We have known for a while now that Korben really is too big to be in a stroller. The problem is, that he is really hard to contain in any other way, so I have continued to put him in them. This usually leads to lots of trying to escape, fights between him and Logan, overall frustration on my part and giving up on shopping or going anywhere in general.
I decided to try and treat him like he is 3 (novel idea) and have started pushing Logan in the umbrella stroller and asking Korben to help me push. Although this makes for some interesting maneuvering on my part, it is working. Korben loves to feel strong and independent, and if he starts to wander I can always ask him to help me push and he is right back on track. We have had successful trips to the library, to his school, and to Target. Woot!
The other battle has been going to the grocery story. I have been putting Korben in the cart because he would run off. This made it really hard to get groceries since I had to stack them around him. That would be okay if he would sit still, but instead, he would stand up the whole time making me nervous he was going to fall on his head. Then he would jump up and down making it hard to put anything mashable near him. And don't even think about putting eggs or grapes in the cart with him because those items are just to hard for a little boy to resist.
Since the stroller thing was working so well, I decided to let him walk by me yesterday in Winco. At first it just made him cry because Logan thought it was funny to kick him in the face and to pull his fingers off of the bar. However, he soon figured out that he could push more to the side and avoid this...it also gave him a good view of everything we passed, so he was pretty stoked about that. I'm happy to say it went VERY well at the store. He would occasionally wander off a little bit, but he found a great deal on animal crackers, so who am I to say nay? He loved helping me get the milk, pick out tomatoes and load the groceries on the conveyor belt. I loved having room in my cart, not having to worry about where to place things and not having to constantly beg him to sit down/be careful.
I think I just need to be better about trying these things out with Korben. It might be more work for a bit on my part, but I really should give him the benefit of the doubt rather than treating him like a baby.
Lots of lessons being learned this week. Will I ever feel like I've got a handle on this Mom thing?
10 comments:
If you ever figured it out you would have to write a book to save all the rest of the struggling mothers in the world---and then you would have another child and none of the things that you figured out would work for them. :S I think it is called the Law of Motherhood or something.
That's great that your letting Korben help out more. I have problems letting Sydney help. When she was little she use to crawl over the the dishwasher and try to touch everything! A few weeks ago she went over to the dishwasher wile I was unloading it and despite my warning started to hand me silverware, it took me a while to realize she was trying to help and that I really shouldn't discourage it. It just takes time, and I don't believe any of us have a handle on this Mom thing. Lots of hope.
I spent years never ever shopping during the day. I did all my shopping in the evenings or on Saturdays so I could leave the kids with dad and avoid the stress. I remember taking all four kids to Walmart one year to do Christmas shopping and swearing to never, on pain of death, do that again.
I'm glad you have figured out a system that is working. I love breakthroughs like that! Perfect.
I'm so glad it's working better for you! I took Josh shopping yesterday at Smiths and they have little miniature carts for kids to push. Well Josh thought that was the coolest thing ever. It's the most pleasant trip I've ever had with the little stink. He loaded up his cart and was so helpful :) They even bagged some groceries and put them in his cart for him to push out to the car. I guess what I'm saying is if you ever see a little cart, GRAB IT! It works wonders!
I love all of your family pics, by the way. They turned out awesome! You look beautiful!
I am glad that you have found something that works for you and makes your day easier and allows Korben to be more independent! Good job Super Mama!
Hmmm. . maybe I should let Nathan out of the cart then. Of course, I'm more for Denise' idea - leave 'em home. Not always an option but sure helpful when it is.
Gosh I so remember those feelings of dreading shopping with the kids. What am I talking about I still do. Only know the two boys are either wrestling or chasing each other through the isles. Then I feel silly for getting mad at them when they are having fun "it's not the playground so not here" but we shop faster this way. Shawn's gotten to the point where it's okay for us to split up to find things.
Anyway, I'm really excited for the successes you're enjoying with Korben growing up.
I am still taking the car seat into the store with me because it keeps Max contained and because he fights getting back in. Pretty soon that is not going to work. I just get a handle on something and then it all changes. And sometimes I should have changed it earlier but I get used to one thing and all of a sudden realize, oh hey, I should probably start doing things differently.
it sounds like things are going really well with korben. you are an amazing mom. it is always a challenge to get out with kids isn't it?
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