What is a Squeeble?

I swap kiddos with a friend of mine so that we both can work and today was my day. All week I had been waking up to sunshine and I was excited to do some really fun, messy, outdoor activities when they came.

But of course, the best laid plans of Moms'...I woke up to rain. It wasn't the end of the world, we had been playing inside due to the cold until very recently so I was just a little bummed.

Then the pushing, complaining, and arguing started. Something about rainy days brings out the whiny and crazy in even the most wonderful children. My usual thought would have been to pull out paint or play dough or pop on a show but for some reason on this particular rainy day inspiration struck and the result was a morning full of active engaged kids.

It all started when Belle rooted through my school bag and pulled out some puffy, shaggy, silky pom-poms. All four kids were enamored by them. They were petting them and talking to them and showing them around the play room. Beanie asked in a voice of wonderment "Mom, what are these soft guys? They are so cute!" Instead of answering "pom-poms" I said "baby squeebles" and we were off. I explained that the squeebles were visiting for the day and that they needed us to show them how to play.
"But Mrs. Beanie's Mom, they don't have any eyes!"

Out came the puffy paint, now we had pom-poms with eyes.

The next question was "Can we use the blocks to make a house for them?" Of course! They even took the time to clean the play room because I told them they couldn't take the blocks out until they made space on the floor.
When it started to become apparent that they were getting tired of the blocks so we decided to play a game.

Get the Squeebles Home (a fine AND gross motor game)
supplies:
Pom-poms
ladles and/or chop sticks
construction paper

Object: Jump from construction paper square to square. Scoop up the pom-poms in the ladles or pinch them with the chop sticks and bring them back "home" without dropping them.

That lasted for awhile and then...
"They miss their Mommy's, what do squeeble Mommys' look like?"

I don't know what do you think? Lets go draw some!
They discussed and drew, apparently squeeble Mommys are round with beaks and feet and stripes.
The two little ones got involved as well scribbling on their own papers and squealing with laughter whenever their big brother's did.
The squeeble Mommys were cut out and introduced to their babies and low and behold, the next game took shape.

Help the Mommy Squeebles find the baby squeebles. 
They took turns hiding the squeebles and carrying the Mommy's around to find them.

Belle and her little friend helped search and were delighted when their big brothers let them be the ones to find a baby squeeble.

After we took a break for lunch the squeebles "wanted to have their own place to play." For this the kids each got a piece of construction paper and some construction paper shapes. They rearranged them on their big papers to make play houses, trampolines, and slides for the squeebles.

They were still doing it when my friend arrived to pick her kids up.

There have been so many days that I was in teacher mode, wracking my brain and searching Pintrest for something new, fun, creative, and exciting to do with the kids. I think sometimes I am working so hard to come up with engaging activities that I forget how creative the three year old mind really is. They are full of questions, ideas, and excitement and it was so rewarding to watch the way today unfolded.

Super Hero's Don't Need Naps

I started this blog a few weeks back but have been at a loss for a blog "worth" writing. Well today by happenstance a situation presented itself.

I was in the super market, the third one of the day, on a "fruitless" (haha) search for watermelon. The kids had both had it with the in the car out of the car thing and I had decided that there just must be some huge watermelon shortage that I hadn't previously heard about so it was time to call it quits.
When we arrived at the car, our alternative fruit purchases in hand, little Belle (18 months old and very strong willed) decided that she did not under any circumstances want to get into her car seat.
I was pretty patient with her because she had a rough morning with a cardiologist appointment and lots of prodding so I attempted speaking softly to her and reasoning.
When that didn't work I spoke firmly and told her to "put her hiney in the seat by the time I count three."
She still remained standing staring at me and said "No."
At that point I said her full name and told her to sit down or she would get a swat on the thigh. She started crying and climbing out of her seat squealing "No Seat!"
Finally enough was enough, I swatted her on the thigh, not even hard enough to stun a house fly but apparently it made my point. She stared at me and sat down to be buckled, crying and looking wounded.
I immediately gave her a hug and said
"I'm sorry that you needed a spanking but it's not safe if you aren't in your car seat. I love you very much and that's why I want you to be safe."
That should have been the end of it but
A woman walked up...
"I saw what you did to that Child! I am calling DHS. You can't do that to that little girl!" She pulled out her phone and started to walk away.
I continued getting the kids into the car but I was rattled. What if she does call? What happens then? Am I at risk for an investigation?
The Mommy guilt started to set in hard.
 "Maybe I shouldn't have swatted her. Did this stranger somehow have insight into my child's life that I didn't? Belle was really upset. Maybe I hit her harder than I thought?"
As I got in to my car and drove home it all swirled around in my head.
Even as I gave the kids lunch and got them ready for naps I had a feeling of unease.
My son "Beanie" (three years old) was resisting his nap as usual. When the normal string of excuses were spent he said "But Mom! I'm a super hero, super heros don't need naps!"
I responded "You are a super hero but I'm a super hero's Mommy and I know that if you don't get rest you will be tired and cranky and not able to save anybody so go to sleep."
For some reason that stopped the tumbling thoughts. Wait...I am Belle's Mommy too, I did what needed to be done for the child that I love.
I started thinking, what would my alternatives have been? Had I buckled under the pressure of her cries I would have put her in harms way by driving without her in her car seat. Had I bribed her or coddled her I would have effectively demonstrated to her that disobeying gets you a treat, or at the very least a reprieve from the thing that you don't want to do. Had I stood there fighting with her, will against will for another ten minutes it would have resulted in me yelling, her crying, and most definitely a completely frustrating and futile argument with an 18 month old.
As her parent I am responsible to teach her right from wrong and raise her to eventually be able to make decisions on her own. Until then it is literally my responsibility to make sure she is safe and secure. Part of that is letting her know when she has made the wrong decision. If we as parents are made to bend at the every will of a child who's idea of a balanced diet is fruit snacks and lollipops; whose idea of fair is "If I want it it's mine," what type of future are we creating? We are not creating a generation of individuals who will be decision makers and promote change. Who will stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves and fight injustice with confidence.
Instead we are constructing a generation of lazy, selfish, do what best suits me when it best suits me adults. We are effectively creating useless cranky super hero's who will not be able to help anybody.

I absolutely don't want to be a part of that. I think I'll take my chances with the stranger in the parking lot, take my job as the Mommy seriously, and hopefuly with God and my hubby's help, raise two pretty great, effectual super hero's in the process.