Erin Akin Carroll

Courtney, Kelly, Jennifer and I decided to start Build ‘Em Up as a way for moms to connect and share the good and the bad in a way that is encouraging and hopeful. Motherhood can feel weary and we often feel defeated and like we’re failing. But the truth is that we all love our kiddos and we’re all just trying to do our best every day.

The idea behind today’s Build ‘Em Up topic is for us to share and exchange ideas on how you are making progress in your home in regards to correction and discipline. Because sometimes “time out” just doesn’t cut it anymore.

For me, the truth is that I don’t have all the answers when it comes to discipline.

I wish I could tell you that I am always consistent. That I am crazy organized when it comes to discipline, the punishment always fits the “crime,” I always react in a calm, level-headed manner. I wish I could tell you those things.

But that’s not me. I lose my patience. There are so many times when I am literally begging my boys to please stop doing that. And I’ll make threats and say, “If you do that again, you’re going to time out.” And then five minutes later they do it again, and I repeat myself, but never send them to time out.

 

I’m not a push-over mommy, but some days, I just get tired of doing it all day long. And so I just don’t. And I know that this is completely ineffective and I’m not making any progress when I react this way. It’s not that I don’t care. It’s just that I’m tired of it all.

A lot of that is because our discipline techniques have to change and evolve with the kids over time.

Hayes gets his little heart broken by getting sent to time out. He will sit in the time out chair for two minutes. He won’t even try to get up. But he hangs his sweet little head and cries until his two minutes are up. And most of the time, he doesn’t repeat the offending action.

Hudson is my strong-willed child. It has taken me nearly four years to realize that the most effective technique for him is to take away privileges. No TV. No Leap Pad. He can’t play with the train table, or can’t go play at a friend’s house. This works for him.

The zero tolerance offenses in this house are lying, not obeying (especially when it puts the kiddo in danger, like not stopping before running into the street), and pushing or hitting a brother. And when that happens, it’s important that we send a message that we never ever want to see that again.

Every child is different, and every situation is different. Discipline is an extremely personal topic for the children and the parents. It always helps me to talk to moms of kids who have personalities similar to my kids’ personalities. Hayes is super sweet and passive. But he’s not always a good listener. Hudson is more hot-tempered, but is an excellent listener.

So, moms. Let’s encourage each other. I’d love tips on creative discipline and things that have worked well for different kids.

Before I became a mom, I was one of those people who avoided watching medical dramas because the wounds made me uncomfortable. I often flinched if a friend tried to show me a paper cut or something minor.

But something happened when I became a mom. A mom to two boys. I am at the ready with bandages, and ice packs, and of course ready to kiss a boo boo.

Hudson turned four this summer. I had heard from quite a few friends that the four-year-old well visit is the “big one.” They test their vision and their hearing. They have to give a urine sample. And the kids have to get the big booster shots. And apparently those booster shots are a doozy.

Before the appointment, I did everything I could to prepare Hudson without scaring him. And without telling him about the shots. It’s not that I wanted him to be totally shocked, but I just didn’t want him to be scared.

In the week leading up to the appointment, I talked to him about the vision test. And I talked to him about the hearing test. I even told him he’d get to pee in a cup for the first time. But I left out the part about the shots.

We made it through the first part of his appointment, and he was so proud of himself. He felt like such a big boy. And when the easy part was over, I told him that he was about to get some shots, but I’d be holding his hands and I’d kiss the boo boos when it was over. And, most importantly, he’d get to pick out a special prize when it was over.

And that did it.

He got two fun bandages with his favorite Disney characters, and he was happy as he could be. He survived the big appointment. It helped that he was prepared, but not scared. I think he had just enough warning for his shots.

But the biggest comfort to him was that I was there, holding his hands, and kissing his cheeks while he whimpered and got his big boy shots.

When my boys have had to go in for tubes for their ears, we did our best to prepare them as much as a toddler can be prepared. But the whole process was much worse for me than it was for them. When my sweet babies were taken back to the operating rooms, I cried and tried so hard to be a brave mommy, but seeing your sweet baby being taken out of your arms and placed into a nurse’s arms will just tear you up.

I love that my kids can become more familiar with doctor’s visits and think of it as a fun experience thanks to Doc McStuffins. Doc is such a sweet character, and her mom being a real doctor sheds a little light on upcoming doctor visits for my boys. Visit the Doc McStuffins site to see the new viewing schedule for Season 2 of Doc McStuffins!

Find out if The Doc Mobile Tour is coming to your city and get healthy tips for your kids from Doc!

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, tell me how do you keep your kids healthy on the go with snack ideas or other fun activities?

 

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It’s Friday! I can’t believe it. And it’s Labor Day weekend. We don’t ever really have plans for Labor Day weekend, but I’m looking forward to a low key weekend at home with my boys. And today I’m linking up with Darci and the girls for Five on Friday!

-ONE-

College football season is here, and we couldn’t be more excited! It was a really hot day in Columbia yesterday, so I chose to stay home instead of going to the game, but Todd was there. And he was so happy! The boys and I stayed home and watched the game on TV. Hayes was particularly captivated by all the action. I posted this picture on Instagram last night of our little linebacker!

-TWO-

Okay, y’all. This is very important. What was with all the Ben Affleck hate? Ben Affleck as Batman? Sounds pretty fantastic to me. I love Batman. I love Ben Affleck. Sounds like a win/win, yes?

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Also in very important entertainment news… where are my Pretty Little Liars fans? This week’s episode was ca-razy! World War A did not disappoint! (Insert eye roll emoji here.) I LOVE this awesomely bad show.

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It got really really hot in Columbia this week after a wonderful tease of uncharacteristically early fall weather. And I started pinning all the things about fall. Food, fashion, pumpkins, fall craft ideas. My Pinterest boards are blowing up with all things fall.

But I’m officially obsessed with plaid. I can’t wait for the weather to cool off enough for me to wear this because I love this outfit that I pinned!

-FIVE-

I spent a lot of time this week choosing paint samples, picking up the samples, and testing the samples in the new house. I am 99% sure I have decided on the following Sherwin Williams colors.

1. Sea Salt will be used at 50% of the color in all of our common areas/living spaces in the house. The hallways, the kitchen, the family room. It’s soothing, and at 50% it’s even more soothing and has just the slightest amount of blue/green in the gray. I love it.

2. Topsail will be used in our master bedroom and bathroom. I love how soft it is, and our bedroom doesn’t get as much natural light, so I wanted something a lot lighter in there.

3. Aloof Gray will be in the boys’ bedrooms and bathroom. It’s the best masculine neutral and it will go with everything, no matter how I decide to decorate their rooms.

4. Unusual Gray will be used on all of the interior doors. It’s a pretty creamy gray and will make the doors pop again the bright white trim and the Sea Salt walls.

What are y’all up to? I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Hudson and Hayes started school today! We’re back at our same beloved preschool.

Hayes is starting the 2s class and will be going five mornings a week. He loves his teachers already, and we’re excited that a few of his buddies are in his class again this year.

Hudson is in the Pre-K 4s class this year. I’m so excited for him! Five of his best little friends are in his class this year. He was so confident this morning when he walked in, and I can’t believe that he could be starting kindergarten next year.

I ran to the house to drop off paint samples this morning while they were at school, and I’m super excited to see them later this morning and hear how their morning went.

I can’t believe this summer is over, but it felt so good this morning to get into a routine!