Listening Skills

Mia and I both have some changes ahead this week.  Tomorrow she is promoting to the next class at daycare.  This new class is down the hallway where the "big kid" classes are.  As usual, her friends will be promoting up too, so she'll still be with kids she knows.  New classes are usually no big deal to her.  One thing I'm excited about are the Easy Lunchboxes I ordered.  It seems like I always send three or four small containers to daycare to hold her lunch and snacks.  These new containers have compartments, so I can separate things if needed.  I hope that I'll be able to plan her lunches better and maybe get some new ideas of foods to send with her.

My changes this week are about moving as well.  I've been transferred to a hospital that is right by our house.  It's the hospital where Mia was born, and it's only five minutes away.  I love the clinic I've been at for the last (almost) five years, but I guess nothing can stay the same forever.  Change can be good.  I'm excited about learning new things and getting to know people better.  I'm very happy to be closer to Mia's daycare.  If she needs me, I'm literally down the street.  I think this change will impact our family in a positive way, so I'm ready for it.

We've been having talks with Mia lately about listening.  Too many times we try to tell her not to do something, and she flashes that adorable grin at us.  It's hard not to smile back.  The other day, Mia took half of the clothes in her closet off of the hangers, and made two piles in the floor: one of hangers, and one of clothes (not to mention the fact that she had made a total mess of her room in general).  When I walked in her room, I started to tell her she shouldn't do that, but then I busted out laughing.  She helped me put them back on the hangers, and we talked about how she is not allowed to do that.  A couple of days later, she did it again.  I was more stern this time when I talked to her.  Yesterday, she did it again, so she had to sit on her bed in time out while I put all of the clothes away myself.  She cried and sniffled and wailed like it was the end of the world.  I know that time out doesn't work for all children, but Mia hates it.  It's usually effective.  I don't expect to have any more problems with her throwing clothes in the floor.

This pic is from the first day when it was actually funny.

Yesterday, Mia decided to climb up on the dining room table to play with her toys.  I told her that we don't sit on the table because that's where we eat.  She ignored me at first and pretended to talk on her cell phone.  This was another instance where I had to have a talk with my strong-willed girl about listening.

Today we tried to go outside and play, but it's still too hot.  After ten minutes, Mia said, "Mommy, I'm done."  I was, too.  I do better when it's in the 80s outside.  We played inside instead.  We did the usual:  reading books, playing with toys, watching a movie.  Mia likes to play with these stackable cups.  She's always really proud of herself when she's finished.  She says, "Look!  I made a tower!  It's like Perunzal's tower!"