Angry Mom, Angry Son

We took advantage of open gym at the rec center today. The trio are getting harder to contain on whatever blankets I bring. They were occupied with toys I keep in the van, in addition to blocks and hula hoops that were available.

Jackson had fun riding the tricycle. He even used his feet to pedal most of the time.

In an effort to keep James and Amelia off of the gym floor, I sat them up and stacked blocks with them.

Jackson joined us and began building a tall tower.

All was happy in our little world, until two other preschool aged children came over.  A sweet little girl asked if she could build with us. Jackson, aka Mr. Antisocial, frowned and rode away on his tricycle. Of course, I welcomed her to join us. The other children and I played together while Jack rode around the gym.  This sweet girl worked so hard to build a tower taller than she was.  The next thing I know, Jackson came running over with both hands out and knocked her tower over!

I was mortified that my son would be such a bully. The poor girl was on the verge of tears when her mother came over to console her. I made my best effort to redirect Jackson calmly and get him to help me rebuild her tower. He refused. I felt so bad for the girl and I found myself making excuses for Jackson to the girl's mother.  "Somebody is ready for a nap" even though he hasn't napped in months. I hurriedly stacked the blocks then ran off to reprimand Jackson. At this point, he angrily yelled, "I knock over this, too!" He proceeded to knock over multiple tricycles. It became a free show for the parents. I felt like the other moms were just watching to see how I would handle the situation.  And I'm sure they thought Jackson was a brat. I thought he was.

I wanted to scream and pick him up and dramatically storm out of the gym. I learned my lesson in September that those actions don't work. I have three other children who can't walk that also need my attention. I rushed to put the babies in the stroller/Ergo. Jackson would NOT pick up the tricycles or blocks. I picked them up for him only because I wanted to get out asap. Jackson was calm enough to apologize to the girl, walk out, hold the door for me, and hold the stroller in the parking lot. It was as if nothing had happened.

Once we got to the van, it took everything in me not to throw him in his carseat and start screaming. Again, I've learned that yelling has the opposite effect with Jackson (and most everyone). I feel obligated to admit that as soon as all four kids were buckled in and the door was closed I grunted and yelled in the parking lot. How dare my son hurt other peoples feelings. I know the trio are just babies, but it wasn't fair to them that we had to leave because their brother was being ugly. Jackson's actions could have been worse, but that behavior is certainly not tolerated.

I decided leaving the gym early was enough of a consequence. Jackson had such remorse and kept apologizing and crying. Once home, I laid the babies down for their nap and Jackson and I baked a cake for my brother-in-law. At one point he put the measuring cup down and said, "I say sorry to you and you say sorry to me." He apologized again for knocking the tower over and he wanted me to apologize for making him cry. Oh dear...

Today was the first time I saw an angry, aggressive side of Jackson. I hope I don't see it much more!

A Day in the Life (SAHM to 8 Month Old Triplets and an Almost 3 Year Old)

Midnight: Pump. Go to sleep.

2:00 a.m. Wake up to Maddie fussing. Give her a pacifier repeatedly.  Eventually give her a 5 oz bottle of breastmilk. Go back to sleep.

5:00 a.m. Jesse wakes up for the day as usual and begins exercising.

5:30 a.m. I wake up and pump for 45 minutes.

6:15 a.m. I give Maddie her bottle and go back to bed.

6:30 a.m. Jackson wakes up.  Jesse gives him breakfast downstairs and gives James & Amelia their bottles in their crib.

7:00 a.m. Jesse leaves for work.  Jackson watches TV downstairs.  I sleep.

7:45 a.m. Maddie and Amelia wake up.  I ignore their babbles until 8.  (It was a late night last night.)

8:00 a.m. I take the girls downstairs to play.

8:15 a.m. I eat breakfast and stuff cloth diapers.



8:30 a.m. Make bottles. Puree strawberry and banana in food processor.

8:45 a.m. Give babies their bottles. Snuggle with Jackson on the couch.

9:00 a.m. Change babies' diapers. Wash bottles.

9:15 a.m. Feed trio strawberry banana. Make up silly songs.

9:45 a.m. Play with babies and Jack on the floor.  Encourage Maddie during tummy time.  Support Amelia while she sits.  Discourage Jackson from sitting on top of James.  Repeat. Finish stuffing and putting away diapers.

(Okay, I took this picture last week, but this is how tummy time always starts.)

10:30 a.m. Put babies in cribs for nap.

10:40 a.m. Call Maddie's case manager to check on PT services.  Ask if he received papers from neurologist. Check e-mail/Facebook.

11:00 a.m. Make Jackson lunch. (PB&J and strawberries) Heat up leftovers for myself.

11:15 a.m. Load the dishwasher.  Clean counters.

11:20 a.m. Pump for 40 minutes. Blog while Jackson watches TV.

12:00 p.m. Realize the TV has been on all morning.  Turn it off and do story time and crafts with Jack. 

1:15 p.m. Give Amelia, Maddie, and James a bottle as they wake up.  Each kid eats a graham cracker.  Jackson also eats a banana.

1:30 p.m. Change babies' diapers. Load everyone into the van and drive to rec center.

1:45 p.m. Unload van, load stroller, and take kids into gym for open play. Babies have tummy time or sit on blanket with toys.  Jackson and I play with gigantic blocks and bouncy balls and befriend another family.

3:20 p.m. Leave rec center.  Drive home.

3:30 p.m. Unload kids. Put babies in cribs for afternoon nap.  Play outside with Jackson. Fix popcorn for a snack.

3:45 p.m. Go inside to begin dinner preparations, unload dishwasher, sweep floors, clean counters/tables, etc. James refuses to nap.

4:30 p.m. Jesse comes home. I finish cooking dinner (shepherd's pie) while he plays with the kids.

5:00 p.m. Make bottles (5 oz formula) and give them to babies. Set the table. 

5:30 p.m. Eat dinner. Talk about our day.

6:00 p.m. Clean up. Do dishes. Sweep.

6:15 p.m. Unwind.  Zone out in front of TV/computer.  Eat ice cream. Cuddle with kids.

7:30 p.m. All six of us go upstairs to begin bedtime routine. Change babies' diapers and clothes. Jackson puts on pajamas and brushes teeth.

7:45 p.m. Jesse reads Jackson three stories in his bed while I pump.  I upload pictures from the day and blog.

8:00 p.m. Give babies final bottle of the day (5 oz breastmilk). Talk to/kiss babies. 

8:15 p.m. Put them in their cribs awake but sleepy. Jesse and I watch America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Country. Jesse inevitably falls asleep while I finish watching the show.

8:45 p.m. I use the computer or read until I eventually fall asleep (between 10-11 p.m.)

Middle of the night-Wake up to give pacifiers, bottles, use the bathroom, etc.

Rainy Day Fun: Open Gym

I've posted before about taking the kids to the local rec center for indoor play.  (It happened to be the first outing using the quad stroller when I accidentally folded all four kids up inside.)  If the weather prohibits us from going to the park, we head to the playroom to burn off some energy.  They have a floor to ceiling indoor jungle gym that is always open to the public for free. 

Today was the perfect day for the rec center because...

1. The weather was cold and rainy.
2. I was meeting Charlotte Mommies friends for a play date from 1:30-3.
3. Monday afternoon is "open gym" for children ages five and under. 

I've never gone before during open gym because I assumed it was literally just a gymnasium open for kids to run around.  On the contrary, there were little trikes, huge balls, dress up clothes/helmets, hula hoops, and bean bags available for young children to play with.  Even with all the equipment, some of the kids had more fun running up and down the bleachers.

Jackson spent the most time on various trikes, though he used them as walkers rather than using his feet to pedal.

There were even toys appropriate for the babies such as padded equipment and tunnels to crawl through. 

Of course, we don't have crawlers yet so I laid them on our blanket and let them play with our toys from home.  I enjoyed talking to my mommy friends while the big kids wore themselves out.

Jackson was so hyper and comical on the ride to the library that I took video of his nonsense.  He was making up songs and laughing at the silliest things.

Looks like we have a new free resource to take advantage of on Monday afternoons!

Quad Stroller vs. Mom

My days of relying on the Ergo and double snap-n-go are numbered.  I want all of the babies to be able to look around and interact with things.  I worry that I'm hindering Maddie by keeping her in the Ergo so frequently.

Last Friday I decided to take the bull by the horns and finally use the quad stroller in public.  We headed to the local recreation center for some warm, indoor play.  It was every bit as difficult as I expected it to be.  

Before leaving, I had practiced opening, pushing, folding, and lifting our Foundations Quad LX stroller into the van.  I repeated the process three times to make sure I was comfortable.  The stroller alone weighs 84 pounds, and is quite awkward to put in the van. 

I debated whether or not to mention this little tidbit, but I could have seriously harmed all four children.  The whole time I was practicing with the stroller, I had (unknowingly) never opened it fully.  I had pushed the seats back as far as I thought it could go and assumed it was open all the way.  It strolled fine in the driveway. 

Once we arrived at our destination, I lifted the stroller out and unfolded it just as I had practiced.  I buckled the babies in their seats.  But as soon as Jackson sat down the whole damn thing collapsed and folded up...with all four kids inside!  I know, I know...mother of the year right here.  Praise God, I immediately unfolded the stroller and was relieved to find everyone unscathed.  Not even the slightest fuss was heard.  Whew!

We quickly went about our business pretending like I hadn't just tried to crush my children.  I was able to steer the stroller with one hand while opening doors with the other hand.  I pushed it through doorways with ease.

We're fortunate to have a recreation center just a few minutes from our house.  Their playroom is free to the public.  (Think of a McDonalds Playplace on steroids.)  The babies and I talked and hung out while Jackson played.  Jack was initially reluctant to navigate the maze of tunnels.  It didn't take long before he was running around like he owned the place.  We had the place all to ourselves for fifteen minutes or more before other children and parents came to play.

By the time we left, I was back to my confident, calm self.  Those feelings didn't last long. My greatest challenge by far was folding the stroller back up and putting it in the van.  Again, during my practice runs, I had apparently not opened it until it clicked.  Therefore, I had easily been able to fold it back up. 

I loaded the kids in their carseats.  They were warm and safe in the van while I proceeded to close the stroller.  It took EVERY OUNCE of strength for me to collapse it.  Words cannot express how hard it was to push the tiny red button to release the lock.  It involved excessive sweating, cursing, and numerous failed attempts on my behalf.  I debated on asking one of the many bulky men that passed by to help me.  But I couldn't bring my stubborn self to admit I didn't know what I was doing.  I even thought about going back inside to play for another hour until Jesse came home and could get us.  At last, I was able to release the lock and collapse it. 

I know everything about this post sounds ridiculous and I feel completely foolish, but I swear it was the most challenging thing I've done in a while.  I made Jesse close it and it took him a long time too.  I watched him struggle just as I had.  I guess I'll just keep practicing and hope that it gets easier. 

So help me, in this stroller war, I. Will. Win.