Toys!!!UGH!!

Seriously I can't stand toys.  They appear to have taken over every viable space of my house...that and laundry!!  Maybe things wouldn't be so bad if my children would pick up after themselves.  I hate that I have to nag and hound them to get them to pick it up.  Why is it so hard to instill that when you make a mess of toy's you pick them up.  An even better thing would be if they would put what they're done playing with away before they got a new one.  Is it at all possible...is it just me and my craziness...do children anywhere do this are we all together and they unite against us?

SERIOUSLY

So my daughter who is 5 has reverted back to being 2 when it comes to going to the bathroom. For the last 2 or 3 weeks it's like she's totally forgot how to wipe herself when she goes to the bathroom. I swear instead of using toilet paper she's using her hand...and then proceeds to wipe the pooh all over her shirt!!! It's so disgusting. If it doesn't end up on her shirt then her hands definitely stink even after she washes them!!! What in the world is going on with her?

For instance last weekend we went to my grandma's for my brothers birthday and she came out with her shirt all rolled up and I asked her what she was doing where she proceeded to ignore me. Finally I pulled her hands away where to my shock the whole front of her shirt was covered in pooh:( I was mortified that my 5 year old acted like she didn't know how to wipe herself.) So I took her shirt off washed and dried it and put it back on her. Then 2 hours later she had gone to the bath room again and did it again. Amongst being enraged with anger I was plain shocked, confused, and disappointed in her!!! What's going on with her that she forgot how to get her job done without being messy!!!! I've even resorted back to having her tell me so I can wipe her myself. What is she going to do when she starts kindergarten this fall. She'll be the stinky poopy girl in school...what's going on with her?

Secrets in food!

So I'm so proud of myself tonight. I can never get my 2 1/2 year old to eat spaghetti with us so tonight when I made it for supper I gave her cottage cheese and decided that I would be genius and dump it on top of her spaghetti. Then I added applesauce on top of that, and stirred it all together. She ate it all!!! I'll have to start trying this with other things I can't get her to eat. I really thought about buying Jessica Seinfield's cookbook about mixing fruits and veggies that your kids won't eat into things like brownies and stuff that they do eat. Any other genius mom's out there that mix their kids food together?

Easter baskets

So the last two years I've really been trying to not do Easter baskets...honestly what's the point. My kids already get tons of candy and Easter stuff from their grandparents so my kids aren't being deprived my no means. But then when the day before Easter hits I always feel obligated to get my kids something...so really it's a battle within myself not with my kids...does everybody out there do Easter baskets for their kids...or do you have some other great tradition you do with your kids I can use?

Giving up the Pacifier

So my two 1/2 year old is still sucking her pacifier.  I tried hard one time to get rid of it and had her down to taking it just for nap time and bed time and putting it away for the rest of the day.  I don't know what happened, but now she thinks that she constantly needs it...and acts like it's her lifeline!!  She throws a fit and tells me she needs it...why at 2 1/2 is this such a comfort for her and how do I get back on track trying to get rid of it!

The Strong Willed Child

I know that one day my strong willed child will be a good leader and stand strong behind what she believes in and good at making others listen and follow her....in the mean time how do I get her to realize that I'm the one in charge?

She is very persistent in trying to get her point in and definitely the last word!  I have tried every type of discipline that I can think of....so I was wondering what you other mom's do with your strong willed children.  I want to steer her in the right direction because what is her weakness now will someday be her strength.

I have spanked; grounded her from games, to her room, spending the night with her family; made her stand in the corner....what are your other suggestions.  Nothing seems to phase her or keep her from repeating the same thing...by the way she's 4!!

Supper

For all you mommies out there...how do you plan out meal time:  Daily, weekly, monthly, spur of the moment, by what sounds good....  I shop weekly but sometimes I feel like I'm never in the mood for what I bought for the week (anyone else feel that way?).  Do you always have the same side dishes for the same meal...cuz I feel like I do.  Funny how sometimes we just get in the routine of making a meal and that's just how it all goes together.  So I guess I'm looking for new ideas for dinner times meals (sides and all).