worry you'll still be able to get pictures of his tux at his first prom and you'll definitely get to share the process of potty training.
I think we're more afraid of our own opinions when dealing with goodbye. If your child is especially shy it may seem much more tragic when you leave. Just understand that allowing your child to benefit from someone else's company will expand his/her communication skills and improve outgoing personality.
Dealing with goodbye is inevitable. Eventually you're going to have to send the little one to school and some parents are okay with waiting until then to get a little break. Do yourselves a favor moms and dads, go out once in a while. Hire a babysitter while you go to dinner. Don't be afraid of change. Fear is contagious.

Boys vs girls: who is harder to raise?

It has been taken to a poll many times, which gender is harder to raise? Each side has it's own reasons, girls learn faster and respond to discipline more quickly. Boys have less teen angst and don't hold grudges as long. Well, let's go through it, the mom-a-holic way.

Boys
Boys are destructive and don't listen as well. Scientifically, they learn words more slowly and tend to use them less often than girls by substituting real words with onamonapias such as: buzz, or rawr, grrrr, zoom, etc. This hinders communication with parents greatly. They are developmentally slower than their female competitor and therefore are more likely to spend more time in time out or getting spanked (depending on your parenting method). Boys are harder to potty train and in my experience start climbing at a much younger age. They are much more competitive because of higher testosterone levels. I have found boys much harder to keep well protected. They like to fight and wrestle. My two year old LOVES to beat up his one year old brother. While girls tend to dress-up, and dolls, boys are playing cops and robbers or G.I. Joe (do they still make those?).

Girls
Girls tend to have problems later in life. When disciplined they are more likely to hold a grudge against the punishing parent. Girls develop their speech much sooner and will therefore talking more fluently before boys will. In the teen years girls are more sensitive to stressors and because of that are more likely to develop depression in their teen years. Girls will also be more sensitive to their body image. They have more selective interpersonal relationships and in the end, more enemies. Their great communication skills eventually become overwhelming and they tend to shut down more after age eight. Though girls generally tend to do better in academics one place they do tend to fall short is in the math areas especially geometry, which requires a spatial understanding.

Overall, who is easier is going to depend on you. I don't like dress up or heels, I prefer to get dirty, so boys are for me. You could be opposite, more in touch with your "feminine" side. Then girls would be much better suited to your personality. Knowing what you're getting into will help you along the way. But it's going to take a great deal of patience with either gender so just try to explore more territory and open yourself to things you may not have done before. They say you get a chance to grow up twice, once when you are a child and once when you have them. Don't miss out.

Potty Training

Potty training isn't easy and sometimes it's not fun, but it is a necessary evil all parents face. Before I started potty training my kids I made sure to look up the best tips and procedures: what to get, how often to go. I asked around, I looked online, and now, even though my two and a half year old are still working on it, I have some more experience that I've fine tuned into my own recipe for potty training success. Don't be afraid! Just take it step by step. [:

Step One - Knowing when to start
The average age that children begin potty training is two and a half. However, readiness can come anywhere between eighteen months and three years so don't be discouraged if your two year old is still in diapers. The most important thing about beginning potty training is that you wait until the timing is right. You never want to introduce too many new things at once, it's easier to learn when you're not overwhelmed. So, if you've just moved, wait until he's adjusted to the new house. If you just had another child your toddler should get used to his new brother or sister before attempting.
Your toddler will tell you when he's ready, all you have to do is realize it. He will recognize when he's uses, or needs to use, the bathroom, maybe identifying it, "I have a poopy diaper." If he can walk on his own to the bathroom, if he's able to follow simple instructions, then he's probably ready for the big boy potty.
Do not discount yourself. You have to be ready, too. You'll need to be able to devote a lot of time to helping your child transition out of diapers and into underwear. When you feel you are both ready, it's time to start shopping.

Step Two - What to get
Personally, I started with the little potty with a lid and a removable bowl for easy disposal. We eventually moved to the potty seat that sits on top of your toilet, but I used the smaller version first so he could learn on something his own size. Let your child pick out the potty seat, they'll want to use it more and it will be more personally fitted. Being that I have boys, I chose a potty seat with a cup guard because with our minipotty, Riley would have to hold his penis down in order to pee in the potty. The pee guard kept my floors cleaner and Riley could pee freely. 

It is very important to get a step stool if you plan on using the big potty. Your child should be able to get on the potty himself, even if he doesn't. It'll make him more comfortable. I would also suggest investing in some flushable wet wipes for after using the potty. At this point, it will be easier on both of you to grab some pull ups or underwear too. Getting pull ups with your child's favorite character on it could prove helpful by bringing out the humanitarian in them, "You don't want to pee on Buzz Lightyear do you?"

Step Three - What to do

Introduce your child to the way the potty works, let him watch you go, show him how it works. Let him sit on it, pants on, just to get used to the feel. Once he's comfortable, go for it! Keep trying different things until you find a match. I originally used candy or a treat of some kind, now we have a sticker book. I've seen parents use a piggy bank, or just at good old fashion clean break. This part of potty training is entirely up to you and your child. Whatever works for you may be different than what works for someone else. Once you have it, establish a routine. Get on the potty every hour, or every two hours. Have him go when you do. When you begin potty training, you'll find a schedule best suited to you. The important thing is to stick to the routine, deviation can cause confusion and you'll end up having more set backs. 

No matter what method you choose, always remember to stay calm. TRUST ME, I understand the frustration when you asked him if he needed to use the potty and he said no but five minutes later it's time for a diaper change. Some parents think you should let your toddler sit in a dirty diaper so that they don't want to have them anymore, but the fact of the matter is your child has been sitting in his own crap for at least a year and a half. Change your child's diaper if he has an accident but encourage him to next time use the potty or tell mommy when he has to go.

There are four learning methods: positive reinforcement (he goes on the potty, you give him a treat), positive punishment (he goes in his diaper, you spank him), negative reinforcement (he goes on the potty, you let him skip his daily nap), and negative punishment (he goes in his diaper, you put him in time-out). This is typical B.F. Skinner general psych information. Choose one method, you need to be consistant.

Even though my two and a half year old isn't fully potty trained yet, he's well on his way and we have a good method of getting there. If you're having problems, have no fear. I don't know any teenagers still in diapers, you're bound to succeed eventually. Just take your time and remember to cherish the moment, you only get to raise them once.

Cash for laptops: no stars

Recently I upgraded from the iPhone 4 to the galaxy s3. I took my phone around to a few places. One guy said he'd give me $150 right there. I wasn't ready to give it up yet so i walked away. I ended up shipping my iPhone off to cashforlaptops or cashforiphones.com they have many names. They quoted my phone at $150 also. I got my prepaid shipping label and mailed off my phone. Over a week later, I finally got a phone call. That was today, here's how it went.
"We'll offer you $70"
::taken off guard:: "that's not happening, they quoted it at $150, I'm counting on that money if that's all you have to offer, i was told i can have it shipped back. Go ahead and do that, I will take it somewhere else for cash."
"Well i can understand that, but those places you take it to will only offer you store credit, tell you what, I'll give you $90."
"I wasn't aware we're haggling here. Also not happening, just ship the phone back to me, I'll take it to a store."
"Well the store is only going to offer you store credit, this is cash."
"No sir, you have a check the guy at the flea market had cash"
"Even if i send the phone back it's going to be another 7-10 days and who knows what it'll be worth by then... i can have this $90 in your pay pal account by tomorrow"
Let me stop now and let you know this guy has now made it clear he's NOT shipping my phone back to me. So now it became a debate of him ripping me off. In the end, he offered me $95 in a check that he will mail to me and being as flustered and angry as i was, i took the deal.
Hindsight is 20/20 ladies and gentlemen, never use cashforlaptops.com cashforiphones.com or ANY of it's local affiliates. They have a nice facade, make themselves look top of the market, but in the end, they deceive and scam. I wish I had never taken my phone to them, and now I will never get it back. Don't fall for the same trick I did. And definitely do NOT use this business.
Just one persons opinion.

Pacifiers

Pacifiers are a BIG debate in the parenting community. When raising our children we are forced to answer the question of whether of not to load up on rubber nipples and clothing attachers. Let me start by giving you my opinion. I love them! When lucas was born, the hospital we used gave me a soothie pacifier for him. This was a god send, turns out he never liked typical bottle nipples or the traditional design of the binki. These little rubber inserts were the first i had seen of their kind. I included a link to buy, just in case you share my love of them.

After we brought him home from the hospital, we started having problems with reflux. He wasn't losing weight, but every time he ate, my poor little guy projectile vomited his food right back up. We saw the doctor numerous times. In the end, with a little bed elevation, we kept Lucas' reflux problems at bay by choosing to limit bottle and breast intake and supplement his suckling with a paci. He would drink around three ounces pure unadulterated breast milk and when his eyes started to roll into the back of his head because the knockout juice was working, mommy put the boob away and in went the paci. Sleep transition after the big burb was much easier. Now, at fifteen months, Lucas uses NUK ortho-pacifiers and only when it's time to sleep, or sooth, when he's cranky. Riley was completely off his pacifier around his second birthday.

Turns out i made a good judgement call. Pacifiers are recommended for use up to age two. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) says that giving your child a pacifier while he or she sleeps is linked to a decreased risk of SIDS, though the reason is still unclear. Not a lot of parents know that pacis can be more good than bad for their kids. And contrary to popular belief, pacifiers are not yet proven to be linked to buck teeth. The Mayo Clinic encourages binki use for the first six months when the risk of SIDS is at it's highest.
Sharing your love of the pacifier these days seems to have more risks: those without children ridicule the use and those with are always throwing unsolicited advice and stories to help "inform" you to it's great addiction power. The truth is, moms and dads, a pacifier addiction is much easier to remove than thumb sucking. You can physically remove them from the situation. In time there are hundreds of remedies to "fix" pacifier use that don't involve putting something on it to keep it out of the mouth (a common thumb sucking technique, yucky tastes prevent sucking). One tip i read even suggested putting a small hole or cutting the tip off to make your childs binki less enjoyable. Some think pacifier use is simply selfish. Your child doesn't "need" it, parents just use it as a coping mechanism to stop baby from crying or to prolong feedings. That is sometimes the case, people have been known to abuse the great soothing powers for personal gain but pacifier use it dependent upon the parent. Only you can make healthy choices for baby this young.
Coming full circle, I use pacifiers because of how they help me and my kids. Lucas stopped projectile vomiting. Sleep does come a little easier. Bumbs and bruises hurt a little less, and trust me, when there is a two year old older brother, there are LOTS of bumps and bruises. My opinion is only one, I want to hear your opinion. What are your opinions of the pacifier?