Damian & Katerina = How To [vil-helm] #81

How To Villlhelllm: How do You even Spell It?

Tiny Tales from Alyce's Weekly Wonders

Hi there! It’s me, Alyce, and I’m back with more giggles and stories from my busy baby life. It’s been two whole weeks since my surgery, and guess what? I’m feeling so much better! Now I can roll back and forth, stretch out on my tummy, and snuggle up on my side, which is my absolute favorite way to sleep. The pain from the surgery is gone, and I’m all about enjoying every little thing again.

But let me tell you about the new challenge in my life: my upper teeth are coming in! Ouchie! There have been a couple of moments where I had to make sure Mommy and Daddy knew I wasn’t too happy about it. But they’re the best—they gave me some Tylenol and these amazing frozen pacifiers and teethers that helped a lot. It’s like having a cool, chewy toy in my mouth that makes everything better.

This week, something super special happened—I went to see my grandma! OH MY GOODNESS, it was such a party! I might have arrived a little tired, but that didn’t stop me from having the best time ever. I made sure to give her all my best coos and giggles. We laughed so much, and I gave her lots of bisous (that’s fancy talk for kisses, hehe!). I know she loved it because she kept smiling and holding me close. It was the best day!

And now, I’m getting ready for something really exciting—my first camping trip! Can you believe it? I’m going to explore the great outdoors with Boujee and Dapper by my side. I’ve heard so many fun stories about camping, and I can’t wait to see what adventures are waiting for me. I’ll make sure to tell you all about it when I’m back!

Until then, keep smiling and sending bisous!

Love,

Alyce 💕

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Mindful Parenting: The Challenge of Screen Time and Connection

Recently, we've been grappling with our relationship with technology, especially when it comes to screen time. Let's be honest: we're all a bit addicted to our devices. From the moment we wake up to when we finally close our eyes at night, screens are a constant presence in our lives.

But it's not just about convenience or entertainment anymore. We recently came across some eye-opening research that really made us think twice about our screen habits, especially around Alyce.

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children aged 1 year who had just 1-4 hours of screen time per day were at higher risk of developmental delays by age 2. We're talking about crucial skills like communication, fine motor control, problem-solving, and personal and social skills. For instance, children with 4+ hours of daily screen time had 4.78 times higher odds of communication delays compared to those with less than 1 hour. That's not a small difference!

What really hit home for us was the finding that screen time can diminish the quantity and quality of interactions between parents and their children. By using screens to distract Alyce during feeding times, we realized we might be missing out on crucial opportunities for her to practice and develop her language skills. Those little babbles and coos during mealtime? They're not just cute—they're essential building blocks for her communication abilities.

But here's the kicker: it's not just about Alyce's screen time. As parents, our own screen habits play a huge role too. The studies emphasized how important parental behavior is in modeling appropriate screen use. It made us take a hard look at our own habits. How often are we scrolling through our phones when we could be engaging with Alyce?

Damian, in particular, has had to face his "endless scrolling" habit (though he might still be in a bit of denial about it!). And Kat? Well, she's realizing that even quick glances at the phone during playtime can add up.

We've made a commitment to be more mindful of our screen use, especially during key bonding times like feeding and playing. It's not about completely eliminating screens—we know that's not realistic in today's world. Instead, we're focusing on creating more screen-free moments where we can fully engage with Alyce.

When we do use screens, we're trying to make it more interactive and educational. But more importantly, we're working on increasing our direct interactions with Alyce. We're talking more, describing what we're doing, singing songs, and just being present. It's amazing how much more we notice about her development when we're fully engaged.

This journey isn't easy, and we're definitely still learning. But knowing that these early interactions can have such a significant impact on Alyce's development is a powerful motivator. We're excited about the positive changes we're already seeing in our family dynamics.

We're curious: have any of you faced similar challenges with screen time? How do you balance technology use in your family? Let's start a conversation about this important topic!

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Woof Woof! 🐾

It’s Boujee and Dapper here, your two favorite French bulldogs, bringing you the latest and greatest from our paws to your screens. What a week it has been! The weather outside has gone absolutely bananas, with temperatures that make you question if we’ve accidentally landed in the Sahara. We can't even enjoy our beloved long walks—such a travesty! But fear not, because September is here, and that means one thing: French Bulldog Weather is on the horizon!

Now, for those of you not in the know, French Bulldog Weather is when the thermometer drops to a cozy 13 degrees Celsius. That’s when we come alive! Picture this: the cool breeze ruffling our fur, the crunch of leaves under our paws, and the unmistakable scent of the forest calling our names. Oh, how we miss our forest walks! Soon, very soon, we’ll be frolicking through the woods like the majestic, snorty little creatures we are.

But let’s back up a bit, shall we? This week, we had the immense pleasure of visiting Grandma, and oh là là, what an adventure! Now, don’t get us wrong, we love Grandma—she’s the best! Always has the best of love and pets. But this time, there was a bit of a... *situation.* You see, Alyce, our adorable little human sister, stole the show. That’s right, Grandma had her eyes glued to Alyce, watching her every move with the kind of awe usually reserved for the Mona Lisa. And can you blame her? Alyce is a cutie, full of energy, and her giggles are absolutely infectious.

But—how do we put this delicately?—Boujee may have experienced a twinge of jealousy. Just a tiny one, like when you’re expecting a croissant, but someone hands you a baguette instead. Close, but not quite what you were hoping for. Dapper, being the laid-back guy he is, just went with the flow. But Boujee? Well, let’s just say she prefers to be the center of attention, thank you very much. However, by the end of the visit, Boujee decided that sharing the spotlight isn’t so bad, especially when it means more kisses from Grandma.

All in all, things are going well for us. We’re biding our time, waiting for that perfect chill in the air to signal the start of our favorite season. Until then, we’ll keep our paws crossed for cooler days, shorter walks, and plenty of cuddles. After all, life as a Frenchie is all about enjoying the little things, like a good belly rub or a nice nap in a sunbeam.

À bientôt, mes amis! Stay cool, stay snorty, and remember—French Bulldog Weather is just around the corner!

Paw-fectly yours,

Boujee & Dapper ❤️

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Thank you, dear Vilhelmians, for following our adventures! We appreciate your support and would love for you to join our awesome Substack community. Hit that like button, subscribe, and get ready for a wild ride with us! Vilheeeeeelm!