Anything for Convenience

Lately my life consists of attempting convenience. I am not talking about frozen TV dinners either. (Well, maybe frozen for my hubby who will eat anything as long as it has meat and cheese on the ingredient list!) Simple things I do, like stocking the fridge with juice boxes and teaching my five year old how to open them so that when he comes in my room at 5:30 AM and tells me he is thirsty. I can remind him that he can get it himself and I can roll over and go back to sleep. I also put snacks like dry cereal and pretzels in individual ziplocs that he can help himself to as well. 

I taught him how to work the five remote controls we have to work the television, cable VCR, etc. He still needs help, but at least he knows all the cartoon channels and can change them when he wants to see something else.

That makes mornings a just a little bit easier in our household. When he was two, he used to come crying, at every commercial, thinking it was over! I have come to realize that a few morning cartoons are not going to corrupt my son. Cartoons are made for kids! Although I do realize not all cartoons are for little kids. If it means that I get just a few more minutes of much needed sleep, it is worth it!

The makers of famous products that claim to be quick and easy are almost always the most fattening things in the fridge/cupboard. I have yet to find too many quick and easy HEALTHY snacks for my kids. I have also realized that just because my son eats a brightly colored yogurt marketed for kids does not mean he will get cavities and become overweight be any means. It won't kill him to eat a few convenient snacks. He loves it too, so that helps. Plus I didn't feel so guilty when I noticed my "Light Yogurt" has the same amount of sugar as his Trix Yogurt (or Sugar yogurt as he calls it)!

To me, if it cost a few cents or dollars more to make life a whole lot easier, it is worth it. Just simple things like buying the ziploc bags that have the little glider zipper on the top that my four year old can easily open and close himself is worth it. Because inevitably if I was holding the baby, talking on the phone and cooking dinner, he will be whining about something as trivial as not being able to close the darn ziploc.

I am always searching for better ways to accommodate our lives. Sometimes it takes somebody else to point out the obvious and we kick ourselves for not thinking of it earlier. I am learning how to not get so frustrated about life's little bad habits and trials that come along our way. Instead of letting the little things get to me, like why it always takes a 4 year old 10 minutes to put on his slip-on shoes or to get in the car. I try to remind myself to plan ahead, it takes kids at least 10 minutes to do something that would take us ten seconds.

I am more lax now that I have a second child. It is funny how easy it is the second time around. I realize now how much of a paranoid mom I was with the first child. I was just the typical first time mom. This time around I am a lot more at ease with situations that use to really bother me. I am trying hard to relish and enjoy every moment. Especially since we are done having kids, (If we have a say in it, that is!) I want to enjoy my baby's every smile, every giggle and his amazement of new things, and my five year olds a-million-in-one-hour "I love you's" because before I know it they will be in high school (aghhhh)! Complaining about zits and girls! Just remember they (and you)! are only young once. There will soon be a time when instead of begging for two books at bedtime they don't even need you to tuck them in.

Enjoy every moment, and kiss those chubby cheeks as often as possible. (Before they get zits on them!)