HappyMama

Maybe it’s no big deal, but I find it interesting:  our 3yo has a very strong sense of smell.  Examples:

• there have been occasions when I’ve brought home something new from a store, and instead of the typical, “can I see it mom?” this child asks, “can I smell it, mom?”
• we were at a friend’s home and after he used the rest-room I was helping him wash his hands.  She had a sugar-smelling soap from Bath ‘n Body Works, and as soon as he got some on his hands, he said loudly, “OH!  It smells wonderful!” and didn’t want to rinse it off.
• last time my dad visited, he left behind a ball-cap.  This child later found it and brought it to me asking, “is this Grandpa’s hat?  It smells like his head.”
• our 1yo always gets his dirty diapers changed right away because even in a crowded room where nobody else notices, the 3yo always does. 
• hubby recently purchased a variety of fishing lures.  As this child was looking and handling all the different ones, he said, “they all smell different.”

I’m pretty sure that some of this child’s fussiness as an infant was caused by his strong sense of smell.  I am so glad that Montessori materials emphasize helping a child understand and order all of his senses.  (That’s the purpose of all the sensorial materials.)  Although we do continue to worry some that his hearing is not quite up to par, I love this interesting “quirk” about our son!

so, as I’m sitting at the computer, typing the previous post, my 1yo is standing beside me, and he grabs the telephone (”mommy’s phone” - not a toy phone) and starts pressing buttons.  So I take it away from him and don’t think a thing about it, until about 30 seconds later I get a call from the county sheriff’s office.  “Ma’am, we just received a 911 call from your residence.  Is everything okay?”  And I reassure him it is and blame it on my 1yo.  And then about 30 seconds later, the doorbell rings.  It was a deputy checking on us.  I was so embarrassed.  She told me she’d rather find nothing wrong than something wrong…

New resolution - no real phones for toddlers, period!

Recently read an article here listing 40 health foods.  So much nutritional info. available today is confusing and controversial, but for some reason I enjoy reading lists of supposedly healthy foods, and I try to incorporate some that are new to us into our diets.  Making this list were…

Immunity boosters:

• green tea
• chili peppers
• ginger
• blueberries
• cinnamon
• sweet potatoes
• tomatoes
• figs
• mushrooms
• pomegranates

Muscle enhancers:

• quinoa
• grass-fed beef
• nonfat ricotta
• tofu
• lentils
• eggs
• greek-style yogurt
• quorn
• chocolate milk
• wild slmon

Inflammation fighters:

• pineapples
• olive oil
• bing cherries
• dark chocolate
• turmeric
• wild fatty fish
• flaxseed
• almonds
• apples
• whole grains

Bone builders:

• alaskan king crab
• dried plums
• bok choy
• oysters
• bananas
• kiwis
• broccoli
• spinach
• leeks
• artichokes

Another source for nutritional info. that I’ve found helpful is here.

Many of you know I’ve been studying Montessori educational theory for the past 3 years.  Two of the main things I’ve incorporated from this study into my parenting are (1) not interrupting a child who is concentrating on something, and (2) understanding the child’s need for doing meaningful work.  Prior to my studies, I would have seen “chores” of all kinds as simply things that, unfortunately, have to be done, and would have expected children to not want to do them.  What I’ve experienced with my kids is the opposite - they want to do real work.  Montessori categorized these activites Practical Life. 

About 3 years ago, our friend JulieS. offered us a child’s table with 4 chairs.  Since then, they have been in daily use, and despite the daily spills, are still in good shape.  I took advantage of the recent warm weather to offer two boys a chance to scrub them really clean for once.  Not only were they willing, they were excited, because anything involving soap bubbles and the garden hose is extra fun.  Of course, when they were finished they also scrubbed their bikes & trikes.  My responsibility in practical life activities is to provide all the tools needed at the right time and in the right place.  And then, to disappear into the background, stepping in only if absolutely necessary.