Hope & Gratitude

Write/type/decorate a list of 

100 things that you are grateful to have in your life.

If you've ever seen the TV show "How I Met Your Mother" you'll probably recognize the phrase "Challenge... accepted".

So in the midst of the current crisis, here's my challenge for you - be grateful for all the good things. Notice them, jot them down for later, take a minute to really let it sink in.

The first few items on your Gratitude 100 List will likely be pretty easy to jot down, and the last few might be tougher, but I double dog dare you to keep at it, the end result will be worth the effort, and we all know you should never turn your back on a double dog dare!

So I'll get to work on my list, and leave you to get started on yours.

Sweet dreams and flying machines...

XoXo
MidnightMommy

Compassion & Coronavirus

Becky Thompson, who writes posts on Midnight Mom Devotional, summed up current feelings on her Facebook page in a way that makes so much sense.

Each of us is doing the past that we can, and instead of debating over who's coping methods are right, or better, or absolutely ridiculous, let's try some compassion.

Last night I felt hopeless, and terrified, and scared that no matter which decision I made, it would be the wrong one.

This morning I feel hopeful. We can never truly know the impact of our decisions, because we can only see their results, and not what would have or could have happened had we decided differently.

So flip a coin if you need to, keep washing your hands a lotta bit extra, and make peace with your choices, regardless of the peer pressure.

We're don't know what we don't know, so let's not panic alone.

Let's distance ourselves physically, and at the same time hug a little tighter metaphorically. Call your family, check in with friends, offer hope (and maybe toilet paper) to your neighbors.

Talk to your kids, feeding them bite sized facts washed down with lots of hope and love and comfort. 

Let's look for the silver lining in this unprecedented dark cloud, and make the most of the time that we're given.

*Digital Hugs*

MamaGali

Parenting Hack #88

Parenting is hard. 

I'm not talking open a stuck jar hard, I'm talking brings you to the edge of a nervous breakdown hard.  (Skip to the very bottom if you have a twitter sized attention span and/or are currently juggling a fussy toddler, baby, dog, boss, and/or spouse)

Raising tiny humans, adorable is they might be, is the toughest challenge I've ever faced. Now, I've never climbed Everest or run a marathon and don't plan to either), so maybe I've set the bar low. On the other hand, I have spent 92 straight minutes (actually probably more) trying and failing to soothe a hurting baby, a baby who's escalating screams are biologically designed to irritate me.

Well guess what evolution, you won, I trusted my mommy instincts and drove that little demon straight to the pediatrician, no appointment, no ducks given.

Turns out his screaming wasn't my fault. It was an ear infection. No toy, snack, or lullaby would've fixed that screaming.

So, since Barney and Elmo and Daniel Tiger and of course my mom and dad taught me that sharing is caring, I'm going to share one of favorite (so far) parenting hacks. I hope y'all will share your favorites in the comments too.  😎

Here goes...

The backstory:
My nearly 9 month old baby boy recently got an ear infection, probably his 4th (yay me). He HATES his antibiotics, which have to be given twice a day, with a meal. Before I discovered this parenting hack, I got to clean up baby vomit. A LOT of baby vomit. It was all over the baby, the floor, and of course, my shirt. Hey, at least he missed my hair this time! 😀

Oops more backstory:
So the scientist in me analyzed the problem. This kid makes these adorable disgusted faces after the medicine, followed by not so adorable gagging and puking. Okay, it tastes bad. So now what? Well what tastes good? Formula! Nom noms.

So, this is what I've done the last 4 doses, and OMG no more puke, hooray!

The actual hack:
STEP 1: Prep the baby syringe and sit Mr. Trouble in his high chair.

STEP 2: Get him laughing aka open wide and sneak in a little squirt of medicine.

STEP 3: Chase with formula.

STEP 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the full dose has been swallowed.

STEP 5: Do a victory dance, you both earned it!

Until next time,
Peace, love, and permission to rest,
Mamagali xoxo