Fun Responsibility for E

I thought about starting to teach my toddler more about responsibility, okay I guess I need to come to terms with the fact that E is almost a preschooler (almost 3! Yikes!).  It's time for her to learn a little about being responsible for her things.  So my first lesson in responsibility was cleaning up her toys.  She started doing this at about 2.  Every night we play clean-up and she has to put all her toys in their respective boxes and baskets.  She has done this well for a while and we needed to move on to bigger things. 

So this week I decided taking care of something would be great in teaching her about responsibility.  Something small, not something she could kill really, but something fun.  No, not a puppy, some plants!  So we went out and bought some seeds, pots, dirt, and a very cute watering can.  And then we planted.  Now everyday it is her job to water her seeds so they can grow, and in time she will see the reward of her hard work- flowers.

Is it too early to instill some responsibility in our 2 and 3 year old kids?  I think not.  Raising responsible kids starts now.  They can handle small chores and tasks and if we make it fun they will want to.  E loves to clean up her toys now as she sings and dances to her version of the clean-up song because she thinks it is fun. She is loving her watering job because she gets to use her cute watering can.  So even at such a young age we can start teaching them responsibility without taking away from the fun of childhood.  Let's just put some fun into the responsibility.

The Bare Toddler

The weather here has been wonderful today.  The sun is shinning and there is a cool gentle breeze.  We have been enjoying a great day outside in the sun.  I decided to get my bathing suit on, lay out and get a tan while I read this months Parenting magazine. So as I laid out the blanket on the grass Emily runs inside and strips down naked. She then runs outside and lays down next to me so proud of herself and happy that she is without her clothes. However cute I think her little naked tush is, I think, at almost 3 she is beyond the point of running around naked.

Modesty is a strange lesson to teach. I don't want her to be embarrassed of her body but I don't want her to be unaware of the need to cover up.  She loves to be undressed and even has a 'naked dance' as we call it.  She sings "naked, naked, naked" while sticking her bare little tush out and shaking it.  It really is adorable. 

When do toddlers need to cover up?  Is nudity okay in the house so long as its not in public?  Where do we draw the line?

As I do some research on the subject though, it seems nudity is just another behavioral milestone.  Nudity gives a 2 or 3 year old a sense of control.  So maybe her love for naked time is okay at home at certain times.  But I think even in our backyard we should wear a bathing suit to run through the sprinklers. 

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Manners at Macy's

I went to the mall today.  By myself with both kids.  That is not an easy task, but I had to go dress shopping for a ball we are going to this weekend.  So to the mall we went, with my big double wide stroller and two impatient kids.  The kids I could handle, the people at the mall were another story.

Manners are a pretty basic thing.  I have started teaching manners to Emily.  I hope she also learns her manners by my actions.  Today, we learned manners by others actions.  We went only to Macy's.  Going directly in the store, instead of through the mall, there is no automatic door opener.  So here I was struggling with the door and my difficult to maneuver stroller, clearly loosing a war with a door.  I probably looked like a total idiot, but whatever, I'm sure we've all been there before.  So these people are walking towards the door from the inside to go out, they see me struggling, even make eye contact, then go for another door.  No, my friends, they did not help.  Lesson one:  hold the door open for others.  Its common courtesy right?  Or am I the only one left who does that?

So after we finally struggle our way into the door we head to the elevator to head up stairs.  As we try to exit the elevator on the second floor people are so rushed to get in I can hardly make my way out.  I know what your thinking.  Maybe they didn't know I was leaving.  No.  They really did.  Lesson 2: Let people off the elevator before you bombard your way in.

So I found a dress and went back downstairs to find some shoes.  As I was looking around the perimeter I came across some women.  They were standing in the isle talking.  I patiently waited on one side for them to move on so I could pass.  The looked at me and the stroller and moved right in front of me to different shoes and stood there talking some more.  Really, I swear, I am not making any of this up.  So there I was stuck by these women who clearly did not care that I was wanting to move.  Lesson 3:  Be aware and courteous of people around you.  Move over if people want to get by.

So thank you people at Macy's!  You really taught my kids some good lessons today.  Thank you for the opportunity to show my kids not to be rude like you.  I couldn't have asked for better examples.  Here is a good article on teaching your toddle manners.  Maybe together we can teach the world better manners, one kid at a time.  Happy Wednesday!
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