Teen / Tweens and Mobile Phones

It's been a minute...those babies I had? They're now teens and a tween (soon to also be a teen).  There are many challenges that come with raising teens like teaching them independence, being disciplined about their commitments, navigating around friendships...but one thing that is very different from when I was a teen is the mobile world we now live in.

When I was a teen, we were sending messages via pay phones to our friends pagers. 😳 Not sure what I'm saying? Ask your mom.  But our kids are now dealing with the added pressures of social media, group texting, and online video games.  They live in a world of added peer pressure that they're not quite equipped to handle.

As a parent, I wanted a way to teach them independence and how to make decisions around these additional pressures.  In addition to having many talks around these subjects, our family chose to take a gradual approach.  

In elementary school, we started them off with a connected watch where they could contact us and we could call or message them when we needed.  The contacts were restricted and the devices were harder to lose. It was a great starting step. When they moved on to middle school, we moved them up to a managed phone. This opened up the world of texting to them and phone cameras, but no browsers and no apps.  Even with that small step, we ran into a couple of hairy situations that we were able to use as a talking point in our family conversations.  And now,  as they're in their early teen years, we have moved to the bark phone.  

The bark phone is a managed Samsung A13 phone that looks like a normal non-kid phone so they don't feel embarrassed around their friends.  They have unlimited text and talk and more importantly, as a parent, I have the ability to set limits for whatever they are doing.  I love the flexibility and range that it provides.  I can now choose which apps show on their phones and set time limits or remove them altogether.

Feel free to ask any questions about our experience and use my bark referral code if you're looking for a great option for your tween / teen!

https://www.bark.us/signup?ref=RRXD2C9

stop. take a look around. enjoy the ride.

Lately, life has been crazy.  Both in good ways, and in bad.  But the recurring lesson I've been seeing and learning is to be thankful in the good times and the bad.  And that even when the bad seems like it can't get much worse and it's hard to see the light - you always come out of it.

The other day, we were marveling at our three children playing together and saying some pretty clever and witty things to each other.  I looked at Bertrand and asked him...6 years ago, did we ever think we would be here right now? No.  When I had an emergency C-section fearing for the lives of my babies...when we spent 2 weeks (not very long, but what felt like the longest 2 weeks of my life) in the NICU only able to hold the babies every few hours for only a few minutes...when the only way we could feed them was by holding their feeding tube...did we imagine ourselves here, playing dress-up, learning to read, helping with homework, breaking up fights - and with 3 kids in 19 months? Not at all.

And that's when it hit me.  That you need to take those moments and reflect.  Because only then can you see how far you've come - and it makes the bad times not seem so bad.

I've been feeling this lesson in my life over and over - in situations at work, with health, with friends and family, and in all those big life decisions.

We are still dealing with some scary things - but I know now more than ever, that God has a plan and that it is good.  Now to enjoy the ride.

your sister is so...

My 5 year old son is just starting to grasp all the relationships within our family.  A conversation he had with his uncle (my brother) over Christmas break that I will treasure forever:

Your mom and dad are my grandma and grandpa...
My mommy is your sister...
You are their son!
your sister is so....pretty

...why hello there 2014

you snuck up on me...!

I got lost and absorbed in all the travel, work, stress, joy, preschool, field trips, pictures, books, traffic, games, friends, family, hobbits, airplanes, trains, road trips, birthdays, music, food, butterflies, flower, robots, transitions, growth, babies and love.

2013 was a really good year, here's to 2014!

Happy New Year!

3 Day Juice Cleanse

I've always wanted to try a juice cleanse but have never felt motivated enough to do it, or always have some "event" coming up with amazing food I was unwilling to sacrifice.

This past weekend, I had a really stressful weekend with an accident that involved one of my kids, many hours in hospitals, and a flashy new purple cast.  With all the stress going on, I wasn't eating very much anyways, so I thought...why not do my juice cleanse now?

Day 1: Woohoo! I can do this! I'm going to be so clean and refreshed. I'm going to look and feel amazing. And in only 3 days? Yes please!

Day 2: omg. I miss eating. Why does every commercial/ad/post have to be about food? That new Hazelnut Machiatto at Starbucks is calling my name. Is this over yet?

Day 3: Feeling good but ready for this to be over. No signs of hunger yet.  So glad I chose the 3 day cleanse and not a longer one!

Overall conclusion. I'm glad I did the cleanse and am happy to say that I've at least tried it.  I actually never really felt...hungry, but I really did miss eating.  Eating is a way to socialize, bond, and enjoy life.  Life without eating is pretty boring.  I do feel a bit more energized, my belly is a bit flatter and am definitely more aware of how much sugar, caffeine, fat, is in the food I eat.  I was never an unhealthy eater to start with though and think I would rather stick to everything in moderation. Will I do it again? Probably not. I like eating.

feelin' crafty

Been getting into crocheting these days. My first two projects!

Infinity scarf for my mamma:

Slouchy beanie for me:

Too much fun!

the things they say...

me: can you spell "hello" for me?
little b: H-E-eleven-O


laundry cycle ends and signal goes off
little b: Mommyyy! the clothes are calling you!


little k & little b's version of  "okie dokie" = "hunky donkey"


little k: "climb in the board!" (climb aboard)


me: that's a whale. W-H-A-L-E. whale.
little k:  H-I-J-K-L. dolphin.

pinterest....how i love thee

I'm kind of obsessed with pinterest these days. So many great ideas and so many I've actually used and done.

I've done a few fun art projects with the kids, made some adorable Valentines, made some yummy cookies, but one of the pins I tried last night has got to be my favorite thus far.

Cleaning those grody burner drip pans on the stove.  Ours are black and if you just kind of looked at our stove, they look "clean" because I religiously scrub them.  However, if you take off the grates and really take a look, they're disgusting.  All that stuff that burns up and gets caked on there when your pot boils over. Ick.

So I tried the tips I found from a pin, and oh em gee. Amazing!

Before...gross.

After...gorgeous!

I had to disassemble the stove burner pans with a simple butter knife and screwdriver, tossed them in ziploc bags with a splash of ammonia, left them overnight, then before work washed them off and tadaa!!!

Happiness!

phone falling

While talking to my almost 3 year old daughter on the phone, she accidentally drops it, picks it up and says "Oh no Mommy! Are you okay? Mommy fell down."

:)

Just zero

Little Boy: How old is the baby?
Me: She's almost 1
Little Boy: Oh. So right now she's just zero?

Work. Not shopping.

Coming home from work is always the best feeling in the world. Especially with my little munchkins rushing the door, cheering and shouting for me. Sometimes...the kids seem to get confused as to where I went though...

A conversation with my son as I'm stepping into the door.

Brendan: Mommy's home!!! Hi Mommy! You go shopping?
Me: Hi Brendan! No, I went to work.
Brendan: Hmm...shopping?
Me: Work.
Brendan: Oh. You go work? Come home.
Me: I am home Brendan!
Brendan: Yay Mommy!!! Yay shopping!!!

30 before 30

With only 4 months left until I turn the big 3-0, I've finally decided to finish writing my 30 before 30 list and share them. Follow along as I try to do the little things I've always wanted to do before saying goodbye to my 20s.


1. Plant my own vegetable garden  (4/2011)
2. Run a mile without stopping to walk or smell the flowers (8/2011)
3. Fly a kite with the kids (7/2011)
4. Build a sand castle with my babies (yay! - 8/2011)
5. Make photo albums of our vacations over the last 2 years
6. Watch all the Godfather movies
7. Learn to cook a real Vietnamese dish and actually do it (7/2011)
8. Learn to cut a mango without slicing my hand off  (5/2011)
9. Create, Teach, Do, Record a dance routine with my little girl, Kylie
10. Have a girl’s day out with my Mamma (4/2011 - Cirque Du Soleil : Quidam)
11. Read a new trilogy/book series (3/2011 - Hunger Games. Loved it!)
12. Teach the twins to count to 20 in 4 different languages (8/2011)
13. Learn to play and memorize a new song on the piano
14. Have a family campout in our backyard (Did even better, we did real camping! 7/2011)
15. Have a vase of freshly cut flowers from my own garden (7/2011)
16. Do a jigsaw puzzle (5/2011)
17. Go to a wax museum (8/2011 - kids were freaked out!)
18. Go to the driving range again and dust off my golf clubs
19. Make fresh squeezed lemonade with lemons I pick myself (4/2011)
20. Do a real push-up (5/2011)
21. Do a pull-up (8/2011)
22. Get grape bubble gum and blow the biggest possible bubble I can (4/19/2011 - Went all the way over my nose!)
23. Take the kids sledding  (3/2011)
24. Eat a beignet (4/2011)
25. Learn how to change a tire
26. Drink a whole bottle of wine. By myself. (8/2011 - oh boy)
27. Pay for a stranger’s cup of coffee (8/2011)
28. Play my favorite childhood board games: Connect 4, Battleship (sunk!), Monopoly (7/2011)
29. Learn to make crepes (7/2011)
30. Learn to skip a rock on water (Even got this on video. woot. 8/2011)

technology is awesome

Our voicemail is setup to email me the .wav file of the voicemail along with an email transcribing the person's message.  This is pretty awesome, especially if I'm not in a place where I can listen to the voicemail.  It actually works pretty well most of the time.

However, my grandpa called the other day and left me the following voicemail:

Hello Bertrand and Kimmy. I received the picture you sent of the kids. Thank you very much. They look very nice in the Vietnamese dress. Okay, talk to you later. Bye.

The email I received said this:

Hello Robert Craig give me. I have you see where you at the show the tape. Thank you very much. They have very now she's now be Trish. Okay. Talk to you later. Bye 

Hmmm...yeah not quite. But thanks for the entertainment!

day at the farm

A day at the farm...

"hi sheep!" "hi animals!"

taking a stroll...

thankful

I have so very much to be thankful for this year...but one (or three) of the things I am most thankful for are my three little munchkins. Three under two are a handful, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Hello Kitty!

Conversation with my almost 2 year old daughter:

Me: I like your Hello Kitty socks, little miss! Can you say, "Hello Kitty"?

Little Miss: Hi!

Toby

Yesterday we said goodbye to my dear sweet dog of 14 years and my first "baby", Toby.  He was the most wonderful loving and cuddly boy who lived a very long happy life. 

Goodbye Tobaby...I love you and miss you.

Ooh baby baby baby!

So it's been awhile since I've updated. I've been just a tad busy with...life.

I am now a mommy of not just one or two...but three little munchkins (under 2 - woah!).

Life is good!

Wait...she's not a cricket?

One day last week, my friend came back to his desk with some pancakes for breakfast and mentioned how he wasn't really a fan of the fancy organic maple syrup we had and preferred Aunt Jemima or Mrs. Butterworth since that was what he grew up on.  I then told him how I never really ate Aunt Jemima's syrup because the bottle always scared me and I asked my mom not to get it...you know, because she's a cricket.

He then stares at me perplexed and says, "what???"

Me, "You know, the bottle is shaped like a cricket."

Him, "No...it's a little old lady."

Me, "Right...a little old lady that is a cricket."

We then proceed to go back and forth, browsing through Google search results and images to decide if I am the only one in the world who thinks this.  I called my cousins and my brother who grew up with me, and thought for sure would think the same way...right?

No. Apparently, I am crazy.

After much deliberation and debate, we realized that my 4-5 year old self, probably watched the movie Pinocchio around that time and somehow related Jiminy Cricket with Aunt Jemima. The commercials with a talking bottle of syrup on the table obviously did not help. Since we never had it in the house again after my fear of the unique bottle, the topic never came up again....until last week, when I realized 20+ years later, that No. Mrs. Butterworth and Aunt Jemima are not crickets.

You know...in case there is someone else out there believing the same thing their entire life.

what? me? not patient? what??

With all the rain that's been blessing the Bay Area, all the hills on my drive to work are turning a nice green. Gorgeous! I take it in all the days I go into work and try to enjoy it as much as possible before they turn their nice golden California color for the rest of the year.

You'd think that since every other lawn is turning green...that our lawn would also. But no! So last week, I requested that my gardener (aka husband) put some fertilizer on our lawn so it would turn green.  That was 4 days ago. And every day since, I stand at the window and will my grass to turn green, then turn and question out loud why my grass is not yet green. Come on!!

Who cares if it is supposed to take a couple of weeks...I need immediate results dangit!