Every mother knows how great her kids are.  They are the cutest, smartest and the first to have done [insert], whatever.  They walked, talked, ate, pooped before any other child on the planet.  This mindset begins when we give birth and probably lasts until we’re dead.  I’m not completely sure about the latter, I’ll let you know.

Oprah talks about having all five dogs in her room when she adopted the puppies, Luke, Layla, and Gracie.  “I had all five dogs in the room and the three different crates, and they all pooped at different times,” Oprah says. I’ve always said that mothering is the hardest job on earth. Even with puppies.”

And like all of us mothers, we strive to teach our children/puppies good manners.  Oprah has a trainer, I have a Big Kid Chart.

The idea behind the Big Kid Chart is positive reinforcement just like with pets. 

Basically the chart is a grid.  Across the top are numbers, along the left side are tasks or things The Toddler can do to earn a point.  We add up the points and the number of points earned dictates the type of treat we get.

Some points are easy to earn like brushing our teeth and some are harder like sharing.

We always get points for saying please and thank you.  The Big Kid Chart has proven successful in that I get to reinforce values that I want my children to embody without having to be a nagging mom.

I have one morning a week completely dedicated to my children.  I plan our appointments on that morning.  It is the day The Toddler gets the treat for earning Big Kid points.  This morning is focused on the love and care of my children.  This is the period I’ve dedicated to making memories.

I feel so fortunate to have this small slice of time before they head off to their Daddy’s for the next 3.5 days.  It makes the transition much easier.

The Toddler is funny, sweet, loving and extremely precocious.  The Toddler has a vocabulary that makes most 6th graders seem illiterate.  It’s so fun to watch The Toddler blossom.

The Baby has a ready smile and a prominent personality.  The Baby will not get lost in The Toddler’s shadow.

If you want to remember what you used to be like before the storm…look to your children.

They are the organic version of who you used to be.

They are you before you:

            Became angry.

            Became a gossip.

            Became jealous.

            Became lazy.

            Became promiscuous.

            Became the bête noir.

Your children are you before you became damaged and jaded by your life experiences.  Your children are your mirror before it became broken.

I focus on my kid’s energy.  I focus on the truths that they speak. 

When The Toddler tells me I’m angry – I believe it.  The Toddler picks up exactly what I put down.  The Toddler is my barometer.

Whether you have children or pets, look at the way they react to you.  It will tell you a lot about how the outside sees you.

My Oprah Power Links:
If you’d like some great tips for raising your own Toddler take a peek at what some of the OMoms have to offer.
. Why Kids Whine and How to Stop Them by Constance Mattheissen. She offers some great techniques for putting the brakes on the whiny kid syndrome without stressing either one of you out.
Toddlers

If you want more information about Oprah and her new puppies, check out this article.
Puppy Love