Insights in Motherhood

Well, it's been a week. A week with a two year old and a four year old, and honestly, I'm having a lot of fun. After my first week of being a nanny, I have learned a lot of things. Here are a few:

- Motherhood is a full-time job
- Single mom's are the strongest people I know
- Patience is something I learn every day
- A child crying while they're trying to tell you they want a peanut butter "swamich" is hilarious
- Older children get blamed a lot for stuff
- Younger children are usually more quiet and mischievous
- Older kids need special alone time with you
- Organization is the only way you'll get through a day and keep your cool
- Children are not little adults
- You will never know it all, and you can't be ignorant in thinking you already do
- Read, read, read!
- It doesn't matter if someone thinks they're your kids or not, they will still offer advice on how to raise them
- Kids get over things quickly - adults don't
- When a kid is misbehaving, it's usually rooted with something you've done wrong (past nap time, hungry, you didn't tell the rules beforehand, etc)
- There's only so many times you can sing Six Little Ducks before you go quackers
- I can leave the kids at the end of the day but parents come home to them
- Squealing kids running to greet you is a great feeling
- Flashcards are a great invention
- Toddlers need to understand you are understanding what they are feeling - it usually causes them to drop whatever it is they seem to be hung up on
- Good manners will take you far in life
- Poopy is a hot topic when there are strangers around
- A two year old will always poop right before you head out the door
- Sock color is a big deal
- Doing it all by yourself is something to be proud of
- Asking for help (with please) is something adults still don't know how to do
- Peanut butter, grapes, raspberries, crackers, strawberries, cereal, milk, mac & cheese, apple juice - basic diet
- There's usually something more entertaining than t.v.
- Sometimes you just want to be rocked to sleep
- Always give a warning when you're about to change the activity
- Leave plenty of time for an unexpected tantrum and still get to school on time
- Children love to be read to
- There will be plenty of people to tell you to color in the lines. If bunny rabbits are blue, and teddy bears are green, who am I to argue?
- Praying every day with kids keeps you laughing with God

And that's just the first week!