The Holwerda Family Blog

   Being a mom is the most fulfilling career a woman like me could have.  I'm not great or perfect at it, but my kids know that through all the yelling, screaming, time out putting and hair pulling... that it is all done with love. (we hope)
    Recently, I've noticed a huge change in Kyndra's attitude.  Of course I realize she is growing up and with that, she will become many different things along the way, but this change seemed a little odd.  It was as if some teenager had come and taken over her body or something.  Some of the topics she would try to discuss with us and the way she worded things were very strange not to mention, way beyond her years.  It took me a while to figure out where this new 6 year old teenager was coming from, but I *think* I have pin pointed the problem. 
   These last couple of months, starting in October have been horrible on the whole family.  I've been in and out of the hospital, continuously being seen and treated by a plethora of doctors and trying to maintain my body weight while living on a very limited diet has really put a strain on my sanity.  I've lost touch with my mommy ways, in dealing with all that I have had to deal with.  I've stopped teaching them or guiding them, instead I've been coasting through the days on auto pilot and in doing so, I've allowed their television watching to seriously go down the toilet.  From iCarly to Hanna Montana, the television was teaching and guiding FOR me.  Not good. 
   We've removed those shows from the line up and am only allowing them to watch PBS shows, the occasional Disney channel shows, such as Handy Manny, Chuggington or Mickey Mouse Club and even some of the Nick Jr programs, like Dora the Explorer or Diego.  The brain healthy, kind of programs like it was before.  In 5 days time, we've both noticed a dramatic difference in both Kyndra and Mason's attitude.  I was thoroughly shocked by this and I don't even know why.  Of course snotty little preteen shows are going to influence my 6 and 3 year old!  They're impressionable little monsters right now.  I can't believe I was impervious to this OBVIOUS fact. Anyway, I'm thankful I'm starting to come out of the fog and finally getting back into the swing of things with my little family. 
   So in short,  we're back on the right track and we're even tossing around the idea of setting up a family game night with the kids and their or our friends every Saturday night. We'll see how that goes, but I'm kind of getting excited about it.  Stay tuned!