jsnhawkins

I'm reading lots of suggestions about things to do while "deschooling"
or just living in general that sound like lots of fun. The problem
with this is that I have a one year old in addition to my 10 yr old.
He wants to do lots of things that are hard to do with a toddler. We
live in a rural area and by the time we drive where he wants to go and
browse around for a bit, it's time for James' nap (he still takes 2
2-hr naps a day). And when we sacrifice the nap to do fun stuff, James
is miserable for the evening. I leave him behind for a while sometimes
but I don't have many babysitting options and he's still nursing.
Connor (10) is starting to resent the fact that we're limited in where
we go because of James' routine. Any suggestions for fun things to do
at home or ways to make the situation better?

Betsy

[email protected]

Yes! BabyWearing!

_http://www.thebabywearer.com/_ (http://www.thebabywearer.com/)

Your little one can be held (hands free) while you explore and play with
your older child without sacrificing naptimes. My 16 month old takes two naps a
day (usually) almost always in my Ergo backcarry.

_http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/_ (http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/)

When babies are young I wear them on my front but after they become to
big/heavy for front carries I switch to my back. Baby is happy
(carried/sleeping/watching) and the older ones are also having fun exploring without being
confined to stroller safe areas. I highly recommend that you check out the baby
wearer website to find the carrier that is best for your lifestyle and boyd
type.



I'm reading lots of suggestions about things to do while "deschooling"
or just living in general that sound like lots of fun. The problem
with this is that I have a one year old in addition to my 10 yr old.
He wants to do lots of things that are hard to do with a toddler. We
live in a rural area and by the time we drive where he wants to go and
browse around for a bit, it's time for James' nap (he still takes 2
2-hr naps a day). And when we sacrifice the nap to do fun stuff, James
is miserable for the evening. I leave him behind for a while sometimes
but I don't have many babysitting options and he's still nursing.
Connor (10) is starting to resent the fact that we're limited in where
we go because of James' routine. Any suggestions for fun things to do
at home or ways to make the situation better?





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Melissa

Good idea! I was stumped, but you are right! I wear our babies until
they are old enough to keep up or too irritated at me for keeping
them away from the action.
Melissa
Mom to Josh (11), Breanna (8), Emily (7), Rachel (6), Sam (4), Dan
(2), and Avari Rose

share our lives at
http://360.yahoo.com/multimomma



On Apr 14, 2006, at 4:23 PM, HSlater351@... wrote:

>
> Yes! BabyWearing!
>
> _http://www.thebabywearer.com/_
>
> Your little one can be held (hands free) while you explore and play
> with
> your older child without sacrificing naptimes. My 16 month old
> takes two naps a
> day (usually) almost always in my Ergo backcarry.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

aroundthemilkyway

>
> _http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/_ (http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/)
>

i second this!! i bought the ergo when my now 19mo was around 1yo and
it is great!! she is in it right now on a nature walk with my husband
and other dd's....she walks but is happy as a clam in the ergo being
along for the ride. she loves it! sarah

jsnhawkins

--- In [email protected], HSlater351@... wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion. I wore him in a sling alot while he was
little. When that got uncomfortable, I got a mei tei. I really like it
but I've not had much success getting him to sleep in it. Maybe I just
haven't given it enough chances. I have also heard good things before
about the Ergo, but I'm cheap so I've held off. Maybe I should just
bite the bullet and get one!

>
>
> Yes! BabyWearing!
>
> _http://www.thebabywearer.com/_ (http://www.thebabywearer.com/)
>
> Your little one can be held (hands free) while you explore and play
with
> your older child without sacrificing naptimes. My 16 month old takes
two naps a
> day (usually) almost always in my Ergo backcarry.
>
> _http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/_ (http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/)
>
> When babies are young I wear them on my front but after they become to
> big/heavy for front carries I switch to my back. Baby is happy
> (carried/sleeping/watching) and the older ones are also having fun
exploring without being
> confined to stroller safe areas. I highly recommend that you check
out the baby
> wearer website to find the carrier that is best for your lifestyle
and boyd
> type.
>
>
>
> I'm reading lots of suggestions about things to do while "deschooling"
> or just living in general that sound like lots of fun. The problem
> with this is that I have a one year old in addition to my 10 yr old.
> He wants to do lots of things that are hard to do with a toddler. We
> live in a rural area and by the time we drive where he wants to go and
> browse around for a bit, it's time for James' nap (he still takes 2
> 2-hr naps a day). And when we sacrifice the nap to do fun stuff, James
> is miserable for the evening. I leave him behind for a while sometimes
> but I don't have many babysitting options and he's still nursing.
> Connor (10) is starting to resent the fact that we're limited in where
> we go because of James' routine. Any suggestions for fun things to do
> at home or ways to make the situation better?
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[email protected]

>>He wants to do lots of things that are hard to do with a toddler.>>

What kinds of things does he want to do? Maybe you could arrange for regular special outings with Connor while someone watches James. When you're at home during nap time on the other days, make that a special Connor time as well.

It's so hard to believe, but this time will pass so quickly. My "baby" is 12 now. How the heck did that happen?!
--
~Mary
http://zenmommasgarden.blogspot.com/

"The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the
green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly
alive."
~Thich Nhat Hanh

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "jsnhawkins" <jsnhawkins@...>

trektheory

--- In [email protected], zenmomma@... wrote:

>
> It's so hard to believe, but this time will pass so quickly.
My "baby" is 12 now. How the heck did that happen?!
> --
> ~Mary
> http://zenmommasgarden.blogspot.com/

I swear, the older they get, the faster they get older! (My baby -- my
only -- is 14, and I am having such a hard time accepting how fast he
is getting older. On the plus side, he still looks 12 -- no growth
spurt yet!)

Linda

[email protected]

**The problem with this is that I have a one year old in addition to my 10 yr
old.

He wants to do lots of things that are hard to do with a toddler.**

I can sympathize. I remember living and learning with a pair of one year
olds, a 9 year old, and a 15 year old. Lots of conflicting needs and very little
convergence of desires!

When my twins were toddlers, we time shifted what we could. When my husband
got home from work I'd take the older kids to the library or whatever
businesses they wanted to go to. We also did way more things on the weekends than I'd
have wished, not enjoying the weekend crowds. :)

**We live in a rural area and by the time we drive where he wants to go and

browse around for a bit, it's time for James' nap (he still takes 2

2-hr naps a day). And when we sacrifice the nap to do fun stuff, James

is miserable for the evening.**

That's really tough. Will he sleep in the car? Any chance of napping in a
stroller? If you're not already slinging him it might be hard to start, but it
would be worth trying - I know quite a few toddlers who nap well in a sling. If
he'll sleep in the car, any chance of hiring an older homeschooler to sit with
him while he sleeps while you browse with Connor? That way he could be safe
napping in the car and if he woke you'd be available. Any friends in town you
could visit for nap time, and if so would the little one settle down there into
a nap?

Deborah in IL