My Secret Weapon

We have been blessed with a lot of books and toys these past few months:  Dexter's birthday, relatives in town, Maxwell's birth and "big brother" gifts. Dexter and I have both loved then new additions -- he is entertained and I am very happy he is entertained!

But...all those new additions pile up and the old, now boring toys get thrown around the room, literally. So, I did a little organizing using a tip I learned from the family I babysat for in Aberdeen. She would box up sets of toys and put them away in the closet once the new had worn off and the kids weren't really playing with them. I used to do this about once a month, but with the move and the end of pregnancy (hey, I was happy if I could just kick the loose toys toward a basket at the end of the day those last few weeks!), it just didn't happen.

Making sure the bookshelf if cleaned out and has just the books we are reading/like right now means we read a lot more. When the books are a mess and Dexter can't find the books he wants, he just gives up and asks to watch DVDs. We always read so much more right after I organize the books.

Here is my secret weapon -- the toy closet! Some of these are toys he has grown out of and are waiting for Maxwell, but most are just ones that don't currently interest him.  What is great about this closet, is after a month or so packed away, it seems like a brand new toy when you bring it back out.  Perfect for that end of afternoon fuss fest.  Also, when you go through the toys to pack them away it gives you a chance to put the sets back together, find that missing puzzle piece, and to throw away those old chick-fil-a toys. 

So, with the toys organizing and week two of being on my own,  I decided it was also time to clean out my attitude.  Yes, I can lay on the couch all morning with a DVD on, but the reality is I am not really rested and Dexter isn't really entertained.  So, I peeled myself from the couch, brought out the speakers for the computer, and got the music going.  We have danced, jumped on the bed, played with cars, built a castle out of blocks (and knocked it down a million times), pretend drove to Chick-fil-a, and I have even done a few loads of laundry.  My house is still a disaster (don't even look at the kitchen floor!) and I look like I've been run over by a truck, but we are trying to have more fun today.

I read over the weekend that mom's attitude becomes everyone else's attitude.  Ugh.  I hate to admit that is true because it means I need to change...but it is.  So, I may not be able to see straight and I this may not be the best writing ever, but I am up, trying to have fun, and looking to set a new mood for the house!