did I do that? (learning cause-and-effect)

My new favorite learning activity that is cheap and easy: teaching Ruby cause-and-effect by (loosely) tying a helium balloon to her ankle and letting her figure out what makes it move. I picked one up in the gift shop of the hospital after a pediatrician appointment and it cost me $2.80 for the balloon and the helium fill. We just tied a loop into the tail so that we can slip in on and off whenever we want to play. Ruby loves it. The first time we did this, she was about 10 weeks old. After the first few times, you could tell that she was “getting” it and knew which limb to move to move the balloon. So fun to watch the wheels turning in her little brain!

* Safety notes: never leave the baby unattended with the balloon tied to them (the string could be a hazard). Also, never leave the balloon floating on the ceiling above where baby is left unattended (ie. crib, play gym, swing, etc.) because if the helium dies and the balloon sinks down, it could land on baby and be a suffocation hazard. Best to tie it to something when not in use.

milk dreams

Ruby falls asleep on the boob with a giant smirk on her face all the time. She has been smiling and giggling in her sleep since day one. She wakes up each morning with a big toothless grin, as if she spent the whole night dreaming of something wonderful. I can only imagine she is dreaming of milk. My milk. That makes me smile. What a gift to produce something that makes my child so happy.

the three Ls

Urban parenting may have its own unique challenges and opportunities, but children are children. Their basic needs are the same in the city, the suburbs, or the country. My philosophy on parenting is simple: laughter, love, and logic.

Laughter because you cannot take yourself too seriously in life, but especially in parenting. You’re going to make mistakes, so just laugh about them, learn from them, and move on. Laughter is good for the heart and soul. It’s quite brilliant really.

Love because that’s what babies need. When Ruby was two days old and I asked the pediatrician what she needed, he said:

“Listen to The Beatles. ‘All You Need is Love.’ Seriously, all she needs right now is lots of kisses, cuddling, and for you to tell her how much you love her. And, of course, for me to check her out.”

Logic because we need to trust our instincts. We were made to make babies and we (most of us, anyway) know more than we give ourselves credit for. Do what feels right.

urban milk

My mother is from a dairy farm in Minnesota. I went to high school in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I have family and close friends who are mothers and fathers across the rural and suburban Midwest. I have seen enough to know that urban parenting is different…not necessarily easier or harder, but different.

Urban parenting is more public. It is oftentimes faster-paced. Space–indoors and out–comes at a premium. It can be a logistical nightmare, but it can also be filled with excitement and a wealth of opportunities. It can open up new doors, but it can also close them and be the direct cause that sends new parents packing for the 'burbs.

I believe that urban parenting is exciting and a great way to raise little citizens of the world. There is so much for our babies to see, learn, and do. They will meet new people each day. They will experience different cultures, hear different languages, and be exposed to so much color, life, and vibrancy in the world.

I challenge you to find me a Big Apple kid who throws a public tamtrum in New York City…I have lived here over three years in a neighborhood teeming with new families, but I have yet to see one! These urban munchkins know that–although their parents’ worlds may revolve around them–there is so much more out there than their own happy little lives and that the rest of the world does not revolve around them.

So don’t flee the city with your wee little loves! Stay and play! I can’t promise it’ll be easy, but let’s figure it out together.