What Gives Me The Most Parenting Anxiety Every Day?

Even though my son is almost 3-years old, I still have extreme anxiety about him sleeping at night. Pretty understandable, if you consider I'm with him all day long and need my nights to unwind and relax.

But here's the kicker: He's a great sleeper. 99% of the time he falls asleep with no problems and sleeps through the night.

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My anxiety hangs around a little at bedtime. Once he's down and quiet, I can and do relax. But if he starts making noise, or even worse, starts crying, my anxiety shoots through the roof. I've talked to many parents about this and most have no real issues with their kids sleeping. If the child wakes up, then so be it. Deal with it. But I've never been able to have such a laid back attitude toward my son sleeping.

The one milestone that really increased my anxiety was when we converted his crib into a toddler bed. This means he can get out of bed whenever he wants. This terrifies me. But again, he doesn't do it. He stays in bed. I think I can remember only one time when he actually got out of bed because he couldn't sleep and wanted mommy. (It was so sad, he was calling "Mommy help! Mommy help!")

I'm not sure if my anxiety about his sleeping will ever go away. Maybe when he's older. I just remember when I was a kid I always had a hard time sleeping and I always woke my parents up. I feel really bad about that now. I guess it's payback time.

Any tips on reducing this sleeping anxiety?

What Happens When My Son Switches From A Crib To A Toddler Bed?

My son has finally switched from a crib to a toddler bed. Okay, to be completely honest, his crib turns into a toddler bed - we just removed one of the sides and replaced it with a safety rail. Now he's free to get in and out of bed whenever he wants.

We made this move a few months ago, but since I was MIA on this blog for the first part of the year, I didn't write about it. Until now.

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I didn't want him to sleep in a toddler bed. I wanted him in a crib. I was scared that once we converted his crib, he'd be up and down all night. My anxiety level shot up like a rocket the day we made the move.

I've always had a lot of anxiety about him sleeping, even though he's a very good sleeper and has been since he was a baby. That still doesn't stop me from having a panic attack if he starts to make noise at night.

What happened once he wasn't in a crib anymore? Nothing. He slept just like he always did. The only real difference has been that he gets up a little earlier in the morning, usually before 8. But that's been about it. And after talking to many, many other parents about this milestone, I think my wife and I have gotten off pretty easy. We are very lucky.

My logic was that if he had the freedom to get in and out of bed whenever he wanted to, he'd be all over the place. I underestimated him though, since he does what most people do at night - sleep. Imagine that. 

I should note there was a time when he wasn't tired and got out of bed and began knocking on the door while crying. It took my wife another story or two to get him back into his crib where he finally fell asleep.

What has been your experience with your little ones making the transition from crib to bed?

5 Ways To Beat Cabin Fever With Your Toddler

It's that time of year again. Unless you're lucky enough to live in a warm climate, cold weather is here. This means it's getting harder and harder to go play outside with your little ones. And what happens when we stay inside too long? Cabin fever sets in.

This begs the ultimate question: How do we keep ourselves and our kids active during the winter months? Obviously, I'm talking about kids that are toddler age. Older kids are in school, and babies generally don't play outside.

If you live in a crappy place like this, you probably deserve cabin fever.

I'm gonna give you some ideas. Though if you have your own ideas, please share them in the comments below.

Here's a few ways to beat cabin fever:

1. Find a local Monkey Bizness and/or Gymboree

Both places have great indoor activities and toys for little kids. The only downside is that both cost money, making it hard if you're on a budget.

I take my son to Gymboree once a week and we go to Monkey Bizness a few times a month. It costs us less than $10 to go. But it still adds up.

Of course, there might not be a Monkey Bizness or Gymboree close to you, in which case your screwed.

2. The Library

Most public libraries have a kids department. The library we go to not only has a kids department, but also has little activities for the kids (mostly things like puzzles, games, etc). Even if you don't have a library card, you can still go, and it's free!

Also, libraries usually have programs for kids, mostly story times. These usually require you to have a library card.

3. Embrace the Cold Winters

This means going out and enjoying the winter. If there's snow on the ground then go play in the snow. If it's not too cold, go to the park and run around. Cold weather doesn't seem to bother my son. In fact, he likes to take his jacket off after running around for a while.

4. The Mall

Take your little one to the mall to walk around. And if your son/daughter is being good, dust off your wallet and buy them a toy, or something from the food court.



When my DS was a baby I used to take him to the mall and walk around for an hour or so while pushing him in his stroller. It's not the most exciting thing in the world, but it gets you out of the house and is good exercise - which you probably need anyway.

5. Museums/Community Centers/Misc.

This is kind of a catch-all. If you live in a decent size metro area, chances are there will be places, like museums (especially ones for kids) you can go to. Beware though, if the only museum in your area is one for rare art or other expensive exhibits, you might want to keep your toddler away. Curators frown upon changing your kid's diaper next to multi-million dollar paintings.

Also check for any kind of community center. They always have activities for kids. Some will probably cost money, but if you're a lucky cheapskate, you might find stuff for free.

These are the best ideas I can come up with at the moment. Finding stuff to do during the winter is very much determined by where you live. If you're in a metro area or city, then you don't have much of an excuse. But if you live out in the country and you have to drive to your neighbors house because they live so far away, staying active might be a little more challenging.

Photo Credit: NatalieMaynor via Creative Commons

The Talking Game

My son is finally showing an interest in talking. He's quickly expanding his vocabulary and is starting to speak sentences of gibberish - which the doctor says is a good sign.

He's a late talker. With everything else he does great. He understands exactly what we are saying (well, sometimes it's "selective" understanding). He can communicate to us what he wants, usually through his own version of sign language and a lot of grunting. And he's great at figuring stuff out on his own.

My wife and I say that he's using his brain power for greater things than talking. I totally believe that it's true.

The most frustrating part about him not talking is that, well, he gets frustrated easy because he can't communicate what he wants. Like I said above he does pretty good at communicating what he wants, but there's still moments when it's chaos at our house.

I consider talking and potty training to be the last big milestones on the way to childhood-dom. Once toddlers have those down life becomes a little easier. I'm not saying it's smooth sailing, but a child's independence takes a big step forward.

For my own sanity, I pray my son gets there soon.

Does It Get Easier? Not Really.

The one question that I always tend to ask parents with kids slightly older than mine is: "Does it get easier?"The answers I get range from "yes" to "no" and everything in between. I've also been on the receiving end of that question.

My stock answer to other parents is that as your child gets older, it's just different.

But I was thinking about this yesterday when my son was being more of a pill than usual. I wanted to change my answer to the popular "does it get easier" question to "not really." I won't though, because it's too negative and isn't really an honest answer.

Let me explain. When you have a baby you have to deal with regular feedings, waking up several times during the night, crying, they need constant attention, etc. In other words, babies are a little more high maintenance than older children. Yes, you won't have to deal with those specific problems when your child gets older.

However, once he/she reaches toddler age, you have a whole new set of issues to deal with: Temper tantrums, potty training, child trying to push boundaries and exert their independence, etc. None of this is easy either.

It's ironic because when my son was a baby I kept saying I can't wait for him to be a toddler. Life will be so much easier. Now that he's a toddler, there are times when I wish he was a baby again.

So answering the question "does it get easier" with "it just gets different" is still accurate. However, I think it's kind of a round-about way of answering the question without really answering the question.

When a parent with a newborn asks me questions I always try to put a positive spin on things. When they talk about their baby's constant need to be held, I tell them it does get better. Same thing with late night feedings. I want to encourage parents as much as possible to give them hope. Those were the answers I took comfort in when my own DS was a baby.

If you were to ask me now if it gets easier, I'll answer by saying: "Each phase has it's own challenges, and I won't say any of them is easier than the last. But if you hate one phase (like the newborn), then you might love the toddler phase (for example)."

What do you tell parents who ask this question?

How I Protect My Son's Online Privacy

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you know I don't mention my son's name, nor do I post his picture. When referring to him I usually write "my son" or "DS" (dear son).

Why do I do this? After all, I post a picture every now and then on Facebook, but only close friends and family can view those pictures. We even have an online photo album for our family to see him in all his glory and cuteness.

This blog is a little different though because I talk about him differently than on Facebook. The photo album we have of him is just that, a photo album.

Why am I so protective here? Because when he's older and is going to school, I don't want his friends/classmates to find all these embarrassing posts about him pooping, diaper rash and running naked through the house on this blog. That's a recipe for a good ass kicking.

In other words, I share more personal details here than on Facebook. If someone were to Google his name, the results wouldn't bring up this blog.

I don't post pictures here for the same reasons. Only with pictures, I always worry about some pervert or other sicko using them for their own nefarious purposes. I also don't want people using his picture without my permission (which I'd never give) for their own website or other online use. It might sound like a longshot, but I've read horror stories of parents who did see their child's picture being used online in a not-so-clean way.

Is that an irrational fear? Maybe. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I love him like crazy and don't want any to hurt him, and if they do, they'll have to answer to my steal-toed boots.

How do you protect your toddler's privacy online?

5 Lessons Learned While Flying With A Toddler

Having recently returned from a cross-country trip with my DS to see family, I think this is a good opportunity to share some realities of traveling on a plane with a toddler.

Before I begin I should add that it was just my son and I. My wife was busy with work. So I had the monumental task of flying with a toddler that can't sit still.

1. Flying with toddler is NOT easy - Prepare for the worst.

If you and your partner are flying with you child together, the trip will be a little easier. If you're on your own, however, you'll be in for the challenge of your life.

I had everything I needed: Diapers, wipes, plenty of snacks, toys and an iPad filled with games and a full season of his favorite show, Yo Gabba Gabba. Guess what? The iPad held his attention for probably 10 -15 minutes of the entire flight.

The snacks and other toys didn't do much good either. He spend a majority of the 3-hour flight moving around (including a few kicks to the seat in front of him), standing up on the seat, fussing because I kept trying to keep him in his seat.

Like I said: Prepare for the worst.

2. Don't expect sympathy/understanding from other passengers.

Other passengers want a smooth flight without the annoyance of a fussy toddler. I'm the same way when I travel alone. But I felt especially bad for those who were unlucky enough to sit in front of us. I say the gentleman sitting in front of my DS shake his head in despair several times throughout the flight. I should've bought him a drink.

Some passengers, especially older ones, will smile and comment about how cute your child is, but that's as far as it will go. No one will volunteer to help you keep your child occupied or sit with your child so you can sleep. It ain't going to happen.

Try to stay sane by reminding yourself you will probably never see these people again. Also, the experience will make you more sympathetic to parents in the same situation.

3. Don't expect to relax or sleep unless your toddler does.

I was awake and running on full energy the entire flight. No naps. No time for reading. Nothing. If you're lucky your child might stay occupied with a game. And if you're really lucky your child might fall asleep. Cherish those rare moments and consider yourself lucky.

4. You probably won't have the only child on the plane.

This is one area you can take comfort in. Chances are there will be other small children on your flight. And they might even be more fussy than your own child. The other parents with toddlers will more likely be more sympathetic. Heck, you might even strike up a conversation with them!

5. Carry plenty of snacks and a lot of extra toys.

This didn't work for me, but I've talked to a lot of parents who say it has worked for them. The key is to bring newer toys that your toddler hasn't played with yet so he/she will be less likely to be bored with them. Bring a variety of toys. If you have a smart phone or tablet, load it with games.

Bring a lot of snacks. Don't count on getting any food on your flight. On my flight we got water and/or soft drinks. That was it. Not even a bag of peanuts. In fact, the flight attendants made us give them our food!

A nice selection of your child's favorite snacks will help when they get fussy. Don't forget to bring something to drink. Keep in mind that whatever drink your child likes, you will have to buy it at the airport after going through security. This means you will overpay for all food/drinks you buy. That $10 bottle of water I bought didn't even taste all that good.

Final Thoughts

There's no doubt that traveling with a toddler is a challenge. A lot of people say it's the hardest age to fly with your child because they have a hard time sitting still for so long. Remember that it won't last forever. The flight will end. And when you finally get off the plane you will be a better person for it. These things build character.

Finally, I should add that my son did great while on vacation. I couldn't have asked for a better son and I love him like crazy. And despite the challenge I dealt with on the 2 flights we were on, my love is unwavering.

Plus, I know that as he gets older flying with him will get easier. At least, I hope.

Potty Training Begins!

My son has officially started potty training! Even better, he did it with no coaxing from mommy and I. He started taking his pants and diapers off and begging to go into the bathroom. It took a few tries for him to actually go pee-pee in the potty, but now he's doing it. Even better, he knows when he has to go. This means he'll pee in the potty and not in his diaper (not always, but a few times a day).

I'm not saying it's totally easy. For example, he likes to flush wads of toilet paper down the toilet. Generally, after he sits for a while and tries to go pee-pee or poo-poo we let him flush a little toilet paper down. Now he'll sit on the toilet for a few seconds then go right to wanting to flush toilet paper down. He's on to our little tricks!

Another problem we face is that he loves running around the house with no pants or diapers on. So he uses the opportunity to use the bathroom as a way to run around the house half naked. Yes, on a certain level it is cute. But it's also a pain because as soon as I take him to his room to get him dressed again he gets really fussy.

Regardless of the challenges, this is a big milestone. I count it as 1 on of the big 3 milestones. The first being walking. The second is talking. And the final one is potty training. Once your kid has those 3 down they're ready to be booted out of the house and on their own. Okay, I'm kidding about that.

My wife and I weren't expecting him to start potty training him this early, so we had to scramble to buy a little toddler potty (which he refuses to use) and some basic potty training books (Everybody Poops being one of them).

Just because my DS started early doesn't mean I'm expecting a quick and painless transition from diapers to a fully potty trained toddler. I'm expecting a long and hard road ahead. If it turns out easier, then great, I'll be ecstatic. If not, then it will be just what I expect. I pray it's the former though. It'll be easier on my sanity.

We Got Another Word!

My son is rapidly approaching 2. He appears to be developing great as a toddler, except in one area...talking. You can imagine then, that when he does say a new word, my wife and I are ecstatic.

Within the last week he finally learned how to say "car." He pronounces it as "caw" but he's definitely referring to the cars he sees around him.

He already says "go," which of course he pronounces as "gaw." We're hoping the soon he'll put those words together and say "car go" or "go car."

The word "go" is his favorite. As soon as I get him up in the morning he'll start saying "gaw." Even when we're driving somewhere, he'll keep repeating it. I think he likes saying it as much as he likes getting out of the house and going places.

I should add that while my DS isn't talking all that much, he understands a lot. If I tell him to go get socks, he'll go into his room and grab a pair of sock and bring them to me. I can also give him something to give to mommy, and he'll do it.

And yes, he is saying "mamma" and "dadda." Sometimes repeating them over and over again.

In the next month or two we'll be taking him to the doctor for his 2 year check-up. Hopefully she can shed some light on whether or not we should be worried about his speech development.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the words will come more frequent.

Brad's Quick Parenting Tip #75: Keeping Toddler Awake In Car

I cherish my son's nap time. It's a few hours a day I can have to myself. It also means he won't be cranky in the evening before bed.

But his naps are a delicate thing. It doesn't take much to throw him off schedule, to the point where he won't take a nap at all.

For instance, when we go out and do something in the morning, where he's getting a lot of exercise, he sometimes falls asleep in the car on the way home. And if it's close to lunchtime (noon-ish) I can count on him not taking a nap that afternoon. He just won't be tired enough to fall asleep.

So I've figured out a surefire way to keep him awake in the car: His snack cup, sippy cup, and a toy or two. These three things will keep him occupied and awake. Never fails.

I've talked about the snack cup before in an earlier post. They can be lifesavers.

I try my best to keep his schedule consistant, which is why I can count on his nap times to be my break every day.

How do you keep your little one awake?

There's No Business Like Monkey Bizness

Today I took my son to Monkey Bizness, a place for little kids to run and play around. They have different types of indoor playground equipment, including a huge jumping castle with slides and other fun things inside.

My DS isn't even two yet but he holds his own among the bigger kids (3-5). I still followed him around, just in case, but I didn't stick on him like glue like I used too. He's becoming very independent.

Monkey Bizness is a good place to go if the weather is bad, or you just want to let your kids blow off some steam for a while. They also have an arts and crafts room and a room you can rent out for parties.

For parents, there is an area with tables and chairs. You can buy some little snacks and drinks at the front desk, but if you want a full meal, you're on your own.

Overall it's a good spot if you want to kill some time without dragging your kid/s through the mall or visit your local Target store for the 10th time that day.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Monkey Bizness in any way and I'm not being compensated for this post. It is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Review: Gymboree Play & Learn Revisited

I've been taking my son to Gymboree Play & Learn since early February. I thought I'd write an update to my previous Gymboree post to tell you how it's working out.

First, my son is getting used to it. For the longest time he was very hesitant to participate in any of the activities. Now, he's pretty enthusiastic about it. I still have to coax him along. Overall though, I think he gets the idea.

His favorite activity is the parachute. At first, all the kids sit in the middle and we drag them in a circle. Then, the kids go under the parachute while the parents stand on the edges and bring the parachute up and down. He loves it! I can always count on him playing with the parachute without any coaxing from me.




Second, there is a social component to Gymboree. While the kids don't actually play together, they still interact. My son is learning to share and wait his turn. He also watches other kids and sees what they're doing. Since my wife and I will not have any more children, it's important he gets a lot of social interaction.

Third, from a parent's point of view, it can be exhausting. It's not one of those things where you take your kid there, drop them off, then fall asleep and drool all over yourself. No, the parents also participate. Further, parents are responsible for keeping their kids safe.

Don't get me wrong, Gymboree is set up to be a very toddler-friendly environment. But I still need to be by my little DS in case he loses his balance on some of the activities, falls down, etc. Don't expect the employees there to be babysitters.

One of the best parts about Gymboree is that it gets us out of the house. And it wears my son out enough that he takes a really good nap on Gymboree day.

The only downside is that Gymboree is a bit pricey. I think we pay something like $70 +/- a month.

Yes, I'd recommend Gymboree to anyone looking for something to do with their toddler besides sit at home and watch TV. If there's one close to you and you can afford the price, go for it!

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Gymboree in any way (other than being paying customer), nor am I being compensated for writing this post. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.

My Son Discovered Street Running

My son's new bad habit is running into the street when we're outside playing. Luckily, our street is very quiet with only residential traffic, and, we have a lot of kids on our street so cars generally go slow. But it's still something we're very strict about.

Before I get into that though, I should say it is kind of cute. He has a little toy lawnmower he likes to pull around and takes it with him into the street. He usually runs towards our neighbors house. He looks like he's proud of himself. I guess he probably is. He's escaping from mommy and daddy.

Cute or not, it is dangerous. Since he can run fast for having such little legs, I have to run to catch up to him. Once I have him in my grip, I lead him back to our yard.

"Olympics, here I come!"

I go by the strike system. Three strikes, your out. Each time he goes into the street is one strike. After we hit three we go inside.

It seems to be working. Now he'll run to the edge of the driveway and stop. I still panic when he does that, but at least he's not actually in the street.

I told my wife we should get one of those 'invisible fences' that people use for their dogs. The dog wears a collar and if they go outside the fence, they get a little shock. I'm kidding of course. If you really did that, you can expect a visit from your county's child protective services.

This is just one more hazard of nice weather. When toddlers play outside more and more, they will get into more mischief.

Does your toddler run into the street? If so, how do you handle it?

Photo Credit: Nina Matthews Photography via Creative Commons

What Causes Most Temper Tantrums (And How I deal With Them)?

99% of my son's temper tantrums are caused by things he can't have, or things that we take away from him. Take yesterday for example: I had to go somewhere and I had my water bottle (he LOVES my water bottle) because it was pretty freakin' hot outside. When he realized I wouldn't give him my bottle he completely broke down into a full-blown classic temper tantrum, right in the driveway.

I left before he quieted down. My wife was with him. I've dealt with plenty of tantrums to know the best way to deal with them is to not give in. In other words, ignore it.

"Give me your iPad or someone is getting hurt!"

Toddlers are trying to get a reaction that will eventually lead to getting what they want. If we give in, then they'll learn that "Hey, this crying and screaming and rolling around on the ground thing gets me anything I want. Cool!".

Sometimes it takes a lot of guesswork on my part to figure out what he wants. Since he's not talking yet, he relies on vague hand signals. If he reaches up to the kitchen counter, and there's a million things on the counter, I could spend hours trying to figure out what he wants. I'll offer him his water bottle (the one thing I'll never take away). And if nothing works, I scoot him out of the kitchen and shut the children's gate.

Usually my strategy is to keep him out of the kitchen in the first place. There's too many dangerous things in there. He tries to turn the stove on. He opens drawers were knives are kept. He's a tall toddler so a lot of things are within his reach.

Slowly I'm learning what objects he wants and will cause him to break down if he doesn't get them. I keep those things out of sight. In parenting, prevention really is the best method.

How do you deal with your toddler's temper tantrums? And what causes the most tantrums?

Photo Credit: Mindaugas Danys Used under the Creative Commons license. 

My Son's Mystery Cough

Let's not overreact.

My DS has a weird cough that's been going on for over a week now. It only seems to manifest itself at night when he'll have these coughing fits for upwards of 10-minutes. And then during the day he's fine.

The only other symptom we have noticed is that we can hear some phlegm rattling around sometimes when he breathes.

The symptoms are common and probably are nothing to worry about. I'm taking him to the doctor on Monday, and hopefully we'll get a diagnosis.

It's not surprising that he picks up these little bugs considering we're always going to Gymboree, play groups, library story time and other public activities.

If anything, it's building up his immune system. And he's building character.

Photo Credit: AndyBullock77 Used with permission from the Creative Commons.

How Do You Punish A Toddler That Can't Be Punished?

I don't expect that my toddler son will be a perfect angel all the time. He has his moments where he just won't behave. It's frustrating, but it's part of being a parent.

However, this begs the question: How do you discipline a toddler?

My DS doesn't understand that he's being punished. He doesn't make the connection between what he did wrong and how we (my wife and I) react to it. For example, if we give him a time out, he'll just sit there and laugh and move around, thinking it's a game.

Today when he and I were playing outside he kept running into the street, which is a huge no-no. I gave him 3 chances, and then we'd go inside. He used up those 3 chances pretty fast and we went inside. Yet it didn't bother him in the least.

The only punishment that has any effect on him is taking things away. He likes cups of ice. He'll chew on the ice, suck on it and play around with it. No big deal. But he also likes to dump the ice out on the floor, which is also a no-no. I give him a chance not to do it anymore and let him keep his ice. Then he does it again and I take it away. He then goes quickly into full temper tantrum mode.

However, most the stuff he does cannot be taken away. So how do you punish a toddler that doesn't respond to punishment.

I don't know. If someone figures it out, please tell me.

But I do know that it's important to be consistant. Hopefully as he gets older he'll begin to make the connection between being bad and being punished.

My Son's First Trip To The Zoo

"I want to throw my feces at you."

On Saturday my family and a good friend spent the morning at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. It was my son's first trip to the zoo.

I think he like running around more than looking at the animals. But he did like watching the monkeys swing around and do funny things. And for some reason, he really likes ducks. He's probably a little too young to appreciate seeing all the cool animals.

For me, I couldn't wait to see the tigers and lions, pictured above. They are my favorite.

Fun was had by all, which was the most important thing.

Photo Credit: Me. Taken with my Blackberry.

How To Avoid Hidden Danger On Playground Slides

Experts are warning about a new danger on the playground: Going down slides with your toddler on your lap. It appears that well-intentioned parents who do this thinking it's safer than letting their little one go down alone, are actually putting their kids in more danger.

What's so dangerous about going down slides with your toddler on your lap? This Yahoo! article explains:

Parents may not notice when their child's shoe catches on the side of the slide for a second or two, but that, combined with the speed at which the parent and child are zipping down the slide, can create enough friction to break the child's shin bone (tibia). Instead, what parents do notice is that at the bottom of the slide, instead of laughing with joy, the child is whimpering or screaming in pain.

The article goes on to say that even tucking your child's feet between your legs is still dangerous because the shoe can still get caught on the slide. It seems that the only safe way for a toddler to go down a slide is by him/herself. 

Of course, holding their hand on the way down is okay. But if their foot gets caught they can at least stop themselves to avoid injury.

I've taken my own DS down slides a few times, and this never occurred to me. But I see how it can be dangerous. 

My son LOVES going down slides. We bought a little one for our backyard and he laughs every time he hits the bottom. My legs are about as long as the slide, so there's no chance I'd take him down on my lap.

How Do I Kick The TV Habit?

I'll confess that the TV in my home is on...a lot! When I'm playing with my DS on the floor, it's always on. Even while we have snack time or lunch, the TV is still blaring in the background. When he goes down for his nap, the TV keeps on ticking (lately, I've been working on turning it off during his naps to go do other things).

I should mention that just because the television is on, it doesn't mean I'm always watching it. But more often than not, I find myself watching the latest news program or an interesting show on the History Channel. Sometimes I'll even watch a recorded sitcom from the DVR. There's a never-ending stream of shows that I can watch on any given day.

My son is still pretty aloof when it comes to TV. He'll stare at the screen for a little bit, but I don't think he knows it's for entertainment. At least, not yet. He does like bright, flashy commercials and shows. Because of this, I avoid children's programming.

The good news is that we do a lot of stuff outside the house: Like story times, play group, Gymboree and so forth. And now that the weather is improving, we spend time outside running around.

The Television Addiction

The biggest problem with TV is that it's highly addictive. I've been searching around the interwebs about this topic and article after article says that TV has the same effect on the brain as some drugs. That's why it can be a hard habit to kick, because as soon as you stop watching TV for any length of time, you will get withdrawal symptoms.

But the advantages of getting off the TV horse appear to make those withdrawal symptoms worth suffering. I've read that people who have given up TV say they can think more clearly, their creativity improves, their productivity improves and their overall quality of life improves.

It's not hard to imagine those benefits because instead of watching someone else's fake life on television, you're out living your own real life, with real people, having real experiences. One article even pointed out that the actors who play the characters we are addicted to watching on our favorite shows, probably don't watch a lot of television.

Television And Stay-At-Home Parents

I think for stay-at-home parents television can be especially addicting (and dangerous). It's very easy to turn on the TV while taking care of our little ones. I find it very weird to play with my DS with the TV off. It's almost like the house is emptier. 

And for some parents, the television is used as a babysitter. They plunk their children on the couch or floor, put on a children's show, thus freeing them to do other things. I'm not passing judgment on parents who do this because I can sympathize with them.

The solution? Stay busy with other stuff. Like I said earlier, my son and I go to different play groups and activities throughout the week. This keeps us out of the house for a few hours. And when we get home it's lunch and then he's down for his nap.

I wish I could keep the television off for good. It's very much like a safety blanket. The only thing I, and everyone else can do, is ween ourselves off slowly.

My Toddler Son Beats Me Up

My DS is at the age where he can grab things, throw things and pull on things that shouldn't be pulled on. In other words, he's a 30-lbs wrecking machine.

I've been discovering that the hard way. His new favorite hobby is grabbing at my face and scratching it with his long fingernails (my wife does cut them, but it's like pulling teeth, for lack of a better phrase). He's also strong, it usually takes me a few seconds to pry his hand away from the fistful of facial skin he's holding on to.

He's left some pretty impressive scratches on my face. I'm usually too embarrassed to tell people my son is beating me up, so I blame the scratches on my cat.

He also likes to pull my hair and snatch my glasses right off my face. One time he even bitch-slapped (pardon my language) my face with one of his toys.

It seems this is a pretty normal stage for toddlers his age. I think he's just learning how he can use his fine motor skills to terrorize his parents. Further, he probably thinks it's funny to get such a reaction from us.

I'm not too worried about it right now because he'll eventually grow out of it. As long as he's not doing it to other kids he's around or other adults. I don't want him being "that kid" in school who's always biting and scratching when he gets mad.

This is just one more thing we'll look back on when he's 18 and ready to go off to college, and laugh.