Sean and I flew to Philadelphia last week to see Haley, Tom, Merritt, and Alex (and Sarah flew up from Florida to meet us too!). We joked that this trip was sort of like "parenting bootcamp" for us because it gave us a really good glimpse of what life may be like someday with 2 little ones. We had a great trip, got to do some sight-seeing (Philadelphia Zoo, Independence Hall, the "Rocky" stairs, and more), and were able to take Merritt to her first-ever swim lesson at the local Middle School. The kids are growing up SO fast, and we are so happy we had the chance to spend time with them this Summer before their first cousin arrives (in just 10 weeks or so).
Here's a recap of some of the lessons we learned at the "Philadelphia Parenting Bootcamp":
1. Schedules are important: When we kept to them, the kids did well and slept well. The day we screwed up the schedule led to the toughest night for Haley and Tom (with 2 fussy kids).
2. Talk to your kids like you talk to each other: Haley and Tom are great parents, who communicate with their children using real adult words and full sentences. Merritt's vocabulary is out of this world, and I think it is because of the consistent example Haley & Tom have displayed.
3. Be consistent, always: Haley runs a tight ship. If Merritt misbehaves, or does something she knows she's not allowed to do, Haley always follows-through. She uses "time-outs" when needed, and watches the clock to make sure she stays their her requisite 3 minutes (because she is 3 years old). The end of every timeout was met with an eye-to-eye chat about why she was put in time out. Haley always asks Merritt, "Do you understand?", to which Merr replies, "Yes, Mommy" -- then they hug it out, and go back to their day. It works.
4. Always pack snacks: this is good advice for life, not just for parenting.
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