Timeouts

I realize that how you discipline your child is a highly debated topic that raises tempers and attracts opinions from far and wide.  I normally don't share publicly how we as a family deal with "naughty behaviour" not because I'm ashamed or feel guilty for how we treat Bee, but because I don't really care to be bombarded with everyone's idea of perfect parenting.  That being said, we were giving Bee swats on her padded diaper bum because nothing else seemed to work or get her attention.  And for awhile, she understood what was allowed and what wasn't allowed.  Then it clicked in her head that if she was swatted for "naughty" behaviour, so should Mama and Daddy.  And fearing that we had taught her to hit people when she didn't like what was happening, we switched to 1 minute timeouts with her facing a corner, and seating her on a "timeout" stool.  So far, it's been working like a charm.

Then today, we got a glimpse of what the swats and timeouts must be like through her eyes.  We laughed so hard we cried.  Of course, the video is not good quality since I was laughing through most of it, but this is just a little bit of what we saw during dinner. 

playing in mama's closet

 Time seems to be flying for us.  I'm already 28 weeks, Bee is starting to learn new words, Josh's work is starting to slow down and the diner I work at is slowly getting less and less busy.  I can't believe summer is almost over.  The pollen is blowing around aggravating Josh's allergies and the smoke from all the fires is still hanging around, giving everyone sore throats and stuffy noses.  The trees are turning yellow, the bull elk are chasing cows, cars and people alike, and the locals are starting to long for the quiet winter months without tourists.

Bee is coming into her own a little bit more each day.  She's started to try to dress herself...unsuccessfully, but still keeps on trying.  The other day she found some clothes I was getting rid of and decided to play dress-ups with them.  My girl is so sweet.  I see her copying things she sees me do everyday (putting lotion on, brushing teeth, blowing on her food to cool it down), and it just makes me melt.  Of course, she is also coming into her terrible twos so our timeout stool is seeing a lot of use.  Those moments do not make me melt. 

I have almost no energy while working so my weekends seem to be full of projects and lists.  I even have a list of projects to start and finish after I'm done working (which thankfully is Oct 3!).  I don't like to pull the "I'm pregnant" card while working but after another waitress wore her pedometer to work and found out she walked 10 miles each shift, I no longer feel so guilty when I come home totally exhausted and all I accomplish is filling the dishwasher and making Bee's lunch for daycare.    

We are loving life these days, and are so grateful to be living here in the park.  I never thought I'd be proud to be what I call "park people" but I am.  We are so blessed and even though I'm not a country girl or even an outdoorsy girl except for camping, I see the beauty and can appreciate the gift that living here is.  
We are getting ready for winter, buying our first 2 heaters ever and shopping for winter gear.  This will be my first full winter in Wyoming/Montana so I may not like living here as much by January, but we'll see!  Fall is generally my favourite season, and I'm so excited for all the soups, stews, pumpkin flavoured baking, and cozy evenings crocheting for my family.  Hopefully once these last two weeks of work are over I'll have the energy to write more often!  As it is, my eyelids are drooping and my brain is shutting down.  Which is my cue for bed since my shift starts at 7:30am tomorrow!