My favorite Soda

I hail proudly from the mid-west where we call sugary, carbonated beverages "Pop" and are on day two of dreary but much needed rain. I have been contemplating why we are called the mid-west, as we are quite far from the true midpoint of the country in Oklahoma but... back to soda.

I have three favorite sodas:

I don't recommend consuming them as is. I find the flavor a bit salty.



Soda #1 - the classic Baking Soda is obviously for baking and deodorizing the refrigerator. I most commonly use it for my daughter's eczema and "cradle cap" head. My previous hair specialist (who moved to Texas and is much missed!) recommended 1 Tbl. Baking Soda combined with 1/4 cup salt. Add water to the mixture to form a paste and scrub into baby's hair and scalp instead of shampoo. The salt exfoliates skin while the Baking Soda cleans hair and skin. Since both my babies had hair, the "baby oil under a cap" trick was rather messy. This is easier, less time consuming and more effective. Find Baking Soda in the baking aisle of your grocery store.



Soda #2 - Washing Soda. My mother brought me a box of this wonderful agent and a plastic tub. She taught me that Washing Soda softens laundry water in addition to having cleaning and deodorizing power. I soak soiled clothing in a tub of cold water with 1/8 cup Washing Soda. It helps clean the "soils" and prevent stains from body fluids, if you catch my drift. I also use 1/4 to 1/2 cup Washing Soda in lieu of detergent to "wash" brand new clothes, clothes from storage that were put away clean, in really dirty loads of laundry and as an additive when washing cloth diapers (1/4 regular amount of detergent plus 2Tbl Washing Soda per load of diapers). I buy Washing Soda at Meijer.



Soda #3 - Club Soda. As a baby, I vomited on an airplane, all over the man in a suit behind my mother (she was holding me on her shoulder). The airline attendant used Club Soda to deodorize and clean the affected clothing of all parties involved. Again, the soda works as a deodorizer and cleaning agent. On our recent vacation, I visited four stores before finding the above pictured bottle of Club Soda (over-priced in my opinion) at RiteAid to clean Thing One's car seat after he vomited in the car. Lovely. I typically keep some on hand for potty-learning mishaps on the couch or carpet. While Kroger in Kentucky does not carry Club Soda, Meijer in Michigan does.

Happy Cleaning!

What Were We Thinking?

Our family is on vacation this week in the southeastern part of the country. We made a stop in Nashville and it was recommended to us to visit the Rainforest Cafe, which was very close to our hotel. Todd and I thought, why not? The kids love animals! Yes, but not animatronic jungle animals who move and make loud noises in a dark restaurant and are bigger than Daddy. We stepped into the mall entrance at the restaurant and Thing One stopped stiff in his tracks at the sight of the restaurant gift shop still 25 feet away. Clue #1 ignored. Stepping into the gift shop with our "passport" should have been our second clue to go find a Micky-D's. Thing One jumped into my arms and clung to me for dear life as a python loomed 10 feet overhead.

We were then ushered into a dark dining room. At the precise moment I was putting Thing Two in her highchair, a "thunderstorm" started - lights flashing, sounds of thunder and hard rain. Coincidentally also at the same moment, the animatronic animals started doing their 'wild thang' and the gorilla which was approximately 4 feet from our table started shaking the trees, growling and grunting (or whatever it is you call a gorilla noise).

Our waitress took pity on us as both children cried for mommy and daddy to save them and seated us in the bar area which was well-lit and had NO jungle creatures in the vicinity. We were seated next to a lovely mist and rain machine and the kids enjoyed the "wa-fa" (waterfall) and the neon frog and alligator above the beer signs. Though I think at least Thing One was still a little nervous as he kept referencing the gorilla (which was now far behind him). They both adamantly refused to go look at the elephant but were interesting in viewing the hippo from a distance. I believe this is what they call a "character enrichment" experience. Yup, I am a stronger, smarter parent than when I walked in there and my kids are scarred for life.

Discipline Delimma

As our dear, sweet son is about to enter his fourth year (he's turning 3 next week!), I am re-evaluating our method of teaching and disciplining. I'm sure you are shocked to hear that we have to discipline our children, because, of course, they are perfect. But don't be shocked. Imperfect parents parenting imperfect kids. No wonder the Bible tells "children [to] obey their parents" and "parents do not exasperate your children." I've thought since becoming a parent that maybe there was a translation error there and it should read, "children do not exasperate your parents." Then as my kids got a little older, I am beginning to realize that if I nag, beg, punish, remind, ask, order and threaten my kids, I am first of all not getting consistent results and second not always teaching them how to monitor their own behavior and make good decisions on their own. The Bible must be right. "Parents do not exasperate your children." In trying to follow this wisdom, I am finding difficulty with two things:

1) the balance of power - putting my foot down as an adult and parent who really knows better anyway and his choices and then deciding whether to imposing consequences or allowing natural consequences to teach him - and...
2) how to hide my laughter when he does something really funny during a teaching time. I'm supposed to be calm, "flat affect" and not indicate a strong emotional response, right? Except for a little problem. "Mama! The naughty spot is broken. I need a new one." Yup, that's defiantly going to be a problem. My friend, Missy, told me a story about her 4 year old who decided she was only ready to say "sor-" when it was time to get out of time-out. I have no idea how she managed to keep a straight face.

I'm pretty sure little ones are cute and funny for a reason. Their little sweetness just begs love and forgiveness and makes it difficult to carry bitterness and anger. It's a good thing too. Thing Two pulled a "chubby bunny" with a pink bunny 'peep' today and ended up with pink drool all over... Snacks stay in the kitchen for a reason!!!