Mom's Zone Blog | I'm not suffering from insanity - I'm enjoying it | mom musings

All I want is Wisdom on My Son’s Front Teeth

I have many thoughts these days I would like to share but none more pressing like that of my son’s two loose front teeth. My son is proudly 5 ½ as he will tell any stranger passing by and I had not given one thought to my boy losing any of his teeth until he recently went to his pediatric dentist appointment. The hygienist exclaimed how he had two loose teeth.

Not My Son - But Soon

I am not sure who was more stunned at the news of loose teeth, me or my son. So of course, that is ALL he can think about. I checked the teeth she said were loose and by my definition they were not loose. I mean, when I think loose I think you can wiggle with it your tongue loose. At any rate, I then ended up having a conversation my mom about his tooth at which point she says, “So, have you or (my husband) decided who will be pulling the teeth?” Horror struck me as I had never thought of that either.

Then my in-laws asked, “Well, have you decided how MUCH the Tooth Fairy will leave for his teeth yet?” (sigh) NO, I had not thought of that either. It seems to me that we just had a nice period of time where I was no longer worried about getting those suckers IN. My baby’s first 3 years it seems all he did was teeth. Now I have to go through a whole new process of getting them out. I really don’t know if I can handle it if it goes ANYTHING like when the teeth came in.

I think when children have it as rough as my child did getting teeth in, it should be mandatory for the child AND the mom to get drugs to help with the pain; the child’s pain from the teething and the mom’s pain from hearing about how bad it is. I truly think terrorists could not hold any secrets if only exposed to a child who is constantly teething and angry, sad, weeping, irritable,wants to be held but then seems to be too touchy to be held, hungry yet can’t eat and the loose poops.

I say all this with much love for my child and I know a lot of women who don’t know what I am talking about. I am sure a lot of people reading will say, “Why didn’t she give her child Tylenol or Ibuprofen for the pain.” Well, you see it seemed almost daily for close to three years my child had a varying degree of discomfort from teething. I went to doctors, asked friends, asked seasoned moms, read books and when all else failed even asked my therapist. I tried it all and it all helps, if only for brief heavenly moments at a time. I would feel badly for giving my child so much medicine and I would try natural and holistic remedies only to try something different when that stopped working for whatever reason.

So my point to all of this is – I have to lose these precious teeth now!! I REALLY hope losing teeth is a much better adventure than getting them to come in is. There were no films dedicated to teething when I was experiencing that fun. There is a new movie coming out called the Tooth Fairy with (as I will continue to call him) The Rock. I am not sure yet if it is appropriate for my son to see it but it sure has come at a good time if he does. Now I find a video online where someone has a new take on the whole pulling the tooth idea. I am not sure that we will be trying it but it sure is a good idea. (NOTE: I watched it with the sound off) The little girl in the video seems ok with the result so at least if I am desperate I know what I can try.

If any of you have any advice for this time in mine and my son’s life I will gladly receive it. If you have a list of things I should NOT do, I will gladly listen. If you can send good thoughts and prayers my way – I will appreciate it. I am now going to go see if the teeth will wiggle any more and ask my husband when he plans to pull the tooth. ;)

Happy Stressful Days Ahead

The theme this month all throughout the MomsZone.org site as well as throughout my mom friends is the craziness this time of year brings. It seems to me this year more people are acknowledging it than ever before. Isn’t that the first step to getting help?

No doubt as a mom every day has a certain amount of stress. No matter the age of the children, you worry and fret over their schedule and if they have what they need both physically and emotionally. Then, the holidays come along and it doesn’t matter what your religion or holiday traditions are, they all involve stress.

I don’t handle stress particularly well. I admit it. Here I will admit it, not at home in front of my husband but you are all my friends. Here’s the thing. I don’t see where it benefits me or the person I am shopping for to go from shop to shop or website to website fretting over what to get someone and how much to spend and the message it sends and how to wrap it or get it to them when they will get it and most likely be disappointed, want to return it or re-gift it. Seems like a lot of wasted time on both parts.

In the past I have depended on gift cards to lighten my load and conscience and thought that at least a gift card to someplace I know the person shops or dines would show my thoughtfulness while keeping me from losing my mind over the wrapping issue. By the way, the only wrapping I ever do is rap and that isn’t good either.

Now I am told that those gift cards have fees and that they too are considered inconsiderate and a last minute gift. Well, I say we all blame the recession on all things holiday related and just go back to giving our hearts and well meaning cards to each other. Save money, save time and save guilt. I really don’t NEED anything and what I want I probably won’t share with anyone because it is too expensive for anyone to get me. I would LOVE to get a card that said what a great friend I am or what a great mom or wife I am. Really, when do we as moms or wives ever get acknowledged and appreciated?

I am trying to simplify my life and by taking whatever measure I can to de-stress the holidays I will. Sharon Silver suggested at the Moms Night Out event at Changing Hands Bookstore this month that planning ahead and getting things done early will help with stress because you’re not trying to get it all done in a short time frame. This also helps our children who seem to need even more of our undivided attention at this time of year when they ask if we will play with them. You’re much more likely to take a few minutes to play with them when they ask if you aren’t beating a deadline. I will try that as well.

I wish that when people said, “Remember the reason for the season.” They meant it and didn’t run around all frantic. I hope that as you read this if you have a great way to de-stress the holidays you will share them in the comments. I will give the person with the best suggestion a prize in January.

Getting Over My First Weeks of Kindergarten

My son started kindergarten this year. I hesitated as he is a young 5 going in to the class. We had been told just after he was born that because of his birth date and the fact he was a boy that we may need to consider waiting until he was 6 to have him begin kindergarten.

I struggled for what seemed like months to decide what was best for him. Academically I felt he was ready for kindergarten but socially I wasn’t sure. Would he be able to sit still and quiet to listen to the teacher? Would he be able to keep up with a lot of 6 year olds in his class? I wasn’t sure. I asked his pre- k teacher and after much discussion it was her opinion he would be ready for the challenges of kindergarten.

We prepared my son all summer long for the first day of kindergarten and yet, I was the one who was most nervous and worried. They began class with parents helping with a project. It was a Kissing Hand based on the book. The students made one for themselves and one for the parents. As it turns out, I really needed that kissing hand!

The Kissing Hand

My son’s first week was rife with every worry I had imagined being played out daily. He didn’t eat one day, he got hit one day, he was lost one day when I went to pick him up, he was made fun of by his peers one day and yada yada yada. You get the picture. Yet, my son, the young five year old managed to get through all of the problems and WANT to go back to school. In fact, he has been thriving! Being he is a nervous type, I was on the lookout for his teeth grinding, nail biting, nightmares and other general signs of tension from the rigors of school life. He had none of those. I on the other hand had all of that and then some.

I was beginning to be awakened to an idea when one day we decided to try swim lessons again with a friend of ours. I began the lesson determined I would stay on the sideline and watch. After a few moments of my son acting up, I was getting very uncomfortable about being out there. I decided to try going inside where I wouldn’t be a distraction. Sure enough, he had a great lesson. Every lesson after that, I stayed away and he had a great class.

I believe that as hard as it has been for me recently to witness how mature and capable he really is, it is just as important that I step out of the way and allow it to happen. If I were making the decisions I would have never guessed he would be doing so well in class. I would have held him back needlessly.

I know I am not the only mom who has had these feelings and I would like to say to those who will be looking for direction next year with their children, give your children the chance to prove themselves. Volunteering in school, if you can, helps a lot as well. I have felt so much better now that I volunteer because I see for myself what a big boy he really is and that he doesn’t need me so much. On that note, I am going to go find my Kissing Hand and laminate it

The Comedy in Parenthood

It isn’t cheap entertainment but raising a child is definitely entertaining. My son is about to celebrate his fifth birthday and it seems he is more fun every day. The things he says and the interpretive dance moves he creates leave me in stitches most days.

Truly Entertaining

Don’t get me wrong. He can still be handful and we still have our difficult days but there seems to be a real fun atmosphere at times that I have to admit, prior to about 9 months ago I didn’t think I would see. It seemed I was forever disciplining and correcting and trying to remember to say, “Let’s try this instead”, when what I wanted to say was, “Cut that mess out!”. All the times I had to stay strong and not give in when I really just wanted to give in has now shown me that it was worth it.

Sometimes the comedy is in what our children bring right to our face. There has never been a truer mirror than a child. Have an annoying habit? Your child will exhibit it ten times worse than how annoying you are. Think you’re funny? Your child will tell you exactly what they think of your humor.

My son has begun karate class. A class of about 9 children aged between 4 and 6 is true entertainment. I am so impressed with the teacher and how she is able to get them to focus and follow direction. Still, we are talking about 4, 5 and 6 years olds. In the middle of stretch time children just begin telling the class what seems important to them. “Sensei, yeah, um..(long pause)..I uh, tooted in class today.” “Yeah, I almost fro’d up.”

The relay races are fun too as each child has their own interpretation of the rules. My own son who takes directions very literally did not see the problem with running WITH the other team mate while performing the baton race.

I had an appointment one day that left me with a bit of time before I needed to pick up my son. I thought I would sneek a peek in his class to see how he was doing. I didn’t realize they would be having snack and he would be right by window. Busted! So I went with it. That was the best time I have ever spent. A group of preschoolers sitting around the table eating their snack discussing what is better, peanut butter and crackers, cheese and crackers or just plain crackers. It was a really good discussion. Good points made by all sides. No Jerry Springer heated arguments over whose favorite snack was not the best. I was not only impressed but taken away at how cute it is to listen to how they view what makes a great snack.

Everything about parenthood is not funny. Most days aren’t fun. The days that are treat them as preciously as the fleeting time we have with our children because one day they will leave and the fun will be over.

My Zing Zang Zoom of a Time!

Wow! I cannot wait for you to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus! Family entertainment doesn’t come any better than this!

My experience began with the 1 hour All Access pre-show. It is truly ALL ACCESS. You and your family can roam the very floor that the performers will be and check out costumes that you can try on and take your pictures in. You can walk over to see the Clown College or see several performers giving a mini show to everyone. Our favorite part was the clown lady with the wings who handed out clown noses and took pictures with all of the children! A close second to our favorite part was when they brought a couple of the elephants out where we were so close to them we could almost touch them!

We quickly made it back to our seats so we could see the show begin and the music, lights, live band and colors were so wonderful everyone, including the teenagers sitting beside us, was grooving and on the edge of our seats! There really aren’t enough words to describe everything as there was so much to see. I want to go see it again so that I can make sure I didn’t miss anything and so I can figure out how they defied gravity (two clowns stood UPSIDE DOWN while doing their routine) and the magic tricks that just can’t be explained.

The animals were so fun to watch. The horses are regal and the zebras were fun to watch. The dogs were just too funny and too cute! The elephants are just amazing. The tigers were impressive to watch. My son enjoyed them the best. I think it may be he can identify with them as they seemed to have the same attitude as he does when I ask him to do something. While each tiger did amazing tricks, each one seemed to have a bit of an attitude about it. The latin trainer made mention that they were like his wife, they didn’t listen

The beauty will astound you, the music will move you and the constant amazing feats of magic and human mastery of defying gravity will keep you on the edge of your seats! There has not been any other entertainment I have taken my family to that has been as entertaining or provided the good clean fun this has.

Your family will make memories that will last a lifetime. Be sure to get there early!

Excited About the Circus Again!

ZingZangZoom

It has been more years than I care to admit that I am even alive since I was last at a circus. A real circus. Not one thrown together by a community organization but a Big Top Circus. Once I became an adult, most of the news I heard was the harsh treatment of the animals in the circus and while I am not what you would call an activist, I certainly don’t enjoy a show centered around animals who have been made to do a routine upon threat of punishment.

Since my son was born I have made a point of trying to avoid the circus especially for these reasons. I took my son to a community circus but even then I was wondering how the animals were being treated.

I am proud to say that I have completed my research and I am so very happy to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus coming TONIGHT to the US Airways Center! The RBB&B Circus has gone out of their way to ensure that the endangered elephants are protected and thriving under their care. I viewd this 10 minute video which is long but very informative. I will also include some information from their site here:

Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation
A lifelong symbol of The Greatest Show on Earth®, the Asian elephant is a respected and revered member of the Ringling Bros.® family. In the interest of the species’ present and future well-being, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation® was established in 1995. Located in central Florida, this 200-acre, $5-million, state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to the conservation, breeding and understanding of these amazing animals.

Conservation
Endangered species? Not if we can help it. With less than 35,000 Asian elephants remaining in the world, animal conservationists agree that it requires programs such as the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation to ensure the Asian elephant population is guaranteed a long and safe future.

Breeding
Threatened by the severe habitat encroachment of humans in its native lands, the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation provides a safe, healthy environment where Asian elephants are secure and comfortable. Our breeding program is one of the most flourishing of its kind, with twenty births thus far.

Understanding
Built upon the 138 years of experience and expertise of working with elephants and exotic animals, the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation has become a global focal point for the study of Asian elephants. The Ringling Bros. Center hosts researchers, academicians and conservationists to create new dialogue focused around animal care, conservation and health and to exchange knowledge. Experts from around the world visit the Ringling Bros. Center to study the Asian elephant, including Dr. L.E.L. Rasmussen, Professor at Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology, and Dr. Raman Sukumar, Asian elephant expert and Dr. Chalres Santiapillai, Sri Lankan Zoologist

There is also an entire website devoted to their care of the elephants. Check it out at http://www.elephantcenter.com/.

Here are some of the FAQs that you can find on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ website:

Animal Care FAQ

People often ask, “How do animals live at The Greatest Show On Earth®?” Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about this all-important subject.

Q: How does Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®care for its animals?
A: Because animals are an integral part of what we present to our audiences, Ringling Bros.® provides the highest standards of care to our animal performers 365 days a year. Our staff consists of animal experts who devote their lives to living, working with and caring for animals. They meet the animals’ physical needs with nutritious foods and regular veterinary attention and their mental needs by providing a stimulating environment. In all aspects of animal care and safety, Ringling Bros. exceeds all federal animal welfare standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Animal Welfare Act.

Q: What are the conditions where the animals live at each arena?
A: We pride ourselves on the level of care and the healthy environment we provide for all our animal performers. In arenas where space permits, our animal facility is outdoors and in the full view of the public. Each animal is groomed daily. The entire stable area, as well as individual animal stalls, is kept clean around the clock. We often provide guided tours of our facility for animal experts and media.

Q: What are the traveling conditions for the animals?
A: Ringling Bros. operates the largest private train network in the United States. Every traveling species has custom-made traveling cars, and our traveling animals are under constant supervision. On longer train rides, the caravan stops at scheduled intervals to provide the animals time to exercise. In the event of an emergency, we have evacuation procedures in place. Our trains and housing facilities are routinely inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and exceed all federal guidelines.

Q: How much time do your animals spend performing?
A: Just an hour or two on performance days. An average day in the life of a Ringling Bros. animal includes feeding, training, rehearsal and play. For the most part, our animals spend more than half of the day eating, sleeping and socializing with other animals.

Q: How are the animals trained to perform their routines?
A: Our expert handlers watch closely as their animals socialize, then create routines based on natural behavior. We use voice recognition and rewards to encourage the animals to learn a set routine. This process ensures that our animals are relaxed when they are displaying their natural behaviors to patrons in an entertaining fashion.

Q: What happens to the animals when they are too old to perform?
A: Of the animals you see performing with Ringling Bros., some belong to us, and others join us for a specific amount of time and are owned by private individuals. When an animal reaches retirement age while living with us, Ringling Bros. finds healthy and stimulating environments that provide excellent care for the remainder of their lives. Our Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation® is a shining example. Our elephants spend their “golden years” with our herd in Polk County, Florida, under the watchful eye of animal care experts. We also donate retired Ringling Bros. elephants to zoos to help these communities maintain social herds for their existing elephants. As of 2001, retired Ringling Bros. elephants now make their homes at The Phoenix Zoo, The Niabi Zoo and The Little Rock Zoo. Many of our big cats retire to Wildlife on Easy Street, a sanctuary located in Tampa, Florida, that is home to 23 species and subspecies of wild cats.

Q: Is it true that animals, especially elephants, have a longer life span in captivity?
A: Indeed it is. In the wild, elephants are threatened by predators, hunters, and starvation due to a dwindling natural habitat. The elephants at Ringling Bros. are assured a lifetime of veterinary care, nutritious meals and a clean, safe home. Circus elephants generally live 62 to 70 years, which is even longer than zoo elephants. Some think this is because of the daily activity and mental stimulation of performing.

Q: At what age does a young elephant perform?
A: Calves born under the care of Ringling Bros. remain with their natural mothers until old enough to be properly weaned, usually 2 years. Some youngsters have short tours with the circus, while others may stay at the Center for Elephant Conservation. In either case, young elephants have opportunities for social interaction with other elephants, while developing positive connections with caretakers and handlers that lay the groundwork for performing.

Q: How does Ringling Bros. feel about the regulation of performing animals?
A: We welcome regulation, because it protects the well-being of all animals. There are many federal animal welfare statutes and state and local animal cruelty laws in place to protect performing animals and prosecute those who neglect or mistreat them. As a standard-bearer for the circus industry, Ringling Bros. contributes to the public lawmaking process by sharing our expertise with public officials.

FAQs by Bruce Read, Vice President of Animal Stewardship

And finally, here is one more note from the great people at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus:

Animal Care
A relationship built on respect, trust, affection and uncompromising care.

The animal care professionals at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® believe that a positive, healthy environment is the only acceptable and successful method of working with animals. The animals are fed, watered, groomed and cleaned daily. The entire stable area, including individual stalls, is cleaned regularly. The manure is removed and fresh bedding is provided.

Trainers teach animals routines that showcase their physical abilities and beauty, as well as their distinctive behaviors. Our training methods are based on reinforcement in the form of food rewards and words of praise. Verbal or physical abuse and the withholding of food or water are strictly prohibited. Drugs or sedatives are not administered unless prescribed by our vets for medical reasons.

Our valuable vets.

Ringling Bros.® employs a full-time veterinary staff to provide ongoing medical care for all of our animals. Each animal in our circus family receives regular, thorough medical examinations and all needed vaccinations. Each touring unit has its own veterinary technician who travels with the show and provides daily medical care to the animals, while two full-time veterinarians travel between the units.

In addition, we work with a network of 90 local veterinarians, and one is on call 24 hours a day in each city where the show performs. There are no days off for animal care. It is a 7-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year responsibility that we take very seriously.

I hope you find this information as helpful as I have. I hope you will see that by going to see the circus we all grew up with we can actually help provide for the very animals that are endangered!

Don’t forget, if you haven’t registered to win FREE tickets from MomsZone.org, be sure to visit our site at www.MomsZone.org. For those who don’t win, you still have a great opportunity to see the circus. Go to www.ticketmaster.com and enter the code MOM to purchase 4 tickets for only $44. **Get 4 tickets for $44 by entering the code “MOM” in the MC promotion code box on Ticketmaster. Minimum
purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges, facility & handling fees will apply.

I can’t wait to go and see the show and I hope to see you there too!

If You Give a Mom a Health Fair…

If you give a mom health fair, she will want to go. She will try to find time between her children’s organized sport league games and the birthday parties they have RVSP’d to attend. She will see if she can sneek just a few minutes to get information and freebies that will enhance her life and her health. She will be distracted by a million errands and the demands of attention from children and sometimes her spouse!

If you give a mom a health fair, she may be tempted to skip it since it is only for her benefit and she has already planned her Saturday out and it might inconvenience just one person in her tribe if she made the time to go.

I say to all those moms, you cannot afford to put your health or your self on the back burner any longer. YOU are the center of the family. YOU make it all happen even when it looks like it isn’t possible. YOU have to be the one take care of you just as you would anyone else in your family.

Let’s make it easy for you. Stop by the East Valley Health Fair Saturday, May 16th anytime between 10 am and 3pm. Bring the kids! They get in free and there will be activities there to keep the kids entertained. While there, your admittance fee is going straight 100% to benefit Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer Research. You stepped foot in the event and already you are helping a great cause!

Come in and browse the vendors who sell healthy products, therapists, chiropractors, and other health professionals that you wouldn’t ordinarily have time to shop around for or have the time to interview! Don’t forget to collect your goody bag as you come in (for the first 300) and then come by the MomsZone.org booth to get ANOTHER gift bag!

If you give a mom a health fair, she may just find that it was the best time spent and who knows, it could save her life!

We hope to see all women and especially moms come out to the East Valley Health Fair for Women. For more information please check out our Calendar of Events or go to www.goAz360.com.

East Valley Health Fair for Women May 16

My Figidaire Experience

I am happy to announce that coming soon I will be reporting to you my experience with a new Dishwasher from Frigidaire and if it truly offers what it claims it can.

As you may know, this month Frigidaire rolls out a brilliant new collection with more than 250 kitchen and laundry appliances. They designed these high-performance products with easy-to-use, time-saving features to give Moms more free time away from the kitchen and laundry room.

Frigidaire recently conducted a survey to get a window into moms’ lives. The Frigidaire Motherload Index revealed that Moms log more overtime than most Americans. That is little news to us moms! The index found that moms spend most of their waking lives – 200 hours each month, in fact – doing the activities we least enjoy rather than the things we love. Again, I think all us moms can yell a big Amen to that! Yet the majority of us say we “rarely” or “never” feel caught up on our household tasks. Frigidaire kept all of this in mind when designing their new appliances. With new features such as a six-minute PowerPlus™ preheat time on their ovens, a Quick Clean dishwashing cycle that cuts the time it takes in half to clean our dishes, the Fits-More™ Dryer that allows us to dry the whole family’s clothes at once, and TimeWise™ technology to make the dryer and washing cycle equal, we can have enough time to watch our favorite shows—or even better—get a manicure!

What I love most is the guarantee that comes with these appliances. Frigidaire has so much confidence in the efficiency of these products that they are offering a “More Me-Time” Guarantee: Moms will reduce the amount of time they typically spend on housework by at least 8 hours a month using a combination of three or more select Frigidaire appliances or they can return the appliances to their place of purchase within 30 days and get their money back! Frigidaire also wants to know what you would do if you had an extra hour of blissful “me-time”. Starting today, moms can go to http://www.frigidaire.com/ to report the five things they would do with an extra hour each day. All participants will be entered for a chance to win an entire suite of NEW Frigidaire appliances. Plus, check out other prizes you can win – like a gorgeous new Frigidaire Affinity washer/dryer.

I will only be testing the new dishwasher out but I am so excited that I may need to start saving up for the whole collection! 8 hours or more a month! I could blog more!

Frigidaire Collection Kitchen

Elmo’s Green Thumb

I was asked to cover the Sesame Street Live’s Elmo’s Green Thumb performance now showing at the Dodge theater at last night’s opening night show. Having a 4 year old, they didn’t have to break my arm to get to go. Actually, having grown up on Sesame Street I wanted to catch up with my old friends Elmo, Bert and Ernie.

The whole Sesame Street gang was there last night. The first thing I noticed as soon as we sat down was that the stage was SO BEAUTIFULLY set! The colors blew me away. Bright colors without it being overwhelming or distracting. I had been to the Dodge Theater but it had been quite some time. The way the seats are set up for this show there really isn’t a bad seat to be had.

The show began and aside from the music numbers being really too loud over the speakers, it was great fun throughout the show. The music numbers incorporated all genres of music. One number was curiously a lot like a High School Musical number. I was thinking it when my 4 year old turned to me and said, “Momma, this reminds me of High School Musical.” There was dancing and rapping and just plain fun music. What would a Sesame Street performance be without the theme song, “Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street” played at least once!

The high energy and music along with the whole Seasame Street gang explaining how Sunny, the sunflower plant that Elmo has grown (literally) to love, needs certain things to help him grow big and tall. They go through all of nature and how we can take better care of the environment. Teaching love along the way, I was impressed at the amount of information given while keeping it on a child’s attention span.

After a 15 minute intermission, the show picked back up and it was even more high energy, upbeat music and the only way that stage could have been prettier was with lights and they did that too. If you have been on the fence about whether or not to take your children to see the Sesame Street Live performance of Elmo’s Green Thumb, I can tell you every child that left last night was very happy and they were all talking about their favorite part of the show. For fun family entertainment at a reasonable price, you really can’t beat this show if you have young children.

Don’t forget to use the code: MOMZONE if you plan to order online tickets http://promo.livenation.com/green/or if you go to the box office to buy your tickets to receive $3 off each ticket purchased. Have fun!

Distraction

I read a report recently about a “famous” study performed in the late ’60s. The report was the conclusion based on an experiment with young children ages 3-5. The researchers would go into the room where the children were (one child at a time) and while placing 5 M&M’s in a plate, tell the children they CANNOT eat the M&M’s until they come back in the room. The reward given to the children who waited twelve minutes was 4 more M&M’s.

I cannot remember exactly how many children they performed this experiment with but I do recall them saying while most of the children could not wait, there were quite a few who did! The study’s purpose was to see what it was the children employed as techniques to help them not eat the forbidden treat.

The conclusion? Distraction. The children who could wait had been taught either by their parents or a caregiver the technique of distraction. I believe it said most of the children who could wait had been from larger families and therefore may have learned this as a result of having to wait on their siblings for various activities. I’m imagining using the bathroom being number one and possibly getting the food passed around being another.

I can truthfully say I would need much more than the promise of 4 M&M’s to keep me from eating the treats in front of me. If they performed this experiment during a certain time of the month, the researcher would be doing well to leave the bag of M&M’s and make no sudden moves before leaving me alone in the room with my chocolate.

I wanted to share this “report” with you for two reasons. My first reason being that I was shocked any living creature could actually resist the chocolatey goodness of M&M’s. The second being that distraction may be a tool we can give our children to use when they need it. I think I would encourage my child to negotiate for more M&M’s but if he could learn how to self-discipline himself in such a way, this could be a good thing. Right?

I'm not Suffering from Insanity…I'm Enjoying it!

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