Did you see me this weekend? I was the one at Target trying to get out of the checkout lane as fast as I could as my 3 year old screamed at the top of his lungs. Yes I was THAT mother. Trying desperately to appease him with various ploys and distractions that didn’t work.
I should have known better - but pushed my luck and cut our errand time too close to nap time and a very cranky boy was the result.
Lots of stares and glares along with a few kindly grandmothers asking what they could do to help me.
I was not going to abandon the brimming cart of necessities and walk out. I needed those diapers and wipes!
Thankfully the woman behind me in line said with a sympathetic smile “Been there, done that, have the t-shirt.”
I think she even chose my line on purpose for moral support. (Thank you nice lady - I will do the same in the future).
So I swiped my card and hustled out of there with Ben still crying through the parking lot.
Of course the second I buckled him into the carseat he was all done. Smiley and chit chatty on the way home. *Sigh*

What do you do to manage meltdowns? I need a few tricks up my sleeve.

Guest-blogger AmyJo just wrote in her birthday party tip after reading the birthday party post from last week. What a great idea!

I just read the birthday party wish list post and I wanted to share something sort of related… or not. Our twin boys just turned six and we had yet to do a  kid party. One of the reasons was simply that they  just didn’t need any more stuff and I found the excess of gifts at some kids parties a bit much.

I’ve heard of giving to charities and requesting no  gifts, doing a food drive, etc, but that’s hard when  they KNOW kids get presents at parties…

Finally this past weekend, we did a kid party and wrote on the invites “Our home is overflowing with love, toys and simple joys. Please bring a recycled
gift from your child’s stash or a very modest gift.”

The craziest part is that it worked. Parents told me they appreciated not have to buy two gifts (or any gifts!) for the party, and many took time to select
 just the right books or stuffed animals from their own collection. Some brought a mix of a small new item with some used, etc. My kids loved it all and really didn’t know any difference. As long as there was wrapping paper to rip, they were delighted!

- AmyJo

Thanks AmyJo - such a win-win-win solution!

Today Jennifer, Mother of Twins - is looking for some advice from Cribsheeters.

I am feeling anxious about a milestone our 15-month-old boy-girl twins are quickly reaching — transitioning to booster seats from high chairs.
 
On the one hand, I cannot wait to get those huge plastic beasts out of my kitchen.  On the other hand, I don’t know how I will contain the wild things within.
 
Right now the kids are still in their high chairs, but they get bored easily and entertain themselves by throwing food on the floor, at the wall, you name it.  My kitchen is a disaster area, even with one very enthusiastic dog who eats most of it.
 
I’m starting to get into that thorny area of parenting where I will soon have to start disciplining them, and I don’t know where to begin.  Right now I feel I am destined to end up on SuperNanny.
 
Part of our challenge is the fact that with our work schedules, we are usually doing meals with one adult and two children, so one person literally cannot physically restrain both of them at the same time.  So, sitting on laps or something like that for meals is not really feasible.
 
When is a good time to make this transition?  What are your strategies for getting them to A) not throw ALL of their food on the floor and B) stay in their seat for at least 10-15 minutes so we can eat as a family?  Do I have to keep them in high chairs until they’re 4?

Please share your advice with Jennifer in comments below!

Just glancing at the Star Tribune’s front page this morning made me smile.

Take a look at these amazing twin girls who defied the odds. They ”are the first babies in Minnesota to be born from eggs that were frozen and then thawed before being fertilized in a petri dish.”  Click  here to read more.

Oh, this guest post from colleague, Will Martin, couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. We are making the crib to bed transition with Ben soon too. Although he has yet to try to jump the crib, his legs dangle out through the rails and he’s just too big for it now. Read on how Will’s transition with daughter, Emma, is going and share your tips too.

At what point is it time to move your toddler from crib to bed, and how can you ease the transition of that sometimes-difficult move? It’s a question that all parents have to tackle at some point.

For my wife and I, it was midnight when the restlessness of our 2-year-old daughter turned into a full-blown tantrum. We turned to the trusty combo of milk, Mickey and blankie, but there were no takers. She responded with a ninja-style flip out of the crib, which she nearly landed (with no prior martial arts experience). A few hours later, including a 2 a.m. car ride in my boxer-briefs (T.M.I.), Emma fell asleep, and my wife and I concluded: jumping out of the crib equals no more crib.

We tracked down a twin bed and filled her room, which she’s been in for a week now, with fun and inexpensive IKEA accessories. The transition has been easy some nights and tougher others. Her latest bedtime strategy includes requests such as:

“Dada lay on floor.”

“Dada lay head down.”

“Dada sleep.”

She actually patted me on the head and said “good job” the other night after I had completed my tasks. This process usually takes about an hour before she finally drifts off. We want to lessen that.

We have dark shades to block out the late summer light, a nightlight and a fleet of stuffed animals standing at the ready, which seam to help a bit. We’re trying to regulate her sleep schedule more, but that can be tough when she’s in daycare.

We may also add some music to the mix, Coldplay  perhaps?, but any additional suggestions would be great.

Here is an article from Parents magazine with tips on the transition, but please share any additional hints that worked for you.