I want to try something a little different this week. I'm going to have a little Q&A. First, I'll ask you questions, then you can ask all the burning questions you have for me. :) I'll list my questions here, and you can answer in the comments section so everyone can benefit from your answers or by email at mbwc@cox.net (there's a link on my sidebar). Then in a couple of days, I'll post again asking for your questions, which you can ask in the same manner. I don't even know what questions you would have for me, but this is your chance! Adoption, ministry, motherhood, marriage, recipes, ummm... grammar? I have no idea, but ask away! I'm no expert, but I'll answer what I can. :)
This is a perfect time for all the lurkers to come out of hiding. I know you have lots of wisdom to share. If this is fun for all of us, we'll just have to do it more often. OK, here are my questions. A lot are about parenting, but you don't have to be a parent to answer.
1. Do you make up the beds again after naps? I'm so tired of making up beds.
2. I'm trying to mentally prepare for Kindergarten, which is still a year away! I'm a stay-at-home mom, so it's hard for me to fathom having everyone up and ready and lunches packed and to school by 8:00! That is so early. I know, people who work outside the home have zero sympathy at this point. :) I'll have a 3-yr-old at home still when Will starts. So, do you get everyone (including yourself) completely ready and out the door in time for school, or do you just go in your PJs with your younger child(ren) in PJs too?
3. Will is 4 and is starting to outgrow his naps. I'm having a hard time knowing how to handle that. I still make him lie in his bed for rest time everyday, even if he doesn't go to sleep, because he has to do that at preschool too. And I need the break. He gets up over and over and tells me he's not sleepy or whatever. I finally started telling him to stay in his bed until a certain time, and if he's not asleep by then, he can get up. Any other suggestions? I'm tired of fighting it... but sometimes he'll take a 2-3 hour nap. So I can't give it up completely.
4. Our kids have started to expect gifts and toys from us and others. We don't give them random stuff all the time, and I often tell Will that he will have to wait for his birthday when he asks for something. I think this is pretty normal for this age, but it's driving me crazy. I want kids who are grateful. How do you teach an attitude of gratitude? I don't want Will to say, "Did you bring me a surprise?" when my parents get home from a trip or act disappointed when he doesn't get what he wanted for his birthday. Make sense? What do you do with your kids? I do not want them to focus on stuff. We give away toys often. We talk about kids who don't have any trains or cars... or food! It's just hard for kids this age to grasp it. Tell me what kinds of things you do to help your children start learning to appreciate what they have and realize how blessed they are.
5. If you were a SAHM before your kids were in school, did you start working outside the home when they went to school? How was that? Were you still available for field trips and other school-related activities you wanted to participate in? Can you tell I'm totally freaked out by the idea that my sweet Will is going to start school in a year? And I'll still have Cy at home for 2 more years!
6. At what point could you take your kids on a vacation and have it actually be pleasant? Ours are 4 and 2, and we just aren't brave enough yet. For one thing, it would take us a long time to drive to a beach, which is what we would like to do with them. The drive time in itself is scary. Then we still have one who must nap everyday. They're both in big beds now, which was our first main hurdle. We didn't want to mess with a crib or pack-n-play on a trip. What were your experiences like? What's a good age to start? We did take Will last year for a weekend trip, and he did really well. We had a blast with him, but he's the more laid back of the two... and one is just easier than two no matter what!
OK, so give me with your wisdom and experiences. Other people can learn from your answers as well. I can't wait to see what you all say. Oh, and start thinking about what you want to know about me. :)