Anyone Can Be Tech Savvy!

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Will & Lola using iPad2

Technology has gotten to the point that even someone who is not tech savvy, or who has not been raised using computers, can be a tech junkie.

Programs and apps are now made so that anyone can start using them with ease. Just download an app or join a social network and VOILA! you’re off and running! These easy to use programs and apps wind up turning LO-FI individuals into insta-techies! Take Grandparents for instance:

Here are some quick stats on Will’s grandparents off the top of my head:

2 out of 4 of Will’s grandparents are on Facebook.
3 out of 4 use Skype to video conference with Will.
4 out of 4 use email (but who doesn’t these days).
4 out of 4 use them for picture and video sharing (I am one of their largest supporters of this as I take and send a lot of media via my Posterous.com blog, my personal blog, Facebook, Instagram, Socialcam, email and more).

My dad came to visit us this last weekend. He was drawn to use his Facebook at various hours of the day during his visit. He would add new photos of our adventures together as well as engage in “the usual” Facebook business. He uses it more than I do. Whoa! And, he doesn’t even have a smart phone allowing him to use the Facebook app (which is where I do quite a bit of my Facebook usage).

My mom uses Facebook on occasion but mainly when we send her messages or photos.

Billy’s folks don’t have a Facebook account but I am going to see if I can set them up with one this week so they can be a part of the “Will-versation” at the very least. They love when I send them Will-related items so I feel bad when I post Will stuff exclusively to Facebook which means that they miss out. But, do they really need another hook for their valuable time? We shall see…

Construction Zone: Toddler and Caregiver Livesaver and Where to Find Them

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How can a mama find local construction sites to entertain her toddler?

Construction sites are immense boons to the care-giver and to the toddler.

Construction sites have many uses:

• fun (by way of observation, imagination, curiosity, and more)
• a vehicle (no pun intended) for education
• provide mama down-time (i.e. little to no chasing after the little one while they are engrossed. So, chill mama, chill.)
• have a mama tea date! Catch up or shoot the shit poo poo while the little ones watch construction workers and their mighty machines in action

I have looked and inquired about construction sites in these places:

• google (using a variety of key words)
• iPhone app store (again, using a variety of key words)
• the local businesses I patronize
• a foreman on the Chase bank construction site in Pinole (SF East Bay Area)
• a mama friend of mine

I even phoned what google called my county’s “Construction Dept.-Public Works” but the number connected me to a bewildered woman in the Coroner’s office. Faux pas!

After spending this week searching for construction sites, I find myself wondering if there is a need for an App and a website to fill this void. I have heard other mothers say that construction sites have been a life-saver on those days when they are tired and need their young one to be entertained. And what is better than free entertainment that gives you a little break in your day? My son can watch a construction site and the vehicles within it do their busy, dirty jobs for an hour or more. And, even when they are not “in action” they still hold his attention for a while. This has been true since he was about 1 year old. Even without encouraging him to take interest, he is drawn with his whole being to things-that-build. I imagine that kids up to 5 or older would be as interested in watching the complicated, awesome work of the construction crew.

Will is now at the age where he as a lot of question, so, while these sites are transfixing, from time to time he comes out of his trance and asks me a chain of questions. Some are a simple “why?” and some are a reaction to an explanation I gave where he starts off his question “what happens if…” and then he retells what I have said in the form of a question that is either the opposite of what I have just said, or, he builds upon what I just told him. On those particular inquisitive days, these construction sites lend me little relief but at least he is not running around the house just LOOKING to get into mischief and to “get my goat”.

Now, I ask you… where do YOU find construction sites? Or, do they find you?

Now that you are thinking about it, what do you think? Where should I look? And, while we are at it, what tools should be available to find them? Would you use the tools if they WERE available? How can we share the deets on the construction sites we find? Are there any other inspirations you have? Let me know. I can’t wait to hear!

Bay Area Strider: Strider Balance Bikes – Ages 1-5

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These bikes are amazing. Don’t take my word for it. Ask my son or any kid who has tasted the awesomeness that these bikes are.

Last year, Billy and I became distributors of Strider balance bikes for kids because we couldn’t find any in the SF Bay Area to test ride or to buy. When we finally got our hands on one (for Will’s 2nd birthday) we were so impressed with the design. Then, when we saw Will get his hot little hands on it we were astounded. He was drawn like a moth to flame. Beautiful! So fun!

Any kid who can walk can ride this bike. Kids begin walking with it, then, when they get the hang of that, they put weight on the seat and use their feet to glide, then, (and this is really cool), they begin coasting with their legs held up. When they have the hang of THAT they can use the “launch pad” to rest their feet and coast like a super star.

I have lots of pics and vids to share and will get to that in time. But for now, I just wanted to let you know what we have been up to as well announce that we have a website, Twitter account, and, a Facebook Page to support our family business Bay Area Strider. Check them out and “Like” us, post a message, and tell people about it. They will thank you for it! And, so will we :)

Thank you for your support, as always,

Christine

http://bayareastrider.com/
Bay Area Strider Facebook Page
http://twitter.com/bayareastrider

e: gogogo AT bayareastrider DOT com
e: christine AT bayareastrider DOT com
e: billy AT bayareastrider DOT com

Dear San Francisco Mama Bloggers

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Dear San Francisco Mama Bloggers,

I have been searching for you but am finding you are harder to find that I thought it would be.

I would love to connect with you and hear your stories, the good and the bad. I want to know what you have learned, what you have questions about, what you want to know more about, and what your fears and worries are. What are your dreams? Why aren’t you doing them? Can we support each other to reach for them?

I envision a community of mamas (or anyone who is interested in what a mama’s life is about) be it virtually, physically or both.

If you heard my call, tell me, what is on your mind? And, are you free this weekend? Let’s meet at the park and say hi. If you cannot make it out, then, leave a little note in the comments section, or email me privately. I love notes. I love to leave them. I am so delighted when I receive them.

I look forward to making a connection with you. And, if you are up for it, through that connection, I will connect you to those who also want to connect.

Yours,

Christine

San Francisco Bay Area Mama

e: christine at maternityshare dot com

Ps. Even if you aren’t currently in the San Francisco Bay Area, feel free to reach out!

Rocky, then Rolly

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My day started out quite rocky. Will and I were both in a mood. But after the storm had passed we happily made our way out the door. When I dropped him off with his preschool clan he ran inside to join circle time already in progress (we were 45 minutes late). I went to Peet’s to work and was uplifted by a quartet of grandmas talking about their grandchildren in loving, joyful tones. You could tell they not only loved their grandchildren, but, each other. Being old is going to be ok after all. I just need to keep my girlfriends close and cherish them like these wise women cherished each other.

a mama’s dreamline in progress

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A WORK IN PROGRESS: DREAMLINING:

I am doing an exercise from the book I am reading by Tim Ferris called “The Four Hour Work Week” (and website www.fourhourblog.com):

List 5 things i dream of having, being, and doing…

Tim Ferris says if you aren’t sure what you want then list the things you hate or fear

things i am afraid of and should do the opposite of:

dying
loved ones dying
feeling bad/sick
being unsure/unscheduled/unorganized = not living life to fullest or close to it

those are the first things that came to mind.

ok, got that out of the way, now I will look at it from the other angle:

WANT TO DO
myself, family, & world to feel great (yoga, diet, dance)
send Will to amazing schools/extracurricular activities

WANT TO BE
yoga instructor (with some components of things like feng shui, ergonomics, physical therapy mixed in)
good at cooking and eating for wellness

WANT TO HAVE:
housekeeper that cleans like i like it! (cleaning takes waaaayyy too much of my time and mana)
money to do what i want
confidence
amazingly healthy body and mind

to be continued….

ps. This is an unfiltered post of my dreamlining exersice.

Keeping a toddler happy

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Will needs so much attention and social interaction. I can’t meet all of his needs. On days when it is just me and him we go a little crazy (sometimes a lot) everyday.

Things that help (A LOT):

• getting down on his level and asking him a question about something he is already currently interested in or playing with. He LOVES this. He gets to be social and showcase his expertise. I find it to be wonderful times of bonding when I make time to do this. It is easy, it is free and, it means a lot to Will. Oh, and it keeps him from tearing up the place, if even for a little while.

• arts and crafts: right now he is really into ballpoint pens and dry erase markers. So, we got him some. Yah, they are age-inappropriate but I keep him close when he uses them. They make him happy and wildly engage his imagination. I love it when he draws. Sometimes he narrates and sometimes he is so in the zone that he is so quiet… I can practically hear the wheels turning in his mind.

• getting out: I need caffeine. Will needs to be with people. He is running around the house like the Tasmanian Devil and I find myself counting to 10 all too often. The answer here is GET OUT! Go to Peet’s Coffee & Tea and get my morning cup of tea. Will loves picking out a snack and socializing with the customers. There is always someone who is gaga over Will so, it makes their day better too. And, I finally get my tea and get to drink it with a happy Will and another bonding experience while he either sits across from me or in my lap and points out all the fire alarms and extinguishers or asks me questions about this amazing world we live in.

These are just 3 simple things to do. The world is full of countless opportunities. We just need to take a deep breath and take them. Everyone will be happier. Who knows, the world could even become a better place. It becomes one for us, that’s for sure

RESOURCES:

Daily activities for pre-schooler’s courtesy of the SavvySource.com: http://bit.ly/9GU4zL (look for the title ‘today’s “preschools out” activity’ which is usually found in the middle of the page.) Or, they have a general Activity page here: http://bit.ly/9opM

And, remember, they will only be a toddler for so long. ENJOY IT!

Potty Training Success

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My friend Juliette successfully trained her toddler at age two years and one week old. I enjoyed hearing the story as it progressed and was inspired by it as well. I asked her to write a guest post for MaternityShare so that other families could be inspired as well. Around our house we started potty training Will a little differently and it was going very well but we let ourselves get interrupted by travel and a household move. One day I will blog about our potty adventures as well. In the meantime please enjoy Juliette’s fun tale:

A funny thing happened around our house lately and by “funny” I mean awesome. My toddler got potty trained. I say he “got” potty trained because, frankly, I feel like I had very little to do with the process. In fact I had braced myself to the idea of him being much older before he was ready to use the potty, he being a boy and all. Also, he didn’t seem bothered in the least by the fact that he was sitting in his own mess and didn’t think twice about making puddles on the floor when he was rocking his birthday suit at home. (Which was often) But a week after his second birthday he pooped in the potty, excitedly compared it to a hot dog and we never looked back.

Oh, what joy …. no more diapers! Sure there were accidents and lots of comparisons to hot dogs and I only recently had the portable potty surgically removed from my hand. I still have about 12 seconds to find a bathroom when little man announces: “I wanna poop!” But, did I mention? No more diapers!

A lot of my friends are now starting to think about potty training and I keep getting asked: how? So, as if I’m in the position to be giving any advice, here is my rough breakdown of our “strategy”:

Prepare Our prep work stemmed from the fact that we don’t have a whole lot of boundaries around our house, so lots of open door bathroom trips, bathroom talk and nudie play time (Um, him not us) were the norm.

Tasty rewards Do I really need to elaborate? Bribery rules.

Create opportunities for success We spent the first two days at home, naked. (Again, him not us) He got the hang of using the potty, and I got a feel for his elimination rhythms.

Get messy We ditched the diapers cold turkey. (Night-time excluded) I wanted him to know when he had an accident, how else would he learn? Was it messy? Yeah. Did we have to pay attention? Yeah. But in the end, I think it cut down on training time. And made sure we were …

Diligent While we were out I would make the poor little bugger sit and pee every hour. Excessive, yes, but it allowed for us to avoid many accidents and, I think, reinforced the idea that pee goes in the potty.

Mistakes happen. Well yeah, he’s two! There were and still are accidents. Mostly when he’s having too much fun playing to remember to go. Sometimes he wakes up wet in the morning. It happens, whatever.

Above all I tried to keep things positive and focused on the pride he felt for himself. I avoided at all costs using words that made it sound like he was going potty for me. Words like “have to “ or “please” or “Can you go for mommy?” I also never made him feel ashamed for having an accident. That would be so sad. But I never said it was Ok either. Most of all, I try to make potty time wicked fun. Stories, silly songs and I did mention comparisons to hot dogs, right?