LilSugar

Does It Offend You When Strangers Offer Help?

LilSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:00:01 -0800

Life is full of surprises when you have kids. One tot might throw a tantrum in Target and another may meltdown mid-meal at a restaurant or dart out into traffic when you are walking down the street. It happens, and moms deal, but how they resolve the circumstance makes a difference. Motherhood is a sorority of sorts, and many women with children offer to lend a hand when they see one of their sisters struggling in a situation that is all too familiar. How do you respond if or when other people ask if you'd like assistance?

Moses Martin Is Gwyneth Paltrow's Lil Critic

LilSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:00:31 -0700

If your tot has ever thrown a fit as you've headed out the door, Gwyneth Paltrow can relate. The Oscar winning mama to two, Apple, 4, and Moses, 2, had a harried experience with her lil man prior to the premiere of Valentino: The Last Emperor. The glamorous actress chatted about the incident. A People report said:

“It was hectic getting ready. We just flew in yesterday for this. And my kids are really jetlagged. And my son had a meltdown. But we got out the door,” although not without a struggle. “He was very upset by these hair clips they put in to keep your hair back when you’re getting your makeup done,” she explained. “He hated them. He was livid. But I’m here. I made it.” So did Moses have an opinion about the dress? “He did not like it,” said Paltrow. “He’s very specific. My daughter really liked it. She also chose my nail polish color.”

It seems like Moses, who will be three in a couple of weeks, already has definite opinions on things.

Source

Family Ties: Airport Meltdown

LilSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:45:53 -0700

You hear about kids that have meltdowns on planes and in airports and you feel for the parents, not ever really believing it will be you. And, then it is. My daughter is a trooper and a traveler, my son is a different story. After three trips without incident, we never could have anticipated what happened to us.

My charming darling who points out every airplane he sees in the sky pitched the mother of all fits as our family was about to go through airport security. At 20 months, he unleashed a guttural howl that could peel paint off walls and make a person's eyes bleed. With one hand on my umbrella stroller and the other wrapped around my flailing child, I flew across the airport looking for an elevator to take him outside where I figured he would fall asleep. But in fumbling for an exit, an airport employee approached my son and ordered him to be quiet. Giving us both the evil eye, she told me he was terrorizing travelers and that I was a lousy mother. A kind woman in her sixties came up behind her asking if I needed any help just as the elevator doors shut and my out-of-sorts son and I descended. A few moments later, she tracked us down, told me the airport staffer had been out of line and noticing my dwindling milk supply, offered to go buy my son a refill. The woman, a grandma, who had just dropped her granddaughter off for a flight, returned with milk, a muffin, and encouraging words for my son. In the process, he calmed down.

Not knowing if we'd missed our flight, she checked its boarding status. We went back upstairs as I braced myself and she told me we could stay with her if we were unable to fly. I gave her a huge hug and expressed my gratitude before filing in line behind a hundred people to go back through security. To hear what happened, read more.

We met my husband and daughter just in time to board the plane, and then we sat on the runway for thirty minutes, before being told that everyone was being deplaned as a storm had come in and there were dozens of planes stuck on the runway. After exiting, my husband and I discussed the possibility of driving home for thirteen hours through the storm as we didn't know how long our son would last at the airport. We stocked up on beverages and snacks and while he took my daughter and proceeded to the gate, I strolled my son down the people movers determined to put him to sleep. It worked and we re-boarded, only to sit on the runway for another 45 minutes. At the time we should have been back home unpacking, we finally took off. And, with an hour left of the flight our lil guy woke up.

I spent the next sixty minutes reading books like I have never read before - acting out the characters and flipping the pages back and forth to hold his interest. All the fluids caught up with him and I felt a bit of a leak on my leg, but stayed seated knowing that if I got up, it would be over. I have never been more exuberant or exhausted than when the plane touched down at SFO. As we taxied, having not made a peep during the flight, my wild child waved to the other landing planes. As we exited he high fived the pilot. Though we won't be flying again until next Summer, in addition to giving me a few gray hairs and wrinkles, the experience strengthened the bond between my son and me. As a mother, the piercing stares, shaking heads, and opinions of a stranger don't matter because the only person you are focused on and committed to is your child.
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Baby Wellness: Tantrums

LilSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:00:12 -0800

Most children pitch fits every once in a while, but how can new parents tell when the upset is more than just a tantrum?

While little research has been done on tantrums, Washington University recently conducted a study of children aged 3-to-6 years old that found five red flags that may prove a child's fit is indicative of a psychiatric disorder. A WebMD article said:

"Essentially, we found five tantrum styles. They were strongly associated with specific diagnoses," Belden says. "No one I have met can look at a tantrum and give a diagnosis, but these are definitely red flags worth looking into in terms of getting a mental health referral from a pediatrician."

While many children exhibit some of the following warning signs, the constant occurrence of these indicators is what proves worrisome.

Aggression toward caregivers and objects.
Injuring themselves.
Frequency - 10 to 20 tantrums a month or five a day on multiple days.
Tantrums that last more than 25 minutes.
Not able to calm down after fit.

Source

lil Links: Santa Tantrum Awards...Vote Now!

LilSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:00:12 -0800

Santa tantrum award...vote now! - The Poop
Ryder Robinson hit the slopes! - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Losing a postpartum double chin - Alpha Mom
Molly Shannon and her stripey son - Celebrity Baby Blog
Life will go on... - An Island Life
CARE and holiday births - Fit Pregnancy
Was your baby-to-be in your holiday card - CafeMom
Acupuncture and pregnancy - Parent Dish

Lil Tip: Step Outside

babysugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:00:49 -0700

Occasionally my 22-month-old daughter will lose her mind over something trivial or even inexplicable. During her tantrums, I have tried to pacify her with a book, a hug, a treat or other items. When none of those work, I have discovered that a change in scenery works best.

The next time your tot throws a fit, consider changing her environment. Take her for a walk around the block or a trip to the grocery. It helps to take wee minds off of whatever was bothering them. Pretty soon, they may forget what it was in the first place.
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First Furious Fit

babysugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:00:15 -0700

They say there's a first for everything. And the other day it was my daughter's first furious fit.

Early in the day, she enjoyed breakfast followed with a hardy nap. When she woke from it, she was more like a crazed animal than my sweet daughter.

To see what happened, read more.

Straight out of the crib, my bookworm babe repeatedly said, "Book!" so I gave her a book. She tossed it across the room and then started whaling, "Boooooooook!" Confused, I kept trying to hand her book after book.

Then, I sat her on my lap and attempted to read her favorite story. She finally calmed down a bit. Thinking the battle was over, I tried to finish dressing her. But, just as soon as the first sock went on, the tears and wails returned - only this round was worse.

Snot was draining as much as her crocodile tears. I took her to my bed in an attempt to lie down and read another book to her. She arched, screamed and writhed around until I finally gave up. Despite her saddened red face, I struggled to put socks and shoes on her tiny feet.

As soon as that task was complete, I took her outside for a walk, which always makes her happy. The fresh air and sunshine were just what the doctor ordered.

Peace was restored – eyes were dry and she was smiling from ear to ear.

I have my suspicions, but will never know what set her off.

Has this ever happened to you? What was your baby's first fit?
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15 Signs That a Family Is Super Technologically Connected

LilSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:45:58 -0700

We live in a connected world. It seems like every member of the family has some tie to technology, even the wee ones. Here are some signs:

Your fetus has a domain name.
You choreograph her labor and delivery to an iPod playlist.
Your tot's favorite toy is the DVR remote.
A childhood milestone is becoming part of the mobile "family plan."
Your youngster throws "screen time" tantrums.
Your daughter tells you about her day via Facebook and instant messenger.
You text your husband reminders throughout the day.
You vent to your mom friends on Twitter.
Your babe bobs his head to the beat of your iPhone ring.
You kiddos think all phones have cameras.
Your tot doesn't have an imaginary friend, but a virtual one.
Your son goes to baseball practice on the Wii.
The kids ask Santa for wireless.
Your tweens have Kindles instead of library cards.
Your children love to sit down and get nostalgic scrolling through their baby blog.

What Is Your Tot's Favorite Toy Right Now?

babysugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:30:36 -0700

Kids are a fickle bunch. Their favorite food one night could be the root of a temper tantrum the next and the t-shirt they insist on wearing every day for a week can sit in the drawer the following one. But once lil ones find something they like, they can grasp onto it for what seems like forever.

Over the holidays my oldest son received a box of Kaskey Kids Football Guys ($30), a case of plastic football figurines that can be moved across a felt field in a mock game. At first, he didn't know what to do with the figures, but over the course of three months, he and the players have become inseparable. He takes them into the bath, situates them around his place mat at dinner and hides a few in his backpack for school. I never would have thought that a preschooler could become so attached to such nondescript figures.

What is your child's favorite toy right now?

What's Your Secret Weapon?

babysugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:15 -0800

Every mom has an ace in her pocket. When all else fails, we all have a secret weapon we turn to for curing an uncooperative tot. For my daughter it was Elmo; anything and everything red and furry would usually stop her mid-tantrum and return a sweet smile to her face. I always made sure her babysitters knew that if things weren't going well, it was more than OK to give her a quick fix of Elmo's World.

So tell us, what is your secret weapon? Join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar Community and share your tips! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.