To TV or Not to TV

Have you read it? It was front page news...According to the American Academy of Pediatricians television viewing for those under 2 can have "negative effects." The article claims it MAY cause language delays, as well as negative effects on learning, language, play, mood and behavior. Do you agree?


I Don't.

That being said, I do not think there is much that is detrimental to you....in MODERATION. I grew up watching cartoons, and Disney movies over and over...and over and over again. I also grew up reading books and playing outside. I think that as long as you don't use your TV as a babysitter, and keep you child active so they don't become fatty couch potatoes, no harm done.

Since not one article shows any ACTUAL data I argue that correlation does NOT equal a cause. The majority of the USA is over weight. Cause? McDonald's? TV? No, it is personal habit. Most likely TAUGHT and NURTURED by a parent. Come on parents! It is time to get active and stop using your laziness as an excuse for your child's short comings.

If I am an parent who sits on my couch all day watching soaps eating chips and cookies, drinking soda, not paying any attention to my child, not talking to them, taking them out to experience the world OF COURSE s/he is going to have a smaller vocabulary, be more over weight, and have a harder time interacting with other people. That does not mean the TV is to blame. The TV didn't tie me down to the couch, shove food down my throat so I couldn't communicate with my child or take them to the park.

One person I spoke with that is pro-no TV said that they believed that TV was bad because of "all the talking, babies couldn't differentiate the difference between reality and fantasy" WTF? Seriously? It's a damn baby, an amazing baby, but a baby. They poop and eat EVERYTHING that ends up in their hands. They only know what they can hold and see. As for MY opinion on the "noise." What culture is quiet... NO talking? In fact, how did our ancestors get anything done with babies? They hid them in their caves? Nooooo they carried them around, wore their babies as they picked berries and farmed. Did they do this silently? Noooooo. Did the babies grow up to be idiots? Nooooo Did the babies never sleep because people were talking? Noooo

Here is my conclusion. TV is not going to harm your child, YOU are going to harm your child IF you don't keep moderation and common sense in your lives.

A little psych lesson to end the night:
Schema is everything that you know. Grass is green= schema. That fuzzy thing=dog=schema. You like grapes=schema. EVERYthing you know is call schema. The more you are exposed to the more connections you make to your schema. The more connections the "smarter" you are.

FACT: Adults that were blind and can corrective surgery almost always can not be taught to see. Children born blind who have corrective surgery can almost always been taught to see. WHY?? Their brains are still developing.

My advice: expose your children to EVERYTHING (use common sense) they may not understand a Dali painting, but they are seeing it, it is forming a schema in their brain. Maybe they relate it to art, maybe they relate it to you, maybe they see the color red, and they match that with their red bear, and when they see an apple its red. Whatever makes those connections stronger is beneficial to you and your child.


Your welcome. xoxo

Friday night + Motherhood= this blog

Little man is sleeping. Big man is out with the other men, doing manly things. And I am home. Alone. Bored.

I still have not gotten out of my P.J.'s.. and the possibility of that happening is quickly dwindling.

Don't you just love those lazy days? Where you say "to hell" with the To-Do-List and "welcome" cozy blanket, tray of pumpkin brownies, and laptop.

I set up Enzo on the floor with a couple comforters, and just about every toy he has and he and I just hung out played/Pinterest-ed all day.

I have to admit I have a few  obsessions at the moment:

Pumpkin foods

Boots

Scarves

Obvi. Enzo

Pinterest.

If you haven't checked out this site, well you should stop reading this and go check it out right now. I am so hooked. What a great place to go to get ideas and inspiration for everything from fashion to DIY to education and I am sure a bunch of other stuff that I just have not gotten to yet.

These are just a few of my favorites. Those string balls will make great center pieces, the monster tissue boxes would be great for a kiddy project, and the every year/every love picture is something I want to start for Enzo every birthday. And finally Enzo's 6 month photo. Gosh I adore that child!

I have found so many great ideas for Enzo's first birthday.

YES, I know it is 6 months away

No, I do not care.

I think what I want to do is a carnival theme for his birthday. The invitations will be tickets, we'll serve hot dogs, and popcorn and if I have my way well have cotton candy. Oh do I love cotton candy.

Obvi I know Enzo won't be old enough to play games, or even remember his party but to me every year your alive is worth celebrating. Since Enzo and his buddies will all be to young to partake in any game I want to set up kid friendly, adult fun carnival themed games for everyone else to enjoy. I am so excited already about planning birthday parties, and Halloween parties, and Christmas parties for the kiddos as he and whatever siblings come about grow up.

until next time! xoxo

Way.Whey. Weigh.

UGH. I have never been one to be concerned about numbers. I always hated math.

hated. 

And now I am here day after day agonizing over numbers. my weight. I hated it.

hate! 

As if there aren't a million other things way more important than how much I weigh. But every time I go to eat a meal, snack, cook, feed Enzo, glimpse at myself in the mirror, let the dogs out, ALL THE DAMN TIME, this stupid number comes up and starts knocking on my mind. Bringing my attention to the fact I am not as small as I once was. My clothes do not fit as well as they once did. And most frustrating is my self confidence is not where it used to be. 

I got to thinking about this last night as I lay in bed, aggravated my favorite cozy pants were to tight to sleep in, that it is just so ridiculous that I have let this consume so much of my time and thoughts. I am the only one who knows my weight. I alone hold that secret number. Others can guess. They can assume. But only I know it. annnnnd why do I even know this number????

Because I torture myself by weighing myself hourly, daily, weekly, whatever.

That stops today. I have way more important things, dogs, people, to  spend my time thinking about.

I know I need to just focus on living a healthy lifestyle, and more importantly being the best mommy, partner, and friend I can be. I am tired about blogging about my weight or losing it. I just need to stop thinking about it so much. So here goes some conscious effort to stop.....until next time xoxo

Have a Nice Trip, See You in The Fall

Plate of bacon for breakfast? Don't mind if I do...


Not the best(healthiest) way to start a normal morning but today was a rainy, COOL and BREEZY, lazy,  full plate of bacon breakfast appropriate morning. Fall is trying so hard to make its precious little way down to Florida. Florida's Sunshine is putting up quite a fight though. Today the rain whipped the heat and sun to the back burner...supposed to stay cool (mind you cool is still in the high to mid 70's) for the next couple of days before the heat and sun return.

I really do not mind the heat. I absolutely LOVE living in Florida. I love the way the sun feels on your skin, the beaches, the pretty palm trees, and the postcard views over any and all bridges. But, being a New Yorker at heart (grew up there) I do yearn for the change of season. Especially the fall season! I miss the leaves changing, the trips out east to pick pumpkins, picking apples by the barrel! OH I MISS IT!! In effort to combat my bout of homesickness this time of year I immerse myself, and my house in all things fall. My fridge is stocked with pumpkin spice creamer, pumpkin spice bakes oatmeal, and pumpkin coffee. Apples have taken over my fruit bowl. I've stocked up on fall scented candles, my house decorated for Halloween/fall. And I even got a bale of hay for my pumpkins to sit on for our front porch. So festive and I love it.

I went this week with a friend of mine to pick up a pumpkin and take some pictures of our little ones for Halloween. Enzo is going to be a little pumpkin for Halloween and he seriously could not be any cuter! He was a little confused at first when I sat him down in between a pile of pumpkins but all in all I believe he will grow up loving the season too. When he gets a little older we will have to start taking trips up north so he can experience the change of the leaves and apple picking.

Smile baby!

I want that pumpkin in the middle!

 I am just so excited about sharing all my favorite traditions with my son. I am even more excited about starting our own as a family.  It is truly amazing how this little person, who has barely been in our lives 6 months can change and brighten up our lives more and more everyday. Does every mother feel this way? I sure hope so!I always knew I wanted to be a mother, I just never knew how much meaning it would give my life. I wake up every morning wanting to be better person, and go to sleep every night thankful that I have such supportive amazing people in my life that give me the drive to be better. Thank you everyone of you.