Dear Elsie,

I have a new baby sister and I love her but…

If mommy and me are playing, and the baby cries, mommy says “let’s go check on the baby together and see how we can help her. She might be hungry or need a diaper change.”

I know I’m the big brother but I’m not always happy about having to share my mommy.

Feeling a bit sad,

Love Bobby T

Hi Bobby,

Sharing how you feel takes courage…thank you for reaching out.

You’re a big brother now and that’s a big change for you! And big changes are never easy! Not even for grown-ups! 

When things change around us, we often have to change things around.

Can you think of ways to turn the diaper change or feeding time into a way that you can still play with your mommy? 

Here are a few examples….

Can you hand her a clean diaper for the baby?

Can you bring the baby a cuddly toy?

Can you sing to the baby?

Can you make animal sounds for the baby?

In this way, you and your mommy can be a team and help each other and teach the baby new things and still hang out together!

Sharing someone you love so much with someone else is really hard to do…and change is never easy.

I hope that these ideas will help you feel less sad about sharing your mommy and more happy about your baby sister joining your family. 

Just do your best…that’s all you can ever do. That’s always enough❤️

Love,

Elsie

🐑

For grown up to read…

It's common for toddlers and preschoolers to behave in challenging ways during a new baby's first year of life. Challenging behavior can be a way of expressing big feelings, like confusion about new family relationships, fear of being left out or the desire for more attention.

https://raisingchildren.net

New baby: helping toddlers and preschoolers adjust - Raising Children Network

Helping your 2-year-old adjust to a new sibling 

www.babycenter.com

Dear Elsie,

I need your help!

My arm is in a cast and I’m the flower girl at my cousin’s wedding in two weeks!

When I tried on my outfit today, which is a lilac organza ankle-length dress, with capped sleeves and satin ballet shoes with sequins, the plain cast on my arm stood out like a sore thumb!

What can I do?

Julie L

Hi Julie,

How exciting that you’re part of a wedding! Your outfit sounds so lovely!

Although having your arm in a cast is certainly an inconvenience (and itchy and heavy and tiresome), why not turn it into a moving piece of art? 

Gather some markers, pens, crayons, ribbons, glue, glitter paint, sequins, stencils, and stickers.

You can plan your design on paper beforehand or just freeflow…

Whatever you decide to do, have faith in your inner artist and have fun!

Love,

Elsie

🐑

*out of respect, always ask permission from your parent or caregiver. 

Dear Elsie,

Today was the first day back to school after our summer holidays. 

At recess time, I overheard my two best friends teasing the new kid in our class about her long red braids. When she started crying, they laughed and walked away. 

I didn’t know what to do or what to say, so I just sat with her until recess was over.

After school, my best friends told me that if I wanted to be friends with her, I couldn’t be friends with them.

I don’t know what to do! I’m scared to lose my friends! We’ve been friends since kindergarten. 

Why can’t we all be friends? 

Confused Connie. 

Dear Connie,

Your act of kindness towards the new kid tells me that you have a big heart.

This must be so hard for you. 

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what to do and there is no easy answer to your question. I can however understand your confusion and fear.

Unfortunately, people can be mean to other people sometimes. 

But people change.

In time, your friends might realize that your friendship is important to them and you’ll be friends once again.

It’s important to surround yourself with people you respect and who have similar values to yours.

Trust that your heart will know what’s best for you in this situation.

Love

Elsie

🐑

 Living with your heart as the leader and not your fear is the true way to happiness ❤️

-Ebonie K

Dear Elsie,

I want to surprise my parents on their wedding anniversary with breakfast but I’m too small to use the stove by myself!

What can I do to make my wish come true?

Love Kyle G

Hi Kyle,

What a kind soul you are! Your wish is so sweet and tender.

Let’s see how we can make it come true for you!

Here are a few options…

Toaster treats 

Combined with creamy peanut/nut butters, jams and jellies, toasted bread is always a treat.

Toasted frozen golden waffles

Maple syrup makes this option so yummy.

Yogurt and fruit (or cottage cheese and fruit)

This is delicious and nutritious and can be dressed up with chocolate or butterscotch chips.

Cereal and milk

A wonderful breakfast option is a bowl of crunchy cereal and cold milk.

Juice and/or water

As an added touch, you can decorate the table with love notes and love quotes, strands of ribbons, and colorful little pieces of paper to look like confetti.

Love,

Elsie

🐑

Dear Elsie,

I’m five years old.

I’m a big girl now.

I can choose what outfits to wear and which ribbons to tie in my hair and which games I want to play and some other things too.

I make good choices!

So how come my mommy and daddy won’t let me choose ice-cream for breakfast?

Hungry and grumpy.

Anna

Dear Anna,

“Life is about choices. The better you become at making good choices the better your life will be.” 

― Germany Kent

I’m so happy that your mommy and daddy let you make choices! They’re teaching you that throughout your life there will be choices that you’ll have to make every single day.

Sometimes grown-ups have to help us understand that not all choices are good ones. 

Ice cream is one of my favorite treats too! But it’s not the healthiest breakfast choice. Your body needs food that helps give you energy in the morning so that you can do stuff during the day.

I found some great breakfast ideas at www.kidshealth.org that you might want to try!

Eggs…boiled, fried, poached or scrambled

French toast, waffles, or pancakes (try wheat or whole-grain varieties)

Cold cereal and milk.

Hot cereal, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat (try some dried fruit or nuts on top)

Whole-grain toast, bagel, or English muffin with cheese.

Yogurt  with fruit or nuts.

Kidshealth also suggested these options…

banana dog (peanut butter, a banana, and raisins in a long whole-grain bun)

breakfast taco (scrambled eggs and shredded cheese on a tortilla, topped with salsa)

country cottage cheese (apple butter mixed with cottage cheese)

fruit and cream cheese sandwich (use strawberries or other fresh fruit)

sandwich — grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, or another favorite

What a great selection of delicious and nutritious breakfast choices!

Activity idea:

Make a menu by writing down some or all of these choices and have fun playing restaurant!

You can also include some lunch and dinner ideas like we did!

Love,

Elsie

🐑

Dear Elsie,

Today I went to the eye doctor and was told that I need to wear glasses! The optometrist (that’s the eye doctor) explained that my eyes will work better with them. I guess I understand, because I have to squint when I look at things, but I’m a bit bummed out about the whole thing! 

Can you help me see this new situation more clearly?

Love Marissa

Hello Marissa,

Thanks for reaching out today. You got some big news and it’s understandable that you are feeling bummed out. Your feelings are real and important. 

What’s also important is for you to see as clearly as can be, and trust that your new glasses will help with that.

Change is never easy but how we look at a new situation can make all the difference in the world in how we feel.

Looking at the positive…

Eyeglasses (frames) are so fashionable today! 

They are available in so many shapes and colors! 

Today’s frames are lightweight, made of durable materials and are a great accessory, just like ribbons, jewelry, purses, belts and shoes.

But best of all, you’ll be able to give your eyes the help they need and see better! 

When you go shopping to choose your new frames, tell yourself that you’re going to have a good time and see what happens! I know you can do it!

Love Elsie

🐑

Dear Elsie,

It’s my best friend’s 8th birthday in a few days and I’m really stumped on what to give her as a present. I just can’t seem to come up with anything!

Her lifestyle is really different from mine. Her family is super rich!

She’s been traveling around the world since she was a baby, staying in the finest of places and experiencing the most incredible holiday adventures. 

And collecting tons of beautiful things along the way.

I have some money so I can afford to buy her something, but I’d love it to be really special because she’s really special to me.

Any ideas?

Hugs,

Budget Margaret

P.S.

I hope the bracelets I sent you fit your dainty wrist and that the colors work well with your wardrobe. I just started making bracelets about a week ago and I love it!

I also love reading your advice column and always look forward to the next one.

Dear Margaret,

Thank you so much for your kind words and beautiful gift! It means so much to me.

The bracelets fit perfectly and I love your choice of bead colors! 

I’m so happy that you discovered that you love making bracelets! You just discovered a new thing about you!

Deciding on a gift for someone is a big deal…it can take lots of time to come up with the “right” thing, especially while on a budget. 

My first gift idea for your bestie would be to make her one or several of your hand crafted bracelets…

Your friend would be wearing something that you designed and made just for her…that’s pretty special.

Maybe make a set of matching bracelets so that you can wear one and she can too…as a symbol of your friendship.

Some other ideas…

Decorate a plain box with shiny stickers/gems to make it festive both inside and out! Here are some options on what to fill it with!

Lip balms and glosses, candy/chocolate, hair ties and ribbons. 

Cookies or muffins that you baked (her most favorite kind)

A super comfy pair of socks

A pair of ‘fun fashion’ tights

Playlists are fun and easy to create for a personalized gift. 

Let her know that you made one by writing the playlist out on a card; include the link.

A blank journal and a few pens/markers become more personalized when you write out meaningful quotes, song lyrics or poems on some of the pages beforehand. 

I hope these ideas lead you to the “right” gift for your friend. When offered with love from the heart, it’s always the right gift.

Thanks again for your letter and beautiful bracelets!

Love

Elsie

🐑

*Some people turn their hobby into a business…

You might enjoy reading an interview that Iggy did with Deanna. 

You’ll find it right here on the website in Activity Center/Iggy’s Interviews/Iggy interviews an entrepreneur

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