Titi Lissa's Corner

Titi Lissa has a blog too, you can find her at FUN.FIT.CHIC. She discusses various topics related to fitness and overall health. She’s also a personal trainer and a certified Zumbatomic instructor (Zumbatomic is Zumba for children). 

I asked her to write about fitness for children. Check out what she had to say:

·      For starters, you need to set a good example. Ask yourself, am I a good role model for health? Children mimic the behavior of those around them. Avoid “talking” and start doing.

·      Go for a walk or bike ride and invite your children to come along. Step outside and play a game of catch on the weekends or even for 30 minutes after work.

·      Ask your child to join you when you take the dog for a walk.

·      Avoid saying things like, “I’m fat,” “I need to diet.” That’s self-defeating and you are projecting that hopelessness to your children.

·      Talk about exercise and physical activity in a positive light. Find something you enjoy and they will follow suit.

·      If your child likes to play video games, encourage playing games that require movement. The Wii and Xbox both have dance games and sport games that encourage them to jump around. Make it a family activity and everyone will reap the benefits.

·      Try to limit EVERYONE’s TV time. Television encourages nothing but inactivity. It may be difficult for working parents to turn it off because it does help release work stress when you gather around the television, but turning it off during dinner, and before bed will help your child get to bed earlier and in turn, have more energy for the good stuff.

·      As your child starts getting older, let them set the pace but continue encouraging. Some children love sports and dance classes but others rather stay home and read or write. A little creativity will get both you and your child on a bike ride to the library or maybe a stroll to Central Park to get some new inspiration.

Titi Lissa dates a 3-year old.

On the Saturday while my sister was on vacation, my mother asked me to watch the girls so she and my dad could visit family in Connecticut. I agreed and made it over to my mother’s house ready for my babysitting duties.

When I arrived, Ava was sleeping and my parents were awaiting their ride. I was told Ava would be sleeping awhile since she woke up super early and that my brother – her godfather - could handle her. I checked out the movie listings and saw that a movie I had wanted to see was playing at the movie theater near my parents.

I asked Layla if she was interested. For those who don’t know Layla, she is pretty fascinated over movies. Her eyes opened up really wide as she said, “M-O-O-O-V-I-E.” She didn’t even care what it was. When I told her it was a movie about birds and it was in 3d, she was sold.

How could you NOT want to see this movie?

I got her ready and we walked over to the movie theaters. Umm, I didn’t realize how LONG A WALK IS WHEN YOU ARE WALKING WITH A THREE YEAR OLD. I gave myself enough time to get there because I had a feeling it would take a long time but what typically takes me 15 minutes or so, took like a half hour. At one point, I realized we would be missing the start of the movie if we kept walking at her pace, and I picked her up and jogged the rest of the way.  She enjoyed that for sure.

Regardless of the length of time it took to get to the movie theater – the walk was a lot of fun. We saw flowers and I told her what they were. We saw a mechanic shop and I explained what they were doing and we saw train tracks and STOPPED. She asked me about them and I tried my best to explain.

Her primary questions was, “why can’t you walk on them?” and I explained it the best way I could. I told her electricity powers everything around us but its too dangerous for us to touch on our own. She made a song about it, want to hear it? Here it goes.

I love Electricity Yea Yea Yea

“I Love Electricity.  Yea Yea Yea. Electricity makes things move. Yea Yea Yea. E-L-E-C-T-R-I-C-I-T-Y!”

Once we arrived at the movie theater, I learned my first lesson.

-       Taking kids to the movie theater early is THE WAY TO GO!

It was just me and like three other sets of parents (or aunts/uncles) and children. LOVED IT. One point for Titi Lissa - Zero for everyone else! 

It was great because she was able to take in the entire movie experience with no rush. Her little feet walked at whatever pace they wanted to and I let her.

Isn't pink THAT much better?

We bought our tickets and I asked her if she wanted popcorn. She said, “yes.” I told her, you will be getting the small bag and she said, “no. I want a big bag.”

Lesson number 2: Do not bargain with your niece.

I didn’t. I told her the big bag was an ugly yellow color and the small bag was a beautiful pink color.  She bought it. Two points Titi Lissa.

Lesson number 3: DO NOT LET THE PERSON AT THE REGISTER OFFER SODA.

Children hear EVERYTHING and I was not about to have her drink soda. Part of my plan was to tire her out so my day could run smoother, soda would not allow that. I cut off the girl at the register and gave her the look and said, “WATER PLEASE.” Layla didn’t catch on to that.  PHEW!

Lesson number 4: 3-year olds don’t understand what 3D glasses are.

They didn’t have RIO playing without 3D so I had to talk her into putting her glasses on and it really didn't work. It was cute because I kept watching her lift her glasses so she could see the difference.  It's probably what tired her out because . . .

. . . LAYLA FELL ASLEEP WITH HER HAND IN THE POPCORN BAG.

I thought, "not so bad. I will just watch the movie and wake her up after." Movie was awesome by the way. It finished and I tried waking up the sleeping beauty. 

NOW THAT WAS DIFFICULT.

Lesson number 5: 3-year olds are HEAVY when they are sleeping.  Total dead weight.

I carried her. She woke up and was lost. Poor thing wanted to go back and see the rest of the movie which I could totally not afford and have no control over. I asked her if she wanted McDonald’s. I had told her that if she behaved she would get a happy meal. She replied, “no, I want to go home and sleep.”

YES!!!!!!!!

I love the girl but the thought of her sleeping as Ava is waking up just made my day that much easier. We made our way back home and the rest is history.

I SURVIVED MY DATE WITH A 3-YEAR OLD.

Titi Lissa's Corner

By the time you read this I will be on a beach with a drink in one hand, sun in my face and my mind and heart missing my two little girls! I Modern Mom is on her first vacation alone with my husband in over 5 years! I think we were way over due! This got me thinking and I decided that this would be perfect opportunity to introduce a new feature that I hope becomes a regular feature in my blog:"Titi Lissa's Corner". My sister Melissa Lopez is a wonderful aunt to my two little girls and I thought it would be cool to see a different perspective on motherhood and raising children from someone who doesn't have children but is invested in the growth of my children. So here it goes I hope you like it!

While mommy is away, the auntie gets to play. Well sort of. While my sister is away on vacation with her husband and their friends, I was given the privilege of writing on her blog. As my first ever appearance on the Modern Mom’s blog, I will do a brief introduction. I am the non-married, childless and childish younger sister of the Modern Mom. Might I add good looking to those credentials? I am the wonderful aunt to my sister’s two ROCKIN’ daughters. They rock. Just like auntie.



But, enough of that. I believe I’m supposed to be talking about the girls and my sister and auntie-ing.



On a serious note though, I love hanging with my nieces and their cousins who I also consider my niece and nephew.



Being an aunt provides many joys. My most happiest of joys is playtime. I don’t know if I should admit to this but I love playing with toys and the only person I know that can truly appreciate that is Layla. After all the craziness that is my life, working in the busy and stressful world of marketing, running a side Zumba business, working out, etc., I get to spend some of my weekends with stuffed animals, dolls, and a really imaginative little girl. As the older niece, she’s at the age where she can make up story lines and play make-believe for hours. I like to let her lead and chime in when necessary. It’s so much fun to be in her presence and I just relish in the moment. Sometimes she picks up on things I say, and I can hear her using “my words” in playtime with her friends or by herself.



I think as an aunt, we get to be the “adult that’s not really an adult.” Children welcome our interest in playing with them yet will listen to us IF we are stern enough. It’s a line we have to be careful not to blur around the children that love us so much.



Perfect example was on Easter weekend when my sister and I thought it was a great idea to play Just Dance in front of the children on a sugar high. Of course, we got two songs in before they proclaimed, “it’s my turn.” I played one round with Layla and we asked her to give up her Wii controller so her cousins could play and she threw a fit. My mom, playing her role as grandmother wanted to snatch the Wii remote off the other children’s hands and give it to her beloved niece but I had to stand my ground and back up my sister on this one. Although she’s super cute and I don’t want to see her cry, there is a lesson to be learned, “she can’t have everything she wants” and “sometimes my sister is right.”

The girls are still very young, and I am sure there will be more tantrums and tempers flying and more beautiful moments to share. I hope this edition of Titi Lissa's corner isn't the one and only. I'll be back on the blogosphere soon.

Perhaps next time, I'll explain how I became Titi Lissa.
--
Best,

Melissa Lopez