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Carter’s School Uniform Fashion Rewind – Volume Four

Jessica • November 25, 2015

I often think about how I power through each and every struggle that comes with Carter’s current age without really appreciating the moment. And like every parent, when that struggle has past and a new obstacle arises, I think to myself, “Why did I think that was hard, this is hard!” I don’t want to parent like that any more. I miss so much of the now  waiting on the next stage.

Right now, in the land of Carter, we are dealing with a lot of fighting with little brother. All day, every day, fighting. “He is touching my blocks!” “He is drawing on my paper!” “He knocked over my blocks!” By the end of the day, I am completely losing my mind.

I have a degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in School Counseling. I have had ample training in conflict resolution. I could sit here and break down step-by-step instructions on how to nip the conflict in the bud , but let’s be honest, sometimes that junk just doesn’t work. And on top of that, no one wants to hear it.

So instead of breaking down what does and what doesn’t work for me and my family, I am actually going to tell you this; enjoy it. What!? Enjoy it!? Am I nuts?! Yes, I am nuts. I don’t always enjoy it. Actually, I almost never enjoy it, so this post is as much for me as it is for you. But if I look at the window of time between the fights, I can see my kids playing with and fully enjoying each other. That is where I need to keep my focus.

Eventually the fighting will stop, but so will the playing together, the innocent childish conversations they share, the games they make up together. Over time they will grow apart, they will make their own friends, Carter will want to do girl things and Monroe will be off doing boy things. They will no longer work together in their kitchen  and bring down breakfast for Rusty and I on a lazy Saturday morning. I’m guessing there will be a time in the future that they will actually fight with each other and it won’t be hair pulling or toy stealing, it will be with nasty hurtful words because all siblings go through that stage. They will shut each other out of their lives and by the time they find their way back together, they will be at a totally new, different place in life and childhood will be left behind.

So if I have to trade in my sanity for a bickering brother and sister that so purely and deeply love echother, I will do that and I will enjoy it.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.

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Glaze Family Update + A New Favorite Product WaterWipes

By Jessica • July 14, 2019
Four kids, I have four kids! Sometimes (well, every day if I’m being honest) I have to remind myself that I have FOUR kids to be responsible for. If I’m not forgetting to keep an eye on my mischievous 2-year-old, then I’m walking out the door for dinner without dropping a jar of baby food into my bag. (Fries for dinner never hurt anyone, right? That’s what Mr. August survives on once a week at least.) Life as a parent can be chaotic sometimes. #thisisparenthood Thank God my two older kiddos are basically self-sufficient otherwise we would never be able to leave the house. Being responsible for four other human beings (Sometimes five if my husband is in town, am I right ladies?) is so hard!

How To Prepare Your Kitchen For The Holidays With Frigidaire

By Jessica • November 18, 2017
It’s no secret that I am no fan of winter. If you live up north like we do now, you know just how cold, cold is and I can barely survive the frozen temperatures. Even though I would happily leave behind the cold, but there is nothing I love more than Thanksgiving and Christmas! Best holidays of the year, hands down!

Away We Go, Again

By Jessica • September 13, 2017
It has been three years since we left behind our life in California. Three years since we made the announcement that we were moving to Canada. Three years since we started a new adventures as immigrants in a country that is so close to home, yet so very different. And now, after three life changing years, we are on to our next adventure.

The Dreaded Sleep Transition

By Jessica • August 30, 2017
Eli is 5.5 months old, rolling left to right and every other which way, so that means it’s time to ditch the swaddle. *Que the ugly cry.* If you didn’t know, we love swaddling in our home. Rusty and I can count the number of times we have ever had to wake up more than twice a night with one of the three kiddos on our fingers and we thank swaddling for that luck. We start swaddling from day one and we use that as a basis to establish great sleep habits from the beginning that last forever. Sadly, once the skill of rolling is learned, it is no longer safe to swaddling and the transition from swaddled to un-swaddled can be rough. Thankfully, we found the Nested Bean sleep sack this time around and the swaddled/un-swaddled transition has gone perfectly smooth.

Kids’ Cam – Toronto’s Center Island

By Jessica • August 28, 2017
The Glaze Brigade spent the second to last official weekend of summer (which is kind of a joke because summer never actually arrived here in the GTA) at Center Island and we loved it! I’m actually a little bummed that we have lived here for 3 years and only just decided to make the trip on the ferry over to the island.

Two Must Have Items to Fully Enjoy Summer With an Infant

By Jessica • August 14, 2017
We are just three weeks away from the start of the next school year and I am so not ready! There is nothing I love more than the freedom of summer. No school schedules to follow, flexible bedtimes, endless weekend adventures, and daily trips to wherever we can get some sunshine. Sadly, all of that is about to end and I am already planning our next summer.

Rainy Day Fun with Erin Mills Town Centre

By Jessica • July 24, 2017
Since moving to Toronto, the best part of summer is getting outside. Our days are usually filled with trips to the playground, our near by amusement park, riding our scooters around the neighborhood, or taking a fun road trip, but even in the summer, there are days we are stuck inside. Sometimes we spend those rainy days cuddled on the couch, watching a movie and eating junk food, but another fun rainy day activity we enjoy is visiting our local mall.

5 Tasks That Help Teach Personal Responsibility to 1st Graders with Quaker Oats #OvernightSuccess

By Jessica • June 21, 2017
I was just a little surprised to learn that Carter would be starting kindergarten, at the ripe old age of 3, just a few months after moving to Canada. I considered putting her in a preschool a few days a week, but never did I think I would be sending her to an all day, every day, kindergarten class in a school that holds kids up to the 8th grade. Cue the mommy freak out. Of course, Carter loved it and I had nothing to do worry about.

Sleeping Sound Thanks to Owlet Baby Care

By Jessica • June 12, 2017
My middle child, Monroe, was born with a severe tongue tie, it was actually so severe that he couldn’t swallow. For the first week of his life, we had no idea that his entire tongue was attached to the bottom of his mouth (behind his bottom gums), but over and over again he would choke and sometimes even turn blue. Rusty or I or a nurse would have to suction his airway to get things cleared out. It was the scariest time for me as a parent.

How to Encourage Fathers to Become Hands On Dads

By Jessica • May 17, 2017
Facebook is filled with groups of moms complaining about the lack of help they get from their husbands. Either dad has never changed a diaper, he doesn’t help pick up toys, dad doesn’t help discipline, or he flat out cannot keep the kids alive if he is left alone. I understand that it can be completely frustrating to get no help from the one person that should be helping you the most, so I am going to share with you a few tips that I’ve used to encourage my husband to be a hands on dad.
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