Thursday
I am feeling pretty good right now because my kids are asleep, my house is picked up and I just watched survivor. I am disapointed that Danielle and Bruce didn't go with Terry and Sally though. Does anyone else feel a secret shame that they watch these silly shows like survivor and the apprentice and american idol? Sometimes I'm emmbarrassed to admit that I watch survivor. I don't know why, it isn't evil or anything, just silly. This afternoon I felt like I was going a little stir crazy and I needed to get away from my little darlings. It is difficult when I feel that way because I don't know who to call so I can run out for an hour. Sometimes I dream that someone(I know and trust) would show up at my door and say, "I just felt that you needed some time off, go out for a while and I'll watch the kids!" But anyway, I finally decided that it was worth six dollars to get out of here for a while and I called a former student of mine to come watch the kids for an hour. If you don't have kids than I can't make you understand what it means to leave your house with no diaper bag or children. It takes 2 minutes to get out the door instead of twenty. I went shopping at goodwill. It was wonderful and I found a Winnie the Pooh blanket for Emma and a nice copy of Little Men which I highly recommend if you haven't read it. I can't wait until my kids are older and we can read those books together. I want to play Mrs. Shakespear-smith with Emma. Tomorrow Josh is playing a gig in Geneva and the kids and I are going to Oneida to visit my Aunt Linda (Marcia's sister). I'm looking forward to it because Emma will have a playmate all day who is older and bigger and therefore I won't have to protect said playmate from her exuberance. Poor baby Kate struggled with Emma's enthusiasm for her today. I have two poll questions I would like to ask tonight if it isn't too personal. (If it is than ignore me please) The first is how much does your family spend on groceries per month? My budget says $250, but I spend more like $275. I feel like it keeps going up and up, and my kids keep eating more and more. It's shocking how much milk and cheese and fruit we go through around here. The second is how much TV do your kids watch. I am afraid to admit that mine watch at least 1 hour of videos each day. They don't watch regular TV because we only get three channels. I find that it is hard to fill a whole day with a toddler without it. If anyone has ideas for activities for two year olds pass them along.
posted by Liz @ 6:01 PM
7 Comments:
Food: we spend $225/month, but we also get WIC, which makes a huge difference because of all the milk, cheese, juice, eggs, peanut butter, cereal, etc. that it provides. It IS amazing to see how much more food you plow through with toddlers. I never would have thought they would eat so much!
TV: I'm with you on feeling badly about the amount the kids watch. I usually let them turn on PBS at 11am for an hour because that's often a "lose it" time for me. It helps to have something that occupies them so I can nurse Jackson, make lunch, etc without breaking up fights! Thank goodness those shows aren't on Sat & Sun, because it forces them both (and me!) to go without.
I don't know if Emma is old enough to really enjoy things like playdough or coloring, but I've found that I can set Gabriel up at the table with stuff like that when I need to separate the kids long enough to get some things done around the house. He especially loves those Crayola finger paint sets that are mess-free, and so do I as they're just that!
The good news is that Emma will start playing better on her own soon, too. If you spend some regular time "teaching" her to play by getting on the floor and pretending (both Daniel and I did this a lot with Gabriel using Little People), she'll begin learning how to do it on her own. Gabriel still has a long way to go when it comes to entertaining himself, but he's a lot better than he used to be--mostly because his imagination is developing more and more everyday. The really great part is that now he's teaching Bronwyn the same things, just by example.
This probably doesn't help much... but I figured I'd respond to your questions as best as I can. And if you get any great inspiration about less TV and creative play, please share! :)
- For a food budget, I have to agree with Brietta that we get WIC and that takes a big chunk out. But we also eat a lot of meat and chicken. I'd say on an average month (our budgets are more weekly than monthly due to Josh's business) we spend between $250 and $300. That sounds like a lot but we also have to buy all Alyssa's milk, which is $4.50 a half gallon. We've started shopping at BJ's twice a month and over the next few weeks I'll be able to tell if it saves up money.
- As for TV... we have satellite so my girls watch it a little in the mornings and a little around 5, while i'm getting dinner going. And sometimes around lunchtime if I'm feeling a meltdown coming on. Lael is very into being a grown-up right now and its extrememly challenging. She has a hard time using her imagination to play with toys but can imagine in dress-up clothes quite easily. Alssa is the opposite and can pretend and play with anything. My only suggestion for creative play would be getting dress-up clothes. Even some of your old button-up shirts, or stuff from goodwill, would keep Emma occupied for awhile, i think. With a tea set, some crackers and a few dolls you can play with her a few times and she will be off on her own before you know it. She might be a little too young but I think she would catch on fast. Does she like playing with dolls? My girls like those little diaper bag kits you can get at Walmart for around $5. They get really into playing with all the dolls if we get those bags organized for them to play with - especially with real wipes. Keeping the pieces together can be a challenge but its worth it. And crayons, playdough (which you can make very easily) or finger paints (we like the crayola no-mess ones as well) are all great ideas that both the girls have enjoyed.
Wow, that was long. But I hope it helps!
I thought of one more... what about blanket tents? My girls are in one right now looking at books and putting their babies to sleep. I used to make them for Lael and let her have picnics in them, even when she was Emma's age. Just a thought!
Okay, I can't help with the TV thing, but I think your grocery budget is amazing!! I am all alone, just feeding me and the cats and I spend $160.00 or more every 2 weeks. So, you spend less than me in a month to feed an entire family - way to go! :)
can I comment on my own blog??? You guys are awesome! I'm excited to try all these ideas! I need to go shopping for all the supplies. I love blogging!
Ditto on all the above ideas. Great stuff.
As for TV -- I always thought we would get by with no TV, and of course it can be done as history has proved, but an hour or two late in the afternoon as that bewitched hour of dinner prep approached I found more than helpful. Downright useful it was -- gotta love PBS right about then!
I found that as we read different books with fun characters, especially set in certain time periods, they began playing those people. A fun bonnet, an apron, a pretty dress with shawl -- they will go a long way. I know Emma is young but in no time these things will capture her imagination, especially if fueled with continued ideas from reading and choice videos. Play along for a few minutes to help set it up and then she will be off and running. It may be a bit old for her, but soon she will be doing these things.
What fun for all you young moms. I know that days can get long and tedious, but oh, what fun memories can be made and treasured by mom and kids. Truly priceless days!
I don't have any insightful knowledge for you, considering I don't have little ones. Yet, I just wanted to say THANK YOU! for asking such question... you're not only attaining some great wisdom for yourself, but you're also letting people like myself glean from all this for my future as a mother. Thanks Liz!
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