Dee: (The) Mama Blog

Jeremiah's 5 now.. and I'm still trying to find a way for him to express big emotions...  He has a good understanding of tired, hungry, angry, upset, sad, happy... but more complex emotions like anxious, overwhelmed, confused.. those types.. I don't think he has caught on and I have no idea how I can get him to understand those feelings. He still has meltdowns and tantrums because that is the only way he can get all of the frustration, confusion, feelings of being overwhelmed out. I try my best to model 'big' emotions.. like being 'confused' or 'frustrated' or 'annoyed'... but Jeremiah still hasn't grasped it. Sometimes when he does get to that level of frustration, I will say to him 'Ok Jeremiah, I know you are frustrated about what just happened.. but it doesn't mean you hit your brother' or something around those lines.. I need some help here... we are still working with his speech.. but before speech comes, understanding h

I've been really reflective over the past two or so weeks.. because this motherhood/parenthood journey is a lot more than I ever could have thought. The child that grew in us for 9 months is out and now we are holding this blessing in our hands.. and now we have to figure out what to do to keep this small human healthy, happy, protected-- and as they grow they are going to have more needs, more wants, and are going to want to know what is going on around them, why this happens to certain people and not others.. ..and it is us that have to figure out how to raise them, advise them, protect them, shield (for as long as possible) them for particular things... and sometimes we have to do this as well as going through our own personal storms and tribulations... internally we are withering but we still have to appear put together and strong for our children (even though children are extremely perceptive to so many things) and continue this parenthood journey. Motherhood/parenthood has no

When you have more than one child.. how are you able to have quality time with them.. JUST them? It's all well and good when we all go out together.. but obviously every child wants to spend time with JUST mummy or JUST daddy right? There's something that I want to start doing with my boys.. single out two days in the month and take each child out to spend time with me-- we always spend time together but they also need time with just me-- I've sort of been silently brainstorming how to do this-- but I believe it will just give them that sense of reassurance and also to strengthen the bond and connection because I always notice how they both try to fight for my attention.. and I don't actually like that... Does that mean they are not getting ENOUGH attention from me? If that's the case, that needs to be repaired ASAP because kids that want attention will do anything to get it.. even if it's negative and that's not the greatest thing to see. And I'm trying

"Mummy, scary monster!" "Where?" "Over there, I'm scared." "Oh no.. there's no monster, ok?" "Mummy.. over there" "Ok, take this spoon and go and hit the monster! You're strong and brave!" "Yeah! I'm strong!"

So as my boys are now into their 3rd week of going to school... I'm just grateful.. When Jeremiah was struggling in the first week-- I had a meeting with the headteacher and the SENCO.. who immediately wanted to work out what we can all do for the settling in process to be as smooth as possible for Jeremiah. I got a call prior to this meeting and I just thought of the absolute worst... But when they sat me down and told me 'We want Jeremiah to have the best experience possible here" I was encouraged and knew that this school is for him. I prayed and prayed for God to pick the school that both Jeremiah and Matthew would thrive in-- because one thing I have been pleading to God for is their education. I was reassured just by what she said that this is that school-- I want the best for both of my boys and whatever I can do to make that happen (with God's help) I will make it happen. I want my boys to do MORE than what I did.. I want them to be successful... and it all sta

So... with all of this time I have on my hands when I drop the kids to school... I'm getting back into my first love... which is writing. Well.. I have Mon-Weds (Matthew only does part time at nursery).. so now I have to make time for Diana not Jeremiah and Matthew's mum. So many ideas have been dropping in my mind to do as well.. but it's just how to execute them... One of them is to for sure write another book.. (well BOOKS, but one at a time right?) But I am looking forward to half term these school runs are taking a lot out of me.. but I am embracing all of the exercise I'm getting out of it lol