New blog!

This is a quick note to say that I am so grateful to everyone who reads this blog! I am always amazed people want to read my ramblings :)

I want to keep this blog centered on parenting and my faith. As you may know, I love researching names and discussing them with people. So I have decided to set up a blog about names! I will discuss a name, a theme or a trend in each post. The link is below, feel free to take a look.

http://thenamery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/benedict.html?m=1

Conversations

I've had a couple of tricky conversations with Chloe this week. One was funny, the other was not.

The funny conversation was about how Chloe needs to stop talking about my boobies! She told everyone at dinner round my parents that 'Livia bites mummy's boobies'; thanks darling. There was a lot if laughter which led to her repeating it over and over! Chloe then said to me the other day that my boobies were 'beautiful' - don't panic, she meant my jumper not my boobs! I don't tend to wander round in the nude! (Can you see why I want this blog to stay a secret from my pupils at school!) So I had to try and explain why we don't talk about boobies in public. Not sure she's got that one yet which is a little worrying.

The second tricky conversation happened when Chloe opened the door to some Jehovah's Witnesses whilst I was upstairs. I had to explain to her that it was dangerous to open the door when I wasn't there. Naturally she wanted to know why. I explained that sometimes there weren't very nice people around who might take her away or hurt her. I don't know whether this was a bit too much for a 3 year old but my heart was still racing from finding her taking to strangers at the front door so I guess I was trying to scare her a little. 

Chloe then broke my heart by saying, 'But naughty people don't exist do they'. I think she was treating this idea like the monsters that I always tell her are not real. I felt awful having to tell her that, yes they are real, but that she didn't have to worry about them because I was looking after her and God was too.

I can't wait to be in God's kingdom where the 'naughty people' don't exist.

'Mummy, did you have a good day at work?'

Yes, my 3 year old daughter actually asked me this question this evening. I was a bit taken aback but really touched by her thoughtfulness (ok so she was probably mainly copying how I always ask her if she has had a good day, but hey, still impressive to me!). We then had a really nice conversation about what I do at work. I've never really shared with Chloe about the school I work at ('it's called a boarding school so some pupils live there', 'only girls are allowed at mummy's school' and 'we eat dinner all together in a big hall'). She was really interested and kept asking 'and then what?' Se enjoyed hearing stories about pupils being 'naughty' the most. We then had to play schools whilst the girls had dinner (Livia was the teacher). 

It was nice to combine my two worlds and share that part of my life with Chloe. She even learnt some Latin...

Me: 'puella means girl.'

Chloe: 'that sounds like poo. Ugh stinky!'

Ha! And back to being a 3 year old :)

Fragile

I have noticed a change in Chloe the last couple of weeks, due to her growing up rather than anything that has happened (I think). She seems much more 'fragile' all of a sudden. She has always been my fierce, confident, headstrong little warrior. It is very rare that she will cry on being left or be intimidated by a situation. Or at least that is how I have viewed her. But recently I have been reminded of how fragile and precious she is and how she needs protecting and encouraging.

Chloe is suddenly becoming worried and fearful of things. I think this is partly due to an amazing imagination but also more of an awareness of consequences. 2 year old Chloe might be told she can borrow something but must be careful not to break it and she will swing it around, sit on it and not really care. However this situation happened to 3 year old Chloe today and she has been worrying about breaking it since ('mummy you must be very careful, hold it in two hands!'). She is also fearful of the dark and being outside after it's dark (which is so early now!) and also of roads and being hit by a car. In the car park the other day she became upset when I went to pay for the parking because she thought I might be hit by a car.

I also saw a fragile side to my daughter when I went to help out at her preschool on Monday. I was really intrigued to see Chloe interacting with the other children and what she was like in an environment where she was more independent. However, with me there, she didn't want to leave my side and was upset when the other children want to play with me. There are some loud characters there, even louder than her, and she seemed quite intimidated. I felt so protective of her in this new social environment.

I feel a little unsure of how to support Chloe with these fears. I try to encourage her and reassure her without saying that she is silly for feeling this way. I remind her of God's love for her and that he's always with her. I'm now aware that I probably need to have a softer way with her than I have before. I love discovering new things about my children. Knowing Chloe's weaknesses has made me love her more. I have that fierce mother's desire to protect and fight for my daughter and her little heart.

Disney love

Now Chloe is old enough, we have started to make our way through all the old Disney films. So far we have watched Jungle Book, Aristocats, Robin Hood, Cinderella and Peter Pan. Chloe LOVES Peter Pan! All her games at the moment are pirate-related.

We also have a Disney CD in the car so I can't escape it! But I must admit that I am really enjoying all the Disney. There's something so magical about the castle appearing at the beginning and that sense of anticipation which I had as a child before the film began. I love how enchanted Chloe is with the stories and how they capture her imagination. 

Hurrah for snuggling under a blanket (perhaps with some chocolate treats!) and settling down for a Disney film all together. 

"Can a woman forget...?"

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me."

Isaiah 49:15-16

I am thankful this evening for the love that God has given me for my children. I thank my Heavenly Father for giving me a glimpse of his love for us through the way I feel towards my two girls.

I want to protect them, fight for them and pick them back up. I want to encourage them, teach them, lead them and challenge them. I want to strengthen them, empower them and build them up. I want them to know I am always proud of them and love them no matter what.

It really upsets me to see stories of children neglected or mistreated by their parents. We can't believe it when we hear those sort of things. It seems like it has always been this way; the verse from Isaiah above asks, 'Can a woman forget?' 

Thank you Lord that even when mothers do 'forget' (or neglect or mistreat), you have us engraved on your hands, always remembered. I love you Father. I want to learn from your example.

LOUD

Children can be so loud! I know this is an obvious statement but I am really struggling with Chloe's loudness at the moment! To the point where I am wondering if it normal and if we should get her hearing tested. She does have recurring ear infections so I suppose it is possible her hearing has been affected. What do you think?

When she was a baby it was funny when she made loud noises. Now Livia is finding her voice, we often praise her for babbling and squealing. But with Chloe at age 3, it is so much harder to accept! She will shout when she's playing make-believe games, scream when she's frustrated, shout to get our attention, sing at the top her lungs etc.

I don't want to be a spoilsport or not allow Chloe to be a child but I can't take the noise all of the time! I do sometimes get comments about how loud she is so perhaps I am justified in wondering if it is normal? I think I will book a dr's appointment just to get it checked out so we know.

It's funny how children love to make noise. Livia loves to find something which she can happily bang on our wooden floor. She went through a stage a couple of weeks ago where she would scream (in a happy way) all the time. It got a few strange looks when out shopping!

Maybe I'm just destined I have noisy children! I think it comes from having a noisy husband ;)

Praying for wisdom for when to challenge the loudness and when to let it go. And for grace to accept my children as they are.