Category: Parenting

For the better. Her fascination with the things around her keeps me very observant as I have not always been in the past. How can you be when every second of your life is taken up with something BUSY!? Her hunger is quenched with books, and it absolutely stuns me how she seems to be falling in love with Jesus without me telling her to read about Him. She just picks it up on her own.

And not just Jesus, but every book. In fact, she just cannot get enough of her WORD books, letters, and of course choo-choo and doggie books.A

l am also a different person. At any time, I can sit (on command as she says, “Mommy, sit” like I’m her little doggie.) I usually do and we play froggie bounce

or we read as she points out things.

Or we play with Coti…

How wonderful that she knows I’m around. She also understands if I’m busy at the moment because she trusts that I’ll be with her momentarily since I don’t have to rush off to work etc..

Her love for me is stronger too, as evidenced by how we interact. Just today, she rubbed my arm in church and just said, “Mommy,” as she looked into my eyes. I started balling of course! Also, it was only 2 months ago where Tatum was throwing things when she got frustrated (or was finished with them) This morning in church (where she used to toss her toys when she was frustrated since she had to sit) she handed me her toy and said “go boom?” That means, can I be done with this now?  Things that go down go boom…So she was asking permission. Wow.

Not a single day goes by where I don’t lift up my hands in worship  and gratitude to my Father in Heaven. He has made all of this possible, and my biggest prayer is that Tatum can know Him…truly KNOW HIM.

One of the challenges I face daily is my own nature…..I constantly think of what is next or tomorrow. Being PRESENT does not come naturally to me, so I actually keep my camera with me at all times so I can document the moment and think about how special it was.

This occurred to me on Friday when I met my dear friend Elizabeth and Tatum’s future husband, 2-year old Nicholas at PV mall’s play area. We arrived when the BKOC (Big Kids on Campus (the 4-5 year olds) had just left. This allowed Tatum and Nicholas to enjoy the area a bit more loosely.

However, I still had to monitor because she needs to have “training” in how to handle situations and climbing dilemmas/dangers before I move my ‘helicopter’ness over to the side couch. This was not the case with any other mom. Elizabeth and I were the only ones with about 35 kids running around rampant as the vacant side-couch moms (and some dads) sat glued to their phones. Now, I get it..sometimes you need to send a text or answer an emergency, but really? And..I also get you have to let your kids go at some point and let them fight their battles, but isn’t that why we are SAHM’s in the first place; To train our kids in the way they should go early on?? We two had to navigate the kiddos to get in a line and not push our little ones off the side. Where were those parents? They were “not there.” I am noticing this more and more when Tatum and I are together in public.

After a lot of climbing and just observing as Tatum loves to do, she just chilled.

Whoever is in charge of placement of tempting toys in the mall should get a medal because they are all around. Example: the mall choo-choo train comes around constantly filled with children and parents. What would any curious child say? “Choo-choo???!!” I had to have a little side conversation with her about this and assure her that we would do the choo-choo another day. She really understood me, but it did not help to have it whistle and loiter around the play area. So, we decided to skedaddle and head right on over to the “up and down” as promised.

Selfie with Tatum! She rode it by herself instead of me having to stand right next to her. Big step! Another big step is her eating her lunch with a big person fork and spoon. Impressive. Why does she not do this at home where it’s caveman hands stuffing handfuls of food in mouth?

Again, more temptation surrounds the food court, so I let her jump on some of the rides; she did not have to know that they actually moved! 75 cents per ride? Sheesh!

Of course she had to greet Mr. Bear when she hopped in the bus.

Then smile pretty on the choo-choo. This was a fight to get her off and migrate over to her stroller.

Mall time made the Tot sleepy. So, she went down and stayed pretty groggy.

Doggie wanted to play but she discovered how to use the camera on my phone and took a selfie. 

What did I learn today? Be present. This time won’t last long. If I don’t savor it, it will be gone before I know it.

Don’t ever label your child. I did it.
“She hates to cuddle;” She’s not a hugger;” Tatum hates to rock with me.”

Guilty as charged!

What has happened warms my heart. Tatum Knight puts her arms around me and really hugs! Is it a coincidence that she started putting her arms around me in August (one month ago)? I do not think so. This is exactly the time I decided to come home and BE HOME with her full-time. Now, daily, I get hugs.

Tonight, before I put her in bed, I rocked her in my chair and she cuddled with me. As I did, we prayed (well, I prayed out loud) and then I sang to her (poor child). Then, I put her in bed. Usually, I just put her down and pray over her in bed as she listens, but tonight?… We rocked and so did it!

My little angel. My sweet little angel.

Panic-stricken. Yes, this was me at the start of this SAHM journey. What could we do all day every day?

This is when I looked at resources. They are out there, you just have to look. Little did I know how valuable they would be for Tatum’s development (and me as well as I learn how to teach her!)

It started with swimming when she was only 6 months old. I did not necessarily do this for her development, but more for us to bond and do something together. Since then we have continued. She has gained (besides swimming skills):
1. Listening to instructions (she may fight it, but then we have a lil chat on the side of the pool)

2. Being with other children and “playing nice”

3. Patience and waiting your turn.

4. Being silly and having fun.

We added Little Gym in the summer, but I decided to remove her from this, not only because it was costly, but because it was too unstructured, too large of a class, and parents did not enforce their children to be polite and listen to the instructor. It was terrible modeling for Tatum.

I now have added Musicology on Fridays. This class is terrific in that it is more intimate, structured and it teaches her rhythm, movement, and SHARING! Also, the mommies seem to model listening, following directions, and being polite. BONUS.

The rest of the week, I have now been trying to figure out what is best. The library is a little known FREE secret. Here is what we have tried:

1. Story Time: Excellent only if the parents would model for the kids to stay seated when the lady is reading.

2. Shake Rattle and Roll: Pure movement and fun. A bit of looseness that Tatum needs, and I don’t worry about the structure.

3. TODAY: we crashed the TODDLER TIME class (you have to be 24-36 months): This was excellent because the kiddos had to stay in their little letter square. Tatum had the “D” for “Dog” as I hoped it would keep her sitter sitting! I loved how strict the instructor was with the kids in staying put. The parents also modeled so well, and Tatum got to see that it was polite to pay attention and yet NOT GET UP.

It worked for the most part, but then…

I had to reel her in. I think after coming a few times, she is going to learn this. More importantly, I am preparing her for her days in school. It’s a pure pleasure and HONOR to be in her life at this age. Had I known what I was missing, I would have done this earlier (although I don’t know how I could have!)

We will continue to hit the library with their FABULOUS preparatory,  FREE, and FUN classes.

Again, Thank you FATHER for allowing this time with my little TOT. We are bonding and she is growing into a lovely young girl (with a precious heart.)