Today I gave away all our toys....

Today I gave away all our toys. Ok, not all of them, but I got your attention, didn't I?

It isn't even Halloween, but the stores are already buzzing with that toy-stocking shelf-luring glitter that will be Christmas present overload in just a few short months.

A few years ago, when I just had 3 children under 3 -- a 2 1/2 year old and a pair of 1 year olds -- I started trying to figure out just what they needed and what they didn't, and I ended up getting way too many things in our house. There were some power struggles over who got to play with any toy, and the babies were often placed in contraptions meant to keep them safe from our then-aggressive 2 1/2 year old son.

Fast forward a few years to 5-year old big brother, 3 1/2 year old little brother and sister, and 1 year old littlest brother and sister. Twins or no twins, boys or girls, the bottom line is I've just simply got a lot of kids.

And the stuff was driving me nuts. Your best friend if you have multiple kids? A big empty room -- even a garage.

I've also discovered by chance that sometimes the littler ones do really well with things that are meant for their older siblings. 

Enter the Goodwill lego table with a box of duplos. Our littlest ones will stand at that table on both sides and drop legos in and out of it for literally hours. Just behind it is a window sill looking out into our front yard. On that silly are a few spaced out legos. Next to that window is an empty bookshelf. Every day a few things are placed on it -- an empty tin can, a wooden spoon, a piece of an old belt, or, more legos! Walk or crawl a few steps the other direction to our leather couch... with shoes tossed all over it. Hours of velcro fun. Hook a few shoes together and give each baby one end... whoohoo!

When older siblings are present, we give them the power to direct, create, interact. They build lego towers for 'twinzilla' to knock over. They set timers for the little ones to move from station to station. They play dress-up clothes and run around the room while the littler ones look on in awe.

The older siblings of course have big kid toys, but they spend a large amount of time in our relatively toyless family room/kitchen doing things like playing a sink full of 'dirty' kid dishes. Add something like a turkey baster for hours of bubbly fun. Also popular is pretending to clean -- rags and water go a long way in our home. For the tool-inclined, a safe-ish screwdriver and an old baby gate to take apart and put back together work miracles.

And, let's not forget actual helping:

In the house - our 3 and 5yr olds load/unload the dishwasher, make their own breakfasts (and ours -- I've eaten toast, string cheese and soymilk with frozen berries in it... ). They help prepare meals, grating cheese, cracking eggs -- buy a Sam's club size egg carton or 2 and let them practice.. scramble the eggs all up, and presto -- they've learned how to crack eggs and you have lunch. A stick of brussel sprouts and a dull butter knife are fun too.
They help fold and put away laundry -- yes, it takes a long time . They dress themselves.  My kids go out often looking like bag ladies, or else my 5yr old wants to wear his 'dress pants' and a tie... usually hooked to a 'fancy' tshirt. People think I make him wear it.

They change diapers, prepare baby food, buckle/unbuckle carseats, fill sippy cups, and entertain babies in highchairs by running/screaming up and down the hallway. 

In these times, you might find that less really is... well... more!

Pears for the pair!

When it comes to feeding twins, or any baby for that matter, a lot of parents take it all too seriously. Yes, you are supposed to start out with one thing, watch for allergies, monitor any small child while eating etc. But, that doesn't mean every single thing you give your kids and/or babies has to be pureed to the point of dribbling off the highchair or chopped so finely that you need a magnifying glass to see it.

Whole fruit has a great experience and sensory value for babies and kids alike. Give it a try. Pears are great because the 'core' isn't too hard and the stem pulls off easily! Just wash well, buy organic if you can and go go go!

Back to school for your kids?

Whether it is back to school, or entering school for the very first time, this entire process can be overwhelming for both parents and kids. What are some of the things you've done to make it easier on you? On your kids?

How to deal with unwanted advice about raising twins

 I had a question emailed from a new mom a few weeks ago, dealing with how to address comments from her family about the milestones her twins (born a few weeks early) were reaching, and why they were delayed etc. Her inlaws went so far as to say she was disabling them by adjusting the milestones to the corrected age on the advice of her Doctor!

My thoughts....

You know, I don't think this is a twin-specific issue, and I know we had all kinds of advice thrown at us with our first child, from the ever present 'just put rice cereal in the bottle' from mother-in-law to comments on having him out in the sun, in the cold, in a stroller, not in a stroller, in a carrier.... why was he in his own room, not in our bed, etc. etc.

Even the best 'advice' from a close friend can turn sour when all you really want to do is have healthy babies and enjoy the moment that they are in.

All 5 of my children were technically premies, and the comments and advice still come flying in from all angles. I only listen to my Dr. and of course to everyone here on the forum

The rest, just nod and smile...

Now, I'm super curious about who says you are disabling them (!!) and to whom are you explaining things and repeating yourself? Are people asking you why you are doing certain things? I mean, I'm not really sure what different things one does with a 5month old vs a 7month old... My super old 9month olds pretty much ride around in the car, hang out in exersaucers, crawl around on the floor, camp out in highchairs and sleep in cribs... pretty much what they were doing a few months ago, sans the swings and bouncy seats which now are outgrown.

My sincerest offers of support are to not explain anything, ever, to anyone or come up with a super sticky sweet comment that only you and your husband know is a total joke like... "Oh, we really appreciate that suggestion and I've written it down in our advice book. I'll let you know how that works!" Or.. "Wow, I heard that is doing that same thing with her twins, is that why you suggested it?" Or "You know, said we should do that too, and I'm going to run it by our Dr on our next visit".

Sometimes being snarky can make you feel better.

With every child in our family, the ages at which my husband did certain things gets earlier and earlier according to my MIL... right now, he was eating solids at 2 months and on nonfat milk instead of formula at 6mo.. I think he walked at 7 months and maybe drove at 10 or something.

I'm not trying to be too flip here, I just sincerely hope you know that WHATEVER you and your husband do with your babies is the best thing ever and everyone else can just move along to the next thing. Be sure to keep us posted on actual comments you receive.. they make for good laughs... good luck!!

Jumping for Joy

I hadn't been to Arena Sports Inflatables in quite some time, and was pleased to find out that they have totally revised their indoor play zone!

They are even open on weekend mornings -- check it out!

Spring is just around the corner...

Or at least it should be! All this rain have you feeling soggy and trapped inside with the kiddos? Thinking back on our favorite rainy-day parks, I remembered this piece I did for Red Tri -- one of the best rainy-day neighborhoods in my opinion.

---



Ready to turn over a new leaf? Try Maple. Seattle’s often overlooked Maple Leaf neighborhood features several must-dos for tots.
Where to play: Start at Maple Leaf Park and playground. No soggy wood chips here—brilliantly layered gravel simply drains the raindrops and keeps kiddos dry if they take a tumble. With a mix of retro steel climber toys and newer gadgets, this park has something for all.
Fuel up: Next stop, a short walk up to Cloud City Coffee. Its open floor plan, comfy couches, free wi-fi and kiddie play area make Cloud City a perfect place to recharge. Enjoy their wide range of tasty kid and adult menu items. No time to sit? We love the coffee honor bar, where drip coffee is just a buck. Green tip: Bring your own travel mug, drop in a dollar, and head out for more adventuring.
Bonus: Get craft items at Beadworld or stop by the Northwest Puppet Center for a weekend puppet show or weekday Puppet Museum tour.
Possible lunch spot: Gluten-free and kid-sized pasta options available at Cafe Piccolo, or try Maple Leaf Grill.
How to dress: comfy walking shoes and layers, in case the weather gets nice.
Cost of trip: Inexpensive to moderate.
Approximate travel time: about 15 minutes north of downtown Seattle.
Online: Check out the Maple Leaf Life blog for current news and events and links to other nearby neighborhood blogs. Want more restaurant reviews, ratings, and photos? Looking for a kids’ book group?  All this and more is available at Maple Leaf Life.

The latest from Livingsocial --@livingsocial please help me!

Today, many days after I'd contacted customer service again about the problem I had on the Fandango deal, I received  reply. I was very excited. That excited soon turned into disappointment when I saw the reply was simply a generic reply, once again telling me that I must not have used the correct link to share out... Here is their email:

Thanks for getting in on a great deal and for spreading the word about LivingSocial. We really appreciate it! We bet you’re wondering why you didn’t get your deal for free, right? Just so you know, our referral links are tracked by our system, so when one is used, the purchase is automatically associated with your account.  When the third referral purchase has been successfully processed, it’s tagged to your account and you're not charged for your deal. Unfortunately, your account does not show that three users made purchases through the referral link generated for you when you purchased the deal. We offer multiple opportunities to share deals, so next time, make sure you are sharing the special referral link given to you AFTER you make a purchase by clicking the blue ‘Copy’ button. We are beyond flattered that you shared information on our deals with your friends and we want to ensure you get credit for your efforts.  In the future, please be sure to “emphasize” (“air quotes” work well!) to those you refer that they must use the specific link you provide to purchase the deal, in order for you to receive credit for the referral. Since this is an automated process, us humans cannot manually link purchases from other sources to your account to provide referral credit. In the words of the silver-tongued crooner Stevie Wonder, “that’s what (your) friends are for.” Still, we truly apologize that things didn't work out this time, but totally encourage you to continue spreading the word, as you have the potential to receive each of your purchases free with our referral program. Thanks for LivingSocial! P.S. If you still have questions, please reply to this email, or call us at 877-521-4191 (US) or 0-800-014-8431 (UK).

Livingsocial Deal Site Letdown

I've been a long time supporter of deal sites such as Groupon, Mamapedia and others. I also found a site called Livingsocial.com, and thought it to be innovative and, so I thought, a good deal. They don't give the same type of referral credit the other sites do. Instead, you have to buy the product first and then share the specific link they email you with your friends. They are betting on you buying it with the hopes you'll get a free deal if 3 friends buy. After you buy, the link also shows up below your purchase with the option to share it out on your favorite social media sites, or email your friends directly-- sounds easy, or so I thought.

I tried it with the Cinebarre deal, sharing it over Facebook, Twitter and all of my preschool groups. Several Moms I know bought, but Livingsocial's only suggestion when contacted was to ask the Moms to cancel their orders and buy again from my link. Ummmm no, not going to do that. Moms are busy enough.

I've now been burned by them 3 times -- once for Cinebarre, once for the hugely popular Amazon.com deal, and now, for the Fandango deal. I share the deal with thousands via email, Facebook, and Twitter. Each time, I've personally known a few folks that bought, including those I've actually helped buy from my link on their laptops.  Livingsocial customer service  has refused to assist me, stating that I must have done something wrong!! In spite of the fact their Web site says "We're not satisfied unless you're jumping for joy. Call, email, tweet (or, hey, fax) us with any issue and we'll make it right.", and in spite of the fact that the purchase price here was under $10, they've ignored my emails, and most recently, asked that I call them because I must not be aware of how to correctly share the link!

As the founder and CEO of a local Seattle software startup, operating with affiliate links and every type of web code you can imagine, for over 10 years, I beg to differ! And, as a mom of 5 kids under 5 including 2 4month old babies, I'm hardly going to sit on the phone and verify that yes, I can share a link.

The only time I can get a reply from them is on Twitter, which I respect. However, trying to explain the problem in tweets is getting annoying!

Now, what is my goal here you might ask? Not to get a lousy 10 bucks back. No, in fact today I bought another deal from Livingsocial using a friend's link. We will see if she gets credit. Is it is cookie issue? A tracking issue unique to my account? Or a ploy hoping no one will really ever know if they actually got 3 friends to buy.

At any rate, Livingsocial.com is going to the bottom of my deal site favorites until this mess is cleared up.

Rainy days got you feeling trapped inside?

If you find yourself turning to the computer when bad weather keeps you inside, read some words of advice I penned for Red Tricycle, and please send me any other Web sites you find helpful!

----

When it comes to kids and computers, you may be torn between handing over the mouse and keyboard, or shuffling Junior outside to get back to nature. Never fear—there exists a balance and we’ll show you where to start.

1. National Geographic Kids has been around since 1975. An interactive and appealing mix of articles, games, videos and activities for kids that focus on wildlife, science, technology, and world wonders, this site will have you thinking, too.

2. The Washington State Department of Ecology sorts out the nitty gritty recycling details, and includes some fun games to challenge you both.

3. The US Department of Energy features Tinker Bell guiding kids through some educational activities, including real action items for the home the kids can do together.

4. Holiday appropriate Treetures teaches us how important trees are to our environment. Seattle’s Saving Water Partnership features a nifty game to give kids—and parents—tips about household water conservation. Upon completion, they learn how much water they saved, rank their high score, and can print out winner’s certificates and an at-home checklist. 4.

5. Let’s wrap up with Kidsrgreen—a clever site that has games, songs, and links to even more sites for next time.

NOTE:  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) considers computer time screentime too. Guidelines and resources are available from the AAP’s SafetyNet site.

This post appeared in Red Tricycle 12-21-2009