Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Wearing a toddler

So apparently Blissdom 09 has inspired me to write more. Here’s the second post in a week. Be scared people something is very wrong with me here! :0)

There are times that I wonder feel bad about not being able to trust Butters when we go for walks in the afternoon. I love this time with him in the afternoon but lately his toddler instincts have been in overdrive and he wants to explore everything and anything around us. The most recent thing that worried me was his want to go and jump in the lake around our place. Trying to get his 32lb frame away from the shore was a challenge in itself and resulted in one massive temper tantrum and him running back in the general direction of the water after I had put him down to walk again.
Wearing Alvin in the front as I normally do.


So after our last walk that ended in me carrying him most of the way home I decided that for the next little while I am going to take him with me for a walk but put him in the mei tai carrier for the majority of the walk. I hate that I have to do it but at the same time it’s about the only way I can really control his 32 lb body when he gets like that. Granted he still loves the carrier and loves to be worn in public in general which I think is a good sign. He still comes up to me when I tie the waist straps and begs to be picked up and strapped in so I know he sees it as something very positive in general.

Hanging around in the backpack carry


So here’s my question to anyone that has worn a toddler, do you feel that its almost a form of gentle discipline when you put them in it when they don’t cooperate in public just to control them and avoid a temper tantrum? Do you carry them to avoid a tantrum from happening in the first place?

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Blissdom 09 and such

So this weekend I attended my first ever blogger conference. It was an eye opening experience to say the least and I realized a few things that I normally don't think about.

The first thing that was glaring me in the face was how uncomfortable I am around so many woman. I have spent so much time in school and work with mainly guys that being in a room with all woman is a little intimidating. Its amazing to me that I thought before going was how this would be great, but when I got here I just wanted to go and find a quiet place.

The second thing that I saw and was so happy about is the abundance of baby wearing. Living in the town that I do, I really don't see many women/men doing a lot of baby wearing, but here it was the complete norm. It was so interesting also to see all of the different types of slings/pouches/carriers. It gave me so many ideas about how to continue wearing Butters and possibly another one later.

The other thing that came to mind is I really would like to post more, but at this point I just don't think there are enough hours in the day. I am one of those people that can only write every so often just due to how busy I am. I also have to make sure I actually have something to say. I tend to want to talk about what my title is. I like to talk about how in the world I manage to do it all. I talk about baby wearing a 32lb not even 2 year old toddler; about a love of hockey with my family that is normally only seen in the northern US and Canada; and finally how in the world some days I manage to keep up my insane schedule.

To everyone that we met this weekend it was great. I am so glad that we got to meet so many new people and put faces to names with others. I can't wait to get to know you all better through your writing!

I guess this mess of rambling once again has left with a final thought. I am a real woman who just happens to work in a male dominated engineering field. I am a real mother/grad student/wife. I would like to put more stuff on here, but I simply don't think that there are enough hours in the day and I try to only post things that I have really thought a lot about or had a very strong opinion about.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Schedule of a working mom/grad student/ hockey player/ wife ect...

So I decided to post the main reason that I don’t post many meaningful things on this blog. Its just because I am too busy. The only time I seem to have to write stuff is in spare moments at work and when I’m bored in uncertainty analysis. Tonight I found myself somewhat ahead in classes so I had time to do this. So here’s a run down of a typical week right now for me during the crazy semsester of classes I’m taking.

Monday
Alarm goes off around0350 and at work by 0430
Homework from 0430 to 0600
Work 0600-1500
Mommy time with Butters including dinner, bath and bed 1530 to 1900ish
Homework/get ready for the next day 1930 to 2100
Bed hopefully around 2130

Tuesday
Alarm goes off around0350 and at work by 0430
Homework from 0430 to 0600
Work 0600-1530
School 0930 to 1230
Mommy time with Butters including dinner, bath and bed 1600 to 1900ish
Homework/get ready for the next day 1930 to 2100
Bed hopefully around 2130

Wednesday
Alarm goes off around 0430 and at work by 0515
Homework from 0515 to 0600
Work 0600-1500
Mommy time with Butters including dinner, bath and bed 1530 to 1900ish
Homework 1930 to 2005 at the iceplex
Hockey practice 2050 to 2230
Hopefully in bed asleep by 2330

Thursday
Alarm goes off around 0430 and at work by 0515
Homework from 0515 to 0600
Work 0600-1530
School 0930 to 1230
Mommy/wife time with Butters and W including dinner, bath and bed 1600 to 1900ish
Homework/get ready for the next day 1930 to 2100 (normally this is the day I’m too tired and not much gets done)
Bed hopefully around 2130

Friday
Alarm goes off around 0350 and at work by 0430
Homework from 0430 to 0600
Work 0600-1500
Mommy/wife time with Butters and W including dinner, bath and bed 1530 to 1900ish
Homework /get ready for the next day 1930 to 2100 (I attempt homework on Friday nights but if there is UAH hockey that night there’s no way its getting done.)
Bed hopefully around 2130.

So do you think I have enough going on? Sometimes I still feel like I just don't do enough.