You’d never know- MYTIME MAIL

44 Responses for "You’d never know- MYTIME MAIL"

1. Shelby July 19th, 2007 at 4:55 pm 1

   Well… I’m not a mother, so I *am* a great one! 😉

   The thing my mother always does that I will NEVER do is play the martyr. She did EVERYTHING, didn’t want to, never asked for help. Wore herself out. 🙁 I have definitely learned how to ask for help when I need it!

2. Melanie July 19th, 2007 at 5:07 pm 2

   I turned into the what did my mom do? and do the other thing! lol. One this she did was dress us the same usally the same dresses but not the same colours! So I said I would never dress our boys the same (or in dresses lol) But the other day I found these matching shirts and they looked sooo cute! my DH just rolls his eyes at me 🙂

3. Kirsten July 19th, 2007 at 5:22 pm 3

   Umm, yeah, my little “angel” just turned three, and it was like he just decided that it was time for him to start having some “special moments” of his own. He loves pushing the limits, and seeing how far much he can get away with. He’s also decided that he has opinions too, and it’s about time for him to start voicing them…again and again. Like Amber, he’s stinkin’ adorable with his big brown eyes and dimple, PLUS he’s very smart and stubborn. My challenge is to remain smarter and more stubborn than he is, and it is always a challenge! I also get much parental satisfaction from my small victories! So good for you, I say!
   One of my favorite quotes (I forget who from, but I want to say Mark Twain) is “give me 200 2 year olds (probably 150 3 year olds! :)), and I’ll conquer the world.” Or something like that – you get the gist! 😉

4. Denise Hall July 19th, 2007 at 5:30 pm 4

   My grandson was a headbanger if he did not get his way he would bang his head did not matter where it was or what he banged his head he about drove me crazy we ask every dr that we took him to about it and they told me he would out grow it. Guess what he did he is now 6

5. Trisha July 19th, 2007 at 5:31 pm 5

   My son just turned one. And sometimes he can be SO bad.. Well, he does things when you tell him no. He knows what no means but he will smile at you and do it anyway. So, like my mom used to do I say “If you do that one more time!!!!!” but with nothing after it or no real threat. My mom used to say this ALL of the time and I swore I never would because it was annoying and I hear myself saying it all of the time.. lol..

6. Allison July 19th, 2007 at 6:40 pm 6

   My son parents everything that I say…when he says it, he sounds like my mother. The other day his sister fell while doing something she knew was wrong. As clear as a bell, he channeled my mother (and therefore me), when he said “I have no sympathy for you”. OMG!

7. Tracy July 19th, 2007 at 6:50 pm 7

   OMG! I thought you were talking about my little one. Our “honey girl” as we call her is quite the little drama queen. I can’t tell you how comforted I am just reading your blog about this. And WOO-HOO! to you for winning. I hear ya. I feel like I win the worst mother of the year award ALL the time. EVERY time she acts up or doesn’t do what I ask her to do (which is all the time these days) I feel I’ve done something wrong in raising her. She can be a real brat! Did I just really say that? SEE? I am a terrible mom. All her preschool teachers tell me how sweet she is, how helpful she is when asked to clean up and how nuturing she is with the other kids. WHAT? Are you talking about my daughter? The one who will throw things at her bedroom door when she’s in time out? My favorite of all favorites is when she tells me I have to apologize to her for hurting her feelings and I say the same to her. She tells me, “well I’m just a little kid, mommy. You have to apologize.” I love her SO much.

8. Alexis R July 19th, 2007 at 7:03 pm 8

   I hear ya girl!! I thought 2 was bad but my 3 yo so woke one morning and decided that he was not going to listening!! Not we get the “But Mom,…..”, HE’S THREE. I told my DH the other day I can see why the second gets away with murder, you’re too tired to bother!! Mo mother tells me its pay back for being such a brat when I as growing up…if that’s the case my son better watch out when he has kids!!!! 🙂

9. Kristine July 19th, 2007 at 7:10 pm 9

   Oh my gosh, my Mom used to do the same thing…disgusting, she’d even spit on a napkin and then wipe off our faces…YUCK!!! One of my tantrum stories from my darling son, was in the check out line at the grocery store and of course, he felt he needed to have some of the candy that they so conviently place there. When I wouldn’t give in he got mad and swung his foot, it was winter, he had boots on and the boot went flying, right by the dear grey haired ladies head in front of us in line, I wanted to just crawl away, she just looked at me, smiled and said, It’s ok dear, I had three darling sons!

10. Nicole Ireland July 19th, 2007 at 7:25 pm 10

    As you know my sweet little 3 year old Kirsten, nickname “Godzilla” has me on edge most days!! Love her to pieces but she just has her own agenda and is determined to do whatever it is she wants. From sticking a screw in a light socket (luckily not getting hurt, she just thinks she invincible) to mastering the technique of being able to tear apart a room in 30 seconds. This lil’ monster can have me stressed and in tears one second and be belly laughing the next.
    How am I like my Mom and said I’d “never be”. I remember my Mom being all stessed out and angry because it was my b-day party & she was trying to “clean” and “prep” for it. I was upset and was like… big deal the house is a little messy. Well now…. I am a raving lunitic (not really.. but close;)) when I am preping for a party that “NOW” I get it.

11. Cuccicoo1002 July 19th, 2007 at 7:38 pm 11

    You’ve already heard lots of Shannon stories…she can be a real handful…what a great baby she was, but we’re definitely paying for it now!! 😉 She’s still pretty good, but when she’s bad…OH BOY!

    The thing that my Mom did that I’ll never do, is the finger licking thing…(although I will make Shannon lick my finger, and use her own spit (not that it’s much better…and now she’s catching on, so I can’t really do it anymore)) but she also used to use the kitchen sponge to wipe my face…… EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW. To this day, if my sponge starts to smell, in the garbage it goes, I’ve got permanent damage from that experience 😉 Although now I’ve found if I put the sponge through the dishwasher, it makes it all better….get a little more mileage from the sponges…

12. Kathy W July 19th, 2007 at 7:41 pm 12

    Hurray for you, Lauren, for hanging in there. It is so hard to make it through a tantrum (especially if you’re tired), but what your little one was giving you was negative behavior that you chose not to reward. She didn’t get the desired result (she may try again, but maybe not). When my son was little (now 19), he would run over and turn the channel on the t.v. to a “snowy station” then put the volume up loud whenever I was on the phone. This was in the days before cordless phones, and my phone wouldn’t reach to the t.v. and my son knew it. He didn’t like me on the phone. Instead of hanging up, I just excused myself from my conversation for a moment, and put him in his room in timeout. I don’t ever remember my mom doing this, but your story reminded me of this one because my son wanted me to hang up and give him my attention, and he didn’t get the results he was looking for. Thanks for the chance at more “my time” mail!

13. jodene July 19th, 2007 at 7:54 pm 13

    I can totally sympasize with you. My daughter is strong willed and I struggle between the getting her to behave more accordingly yet I don’t want to break her spirit. For I feel one day her desire to have it her way will take her far in todays society.

14. pegg July 19th, 2007 at 8:46 pm 14

    That is the best quote!
    It’s inevitable we become our Mothers for the good and the bad! I don’t have children yet, so I’m scared of what’s to come. I know that ideally we take the best of our moms and learn from their mistakes!!

    My Mom loves to feed people-that’s her joy. Growing up, she was always the one doling out food, whether you wanted it or not. She basically pushes food at you and will be upset if you don’t eat it and enjoy it. I couldn’t stand it growing up and now…. I find myself doing that when we have guests over for dinner. Of course my Grandmother is the same way. I just don’t know if I can shake it !!! 🙂

15. Cheryl Kelly-Van Domelen July 19th, 2007 at 9:31 pm 15

    Gosh, where should I start? My daughter is 2.5 years old and she has temper tantrums all the time. I feel like every time I leave the store, library, gym, pool, etc. she is always screaming. I have totally turned into my mother. My mom is all about cookies, ice cream and butter. I vowed that I would not feed my girl that horrible stuff. Well, now I’m using it as bribes. And it works, so I’m happy!

16. Sherrie July 19th, 2007 at 9:52 pm 16

    Good for you to be strong Lauren! That can be a tough phase, I remember 3’s then in the 4’s they learn to manipulate a bit better, so be wise to that! My mom used to always say, “Do I need to stop the car?” Not a huge threat till I discovered the consequences once, it only took once… Now I find myself using that line too, I have followed through….once….

17. Becky Kwan July 19th, 2007 at 10:17 pm 17

    So encouraging to hear words of wisdom from another mom “in the trenches” of raising young children! I have a 3 y/o DD and a 16 mo DS, so I totally understand the moments of “I suck at being a mother” and also “YES! I am SUPERmom!”, even when they are only moments apart from each other! Lately, the battle that I’ve chosen to fight is enforcing naptimes & bedtimes w/ my DD. She will use every tactic possible to avoid going to her bed. But I’ll tell her, “Nevertheless, it’s time to go to bed” and keep repeating it no matter what she throws at me. As long as I keep my cool, we’ll eventually get there! Also, I’ve learned that I’m a lot like my mom in temperament, especially when getting frustrated/angry at the kids. I find myself doing tons of “guilt trips” like my mom does, and I’m working at recognizing when it’s happening & trying to replace it with other tactics to get the kids to do what I want them to do!

18. Linzy Martins July 19th, 2007 at 10:23 pm 18

    Even though I don’t have any kids yet, a month ago my little cousins came to visit and I found myself taking care of them. When my brother and I were little and my mom took us to the park, we never wanted to leave ’cause we lived out in the country and didn’t get to go to the park very often. Mom’s response was always, “If you’re good, then maybe we’ll came back sometime.” I always HATED that response! When I took my little cousins to the pool and it was time to leave, I found myself saying, “Well, if you’re good, then maybe we can come back tomrrow.” Ack! Congrats on your victory! 😉
    Linzy

19. Brenda H. July 19th, 2007 at 10:58 pm 19

    My children are all grown up now, but I totally hear you Lauren! I remember when other Moms talked about the “terrible twos”…and I was patting myself on the back, cuz we breezed through the two’s! Then, they turned 3 and it was payback time! ‘Just remember that “this too shall pass”…eventually, they actually do grow up. Remember to hug your kids lots…they really do grow up too fast!
    Anyways, my Mom never let us wear jeans as kids (to this day, I’m not sure why??)….so when my daughter turned 6 months, I bought her the cutest little pair of jeans I could find! (‘Not quite the kind of story you wanted, but all I could think of right now…got to go pack for camping!)
    Brenda

20. Laura July 20th, 2007 at 12:01 am 20

    I only have 1 baby and she’s 1 1/2, so I’m sure I have plenty of these moments coming up. 🙂 The only thing I can think of at the moment is how much I have stopped caring about germs!! 🙂 Sure, I take care of the big stuff with hand-washing and obvious things, but I have stopped being nervous about her crackers falling on the floor or funny things she does to pick up normal kid germs. 🙂

21. Beth July 20th, 2007 at 4:10 am 21

    My youngest DD is 3 1/2 and with big blue eyes, long naturally curly hair and full pouty lips she definitely knows how to “work it.” Now everyone that has had the experience of parenting a 3 year old, is fully aware of how active they can be but my DD takes it to the next level. When people hear my husband, me, our family or close friends describe how active she is, they just brush it off saying ALL 3 year olds are active- then they meet her! She is known around town as “the tiny tornado.” A recent funny story is I caught her pouring all of my SU embossing powders on to the carpet making a “sandcastle.” Right as I walked in the room she was opening up my Dazzling Diamonds and getting ready to pour those in to the mix. I said, “Rachel, put those down, ” and her reply was “Mommy, I just CAN’T put down the sparkles!” I couldn’t get mad because goodness only know I love “sparkles” too and knew exactly how she felt! So I had her “help” me clean up the mess hoping to teach a lesson (yah, right)! Needless to say, I still wouldn’t trust her with my “sparkles.”

22. Denise C July 20th, 2007 at 5:02 am 22

    I always swore I would NEVER do the “finger licking” to my kids. I would seriously want to vomit when my mom did it to me. So far I have stuck to that – I have a serious spit aversion! I don’t even want the dog or cat to lick me!!! I am sure there are countless other horrible ways I have turned into my mother – no one has been “nice” enough to point it out to me yet. As far as tantrums go…My oldest (now 10) hated being put in time out, well what kid doesn’t? To get me back wherever time out happened to be he would decide that he was going to go to the bathroom (number 1 and 2 sometimes!) I finally got smart and put him in timeout in the bathroom. My youngest is now 6 but he is really has a true talent for manipulations and tantrums. I am amazed at how stubborn he is. But then again, I remember sitting at the dinner table well into the bedtime hour absolutely REFUSING to eat even one bite off of my plate.

23. Aimee July 20th, 2007 at 7:30 am 23

    I fell your pain… My 3yr old dd is so working the baby formate… Yes I have turned into my mother. I find myself always yelling at my kids to be quietin the card and I find myself repeating her famous words…” wait til I get you home.”

    love your work… TFS.

24. Angel July 20th, 2007 at 7:35 am 24

    I love reading your mom stories…they are great. And my kids are nearly raised..last one is my 16 y/o DD. My mom never backed my dad so it was a split between them for my brother especially (He came 10 yrs later). I swore I would back my DH. I wish he would back me more though. 🙂 Great giveaway, lauren!

25. My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence » And the Winner…… July 20th, 2007 at 7:57 am 25

    […] winner for MYTIME MAIL will be posted Sunday-so get […]

26. Barb Barton July 20th, 2007 at 8:13 am 26

    Oh my Lauren. Could I every load you up with the stories!!! Having raised 3 kids and currently raising a 3 year old grandson, I have a ton of them!!! But, I agree with you, I think the worst is the licking a finger and wiping of the face!!!! I swore I’d NEVER do that to my children and to this day I haven’t!!! But, I dis lick the finger and try to fix a calic in their hair!!! Guess when you really think about it, there’s not much difference!!!
    I love reading your stories of the little ones. You have such a way with words!!!

27. Debbie Yates July 20th, 2007 at 8:32 am 27

    Congrats on making it through the tantrum – it is a victory! My greatest achievement is being Gramma to 11 – they all have very distinct personalities – and tantrums – we have a couple of drama princesses and princes – a couple of clowns (you know the kind – laugh and joke with you and all the time they are planning their next adventure) some whiners, some pouters, some happy – but all mine!! And they are all treasures in my heart and true gifys from God!

    I love your blog – keep up the great work!

28. Mandy Cheshire July 20th, 2007 at 10:56 am 28

    I have a 14-month-old little boy, and I have to agree with you….the finger-licking trick! I have done it ONCE…..hey, it was an emergency!!…but quickly realized what I had done and won’t do it again! That just seems so gross…Eww!

29. Holly July 20th, 2007 at 12:33 pm 29

    You did the right thing in waiting out her tantrum; congratulations! My kids always seemed to throw tantrums in the grocery store. I don’t know what it is about those places that bring out the worst in kids. I saw a sight the other day at my local wal mart. A little boy around the age of ELEVEN was crying at the checkout because his mom wouldn’t buy him something and he was whining and saying please over and over and she kept saying no and he pushed her stomach really hard and said “I’ll scream in your ear really loud if you don’t let me have it!” All of the people around her were shocked at his behavior. Something tells me she gave into his tantrums when he was three.

30. Laura Sneden July 20th, 2007 at 2:08 pm 30

    Well, Lauren, my mom always said, “Don’t make that face. Your face might freeze like that.” I’ve gotten all modern and shallow I guess. I almost said that to Caleb the other day, but instead I said, “Don’t do that. You’ll need botox.”

31. Lori M July 20th, 2007 at 3:21 pm 31

    Good for you Lauren! It is not easy at all to stick to your guns by any means, but if you do, it will get easier! My youngest now 15, still hates to hear no and will continually bug me or ask “why”, after a while you are seasoned at it and it doesn’t matter, it just rolls off your back. I usually give him the look and say “Jake”, he then gets it and says ok.
    I was a single mom when my two oldest were very young. It wasn’t a big deal when they misbehaved at the laundry mat, we could just pack up and go, but at the grocery store, oh boy! I threatened, and they misbehaved (2 and 3 at the time) and off to the car and home we went. Then they had to spend some time in the corner. Didn’t take long at all for that to stop!
    Thanks for the chance to win Lauren! I love love love the cloud template and cannot find one anywhere!

32. Kacey July 20th, 2007 at 4:43 pm 32

    Way to hang in there Lauren! I totally agree with you, sorry hubby, but you must set a precedence! Thankfully, my mom was a pretty good mother; I can’t really remember much about anything she did that I wouldn’t do. However, I am more like my father when I would so much rather be like my mom! He would tell us to do something, and if you ever questioned him his age-old reply would be “because I said so!” I always said I would give my kids a reason for whatever I asked them to do. But I catch myself saying that same old thing, “because I said so, and that’s that!” UGH!

33. Cathy July 20th, 2007 at 5:30 pm 33

    Well I couldn’t resist this sweet mytime mail. So I guess I am going to have to tell you something that I would never do that mom did.
    I would have to say giving in. When you are at a store and of course it would be at a time when it is really crowded. They want something and you say no. Big mistake! Then they do that screaming, fall down and start a scene and at that point you just want to die! Well I usually give in, but I hold them firm and give my little speech in their ear. When we get in the car and all the way home they hear my speech over and over again. Oh I don’t give the item to them when we get home until they understand what they did wrong. They have to tell me what they did wrong. Thanks for a chance.

34. Selina July 20th, 2007 at 6:40 pm 34

    I don’t really have any tantrum stories either because I have been really blessed, they have never had the full out tantrums (thank goodness!) And the one thing I always hated hearing was “because I said so” and I never thought I’d do that – but I say it ALL the time.

35. Patty July 21st, 2007 at 6:35 am 35

    When my son was 3 yrs. old he threw a huge tantrum in the grocery store. He wanted something off the shelf that we had to tell him “No” to. Well he didn’t like our answer and threw himself on the floor and started kicking his feet and hitting his fists against the floor, demanding what his way.
    My DH and I had agreed before this happened that we would not acknowledge him during his tantrums. So after a couple of attempt to get him to his feet and to stop the tantrum, only failed and made him more determinded to have his way.
    We pushed our shopping cart to the next isle where he could not see us, but we COULD see him at all times. He screamed louder, stopped looked around for us, then started up again. It took a few minutes and he stopped and went to look for us. Lucky for us, the store was almost empty that day, very few customers.
    He attempted this type of tantrum a few more times as he was growing up and would always get the same reaction from us. He just quit acting that way.

36. Elaine July 21st, 2007 at 11:56 am 36

    OMG….I don’t even remember what my kids did. Maybe I am blocking it all from memory! LOL My son was easy – he’d go to the grocery store and want something – so I’d let him pick it up look at it all while we shopped through the store and on the way to the check out I’d tell him it’s time to say bye-bye to the toy (or whatever)…and we’d put it back. These were just the cheapo packaged toys at the store mind you…he was too easy!

37. My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence » Saturday Sketch-A Little Happy Dance (MORE MYTIME MAIL) July 21st, 2007 at 5:42 pm 37

    […] dont miss THIS! The winner for that will be drawn tomorrow […]

38. Kendra - SCS:apigonfire July 21st, 2007 at 8:27 pm 38

    I am a mother to on average 26 kids! 🙂 Try that! LOL

    Anyways, I am like a big ol’ mother and do you know what I started doing? I started snapping my fingers followed by the pointing finger. Oh… I disliked that. But, no, I do it.
    Congrats on your small victory!
    Hugs,
    Kendra

39. Jackie W. July 21st, 2007 at 9:08 pm 39

    When I was in 4th grade my mom made me wear my Girl Scout uniform to school for picture day! I was mortified, and it didn’t make it any better when my classmates said, “Jackie, it’s not uniform day!”. I still hate looking at that school picture. I haven’t done anything like that to my daughter – wasn’t even tempted! Thanks for the goodies!

40. #1VOLUNTEER July 21st, 2007 at 10:41 pm 40

    I always bragged on my daughter for her curiosity and told her that is how you learn, by asking questions. OMG, I wish I had NEVER said that! She’s 7 and intelligent and she does NOT STOP asking questions. I just want to say, “Please, I will pay you if you don’t ask me anything else today.” I do my best to answer and if I don’t know we “ggogle” it. (We google ALOT! LOL) One time I said, “Do you have to answer everything with a question?” Answer: “But, Mommy, you said curiosity is a gift and that is how you learn. Don’t you want me to learn?” Prepare yourself now. It does not get easier! By the way, I DO love her!

41. Linda SS July 22nd, 2007 at 12:47 am 41

    My mom would always threaten to “tell our dad” on us when he came home from work if we don’t behave. I was scared to death of him because of these threats. One day I found myself telling my son that I’d “tell his dad” and realized right after that I was turning into my mother:) I never did it again. In all honesty though, other than that one complaint, I have a wonderful mother & stride to be even half the woman she is.

42. My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence » Mytime Mail winner July 22nd, 2007 at 7:59 am 42

    […] this is what you won! Email me with your address […]

43. Sarah July 22nd, 2007 at 1:49 pm 43

    Wow, Lauren- temper tantrums and all that jazz. Yup. Had my share. My first child was a tough cookie (still is at 22!). I promise you it will pass, or at least get to a “liveable” stage. But some years they have you thinking they could kill you with stress and frustration. Hang in there. And NEVER let her break you. You always have to go just one minute longer. You did it before and you can do it again. And again. And again, LOL! Seriously, being as good a Mom as you are, you have nothing to worry about!
    Good thing my next three children were all quite good. But my third who is now 13 is starting to show who he “thinks” is boss. That won’t last long! He’s just like my DH was at his age so he knows all the angles and will keep him on track! But these are trying times, that’s for sure! And my youngest is an absolute angel. Maybe it is because she is autistic and does not “get” the social stuff- both good and bad! She’s very challenging, but for reasons that are beyond her control. So I can handle that. She is 12 years old now, but has never “pushed my buttons”. Good thing, because at my age I don’t think I would have the energy to deal with it otherwise!
    As for the “like my Mother” stuff….Well, I can’t believe how much I have “become my Mother”! I vowed I would never!
    I was very rebellious as a teenager. Maybe in an attempt to find out “who” I really was. I went in the total opposite direction from her.
    Now, I am “all grown up” and the mother of four- just as she was- plus I now have a new SIL, too. And I can NOT get over how often I catch myself doing things she used to do or saying things she used to say. My sister and I catch each other at it and laugh over it and say to each other: “AHHHH! You’re being MOM”!
    Well, I am my Mother’s daughter and I am now VERY proud of it! 🙂

44. bessieheav July 24th, 2007 at 4:52 pm 44

    I have 17 yr old twin boys and my DH and I have never yell at them. My line has always been “are you sensing my frustration here”…they knew they were in trouble then. I still use that line now!