Mythicalbee

My son's preschool had a cleaning position available, with the compensation being a tuition reduction. I accepted the position, but she's always done the cleaning herself (it's a private school) and doesn't know what to pay me... and I don't know what to charge.

It's a Montessori School so clean lots of little pieces, open shelves for toddler classroom and preschool/Kindergarden classroom, sweep and mop eating area, vacuum both rooms, and a bathroom. Tonight it took me a little over 4 hours to do a thorough cleaning and I was working as fast as possible, and use my own cleaning solutions.

Thanks for your help Y!A'ers!

Our mommy group was at the playground today, and a 9 year old 'appeared' and started 'playing' with our kids. We discovered that the 9 year old lived in the house next to the public park, and neither of his parents were home. We asked that he not play with our kids because he was pushy and rough with our kids -- the oldest in our group is almost 5 years old, and the youngest is under 2 -- which he ignored and instead became combative with us adults desperately trying to engage us. As we do not routinely have conversations with 9 year olds, we ignored him except only to say 'we'll talk to your parents, please go get them'

He loitered around while we were there, stealing the kids toys (cars, shovel, snacks, etc) and us moms just took turns taking it off of the kid and returning the items to our children. The last straw was him threatening the kids with his dog verbally. He disappeared and we thought he finally got bored and went home, but no luck. He returned with the dog and I lost my mind. I yelled for him to go home and not to return to the park without a parent or I would call the police. I was livid that this kid would go so far, and seemingly follow through on his threat to have the dog hurt the kids. We finally just packed up and agreed to meet at another park next week.

My question is -- was that inadequate? One of the moms in our group was formerly a children and youth services therapist and said he exhibited clear signs of neglect and inadequate social skills (he couldn't take his eyes off of us while he did dangerous things like jump from the structures or throw sticks 'near' the kids; he tried to fight and argue with us; he bullied the kids... anything to get a response from the moms.) It was sad to see this lonely boy try to engage two age groups (preschoolers and adults) that aren't appropriate for him for any attention. When we had snack time, he kept walking right in front of us muttering that he was hungry and thirsty. We learned a lesson in kindness when one of our kids walked over and gave him a little package of fruit snacks.

Should I have called the police anyway and had them locate the parents?

Our 20 month old boy is in the nursery (and in a toddler bed, we converted the crib), and our 3 1/2 year old boy is in the big boy room that has a bunk. The bunk is a twin over full size, and instead of a ladder, it has stairs that go up to the bunk. Big boy sleeps in the bunk, so baby would sleep in the full size bed underneath.

We would like to have them start sharing a room. Baby can get up the stairs, but not down, and we were even thinking of putting the converted crib in there to start before putting him in the full size bed.

Is there a rush? No, not really. They're 20 months apart, so pretty much wear the same size clothes, are both boys and play with the same things, etc. Before bed, they enjoy playing in the big boy room and when I ask our older son if he'd like baby to sleep there he says yes. I think I want to wait until the baby can comfortably and easily walk DOWN the stairs until we move him in there, but as we prepare for this next big step we were just looking for some advice, thoughts, etc. on how to successfully and happily move them into the same room, precautions you suggest, your stories.

Thank you for your help YA-ers!!!

As if a switch went off, my darling 3 year old little boy has turned... he refuses to listen or do anything he is asked. Clean up, put on your coat and shoes, holding hands in parking lots, etc. which were all celebrated events (look how helpful you are, you take such good care of your toys! what a big boy you are, you can dress yourself! thank you for being safe and holding my hand across the street) have now become drag down, screaming tantrum events. He now refuses to nap to the point that he passes out on the couch around dinnertime because he's exhausted (despite the many opportunities this once excellent sleeper is given to rest.) He will even follow me out of a store, stop, smile and start walking the other way. Once loving and doting on his brother (17 months) he now finds opportunities to hurt and aggravate him (stealing every single toy the baby picks up, pushing him over just when he walks past, etc.

I feel like I have NOTHING in my parenting arsenal to address this behavior. I know it's 'typical' and so many kind mothers have reassured me that it will pass, but for now I feel that there is a very toxic relationship brewing between us - where he defies a request, I ask politely for him to do it again, he goes to time out (which has become a joke) and I end up yelling... so he cries, complies with my request, and I look at him and say 'I don't like what's happening between us. I promise you, I will find a way to make this better for both of us.'

So please, help me make it better. We ordered the 'Love and Logic' book for birth to 6 years, and 'Raising an Amazing Child the Montessori Way' in hopes that these tried and true methods will offer us some guidance (they very much fit in with our family values and interests for our children.) Any books or parenting methods that have worked for you, we're all ears.

We do provide him with structure, a healthy amount of freedom, and would rather be inconvenienced with a mess than to say no to him wanting to fingerpaint, play in the kitchen sink with water, etc. Our rules and boundaries are about 10% of our parenting style, exploring, playing, and learning are 90%.

Thank you in advance for all of your help.

Our son will be 4 months shy of 4 years old when he stars Montessori school in the fall. His younger brother is deaf and will be starting 'school' in April at 18 months. We're trying to prepare both of them for this change in their schedule/lifestyle, and since they are both big readers thought a 'preparatory' book would be the best way to help them anticipate what will be going on.

Additionally, I wouldn't be sending them the preschool at all, but with our younger son needing the additional assistance we're in this position. Any advice for this nervous mom would be welcome!!! As always, many thanks for your kind, thoughtful, and loving support!

We have taken a very laid back approach to potty training. Basically, when he's home, he wears sweats (elastic band, easy to pull up and down) and goes pee and poop in the little potty. However, when asked to go in the toilet, he gets very apprehensive. Are there any techniques to help him bridge the gap between little potty and the toilet, or should we just keep with the little potty (consistent with our easy going style of training.) Our concern is that letting him go with the little potty now will be a bigger battle in the long run.

When we're out, he still wears diapers but definately is starting to get annoyed with them (aka requests to be changed after every pee, asks us to take it off to go potty but only when a little potty is available.)

Our little potty has a transitional seat for the toilet but when we tried it tonight he was very upset.

Thank you seasoned moms for your loving and experienced guidance!!

My 15 mo old son has diaper rash right now, and I treat it by using cloth diapers, diaper ointment and use washcloths and water to clean him (we ordinarily use disposable diapers and diaper wipes) I'm curious that for all of the time, if skipping the diaper wipe all together would be ok. I figure it's one less 'irritant' on his skin, but I have a bit of a 'that's icky' gut response to not using a wipe for pee diapers.

Just curious what you seasoned moms thought!

I replaced some cookie recipes with 1/2 white flour and 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour and noticed a 'little' difference, but overall when I substitute whole wheat flour in my cookie recipes, the cookies are bone dry. Any suggestions? I've tried honey instead of white sugar and that also helps 'a little' and use brown sugar to get that nice sweet taste.

Thanks for the guidance!!

How did this happen? My sweet, obedient and delightful child... changed nearly overnight. He'll be 3 in January. I'm not about having a robot child, he's just naturally pleasant and helpful. These days it's no no no all the time (even when he wants something!) he won't do anything I ask especially when it comes to getting his clothes, coat and shoes on. I stay home with my boys, so we're rarely rushing out the door so I have some time to try things out. So far, I've tried marching, hokey pokey, trying to make it fun, and find that I'm resorting to time out most of the time. That's not what I want to foster with him. I feel totally stuck. I have a 1 year old son as well, so my time is split between yin and yang.

We're also feeling a bit isolated with the cold winter weather -- we're outdoor people, but snow play only lasts so long. Any ideas for indoor fun games and activities (they are not crafty, much to my dismay!) would be greatly appreciated!

My goal is to have a creative toolbox of things to use that will help me get what I want and need without constant fighting, and to pay it forward a bit with having lots of fun around the house until spring is sprung.

Any positive, kind support is welcome -- thank you in advance for your help, mommies rule!