Helping Little Ones Beat the Heat

Yesterday and today have been hot and humid! I tolerate heat pretty well up through the nineties then I had better cool down. Poor Miss T. loves to be outside but turns flushed, sticky, and not up to much quick. Since her parents haven't yet caught up with the quick change of temperature little Miss T. is still without a kiddie pool to chill out in.

My solution is to find some shade (either in the shadow of the house itself, under a tree, or even in the garage), a bucket of cool water, and anything child safe from which water can be poured. With these meager tools plus some drinking water for the two of us Miss T. has been cooled down and entertained for hours on end these past two days. I dress her in something that can get wet and let her splash and pour to her heart's content. She waters her own head as much as she waters the flowers with her little watering can filled and re-filled from her bucket. At the hottest part of the day I put the bucket at a step for her to sit down and dip and kick her feet in it.

With other families I've used the bathtub as a kiddie pool. I even let the kids put on their bathing suits to get in the tub with tepid water. With three or fewer kids these methods work great and use up a lot less water than running a sprinkler continuously.

A water-play bucket can even be used in conjunction with a sprinkler if there are older kids and younger kids playing in the same area. Children two and under are often afraid of a larger body of water and may not like the cold spray of a sprinkler. A bucket of water is also more easily adjusted in temperature. Most kids like it cool but not cold.

A few bath toys and plastic cups are plenty. Miss T. loves a mixing bowl and measuring cups to make "soup."

Just a few tips for safe water play:

• Never leave a child unattended with even a small amount of water.
• If you use your regular cleaning bucket make sure it is thoroughly rinsed free of any residue of cleaning products even if you use natural, non-toxic ones. It may be easier to simply get them their own bucket from the dollar store.
• Play water gets dirty fast so I discourage children from trying to drink it. Keep a sippy cup with drinking water handy and if it is still a problem give them slotted spoons and sieves rather than cups.
• I also discourage standing in the water bucket or running around with wet feet, both are fast ways to get a good boo-boo.
  
• Dress in something you don't mind getting wet too. You will get wet! If your weather is like mine here in VA you'll find a way to get wet!!

Have fun!

Photp by: http://flickr.com/photos/mydailycommute/40893069/

Grilled Cheese Two Ways

My honey, K., and I have very different ideas about some things. My mom raised me on whole wheat bread only. She actually told me white bread was rat poison! His mom is a classic New England Yankee with a strict preference for "good, white bread," such a Pepperidge Farms Country White. Our ideas about good food are sometimes different to say the least!

On Fridays K. works from home and I have a half-day. Its become a little tradition to have a simple grilled cheese lunch and then a really nice dinner. Of course, with our varied upbringings we can't have the same grilled cheese! So out comes the long griddle and breads from the freezer. I keep bread in the freezer unless it will be used the same day it's opened. I also keep a bag in the freezer for the ends to toast them up and blitz them in the blender for bread crumbs as needed.

His is a solid white (although don't tell him I've been sneaking in some of those whole grain whites made by Arnold's and Pepperidge Farms). Mine is a 100% whole grain, multi-grain bread. His gets buttered on one side each slice. Mine gets grilled dry. We both get American cheese. ;)

He likes his with bread and butter pickles on the side. I love mine with a mug of Cambell's tomato soup, sprinkled with freshly ground black peppers and, sometimes, slivers of fresh basil. In this way we share a lunch we both really enjoy!

Itchy Fingers

When I was in high school I was an avid Victoria magazine reader. I loved first going through it and savoring it page by page but then the next order of business was to pull out my trusty scissors to carefully snip away images for decoupage and decorating my journal! Now years later those same issues are collector's items going for good money on eBay.

Believe me, I know this for a fact because I very recently shelled out the cash to purchase a "good year."

Now that I have them in my hand I don't regret it one bit! They are just as lovely as I remember!! This time, however, I am using all my self discipline to resist the temptation of decoupage.

I won't completely despair. My sweet Victoria is coming back soon. This time I may have to order two subscriptions in case the unthinkable should happen again. I will be cutting up at least one set if they come out as full of lovely images again!

A Super Yummy Lunch

I had the crock-pot going yesterday with something Miss T. could have for lunch today. It came out so well I thought I may as well share it :)

Smothered Crock-pot Chicken

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/2 a small bag baby carrots or 3 regular carrots peeled and cut into 1 in. chunks
2 stalks celery diced small
1 med. onion cut into 1/2 moons
1 large, fresh tomato and its juice(or 1 small can diced tomatoes)
1 tsp. salt
black pepper
dried thyme, basil, marjoram, parsley
extra virgin olive oil

Rinse chicken thoroughly in water with a splash of vinegar (any kind of vinegar will do) and pick off any visible fat. Pour a light layer (approximately 1/2-1 T) of olive oil in the bottom or your crockpot and put the thighs down in a layer at the bottom.

Sprinkle in 1/2 the salt and season lightly with pepper and the other seasonings.

Layer in the veges and sprinkle the other half of the salt on top. Season top with pepper and the other seasonings also. The veges will provide plenty of liquid for this dish but it can be handy to have a 1/2 cup of chicken broth on hand if your crockpot does not seal well and retain its moist heat.

Cook in high for 6 hours or low for 8-10. The chicken and veges will be fall apart tender which is great for little kids.

Serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Christian Love

A really great post concerning Paris Hilton is here at A Gracious Home. I'm not a fan of Miss Hilton but neither am I a fan of the hatred I have seen spewed out at her via the internet. Sally of A Gracious Home has shown such a great example of an appropriate Christian response to the tragedy Miss Hilton is facing these days. I truly hope something positive comes out of her imprisonment for her. After all, God loves her as much as he does me and commands us all to love her as ourselves.

Heavenly Father,
I ask you to please bring home Your lost sheep. Humble our hearts to look beyond outward appearances and see ourselves in Your lost ones. Let us serve them for Your glory.

I pray for Miss Hilton, Lord. Please, be her Comforter in these dark hours she is facing. Let her come to know You and be a witness to Your grace in her life. may she find the joy and peace only You can provide.

In Jesus' name I ask these things, Amen

I'm Baaaaaack!

Not that I suspect anyone is reading, LOL. As a quick update, mom is doing well. She is so strong and is coping with all the changes that have come her way during her battle. It is scary whenever something comes up but so far each trial has been overcome. Thank God!

I am feeling that my work with Miss T. may be coming to a close. I am at odds with the parenting style of my employers. I am authoritative they are permissive. I don't criticize employers who have a style at odds with mine but this one in particular is difficult to deal with. This combination undermines my authority and makes working with them at home unpleasant. They are often at home which adds to the situation but it is irritating to have the lessons I work with Miss T. on during the day undone each night. Lessons such as not hitting, listening when spoken to, and being helpful I believe are very important at this tender age of two. Things become very unpleasant indeed when these are ignored.

There is also an issue of being directly undermined because Miss T. has learned to cry very loudly if at all corrected when Mom and Dad are home because this way she is sure to get whatever it was that was formerly forbidden or get away from whatever she was being encouraged to do, such as toy clean-up. This kind of giving in to crying is a sure formula for ensuring she will consistently cry for things and eventually tantrum for them. It always shocks me when parents virtually train their kids to be criers and whiners by not simply letting "yes" mean "yes" and "no" mean "no." When Miss T. and I are are alone together she is a joy. She knows whatever reward I tell her she will get she does but doing good things. She knows the limits even when she tests them she is easily redirected with a word or a nod. But the rest of the time there is no consistency, "yes" means "maybe" and "no" means "yes, if you cry hard enough."

But, leaving is such a hard thing for me. I get anxious as to how the children will cope with loss and change. Parents ofter develop sudden separation anxiety too. I give a month of notice for adequate time to find a replacement and a month can feel like a very LOOOONG time when there is tension.

I am very picky about the families I will work with but I think I am looking for a change in career. I have wanted to explore teaching on a formal level for a while so this is the direction I will try to go in. Until the day I have my own kiddies or until my love wants me to stay home full time I will find some decent work to do. We are saving for a home so it is pretty important for me to work right now.

God bless you, everyone!