Explaining Holidays to your Kids

With the Holiday season in full effect, I am finding myself struggling to explain what a holiday is to my toddler. Halloween was fine. Having experienced it, Juliette definitely gets it now. The Trunk-or-Treating at her school was a great warm up for the real deal that night, but there is really no deeper meaning to Halloween that I felt obligated to explain. Am I wrong? I mean, it's the one day of the year where you can wear a costume with no judgement and you knock on a bunch of doors and get candy. That's it, right? We read lots of Halloween books about dressing up and going trick or treating. The candy really sealed the deal as to the significance of Halloween for my girl. It's the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays I am struggling with more.

Thanksgiving is next week and today we had her class feast. I was trying to explain Thanksgiving to her a few days ago, but at two, the best I could come up with was "it's a day to say 'thank you' for our family and everything we have and love." I feel like "giving thanks" is a hard enough concept to explain without bringing in the Pilgrams and Native Americans. Juliette loves a party so I think that aspect of it today was enough to pump her up for next week. Maybe we will go to the library tomorrow and see if we can find any good books on the subject. I am completely open to other mommy suggestions!! 

And then there's Christmas... the deepest of them all. She has been watching Christmas Peppa Pig on repeat (at her request), so she understands the concept of Santa Claus, but I feel bad letting her think that's what Christmas is all about - being good to get presents. When do you introduce the religious aspect of it? Three years old? She definitely doesn't get that yet. Does that make me a bad mom to let her do just the Santa thing this year? I'll have to see what books exist on assisting in this area as well. We did see Santa at the mall over the weekend...from a comfortable 25 feet away. I'm not sure even Santa will be a positive experience this year. I told Jules she has to tell Santa what she would like for Christmas if she wants him to bring her presents, but even THAT was a difficult concept to explain... wanting. I almost didn't want to explain that one. She has two things on her list, an Elsa doll and a baby stroller, so I think that's OK. Although, I feel like I led her to those gifts so I hope she will like them!! She needs more toys like a hole in the head, but maybe we can take some old ones to Goodwill and adopt a family in need so she can understand at least the giving aspect of the season as well. 

Parenting is hard!! I'm hoping to fine tune these things for when we go through it all over again with Eloise.

Two Kids? No problem... Just Kidding

As I sit here, with my 7 week old baby strapped to me in a moby wrap (because regular sleep is just not happening today) and my fourth day hair in a bun so I can't smell the baby puke in it, I can't help but laugh at how I am totally NOT nailing this stay-at-home mom thing.

I am mom to two super awesome little girls. I'm not biased, they are actually awesome. Juliette is blonde hair, blue/green eyes, newly two, and obviously, master of the world. Well, at least of our world. She tells it like it is on a daily basis and literally glows because she is bursting with life. She is also my sweaty, smelly little gal because she has one speed: super-charged. She makes me laugh everyday with her little Juli-bean-isms and is my best friend. I love that little monkey.

Eloise, as I mentioned before, is our newest family member at 7 weeks. She has dark hair and the newborn blue eyes (that seem to be lightening a little so maybe they will stay?) and every now and then reminds me slightly of her sister, but for the most part, has her own look going on. Having not known each other very long, all I can say so far is she is a happy baby! She smiles at me all the time, which is no surprise because I am the keeper of the milk. She's also humungous. She came out at 8 lbs 3 oz and now is just over 12 lbs. She's also just entering a 3-6 month size clothing compliments of her super long length. Both my girls are staying strong in the 95th and over percentile for height. My husband is 6'5" so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I will be the vertically challenged one in the family when they are like seven.

So yes. I am a stay-at-home mom for the moment. I feel very blessed to be in a situation where I can comfortably do this, especially while they are so little. I am the one molding their little minds and behaviors, which is a scary thought and a lot of responsibility all at once. I had a dog before kids. While cliched, it really does prepares you for the responsibility of taking care of another living being. Sadly, so far parenting has been very similar to raising a puppy - constant love and affection and correction. Clearly, I'm basically a parenting expert. I actually do think I have done a pretty good job with Juliette so far. I get lots of compliments from family members and teachers on what a nice little girl she is. Naturally, just when you think you have the parenting thing down, you go and have another kid and start the learning curve all over again.

I surprise myself on a daily basis with just how much I don't remember from Juliette's newborn phase. I essentially remember nothing. It makes me feel like the biggest idiot ever. Mentally, I am much stronger and more used to the night time wakings. I have yet to elbow my husband in his sleep at 3 am to give him a loathing glare while growling, "I AM NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN" as I try to soothe the beautiful, tiny creature looking into my eyes for the last two hours instead of sleeping. Unfortunately, this was a common event the first time around. Two years later, I deal with such encounters by throwing as much love and willpower to stay awake at these moments as I can.

I text my other mommy friends, asking why my 7 week old isn't on a schedule. They kindly remind me that I am still in the "go-with-the-flow" stage. I assure them that, by this time, Juliette was on a schedule and sleeping through the night and had 4 teeth and was almost crawling. Nature sure has it's way of making your brain block out horrific experiences associated with birth and the first few months after. I really don't know how I would survive parenting without my mom friends' support and ear for sharing how your 2 year old just smacked you in the face when you asked for a kiss. Kids are definitely entertaining, I'll give them that.

But, back to my fourth day hair and the baby koala on my chest. I feel like all other moms I meet have perfect sleepers, who eat at the right time, and do everything just right. I am not that mom. I probably make all the other moms feel even better about their mothering skills. For me, while I love baby cuddles, I am looking forward to the day when have the desire to wear make up, do my hair, not choose my wardrobe based on how easily I can whip my boob out.