Motherhood and second guesses

Motherhood is filled with second guesses. I've often wondered whether my choice to continue breast feeding my toddler is a good choice, is co-sleeping ok still even though he's 20 months old, should I be using the time out method (because I'm not), do I give in too easily??

As a early childhood "expert" I know that what I am doing is right for AJ. There are so many factors that go into parenting. There's the child's personality, his needs and of course the environment that you're in (just to name a few).I'm so thankful that my husband is very willing to let me let AJ take the lead on a lot of the things that he should take the lead on such as breast feeding and sleeping. WhileI take the lead on setting limits and teaching AJ what's appropriate. 

Now that he's 20 months I've really struggled with continuing to breast feed him. I think it stems from the American culture we are in, where nursing children older than 1 year seems to be taboo or maybe just not very common. I can go back and site research on the benefits in brain development, helping him form attachments, etc. But in the end I think: Oh no, I'm going to meet new moms at the play date and what if AJ decides he wants to nurse?? What will they think??

I honestly always thought he'd ween himself by now, but no, my little guy loves his mommy milk. So here I am wrestling with what I know is right for him (letting him self wean) and the fear that he'll be that nursing 5 year old that was featured in a magazine last year. I'm just an ordinary mom trying to do what I think is best, I'm not trying to start a revolution out there. Only time will tell what and when my little one decides he's done but for now I will enjoy the closeness that I have with my little guy. I know in a few years I will wish for this time back. 

More kitchen fun!!

I'm always looking for things to help entertain my little guy in the kitchen. He loves to be close by wherever I am at and I spend quite a bit of my day in the kitchen. I found magnet scenes at dollar tree. I also bought a pizza pan to keep the magnets on and he's been enjoying playing with the magnets while I'm cooking or preparing meals.

This morning he woke up very early, so we made breakfast for his poppa and this was the snowman that he put together.

He's slowly seeing where the hat goes and will point to and name the snowman's nose and eyes and mouth.

He also enjoys playing with the nativity scene especially the animals and baby Jesus.

How do you keep your little ones entertained while you cook or work in the kitchen? I'd love to hear your great ideas. :)

Job title: SAHM

Never in a million years would I have ever thought that I'd be a stay at home mom. Growing up I was always in some sort of leadership role, had very good grades and was very active in some sort of sport. I loved spending my summers at some sort of academic summer camp (yes, I've been to Math camp). Yes I was a nerd, and I had pretty big dreams. I wanted to go to school in NY, I wanted to attend an Ivy League school, etc. etc. I really don't know where those goals came from but they were there in my little head even as a pretty young child. 

I never thought that I'd be at home caring for my child, running the household, taking care of my husband, etc. So how and when did this change happen. I honestly don't know, sometimes I still surprise myself with where I am in life. I have my nicely framed diploma from Cornell in the office room of our home and honestly I rarely go into that room unless I'm making a card or other craft project. 

At some point after getting married we decided that we needed to be a family and honestly the only person I'd trust with my baby was a handful of relatives. Right around this time my husband got on track to move up the corporate ladder, which meant we'd move away from  home and family. Since we started moving around I knew that the best thing for our child would be if I stayed home to raise and care for him or her. Would things be different if I were around family, probably not, other than my hubby and I would get to go out a lot more. 

Being a stay at home mom isn't glamorous but I decided a long time ago that this was a sacrifice worth doing for our little guy. I respect what any mom chooses to do but for me and my family this is what I knew would be best. We worked very hard prior to having our little guy to get to the point of being able to live comfortably on one income, we paid off our debt, enjoyed our time as a couple, and saved money. 

So here I am, a Stay at home mom, and there's nothing else I'd rather be doing. Spending time with my little guy has been  a huge blessing and I am so thankful to be able to be there to write down each new word he says, see him complete a task for the first time, learn a new skill or just see how silly he can be. Staying home for a few years is a small sacrifice to make compared to the imprint I'm going to make on who he becomes, how he learns to behave, the man he will become. 

I also know that these years are going to pass by so quickly and that I will pick up my career one day and make the most of what I know or perhaps go back to school, who knows what I will decide. I am truly enjoying every bit of my life at this time and I guess that's really all that matters.