For as long as I can remember, my mom has always read the
For Better or For Worse comic strip. It never failed to in someway somehow
hit the proverbial nail on the head when it came to raising children...real children. I don't think I ever quite understood it though, at least from the parent's point of view, until I've had a child of my own.
So when my mom brought this comic over the other day, I found it online, downloaded it, and stashed it away for later use. But that
later has come all too soon, with a minimum of three meltdowns in less than two days over who knows what!
And just like the comic shows...
for better or for worse doesn't just apply to marriage. It definitely applies to child rearing as well!
So...you go through the possible culprits and solutions of the meltdowns:
wet diaper? change it.
thirsty? juice.
hungry? cheerios.
not hungry for cheerios? something else.
wants to be held? hold.
needs to move? walk or rock
wants to be put down? put down.
needing something for comfort? paci and lovey.
all worked up? attempt distraction with books or toys
teeth? motrin and teething tablets
all...and I mean ALL, to no avail!
At wits end and as a last resort, turn on
Praise Baby or
Baby Mozart.
Result? Quiet, calm, happy, content baby sitting on your lap holding a lovey and paci while eating blueberry flavored applesauce as you recap the last 15 minutes to your mother on the phone...
...and with the last bite of applesauce on the spoon, into the mouth, she starts to sneeze. You scream, drop the phone, and your hand goes up to catch something, anything that is about to go flying. Ah-choo! There is now blueberry applesauce (which stains) all over her mouth and shirt, and your hand, jeans, and shirt, and a towel (that thankfully was nearby).
But honestly, who cares...when you now have a quiet, calm, happy, content baby sitting on your lap!
Oh...if only she could speak English so I'd have known what she wanted 15 minutes ago!
