Stranger Danger

Maybe I've got it all backwards, but I don't try to get the kids to be afraid of strangers.

In fact, I try to get them to be confident enough to go up and to talk to anyone, at any time.

Am I worried that they might be abducted? Not really. I never let them out of my sight, or the sight of someone else who can take care of them.

What are they going to need to do as adults? Be afraid of everyone and unable to talk to new people? That's sure not going to help them much. Better to be able to know how to talk to as many different people as possible.

So no, the kids are not being taught "stranger danger."

What's Up With The Antibiotics Doctor

Stephen got an infection in his pee-pee and the doctor prescribed him two antibiotics - one oral and one topical.

I'm not even a doctor and know that giving oral antibiotics to a kid under 2 years old TRIPLES his risk of developing asthma later in life. Besides other serious side effects. So why would a doctor even prescribe them?

The doctor, of course, did not even mention any risks to us, and neither did the pharmacist who filled the prescription.

It's a good thing that I had happened to remember reading something about this issue previously and Stephen was protected from possible lifelong complications of what I can only call medical malpractice.

By the way, we are using the topical application only and the problem is resolving nicely.

Our Charming Neighbor

Not long after we moved in, a neighbor went on and on to me about how terrible Mexicans are, how they are usually criminals, how they should be deported, how good it was that this great guy "Sheriff Joe" was working to put them in "tent city," where they were forced to wear pink jumpsuits, go without heat or air conditioning out in the Arizona desert, and etc. I was just thinking "You racist jerk, you know full well my wife is Mexican, why are you going on and on about how racist you are." Then not long after, he hung up this sign on his door.

I Know This Is Arizona, But Am I Wrong
To Feel A Little Bit Threatened Every Time I
Open My Door And Have To Look At This?

The guy was real nice to me too before he heard us speaking Spanish the first time. Now he ignores me and I avoid him. (It's probably better that way.)

Grandma

Grandma: It's not easy being three.

Grandma explained that she had to tell this to her mother time and time again when we, as children, behaved in exasperating ways. She said that although everyone talks about the "terrible two's," in fact, age three is a lot harder. So, we try to keep this in mind when Sarah is having some meltdown or another, or is not instantly complying as we would like.

Baby On Board

Remember those Baby On Board signs that were popular a couple of decades ago? I remember people making fun of the idea: "Hey, please drive more carefully around my car, since I have a baby in here." Because, what, am I not going to decide not to crash into your car just because of that sign?

However, now as a parent, I realize the real purpose of those signs: To warn other drivers ahead of time of erratic driving caused by the driver frequently turning around and yelling at the back seat.

Walking In Water

When Stephen stepped into the water at first he cried for a second, but then thought about it and went right back in. I knew Mama wouldn't like him getting wet feet but stomping in water is definitely an important part of childhood.

Eating

Before I had kids, I always figured that if kids didn't want to eat, it was no big deal. They would eventually get hungry and eat something when the needed to. But I failed to consider the extended period of ill humor that could ensue between the initial period of "should eat something" and up until the moment of "actually eating enough of substance so they are not throwing constant tantrums and driving me to commit infanticide".

Sarah is a poor eater. By that, I mean that she needs strong encouragement to eat enough food to give her sufficient energy to maintain a positive outlook and self-controlled demeanor. She actually will refuse to eat, get really ill-humored, and then not want to eat because her "tummy hurts." At this point she is particularly difficult to convince that eating will make her tummy feel better.

Luckily, Stephen is a hearty eater. Even though the pediatrician told us that he is too skinny (frowny face).

Sarah and Nana

Sarah had a bit of a bumpy relationship with Nana. She preferred to go spend time with her aunts and uncles rather than spend much with Nana. It probably has something to do with Nana correcting her and the other people not.

Nana told me the following story:

Tu suegro me decia, Elvia, si disciplinas a los ninos, no te van a querer. Si les das todo lo que quieren, te van a querer. Y asi fue, el no les pegaba, y yo si. Y todos me dicen, mi papa fue bueno conmigo, pero mi mama no. Pero ves, todos, todos crecieron derechitos, gracias a mi Tata Dios.

(Your father-in-law used to say to me, Elvia, if you discipline the kids, they are not going to like you. If you give them whatever they want, they'll love you. And it was like that, he didn't hit them, and I did. And they all tell me, my dad was good to me, but not my mom. But look, each and every one of them all grew up honest, thanks to my Grandpappy God.)

Time

After visiting Mexico for 2+ weeks, it really seems like we were hardly there any time at all, and yet it seems like we were away from home for a really long time.

Oto!

Stephen, nursing on one side: Oto! Oto! (Otro, Spanish for the other one)

Mama says that he loves to nurse for a few moments on one side before popping off and saying "Oto! Oto!" and getting up to switch to the other side. He'll do this several time until Mama gets too tired of it and makes him stick to one side.

Nursing note: One of the doctors at our doctor's office told us recently that Stephen was too light, that this was common for breastfed kids, and, with a bit of a huff, that it was time to stop breastfeeding him.

Bad doctor.

Ramoncito

So Stephen is now Ramoncito for the duration of his visit to Mexico. I don't want Nana to hear anyone call him anything but Ramoncito. Just like I don't want Grandma and Grandpa to hear him called anything but "Stephen" or "Stever". It just wouldn't be right. It's more important for Nana though. The good thing is that the little guy answers to both names and seems to understand both English and Spanish pretty well, even if he is still hardly talking. And that he is as cute as all get-out.

In A.P.

Sarah and Stephen love being in A.P. Especially Sarah. They give her all of the candy, sweetened drinks and junk food as she likes, let her watch TV all day, and let her do whatever she wants without correcting or disciplining her in any way. I'm concerned about her character, although I am sure that long-term affects should be minimal (I hope). However, the short-term affects are that she doesn't want to listen and has a fit when we turn off the TV or cut off her candy supply. It gets awkward because the other adults there all seem to think we are too mean and strict, and when we take steps to enforce any kind of discipline we quickly lose favor with everyone (adult and kid). :/