I wrote the last post when I was (crazily) trying to wake up before my family and make up for it with a nap in the afternoon. Silly Emily, you're not a napping person! Despite being exhausted, I was unable to fall asleep and would only get a few minutes of terrible rest, even when forcing myself to try to sleep for 40 minutes. Once I scrapped that AWFUL plan, I felt much better.

I also made a few other changes.

1) I put the computer in the very back of my walk-in closet. (I'm on Dan's right now - and it goes to work with him.)
2) I started doing my devotions at the beginning of the kids mutual nap time.
3) I began doing chores ONLY when John is awake. (OK - I still clean the bathroom when John is asleep, but nothing else.)

The third was Kendra of Preschoolers and Peace's suggestion (but I can't find it). Additionally, when my parents visited, my dad let John help him build a table. My father is so patient! Later, when my dad saw John spill crackers, he told me, "Em, John can clean that up." It took some patience on my part, but sure enough, he could and he did. Since the three above have been implemented, the house has become very clean and I have become a lot more relaxed!

I've also let John help me make dinner - he can spoon liquids, stir mixtures, and watch me cut. That has (generally) helped dinner prep be a lot less stressful. When he gets tired of that, I have some special table toys for him. For us, table toys are toys with lots of little pieces that I don't want him to cart around the house, like a pegboard or magnet puzzles.

One last thing. I've been reading Montessori's books and have realized that these describe how John learns. I'm prepping right now to do some organized Practical Life work with John during Anna's morning naps. In Montessori classrooms, the children learn to treat the materials respectfully and to put them away so I've been requiring John to put things away which he takes out. "Please put away the 'Christmas Story' before getting out 'Ten Minutes to Bedtime'," I tell John IF he forgets. My living room is so pleasant now!