My mother-in-law has said to me that being a parent now is more difficult than when she was parenting her children.  She said that 40 years ago keeping them healthy, fed and clothed was enough.  There wasn’t any pressure, or desire, to be a Supermom.  She says that now she sees young mothers worried about so many things she just doesn’t understand. 

Her children say that she was a great mother, but she never played with them, or brought them to enrichment type activities.  She was  pretty hands-off.  Vacations or weekends did not revolve around the children and what they wanted to do.  Children played with children and the adults hung out with the adults.  Now adults are expected to play with their children, to entertain them.

For the record, I rarely play.

One of the things that I consciously chose to do differently than my parents is to take my children’s feelings seriously.  I don’t minimize their feelings.  I distinctly remember being a child and having my parents tell me to stop feeling whatever it was I was feeling whether  it was being sad, or angry, or happy. 

I also tolerate a lot more discussion on things than my parents ever would have– they would have called it answering back.  Though I remember my mother saying the same thing when she was raising me, that her mother strictly adhered to the philosophy that children should be seen and not heard.

I never had chores growing up, my children most definitely have chores.  I never had an allowance, my children do.  I had no choice in my extra curricular activites, my children are allowed to choose.  I took piano lessons I hated for years.

What about you?  Do you parent your children differently than the way that you were parented?    Or do you use your parents as a yardstick to try and measure  up to?

We are  on day four of non-stop rain here.  That might not seem like a lot of inclimate weather to most of you, but I live on the face of the sun and we are not used to rain here.  We are not used to being cooped up indoors.  We are not used to this thing called mud.  We are used to sunshine and swimming in pools and eating popsicles.  That is what we do for fun.  And by we I mean my children.  My idea of fun on the face of the sun involves much more air conditioning and fruity drinks with little umbrellas.

So today on day four of non stop rain my 4 yr old son and I sat and stared at each other for awhile.  My suggestions for fun activities such as organize mommy’s closet, clean toilets, or pay the bills so we can keep enjoying our electricity, were met with as much disgust as a four year old can muster.

So I did what any desperate parent does, I searched online for ideas.  Just so you know, 4 yr old boys are NOT interested in perusing the JCrew website.  I know, it was shocking to me also.

1) Treasure hunt: Ooooooh, my kids  love this.  I usually just hide one small toy in a room and they have to find it.  Sort of like hide and seek but not with a person. 

2) Wash dishes: Let’s just say that all my tupperware is very clean.  And possibly still soapy.

3) Set up an obstacle course inside.  My kids love these too.  Especially if I will time them.  In fact, they love to do anything more if it can be timed. 

4) Make some playdough.

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 cup salt
• food coloring

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled.
5) Make a fort out of blankets.  And then eat lunch inside of it.

6) Bake a cake.  Just because. 

7) Play the game Mommy Takes a Nap.  Yeah, this one doesn’t go over too well at my house either.

Remember in 2007 or so when I wrote about switching from plastic water bottles to SIGG bottles?

(Links here and here)

Well, guess what?  SIGG has come out and admitted that the liner of their water bottles isn’t BPA (Bisphenol A) free.  Many people, myself included, like to limit their exposure and that of their children to Bisphenol A in their food and drink containers.

SIGG has done just that with their SIGG Bottle liners manufactured after August 2008. The greater issue is that SIGG led people to believe that their water bottles were ALWAYS BPA free. So folks, like me, who wanted to reduce their exposure to BPA bought the bottles.

From now through the end of October, SIGG is offerring a return program whereby you can return your bottles with the old liner and have them replaced with new bottles. Follow the instructions at their website. You will have to pay to ship your bottles back to them.

We have 10 SIGG bottles that I will be sending back for my own peace of mind. But I still feel annoyed at the company for lying about the BPA in the first place.