When Michael was born, and actually, even before Michael was born, or even before we were pregnant,we were one of those my kid is never going to watch TV couples. (Yes, well, I hate them now too.) It was actually more Doug than me, but he felt strongly about it and who was I to argue?
We never got into the whole Baby Einstein thing, and Michael didn't watch TV his first year of life. And then I bought him, on a lark, Classical Baby by HBO. It became our go to for calming him down. And it really was very clever and soothing.
It got lost behind a slew of Elmo, Little Einsteins, Thomas, and other DVDs that arrived when he turned about 18 months old, and all rules about TV went out the window. And then we bought a DVD player for the car and totally become those parents. The parents who do what they said they never would.
The other night, when Michael wouldn't calm down, I pulled Classical Baby out. Nothing managed to calm him down except Children's Motrin, but for the past 3 days in a row he has asked for "Musical Baby." And he sits, mesmerized, quiet on the couch. It never would have occurred to me to whip this thing out again, that he would still love it.
I think about all those things I said I would never do. Some I followed, he has never slept in our bed. I've never hit him. But I've yelled, which I promised I wouldn't. And I've let him eat crap for breakfast simply because I couldn't have the argument any more. Michael drinks way too much juice, eats way too many sweets, and frequently gets what he wants by whining.
I had all these grand ideas before becoming a mom. The right way and the wrong way to do things. Of course, this was all before I knew how terribly hard parenting was. How heart breaking. How lonely. How really, sometimes, all you want to do is be alone.
But snuggled up with Michael on the couch, watching a show meant for far younger children, I can believe that all the "I'll nevers" don't matter as much as all the "I dids."
Musical Preschooler
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{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Aaaannnnnnnd this is why I love your blog, Jodi. Great post.
Aaaannnnnnnd this is why I love your blog, Jodi. Great post.
Aaaannnnnnnd this is why I love your blog, Jodi. Great post.
Aaaannnnnnnd this is why I love your blog, Jodi. Great post.
Your a great Mother….
FWIW, I was one of those I won’t let my kids watch tv Mom’s… It last about 6 months… And Isabella STILL loves that same Musical DVD… She always wants to watch it before bed, and I let her of course. People can say whatever they want before they have kids and act like they aren’t gonna do this or that, but the reality is you just really don’t know what it’s going to be like until your in that moment… I’ve done almost everything I said I wouldn’t, and you know what? I don’t care!!!
Your a great Mother….
FWIW, I was one of those I won’t let my kids watch tv Mom’s… It last about 6 months… And Isabella STILL loves that same Musical DVD… She always wants to watch it before bed, and I let her of course. People can say whatever they want before they have kids and act like they aren’t gonna do this or that, but the reality is you just really don’t know what it’s going to be like until your in that moment… I’ve done almost everything I said I wouldn’t, and you know what? I don’t care!!!
Your a great Mother….
FWIW, I was one of those I won’t let my kids watch tv Mom’s… It last about 6 months… And Isabella STILL loves that same Musical DVD… She always wants to watch it before bed, and I let her of course. People can say whatever they want before they have kids and act like they aren’t gonna do this or that, but the reality is you just really don’t know what it’s going to be like until your in that moment… I’ve done almost everything I said I wouldn’t, and you know what? I don’t care!!!
Your a great Mother….
FWIW, I was one of those I won’t let my kids watch tv Mom’s… It last about 6 months… And Isabella STILL loves that same Musical DVD… She always wants to watch it before bed, and I let her of course. People can say whatever they want before they have kids and act like they aren’t gonna do this or that, but the reality is you just really don’t know what it’s going to be like until your in that moment… I’ve done almost everything I said I wouldn’t, and you know what? I don’t care!!!
Great post. Every parent can relate. It comes down to choosing the battles that are worth fighting. Some lofty ideals we had before having children just somehow seem to not really matter in the realm of things once you have children!
Great post. Every parent can relate. It comes down to choosing the battles that are worth fighting. Some lofty ideals we had before having children just somehow seem to not really matter in the realm of things once you have children!
Great post. Every parent can relate. It comes down to choosing the battles that are worth fighting. Some lofty ideals we had before having children just somehow seem to not really matter in the realm of things once you have children!
Great post. Every parent can relate. It comes down to choosing the battles that are worth fighting. Some lofty ideals we had before having children just somehow seem to not really matter in the realm of things once you have children!
Such a sweet post! I’m trying not to be one of those “When I have kids, I’ll never…” people, but it’s not going so well.
Such a sweet post! I’m trying not to be one of those “When I have kids, I’ll never…” people, but it’s not going so well.
Such a sweet post! I’m trying not to be one of those “When I have kids, I’ll never…” people, but it’s not going so well.
Such a sweet post! I’m trying not to be one of those “When I have kids, I’ll never…” people, but it’s not going so well.
I was the QUEEN of those women.
I even went so far as to say stuff like “my child will use correct English.” As freaking if….
They have done all the things I swore they wouldn’t, and if we were to go into those holier than thou’s houses now, I’m sure we would find their kids eating twinkies, drinking fruit punch and watching tv too….
She who is a perfect parent has no children.
I was the QUEEN of those women.
I even went so far as to say stuff like “my child will use correct English.” As freaking if….
They have done all the things I swore they wouldn’t, and if we were to go into those holier than thou’s houses now, I’m sure we would find their kids eating twinkies, drinking fruit punch and watching tv too….
She who is a perfect parent has no children.
I was the QUEEN of those women.
I even went so far as to say stuff like “my child will use correct English.” As freaking if….
They have done all the things I swore they wouldn’t, and if we were to go into those holier than thou’s houses now, I’m sure we would find their kids eating twinkies, drinking fruit punch and watching tv too….
She who is a perfect parent has no children.
I was the QUEEN of those women.
I even went so far as to say stuff like “my child will use correct English.” As freaking if….
They have done all the things I swore they wouldn’t, and if we were to go into those holier than thou’s houses now, I’m sure we would find their kids eating twinkies, drinking fruit punch and watching tv too….
She who is a perfect parent has no children.
I need one of those dvds! I also said that about the tv. My older 2 didn’t watch till they were like 2. But my 7 month old loves tv. Oh well, gotta do what you’ve got to do.
I need one of those dvds! I also said that about the tv. My older 2 didn’t watch till they were like 2. But my 7 month old loves tv. Oh well, gotta do what you’ve got to do.
I need one of those dvds! I also said that about the tv. My older 2 didn’t watch till they were like 2. But my 7 month old loves tv. Oh well, gotta do what you’ve got to do.
I need one of those dvds! I also said that about the tv. My older 2 didn’t watch till they were like 2. But my 7 month old loves tv. Oh well, gotta do what you’ve got to do.
I think if you don’t do some things differently than you thought you would have before you had kids, then something is probably wrong. Parenting changes you and individual kids are so different that it’s hard to imagine that everything could be exactly the way anyone expects it to be.
I think if you don’t do some things differently than you thought you would have before you had kids, then something is probably wrong. Parenting changes you and individual kids are so different that it’s hard to imagine that everything could be exactly the way anyone expects it to be.
I think if you don’t do some things differently than you thought you would have before you had kids, then something is probably wrong. Parenting changes you and individual kids are so different that it’s hard to imagine that everything could be exactly the way anyone expects it to be.
I think if you don’t do some things differently than you thought you would have before you had kids, then something is probably wrong. Parenting changes you and individual kids are so different that it’s hard to imagine that everything could be exactly the way anyone expects it to be.
No I was the Queen of 'those' women. How soon we learn huh. As my one and only daughter is sat watching Max & Ruby as we speak.
No I was the Queen of 'those' women. How soon we learn huh. As my one and only daughter is sat watching Max & Ruby as we speak.
No I was the Queen of 'those' women. How soon we learn huh. As my one and only daughter is sat watching Max & Ruby as we speak.
No I was the Queen of 'those' women. How soon we learn huh. As my one and only daughter is sat watching Max & Ruby as we speak.
I’m trying not to be one of those moms… mainly because I know I’d break every single “rule” I set for myself.
BTW, I’ve tagged you for a meme.
I’m trying not to be one of those moms… mainly because I know I’d break every single “rule” I set for myself.
BTW, I’ve tagged you for a meme.
I’m trying not to be one of those moms… mainly because I know I’d break every single “rule” I set for myself.
BTW, I’ve tagged you for a meme.
I’m trying not to be one of those moms… mainly because I know I’d break every single “rule” I set for myself.
BTW, I’ve tagged you for a meme.
I love your last statement and I think I defintely need to focus on the “I dids”!!!
I love your last statement and I think I defintely need to focus on the “I dids”!!!
I love your last statement and I think I defintely need to focus on the “I dids”!!!
I love your last statement and I think I defintely need to focus on the “I dids”!!!
We can all say the things we will and won’t do, but the fact is, until you’re presented with the situation, you never know. I know when I babysit my niece and nephew and they are screaming and just want to watch Dora, I let them. Because dear Lord, stop the screaming.
We can all say the things we will and won’t do, but the fact is, until you’re presented with the situation, you never know. I know when I babysit my niece and nephew and they are screaming and just want to watch Dora, I let them. Because dear Lord, stop the screaming.
We can all say the things we will and won’t do, but the fact is, until you’re presented with the situation, you never know. I know when I babysit my niece and nephew and they are screaming and just want to watch Dora, I let them. Because dear Lord, stop the screaming.
We can all say the things we will and won’t do, but the fact is, until you’re presented with the situation, you never know. I know when I babysit my niece and nephew and they are screaming and just want to watch Dora, I let them. Because dear Lord, stop the screaming.
Hey, I was thinking along the same lines, sort of, today. If you see a similar blog post by me, I really wasn’t trying to plagiarize you!
Hey, I was thinking along the same lines, sort of, today. If you see a similar blog post by me, I really wasn’t trying to plagiarize you!
Hey, I was thinking along the same lines, sort of, today. If you see a similar blog post by me, I really wasn’t trying to plagiarize you!
Hey, I was thinking along the same lines, sort of, today. If you see a similar blog post by me, I really wasn’t trying to plagiarize you!
Indeed… the “I dids” rule.
Indeed… the “I dids” rule.
Indeed… the “I dids” rule.
Indeed… the “I dids” rule.
I thought I would be the mom with no brightly colored baby crap cluttering her house. You know, the parents with all wood educational toys? Yeah thought it would be me. Amazingly my house is covered with bright shit that eats batteries for breakfast – whatever keeps him happy for 9.97 seconds right?
I also let him watch TV – not too much but he can turn on the tv, dvd player and hit play. He is 2.
What I want to know is it bad that I put a cup of water and a snack in the TV room so that every morning he can go and watch TV and eat munchies without getting me up immediately?
I thought I would be the mom with no brightly colored baby crap cluttering her house. You know, the parents with all wood educational toys? Yeah thought it would be me. Amazingly my house is covered with bright shit that eats batteries for breakfast – whatever keeps him happy for 9.97 seconds right?
I also let him watch TV – not too much but he can turn on the tv, dvd player and hit play. He is 2.
What I want to know is it bad that I put a cup of water and a snack in the TV room so that every morning he can go and watch TV and eat munchies without getting me up immediately?
I thought I would be the mom with no brightly colored baby crap cluttering her house. You know, the parents with all wood educational toys? Yeah thought it would be me. Amazingly my house is covered with bright shit that eats batteries for breakfast – whatever keeps him happy for 9.97 seconds right?
I also let him watch TV – not too much but he can turn on the tv, dvd player and hit play. He is 2.
What I want to know is it bad that I put a cup of water and a snack in the TV room so that every morning he can go and watch TV and eat munchies without getting me up immediately?
I thought I would be the mom with no brightly colored baby crap cluttering her house. You know, the parents with all wood educational toys? Yeah thought it would be me. Amazingly my house is covered with bright shit that eats batteries for breakfast – whatever keeps him happy for 9.97 seconds right?
I also let him watch TV – not too much but he can turn on the tv, dvd player and hit play. He is 2.
What I want to know is it bad that I put a cup of water and a snack in the TV room so that every morning he can go and watch TV and eat munchies without getting me up immediately?
We all say things like that and it comes back to bite us in the ass. I am a perfect example of that.
We all say things like that and it comes back to bite us in the ass. I am a perfect example of that.
We all say things like that and it comes back to bite us in the ass. I am a perfect example of that.
We all say things like that and it comes back to bite us in the ass. I am a perfect example of that.