Mon - December 18, 2006
'Tis the season...
Today is Davis' turn to be home
sick.
Doug took the early shift - the barf-o-rama and I came home for the afternoon diarrhea-every-seven-minutes show.
Ah, I had such plans for the day. I was going to get the whole house clean this afternoon so my sister would arrive to a clean sparkling house tomorrow. I was going to bake 6 dozen spritz cookies for the neighborhood cookie exchange tomorrow night.
Oh well. Ingrid will not mind the dirty house. The neighbors won't miss a few cookies (there is plenty o'wine at the cookie exchange...who needs cookies?)
I keep telling myself that it is better today than yesterday. Yesterday, the kids and I were in the first row of the balcony at the Nutcracker. Barf is not good in that situation....
Doug took the early shift - the barf-o-rama and I came home for the afternoon diarrhea-every-seven-minutes show.
Ah, I had such plans for the day. I was going to get the whole house clean this afternoon so my sister would arrive to a clean sparkling house tomorrow. I was going to bake 6 dozen spritz cookies for the neighborhood cookie exchange tomorrow night.
Oh well. Ingrid will not mind the dirty house. The neighbors won't miss a few cookies (there is plenty o'wine at the cookie exchange...who needs cookies?)
I keep telling myself that it is better today than yesterday. Yesterday, the kids and I were in the first row of the balcony at the Nutcracker. Barf is not good in that situation....
Posted at 03:36 PM
Mon - November 20, 2006
My darling Clementine
To Dana on your Seventh
Birthday:
The week you were born is the week that the Clementine oranges came out in the grocery store. Every year, we know your birthday is right around the corner the day we bring home the familiar crate of juicy clementines. I've taken to calling you "my darling Clementine" - you are not yet old enough to be annoyed by this.
This year, the clementines were bittersweet. You told me that this year, your birthday felt upside down and backwards. Your great-grandmother passed away yesterday and it hit you hard. She's the first person that you've known and loved who has passed away.
Strangely enough, your father and I didn't shed the buckets of tears that you did. We were sad - very sad - but she led a wonderful life. She was 95, and up until very recently, full of life and vitality. We will miss her dearly, but she was in so much pain these last few weeks - it's hard not to feel that she is in a better place.
We've tried everything to make you feel better. But it seems that you needed to take some time for grieving. You had a good cry with your teacher this morning and you requested that you not wear the birthday crown today in school. You just didn't feel like being happy.
You and your father described a lovely Heaven for great-grandma. You told me that great-grandma is probably with her husband and her other son now, and that might be making her happy. You also added that now, just maybe, great-grandma could probably even get a dog. I'm not sure that she ever wanted a dog while she was living, but I'm glad that you are inserting your own criteria for happiness into the discussion of what Heaven might be. (and no, you still may not have a dog.)
When you were six weeks old, we took you up to Amery for Christmas to meet your great-grandmother and your grandparents. You were a screaming, colicky infant. I was at my wits end. But none of them cared. They thought you were the most beautiful baby in the whole world. Your great-grandmother had 2 sons and 4 grandsons. She thought another great-grand-daughter was the best thing, ever.
Your dad's family has a very special Christmas tradition. Every year, on Christmas Eve, when they hang their stockings, they put an orange at the very bottom of each stocking. You see, your great-grandmother grew up in the great depression. She had Christmases where all she got was an orange - and she was glad to get it. The orange is a reminder to everyone to count our blessings.
I'm proud that you realize what a blessing your great-grandmother was.
This Christmas, when I pull that orange from my stocking, I will have many blessings to count. And you, my darling Clementine, will be first on my list.
Happy birthday, my sweet, sweet girl.
And good-bye, Rosamond. We miss you already.
The week you were born is the week that the Clementine oranges came out in the grocery store. Every year, we know your birthday is right around the corner the day we bring home the familiar crate of juicy clementines. I've taken to calling you "my darling Clementine" - you are not yet old enough to be annoyed by this.
This year, the clementines were bittersweet. You told me that this year, your birthday felt upside down and backwards. Your great-grandmother passed away yesterday and it hit you hard. She's the first person that you've known and loved who has passed away.
Strangely enough, your father and I didn't shed the buckets of tears that you did. We were sad - very sad - but she led a wonderful life. She was 95, and up until very recently, full of life and vitality. We will miss her dearly, but she was in so much pain these last few weeks - it's hard not to feel that she is in a better place.
We've tried everything to make you feel better. But it seems that you needed to take some time for grieving. You had a good cry with your teacher this morning and you requested that you not wear the birthday crown today in school. You just didn't feel like being happy.
You and your father described a lovely Heaven for great-grandma. You told me that great-grandma is probably with her husband and her other son now, and that might be making her happy. You also added that now, just maybe, great-grandma could probably even get a dog. I'm not sure that she ever wanted a dog while she was living, but I'm glad that you are inserting your own criteria for happiness into the discussion of what Heaven might be. (and no, you still may not have a dog.)
When you were six weeks old, we took you up to Amery for Christmas to meet your great-grandmother and your grandparents. You were a screaming, colicky infant. I was at my wits end. But none of them cared. They thought you were the most beautiful baby in the whole world. Your great-grandmother had 2 sons and 4 grandsons. She thought another great-grand-daughter was the best thing, ever.
Your dad's family has a very special Christmas tradition. Every year, on Christmas Eve, when they hang their stockings, they put an orange at the very bottom of each stocking. You see, your great-grandmother grew up in the great depression. She had Christmases where all she got was an orange - and she was glad to get it. The orange is a reminder to everyone to count our blessings.
I'm proud that you realize what a blessing your great-grandmother was.
This Christmas, when I pull that orange from my stocking, I will have many blessings to count. And you, my darling Clementine, will be first on my list.
Happy birthday, my sweet, sweet girl.
And good-bye, Rosamond. We miss you already.
Posted at 09:19 PM
Wed - November 1, 2006
Halloween Costumes
For the first two Halloween party events, Davis
was a Pirate. But for the actual night of trick-or-treating, he was Superman.
I felt very safe trick-or-treating this year. In our little group, we had not
one...not two...but three Supermen, a Batman and Dana the witch. (Yes, Dana was
the only girl in the crowd.)
It was 37 degrees and Dana was NOT happy that I made her wear pants under her witches dress...and made her put a coat over the entire costume. (A coat which she never zippered, by the way, not once.)
Davis lasted about 7 houses. He was doing great until we went up to a house and a man dressed as Dracula jumped out and surprised us all. Davis was really freaked out, so I brought him home and met up with Dana and the rest of the crew a few minutes later. We ended up staying out almost 2 1/2 hours. The kids were just having so much fun - running and singing and screaming. In our part of the neighborhood, there is sometimes a big distance between houses, so there was lots of work for each piece of candy.
This afternoon, Davis dressed back up as Superman and Dana put on one of his Spiderman costumes and they attempted to "fly" throughout the house. I finally dragged a spare mattress to the end of the stairs in the basement, to avoid any broken bones.
It was 37 degrees and Dana was NOT happy that I made her wear pants under her witches dress...and made her put a coat over the entire costume. (A coat which she never zippered, by the way, not once.)
Davis lasted about 7 houses. He was doing great until we went up to a house and a man dressed as Dracula jumped out and surprised us all. Davis was really freaked out, so I brought him home and met up with Dana and the rest of the crew a few minutes later. We ended up staying out almost 2 1/2 hours. The kids were just having so much fun - running and singing and screaming. In our part of the neighborhood, there is sometimes a big distance between houses, so there was lots of work for each piece of candy.
This afternoon, Davis dressed back up as Superman and Dana put on one of his Spiderman costumes and they attempted to "fly" throughout the house. I finally dragged a spare mattress to the end of the stairs in the basement, to avoid any broken bones.
Posted at 09:08 PM
Sun - September 17, 2006
Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy
Happy Birthday,
Davis.
When I tucked you into bed tonight, I snuggled you close and said "Happy Birthday, sweet baby boy."
You immediately put both hands on my face - turning it towards you so we were looking straight at each other - and replied, "Mama, I am NOT a baby. I am four years old now."
Yes, you are, my sweet 4 year old boy.
First off, I feel I must apologize that you had your first-ever birthday party today. Your sister got extravagant affairs each of her toddler years. You - well, you're the second child. And also, you were born in September. There is nothing wrong with being born in September - don't get me wrong. I love being born in September, myself. But, the birthday parties......they are easy to overlook in September. What with school starting and the weather changing and all the fall activities in gear.
You didn't make it any easier when you asked for a "Pluto" birthday party. Over the last two weeks, you've tried to engage anyone who would listen in a discussion as to whether Pluto deserved to be a dwarf planet or not. I thought you'd tire of it and move to something easier....something I could buy at the "party" store....Cars? Firefighters? Any Disney Character ever created? But no, you stuck to Pluto, causing me to scramble to make a cake shaped like Pluto and "decorate your own flying saucers" for the party-goers....
September is a month that you and I will always share. I like to think of you as the best birthday present ever to myself. (Dana, of course, being a birthday present to my mother. Like any good daughter, I took care of her first.) Your birth was one of the most amazing moments of my life. All births are amazing, but you and I were in synch unlike any partnership I've ever experienced. I didn't need the drugs, the doctors or any of the myriad of tools and techniques I'd brought to the hospital with me. It was just you and me and your dad, working together. (Yes, it hurt like hell - but we did it!)
Whenever I have a moment of self-doubt or insecurity, I bring myself right back to the moment of your birth. It was easily the most powerful moment of my life.
And the aftermath was even better. After you were born, everyone was worried about your sister. (She was 2 1/2....you know how 2 year olds are.) So, your father and grandparents left to spend time with her. You and I got to be all alone for the whole day. We did nothing but snuggle....(perhaps setting the stage for your high need for snuggles to this day?) I fell madly in love with you.
Actually, everyone you meet seems to fall madly in love with you. You do have that effect on people. But I was first.
Just one thing....I like that you were born at 6 am, really, I do. I'm a morning person too. But you've continued to wake up at 6 am every single morning for the last 4 years. Just one morning - preferably a Saturday - could we just try to stretch that to 6:30? Just once?
Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy.
When I tucked you into bed tonight, I snuggled you close and said "Happy Birthday, sweet baby boy."
You immediately put both hands on my face - turning it towards you so we were looking straight at each other - and replied, "Mama, I am NOT a baby. I am four years old now."
Yes, you are, my sweet 4 year old boy.
First off, I feel I must apologize that you had your first-ever birthday party today. Your sister got extravagant affairs each of her toddler years. You - well, you're the second child. And also, you were born in September. There is nothing wrong with being born in September - don't get me wrong. I love being born in September, myself. But, the birthday parties......they are easy to overlook in September. What with school starting and the weather changing and all the fall activities in gear.
You didn't make it any easier when you asked for a "Pluto" birthday party. Over the last two weeks, you've tried to engage anyone who would listen in a discussion as to whether Pluto deserved to be a dwarf planet or not. I thought you'd tire of it and move to something easier....something I could buy at the "party" store....Cars? Firefighters? Any Disney Character ever created? But no, you stuck to Pluto, causing me to scramble to make a cake shaped like Pluto and "decorate your own flying saucers" for the party-goers....
September is a month that you and I will always share. I like to think of you as the best birthday present ever to myself. (Dana, of course, being a birthday present to my mother. Like any good daughter, I took care of her first.) Your birth was one of the most amazing moments of my life. All births are amazing, but you and I were in synch unlike any partnership I've ever experienced. I didn't need the drugs, the doctors or any of the myriad of tools and techniques I'd brought to the hospital with me. It was just you and me and your dad, working together. (Yes, it hurt like hell - but we did it!)
Whenever I have a moment of self-doubt or insecurity, I bring myself right back to the moment of your birth. It was easily the most powerful moment of my life.
And the aftermath was even better. After you were born, everyone was worried about your sister. (She was 2 1/2....you know how 2 year olds are.) So, your father and grandparents left to spend time with her. You and I got to be all alone for the whole day. We did nothing but snuggle....(perhaps setting the stage for your high need for snuggles to this day?) I fell madly in love with you.
Actually, everyone you meet seems to fall madly in love with you. You do have that effect on people. But I was first.
Just one thing....I like that you were born at 6 am, really, I do. I'm a morning person too. But you've continued to wake up at 6 am every single morning for the last 4 years. Just one morning - preferably a Saturday - could we just try to stretch that to 6:30? Just once?
Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy.
Posted at 09:31 PM
Wed - August 23, 2006
What a difference a year makes
Big day tomorrow - school registration.
A year ago, tonight, we were a collective nervous wreck. Dana was so worried about everything and I didn't have a clue as to what was going on or what to expect or anything.
Tonight - different story. Registration starts at 11 tomorrow. I offered to leave work (on the far west side of town) and pick her up from her summer program (on the far east side of town) and get her to school by 11 (on the north side of town) so that we could find out who her teacher is first thing. Dana had no use for that plan. She wants to have a full day at her summer program and register at the end of the day.
But this year, I have a role in part of it, so we need to be there for the a few hours in the afternoon to volunteer.
Honestly, I think I am more excited than she is this year. I can't wait to find out who her teacher is and who her classmates are.
First Grade. Wow.
A year ago, tonight, we were a collective nervous wreck. Dana was so worried about everything and I didn't have a clue as to what was going on or what to expect or anything.
Tonight - different story. Registration starts at 11 tomorrow. I offered to leave work (on the far west side of town) and pick her up from her summer program (on the far east side of town) and get her to school by 11 (on the north side of town) so that we could find out who her teacher is first thing. Dana had no use for that plan. She wants to have a full day at her summer program and register at the end of the day.
But this year, I have a role in part of it, so we need to be there for the a few hours in the afternoon to volunteer.
Honestly, I think I am more excited than she is this year. I can't wait to find out who her teacher is and who her classmates are.
First Grade. Wow.
Posted at 08:52 PM
Wed - June 28, 2006
Dana's blog
In Dana's Kindergarten class, they kept a journal
every day. I've kept a journal since 4th grade...and I have them all in a box
somewhere in the basement. Someday, I will be brave enough to dig them out and
see what I thought about life back in the
1970s.
Dana's journal is amazing in that she progressed so much in one short year. The journal consists of a picture that she drew and words (later, sentences) underneath. A few sample entries here: (spelling and punctuation are hers - the focus of the journal was to write, they didn't care if it was spelled right!)
Sept (8 or 9): The Hill was Big and there were flowers.
Oct 7: A sunny day.
Oct 13: I like pumpkins.
Oct 26: Me and Davis. Me and Davis are playing.
Nov 4: The tree was pretty. and it was vary pretty.
Nov 9: I like the pretty fall Leaves. I like the fall Leaves.
Nov 10: I like the snow. It is vary cold outside.
Nov 29: This is a witch. She is planing to helping the world.
Nov 30: This is a wich. This wich is a bat wich. She is planning to over the world.
Dec 14: I like snakes. They are cool.
Dec 19: I like rivers. they are pretty.
Dec 19: I can not wate in til Christmas. i love Christmas.
Dec 23: I like whales. they are cute.
Jan 4: I like snakes. they are cute.
Jan 5: I cant wate to go to Hawaii!
Jan 6: I am going on an air plane.
Jan 18: I had fun at hawaii. and i went to the aquareemum.
Jan 27: I like turtles. they are cute.
Feb 7: I like bats. they are cool.
Feb 8: I like doing math. because it mak's me smrder.
Feb 21: I love dinosaurs. They are cool. I like learning about them.
Mar 1: I like rocket's. they are cool. this rocket is going to the moon. there are childrin on the rocket.
Mar 7: I can't wait untill i go to my Nana and grapa's house. I mite get a presit.
Mar 8: I like Elephant's. they are insteresting. They yoos thar big truk and make a lod nois and scar ther enemies.
Mar 10: I am going on an airplane tomorrow. I am excited to see Nana.
Mar 21: I like planet's in outerspace. There are nine planet's in our solar system.
Mar 31: i like bear's. They are cool. in the winter, bear's hibernate!
Apr 3: Yesterday, i got to see Deep Sea 3D. it was relly cool. there wer octupus and other cool thing. and i really liked it a lot.
Apr 14: tomaroe I am going to diy egg's! I have stiker's to! to put on them! On Sunday I will have a family Easter egg hunt! I mite get diy that is every coler of the ranebow! there mite be red and orig and yellw and green and blue and perpl and pike!
Apr 20: turtle's have sells. To keep them safe. Rats can eat them. Maybe they are in danger. I like turtles. turtles can be nice and some can be mien. turtles can hide in there sells. Some bite and some donte. I once I held a turtle.
May 3: I have some sae glas. My Nana sodeed me wut it looks like. and wut it feels like.
May 10: Cheetah's can go rally fast. They are the fastest thing in the world. Some people own them. cheetah's have spots.
May 11: Yesterday, I got a new washing masheen. it has a lot of new things. They tok the spiner out. it is white.
May 16: On the weekend i learned to make stars. they are really hard to make. I will sowe you the chart. Here it is (drawings of how to make a star inserted here.) I like the stars that I can make. my Daddy helped me. He sowed me his chart. (more drawings of how to make a star here.)
May 19: I like reptiles. there are many kinds of reptiles. they have skaly skin. most of them are green. most of them are mene. but some of them are nice. Some of them live under the water. But most of them live on land. I saw a turtle race before and I had my own turtle.
May 22: my half birthday was on saterday. I had a lot of fun. I went to the farmer's market and I met L. and B. there. I got some really cool plase mats. Two of them. One is about the birds of Wisconsin. and the other is about the world. I went to the jet house. and eated lunch there.
May 31: On the weekend, I went to the zoo. I got a masc. the animal I got is a Panda. At home I can pertend I am a panda now. At the zoo, I saw the seles. One of the seles made a very funny sound. And I saw B. there to. And I went on the carosele. I rode on a sele.
June 1: I hope I can go to the pool today. I can go off the diveing bord now. But I do not try to do anee triks. Do you want me to tel you how I felt safe to do it. My Dad was in the water. That's how I felt safe. I new he wod help me.
===
I have to say, I feel that Dana summed up the year much better (and more succinctly) than I did.....
Dana's journal is amazing in that she progressed so much in one short year. The journal consists of a picture that she drew and words (later, sentences) underneath. A few sample entries here: (spelling and punctuation are hers - the focus of the journal was to write, they didn't care if it was spelled right!)
Sept (8 or 9): The Hill was Big and there were flowers.
Oct 7: A sunny day.
Oct 13: I like pumpkins.
Oct 26: Me and Davis. Me and Davis are playing.
Nov 4: The tree was pretty. and it was vary pretty.
Nov 9: I like the pretty fall Leaves. I like the fall Leaves.
Nov 10: I like the snow. It is vary cold outside.
Nov 29: This is a witch. She is planing to helping the world.
Nov 30: This is a wich. This wich is a bat wich. She is planning to over the world.
Dec 14: I like snakes. They are cool.
Dec 19: I like rivers. they are pretty.
Dec 19: I can not wate in til Christmas. i love Christmas.
Dec 23: I like whales. they are cute.
Jan 4: I like snakes. they are cute.
Jan 5: I cant wate to go to Hawaii!
Jan 6: I am going on an air plane.
Jan 18: I had fun at hawaii. and i went to the aquareemum.
Jan 27: I like turtles. they are cute.
Feb 7: I like bats. they are cool.
Feb 8: I like doing math. because it mak's me smrder.
Feb 21: I love dinosaurs. They are cool. I like learning about them.
Mar 1: I like rocket's. they are cool. this rocket is going to the moon. there are childrin on the rocket.
Mar 7: I can't wait untill i go to my Nana and grapa's house. I mite get a presit.
Mar 8: I like Elephant's. they are insteresting. They yoos thar big truk and make a lod nois and scar ther enemies.
Mar 10: I am going on an airplane tomorrow. I am excited to see Nana.
Mar 21: I like planet's in outerspace. There are nine planet's in our solar system.
Mar 31: i like bear's. They are cool. in the winter, bear's hibernate!
Apr 3: Yesterday, i got to see Deep Sea 3D. it was relly cool. there wer octupus and other cool thing. and i really liked it a lot.
Apr 14: tomaroe I am going to diy egg's! I have stiker's to! to put on them! On Sunday I will have a family Easter egg hunt! I mite get diy that is every coler of the ranebow! there mite be red and orig and yellw and green and blue and perpl and pike!
Apr 20: turtle's have sells. To keep them safe. Rats can eat them. Maybe they are in danger. I like turtles. turtles can be nice and some can be mien. turtles can hide in there sells. Some bite and some donte. I once I held a turtle.
May 3: I have some sae glas. My Nana sodeed me wut it looks like. and wut it feels like.
May 10: Cheetah's can go rally fast. They are the fastest thing in the world. Some people own them. cheetah's have spots.
May 11: Yesterday, I got a new washing masheen. it has a lot of new things. They tok the spiner out. it is white.
May 16: On the weekend i learned to make stars. they are really hard to make. I will sowe you the chart. Here it is (drawings of how to make a star inserted here.) I like the stars that I can make. my Daddy helped me. He sowed me his chart. (more drawings of how to make a star here.)
May 19: I like reptiles. there are many kinds of reptiles. they have skaly skin. most of them are green. most of them are mene. but some of them are nice. Some of them live under the water. But most of them live on land. I saw a turtle race before and I had my own turtle.
May 22: my half birthday was on saterday. I had a lot of fun. I went to the farmer's market and I met L. and B. there. I got some really cool plase mats. Two of them. One is about the birds of Wisconsin. and the other is about the world. I went to the jet house. and eated lunch there.
May 31: On the weekend, I went to the zoo. I got a masc. the animal I got is a Panda. At home I can pertend I am a panda now. At the zoo, I saw the seles. One of the seles made a very funny sound. And I saw B. there to. And I went on the carosele. I rode on a sele.
June 1: I hope I can go to the pool today. I can go off the diveing bord now. But I do not try to do anee triks. Do you want me to tel you how I felt safe to do it. My Dad was in the water. That's how I felt safe. I new he wod help me.
===
I have to say, I feel that Dana summed up the year much better (and more succinctly) than I did.....
Posted at 09:16 PM
Mon - May 8, 2006
Speed Reading
Dana is a reader. She comes from a long line of
readers, so this should come as no surprise.
Until now, reading with Dana (and Davis) has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life. Until now.
We just started the "Magic Treehouse " series by Mary Pope Osborne. The Magic Treehouse series is addictive. It's not great literature, by any stretch of the imagination. But it's good reading. We are up to book 8. (and have 9 - 11 waiting on the shelf). From the looks of the local library shelf, this is a never-ending series. We might just be reading it until she is in college.
We read a few chapters every night before bed. I read the right side pages and Dana reads the left side pages. Davis listens.
But now....now, Dana is getting up at 6 am every day. And she is finishing the book before anyone else wakes up. Finishing it! Without me.
So, each night at bedtime - she insists we start the next book. You see the problem here? Davis and I don't know what happened to Annie and Jack in the previous book. Dana fills us in, but really, I don't think we are getting the same experience.
I'm obviously going to have to sneak in some Magic Tree House reading when she isn't looking. Maybe after the bus picks her up, I can skim through a few chapters.
Until now, reading with Dana (and Davis) has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life. Until now.
We just started the "Magic Treehouse " series by Mary Pope Osborne. The Magic Treehouse series is addictive. It's not great literature, by any stretch of the imagination. But it's good reading. We are up to book 8. (and have 9 - 11 waiting on the shelf). From the looks of the local library shelf, this is a never-ending series. We might just be reading it until she is in college.
We read a few chapters every night before bed. I read the right side pages and Dana reads the left side pages. Davis listens.
But now....now, Dana is getting up at 6 am every day. And she is finishing the book before anyone else wakes up. Finishing it! Without me.
So, each night at bedtime - she insists we start the next book. You see the problem here? Davis and I don't know what happened to Annie and Jack in the previous book. Dana fills us in, but really, I don't think we are getting the same experience.
I'm obviously going to have to sneak in some Magic Tree House reading when she isn't looking. Maybe after the bus picks her up, I can skim through a few chapters.
Posted at 08:56 PM
Tue - May 2, 2006
Teeth
If you could only pick and choose the genes you
pass on to your offspring. Me? I'd pass on my tooth DNA. Somehow, I've
managed to make it 37 years without any dental work. No cavities, no retainers,
no braces, no nothing.
I did have my Wisdom teeth out - but they gave me laughing gas. (That was my one and only life experience with mind-altering drugs, and I gotta say - I'm definitely missing out on something. That was fun.)
The kids had their dentist appointments today. Dana had her first X-rays. The hygienist said her teeth looked just fine....but when she came back with the X-rays - there it was - the first cavity. A tiny one - way in the back, hidden up between two molars.
Dana looked like someone had slapped her. Her eyes welled up with tears. She looked at me with such fear and disappointment. As an adult, I know that it is just a cavity in a baby tooth and it doesn't really matter much in the grand scheme of things. But Dana....oh, Dana. She's six and she feels everything so incredibly deeply.
At that moment, I wished so badly for one cavity. Just one - so I could show her that I had them too....that it was no big deal. But I didn't have one to show.
Doug has cavities, but that didn't make her feel better. "He drinks Mountain Dew, Mommy," she told me, "Of course he has cavities." She rattled off the names of all her friends who don't have cavities. She threw herself on the bed and lamented the fact that she would never be a seven year old without cavities. Ever.
So, we did what I always do when I feel sad: we called my parents. Dana chatted for a while and then we went to bed for books and stories. As she drifted off to sleep, she turned to me and said, "Mama, did you know that Nana has XX cavities?"
(Number xx'd out to protect the innocent...)
We finished off the bedtime discussion with the decision that no one was perfect. (But, I do hope that Doug's 20/20 eyesight is transmitted genetically to the children instead of my 20/400 vision...is that too much to ask?)
I did have my Wisdom teeth out - but they gave me laughing gas. (That was my one and only life experience with mind-altering drugs, and I gotta say - I'm definitely missing out on something. That was fun.)
The kids had their dentist appointments today. Dana had her first X-rays. The hygienist said her teeth looked just fine....but when she came back with the X-rays - there it was - the first cavity. A tiny one - way in the back, hidden up between two molars.
Dana looked like someone had slapped her. Her eyes welled up with tears. She looked at me with such fear and disappointment. As an adult, I know that it is just a cavity in a baby tooth and it doesn't really matter much in the grand scheme of things. But Dana....oh, Dana. She's six and she feels everything so incredibly deeply.
At that moment, I wished so badly for one cavity. Just one - so I could show her that I had them too....that it was no big deal. But I didn't have one to show.
Doug has cavities, but that didn't make her feel better. "He drinks Mountain Dew, Mommy," she told me, "Of course he has cavities." She rattled off the names of all her friends who don't have cavities. She threw herself on the bed and lamented the fact that she would never be a seven year old without cavities. Ever.
So, we did what I always do when I feel sad: we called my parents. Dana chatted for a while and then we went to bed for books and stories. As she drifted off to sleep, she turned to me and said, "Mama, did you know that Nana has XX cavities?"
(Number xx'd out to protect the innocent...)
We finished off the bedtime discussion with the decision that no one was perfect. (But, I do hope that Doug's 20/20 eyesight is transmitted genetically to the children instead of my 20/400 vision...is that too much to ask?)
Posted at 09:04 PM
Fri - April 28, 2006
TV Police
Kindergarten has brought all sorts of unsavory
items from the outside world into our tight-knit little family. Dana has
learned what a "game-boy" is.....She has heard some swear words that we don't
normally use in front of her....She's heard all about the boyfriend/girlfriend
phenomena.
But this week....this week takes the cake.
She learned about "National Turn Off Your TV" week. And made us do it.
Frankly, Dana doesn't get much TV during the week anyway. She gets home from school at 3:45; we meet friends at the park or just play in our yard outside until 5 or 5:30, and then we come in for dinner/bath/books/bed. Not much time in there for TV.
But she lectured us incessantly. Flip on the TV to check out what tomorrow's weather would be? "Mama! Turn that Off! It's TURN OFF YOUR TV WEEK!" Try to check on a sports score or a news item? "TURN THAT OFF! It's against the RULES!"
Luckily, she is asleep by 8 pm every night. She can live a week without the Daily Show and the West Wing. But I can't...
But this week....this week takes the cake.
She learned about "National Turn Off Your TV" week. And made us do it.
Frankly, Dana doesn't get much TV during the week anyway. She gets home from school at 3:45; we meet friends at the park or just play in our yard outside until 5 or 5:30, and then we come in for dinner/bath/books/bed. Not much time in there for TV.
But she lectured us incessantly. Flip on the TV to check out what tomorrow's weather would be? "Mama! Turn that Off! It's TURN OFF YOUR TV WEEK!" Try to check on a sports score or a news item? "TURN THAT OFF! It's against the RULES!"
Luckily, she is asleep by 8 pm every night. She can live a week without the Daily Show and the West Wing. But I can't...
Posted at 08:25 PM
Tue - April 11, 2006
Sigh
I remember thinking that the best thing about
Dana having colic was that certainly, I must have lived through the most
difficult part of parenting. What could be worse than a constantly screaming
baby? I was certain that I'd earned my parenting stripes, and the rest would be
a piece of cake.
(parents of teenagers, please stop laughing at me now.)
Dana had her first "being tormented on the bus" experience today. A group of older kids circled her and made fun of her friendship with another Kindergarten boy on the bus - a very good friend of hers, who lives around the corner. They pulled out all the stops: that horrid "Dana and XX sitting in a tree" song and the "boyfriend" word the "love" word and the rest. The worst part, for her, was that they told her she was blushing. She didn't know what that meant...
I know we've all been tormented on the bus. Or at recess. Or somewhere. It is a rite of passage.
But, my god, who knew it would hurt so much more when it is happening to your child instead of to you? It is taking every ounce of my willpower not to call up those 5th graders and tell them that they are mean bullies and to stop picking on the only Kindergarten girl on the bus. But I won't. Instead I'll help Dana find a way to deal with it.
Ironically, the tormenters are kids from our neighborhood. Her bus stops three places: 1) a trailer park; 2) a low income housing project and 3) our neighborhood - 100% white; 100% middle/upper/rich class (we are the poorest in the 'hood, for sure!)
I suppose that I should be grateful that I'm the mother of the teased....and not the teasers?
She's going to ride the bus again in the morning, but I'm going to pick her up after school tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.
(parents of teenagers, please stop laughing at me now.)
Dana had her first "being tormented on the bus" experience today. A group of older kids circled her and made fun of her friendship with another Kindergarten boy on the bus - a very good friend of hers, who lives around the corner. They pulled out all the stops: that horrid "Dana and XX sitting in a tree" song and the "boyfriend" word the "love" word and the rest. The worst part, for her, was that they told her she was blushing. She didn't know what that meant...
I know we've all been tormented on the bus. Or at recess. Or somewhere. It is a rite of passage.
But, my god, who knew it would hurt so much more when it is happening to your child instead of to you? It is taking every ounce of my willpower not to call up those 5th graders and tell them that they are mean bullies and to stop picking on the only Kindergarten girl on the bus. But I won't. Instead I'll help Dana find a way to deal with it.
Ironically, the tormenters are kids from our neighborhood. Her bus stops three places: 1) a trailer park; 2) a low income housing project and 3) our neighborhood - 100% white; 100% middle/upper/rich class (we are the poorest in the 'hood, for sure!)
I suppose that I should be grateful that I'm the mother of the teased....and not the teasers?
She's going to ride the bus again in the morning, but I'm going to pick her up after school tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.
Posted at 09:20 PM
Mon - January 30, 2006
Happiness is a 6 year old daughter
Dana and I are reading "A Wrinkle in Time." By far, one of the most enjoyable things about having a bright six year old daughter is re-reading the classic books of my childhood. I definitely didn't get the deeper meanings in these books when I read them as a kid.
I have a confession to make: I didn't really like the infant books. I yawned my way through "Goodnight Moon." I found "Sheep in a Jeep" mildly annoying. Sheep don't drive and they don't rhyme. Dr. Suess is cute the first time, sure...but how many times can you read "Hop on Pop" - before losing your mind?
But now - now I count the minutes until bedtime. Not to be rid of children and have a quiet house as in days gone by - but to read the book of the night with Dana.
Davis, bless his heart, cuddles right there with us and listens to the whole thing. I always offer him the chance to read "Go Dog Go" or "Guess How Much I Love You?" or any of the other books that I no longer need to even look at - they are etched in my brain from so many readings - but he only wants what Dana wants these days.
We decided to read "Wrinkle in Time" after my mother sent it and it is phenomenal. After we finish the chapter, Dana insists on snuggling in bed with me and dissecting the whole thing - what happened, why it happened. She is a literary critic in the making. I love her perspective.
Her report card came today, so we did a bit extra reading and a bit extra snuggling. As expected, the report card was really, really good. I had no idea they would give real report cards with real grades in Kindergarten. They do. She passed everything with flying colors. Her best subjects were reading,math and music. I was surprised by the music part. First of all, I wasn't expecting a grade in music...and second, I had no idea that Dana was good at music.
The funniest part of the report card was the art section. It was her only "average" grade on the whole 3 page report card, and the teacher tried everything in his power to say, very nicely, "your daughter works hard and is very well behaved....but let's fact it: there is no grand art talent here."
So, of course, I immediately called the school to ask why my precious daughter didn't get a perfect grade in Art - couldn't they see how wonderful she is?
JUST KIDDING.
I've spent a lot of time in Dana's classroom this year. There are a lot of kids in need. (63% of the school qualifies as under the poverty level.) It's a great school - but there are also great challenges. I've actually had many people tell me outright, "I wouldn't send my child to (name of Dana's school) - there is no way a child like ours could get a top-notch education there. I want the best for my child."
So, for me, the best part of the whole report card is where her teacher wrote "Dana is a sensitive and caring friend, eager to help out a classmate in need or to help someone with hurt feelings feel better."
I'd say she's getting a fine education.
Posted at 09:58 PM
Tue - October 18, 2005
Cinder-elly, Cinder-elly
Just as one leaves the princess phase far, far
behind....the other one jumps in with both
feet.
Earlier in the week, we went to Target to get special treats (bribery is a key factor in success during a week of single parenthood). The usual rule is under $5 for a special treat. Dana picked out a plastic horse for $4.99. (She's not dumb, she gets right up to her limit.)
But Davis ran right over to the new DVD release of Cinderella and that is what he wanted. He passed up every fire truck, matchbox car and train (the usual suspects for special-treat day) and grasped that Cinderella DVD to his chest and looked at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Please, Mama, I really want Cinder-elly"
Dana tried to explain to him how silly Disney princesses are. She told him that they are so last-year. None of the cool kids like Disney princesses anymore. They aren't real. They aren't smart. There's no dinosaurs in any of them.
But he wouldn't relent. So, I caved.
He loved it. He spent the rest of the week, dancing around the house and singing all the songs from the movie.
Dana - she wouldn't even watch it. So much for gender stereotypes around here!
Earlier in the week, we went to Target to get special treats (bribery is a key factor in success during a week of single parenthood). The usual rule is under $5 for a special treat. Dana picked out a plastic horse for $4.99. (She's not dumb, she gets right up to her limit.)
But Davis ran right over to the new DVD release of Cinderella and that is what he wanted. He passed up every fire truck, matchbox car and train (the usual suspects for special-treat day) and grasped that Cinderella DVD to his chest and looked at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Please, Mama, I really want Cinder-elly"
Dana tried to explain to him how silly Disney princesses are. She told him that they are so last-year. None of the cool kids like Disney princesses anymore. They aren't real. They aren't smart. There's no dinosaurs in any of them.
But he wouldn't relent. So, I caved.
He loved it. He spent the rest of the week, dancing around the house and singing all the songs from the movie.
Dana - she wouldn't even watch it. So much for gender stereotypes around here!
Posted at 10:05 PM
Sun - October 16, 2005
Photos for Daddy
Doug is out of town tonight, so some photos for
him:
Kids at bedtime.
Davis' favorite way to watch TV.
Ice cream social at beach park.
Fireman Davis. Halloween cannot come soon enough for my children.
Kids at bedtime.
Davis' favorite way to watch TV.
Ice cream social at beach park.
Fireman Davis. Halloween cannot come soon enough for my children.
Posted at 07:01 PM
Fri - October 14, 2005
Clothes
I suppose it is only natural. When someone is as
obsessed with clothing as I am....that her children will start demonstrating
independence through clothing
choices.
It is picture-day for Dana today at school. Last night, I picked out a nice outfit for her and laid it on her toy box. It was an outfit that I'd bought a few weeks ago, on my own, without her input.
When I got back from the gym this morning at the lovely hour of 7 am, she was resolutely refusing to wear it. The bottom was a "skort" and she has gym today and she wouldn't wear it. Not at all. (She wanted to wear one of the outfits that her Nana had bought her. She likes those much better than anything I buy. They are softer and she got to help pick them out. "Don't you know anything, Mom?")
If this is 5....what the heck is 13 going to be like?
Anyway, we found the outfit Nana sent and sent Dana off on the school bus, happily outfitted in soft pink and cranberry velour.
Meanwhile, Davis got himself ready for gymnastics. He was wearing: Dana's pink power-puff girl sandals, his bright red fire engine rain coat, and a pair of over-sized bright blue sunglasses.
He insisted on the outfit. Who was I to argue? But I could not stop laughing. Every time I looked at him, it took every ounce of self-control not to burst into laughter. I wish I'd taken a picture. It was that funny.
He was a hit at the gymnastics lesson. Everyone else thought it was quite an original outfit.
As for me, well, I'm just trying to get to the point where Quicken doesn't say "Would you like to make this a reoccurring transaction?" every time I type the words "Ann Taylor" into the payee line. Not quite there yet. (But in my defense, it does that for the grocery store too.)
It's a good thing we don't lump food and clothing in the same budget line-item. Because if it ever got to the last week of the month and we had $60 left in the budgeted category and there happened to be an additional 40% off red-lined prices sale at Ann Taylor Loft.....you know I'd be eating PB&J all week in my new cute outfit. Sad, but true.
It is picture-day for Dana today at school. Last night, I picked out a nice outfit for her and laid it on her toy box. It was an outfit that I'd bought a few weeks ago, on my own, without her input.
When I got back from the gym this morning at the lovely hour of 7 am, she was resolutely refusing to wear it. The bottom was a "skort" and she has gym today and she wouldn't wear it. Not at all. (She wanted to wear one of the outfits that her Nana had bought her. She likes those much better than anything I buy. They are softer and she got to help pick them out. "Don't you know anything, Mom?")
If this is 5....what the heck is 13 going to be like?
Anyway, we found the outfit Nana sent and sent Dana off on the school bus, happily outfitted in soft pink and cranberry velour.
Meanwhile, Davis got himself ready for gymnastics. He was wearing: Dana's pink power-puff girl sandals, his bright red fire engine rain coat, and a pair of over-sized bright blue sunglasses.
He insisted on the outfit. Who was I to argue? But I could not stop laughing. Every time I looked at him, it took every ounce of self-control not to burst into laughter. I wish I'd taken a picture. It was that funny.
He was a hit at the gymnastics lesson. Everyone else thought it was quite an original outfit.
As for me, well, I'm just trying to get to the point where Quicken doesn't say "Would you like to make this a reoccurring transaction?" every time I type the words "Ann Taylor" into the payee line. Not quite there yet. (But in my defense, it does that for the grocery store too.)
It's a good thing we don't lump food and clothing in the same budget line-item. Because if it ever got to the last week of the month and we had $60 left in the budgeted category and there happened to be an additional 40% off red-lined prices sale at Ann Taylor Loft.....you know I'd be eating PB&J all week in my new cute outfit. Sad, but true.
Posted at 01:50 PM
Tue - September 20, 2005
Into the Wardrobe
It seems like overnight, our household has grown
up. There are no diapers. No naps. No "baby" car seats - with the latch
system and 5 point harnesses and tether straps. No board books. No Elmo,
Barney, or Winnie the Pooh. No strollers. No cribs. No changing
tables.
When I read the chapter book at night (currently "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"), there are two attentive, wide-eyed listeners. When I'm done reading the chapter....Dana reads a short book to Davis.
When we go to the park, they don't want to go in a stroller. They want to ride their bikes, scooters, or big wheels.
Where did my babies go? And who are these thinking, feeling, riding, reading people who replaced them?
Despite the twinge of sadness at the lack of babies in my life, this is great fun. The best part, so far, is revisiting my childhood favorite books. Reading the bedtime stories has always been my favorite part of the day....but even I can only read "We're going on a bear hunt" or "Sheep in a Jeep" so many times before going insane. Now, with these books - I'm looking forward to the chapter more than they are, I think.
But it is disarming to me that my favorite childhood books are so *violent*. I don't even remember the violent parts - but boy, that is what my kids pick right up on. We spent a good hour today playing "Narnia." Davis made me be the White Witch. I ran around with my wand, turning everyone into statues. He was Peter and he tried to kill me with his sword. Lovely little fantasy play there, no?
I've been informed that tomorrow I get to be the Giant Rumblebuffin and he will be Aslan. I suspect we will recreate the final battle scene. (We finished the book tonight.)
I do relish the irony that we keep our kids away from TV more than most....and then they discover violence all on their own through books. Books that I read them, no less.
They are already both begging for the next book in the series. It seems to me that someone switched the order of the books around. How can they do that? This is Narnia, people. This is sacred stuff, here.
When I read the chapter book at night (currently "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"), there are two attentive, wide-eyed listeners. When I'm done reading the chapter....Dana reads a short book to Davis.
When we go to the park, they don't want to go in a stroller. They want to ride their bikes, scooters, or big wheels.
Where did my babies go? And who are these thinking, feeling, riding, reading people who replaced them?
Despite the twinge of sadness at the lack of babies in my life, this is great fun. The best part, so far, is revisiting my childhood favorite books. Reading the bedtime stories has always been my favorite part of the day....but even I can only read "We're going on a bear hunt" or "Sheep in a Jeep" so many times before going insane. Now, with these books - I'm looking forward to the chapter more than they are, I think.
But it is disarming to me that my favorite childhood books are so *violent*. I don't even remember the violent parts - but boy, that is what my kids pick right up on. We spent a good hour today playing "Narnia." Davis made me be the White Witch. I ran around with my wand, turning everyone into statues. He was Peter and he tried to kill me with his sword. Lovely little fantasy play there, no?
I've been informed that tomorrow I get to be the Giant Rumblebuffin and he will be Aslan. I suspect we will recreate the final battle scene. (We finished the book tonight.)
I do relish the irony that we keep our kids away from TV more than most....and then they discover violence all on their own through books. Books that I read them, no less.
They are already both begging for the next book in the series. It seems to me that someone switched the order of the books around. How can they do that? This is Narnia, people. This is sacred stuff, here.
Posted at 09:39 PM
Quick Links
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
Categories
Archives
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Dec 18, 2006 03:36 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Dec 18, 2006 03:36 PM