If they haven't seen it, they should

A couple of weeks ago we checked out "The Safe Side- Stranger Safety" from the library. Let me interrupt myself and say that David is scared of movies. Any eerie music frightens him and he just chooses not to watch innocent DVDs like "Toy Story." That's fine. So, I was worried that he would even get through the first five minutes of this video.
My kids loved it! It's put out by Julie Clark and John Walsh. I had seen the previews before, but I was afraid it would scare the kids. Both boys really enjoyed it and practiced some of the tips that they give. (If you pick Drew up, he may say, "Help, this is not my dad!") The producers of the DVD really worked to establish the difference between "don't knows" and "kinda knows" and give appropriate ways to handle situations that may arise.
I had to give up watching "Law and Order: SVU" when I became a parent. It was too disturbing since half of the episodes were "ripped from the headlines." But the sad truth is, there are more sickos out there than not. When we went to the petting zoo at the State Fair, I was much more concerned about the people (possible perverts) there without kids than I was the boys getting bitten by a billy goat.
I still won't send either of my kids to a public restroom by themselves until they are much, much older. I don't care how nice the restaurant is, that is just foolishness to me. However, I will end up purchasing this DVD and make the kids watch it periodically. We teach our children to be friendly and I make my kids say "hi" to every Tom, Sue, and Harry at church, but there has to be some boundaries in place. The boys are just too precious to us to risk them getting hurt.
I thought I'd share- most people that read this blog have kids that are pretty precious to me too. :)
Keith just informed me that it sounded like I called most of the population pervs. I didn't mean it like that...I guess I shouldn't go on sites like familywatchdog.us and freak myself out.

they are amusing...

Drew has been David's shadow the past few days. They are always together, but Drew has had to be within mere inches of David lately. So, the other day, David announces that he has to do a #2, and Drew follows him in and is right there with him the whole time. I hear David giving a play by play of everything he is doing. Once his hands were washed, he yells proudly, "HEY MOM! I just taught Drew how to poop!"
Actually David, I am certain he has known how to do that since day one.
Today David told us that Jesus took six bottles of water and made them into a line!!! That wouldn't be very miraculous would it? We tried to explain that it was wine, which is a bit like grape juice, but David has had neither (can't imagine the stains either of them would leave on my carpet) and he quickly lost interest.
Drew continues to delight us with funny one liners that are only funny when he actually says them.
Mmm, oatmeal, MY favorite!
I wuv cheetah hugs.
Hey, that's my kiss, give it back!
Also, his eyes-closed Stevie Wonder meets Snoopy dances are priceless.

Solutions that start with the letter "P"

Guess what? I solved Drew's poopy talk problem. I dug out our copy of Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi. It completely fulfills Drew's need to talk about excrement while also putting a very scientific spin on doo doo. Example: "Different animals make different kinds of poop/Different shapes/Different colors/Even different smells." And yes, it is a little bit weird to snuggle up to my little cherub with his blond curls and choo choo flannel pajamas and discuss whale poop. But he loves it.
While I am dishing out solutions, I'll let you in on a little trick that I have been doing for the past few months. About once a week I take a can of peaches in juice, and dump it in my blender. I then put it in my popsicle molds. The result? A pretty good serving of fruit that my kids think is dessert. This won't work if they have been eating the delicious Edy's all fruit bars, they will always be way better.
I usually let them have a peach pop in the bathtub or if it is a rushed morning, I use these to entice the boys to the breakfast table. Popsicles and eggs? The novelty is not lost on them.
Lastly, all the sneaky chefs/Seinfields are right. You really can put a big scoop of pumpkin in lots of things. My boys are really into making sugar free pudding. About 1/4-1/3 of a cup can be added to butterscotch, chocolate or french vanilla without really changing the taste or texture. I am nuts over pistachio, but I haven't messed with that flavor- the color would just be too funky.
And there you have it- poop books, peach pops, and pumpkin pudding!