Okay, so I totally missed Mindful Monday this week. I guess that’s because I spent half of Monday (the Fourth of July) lounging in my PJ’s in bed reading, and the other half lounging in my day clothes outside reading. What can I say…it was a busy weekend, and I needed some downtime! (I admit it: the kids had an almost-all-day TV and video-game extravaganza.) We’re back on track now, and I’ll be back next week with more Mindful Monday goodness.
In the meanwhile I wanted to point out my Babble posts for the week. Traffic, comments, and sharing really help me out there, so I’d be very grateful if you felt moved to check these out and/or pass them on!
- Speaking of the beach? I’m trying to figure out when I’ll be comfortable letting my big boys head to the waterfront alone. (Never?)
- And another thing that comes up when you’re out and about with older kids…what do you do when your boy has to use the bathroom in public…and he’s too big to go in the ladies’ room?
- Here’s a fun one – apparently in the U.K. they’ve determined that teen girls have a strong influence on the family budget. This has me a little worried for when Clara’s old enough to ask for electronics…
Thanks for the support!
In other news, I’m working on a fun lineup for the rest of “Family Fun” month here at The Happiest Mom. Coming up over the next week or two: tips on having a happier road trip, one-suitcase travel (yes, even with five kids), and facing the “work” part of having fun, with good humor and cheer…plus some of my family’s favorite day-trip destinations. Can’t wait to talk about enjoying family time with you all!
My son is four and one time there was an extreemly long line for the woman’s restroom so I allowed him to go in the men’s restroom with the door open (I stuck my head in & talked to him the whole time). They had a shorter line and allowed him to go ahead of them. Normally I’m very wary of him using the men’s restroom by himself but each situation is different.
I have 3 sons, ages 8, 6, 4, and live in Chicago. We go out downtown and to the parks all the time. We use family bathrooms when possible, but they are not always available, so I take them with me into the women’s. And when women have complained I brought up the door point, there are doors on the stalls, they can’t see anything. Then if they are persistent I ask them would they send their child alone into a men’s restroom (and in my head am thinking-would you like to volunteer to help somehow?!). If we are in public in a park we have taught our boys that if there is no other option, they can pee on a tree and we will stand guard so no one sees anything. People are way too sensitive sometimes about things. There are bigger things to balk at than making a scene because a boy is peeing on a tree, or in a women’s restroom!