I'm not cooking seperate meals

There are mums who cook one meal for themselves and their partner and separate meals for their children because their children don't like to eat what the parents are eating.

There are mums who cook basic dishes only because they're the only meals the children will eat. She misses out on the types of food she likes because her children refuse to eat anything else.

There are mums who have partners with really plain palettes who won't eat anything remotely exciting, interesting, tasty or different. They either have to eat those bland meals or cook something separate for themselves.

I know mums who barely or rarely cook for their children because their children won't eat much of anything. So it's takeaway and junk food.

When it come to dinner time they way I see it is this. 

Making Phone Calls

"Answer me this…"  I asked one of my children after I got off the phone.

Phone calls have become a rare luxury in my house. Anytime I dare to make or receive a phone call I run the risk of this being the day my children decide to muck around, i.e. start a game they know will end badly (or should know because it’s happened before). Either one child is in tears because they didn’t like the game or rules but didn’t speak up and is now whinging after the fact. Or one is arguing with me about how the other one didn’t speak up so how are they to know they don’t like the game? Well, maybe because they didn’t like the game last time so there’s every chance they won't like it this time; or maybe because there was an audible change in the way they laughed, and if I can hear it while I'm on the phone, you should be able to hear it as well. Right?

First I talk to my dad, then my partner calls, so I luxuriously had two phone calls in a row. This also meant I was occupied for a longer period time and while the cat is away the mice shall play. 

During the phone call with dad I can hear them, so they’re making noise, but it’s not bad noise. At first one is painting while another is in their room tidying up. Then comes some louder talking and hanging around each other. When my partner calls they’re in the garage looking at their bikes. They talk on the phone with their dad for a bit then I leave them to their bikes while I continue my phone call.

After a while they’re no longer in the garage and I can hear them getting louder, mucking around more. One doesn’t sound overly happy but it’s hard to tell. I wish;

1) that they’re speak up for themselves and say I don’t like this game, 

2) that the other would know by now that this is a game the other is NOT going to like because it involves strength (which one sibling has over the other).

Cotton ball parenting

Do you let your children get dirty, muddy and wet? Do you let them climb trees? Do you let them eat food that dropped on the floor (assuming your house it not a pig sty)? Do you allow them to run and jump and ride a bike and get right into being a child?

Friends I know have a little girl they allow to be little girl, to run and fall and climb trees and explore her world.

Often other parents will say things like "She's climbing a tree! But what if she falls?" or "She fell over aren't you going to help her?"

Most of the time she falls and it's nothing, she's back on her feet running again. She's not crying and not in need of help. Imagine if her mum ran to her every time she fell! It's like saying don't move and don't have fun. And I've known children who weren't allowed to leave the couch when going to visit people, no matter how bored they were. Sad and awful and not fun.

As for climbing trees, I climbed trees when I was growing up, I still climb them now even though I did fall out of one as a teenager. I landed on my elbow and thought I broke my arm. My dad inspected the damage and all was well and I was able to go back out and climb some more, none the worse for ware.

I also had incredible bike accidents, though thankfully nothing more than bumps and scratches. And I ate of the ground and am still alive to talk about it.

Getting hurt is part of life. There are bee stings and falls, bike accidents and burns, a germy lolly on the ground that looks enticing to a small person, along with broken hearts as we get older. 

It is part of life and what experiencing life is all about. No matter what, we cannot save our children from everything that will hurt them during their life. It's all well to try the best you can to protect your children and keep them safe, however you still must let them learn about and explore their world.  

Teach them the things they can do, teach them they're strong and capable and courageous and curious.  Let them be children and allow them to have as much fun as they can.