transitions

August 8, 2013
breathing.
or trying to, anyway.
our house isn’t ready to move into – but we’re going to anyway.
[apparently the plumbing will be done tomorrow.  we hope.]
every seems to take 2x as longer than it seems like it would and cost 3x as much.
josh went to pick up annabel at her new day care and they — the toddlers — were watching a movie.  i don’t know how common an occurrence this is, but i am somewhat freaking out about it, as we’ve been pretty strictly trying to stick to the ‘no-TV-before-age-2’ AAP guideline*.  [does this happen at other day cares??  would this horrify you, too!?]
and i’m still nauseated and freaking TIRED.  not trying to sound so negative – i think everything will be all right in the end, and hopefully much better than just all right – but looking forward to feeling more under control.
you all said 6 months, so i’m holding you to that.  right at my due date . . .
in other news, 
montreal was wonderful.  josh and i had a great time together, and annabel’s wonderful grandparents — bebe and poppy — were our heroes.  i think we slept 10+ hours every single night.

a few randomly selected pix:

amazing dinner at osteria vent
highlight: squid ink pasta

our hotel room
we stayed at the hotel st. paul, and it was perfect.
great service, fun location, and modern clean design.  

mumford & sons on the last night of osheaga — amazing
i don’t even love the band that much but live they were fantastic.
other festival highlights included vampire weekend, lumineers, the head and the heart, beach house, wild nothings, and kendrick lamar [surprise hit!].

best brunch at cafe vallier
‘summit’ of mont royal
running near habitat 67

first taste of poutine
[not going to lie: i prefer belgian style frites with mayo.  but still good.]
meanwhile, back in miami beach:

you can tell annabel missed us terribly
i also had my NT ultrasound today.  i was impressed, once again, at just how baby-like a 12-weeker appears.  will find out the sex at the end of september!  i have absolutely no preference but can’t waaaaaaait to find out.  i have no idea how people manage to wait the whole 9 months.
* PS: i know this is going to be a million times harder to enforce for #2.  but still.

15 Comments

  • Reply Amy March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I wouldn’t worry too much about the movie … but I have been super lax about the TV thing so I’m probably not the person to ask. 🙂 I would say as long as she isn’t sitting slack-jawed in front of the TV on a regular basis at home, you’re probably fine.

    I hope the house is done soon!

  • Reply Marie March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    We recently started letting our 19 month old watch a little TV. We DVR Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street so we always have something "wholesome" to put on in a crisis. But honestly, I feel like it’s only okay for ME to let her watch TV. If anyone else does it, I get all protective and bitchy. Not fair, but I birthed her so screw everyone else. 🙂
    If it horrifies you, you should talk to the day care about it! If anything, it will let you know how receptive/sympathetic/responsive they are to individual families’ wishes. (edited to correct the plural possessive, MY personal demon!)

  • Reply Lee Becknell March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Yay, a golden retriever made an appearance on your blog! Kendrick Lamar is performing at a festival that we’re going to in Sept. I’ve never heard of him, but good to know that he’s good.

  • Reply Abby March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    re TV…. i feel like it’s something I employ either as a family activity (more now that they’re 3 & 5) or when I need a break… but for people I’m paying to watch my kids? I’m not really ok with them turning on the TV without extenuating circumstances

  • Reply Hotpotatokate March 10, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    We stick to the rule at home, but my in laws ALWAYS have the TV on, and I haven’t made an issue of it (I hate it, but picking my battles). I would be pretty pissed off about it from professional carers, but if they had a good explanation (like you said above- 15-20 minutes at the end of the day) it wouldn’t be a deal breaker or anything.

  • Reply Lindsey March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I agree you should raise your concern with the day care, or at least ask about what the TV policy is. I would also not be happy with a toddler watching tv when you are paying for her care. As my daughter got older, they had PJ/movie day once a month at day care/PK, which I was OK with because she was older, and it was a fun activity that was limited.

  • Reply Marci March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I think the TV thing is weird, although Logan can’t sit still to watch it even when we try! Would be helpful sometimes! Trip looks awesome! What a beautiful city. Waiting 9 months is exciting!

  • Reply claire March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I don’t think it should be so shocking that they are showing movies at daycare IN GENERAL. However, for Annabelle’s age it does seem a bit young for that. I agree that you should ask about it. Most daycares follow some sort of curriculum or recommendation from an authoritative group (e.g. AAP!) for their policies.

    Our daycare has TV on when I go pick up our 4yo (and when she was three). Seems they start the TV at 430 and are open until six. DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!! That’s an hour and a half and I know they put it on in the mornings for breakfast snack. Who knows when else. I can understand once parents start coming but an hour and a half. GGRRRRR…given, most of the time my girl is playing or really TALKING! And we don’t really watch tv at home.

  • Reply Cecily March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    We allow our 21 month old to watch PBS – usually Sesame Street or Cat in the Hat – for around 15-30 minutes/day. We find it’s a good wind-down activity in the evening before her bath. Our daycare provider has the TV while kids arrive in the mornings to ease the transition. I certainly don’t support having the TV on much at daycare, but if it’s just a short period of time, I think it’s okay. I agree with others who have suggested you ask about it and see if they have a policy.

    So many transitions for you right now – you’ll get through it! Glad you had a great time in Montreal. I love Mumford and Sons so am quite jealous!

  • Reply Carolyn March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I would definitely ask them flat out how often the TV is on. If it’s about 30 min. a day or if it’s a movie once/week I wouldn’t worry too much. If it’s more then I would start looking for new care.

  • Reply Tricia March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I am shocked about the tv at daycare. I do let my little girl watch it at home but she isn’t really interested. I feel like at home it’s ok but at daycare she should be playing and learning. That’s why I do daycare and not a nanny bc I would be nervous about her watching tv all day. They don’t even have TVs at our daycare.

  • Reply Chelsea March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I’m surprised about the TV in daycare. I’m not sure about the oldest kids, but there aren’t any screens in the baby/toddler room at ours. That said, because we all go to bed at the same time, we do watch TV at home with Scott in the room. However, unless I’m nursing, we’re usually directing about 30% of our focus at the TV and 70% at playing with him, and he doesn’t seem to care about it (the TV) that much. He does love Iphones and the Ipad, though. I’ve been trying to keep him away from those, but (opposite of everyone else on the planet) my MIL thinks it’s totally adorable to watch a toddler swipe an Ipad, so I know she’ll be teaching him how to play with it the next time she visits…

  • Reply Hilary March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I would be annoyed if E’s daycare just plopped them on front of the tv. She has seen some tv (like when she woke up at 5am on vacation and we let her watch some while we tried to wake up), but is very little at a time and not regular. I agree with above that I’d check and see if its once in a while, a short amount of time, etc. if its whenever and a lot, I’d find a new one.

  • Reply Halsy March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    If it is such an important issue you should ask about it when interviewing/selecting a daycare. I would ask and if they think nothing of showing toddlers tv and you are not ok with that switch. Personally I let my daughter (same age) watch 1-2 episodes of curious George etc. each day while I am frantically trying to do housework, eat etc. because she’s a light sleeper so cannot do housework on naps or after she’s down(my husband is often gone from before she wakes until her bedtime and sometimes
    Later so occasionally her watching an episode is for my sanity I won’t lie. If someone thinks that makes me a bad parent im ok with that because I know I read at least 20 books everyday, take her to the park or library, the zoo every week and often the children’s museum and when she is with me she has my undivided attention. I really don’t think 30-45 minutes a few days a week is going to hurt of
    Anything I really think it has improved her vocabulary. All this being said I would think that child care professionals could find enough activities in their center to keep a toddler from watching tv. I would be ok with 30 minutes or less of tv shown. I know my daughter really doesn’t even watch half the tv I allow her because she often just plays but it keeps her in the room. So I would wonder how they would think a movie is a good idea for toddlers?

  • Reply anon March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    The trip looks great and little A. looks so precious. Regarding the TV reaction, I agree with others that you should discuss with the daycare. My thought is more on the intensity of reaction than the reaction itself. I find that how much I respond to things often is more of a reflection of my overall stress level than the issue itself. Not meaning to minimize but just a thought.

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