Comments on: Leaving the House With Small Children Without Losing Your Mind

By: Jill (and Gavin)

Jill (and Gavin) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:08:22 +0000

We’re going to SS tomorrow morning for a bit, until nap time anyway…maybe we’ll see some of you there!

By: Buffy

Buffy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:41:01 +0000

Oh my this is soooo funny!
i can’t tell you all how many times I have flopped on to the sofa and exclaimed in exasperation “this is all just too hard, people!!” And by people I mean my own little monsters, who make leaving the house such an trial that even the Super Nanny would just make a cup of tea, click on Sid the Science kid, and call it a day! Simon,3, lately has taken to wailing in complaint at the interuption of having to get ready to go outside, and Matty, 5 and autistic, has to do everything his own way, which means always, not doing it my way. And it usually involves a bribe and a threat to get it done. Now, after checking my blood pressure and taking a few deep breaths, we can get down to the business of just having fun??

By: clara

clara — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:30:45 +0000

Will, I know. A lifetime of punctuality cannot just be tossed away because of the little people! For me it’s the illusion of control. I control the time. Yes I do.

and Briana – when you involve buses it’s a whole other ballgame. Yikes.

By: Will Tomkinson

Will Tomkinson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:21:11 +0000

So funny! ‘Woe betide’ should be used in more social situations. I will see to that.

One of my big challenges is my own impatience. When hearding my cats out the door for a long established and prepared for destination, I can’t get my mind off the clock. We will be LATE. LATE! Do you know what late means PEOPLE! And then B and W and S and even little N look at me as if to say “what are you, a big white time bunny”?

I suppose I am.

By: kyooty

kyooty — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:19:19 +0000

My youngest child is always ready to GO! before I am…

By: iamthediva

iamthediva — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:36:19 +0000

even with One kid i find it a struggle to get out of the house.
thanks for the tips!

and also, such a cute post.

By: Briana Tomkinson

Briana Tomkinson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:46:44 +0000

I’ve been going to the McBride StrongStart some days too. Maybe we should plan to go on the same day sometime? I’m looking into starting Wesley in preschool soon, but he loooooves StrongStart. It’s just a bit of a trek from the West End by bus to get there! He loved Family Place too, but it’s even more awkward to bus to, and they turn people away when they reach a certain number. I’m just not willing to put all the effort into getting out of the house and take two buses only to face a brokenhearted little boy and a long road home. I really wish there was more to do in the West End close to home. I hear they’re opening a Strong Start at Connaught soon, which is cool!

By: clara

clara — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Too true about the colds. That’s another consideration when we decide to go although both boys are at a “washing hands in a public washroom is SO EXCITING!” stage right now.

I love StrongStart too. I take Fresco there when Trombone is at preschool.

By: been there, done that

been there, done that — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:34:36 +0000

I remember, … getting out the door with little ones can be challenging especially when there are time constraints on the day, then definitely, all the prep is necessary. Matching specific music to a specific ‘task’ often helps to achieve a routine objective — it’s a subtle enough clue that it’s time to ‘get ready’ … or have lunch, or a tub, etc., but the challenge for mom is to be structured and consistent about it without appearing to be so. Bear in mind, from a very early age, children are (or quickly become) really smart about strategies like that! You don’t want them to interpret the music as a “trick” to get them to comply but rather as a helpful reminder about what needs to happen.

**On occasion**, if and when you have some time to spare before you cross the threshold of the front door (lol!), in addition to adding music to the mix, make the routine game-like. Be silly about things, make the kind of mistakes kids make (like putting on two unmatched shoes) and then, with great drama, discover the fashion faux-pas in front of the kids and go back and fix the ‘mistake’ – it won’t be long before you have some semblance of cooperation from them and oftentimes they will be all too willing to help you fix your mistake! At the very least you will have captured (or re-captured, as the case may be) their attention because nothing is funnier than when Mom makes a goof! It’s a great way to re-direct focus to the task at hand.

Ideally, these strategies will help you achieve some measure of success and getting out the door will become a little more manageable – worked for me … sometimes. At least I had fun … sometimes!

Good luck moms!

Oh, and one more tidbit to share: New Westminster Family Place!! Try it, you’ll like it!

By: Jill

Jill — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:26:15 +0000

Ahh, Motoring Munchkins; it’s kind of like a great big piece of maple fudge, the first two bites are great fun but after that it gets to be a bit much. I haven’t been for a few years as my first two kids are now 6 and 7 and my little one is only 9 months. He would probably enjoy licking the hockey balls or sucking on a hockey stick, but I fear he might lose a finger by being run over by one of those kids in a plasmacar (how do they get going so fast?!). Not enough play enjoyment to outweigh the risks at this point. Plus, my kids ALWAYS came home with a cold the next day.
Clara, I don’t know if your kids are old enough to keep track of who gets more snack yet – if not, it’s coming soon – I used to bring a separate container for each of them so they could see they got the same amount and there were no accusations of hoarding.

Also, have you checked out StrongStart (we go to the one at McBride sometimes)? My little one enjoys sucking on the bristle blocks they have without fear of losing a digit. They even have free snacks, so all you need is planning and resolve (they have coffee for parents).

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:41:58 +0000

Oh man, Clara, I actually laughed out loud at this, like snort snort, har har har chortle chortle, because I was just saying to Bree this morning that it’s never simple to get out of the house! At our house lately, the big challenge is the pre-going out diaper change, which usually results in me chasing Kale running around going “Naky? Naky?” because apparently all this child needs is to be naky and have some fruit leather. Then the boots, and the jacket, which he will allow me to put on willingly, as he’s still at the age when boots and jacket = outside = fun fun fun.

I too find MM too much sometimes – my head often hurts afterwards… and as a result, we don’t go often. There are other (free) options in the city that I don’t feel overwhelmed while I am there. I also find there are many parents who are under the impression that they may release the hounds at the door, and then ignore them with their face in a book while their precious child steals toys / hits other kids / and generally makes a jerk of themselves.

That said, Briana, I’m game for a MM date!

By: clara

clara — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:31:03 +0000

I suggest giving MM a try before Nora can crawl because if she’s still small & docile enough to wear in the carrier, it’s way easier. There were quite a few months where we couldn’t go b/c Fresco could crawl and he kept licking the ground and it was just…not OK.

By: Briana Tomkinson

Briana Tomkinson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:30:22 +0000

I go through the same rigamarole to get out the door. And Motoring Munchkins: I hear it’s very fun for the kids, but I still haven’t taken mine because I’m too afraid of the crowds! Also, Wesley is between Trombone and Fresco, so half the time he runs for his boots and Prince Philip hat (which he wears everywhere we go!) and brings me my shoes and the rest of the time he drags his feet. I can never tell which it’ll be, so we’re late half the time and early the rest of the time. Plus there’s always the poop explosions from Nora, which always seem to happen just as I think we’re ready to go catch our bus …