Blog Stalking

Hi, my name is Tristan, and I'm a blog stalker. I admit it. I love clicking all the links on everyone else's blogs and reading random strangers' experiences. Especially if these random strangers are pregnant or recently had a baby. (Even if this isn't the case, some people are really good writers, and some are just exceptionally entertaining.)

I like to see how people have dealt with the crazy hormones, round ligament pains, and how they've prevented stretch marks. It's especially fun if they are due about the same time, or are a little further along than me. I love reading about the things I have to look forward to. Also, how people deal with having a brand new baby, the lack of sleep, nursing, etc. It gives me tons of great ideas!

I also like reading about how people discipline their toddlers. A friend of mine started giving her son time outs at about 7 months, and it works! He's a smart little boy, and caught on really fast. Growing up, we were always spanked or even hit in the head for misbehaving. I do NOT want my kids to grow up afraid of me. It took me SO long to not be afraid to make my own decisions without fear of repercussion from my dad. Even as an adult, he was able to control me for a long time. So learning ways to discipline and teach my kids to behave without hitting them is wonderful for me.

I recently read a blog of a woman whose son was no longer responding to time outs and whatnot. Her and her husband decided to try a "positive reinforcement" approach. She went to the store and bought a basket and filled it with toys and books and treats appropriate for her son's age. She then made a chart out of a regular poster board, and called it the "good choice" board. Her son gets to put a sticker on the board every time he makes a good choice. When he fills up a whole row, he gets to choose a treat from the basket! I thought it was a wonderful idea, and I don't think I would have come up with this on my own. I would have felt helpless But now, when he does something wrong and gets a time out, he has to think that if he had made a good choice, he could have put a sticker on the board. I think this is an even better way for kids to learn choices and consequences - they know what they are missing out on, and what they have to do to earn what they want.

Blog stalking also gives me ideas for crafts, or home decorating, etc. There are tons of projects that I have seen that I would LOVE to do! Most of them are cheap, and semi easy, and I can't wait to try them. My current project is learning how to use a sewing machine, and getting good at it. I would LIKE to be able to make the baby's crib set, but I don't know if I will be good enough to have it done before he gets here. I'd also like to make curtains for our house. Blinds look so cheap to me, and I would like to have real curtains. Also, our entire house is painted WHITE. Since we rent, we can't really change that. I like neutral colors in a house, but with colorful accents. So I'd like to add a little color.

I've learned so much just from reading other people's blogs! I plan on making my blog public again when I feel it's safe. It's not particularly interesting, but maybe my experiences - successes and failures - could be helping someone else. And not to mention...how fair is it to anonymously read all these other blogs, and keep mine private?

My name is Tristan, and I am a blog stalker.


P.S. I'll post a pregnancy update/belly pictures tomorrow. I just feel like that's all I ever post about anymore, so I wanted a little variety.