How To: Give yourself a Hair Cut

1. Ring up the Hair Dresser to book appointment for Toddler (it's way over due)
2. Toddler hears me say "Hair Cut"
3. Toddler then runs into Trusty Grandpa's room yelling "Hair Cut! Hair Cut! Hair Cut!"
4. Quickly finish phone call and follow Toddler
5. Find Toddler standing on Trusty Grandpa's desk chair with a pair of scissors in one hand and a fist full of hair in the other...
6. Extract scissors from Toddler (place higher then before - they were up very high out of reach for Toddler before, so not even sure HOW they got to them)
7. Collect Hair off Toddler and put in zip lock bag - label to say it was their first self hair cut
8. Say "Oh No! You cut your hair! Only hair dressers do that!" and usher Toddler out of Grandpa's room
9. Try to book hair cut for today instead - nothing available
10. Look at Toddlers hair and on closer inspection, see that it's not too noticeable, so will be ok for a few days...

How To: Find things in you Toddlers nappy

This morning, my Toddler came into our room to wake me up (after a good nights sleep, Yay!) and as I went to pick him up for a cuddle, I found he was soaked through. This hasn't happened in a long time (probably in about a year or so) so I was quite surprised!

However, that wasn't the only surprise... after I had stripped the bed and opened up the nappy I found that he had stashed a few things in there (don't know how he managed it, as I changed him right before bed, but there they were. So, as it looks as though this is the start of another phase, i will document the different items I have found in his nappy - today and in the future:

1. A half eaten carrot (last night he was snacking on carrots after dinner, he must have put one down there while I was making his bottle)
2. A 10 cent piece (after a quick wash, I put this in his piggy bank)
3. An Apple (YES, a whole apple - I saw that his nappy was full and opened it to find an apple)
4. A piece of toast

How To: Explain a Shadow to a Toddler

Toddler has seen his own shadow and tried to chase it before, but not really been too interested in it or seem to really understand it. Today was the first time I think he really understood the concept of a shadow...

So how did it happen?

1. We were in the car driving home
2. Toddler calls out "Mum! Help!" in a slightly worried voice
3. Pull the car over and look at Toddler
4. See that Toddler is looking wide-eyed at his arms and legs
5. Realise that they are worried about the pattern of the shadow from the rear window on them
6. Say "It's a shadow darling, just like when you walk around and your shadow follows you"
7. Toddler is still looking at checkered pattern shadow on his arms and legs
8. Toddler starts to try shaking it off
9. Toddler tries to pick it off
10. See that he is getting upset about the shadows not going away
11. Try explaining again "It's ok, it won't hurt you. It's a shadow from the back window - look up!"
12. Toddler looks up at the back window for a few moments and then back at his hands
13. Toddler moves his hands back and forth looking at the window and to his hands again 
14. See it click in his little head how this who shadow thing works
15. Receive lovely smiles and a "Wow Mum!" 
16. Start the car again and carry on home

How To: Get your Toddler to eat their breakfast

There are many tricks and stories behind how I can get my Toddler to eat his breakfast... some work:

1. Find out what time they usually like to eat - My Toddler won't eat anything before 7-7.30am, even if we are up at 5am. I found if I wait until the 7am mark, he is most likely to eat his breakfast right away - without any stress.
2. Let them choose their breakfast
3. Let them help make it: If it's toast, let them put it in the toaster. If it's cereal, let them put it in the bowl and pour the milk (a little jug helps make less mess in this situation)
4. Turn the T.V. off - we don't watch much T.V. but in the early mornings, sometimes it goes on. We have a general rule that if it is on in the morning, it is off by 7.30am and doesn't go on until 5pm at the earliest (unless they are sick, or it is raining AND all other indoor activities have been exhausted) I have found if the T.V. is on while my Toddler is eating a meal, he will get so wrapped up in the programme that he will forget to eat. A reminder and a warning to turn the T.V. off usually work, if not the T.V. goes off and stays off until he eats his food.
5. Sit down with them and eat your breakfast too - show by example and spend time with them
6. Help them out, feed them by hand
7. Give them time, but if it is getting closer to morning tea time (or even lunch!) give up and just feed them the next meal. If you can avoid wasting the meal, put it in the fridge and try again the next day. 
8. Airplane spoon (imaginary or buy the ones that look like it - you can even get train and car spoons!)
9. Use an incentive. E.g. "We can't go out in the car until you eat all your breakfast"
10. Make a fort for them to eat in or a tent if you have one

And some don't work so much... here is a list of some of the things that have happened when my Toddler doesn't want to have breakfast:

The "Tip the Table" method

1. Give Toddler their breakfast at their kiddy table
2. Toddler may sample the food (one bite) or just stare at it
3. When you remind your Toddler to eat the food, Toddler refuses
4. If you push the issue OR they get bored...they flip the table over!
5. Sometimes you are lucky and the food lands right way up
6. Others, you're not so lucky and the food flips over with the table and you have a mess to clean up

The "Art skills" method

1. Toddler is given breakfast
2. Toddler then decides to tip the plate or bowl over onto their table or highchair tray
3. Toddler then finger paints with the milk, cereal and/or spreads on the table

The "Here Mum" method

1. Ask/Remind Toddler to eat their breakfast
2. Toddler bring the breakfast over
3. Go to reach for bowl (thinking that they want you to feed it to them
4. Toddler then tips the bowl onto your own breakfast plate

The "Hat" method

1. Give Toddler breakfast
2. Toddler may sample some food
3. Toddler wants to use the bowl as a hat
4. Toddler now needs a complete bath or shower 
5. Make sure to take photo's of this as it's a cute moment...

How To: Get Toddler into the carseat when they don't want to

I have gone through many different scenarios with my Toddler - as when he doesn't want to leave a place (usually the playground) he puts up a fight and doesn't want to leave at all.

This past year, there have been countless of times where we have been out and about somewhere and we've needed to come home - but my Toddler doesn't want to leave just yet.

If I am rushing and just tell Toddler that we are leaving and put him straight into the pram or car seat I usually get one - or more of the following:

1. Planking (where they arch their back, making it hard for you to put them in their seat, and worried that you might hurt them)
2. Waving hands in frustration, resulting in myself being hit in the face when I pick him up
3. Screaming
4. Shouting out "NO! HELP!" (this can lead to curious stares from strangers and a little embarrassment)
5. Running away
6. Refusing to leave, point blank - or ignoring you

All of the above are really hard for me, as I have to be very careful with my back, due recovering from surgery on it from a few years ago. I am still learning different ways to prevent this happening, but these are the following things that have worked for me:

Planking:

• I have tickled him until he laughed (but I gauge this, as if he is too upset/wound up already it will only frustrate him more and ensure more screaming)
• Distraction is a good thing - if you have a toy that they can play with all the better! I have recently bought a toy steering wheel from the local opshop and every time I have been having trouble getting him into this seat or pram, I give it to him so that he can "drive the car" from from his car seat. You could easily make your own out of cardboard together too! Extra points to you if you get him to turn the wheel left or right when you are pushing the pram and follow the direction he is turning it. (I wouldn't recommend doing this with the car though...)
• Wait them out if you have the time - calmly explain to them what you would like them to do, and if needed, put them in time out.
• If it is the pram you are trying to put them in, see if they are happy to hold your hand or help you push the pram instead
• Ask them if they can show you how to put the seat belt on (I have found this helps them feel as if they are the ones in control)
• If all else fails or you are short on time, I have loosened the straps of the car seat so that I can fling it over his arms and still buckle it up (without force) and then tighten the straps until it is at the safe position for you to drive.

Accidental and Frustration Hitting/Kicking:

• I have said to Toddler "Don't hit me, I don't hit you" in a calm voice (you do still need to be careful when you say this, as most people hear the word "hit" and hackles are raised) 
• Blow in their face - lovely smiles can be the result
• I have caught the offending hand/foot in my hand and done the following:
• Tickled it
• Done "This Little Piggy" or "Round and Round the garden went the Teddy Bear" etc
• Held onto the offending foot and looked at it in wonder and said something like "Oh wow! It's a foot! How did that get there? My goodness me! It's not meant to be up in the air like this dangling around" (so basically I've made of joke of it, distracted him and make him laugh in the process)
• Step or lean back (while still holding onto them) and said "That's not how you high five!" and ask them to show you how a high five is done 
• If all else fails,  pick them up and throw them over your shoulder in a fireman hold

Screaming:

• Sit there quietly and calmly talk to them
• If you are inside, remind them that you use an inside voice
• If you are outside and decide not to calmly talk to them (lets face it, sometimes it's just one of those days) put on your "Mum Voice"
• If you really want to scream back at them - within reason as you'll look like a crazy person (and you are meant to be the adult here) e.g They scream "NO!" you scream back "Yes!" - make sure you smile back at them as you play this game. The funniest thing I've had from my Toddler from this exchange is them pausing to look at me and then with a quick smile from them they then said "Ok Mum, come on - let's go" they then took my hand and walked ME back to the car!
• Whisper! Seriously they will come close to you to hear what you have to say - or the change in volume will distract them from whatever it is they were screaming about
• Say nothing, keep a blank face and raise your eyebrows (or one if you can manage it)

Shouting out "No! Help!"

• Ask them what they want help with
• If you are having a lot of weird stares from other people, say loud enough for everyone to hear but don't make it sound like you are panicking "I'm you're Mum. Not a stranger." - a side note here, if you are one of the people staring and honestly think that I am kidnapping my child or something - I will not bite your head off, in fact I will thank you! Trust your instincts on this, and if in doubt and the child really is asking for help, as embarrassing as it will be if they are only playing up, it is better to be safe then sorry
• If someone does come up to you and ask you if you are your Toddlers mother - as frustrating and embarrassing it may be; try NOT to snap at that person. As I have stated in the above point, I am most likely to thank you then yell at you. I have had a lovely lady come up to me and ask me a question along these lines "Is everything ok here?" to which I replied "Yes, it's fine I'm just trying to get my Son to finish on the play ground, but he's having so much fun he doesn't want to leave" she then offered me some help, and chatted to Toddler - which was enough to distract him and allow me to talk calmly to him. After that, I thanked her and Toddler happily hopped into their pram and allowed me to buckle him in

Running Away:

This is still a huge issue for me, and I am constantly looking out for new ideas that may work. I am not a fan of using a harness or strap on the hand for a few reasons:

1. They can wriggle of of them
2. You can get reliant on it, and they may not learn as quickly as they would if you didn't use it
3. It may actually frustrate them even more and if you have a stubborn child, it might not even work

In saying this, I have friends that have used harnesses for their kids that were runners and it worked very well for them. As with all parenting choices, an informed decision is the best and if you think your child will learn better by using a harness - go for it!

This is a list of the things that have helped me with my Toddler who is a "runner":

• Be quick on your feet
• Everywhere you go, have a quick look for at the exits and danger points and make a quick plan in your head how you will stop your child from running there if they do. (if there is a body of water - have it already in your mind that you are going to get wet at some point today - I'm not saying that they will jump in, but it's best to see the safest place for you to jump in before you have to, without injuring yourself as that wouldn't help the situation) 
• Make sure that you have no obstacles between you and your child so that you can get to them in a hurry if they do a runner
• Try to have someone else with you when you go out to a public place where you might let your child run free e.g. The Botanical Gardens or a park. At the very least, if they can't run after Toddler for you, they can guard your bag or pram if you have to do a "Drop and Run"
• Again, try to go to the park etc with other parents who have children the same age - or even older then yours. You can work together as a team. Also, sometimes the older kids are happy to help out as they understand the rules for staying in your line of site better. I have a good friend who has kids that are really good listeners and are happy to play with my Toddler while us Mum's have a chat - if Toddler runs off and one of the kids are close, they will either steer them back in the right direction, hold onto them until I can get there or chase after them in front of me so they can tell me which way they went as it helps be decide the quickest way to get to the Toddler
• Try to have a pram or a seat on hand - give your child fair warning if they look like they are going to run. I usually say to my Toddler "Stay here please, if you don't listen - you will sit in the pram" (up to you how many chances you give them. Sometimes I give them three, others only one if they run off in a dangerous situation) 
• Use different words to stop them. I am still aiming for them to stop when I say "STOP!" (this has happened only once for me which I will explain in the next point) - I was in a fluster one day, and called out "Wait!" and blow me down if my Toddler didn't stop in his tracks and actually wait for me. 
• Stand in front of them and hold your hand up in their eye sight and say firmly "Stop" 
• If they are old enough talk with them about it before you go anywhere. I specifically remember when I was about 3 or 4 year old, my Dad telling me "You don't run away from us here, there are cars that could hit you. There is only one of you and it would make us very sad if we lost you" I understood that right away and I didn't need to be asked to stop after that, just reminded of the statement with the words "There is only one of you"

Refusing to Leave/Ignoring you:

• I have had my Toddler literally sit down in the middle of the road that we were crossing because he didn't want to go (or if he was really tired from all the walking) In situations like this:
•  If I feel it about to happen I quickly stop and pick him up and carry him the rest of the way. 
• If it is in a safe place, I stop and get down to his level. I then ask him why he is sitting one the ground. If he says his legs are sore, I offer to carry him or find a place for us to sit down together until he's ready to walk again. If he says he doesn't want to move (and he is not hurt) I explain to him "You don't sit down in the middle of the footpath" and point out the people that have to walk around us. If he still refuses to move, I ask him again why he's not moving and work from there. 
• Use a treat as a bribe if you want to (I try not to, but if I do it's usually if they have been good the rest of the day and if they aren't doing anything else besides saying they don't want to leave) Sometimes you just need a little incentive. :-)
• If they are outright ignoring you, make sure that they can actually hear you. If they can't, move to where they can, or:
• Walk up to them and ask them to look at you
• Tell them that you are leaving
• Give them a choice "We leave now, or you go in time out" 
• Take them by the hand and walk them out
• Acknowledge their feelings "I know you are having heaps of fun here, and it is a shame we have to leave now, but we can come back another time"

Other Tips and Methods you could try:

• Give them fair warning. When I am ready to leave I either pull him to the side and tell him one of two things:

1. Tell them they have 10 minutes left - set a timer on your phone, and make it clear that when it goes off, you are leaving. (extra points to you if you have a ring tone that helps e.g. "So long, farewell" from The Sound of Music)
2. Give them 3-5 more times down the slide and count it down with them. Be fully prepared that they will go down the slide once, then play on each piece of equipment between each slide. e.g.  "Toddler, you have 3 more goes down the slide then we are going home. One! Wow! You've gone down once, now you have 2 more goes!"

• Praise, praise and praise again! I get better results from my Toddler if I am positive and praise him and tell him that I am proud of him for listening. 
• Be patient. Remember that they are only little and still learning themselves
• Talk with them before you go out and tell them what you expect from them, and then when it is almost time to leave remind them again. e.g. "We are going shopping, and then we will go to the play ground for a bit after. When I tell you to get ready to go home, please help me out and be ready to leave when we need to" (this works better with older kids, but I've started it with my Toddler and sometimes it works)

I have others that I have tried, and will add them when I think of them or when I have discovered something new! I would love to hear any other ideas for this subject if you have them :-)

How To: Clean the house before your Mother-in-law visits

The week leading up to the visit:

1. Have a sore back from all the extra stretches the rehab physio has given you to do
2. Have hardly any sleep for about a week due to Toddler not sleeping in their bed, back pain, crampy leg and being wired from the copious amounts of coffee you have been drinking to help you cope through out the day
3. Due to lack of sleep and sore back, get minimal amount of housework done, and keep putting off the big things
4. The night before MIL is due to arrive, fold huge pile of washing that has been sitting around waiting to be done, clean the toilet room and because Toddler is in bed - opt to vacuum the next day. 

The day of the visit:

1. Get woken up after another restless night by Hubby's "last" alarm going off
2. Make sure that Hubby is awake
3. Hubby leaves for work
4. Start stretches and hear Toddler wake up
5. Toddler runs into the lounge, rips the curtains open to say bye to Daddy
6. Make Toddler breakfast
7. Make and eat own breakfast
8. Trusty Grandpa gets up and does the dishes
9. Have a quick shower with Toddler and send out to Trusty Grandpa to dress while getting self dressed
10. Say bye to Toddler and head off for blood test (Toddler NOT happy about me leaving)
11. Have 5 vials of blood taken
12. Decide to go straight home instead of food shopping after blood test as now need a rest and something to eat (besides, Toddler usually loves food shopping, so will do so after lunch)
13. Get home, start tidying up the lounge and own bedroom
14. Get to Toddlers room and tidy their room, decide to organise the books
15. Toddler comes into the room and starts to read each and every book that I begin to put away - or wants me to read it to him (he is so my Son)
16. Manage to finish in Toddlers room 
17. Empty rubbish bins in room
18. Empty vacuum cleaner
19. Vacuum lounge (with Toddlers help - pushing, pulling the vacuum around)
20. Decide to lay down and rest for a little bit
21. Toddler follows into the bedroom
22. Talk to Toddler for a bit
23. Toddler takes out the box of lego people from Hubby's bedside table and starts playing with them
24. Close eyes for a few minutes, listening to Toddler being occupied with his game
25. Feel Toddler jump up on bed and say "KEYS!"
26. Toddler steps from bed with the window keys in his hand and decided that he needs to unlock the window while standing on the window sill
27. Get up off the bed and remove Toddler from the window sill
28. Toddler arches back
29. Stepback to regain balance and step on all the lego people
30. Lose balance even more
31. Throw Toddler on the bed and drop to knees in pain
32. Let out a squeal as knelt in the lego people
33. Take a few deep breaths
34. Look up to see Toddler is batting the lamps above Hubby's and my bed
35. Tell Toddler off
36. Hobble outside and ask Trusty Grandpa to keep an eye on Toddler while you clean up lego people (and to have a few minutes to calm self down)
37. Trusty Grandpa takes over and feeds Toddler their lunch
38. Have a little cry to let it all out and pick up the lego people
39. Hobble back into the kitchen and make lunch
40. Sit down for a little bit and think about all that needs to be done
41. Decide that food shopping can be done after a little rest
42. Also Decide that the rest of the vacuuming can wait, as I would rather have a happy child (who is clearly craving attention from me) then a perfect house. 
43. Continue to sit down and give pat on the back for work that has been done
44. Wonderful Granny arrives and after I apologise for not being able to get the house as clean as I would have liked (bathroom still needs to be done, rest of house vacuumed and Toddler has taken his toys for a walk through out the house)
45. Wonderful Granny gives me a hug and tells me not to worry about it as she knows how hard it can be
46. Remind self in future to continue enjoying the moments with Toddler instead of stressing about housework, as most people will understand. 

How To: Ruin a nice family moment (but still end it in laughter)

1. Toddler goes into their room after dinner
2. Hear them chatting away to themselves
3. Walk down to investigate
4. Toddler is reading his books to Monkey
5. Toddler then decides that he wants to look out his window - so he hops up on his bed and stands on the window sill
6. Stand behind Toddler for safety and ask him what he's up to
7. Toddler chatters away and points to everything he see's out the window "Mummy's car - Blue", "Grandpa's Car - Red", "Daddy's um.... not his car"
8. Toddler then spots the cat "Darcy! DARCE! Hello Darcy!"
9. Toddler then spots a plane (and so on an so forth talking about the different things he sees)
10. Toddler then looks at me and says "Mum?" with a serious expression
11. Reply "Yes Darling?"
12. Toddler points to his bed "You bed - Read Story"
13. Push the bed up to the window sill under Toddler
14. Lay down on the bed as instructed and pick up nearest book
15. Hold the book up to Toddler and ask them what book it is
16. Toddler yells out "CRANKY!"
17. Start reading Cranky 
18. Halfway through, Toddler comes down off the window sill and gives me a hug "Enough now"
19. Toddler gets back up on the window sill and continues to chatter away
20. Hubby comes in and gives me a hug
21. Start having a little chat together while watching Toddler
22. Chat away with Toddler with Hubby's head on my stomach...
23. I feel a sudden urge to fart 
24. Before I can warn Hubby - out it comes 
25. Close eyes momentarily in embarrassment
26. Open eyes and Hubby has shot out the room so fast leaving self and Toddler alone together
27. Realise that he also closed the door
28. Crack up laughing at his reaction
29. Toddler looks at the door and says "Uh oh..."
30. Toddler looks at me and says "Oh no!"
31. Laugh so hard at Hubby's and Toddler's reaction that tears are streaming down my face
32. Toddler then hides under his bed
33. Laugh even harder and have trouble breathing
34. Run out the room after Hubby, laughing and crying
35. Tell him Toddlers reaction through fits of laughter
36. More laughter between the both of us
37. Hear giggling from Toddlers room
38. Walk back into room and finish hanging out with Toddler before bedtime