How cute is this?

Our cousin, Kendra, came over with a special treat for Owen..."Corn On the Cob!" Now Owen normally LOVES corn anyways, but was totally THRILLED by this cupcake version! The kernels are made from jellybeans, the "salt and pepper" are colored sanding sugar, and the "melting butter" is a lemon Starburst! So creative!

Ohio trip

This past weekend, we went to my aunt and uncle's farm for a fun Fall weekend in Wooster, Ohio (and also for one of my dear friend's wedding). Ramseyer Farms is a great place for families: corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hay wagon rides, petting zoo, feeding animals, good food, etc...I highly recommend it for a great outing if you are ever in the area! Needless to say, Owen had a blast! He loved all the tractors, and animals, but what was especially special was finding his "own" pumpkin! My family was sweet enough to carve Owen's name in a pumpkin when it was still green, and therefore, as the pumpkin grows, the name is permanently engraved (they knew we were coming out). Anyhow, Owen LOVED it! He wanted to hold it the whole ride home. He kept feeling it, saying, "O-W-E-N...Owen Gerber!" I love fall! The cooling of the weather, the fun festivities, and fun memory-making times like this!

The parenthood journey...

Today was a hard day. Owen was so sweet, so good all day until...he hauls off and pushes another little boy at the playground, for no reason. Just walked up and shoved him. Then refused to apologize for it. I was furious. I have never been so angry, so embarrassed. I promptly called an end to our playground escapade and went straight home to sit him on a chair. However...he refused to stay on it. So, I hauled him off to his room...which he refused to stay in, and laughed every time I proceeded to put him back. What is a parent to do? I have always been fuzzy about corporal discipline (ie. spanking, etc...). I mean, I was spanked, on rare occasion, as a child. I understand the reasoning behind it. However, I could never before see myself as actually hitting my child (esp. as we teach him not to hit). But when you exhaust every other means, what is there to do? I finally went in to his room and said,

"Owen, I need to hit your hand because you keep getting out of your room when I told you to stay there."

And then flicked his fingers once.

The look on his face killed me. His big eyes were filled with confusion and hurt. But he sat there...for 30 seconds...but then popped out again with a smile. So, I calmly took him back and sat him down again and said it again, and flicked his fingers twice. This time he cried. After I left, so did I. I hated it. I absolutely hated every second of it. I hated that I was forced to this option. But it worked. After about 3 1/2 minutes, I went in and we talked about why he was sent to his room (pushing the boy) and why I had to hit his hand (not listening). I hope to not have to do it...or threaten to do it again.

It would be so much easier to have just come home and thrown up my hands at my discipline attempts and ignore his obvious lack of listening/obeying, due to my own tiredness and fear of discipline/being a bad parent. However, I guess I have to continually remind myself that it is good and necessary for me to keep clear, consistent boundaries with my child. That discipline might feel difficult, but it is helping them know the difference between right and wrong. But, why does it still hurt so much?