Coming back from summer its time to fall back into better habits, and child safety is always one that we can use a little help remember and brushing up. I’ve wanted to give both moms and dads some great safety tips but who am I? I’m certainly no safety expert – there are people who are just that safety experts so let me introduce you to Kimberlee Mitchell with Safety 1st Pros [Link].
Our first stop is the washing room why because its a room I long to have since I dont in my apartment but really its one of the easiest rooms to overlook in the house, its not as simple as stairs and certainly its one of the quickest room you forget about closing the door if you’re in a rush with your hands full of clothing.
After that I got some questions and answers with Kimberlee that I’ll share with the other videos as well…
Q: What myth about childproofing would you like to prove incorrect?
A: Childproofing is not as simple as some might think. Perhaps parents set out to childproof and then get stuck when they encounter a safety conundrum – aka a safety hazard that is not easily eliminated with a store bought child safety device due to device not fitting and working the way it should. The DIY boom has welcomed many new brands, products, designs, etc. into the marketplace making it fun to remodel but impossible for any one child safety device to meet a common household danger like a knob cover, drawer latch, toilet lock, safety gate, etc.
Then they get stuck and postpone “fixing” the hazard until they can come up with a better solution. Times flies, busy parents forget and injury occurs.
Safety 1st Pros are a team of mobile child injury prevention professionals who conduct house calls to help parents who need a helping hand to childproof the home. We have a unique talent for solving in-home child safety conundrums due to our specialized hands-on and in-class training plus more than 5,000 childproofed homes under our belt. This combined with the in-depth child safety education that we offer our customers undoubtedly sets us apart from regular handymen or layman do-it-yourselfer. We are far more than handymen and women!. We are the Safety 1st Pros
Last week was Marc’s 2nd birthday. What an amazing feeling to watch my son blow out his own candles, to now hear him babble out words that sometimes I understand… weird but I’ve developed an hear for toddler-ese.
I know he’s understand about 70-80% of what I’m saying these days, which is great but also is troubling when you’re saying no dont touch that and as he’s staring me in the eyes goes and touches it. Hello my friend we’ve entered the terrible twos – something that will push my mental toughness to new limits because really why do our outlets look like little smiling faces? why is no equal to a yes to a toddler? why is it always yes, yes, yes until the one thing you really want them to do is now a no? why do people give you the stink eye when you’re kid is screaming like you kidnapped them in the elevator… lol its going to be a long but very interesting year.
I’m told the highlights will include potty training – yah right?! I’m going to stock up on the huggies diapers now cause I dont think there is enough vodka and wine in the state to keep my sane for that… I do ok with poop in a diaper on the floor? or in a plastic bowl that I need to scrape out isnt in the cards for this urban dad.
I love the fact that Marc can speak a good bit and can try to explain to me what he wants and now he knows to pull me and point to things if I dont understand his toddler-ese… I just wish there was an off button for jumping off the couch with no one there to catch him, and looking at the hot water tube like it was the golden ticket or something.
I can only imagine in his head – dada said no that must mean its really good and for him – I want to try this out myself.
A few weeks ago New York Magazine published this article “I love my Children. I Hate My life.” [http://nymag.com/news/features/67024/] I was sitting at my desk watching headlines flow by when I just stopped and was like wow – only sometimes… After watching the tweets and blog posts about this article I was surprised to see how many denied ever having a single moment of saying I miss those good old days.
Dont get me wrong – the best thing in my life is my son, with a quick second being my wife. She’ll get mad as she would most likely would have wanted to be number one and having the kiddo being number two. oh well. I do wish for alterations in my life – mainly in the life style department. I really dont know many people at this point in life who dont wish for different things in the lifestyle aspect. Perhaps a larger apartment, maybe some money in the bank, more support to help with the kids, money for private school… ect…ect the lists could go on and on.
One amazing thing when you think about having children is that we used to have child in order to create clans, or in some aspects of the world it was to help with the farm. Now we have children out of the desire to have legacy.
I dont know if I hate my life right now, I enjoy having many different things on my plate and things are starting to take shape… I do know I’m not in love with my life in many of the aspects that I listed above… I would love to have money in the bank, money to put 20% down on a house, money for the best education my child could have… but there are aspects of my life I wouldnt trade for the world – the giggling-laugh of my child, the kisses my wife gives me when she’s happy (I’m sure there could be a joke in this one someplace), the moments I look out my windows on to the sea of people visiting the farmers market in Union Square.
I clearly thing there is a difference between life and lifestyle – I love my life – love the family and friends – love the times I share with my family. Its my lifestyle that I wished was something different and maybe thats my fault, maybe it is a combination of looking at what others have and having a jealous of why not me? (which I really try not to do) but I do know there is things I want and I’m trying to work hard to earn them.
Which goes back to the greatest issue of the modern times of work life balance, unless you have family money (and sometimes even then) you’re still working to make a living. That could be an American concept this live to work not work to live mentally like other nations have….
I’m totally a team player and when I heard what an amazing group of bloggers were doing – I said I had to be part of this… and so it is that this lazy good for nothing dad is posting a crafting post (and be that a holiday crafting post in JULY!).
Without any further interruption I bring you my Holiday Craft in July how to create your own snow globe!
What you’ll need…
Empty Jar with Tight Lid (Baby food, apple sauce, and olive jars are good choices.)
Distilled Water (bottle is better, just not greener)
Super Glue or hot glue (with hot glue gun)
Kid’s Toy/keepsake (Look for plastic or ceramic figurines – metal ones are prone to rust)
White and/or silver glitter or fake snow or you could use Sequins, Beads, Glitter, Metallic Confetti, etc.
dish soap (clear) or glycerin (available at drugstores)
How to put it all together now…
Step One:
Thoroughly was the empty jar and remove any labeling.
Step Two: Choose which toy/keepsake to put into the snow globe. Remember that it is plastic and has no metal parts, they may rust. Parent should use the Super Glue to stick the toy to the inside of the lid of the jar.
Step Three:
Fill the jar with distilled water and a little squirt of the dish soap or a dash of glycerin (available at drugstores) to keep the glitter from falling too quickly, also helps the items float and swirl. Sprinkle in glitter, sequins, confetti, beads, etc. for decoration Step Four:
Make sure the jar is filled all the way to the top with the distilled water then carefully put the lid with the toy on the jar. It will overflow slightly so do it in the sink or outside. Make sure you don’t get any air bubbles. Seal the lid with the superglue/glue gun (wait for it to dry/cool) Now, give it a shake and watch it “snow”!
Maybe its July, so maybe we’ll make a beach version!
You could also make a beach collection jar by using sand, shells, and rocks instead of toys/keepsakes.
Meet the live baby Tyrannosaurs Rex from ‘Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular’ on Wednesday, July 14 from 11am-11:30am and participate in breaking a Guinness World Record for ‘Loudest Dinosaur Roar’ by an outdoor crowd
What: NYC ‘DINO’ FANS ATTEMPT WORLD RECORD FOR ‘LOUDEST DINOSAUR ROAR’
Calling all NYC dinosaur fans to join the baby Tyrannosaurus Rex from ‘WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular to attempt to break a world record for ‘loudest dinosaur roar’ by an outdoor crowd. As a special incentive, the first 50 people who arrive to participate will receive a free ticket to an upcoming WWD show!
WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular is a theatrical production, based on the award-winning BBC Television series, that follows the journey of 17 roaring, snarling “live” awe-inspiring dinosaurs when they first walked on earth 200 million years ago.
The show returns to Madison Square Garden arena, July 21-25 with 12 performances only! Tickets are on sale now by calling 866.858.0008, online at www.thegarden.com/dinos or in-person at the Madison Square Garden Box Office. For groups, please call 212.465.6080
Who: 7-FT ‘LIVE’ BABY TYRANNOSAURS REX from WALKING WITH DINOSAURS
GREG-T from Elvis Duran and The Morning Show, Z100
Mathew Rimmer, spokesperson from WALKING WITH DINOSAURS
An official ADJUDICATOR from the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD to ‘judge’ the roar
ALL NYC DINOSAUR FANS to ‘ROAR’ and break record
Over 500 Kids from the GARDEN OF DREAMS FOUNDATION, a non-profitcharity that works with all areas of Madison Square Garden to ‘make dreams come true for kids in crisis’
When:Wednesday, JULY 14, 2010
PARTICIPANT CHECK-IN: 10:50AM
Event BEGINS: 11am
Where: OUTSIDE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ON THE PLAZA (7th Ave b/w 33RD &31ST)
