Social media - Are we too connected?

So I conducted a little social experiment (and maybe lost a few facebook friends).  For just one hour I changed my status on Facebook to "Exciting news...Guess What?"

I knew I'd get a reaction and a handful of comments guessing baby news. What I got was a virtual facebook riot. Literally.  In just 30 minutes I received 8 texts, 55 comments, and a phone call from my mother asking if I was pregnant. Wow. In 30 minutes. That's almost 2 comments every minute, friends were putting their lives on hold to hear news from me. Dishes unwashed, children waiting to go to bed. I was completely overwhelmed.  We're so connected in our society that in just minutes my friends, acquaintances and family were pulled into my life.

I think this intense level of connectedness makes some people uneasy.  The thought that your private information could easily be spilled to so many people with very little effort makes a lot people want to protect themselves.  If a simple status of "Guess What??" can trigger a flurry of comment, texts and phone calls imagine what could happen if someone were to target you.  Our lives are intertwined so much so that I can't even imagine my life before these social networks existed.

The social media world has made me feel connected. I feel connected to my community, my family and friends. I've developed friendship with people that I barely know in real life, but have found commonalities with online. I feel as though I actually know the businesses I frequent, they have a personality and a story. I've connected with so many online friends and learned so from people that I will never meet. I think that's pretty incredible.

The conclusion I came to about this facebook experiment was that I'm happy all those people wanted to know my news.  I know if I was announcing bad news (which I've had to do in the past) those same people would do just about anything to help me get through it.  Maybe in this case it was overwhelming.  But most of the time I feel as though my facebook friends as well as my momstown friends are just widening my support network that is so important to me.  

And I guess I should formally apologize to my poor facebook friends who hung on for an hour while I tested my theory.  Thanks for not unfriending me : )

I locked my child in the car...and other mommy mistakes.

-Jon Rogers

After thousands of trips in and out of the car with kids, I've finally locked my child in. After buckling my daughter in her carseat I close the door and realize it's locked, I frantically run from door to door like this will be the one and only time my doors malfunction. Nope. No miracle this time. Dammit. 

Alright now what? Hmm...well she's four maybe I can get her to unbuckle herself? I plead with her. She finds this very amusing. Apparently the more I try the funnier it gets. Not going to happen. Next I call my husband. We don't have an extra set of keys so he can't help me. I was secretly hoping he turned into a locksmith overnight. No such luck. He tells me to call someone.

 "Oh hello Mr. Locksmith, yes, what time can you be here? TOMORROW?!? Umm nope that won't work." Ok calm down, I'm starting to lose it now and my daughters amusement turns to worry. I call every other locksmith in town, two could come

immediately, I basically make them race. Whoever gets here first gets my money. The guy shows up and takes 2 seconds to open the door. He attempts to make me feel better as I try to explain the situation "The car must have done this on it's own, I swear I'm not a bad mom." In hindsight this seems like a ridiculous thing to justify, even if I were a bad mom there would be no purpose in locking my kids in a car. Basement, yes. Car, no. 

After the doors are open my daughter says "mommy please don't lock me in the car again." Insert guilt here. Sorry Isla I can't promise it won't happen again but I'll try my best. Driving home I think about every other time I've done something that resulted in this tailspin of mommy guilt. Considering there was no physical damage I realize this is at the bottom of my list of mommy mistakes. We've all done things like this. So why do we beat ourselves up when they happen? I'm coming clean with my top 3 mommy mistakes, please don't judge. Actually, feel free to post your own; I know you've all got some. 

1) I pierced my daughters nipple. You may ask how does one pierce a child's nipple by accident? The metal soother clip we thought was clipped to her sleeper apparently was also attached to her nipple. Ouch. After 10 minutes of her crying we realized what happened. It broke the skin and everything. OMG. 

2) My daughter pooped out a dime (at her first day at her dayhome) The dayhome providers exact words were "I just thought you should know she pooped out a dime, is this normal?" Umm, yes coins are a regular part of her diet, tomorrow you can expect to see a penny, it's yours for the taking. 

3) Not securing my child into her car seat. Driving around town for almost an hour when all of sudden she starts freaking out because apparently I didn't do up her buckles...Oops. There are so many things on my mind it's a wonder they are fully clothed when we leave the house! 

This list could be much longer, I don't even want to count how many times they've tumbled off a couch or bed. Or all the times I've bumped their heads off walls, door frames, etc. Considering locking my child in a car for 45 minutes doesn't even make it into my top 3 mommy mistakes, I'm going to let myself off the hook for this one. I hope you can all come clean and let go of the guilt it's just not worth hanging onto and there's probably a reason they don't remember much till they're 5 anyhow : )

momstown membership - for the working mom too!

We've heard there's a silly little rumour that momstown is only for stay at home moms and we think it's time to settle this once and for all!  Did you know that we are in fact, working moms ourselves?  Both momstown Edmonton South owners work out of the home and can appreciate that working moms want to do fun things with the kids on their time off! momstown is a lifestyle and we've got something for everyone!

Here's what's available to our 9-5 moms with a momstown membership!

1. Message Board - this is the best place to get to know other local moms.  We talk about everything,  this is a supportive environment where you can ask questions, chat and get advice! I'll warn you though - it's addictive.  Our members check the momstown message board as often as they check facebook - yep, that's a lot.


2. Fun Family Events - momstown hosts holiday events from Mother's Day to Christmas and everything in between we have great events to bring the whole family out together!

3. Scholastic Children's Book Club - We meet at Chapters on a Saturday to read a story, have a snack and do a draw for a free book, courtesy of Scholastic Canada!


4. Junior Chef - Once a month we bake a special treat to go along with our theme for the month. This month we made adorable Cinnamon Polar Bears for our Winter Wonderland theme!


5. Big Cook - We've got it down to a science! Working moms need big cook meals more than anyone! After a busy day at work it's exhausting to come home and plan a big meal - we meet for a few hours and go home with up to 24 meals ready to go!


6. Working Girl's Lunch - We need to have a little fun on the weekdays too! The first wednesday of the month we meet for a lunch downtown.


7. Discounts -  We've got tons of discounts both nationally and locally, they change on a monthly basis so check back regularly!


8. Sports Saturday - we go skating, to an indoor playground or something else fun and active for the kids to run, jump & play!


9. Mompreneur Networking Night - From accounting to social media we've got a topic for you, we meet for coffee and learn from speakers and from each other!


10. Mom's night out! Meet those lovely mama's you've been talking to online for a delicious meal, a movie, a book club, bowling or anything in between! We've got at least two evening events a month for you to have some adult time with moms just like you!

Don't forget about our sister sites at momstown.ca there are
craft ideas, recipes and contests available at your fingertips anytime!

 At $45.00 a year - there is no better value!

Click here to start your 1 month free trial!



The day my toddler turned into a cat

A few short weeks ago my sweet toddler was easy going. Anything mommy wanted her to do she went right along. It was fun to put a hat on, have her diaper changed or eat her supper. She was a little bit on the slobbery side, somewhat clumsy too. She reminded me of a little puppy, easy to please, easy to love.

My cute cuddly puppy turned into a cat overnight.


My darling toddler has learned the word no. She says it loud and proud. Time for boots? That's a good reason to run. Needs a hat on? She can twist and turn her head so fast I end up just lunging for the nearest round, bald object and it ends up on the banister. The car seat, oh my. Have you ever seen a cat arch it's back? She could be a yoga master with her moves. Sometime around 18 months my little angel has decided that she eats when she wants to, comes to me when she feels like it and she has a fierce determination that would have a puppy cowering with it's tail between it's legs.

'with strong, flexible bodies, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey.'

Yep, that about sums it up.

 

10 Things I Never Thought I Would Do...

I knew some things would change when I became a mother but never would I have imagined doing any of these things! Thank you to our momstown Edmonton South members for contributing to our list, thank goodness we have each other to vent, laugh and cry with over the crazy things we do for our kids!

1. Eat something that has been in someone else's mouth.

2. Wipe a snotty nose with my bare hand.

3. Explain the use of a tampon to a 2.5 year old boy

4. Give up on closing the door when I use the bathroom

5. Talk about poop, my cervix or nipples with random strangers

6. Catch vomit in my hands because it's better than it landing on the carpet

7. Consider 3 consecutive hours 'A good nights sleep'

8. Keep my cool while my three year old has a full on tantrum in the middle of a store, then pick her up calmly and leave a cart full of groceries behind.

9. Eat a piece of oatmeal off a toddlers face only to find out that it was snot

10. After all this - love these little hurricane people enough to make multiples!!

Noon Years Eve Party with momstown Edmonton South!

Why not celebrate New Years Eve at a decent hour with the kids! The same fun can be had Midday instead of at Midnight and it will save you from having cranky kids on New Years Day!

This year we made noise makers, had a delicious potluck lunch, toasted the new year with juice and counted down to 12pm with some very excited kids! 

 

The kids had a great time making these paper plate shakers, they made a ton of noise when we did our countdown! Click here for instructions on how to make them!

After we rang in the New Year we ate some countdown cake - I do not claim to have any talent for cake decorating, this was my best attempt!

Thank you to everyone who rang in the Noon Year with momstown Edmonton South!!



Respect for 2011 & Optimism for 2012

This time of year everyone is talking about resolutions.  What can I do differently next year?  Do we all really look back on each year with regret? Not enough weight lost, not enough time spent with family, etc?  This cartoon made me laugh but it's true, we focus too much on what we haven't done and not enough on just how amazing we are. 

I'm making a list of accomplishments this year and how I'm going to build on them going into 2012.

What was amazing about 2011?

1.  I'd been longing to be an entrepeneur for years but couldn't figure out what I wanted to do. This year I purchased a business that I am passionate about and that fulfills my need to connect with my community and with other mothers.

In 2012, I will take the giant leap of faith that is leaving my guaranteed paycheque and becoming fully self-employed.

2.  In 2011 I tried to focus on my family. At Christmas and for birthdays I asked for gifts that we could do together, crafts and games that would lead to us sitting around the table doing things together. 

In 2012, I want to spend even more time with those kids! Turn the tv on less, sit down and read a book with them more.  I'd like my husband and I to plan to spend some time alone with each of our daughters every week.

3. This year I made amazing connections with local businesses and local moms!  We reached more people in person, on our blog and the message board than ever before.

In 2012 I'd like to grow our momstown chapter to be something even more amazing.  We have some great partnerships already in the works for 2012!  I will shout from the rooftops the benefits of this amazing organization!

2011 was a great year! It was full of change, growth and realizations that I can't please everyone and I can't do everything.  I go into 2012 full of inspiration, purpose and the focus to follow through!

Tell us what you did in 2011 that you are proud of!

Our Christmas Wish for You

Our Christmas Wish for You 

We wish for you a home full of giggling, happy  faces.

We look forward to a New Year filled with fun events and friendships

We hope to connect more moms and bring this big world together.

To give our moms a place to talk, get out and fill their lives with laughter.

We feel so blessed to have our momstown moms and can’t imagine our lives without you.

So we wish you all a Merry Christmas and from the bottom of our hearts, Thank you!

Families Built Backwards...

I'm married. Finally. After 8 busy years, 3 cities, 3 houses, 2 babies and 3 dogs. Yep, we did it backwards. Jamie and I had been together for two years when we bought our house and only a few months later we found out we were expecting our first baby. At first we both cried. I was only starting in my career and was so excited about climbing the ladder (I only had my foot on the first rung!) I felt like that phone call from the doctor ruined every plan and aspiration I had going for me. (I know, I know a little dramatic but what can I say, I was 21.) My parents were a little bit upset and most people that I told were more shocked than happy for us. I was grateful that I was in a loving stable relationship and so glad that we had decided to take the plunge and buy a home only a few months earlier. We got over the loss of youth and freedom and began to get excited for our new arrival.

When our daughter was born we were elated. This was no mistake, this baby was a gift. I corrected anyone who used the word 'accident' and replaced it with 'surprise'. We talked about getting married, but life got in the way and soon we both felt that adding another baby to our family was more of a priority than a wedding. In the two years after my first daughter was born, we moved 10 hours from home, my 'boyfriend' went to school and when he finished we moved again 5 hours closer to home. We had just settled into our new home when we found out we were expecting again. Only happy tears this time. We had gone from a couple to a family in those years and were closer and more connected than ever. I still had my career and he had his, we were doing just fine.

I wondered if we had missed the boat on having the wedding I'd always imagined. What was the point now of making a big production? We decided to finally plan this wedding, we wouldn't make a big deal of it, just a small destination wedding in Mexico. Little did we know we would have 70 family members and friends who travelled thousands of miles to support us - our little family. I didn't realize until I was walking down the aisle towards the father of my children that this wedding is as significant, if not more, than it would have been 8 years ago. I held my daughters hand while I said vows that I truly meant. We had come so far, been so blessed and as I promised to love and cherish this man who had been my biggest support all of these years, I thought - maybe this wasn't the 'wrong' way to do it after all; families assemble in so many different ways and this was just our family's story.

Baking Exchange - My favourite time of year!

Well...maybe it's not my favourite time of year because I don't really like baking. I do enjoy baking with kids, I love watching them get involved in the measuring, pouring and stirring. This week I taught my dayhome kids how to crack an egg gently and was genuinely amazed as I watched them crack a perfect egg. I just don't really bake on my own it's much more fun to watch kids marvel at cookies slowly rising in the oven.

What I do love about this time of year is Baking Exchanges! I love making one enormous batch of cookies and coming home with a multitude of Christmas treats. They are so popular with our momstown mamas that we had two this year! I attended one and came home with delicious homemade treats that I can impress my family and friends with this season. Cookie exchanges definitely make me look like much more of a super mom than I actually am!  I shared my Holiday Secret, what's yours? :)

Here are the delicious recipes I got to come home with this year!

 

Ting-A-Lings

1 - 6oz pkg (170 grams) of semi-sweet chocolate chips (approx. 1 cup)

1 - 6oz pkg (170 grams) of butterscotch chips (approx. 1 cup)

1 cup of Salted Peanuts

1 cup or more of Chow Mein noodles (broken into pieces) (DO NOT buy Farkey - it's gross) - Taipan label - must say "in canola oil"

Put wax paper on a cookie sheet.

Break the chow mein noodles into short lengths (less than one inch).  Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips in a double boiler and mix together.  Add 1 cup of salted peanuts and 1 cup or more of broken chow mein noodles. Mix together to coat the peanuts and noodles in chocolate.  Drop mixture onto wax paper with a teaspoon.  Should make 48 pieces. I usually get less out of a recipe because I make mine bigger.

Butter Tarts

Ingredients Needed

1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of raisins
1/3 cup or margarine or butter
1 egg
2 tablespoons of milk
1 tsp vanilla
unsweetened and unbaked tart shells

Melt your margarine, then add in the vanilla,egg, cream and brown sugar. The lovely part about these is they are SO easy and fast to make. Throw it all in, mix the ever-livin’ devil out of it, and you are good. Now add in your raisins, and half a cup is the bare minimum I use. I find that sometimes there is too much liquid and not enough raisins by the time I reach the end, be brave and just add in what you need at that point.

Put your tart shells, still frozen, on the tray and fill a good 3/4 of the way. I say still frozen because I have found when they are defrosted the filling leaks through the pasty, not ruining them, but making them softer. A good frozen tart shell will hold the contents in, and cook at the same time.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, until the rims of the tarts are beautifully browned.
Recipe from: http://www.thekitchenmagpie.com/my-butter-tarts-theyre-even-famous

White Chocolate Peppermint Delights

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

3/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp peppermint extract

3/4 cup white chocolate chip

1/4 cup crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 350F and grease cookie sheets.  Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. In big bowl cream butter, sugar and brown suger.  Beat in egg, peppermint extract and vanilla.  Stir in dry ingredients.  Fold in crushed candy cane and white chocolate chops.  Drop by teaspoon into greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes

Easy Decadent Truffles

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls.

Brownie Peppermint Cookies

Yields about 3 dozen　

Ingredients:

1 (18.3 oz) pkg brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker fudge brownie mix)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp milk

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 tsp peppermint extract

1 recipe vanilla cream frosting, recipe follows

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a cookie sheet and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brownie mix, flour, brown sugar and salt. Add in eggs and milk and stir with a large spoon. Add in melted butter, vanilla and peppermint extract, stir until well blended. Spoon dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet (you can fit 12 per sheet). Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting. Once cool, frost each cookie and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Vanilla Cream Frosting

Ingredients:

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

6 Tbsp heavy cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, whip together sugar, butter and cream until fluffy. Stir in vanilla and salt, blend well.

Gooey Turtle Bars

1/2 cup Butter

1-1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup pecan pieces

1 (12oz) jar caramel topping

Combine butter and wafer crumbs in a 13x9 pan. Press into bottom of pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chops and pecans. Heat caramel topping for one minute or until hot, stirring every 30 seconds. Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes or until chocolate is melted. Chill at least 30 minutes on a wire rack. Cut into 24 squares.

Snowballs

1 devils food cake

1 cup sugar

5 cups unsweetened medium coconut (1cup for rolling)

5 cups quick oats

1cup 2% evaporated milk

2 cups of melted margarine

Mix ingredients, roll into balls and chill.

A new momstown tradition - Santas Anonymous!

 

momstown loves to give back, chapters all over the country are working together this year to help people in our communities.  This year, momstown Edmonton-South decided to help out by delivering gift hampers for Santas Anonymous.  Walking into the Santas Depot seeing all of those bags piled high with gifts for needy local families made me both proud and overwhelmed.  I was thankful that so many people had donated; their generosity allowed so many families to have a christmas that they might not have had otherwise.  I was overwhelmed by the realization that so many families in our city are in need.  We were shocked to see the delivery map, there were needy families in every area of the city.  We didn't deliver toys to the inner city, we delivered toys to my local neighbourhood.  We quickly became aware that these people are no different from us.  Who hasn't struggled to make ends meet? So many families are only a lay-off away from being in this very same place.

Delivering the gifts was a rewarding experience, next year, I'll be bringing the kids along. We got hugs and handshakes of thanks from the grateful parents.  I was glad to have done my part but dissapointed in myself that I hadn't done more. Next year I will do more.  We've decided that this will be an annual event for momstown Edmonton South and next year we hope to add a wrapping team and a few more delivering teams.  We are so thankful for the momstown mama's that took time out of the last weekend before Christmas to join us in delivering some joy to our neighbourhood.

Did you know that momstown.ca is also helping out this holiday season? For the month of December they are making a donation to the Red Cross for every new 'like' on their facebook page! Click here for the details! Want to help out in your community? Check out these great ideas for how you can give back - with your kids!

Breakfast with Santa at Salisbury Greenhouse!

 momstown had a great day among beautiful plants and flowers at Salisbury Greenhouse.  The greenhouse holds this event annually and is always sure to sell out! 

The kids enjoyed face painting, balloon animals, a delicious nutritious breakfast and of course a visit from Santa! 

 Check out all the fun we had!

10 Tips for Keeping your Sanity During the Christmas Chaos

There's only one week left till Christmas, who's sanity is on the brink of destruction?  I know this time of year is hectic but there are some ways to keep your cool and enjoy the holiday season without cancelling Christmas altogether.

1) Hydrate - Despite the rumours, we cannot survive on coffee alone. Make sure you keep hydrated while your shopping, wrapping and baking. This will stave off pesky headaches that could hinder your holiday spirit.

2) Take short cuts - No one will know and you'll look like even more of a super mom than you already are. Cookie exchanges are a great way to save time and impress your friends. Another great way to save time is to prepare your side dishes in advance. A lot of dishes can be made the night before (check out these make ahead mashed potatoes!, this will save your sanity on the day of the big meal and give you time to enjoy your company.

3) Make lists - Know what you have to do and when it needs to be done.  Lists can not only keep you organized but make you realize just how productive you are, so you can cut yourself some slack.

4) Don't multitask yourself to death - We know you can clean the house, wrap presents, and make supper all while baking dozen of cookies but who are you trying to impress? Take one night to wrap the presents, one night to bake the treats and for the love of God don't even think of cleaning till the last day or your efforts will be undone within hours.

5) Take time for yourself - In the midst of the chaos take a long bath or stop in for a massage or pedicure while you're out shopping and don't forget to log onto your favourite momstown message board to vent and get some holiday ideas from the mama's!  

6) Ask for help - See that guy sitting on the couch leisurely watching the hockey game? He's your husband and he's perfectly capable of taking some tasks off your plate. Have a hard time giving up the control? Give him the easy tasks like grocery shopping and stocking stuffers (accompanied by a detailed list).

7) Eat - I know it tempting to snack on all the sweets and delicious holiday food but to feel good and have energy we need fuel. Eating properly around the holiday season will also help keep you bloat-free for holiday parties.

8) Let go of the guilt - Accept that you may not get every gift on the list and not everything that "needs" to get done will.  But no one will notice and they're there to spend time with you, not critique your perfectly decorated table.  Cut yourself some slack this year and don't stress about the small things.

9) Shop with Focus - Don't wander into stores without a clear idea of what your coming home with.  Find out where the sales are and call ahead to confirm they have the "must have" toy of the year so you don't waste your time.

10) Embrace the Chaos - It's Christmas, so embrace that crazy aunt and the noisy house that's what the holidays are all about! 

And if all else fails throw some rum in your Eggnog and just let relax.   

Merry Christmas!

Handprint Christmas Ornament

momstown Edmonton South had fun at Connect the Tots getting messy and making these adorable handprint christmas ornaments.

These hardly need an explanation they're so easy!

What you need:

-White paint

-Matte or Sparkly Christmas Ornament

-Black and orange marker

-A small childs hand : )

Paint your childs hand with white paint, make sure their fingers are covered including their palm.  Place their palm on the bottom of the ball and wrap fingers around the ornament. 

Wait till the paint has dried and color a hat, nose and buttons on the fingerprints.  That's it, super easy and adorable craft!

We've done this 2 years in a row and always write their name and the year on the bottom.   

Hope you have fun making one, we sure did : )

Check out this list of 6 great snowman crafts for kids!

Kids and Planes - Tips from "the expert".

So a while ago we decided to go on vacation. Let's take the kids we say, it would be so nice to go somewhere warm as a family! We get the passports, the sunscreen and the towels.

I planned on writing this fantastic blog about plane rides with children and how if you're prepared everything can go smoothly. It was supposed to be an awesome list of tricks and tips from an "expert".


Here is what actually happened...


On our way to paradise

I'm nervous. I have only taken my daughter on a plane but now I also have my son Nolan who is 18 months old, he is one of those "active" children. I love that parents choose the nicest possible way to describe a child who will not stay still for longer 5 seconds at a time. The type that went from rolling over to crawling at 6 months, who just skipped that perfect age between 4 and 8 months where they can sit and play but are completely immobile. You know this kid... he's the 9 month old walker.

So there I was with the "active" child, herding him into a 4 x 1 foot space for 6 hours straight. Most people would think that letting this child peruse the plane and aisle who be a good idea. They are mistaken. If he knows he can get out of his cage of seats there's no turning back. That would be the end of me sitting, although the sitting I'm describing is not kind I'm used, this sitting involves being a toy, stool, and a climbing apparatus.

Although it's no walk in the park this plane thing is pretty easy I think to myself. Just let them play and bring lots of snacks and toys to keep them occupied. As we deboard the plane I'm pretty proud of my plane skills and other than poop explosion with no extra pants we get through the flight without a single tear.

I decide on the way back I'll actually write my fabulous blog because the kids will be sleeping as I know exactly how to keep the content now.

Leaving Paradise for a Mountain of Snow

My confidence is up and I'm feeling pretty good about my plane parenting. I now know to pack extra pants and I've learned to make sure snacks are readily available. Unfortunately this is an evening flight my "active" child has considerably less patience for being stuck in these extremely tight quarters when he's tired. Before we even leave the ground he's laying on the floor planning his escape route under the seats. This is not a good sign.

Take off is rough he will not sit the "burp position" like he did last time. He will not drink the bottle I came prepared with to avoid ear troubles. He doesn't want to sit with us at all actually. I get the snacks and toys out but he is not the least bit interested. Then he starts crying, my son isn't much of a crier so I do the checklist; Hungry, no. Thirsty, no. Tired, no. Poopy, yep that's it. I stand up to take him to the bathroom to do a quick bum change. I'm trapped. I've got a drink cart coming at me from both directions. I normally change my baby wherever and whenever but considering the lack of airflow I didn't think it was appropriate, so the crying continues. After a few minutes the coast is clear. I dart for the bathroom but on my way the seat belt sign turns on. I risk it and keep going it's already been a good 1/2 hour since the poop was discovered. The flight attendant stops me and tells me to sit. They are continuing with the drink service so logic tells me this can't be life or death type of turbulence. I argue with her and tell her I promise I'll be quick. No luck. Back to my seat with the screaming baby. After a quick discussion my hubby and I decide to ignore the seatbelt sign and change the poor kid on the seat, he's had diarrhea a few times on the trip so we don't want a sore bum situation happening. While the fabulous scent reaches my fellow passengers I hear some mild grumbling. As the flight attendant walks by I ask her to take the diaper to the garbage but she refuses so the diaper continues to fill the already stale air for another 10 minutes.

Crisis averted but he's still crying. I sit, I stand, I walk, I bounce, I rock, I sing but the crying continues. A really considerate flight attendant stops and asks if he's hungry. Oh, well that makes sense it's 5:30, he must be hungry. She makes him a supper early but he won't eat a single bite. I wrap him in a mei tei hoping he'll just fall asleep. He doesn't. It's been 1 hour of crying now, since the original poop crisis crisis. People are beginning to get annoyed. I'm surrounded by a group of 20 somethings who look like they've had a few too many margaritas and were hoping for a quiet flight home. For the most part though I get a lot of sympathetic looks from mothers and grandmothers. Another hour goes by of contant crying and their sympathy turns to pity. A dad comes up and asks if I need anything for him medically, he offered tylenol or benadryl, I have no idea whats wrong with him so I take the tylenol in hopes it will at least make him tired (at this point I would have taken a tranquilizer if it was offered).

After another 1/2 hour he finally starts doing the closed eye cry. For all you non parents this means he's on his way out. He goes in and out of sleep and crying. If I stop rocking or if I talk or sit he wakes up. Ok. I give up. I will just sit, my back is acheing and theres no way I can stand for another second. As long as I'm singing he's quiet I can't think of a lullaby long enough so I sing him Adele's Someone like you. It's long enough that he finally falls asleep for good. There is still 2 hours left of this flight and it's going to be quiet.

I ask the flight attendant for a pop. I set it on my daughters tray and it slides off and spills all over her. She's begins screaming and wakes up the "active" child. Seriously. He eats a few bites of cracker and cheese and with some more Adele he lays his head down and goes back to sleep.

Ahhhh....it's quiet for 30 minutes straight. Everyone is sleeping. I begin writing my blog and realize I just happen to get lucky on the ride to Mexico. I've come to the conclusion that you can't predict how children will react to anything. We're lucky if they stick to a routine day to day let alone expect them to behave while we're on a flight 20,000km in the air. I was a fool to think I had any control over the situation. I am still proud of my plane parenting. I don't think I could have handled the situation any better. I ignored all the stares and grumbling and focused on my child and that's about all you can do.

The flight ended with Isla waking up screaming because her bug bites were bothering her and to top it all off a pen exploded all over Jeff as we landed.

We survived. And we'd probably do it again....just not anytime soon : )