Tape on Fingers

Photo: Model Urban Neighborhood Demonstration Collection
(ubarchives, Langsdale Library, Univ of Baltimore)

We were sitting down for a leisurely afternoon snack, so I sliced my orange into eight pieces and grabbed a napkin. As soon as I sat down, my 5-year-old asked sweetly for my oranges. So I gave her four. Then she proceeded to cut masking tape into small pieces and wrap them around her fingernails like band-aids. When we asked why, she said she didn't want her fingers to sting. Then she tried to eat the oranges but could not because of the tape. She asked for help getting all the tape off of her fingers, which I did for the next two minutes. Finally, she said: "Actually, I don't want oranges anymore."

Last night after 9 pm, she and her brother were doing Origami at the kitchen table. Out of the blue, she said: "good thing I ate supper already!" When we asked why, she said: "because my hands are getting dirty."

The kids were jumping on the trampoline with jump ropes. They threw one jump rope over the net and it landed in a tree. Gaby wanted to get it, but Caleb tried to stop her because he was afraid she would break off the tree branch. Neighbor Eric came to the rescue and said: "I'll get it! I'm an expert!"

"We had a little talk," Gaby stated as she, Caleb and Eric walked out the back door with their icy pops. "About what?" I asked. "About Eric doing something until college." "What's that?" I asked. She said: "I forgot."

I have four young children, and my son's friend Eric practically lives here. So at any given time in the afternoon/evening/weekend, there are at least 5 kids running around, screaming, squealing, crying, laughing, chasing, and discovering. Currently, the oldest is playing with a bouncy ball, the next two are opening a floor puzzle, the 3-year-old is coloring with markers ("mommy--I don't know how to put the top on right"), and the baby is supposed to be napping. But five minutes ago, one was crying because her sister helped me first, and one was crying because his favorite drawing was put on the floor (AKA ruined forever)!!!

Mom's Advice for Moms with Young Children
One parenting trick I have recently learned is that kids need more space. They usually can work out their differences if I stay out of it. They will find something to do if I leave them alone. I have always tried to micro-manage them, but it has truly backfired. I see it because my oldest now micro-manages all his siblings. So, if it's not too late, I am trying to learn from my mistakes and give the kids more freedom to learn, explore, and socialize on their own. I'm not sure how they feel about it, but it has truly decreased my stress levels.