It’s the Monday after New Year’s, which means the kids have been out of school, we’ve been out of work, the holiday foods have been in ample supply, as have the attempts to diet and set new goals. All in all, it’s a struggle of a day. So, allow me to start your week off on a lighter note, with some divine wisdom I’ve gleaned from my 15 month old…
Hide and Giggle: Whenever my daughter makes a stinky in her diaper, gets her hands on the car keys or my jewelry, or perhaps fills our shower with cotton balls, she always has the exact same reaction. She finds a corner, a really tight corner mind you, and she sits there and giggles. It’s either behind her rocking chair (where we can’t reach her), behind a door (that she’s learned to shut in our face, by the way), or wedged between the couch and the wall (also a spot where we can’t reach her). So, if you find work or getting your kids out the door, or just life in general, to be a little too much today, just grab your coffee (or wine, no judgements here) and head to a tight spot where no one can reach you.
Ugh, the cuteness!
Just Say No:
“Lottie, are you ready to go nigh-night?”
No.
“Lottie, please have a bite of your green beans.”
No.
“Lottie, can mommy have a kiss?”
No.
“Lottie, give mommy that permanent marker, please.”
No. And proceeds to haul her diapered buns to a corner.
Try it.
Collapse and Cry: We all know how this one goes. The old throw your body onto the floor and wail like someone has destroyed your faith in humanity. This can be an effective strategy in avoiding most obligations today that you just can’t muster up the energy for. For example, Lottie has managed to perfect the collapse and cry if she doesn’t want to play with me, if she does want to play with me and I didn’t get the memo, if I offer her milk and she CLEARLY doesn’t want it, if I set her down to make lunch, or if I just generally look at her the wrong way. Don’t over use this one, however. We all know too many collapse and cry’s ends up in a battle of “ignore the behavior and it will stop,” and then you will have to take more drastic measures.
Play Hard to Get: My daughter has seemed to really pick up on new people. If she hasn’t seen a family member or friend in a while, she’s much wearier now than she’s ever been. This sometimes results in crying and clinging to mama or dada for dear life. But, in some instances, this is where she implements the lucrative, effective game of playing hard to get. Her strategy is mostly to just mean mug until the said person gives her an m&m or a new book. But sometimes, she goes a step further, and holds her gaze until they crack, causing songs to break out, hand motions to be over the top, or even, as pictured below, the entire family holding “SOOO Big” until the first crack of a smile begins breaks out on her face. This is a powerful tactic my friends, use with caution.
Try some hugs or kisses: Okay, am I the only one who just turns to pudding when my kid rests her little head against my shoulder or leans in to give me a kiss? Honestly, the other day she peed on her bedroom floor and unrolled all the toilet paper in the hall bath and spit yogurt in my face (Who was supervising this child, by the way…). But then she toddled over to me with this huge smile on her face and collapsed into my arms with a delighted squeal, and my heart exploded. And isn’t that how it always goes? The little chaotic moments they create are NOTHING when you get to snuggle them and know you’re such a huge part of their little world.
Now, this strategy is a little harder to implement as an adult. I’m not sure your boss would appreciate hugs and kisses instead of the report you were supposed to have done. In fact, definitely not, there’s HR violations for that. So, we’ll just leave that one to the littles.
From our little family to yours, Happy 2016. I hope your year starts off with giggles and hugs and so much excitement for what’s in store!
XOXO,
Ali Hofmeyer
This post was written by Amber’s sister-in-law, Ali. For more real life moments from Ali, follow her on Instagram: @alihofmeyer.
P.S. For more reflections on parenthood and life, follow us on Facebook (Hun Let’s Run) and on Instagram: @ambermariekuiper and @jakekuiper! We’d also love for you to subscribe to our Hun, Let’s Run Podcast! For more info about joining our fitness community as a customer or coach, please email us at amber@mommysmetime.com!
