BibChatter

Picture Perfect....

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:25:00 +0000

Thank you for visiting! HebronMommy

Biting at Daycare....Bail or Be Patient

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:55:00 +0000

As I picked up my sons from daycare, I peaked my head into the infant room where my 3 month old is casually sipping on his last bottle of the day, then I go on to greet my 19 month old in the 1-2 yr old room, awaiting his squeal and akward sprint towards my direction as I open the door. On this particular day, my little one does seem too excited to see me, he appears quiet and a little to himself. Trust me, this is not normal behavior. I pick him up and try to get some sort of reaction out of him, but no luck. He doesn't appear to be sick, not sad even, maybe shy. The young lady from the daycare facility tells me he had a "pretty good day" but says I need to sign a paper? I see it is an accident report...my son was bitten at school today. They are not quite sure when it happens or who did it, but noticed the mark later in the afternoon. As I kneel down, he looks at me with those big blue eyes and I am furious! How could anyone bite this angel? Ok, remember, you're the adult and he is playing with a group of small children..it is bound to happen right?

The next day, we go through the same afternoon routine. Today Charlie, my youngest is wide awake playing on the floor in a boppy when I peak in, then on I go to Ben's room. He is bound to be happy to see me today. I open the door and call his name...he begins to cry??? Slowly he walks over and throws his arms in the air reaching for me to hold him. Again, I am informed I must sign another paper. The daycare worker apologizes, but he has been bitten again. This time, they know who did it and are "surprised" as it was not provoked and this child just came over and bit my son as he was playing with one of the toys.

OK, maybe this is a fluke. One that I am not happy about, but a fluke nevertheless. The next couple of days go by and long story short, my son is bitten 5 days in a row at daycare. The director, "bless her heart" was genuinely beside herself and extremely apologetic over the last few days. She said they were doing everything possible to resolve this new biting problem in the room, but unfortunately it keeps happening to some of the children, my Ben included. I ask bluntly if he is provoking or picking on any of the biters. As I had thought, no, he is not. She describes Ben as so mild and gentle mannered.

By this time my patience has run thin. Yet I can see the director is sincere and doesn't want me to pull my boys from her facility. They are switching teachers in the room, notifying parents via a letter sent home the previous week, calling parents of the biters to come pick up their children, etc to address the problem.

But in my eyes, the biters need to go....

We are now into the next week....since my boys go part-time, they are due to go back, but I am worried. So before I tell you how the story ends....what do you think....BAIL OR BE PATIENT?

Working Mom's Guilt ~ Monday Blues

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:48:00 +0000

It is without fail that the Monday morning alarm clock leaves working moms (and dads) tired, maybe a little cranky, even a little blue. After spending a great weekend with my kids, I dread the beginning of the week knowing I am running around crazy on Monday morning just to drop them off at daycare and miss them for the next 8 hours. Strange as it maybe...the idea of sending my little girl off to school, well that doesn't bother me so much. I know she is supposed to be there ~ learning, playing, and avoiding getting a "ticket" for talking in line :-). But the boys are different and I feel like a hypocrite sometimes. When I was at home full time after being laid off from DHL and before I started working again, I got into this crazy routine of diapers, Barney / Sesame Street, grocery shopping, and house cleaning. My days of adult interaction were suddenly over and I missed them.

So, I decided to enter a new field, Medical Billng, and after receiving my CMRS certification, have begun to work in a hospital to gain valuable experience. For the past 6 weeks, I have been working full time and what a shock it was to my system and my routine! I miss my children terribly and Barney's endless songs don't seem quite so annoying. My husband shakes his head at me when a comment slips from me about working....I can just tell what's going through his mind; "You wanted to go back to work....now you want to stay home...". Thank heavens he is sweet and supportive about the whole thing. I am so blessed to be able to have the life I have and financially not required to work full time permanently (at least not for a while).

Luckily, I will be able to go to part time in 2 weeks and hopefully will find a happy balance of working and being home. Then I can start working on building my home business of medical billing for small specialty practices. The whole topic is something I have been struggling with for quite some time and imagine many other moms struggle with it too. How do you assess your self worth as a mom? By your yearly salary? How many home cooked meals you prepare and the cleanliness of your house? Neither I suppose, or maybe both.

From one mom to another, I suppose I will continue to go back and forth on this and cherish the time I have with my kids for now. Can't believe my little girl is almost 10 and in the blink of an eye, I will miss these days, the Barney songs (will he still be around??), and my little BibChatters :-). Then I can look at my husband and figure out how to deal with "empty nest" issues.....

Consignment Madness - Love It!

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:40:00 +0000

This afternoon my husband and I stopped by Once Upon A Child in Florence, KY to pick up some items for Ben who is 18 months old. It wasn't until recently, I had rediscovered the world of consignment shopping. When I was a child, most of my clothes were hand-me-downs or gifts from local charities, churches, or neighbors. Very rarely did I ever receive anything brand new and or brand name. I had this warped idea that if clothes or items had "previous experience" as Once Upon a Child taglines in their store, then they must be junk.

After my first daughter was born, all of her clothes, cribs, bedding, decorations, toys, etc was brand new. (We were very lucky to be given such great gifts from friends, family, and co-workers over time). Then, as she became older and Ben was born 7 years later, I remembered how quickly she had outgrown many of her clothes after wearing them once or not at all. Many toys (even to this day) are purchased brand new and then sit, lonely and bored in her closet :-(. So, as I was making one of my many trips to Starbucks, I happened to notice a large pink and blue sign on a store with baby strollers out front. Intrigued I pulled in and walked about. As soon as we entered it was crazy!

I was amazed at the sheer volume of clothes neatly organized by age group, gender, and color! They we're so packed! The aisles were filled with fall/winter clothes but they had plenty of summer clothes left to choose from as well. Skeptical, I closely looked at the quality of clothes, brand names, and prices. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and quite frankly the popularity of the store. My preconceived idea of hand-me-downs quickly changed. We got 3 pairs of shoes, 4 shirts and 3 shorts for $30 bucks! Many were name brand and in fantastic condition.

If you are looking to get more for your money and especially with Back to School shopping at our door, I would highly recommend giving local consignment shops a try. We did and now that my family has 3 children (two boys under 2 - need I say more.....we will definitely be back!.....

Sunday Morning Routine

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:30:00 +0000

It's Sunday morning and as always, another day begins with our little routine. My 8 wk old son rustles around in his crib just a foot from our bed, while my 18 month old (who graced us with his presence in our bed last night) sits up and starts the "Ba Ba" chant. My eyes are still closed but my body rises, as if on auto pilot, to get the boys, change diapers, warm bottles, grab a cup of coffee (a MUST!), and sneak a peak at Channel 5 news beforing putting on Barney. Our daughter is with her dad this week and even though she just went back yesterday, I miss her already.

As I carry Charlie on my hip and his bottle in the other, I hear the sweetest song coming from the living room. To other ears, it wouldn't make sense, but I can make out the random chants as "A, B, C, D....". Ben, my older son, has been practicing his ABC's. He is getting the tune somewhat down and blocks of letters in the right order, but somehow "G, H, I" comes after "R, S" in his version. Still music to my ears :-).

My husband comes down and helps with the boys and my coffee machine which I thought was taking a tank on me. That would be a disaster! He had just bought a Keurig Single Cup machine for my birthday in June, which I had been wanting for quite sometime. This year we bought a Tassimo for my brother-in-law and a Keuring for my mother-in-law - so I have been dying to have one too. Anyway, when it wouldn't brew, I began to get just a little frazzled because no matter what the day or the routine, I have to have my cup of coffee (ok, two cups). Needless to say, it was a simple fix, the coffee refill was crumpled a bit, so he popped in a new one and we are good to go.

Half an hour after rising, everyone is getting settled and I am finally starting to wake up...go java! Charlie and I are sitting on the couch, he is propped up on his Boppy in my lap drinking his bottle while Ben is mesmorized by Barney - that big purple dinosaur I swore I would never let my kids watch. Did I mention I was in my 20's when this opinion was formed and had no idea what I was talking about?

Looking around at my little ones going about their morning as usual, my husband relaxing on the recliner with Charlie resting peacefully on his chest; Ben sweetly chattering his "ABC's", and my coffee getting low (time for cup two), I thank God quitely for my life and for this moment which I can't wait to relive tomorrow. (Wait...tomorrow is Monday morning...routine will be a crazy!).....

From Lay off to Life at Home

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:45:00 +0000

Everyday we hear in the news how awful the economy is....how thousands of Americans are finding themselves in situations they never dreamed possible. My family is no stranger to becoming a part of this statistic, but fortunately we are one of the lucky ones. My husband and I were recently laid off (we worked at the same company) just a few short months ago. Thank heavens we both found employment very quickly and seemed to survive, a potentially devasting situation. Then we were blessed again - I found out we were going to have our 3rd child. Crazy timing..yes, especially with a new job. Things went well at first, then I was hurt at work and forced to go on leave without pay and not allowed to work on any type of modified work schedule. So now I am at home...a place I have always wanted to be, but never thought I would have the chance to be a stay at home mom. My husband is incredibly supportive and bares the sole responsibility of our income now. We are blessed to be so lucky and I know things can be stressful and uncertain in his new role. Noone is safe from being laid off and it could happen again.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have found a joy in being home with my son and daughter that many women in similar situations to ours have now come to realize. From first time steps and signs from my 14 month old son to beautiful transformation of my 9yr old daughter growing up right before my eyes. My schedule went from managing work schedules and appointments with family life to trying manage the household in a more domestic like fashion. Needless to say, I have quickly found out that I really can't cook and want to desperately break away from the 5 to 6 standard meals I can get through. It never occurred to me how often we ate out now that we have cut back on this luxury somewhat. I want to have my house in perfect order everyday...but that has quickly proven to be unachievable. Lastly, I would love to be made up (presentable) each morning as I had been for work..but that too has fallen to the back burner.

So for now, it is baby steps.. our third son will be here in June and life will change all over again. I will enjoy the precious time I have at home and thank God for my loving husband each and every day. Who knows....maybe I will someday learn how to cook :-)......

Getting back to my own bed

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Before my son was born, I spent countless days working on his room impatiently waiting for his arrival. Hand-painted mural of bears on a baseball diamond playing ball among a gazing crowd of zoo animals in the stands above. Dark denim blue walls boldly stand watch over the rest of the bears posing with their favorite sport themed toys. His furniture painstakingly placed in just the right spots - ready to greet the newest man of the house. I remember standing next to his crib, my protruding stomach gently nudged against the honey colored rails. A warm smile takes overs my face and I turn to leave, grasping the edge of his crib praying he will be in there soon.

That was six months ago...the bears on the diamond still playing that same game...the blue denim walls still standing watch...but Ben is not sleeping in his crib - at least not tonight. A small cry can be heard from the next room - he is in our bedroom.

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Guilt or Inspiration

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:13:00 +0000

As I drive home from work, I can't wait to rush home and see my children. What did my little girl do today? Did she make new friends in our neighborhood, discover a new game or just make one up? Does she miss me or think of me as often as I do her throughout the day? How about my little one...did he cry after his naps looking for me? Perhaps he couldn't wait for me to get home and started to crawl for the first time....

It is a struggle I deal with everyday. Feelings of guilt for going to work. Shouldn't I be at home raising my own children? How do I strengthen that bond with them that other children have with their mothers who stay at home? Am I selfish for choosing a paycheck over watching & helping them grow each day?

That is my guilt. Uncensored. Unforgiving. The red devil that sits on my left shoulder.

....Then I shake my head and try to look at it from another point of view. I turn to the white angel on my right shoulder....

I want to be an inspiration to my children; I want them to be proud of who I am and what I do for the family. Should it be the sole responsibility of my husband to provide financially for our family and our future? Is it fair for him to have to miss out on their lives as well. Why can't he stay home?

This battle is fought in the minds and hearts of working mothers (and fathers) everywhere. Am I a statistic...in so many words..probably. But there is peace knowing that I am not alone, knowing that each moment I do have with my children (even if it is after 5pm) is precious and should never be taken for granted. There are many parents out there who are not as fortunate as I am. Maybe their little ones are with God, maybe they are ill and not able to play, or maybe they desperately want children but for some reason that isn't possible in their lives.

So today, at least, I will take the side of Inspiration and listen to my white angel. As I look around my home, my desk, and out the window to my neighborhood in the suburbs....I feel blessed and fortunate enough to have a job right now. There are so many families struggling right now - they would give anything to have both parents be actively employed.

The war still goes on...but the battle today has been won......

Teething Troubles

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:35:00 +0000

His tiny hands are soaking wet from pulling at his little gums. Large blue eyes are staring at me with small tears ready to roll down his pink cheeks. I cradle my son in my arms and rock him back and forth, hoping to provide a bit of comfort. But today, nothing seems to comfort him. Repeatedly I turn to the collection of teething rings (animals with rubber edges, cartoon characters turned cold and solid in freezer, even the old wives tale frozen washcloth), all have failed me today.

So I grab my trusty keys, load up my slobbering little man in his car seat, and take off towards Walgreens. Although I am not a fan of giving my children medicine for every sniffle and cough...I was about to admit defeat. He needed some relief...fast!

As I pulled in, he started to cry. ~Help is coming soon - I hope~ As we made our way towards the baby aisle, I found several oral pain relief gels. Do I go all natural? A common brand name? Forget price...I would pay triple to make his teething pain go away. Off to the side was Little Remedies - Little Teethers. All of the options looked alike - tiny pictures of children, pediatrician recommended, safe & effective, etc. The Little Teethers box had a small cartoon of baby boy with his butt sticking out. I saw it and chuckled just a bit. Then back to reality as my son began tearing at his fingers as if they were his last meal on earth. We finished our purchase and headed home.

No sooner had the kitchen door shut, I was carrying him in his car seat and tearing into the plastic Walgreen's bag. I opened the box and immediately tried to twist off the cap. No budging! What! Then I tried to use my teeth...backfired again. Ok, I will read the directions - cut off cap at the mark. Fine. Hunt for the scissors and try to keep him somewhat amused with funny noises until I get back. Found the scissors, cut the cap, and began to apply a very small amount to his gums.

He smiled the biggest smile of day! Still slobbering, but no more tears. He licked his lips a few times, not really knowing what to make of what was happening in his mouth. So I put a little on my lip to see if I was really feeling anything. Cherry - nice! My lip felt a little tingle and a little numb. Yet more importantly, my little man finally started to calm down.

I know we haven't seen the last of his teething troubles, but for now his world is a little more peaceful. Mine too!

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Bib Chatters is Born

bryan.erin.meyer@gmail.com (HebronMommy) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:56:00 +0000

Too many times old friends get separated by distance, work, and taking care of our families. Always saying "...call me, we should get together...". But then life happens, and sadly those play dates are missed. This seems to be the story of my life with a few of my oldest and dearest friends. But to my childlike glee, finally a scheduled get together took place - in between the errands, dinner, and time with the kids of course.

I brought my son down to see ShannanB, his Godmother. Even just letting a month or two slip by without a personal visit brings a whole new look to our children. Her two little ones are getting so big and very handsome, I might add!! We had spent the past hour or so catching up, talking about our kids, work, family lives, and a newly found common interest between us both - blogging. Recently I stumbled upon blogging and instantly became curious, maybe even a little addicted. Catering to my desperate need of tutoring, she enthusiastically shared some helpful tips and sites with me. It was great to not only find someone who I could learn from & talk to about it, but even better to have it be such a close friend.

After an hour or so, my responsible Mom side knew it was time to go. My little one had one more feeding and was getting sleepy. My childlike side didn't want to leave and was whining inside. We said our goodbyes, made plans for the following weekend, then my son and I started home.

Inspired to have my own outlet and join the blogging community, I decided to focus on a purpose. What am I passionate about, what do I like to read about, what about my life would I like to share with others?? Web names and ideas kept popping into my thoughts, a mind-mapping journey had started. Thank heavens it was night-time so no one could see me talking to myself. Less than 15 minutes into our drive, my little man had fallen asleep. Back to pondering.....Then, he let out a small noise, a whimper. Just loud enough to break the noise in my head, just soft enough to remind me how small and precious he is. As I looked back into the child-view mirror, I could see his light blue bib gathered slightly over his mouth and chin. With a grunt, some gibberish and a stretch, my five month old went back to sleep. Smiling, I looked back on the road. Bib Chatters - I have my outlet.....thanks Ben.

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