I just uploaded pictures from our time back at the cabin over the 4th of July. To view these photos click to the left on a picture, or visit our Flickr site to view the set 'Cabin..': www.flickr.com/photos/gillsrus
Welcome to some tid-bits of our lives. This is my on-line journal of my kids and their silly, little personalities and how they occupy our days! Visit www.flickr.com/photos/gillsrus for updated pictures of our family and past holiday cards.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
'Why' all the questions?
Deklan is 3 years old. For quite some time, his favorite question has been 'why?' I realize children need to learn how the world works and 'why,' but it is becoming quite a thorn in my side. I feel as if I get nothing done throughout the day, other than answering 'why' questions. Not only are they questions like, 'why is it raining?' but the 'whys' have turned into questions responding to statements from me like the following:
Don't stand on that chair or you might fall off and bonk your head.
"Why?"
(I just told you why)
Take smaller bites. You don't want to choke.
"Why?"
(Because you don't want to choke)
Don't fall down those steps.
"Why?"
(Because you've fallen down steps before and you got hurt and started bleeding and screamed at the sight of a band-aid and continued to cry for the next two hours.)
Don't cut yourself with your scissors.
"Why?"
(Do you want to cut yourself?)
These are all things Deklan can understand at this point, so asking 'why' to a statement of 'Don't cut yourself' is just wasted breath. He knows what happens when a person cuts themselves, and for being a child who freaks out at the sight of his own blood AND the thought of having to wear a band-aid, I would think he would save himself the effort of having to ask why. I'm beginning to think that it is just such an automated response of his, that he just says it without thinking of the answer first.
While we were in the hospital during Blakely's surgery, I read Randy Pausch's book "The Last Lecture" (great, but sad, book!) Randy mentions in there that he instituted a rule in his house for his kids, and that rule was that they were not allowed to ask one word questions. If you want something answered, you must elaborate on 'why' you want to know why, etc.
I decided Deklan's comprehension level might be able to grasp this concept, so I introduced the same rule today: You may not ask one word questions. 'Why?' is a one word question, and I will no longer respond to it. You have to tell me why you are asking 'why?'
Deklan scrunched up his brow, and started nodding his head like he was mulling it over and understanding what I was saying. I continued to work in the kitchen. He turned around and started walking towards the living room, while stating, "I am angry at you."
My immediate, response?
"WHY?"
Whoops.
(and for those who are curious, his answer to my one word question was "because you won't let me ask 'why?' anymore.")
Don't stand on that chair or you might fall off and bonk your head.
"Why?"
(I just told you why)
Take smaller bites. You don't want to choke.
"Why?"
(Because you don't want to choke)
Don't fall down those steps.
"Why?"
(Because you've fallen down steps before and you got hurt and started bleeding and screamed at the sight of a band-aid and continued to cry for the next two hours.)
Don't cut yourself with your scissors.
"Why?"
(Do you want to cut yourself?)
These are all things Deklan can understand at this point, so asking 'why' to a statement of 'Don't cut yourself' is just wasted breath. He knows what happens when a person cuts themselves, and for being a child who freaks out at the sight of his own blood AND the thought of having to wear a band-aid, I would think he would save himself the effort of having to ask why. I'm beginning to think that it is just such an automated response of his, that he just says it without thinking of the answer first.
While we were in the hospital during Blakely's surgery, I read Randy Pausch's book "The Last Lecture" (great, but sad, book!) Randy mentions in there that he instituted a rule in his house for his kids, and that rule was that they were not allowed to ask one word questions. If you want something answered, you must elaborate on 'why' you want to know why, etc.
I decided Deklan's comprehension level might be able to grasp this concept, so I introduced the same rule today: You may not ask one word questions. 'Why?' is a one word question, and I will no longer respond to it. You have to tell me why you are asking 'why?'
Deklan scrunched up his brow, and started nodding his head like he was mulling it over and understanding what I was saying. I continued to work in the kitchen. He turned around and started walking towards the living room, while stating, "I am angry at you."
My immediate, response?
"WHY?"
Whoops.
(and for those who are curious, his answer to my one word question was "because you won't let me ask 'why?' anymore.")
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A Nose Full of Water
Today was a great day. The weather is finally nice here, so the kids and I, and a couple friends decided to take advantage and meet up at the new water park in Spearfish. Some might wonder why I went back, considering I had nothing good to say about it the first time I went...and this is why:
For months (MONTHS!) this water park has been under construction, and is so strategically placed in Spearfish, right along the interstate, directly in our path to the dreaded Wal-Mart. Sooo approximately 1 to 2 times per week, for approximately 9 months, I have heard Deklan say, "MOM!! Can we go down those slides!!? I want to go down the blue one! Are they open yet? Is it warm enough now? I think it is warm enough now! Can we go down those SLIDES!?? Can I go without you? Mom, look at those swimming pools! Can we go down those slides!?! Are they open yet? When can we go there? CAN WE GO DOWN THOSE SLIDES!!?"
Well the water park finally opened at the beginning of the summer. Yippee I thought, since now there was going to be no way to explain away the millions of children splashing in the water and going down the slides. No more saying it wasn't open yet. Perfect. So I decided to be fun Mom for a moment (just this once) and take my kids to have the time of their life at the oh-so-fun water park. My friend Joni Boner, her nephew Landon, and my kids and I got to the park on a very busy Saturday. First order of business: take Deklan down the big water slides. We hiked over to the slides, only to be turned around by the lifeguard telling us they did not allow lap riders, and Deklan was too short to go alone or on a double tube. Rarrr.... Deklan actually handled this better than I did, but he was not happy and did not understand why he couldn't go on these glorious slides that have been built in his face for so many months. After all, he could go down bigger slides at WaTiki without question. Submitting to defeat, I walked Deklan back to our chairs to get him ready to swim in the baby pool. I blew up his water wings- which he prefers and does very well swimming independently with- and slid them on his arms. Here comes a lifeguard. Oh, how wonderful, they don't allow water wings because they are unsafe. Less safe than sinking to the bottom of the pool? So again, I am angered. I explain my disgust to this lifeguard, snowballing the water wings, and the water slide issue into one big angry complaint. She gladly pointed out to me that there was a huge water jungle gym with slides for little kids to play on. Of course, the only problem to that was there was constant spraying water, and a huge bucket that dumped on everyone's head every 60 seconds. The only way to a slide, was up stairs through a wall of water, and random squirt guns being aimed at your face. I do not have the most daring 3 year old and he doesn't prefer all that water.
We left the water park that day angry and disappointed. It just wasn't very friendly for younger kids; even the lazy river has so much water spraying everywhere the only way I could enjoy it is if I was on fire.
Alas, I went back. I had to see if it was just one bad experience, or not a place for us. Low and behold, we actually had a blast this time. A few different reasons played a part in this. I came prepared with bulky life jackets and no water wings, so that took care of that, though Deklan didn't wear his most of the time and chose instead to swim under water most of the day. 2) In a rare daring move, I decided to take the bulls by the horns and march Deklan back over to the slides and proceed up to the top as if he were tall enough. We grabbed a double tube and up we went, never making eye contact with any lifeguard and moving on our way as if our conscience was clear. It worked- we got to go down the slide. Deklan was very excited. And C) The kids had a blast on the water jungle gym, climbing around and going down all the slides....because there was a problem with the filtration system so they shut off all the spraying water!
Other than the gallon of water that went up my nose and into my brain after going down the red slide, it was a great day!
For months (MONTHS!) this water park has been under construction, and is so strategically placed in Spearfish, right along the interstate, directly in our path to the dreaded Wal-Mart. Sooo approximately 1 to 2 times per week, for approximately 9 months, I have heard Deklan say, "MOM!! Can we go down those slides!!? I want to go down the blue one! Are they open yet? Is it warm enough now? I think it is warm enough now! Can we go down those SLIDES!?? Can I go without you? Mom, look at those swimming pools! Can we go down those slides!?! Are they open yet? When can we go there? CAN WE GO DOWN THOSE SLIDES!!?"
Well the water park finally opened at the beginning of the summer. Yippee I thought, since now there was going to be no way to explain away the millions of children splashing in the water and going down the slides. No more saying it wasn't open yet. Perfect. So I decided to be fun Mom for a moment (just this once) and take my kids to have the time of their life at the oh-so-fun water park. My friend Joni Boner, her nephew Landon, and my kids and I got to the park on a very busy Saturday. First order of business: take Deklan down the big water slides. We hiked over to the slides, only to be turned around by the lifeguard telling us they did not allow lap riders, and Deklan was too short to go alone or on a double tube. Rarrr.... Deklan actually handled this better than I did, but he was not happy and did not understand why he couldn't go on these glorious slides that have been built in his face for so many months. After all, he could go down bigger slides at WaTiki without question. Submitting to defeat, I walked Deklan back to our chairs to get him ready to swim in the baby pool. I blew up his water wings- which he prefers and does very well swimming independently with- and slid them on his arms. Here comes a lifeguard. Oh, how wonderful, they don't allow water wings because they are unsafe. Less safe than sinking to the bottom of the pool? So again, I am angered. I explain my disgust to this lifeguard, snowballing the water wings, and the water slide issue into one big angry complaint. She gladly pointed out to me that there was a huge water jungle gym with slides for little kids to play on. Of course, the only problem to that was there was constant spraying water, and a huge bucket that dumped on everyone's head every 60 seconds. The only way to a slide, was up stairs through a wall of water, and random squirt guns being aimed at your face. I do not have the most daring 3 year old and he doesn't prefer all that water.
We left the water park that day angry and disappointed. It just wasn't very friendly for younger kids; even the lazy river has so much water spraying everywhere the only way I could enjoy it is if I was on fire.
Alas, I went back. I had to see if it was just one bad experience, or not a place for us. Low and behold, we actually had a blast this time. A few different reasons played a part in this. I came prepared with bulky life jackets and no water wings, so that took care of that, though Deklan didn't wear his most of the time and chose instead to swim under water most of the day. 2) In a rare daring move, I decided to take the bulls by the horns and march Deklan back over to the slides and proceed up to the top as if he were tall enough. We grabbed a double tube and up we went, never making eye contact with any lifeguard and moving on our way as if our conscience was clear. It worked- we got to go down the slide. Deklan was very excited. And C) The kids had a blast on the water jungle gym, climbing around and going down all the slides....because there was a problem with the filtration system so they shut off all the spraying water!
Other than the gallon of water that went up my nose and into my brain after going down the red slide, it was a great day!
WOO HOO!
Yes, you may not be able to tell, but that little blob of fun shooting out of that slide is me. I had no control over my limbs- it shot me out so fast! Apparently this is what I looked like. Again, the picture is a tad smudgy so it's hard to get the full effect.
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