My children wake up each day around 6am. Since this means we have 7 hours to fill with activity before naps, and the trio cannot be trusted to be alone in a room for any period of time without getting into trouble or fighting, a key to my sanity is morning rest time. This is especially true in the Winter, when we are a bit more homebound.
At the halfway point of the morning, around 9am, I put them in their cribs with 3-5 carefully selected (by them) books and small toys, then leave them alone for about 30 minutes. They ADORE this alone/together time and sometimes request it on stressful mornings. This time allows them to have their own space, where they don't worry about another set of little hands taking their toys away. They also get to laugh and play with each other from crib to crib. I am always entertained by the toy swap that invariably happens.
I get to take a shower, sip my coffee, blog, whatever, while listening to their sweet voices chit chat over the monitor. When their time is up, they start shouting, "Mom-ee! Where ARE you?" or my personal favorite, "Mom-ee, come back he-ya. It's fix-furdy. Look, Mom! It is FIX FURDY!"
That's Six Thirty for those of you who don't speak Scott.
Yes, one morning in an exhausted stupor, I actually tried to teach my 2 year olds to tell time. When they wake at 5:45, I inform them it is still nighttime. They cannot get up until 6:30. The whole time-teaching attempt was a bust, but we coined a new phrase. Now, any time they want out of their cribs, even if it is 4 pm, they inform me that it is "fix furdy."
12 comments:
I'm telling you - just in case you haven't figured it out yet - you have some of THE most precious kids I've even known.
They always make me smile - no matter what time of day it is.
That is a precious post.
Perri
Our kids are so much alike. My oldest still does the same thing as far as time. He associates a certain time with certain activities and always assumes that is what time it is. I love the way they think.
And I feel your pain with early risers. The older three start waking up around 5:30 but have learned to play quietly in their room, thank goodness. I wonder what age they start begging to sleep late?
That's one of the cutest things I've ever heard!
Our rule was that they could not get up while the sun was still asleep.
FIX-FURDY is still too early!!! I don't know how you do it!
How precious! I love the way you *mother*. I had three under four and those passies went back in their mouths under much later that Fix Furdy. Precious children...Precious Mommy!
I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has commented here and used the word precious-it's so appropriate for your stories. Thanks for sharing. And I guess you should get those nickels since they are your kids. :)
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I rarely find a blog that I fall in love with and want to read from start to finish. I laughed and cried as I read all of your blog. You truly have a beautiful marriage and 3 absolutely precious children.
Thank you for sharing.
I love that! 'Fix Furdy'. I also love the idea of putting them in their cribs for some quiet time. I'm trying that one tomorrow morning with my 18 month old. If I have to go out anytime during the day, I have to get my shower EARLY to prepare. I think this would work.
Your children are precious. I just love that picture of Kate with the boys in their sunglasses. She's one cool chick! ;)
I can't remember if I've ever commented here or not, but I just had to comment on this post! Hearing how toddlers pronounce words is just adorable and your precious ones have some of the best ways to pronounce words that I've ever heard. God bless your beautiful family. :)
Your kids' stories always make me laugh. They are so cute.
We started "quiet time" when all three were little, and I'd be shot by 2 pm. They'd outgrown naps, but I needed the break. So we started a one hour quiet time every day. It not only instilled the habit of an actual quiet time, it gave me time for just that - devotions, journaling. Great idea! Every mom needs just a little break during the day. Kitchen timers in their rooms work well - they can see the timer clicking away and know it will go off.
I KNEW there was a reason I shouldn't have dismantled Grayson's crib! What on earth was I thinking?
You are such a sweet mom, and your three are so fun I think I'd offer to watch all of them (with my three!) for you to have some of your own alone time!
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