"Little Ricky" ~ Political Candidate

In our school, like many, we have a Student Government.  The student government is a way to engage students in learning about democracy and leadership.  This long instituted activity in schools helps to share the students' ideas, interests, and concerns with teachers and school administrators.

"Little Ricky" has been talking about running for class representative since 1st grade (a whole year).  He asks questions like, "how do I get it?" "what do I do?"  

This is the magic year; the year that he can run for student representative for Room 11.   Oh boy....

He has written his speech.  We have been practicing so he can look like a professional.  

Can you read the 2nd Grade spelling?

As I have been preparing him to run for representative, I have also been preparing him for failure.  The important lesson of losing gracefully and showing "good sportsmanship" by clapping for his friends and congratulating them.

This is the first time that he is going to get chosen for something.  At this age, in sports they are put on the team as long as you sign them up, they are in the club as long as you sign them up.  This will be his first experience with a true winning or losing situation.  

As a mom, I am dying.  I can only anticipate what will happen and hope to cushion the blow either way.  I don't want to see him fail.  I don't want to see him truly sad.  I know it's part of growing up, and this is only the first of MANY times that he will experience triumph and heartbreak.  But my "mommy" instinct wants to protect him from the world.  

Why is this "mommy" stuff so hard?



Alexis

Whistling Dixie

So "Little Ricky" has been working hard on learning how to whistle.  We had a talk about how to do it.  It's not just putting your lips together, but that your teeth and tongue have to also work.   He couldn't figure it out.  For days he worked hard on getting the sound out.  


Then one day......pheeeew.....  It was faint, but a sound definitely escaped his little puckered lips.  Pheeeeew!  Another one.  PHEEEWWW!  


Now that little bugger is "Whistling Dixie" all over!!


At first it was really cute.  Now it's all I hear.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew as he builds with his Legos.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew while he's watching tv.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew at the movie theater.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew even while he's in bed and supposed to be going to sleep.


That darn sound is now in my head and I too am making the pheeew pheew pheeeew sound.  


Ugh.  Now I have to teach him how to sing songs while whistling so at least it's an enjoyable sound!  Wish me luck!





Alexis

Our Urban Adventure!

So the other day, the boys and I went on an urban adventure.  We rode the Miami MetroRail.  

As a former resident of the Washington, D.C. area where the Metro is the main form of transportation, I am comfortable with taking the public route when getting around.  But since I've lived in Miami, I have only taken the MetroRail once. 

In Miami, almost everyone has a car.  And from the look of our traffic, they are all on the road.  


When I decided to take a trip to The Filling Station, a downtown Miami burger joint, with my boys, I thought it would be a fun adventure by taking the MetroRail.  I will admit it, my kids have never been on the MetroRail.  And to be honest, they've only been downtown a handful of times.  What a great way for them to see a new side to our immense city.

"The Nag" was a little nervous waiting...

I must say, I felt like a complete rookie as we purchased our tickets...I didn't know which way to go to the platform.  While we were waiting, we talked about staying behind the yellow line and how fast the train would be moving.  "The Nag" was a little nervous because he didn't want to fall on the tracks.  The invincible "Little Ricky" kept trying to push limits, but I kept a close eye on him.  



Once we were on the train, the boys loved it! "It's like we're on a rollercoaster!"  

They also liked looking out the window and identifying landmarks that we usually see from our car.  "Look Mommy, that's where we go to school!"  "We've been there before!" 
 
And every kid's fun time:  the escalator.  We took many of them.

In Miami, you don't have to walk to every destination because we have MetroMovers so you can get even closer to where you are going.  We took the MetroMover to the restaurant so that I wouldn't have to hear: "I'm tired of walking!" even though it was only a couple of blocks away.


What a DISASTER!  Yeah, another rookie mistake.  We got on the wrong MetroMover....twice!  But if we hadn't made our mistake, we wouldn't have gotten such a great view of the American Airlines Arena, the home of the Miami Heat! 







Well, we finally made it to The Filling Station and enjoyed an awesome cheeseburger & tots!

We FINALLY made it!

All in all, it was a great urban adventure....one I'm sure we'll do again.  Next time, we will know a lot more!!



Alexis

"Little Ricky" the Invincible Kid

I've taught my kids how to brush their teeth, how to take a shower alone, how to read and how to share.  I always stress the importance of the dangers in the kitchen and how families are forever.  Each of these lessons have been picked up by the boys and they are ever growing.  


The fact is that some lessons need to be experienced in order to stick.  



Here's a lesson that is hard to teach.
"Little Ricky" thinks he is invincible. 


When we are getting out of the car in a parking lot, he jumps out and starts walking.  I scream to him and explain that we have to hold hands to be safe.  He tells me, "Mom, there aren't any cars coming."  I explain to him that sometimes cars speed in parking lots and come out of nowhere.  But it doesn't get through to him.


When we are shopping in stores, "Little Ricky" tends to wander away.  You have no idea how many times I have turned to get something from the frozen case at BJs and then he's gone.  I panic and so does "The Nag" because he doesn't like losing his brother.  I sound like a crazy person screaming his name in the store.  I explain to him that there are scary people out there who want to take cute little kids and if anyone ever did that to him, I would be so sad.  He tells me, "Mommy, I will scream your name and you will find me."  He still doesn't get it.



These lessons are not the kind that I would rather him learn from experience.  You know what I mean?  


So my question is, how do I make these life lessons stick without him learning by actually having something happen to him?



Alexis

My Beast Friends ~ A New Kind of Security Blanket

Is your child afraid of the dark?  Are they going to a new school or play group and they feel a little shy?  What helps to comfort them?


I recently learned of a new way to calm a child's fear without carrying around the dreaded security blanket.  
It's My Beast Friends.

My Beast Friends is like a "modern day security blanket" but with special powers!   These adorable little beasts enable children to reinforce the importance of friendship while overcoming their personal fears.

 

MBF features two categories of plush dolls: Adopt-a-Beast and Create-a-Beast.

 

While visiting the website:

• Customers can ADOPT (6 original Beast Friends – Tibu, Leo, Daisy, Rob, Hav-z, Flamester) their own friendly beast to help them conquer theirs fears or achieve their dreams

• Customers can CREATE their own custom made beast friend and assign it special powers according to their personal fear or dreams - where customer can pick the shape, color, eyes, mouth and names it with unique name.

"The Nag" chose Rob the Blob

My boys loved going online and choosing which beast they would adopt.  Since "The Nag" is still a little afraid of the dark, he chose Rob the Blob.  He's a warmhearted and funny friend who was once afraid of the dark, but once he had his own beast friend, he learned how to conquer the fear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Little Ricky" chose Lazy Leo

 

 

 

"Little Ricky" chose Lazy Leo.  This beast is a little bossy, but is also generous and loving.  He tends to daydream and loves sleeping...just like my little "beast!"

The boys were so excited to receive their new beasties.  They haven't let go of them yet!




My Beast Friends NEEDS YOUR HELP!  They have entered the "Get On the Shelf" Walmart competition and we are one of the contestants trying to make it to their shelf - and need all the VOTES they can to make it to FINALIST!!!!

THEY NEED ALL THE VOTES....

 

TO MAKE THEIR DREAMS COME TRUE!!!!

 

 

 

Vote on the "Get on the Shelf" site 

     http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/3373/My-Beast-Friends

You can also vote by text:  

TEXT 3373 to 383838

Check out My Beast Friends on Facebook and Twitter!

 

 

If you could create your own "Beast Friend," which super powers would you want it to have?

Disclaimer:  Although My Beast Friends provided me with sample "friends," all opinions are my own.


Alexis