tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16267920665798180112024-03-13T15:25:46.157-07:00Apparently A ParentA conglomeration of thoughts, book titles, experiences and hopes from a gal who has found her family is her life, and her life is her family.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-33700127740600737642012-01-03T13:33:00.000-08:002012-01-03T13:33:11.896-08:00Peace and QuietRecently, in the New York Times, there has been an influx of articles or op-eds regarding an increasing focus on how to get some peace and quiet from the iPhones, Blackberries, Droids, iPads, Kindles...and their ilk, that are constantly feeding our hunger for information.<br />
(a link to the aforementioned article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/opinion/sunday/the-joy-of-quiet.html?pagewanted=2&ref=general&src=me)<br />
<br />
Well, I suppose feeding is not the correct verb, actually. They act more like a stimulant than a source of satisfaction, don't they? And often, what we get from them is directives from our place of work or from our families, letting us know of one more item to add to the To-Do list, or one more page we need to add to the report.<br />
<br />
Count me in with those who are attached - after all, I possess both an iPhone and a Blackberry, and yes, they are with me 24/7. I am, though, fairly good about not perusing them while speaking to others. That particular habit really irks me. I happen to be married to someone who is guilty of doing this, but fortunately, I like him enough to let it slide, with only occasional well-placed barbs shot his way.<br />
<br />
Back to the subject of quiet. Quiet is what I search for as soon as I have time alone. General quiet. Trust me, I live in a house with a total of 6 humans, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 2 turtles. Quiet is not something that happens around here with any degree of regularity. I totally understand the need for it in our lives. And I sincerely believe our children need quiet - and although they will fight me tooth and nail on this, I believe teenagers need it even more than my 10 year olds.<br />
<br />
It is possible that 2012 will bring with it a new routine in our household, one that involves a box that will be a temporary residence for all smartphones and other devices, just for an hour or so each evening. During dinner and for a span of time following dinner, to remind all of us that the people physically surrounding us matter just as much as the people who are emailing, texting or calling those boxed-up devices.<br />
<br />
After all, those devices are nice enough to keep all of our messages waiting for us to find as soon as they are released from the box. The people around us may forget the important things they need to say to us, so we had better take the time to listen the first time.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-70532343008347786042012-01-01T10:13:00.000-08:002012-01-01T10:13:11.755-08:00New Year's Day = Start Anew Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YiWrdb7zx3M/TwCbhT_4QcI/AAAAAAAAACI/bc5oLEZ87WA/s1600/IMG_0972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YiWrdb7zx3M/TwCbhT_4QcI/AAAAAAAAACI/bc5oLEZ87WA/s200/IMG_0972.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Isn't that a simply gorgeous Christmas tree?<br />
<br />
No, that is not our family Christmas tree.<br />
But it was one of the stupendous trees in the lobby of the Willard Hotel in downtown D.C. We strolled through the hotel after viewing the National Christmas Tree.<br />
One note about the "new" National Christmas Tree -- it really resembles something much closer to a shrub than a tree, and it felt just unkind to post a photo of it. We are holding out hope it will grow into something that resembles a tree in the next few years...or decades.<br />
For those who are unaware, the former National Christmas Tree snapped in half during a ferocious wind storm in spring 2011. The new tree is its replacement. And, unfortunately, it is but a shadow of its former self. ; )<br />
<br />
And so, today is January 1, 2012. For some reason, the sound of 2012 sounds optimistic and hopeful. And I am more than willing to give into that, and face the new year with genuine belief in our ability to improve ourselves and the world we live in.<br />
<br />
So - a short list of the things I hope for myself and my crew to achieve in 2012:<br />
<br />
1. Strengthen ourselves, each of us physically, and as a family.<br />
2. Bolster our financial house and future. Plan, save and spend with more attention and focus.<br />
3. Remember that amidst the craziness that daily life can bring, we are definitely among those to whom this applies:<br />
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)<br />
**For the record, I did not realize the John F. Kennedy quote "To those whom much is given, much is expected" originated in the Book of Luke until I looked it up.<br />
<br />
4. And lastly -- and this one is for me: settle into my own skin, and continue to work on blooming where I am planted. It is good to be me.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-91987386496676704742011-03-06T11:11:00.000-08:002011-03-06T11:11:50.711-08:00InStyle, I am so over you<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">While waiting in CVS to get a prescription on Friday, I picked up the March 2011 issue of InStyle magazine. This will strike many folks who know me as a total laugh-riot, as I am one of the more fashion-impaired people they likely know. But on a whim, I bought it, thinking I would give it a look-over and see what was being declared “hot” for spring. Of course, now that I think about it, that is also pretty damn funny, as the chances of me wearing anything faintly “hot” are slim to none.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What I learned after perusing the magazine is that I have apparently aged out of InStyle magazine. Not so much because they don’t address women over 40 – they have Julianne Moore on the cover for heaven’s sake, and she is 5 years older than I am. But because I have less than zero interest in their focus on celebrities and their fashion choices. Once upon a time, I enjoyed paging through InStyle just to see what was what in fashion, but this time, I found I rather wanted my $4.99 back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It isn’t so much whether they give an adequate nod to women over 40 – obviously, their target demographic is not 45 year old women with four children and a reluctance to shop. Honestly, they do only give a “nod” to women over 40, despite their choice of cover model. But hey, that is an assumed fact with a magazine like this, so I will let that one go. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It has more to do with the fact that not only do I not even faintly resemble the women they photograph wearing clothing I have rarely actually seen outside of their pages – but that these people live in a completely different universe, one that apparently doesn’t include dog hair and the potential for mud to stain the cuff of their skinny jeans. Honestly, even if I did own the $282 cotton lace sweater featured on p. 244 with the $350 pair of trousers, the chances of it remaining intact for any extended period of time are very slim (in the interests of full disclosure, I never will own a $282 sweater, unless I bought it on sale for $39).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Also, I wonder if the women who could swing spending $632 on just a single top and trousers are actually reading InStyle themselves. Somehow, I rather have my doubts, although I suppose it is possible they read it if for no other reason than to see if they themselves are featured.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Don’t misunderstand – I’m not being a fashion curmudgeon. It is more of a case of what age has brought me – in this case, my 45 years have taught me that in my particular corner of the world, the ins and outs of fashion and $282 sweaters are not worthy of my time or attention. And even daydreaming about it isn’t fun anymore. Once upon a time, I really enjoyed paging through Vogue, InStyle and other fashion mags, but to say I am over that is to put it all too mildly. My daydreams now are more likely to be about how I wish we had four horses and a flock of chickens, or about how I wish I were a skilled meal planner and chef. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Suffice to say, this will be my last issue of InStyle. I have no doubt they will fare well despite the lack of my $4.99 per month. And I wish no evil upon those who anxiously await each month’s new issue. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I rather do wish I could have my $4.99 back, but I will take the lesson learned as adequate payment for now.</span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-14180996867795850702010-11-24T06:03:00.000-08:002010-11-24T06:03:44.944-08:00Thankgiving... with a side of bittersweetIt's the day before Thanksgiving, so we're double-checking ingredients and making sure we actually have more than 2 sides. The turkey is an extra special bird --- it's a 12 pounder that Spenser brought home as a result of winning the 3rd grade Turkey Trot one mile race. As Rob says, "that Spense - he's bringing home the bird!" And now we're about to make the bird the featured menu item for Turkey Day! It will be accompanied by a prime rib, for those that are slightly more carnivorous than others.<br />
<br />
But Thankgiving is a funny day. At least, it is here in my heart and mind. Over the last 20+ years, Rob and I have lost all of our parents. We're so aware of how lucky we were to have them to begin with, and they are a part of our lives, and the boys' lives, and we knit them into everything we do. That being said, though, it takes my breath away when I realize they are all gone. And Thanksgiving being the sort of holiday it is - well, it makes you remember all of your previous Turkey Days, and the drama of the family table, and the reluctant answers to the annual question "What are YOU thankful for?", which seems like such a stupid question when you're 15, but boy oh boy, when you're 45, it is amazing how long that thankful list is.<br />
<br />
I'm not being a downer here. I think watching the Thanksgiving dinner episode of NBC's "Parenthood" is the reason I'm a bit melancholy. I am fully aware it is a t.v. show, no more and no less. But they do such a good job of portraying life in a large family -- and boy, do I miss life in MY large family back in St. Louis. Even though parts of it were downright weird and decidely un-fun. As everyone's life is. <br />
<br />
So, this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all I have had as a result of my large family that I grew up with. I am thankful for the large family I have now - even if it is overwhelmingly dominated by testosterone. <br />
<br />
And I am thankful for other things - and so, a list:<br />
<br />
Outdoor Christmas decorations, especially the articulated white wire deer that come with entirely unintelligible building directions<br />
<br />
The new engine that brought our 2003 Expedition back to life<br />
<br />
Wireless printing. Definitely one of the best things EVER. <br />
<br />
Elementary school Awards Assemblies - just had one yesterday. The parental pride was downright palpable!<br />
<br />
Friends<br />
<br />
Hunter and Truman, our family canine companions<br />
<br />
Recreational and high school football - what on earth would fall be without my boys playing football??<br />
<br />
E-mail and texting-- without it, my siblings and I would have virtually ZERO communication<br />
<br />
Sod. Until your yard is missing a significant amount of grass, you have no idea how wonderful replacement sod can be. Trust me on this.<br />
<br />
Our outdoor fireplace. We use it nearly every day, and it is definitely a source of family time for us.<br />
<br />
Fall in Virginia - fall is a real season here, long and lovely, especially this year.<br />
<br />
Christmas music 24/7 on Pandora. Really, can you hear "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" too many times?<br />
<br />
What I am most thankful for, though, is not something I can lay a hand on, or smell, or show in a picture. <br />
<br />
I am incredibly thankful for my mom, dad and step-mother, who gave me a childhood filled with security, love and its share of bumps in the road. They gave me the foundation to become the still-in-progress person that I am, and they gave me confidence in myself to know that somehow, some way, I will muddle my way through and give my kids the same security and love.<br />
<br />
Because one thing I know for sure is this: Rob and I are creating the memories that will someday provide our boys with the brickwork for their adult lives -- and I damn sure want to know that they had it at least as good as I did. And boy, did I have it good...<br />
<br />
And I still do. Testosterone and all.<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving to you - and don't forget to have a healthy serving of Reddi Whip with the pie of your choice tomorrow. Honestly, isn't pie usually just a vehicle FOR the whipped cream?<br />
<br />
: )Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-41559050810441954832010-10-11T08:43:00.000-07:002010-10-11T08:43:32.022-07:00Ultimate Family VacationSponsored By<br />
<br />
<br />
<script src="http://thirdparty.fmpub.net/placement/355982?fleur_de_sel=[timestamp]" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<br />
<br />
Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheerios.com%2Flove%2FSweepstakes.aspx&k4=584&k5={banner_id}"">“Do What You Love” Sweepstakes</a>, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, and <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheerios.com%2Flove%2FSweepstakes.aspx&k4=584&k5={banner_id}">Enter the Sweepstakes</a> for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes. <br />
<br />
It's easy for me to draw a picture of my idea of the "ultimate family vacation" - although of course the ULTIMATE vacation would likely include something more upscale than the vacation I'm going to describe - but for me, the "ultimate family vacation" would look very much like the trip we took this summer to Los Angeles and Phoenix. <br />
<br />
Los Angeles is a favorite place of ours, and has been for a long time. It's sort of funny that way, because the kids have only been there once as a family before now, although the two oldest have each been there on additional time each on business trips with Dad. And add to those visits the fact that a favorite television show for my clan is "Emergency!", which took place in L.A., and voila! Favorite place status! <br />
<br />
We stayed at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in Universal City, which I cannot recommend highly enough. It has this "old Hollywood" glamour to it somehow, although it has been recently updated and is gorgeous and classically Los Angeles in its design and color schemes. The outdoor pool features "family movie nights", and the kids get to swim around and watch great flicks from the pool on an inflatable screen. This was a big hit with my clan. <br />
<br />
Add to a trip to Universal Studios, which included a walk-through of the Engine 51 station (Emergency! Engine 51, anyone?) and a fantastic afternoon. Our boys range from 8 - 15 years of age, and all of them had a great time between the rides and the shows. And we went to Venice Beach, which only happened because I had to visit one of the most wonderful paper shops on the planet - Urbanic Paper Boutique. Even better, we were there for "Cupcake Saturday", which made the boys' day. Killer cupcakes. <br />
<br />
What made it the "ultimate family vacation", however, was what ran beneath all of these activities and places. All 6 of us relaxed, and talked, and spent time with each other, and although we are already a close-knit family, this time together wrapped us even closer. Early mornings at the pools, some long drives in Los Angeles County, the drive from L.A. to Phoenix - there were moments of conversation and camaraderie that never would have happened elsewhere. It was like time out of "real" time, and it made this trip a vital part of our family memory. So much so that we plan on doing it again - probably next year. : ) <br />
<br />
Don't forget to enter the <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheerios.com%2Flove%2FSweepstakes.aspx&k4=584&k5={banner_id}"">“Do What You Love” Sweepstakes</a>, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses <a href="http://blogwithintegrity.com/">Blog With Integrity</a>, as I do. <br />
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-61159934954616982572010-08-22T08:53:00.000-07:002010-08-22T10:06:37.321-07:00Life Surprises Me1. The twins were watching a movie with me, and asked about a father and daughter dancing during a wedding reception. I explained that it's a sort of tradition, and it is called the Father-Daughter Dance. And as I said that, I had to pause because a huge lump turned up in my throat, and I had trouble speaking. I wasn't consciously missing my dad - I think about him daily, but not at that particular moment. Just SAYING Father/Daughter Dance overwhelmed me with emotion - and I was completely caught off guard. Losing a parent leaves such a void, and you become adept at either going around the void or filling it in so you are better able to avoid it -- but then your 8 year old asks about something as simple as a dance, and you find yourself swept into the void without having recognized you were anywhere near it.<br /><br />I do have to point out that I had a splendid dance with my wonderful father at my wedding 21 years ago. : )<br /><br />2. I thoroughly enjoyed the book "Red Hook Road" by Ayelet Waldman. Cannot recommend it enough. It tends to get classified as a book about sisters - but it is really about family, loss, and how relationships change over the span of time. I particularly liked how the parent-child relationships changed - and did not change - over the years.<br /><br />3. I watched the first episode of a new show on Showtime called "The Big C". Laura Linney stars, and she is wonderful. If you can overlook the occasional colorful language (including swearing at people one would not typically say such things to but would probably wish to), it is a show with a strong script and very little reluctance to talk about those things people rarely talk about out loud - most specifically, cancer. But that was not the most surprising thing about the show - what caught me off guard was when Laura Linney's character said one of her reasons to not pursue cancer treatment is because it would mean other people taking care of her, and that is what she does - take care of other people. And she just couldn't face the idea of having to have others care for her in that way. And I understood what she meant, 100%.<br /><br />Oddly enough, a couple of days later, I found myself in a conversation with a friend, talking about taking care of our families. She does a a great deal for her kiddos, her husband, her work - and I said that is exactly where I am in my life. I take care of my kids, my husband, my job, my pets, etc. - and right now, I don't do a great deal to take care of myself, in terms of "me time" and putting hours into hair care, etc. (not that I will ever put lots of time into hair care, anyway), -- and that is all right. THAT is where I am right now, and I try really hard to enjoy where I am right now. She totally understood what I was saying.<br /><br />Taking care of my family and my household and my friends - and working, writing, etc., - is what I do, and if it means not doing certain things for myself or temporarily putting certain goals on a shelf for the time being, that is what I choose to do. Not what I am forced to do. I happen to be pretty good at taking care of others, and it brings me a certain joy.<br /><br />Now don't misunderstand - I am no saint and I am certainly not filled with joy in everything I do. Joy is hard to find in some of the detritus of daily life - I know joy is definitely off-site when I have been waiting 35 minutes for football practice to end. And it is rarely nearby when I'm breaking up yet another name-calling contest between the boys.<br /><br />It was just surprising to see a t.v. show said something I had been thinking, but had not put into words.<br /><br />4. A children's book recommendation - Berkley Breathed, who is the genius behind the fantastic comic strip originating in the 1980s called "Bloom County, wrote a book for young adults called "Flawed Dogs". The twins and I are reading it together, and the plot is definitely NOT dumbed-down in anyway. The feelings of the dogs in the book are so on target with what dogs look like they might be thinking. And while some of the humans in the book are awfully reprehensible, there are also humans who are clearly the good guys. Get a copy and give it to a kiddo you like. Better yet, buy a copy and give it to a school library.<br /><br />5. Last thought for today - there is a saying "Bloom where you're planted". What that says to me is this:<br />Realize how lucky you are while you are lucky. Be aware of blessings as they come your way, even if those blessings look a lot like fighting kids or houses in need of new windows. When you can think of nothing you want more than a quiet house, find a spot to find that moment of silence, but don't forget that some time in the future, the kids and dogs and aquariums making all of that racket will be elsewhere, and the quiet you seek now could become the quiet you try to fill with television and CDs.<br />Being married and raising a family is work. And man, there are moments when it is SUCH HARD WORK. Egads, somedays there are days and days when it is such hard work. But you know what occurred to me recently? It should be. It doesn't GET any more important than that. Funny how we all understand that becoming a doctor requires all of those years of education and training, and we all say "but it's worth it". But then we are all taken off guard when parenting is hard. Raising itty bitty human beings to grow up and be kind, civil, hard-working members of society is no easy task, and the world is doing parents few favors in terms of help along the way.<br /><br />All of that being said, I love the idea of blooming where we're planted. Seeing the good before we get snarled up in the bad, difficult and icky. So, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, and I'll be over here blooming if anyone needs me.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-59582291923825241682010-06-21T05:51:00.000-07:002010-06-21T07:51:52.889-07:00Summertime And the Living Is...A Bit ComplicatedA Hope list for the Summer of 2010:<br /><br />1. I hope we all relax. Although that is obviously not proving to be very complex for three out of four boys, as since last Friday (the last day of school), they have slept until noon or until they were rudely awakened by me. I do get a peculiar joy out of waking up sleeping teenagers. Does that make me unkind?<br /><br />2. I hope the boys have what I think of as a "real summer". I know kids who participate in sport camps nearly all summer, and kids who go to "sleep-away" camp, and kids whose summers are chock-full of lessons, "summer bridge" learning programs, and various trips. The eldest boy does have weight training for football June and July, and "two-a-days" beginning in August, but otherwise, my kids tend to fall into the camp of "unscheduling". Sleep until you wake up (well, not every day), stay up later, go to the pool, hang out with friends, read, play games and yep - get bored. Last time I checked, boredom won't kill you. Although my boys apparently aren't aware of that fact just yet, judging by the fact "I'm bored" has already been said once -- and it wasn't even true at the time. It was just a reflex. : )<br /><br />3. I hope we have a truly great getaway later this summer when we travel to the west coast for a "real" family vacation. We usually wrap our time away around visits to family or around work for my husband. This trip - although it does include a spot of "work" for Rob - is a true vacation, and we are looking forward to it mightily.<br /><br />4. I hope to instill something faintly resembling a work ethic in the boys. After giving them a week or two of a break, I plan on putting daily responsibilities into place, so that everyone has at least some purpose in every day. I also want to encourage additional physical activity - biking, running, going on walks. And also some reading - fun reading, books of their own choosing. Just so we all keep some remembrance of our own capabilities, and perhaps return to school in the fall somewhat stronger and brighter.<br /><br />5. I hope that these 90+ degree days in June are not a portent of things to come. Summer heat is fine, but 85 degrees at 10 in the morning? C'mon, that's August weather, not June!<br /><br />6. I hope we score ourselves a contractor who can repair our collapsing retaining wall, which may eliminate the minor water-in-the-basement problem. And I hope we score ourselvs another fine person to clean our not so old roof shingles that have this rather repulsive mossiness all over them. Definitely reduces the "curb appeal" of our sweet yellow house.<br /><br />7. I hope we are able to get our second car, a 2003 Ford Expedition with a habit of spitting out its own sparkplugs, up and running again, just in time for the 15 y/o to acquire his learner's permit later this summer. And yes, I do find the prospect of any of my children driving a bit terrifying, but this one - he's probably going to do just fine. And he already has a better internal mapping ability than I do, which he is more than happy to point out on a regular basis. At least he is unlikely to get lost. : )<br /><br />8. I hope my little family of testosterone-laden critters remain as close and as reliant upon one another as we are now. My eldest reports that he has been ribbed a bit by friends who say he spends "too much time" with his family. To that I said "That is EXACTLY what I wanted for us - outcome achieved." He didn't find that half as funny as I did. But my point was made, and he actually (privately) admits he (usually) likes the fact we all hang around together and go to D.C. to "our" Washington Monument and "our" National Mall, and that we discover new places and experiences not far from our own backyard.<br /><br />We are a tightly bound family, and we know that the next 10 years will separate us geographically and personally, with college and life decisions putting perhaps hundreds of miles between us. And that is partly why we invest time in just being together - whether we are all crowded together in our smallish den watching a pre-recorded episode of "Friday Night Lights" or we're driving to D.C. on what has become our annual pilgrimage to the National Christmas Tree (even though two years ago, the tree had actually been turned OFF the day before - Rob will never ever live that one down) -- or we're all at the high school varsity football game, sitting in what has become our "usual" spot, talking to friends and letting the older boys sit with their friends, but touching base with us at halftime.<br /><br />We are a family. And I have yet to find the words to describe how much contentment I get from having my husband, boys, dogs, cat, turtles, and the life we have together. I have no idea how I got this lucky - but rest assured of this:<br /><br /><em>I never take it for granted.</em><br /><br />Happy Summer to all who read this...Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-17440407346524561632010-03-24T09:59:00.000-07:002010-03-24T10:36:08.414-07:0022 Things My Children Have Taught Me<div>At the suggestion of Stacy Julian, from her wonderful blog located at <a href="http://www.stacyjulian.com/">http://www.stacyjulian.com/</a>, I put together my own list of things I've learned from being a parent. This ties to a project created by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, which you can treat yourself to right here: <a href="http://www.whoisamy.com/">http://www.whoisamy.com/</a> -- go to her "small films" link, and select the film button with the yellow rubber duckies.</div><br /><div>And please do watch her short film - it's lovely.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>22 Things My Children Have Taught Me</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1. How to teach kids to ride bikes</div><br /><div>2. How to fix a dropped chain on said bikes</div><br /><div>3. Holding two babies at once can be done</div><br /><div>4. Feeding two babies at once requires dexterity and ingenuity</div><br /><div>5. To trust my instincs about my child's health</div><br /><div>6. Clean is great, but dirt on the floor proves we're playing in the yard</div><br /><div>7. You can cook dinner, help with homework, feed the dogs and struggle to remember if you really did add money to the school lunch account, all at the same time</div><br /><div>8. To listen with everything - my ears, my hands, my very skin - to really "hear" my kids</div><br /><div>9. Bike helmets really DO prevent head injuries - but they do nothing for elbows, knees and shoulders - just ask my 12 year old</div><br /><div>10. How to let my boys go - to daycare, to preschool, to school-school, to the 1st Homecoming Dance with the first girlfriend</div><br /><div>11. How to be a teammate with my husband so we parent as a team and not as two visiting rivals</div><br /><div>12. Caterpillars, earthworms, slugs and snails are to be "rescued", not overlooked or stepped on</div><br /><div>13. Socks are only intact for about a month after purchase, because shoes are always apparently optional</div><br /><div>14. Moo-ing can become a ridiculous funny family ritual</div><br /><div>15. SpongeBob is actually NOT the crappiest show on television</div><br /><div>16. 7-Up and saltines still soothe an upset stomach...or heart....or soul</div><br /><div>17. Twins can reach higher than singletons because they see each other as ladders</div><br /><div>18. Listen even when your ears ache from the constant input, because when kids know they can tell you anything, the payoff arrives when your "little one" is suddenly the 15 year old towering over you in the kitchen, telling you all the gory details of his day in high school - and you thank your lucky stars</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur_WUuXJbTay9djn8PKjZ3g1XF4l9jq-aGyLwuCL53XVuCEwJDxwFVhzJ584ej5mSkqmrQVojuQ4_3WMjMvHb2tG1hyphenhyphendBE72bnWZCXZuQCSE6pTLa-8XMzFqyZoyMa_nNcnofjr1pvzo/s1600/100_0945.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 159px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 102px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452253817630812258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur_WUuXJbTay9djn8PKjZ3g1XF4l9jq-aGyLwuCL53XVuCEwJDxwFVhzJ584ej5mSkqmrQVojuQ4_3WMjMvHb2tG1hyphenhyphendBE72bnWZCXZuQCSE6pTLa-8XMzFqyZoyMa_nNcnofjr1pvzo/s200/100_0945.jpg" /></a><br /><div>19. Legos + Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars + wooden blocks = endless hours of play</div><br /><div>20. Electric toy + batteries = interrupted play, while boy impatiently waits for parent to remember to buy/replace/locate the appropriate size batteries</div><br /><div>21. Traveling as a family is just smarter, because otherwise you and your spouse spend the whole trip saying "Oh, I wish the kids were here to see/taste/smell/feel THAT!"</div><br /><div>22. Life is better with my four boys in it</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-42591416337949422032010-03-09T06:08:00.000-08:002010-03-09T07:07:34.931-08:00New is not always betterOnce upon a time, we lived in a house that we simply adored. It was a big, rambling Tudor, with lots of land, and deer who apparently thought the land was there specifically for their daily strolls. After three years, pretty much against our will, we had to relocate and leave that house, and we moved over 800 miles away to the sweet, smaller house that we reside in now.<br />So, here we are, four and a half years later, and our old house is up for sale. So I checked it out online, and found photographs. The photographs are significant, because the new owners "updated" and "modernized" the house...so I looked at the pictures, and found myself so saddened.<br />The pictures show a house with extensive complicated landscaping, and a beautiful patio with a fountain and a pond. And the interior - the walnut tongue and groove walls are gone, the built-in bookshelves are gone, and everything is light and modern and...I looked at the pictures and felt like the soul of that house had been simply cut right out of it. It had been such a unique and lovely older house, and now, it looks like so many other big new homes, with little personality and lots of bells and whistles. And while the changes to the yard are pretty, and heck, we might have added a similar patio ourselves, many of the changes are ones that -again - are the sort of thing you see frequently in higher end houses, and they are hardly specific to this particular home.<br />I know how potentially idiotic it may appear to be, to be this affected by a home I no longer have any responsibility for. But you see, this house was what we hoped would be our "forever" house, where we would bring up our boys, live our lives, bury our family pets, run on the trails we built...and instead, we had to leave it. And now, someone has taken this grand older home and turned it into just another updated house.<br />Back in late summer 2002, my husband brought us to this house, so that we could see the house in person that we had looked at online for the last few weeks. We were moving from Colorado to Missouri, and we wanted to buy rather than rent, so this was our last chance to find a house. We literally just dropped into a realtor's office, asked to see this house - and this house only, which the realtor thought was just bizarre. So we opened the front door, my husband walked in first - he looked around the foyer, and as he turned to hold the door for me, he said "This is it." And so it was - just like that, we knew. This empty old house, which had sheltered the family that built it for their entire lives, opened itself to us and said "Finally! I've been waiting for you! Welcome home." -- and yep, we were home.<br />I've never felt that way before or since.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-13477049895138380732010-02-12T11:05:00.000-08:002010-02-12T11:06:00.111-08:00Getting some air<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO2dddaxaKotaNrhiiuWNhRS0bwzOhb9gVLGPQxr2tpYHhGB9rfJo9EYoHa5pfHYCqN1dE73MPXp4mDe8MYr7w7J9Y-7M04am5XE-P2KPi0JC2NHL-plwXv0eoxIzgfcWjeMphCLlp9E/s1600-h/P1040007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 311px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO2dddaxaKotaNrhiiuWNhRS0bwzOhb9gVLGPQxr2tpYHhGB9rfJo9EYoHa5pfHYCqN1dE73MPXp4mDe8MYr7w7J9Y-7M04am5XE-P2KPi0JC2NHL-plwXv0eoxIzgfcWjeMphCLlp9E/s320/P1040007.JPG" width="349" height="240" /></a><br /><br />When son #2 goes outside to "get some air", he means it in an entirely different way<br />than most folks...<div style='clear:both; text-align:RIGHT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-70937828501382981382010-02-11T11:26:00.000-08:002010-02-11T11:43:25.681-08:00Sweetarts are my SweetheartsI'm going out on a limb here and guessing in advance that Valentine's Day will be a complete wash-out around here. Don't get me wrong - we're a loving bunch around here, with a bumper crop of hugs given out on a daily basis by everyone except the aquatic turtles. But with the high level of distraction we have been operating under due to the over-abundance of snow, both my husband and myself have honestly not given V-day one moment of thought. Add to that the fact that this Friday will mark the 10th (11th?) day of school closures, and therefore there will be no classroom V-day fest for the two elementary school attendees, and the result is: crap-on-a-cracker Valentine's Day festivities. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVqk6gE7yVb8icVa6XxA_3F9cLZEi0NRMSXvzgXsBoB6cLMAfhJDN5u48ibtG0eGMhBVVdUyLiFozAEcS6G5ns0Xa-LFXtL_Kjior16TxOQZs4CyulYJSfWvVRURMJRdxNKbnCJxcHKo/s1600-h/sweetarts.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 266px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437072487112831794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVqk6gE7yVb8icVa6XxA_3F9cLZEi0NRMSXvzgXsBoB6cLMAfhJDN5u48ibtG0eGMhBVVdUyLiFozAEcS6G5ns0Xa-LFXtL_Kjior16TxOQZs4CyulYJSfWvVRURMJRdxNKbnCJxcHKo/s320/sweetarts.jpg" /></a><br /><br />One saving grace, however -- Sweetart Hearts. It is pathetic to admit this, but I buy these suckers two bags at a time, initially in an attempt to keep them all to myself. But then it became entertaining to get the rest of the family hooked. So now Sweetart dust is covering certain parts of the kitchen counter where the crock of Sweetarts resides.<br /><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Don't blame me if the CVS and Target nearest me are out. I only bought their remaining inventory.</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-44129904094755821602010-02-09T11:59:00.000-08:002010-02-09T11:59:56.371-08:00Snow effects<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkXh3SYW57D7_jdlu006FAvUsqNTf-XM7a_oGeLipqI9V99n3-y9ihwrjfmcnAJa5m9sR_ac98k-RpBTRh9CFrAruANAWpJ_gTq1nyvWOucxO8RNCUxaBqbLJsj2f6UkKH9s6XbrRStc/s1600-h/P1030944.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkXh3SYW57D7_jdlu006FAvUsqNTf-XM7a_oGeLipqI9V99n3-y9ihwrjfmcnAJa5m9sR_ac98k-RpBTRh9CFrAruANAWpJ_gTq1nyvWOucxO8RNCUxaBqbLJsj2f6UkKH9s6XbrRStc/s320/P1030944.JPG" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is where the snow measured on Saturday night, February 6. This was all<br />"new" snow - as opposed to the old snow (some VERY old, dating back to oh, the last blizzard on Dec. 20 - yep, it's still taking up space all over the yard).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZO0jK4ZKxUXNTg8lFJi3FtTVroqQ0ufgzbHvqipjfgIcpqq78fL06DRlhgAdN_rdlXcT6-PtZOBs1hC6dUT3BRQyN4-mMRsct66uZtpSyP-Eax31PjqOYiplJpTG_UpTKjqDo9UGUjLQ/s1600-h/P1030954.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: both" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZO0jK4ZKxUXNTg8lFJi3FtTVroqQ0ufgzbHvqipjfgIcpqq78fL06DRlhgAdN_rdlXcT6-PtZOBs1hC6dUT3BRQyN4-mMRsct66uZtpSyP-Eax31PjqOYiplJpTG_UpTKjqDo9UGUjLQ/s320/P1030954.JPG" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br />And here is our lovely nest, looking quite "gingerbread-like" in the snow. The beauty of this photo is the fact we have electricity!<br /><br />And now it is today - Tuesday, February 9, and we are awaiting the arrival of the first flakes of the really "NEW" snow, scheduled to start falling any minute now. Yes, we are thrilled to hear another 7-14" of snow is predicted over the next 24 hours. But this time, the snow is bringing its pal "high wind gusts", so this time could prove even more interesting...<div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-577230468100655322010-02-07T06:31:00.000-08:002010-02-07T06:52:32.643-08:00After the snowstorm...It is 9:30 on Sunday, February 7. My 3 younger boys are just awakening in their father's office where we have been camping since Friday evening. The oldest is off with one or another crew, doing what he can to be helpful. I'm beginning to pack up our nesting materials, with the intent of returning to our rightful nest later today.<br /><br />Stafford County (and all of northern Virginia and the National Capital Region) has been hit with yet another significant snowfall - 19" according to our front yard, but over 24" have fallen in north Stafford County, and over 30" in part of Maryland and western counties in Virginia, so we did get a little lucky, as it were. Since we have lost power during snowstorms before, and this one promised to be a "big 'un", we made the call (with considerable pushing by my husband) to relocate the fam to a safer place with backup power. As it turns out, the power in our neighborhood stayed on, so we are going home in short order.<br /><br />I've been able to do all of my necessary work for VDEM, which has been a huge help. And our boys have been simply outstanding in their ability to "roll with the punches". Virtually no complaining, and just a little bit of restlessness. Thank goodness for imaginations, cable television, Nintendo DSi's, and iPods. And snacks - particularly Spicy CheezIts and Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream. Between all of those options, they kept themselves busy while their Dad and I did the work the snow event required of us.<br /><br />One of the upsides of the all-in-on-room situation is that a freshly woken twin came and climbed into my lap, nestling himself back to sleep for a few minutes. I know these moments are not going to happen all that regularly as we move along the age-line. And I will stop everything I am doing when these moments come along. There is nothing to compare with burying your nose into the hair of a boy snuggled against you...<br /><br />So on we go, moving forward into the snow-laden beyond. : )Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-40576637410363966752009-12-14T06:28:00.000-08:002009-12-14T06:58:26.457-08:00Meandering my way through the holidaysIt is December 14. 11 days until Christmas. To say I am "behind the eight ball" is to put a very mild spin on the situation.<br /><br />And oddly enough, for the first time that I can remember, the pressure of running behind is really getting to me. Don't misunderstand - I run behind on a regular basis, and it OFTEN gets to me -- but being short on time at the holidays? Big deal!<br /><br />But for some reason, it IS a big deal to me this year. I can feel the pressure in my chest. Ugh.<br /><br />The tree is up, the lights are on, and about 1/3 of the ornaments are on the tree. The yard has been decorated since late November, thanks to Rob, and various decorations are showing themselves around the house. So I am not a complete putz. Nevertheless, I do feel quite putz-like.<br /><br />All of that being said, I adore Christmas. The music, the movies, the houses lit up within an inch of their lives along neighborhood streets, the gift-hunting, the gift-giving, the food, the parties --- most specifically, the Christmas party Rob and I throw each year at our house. It is a source of angst and ridiculous amount of preparation squished into the 24 hours BEFORE the party, but it invariably turns out to be a grand ole time!<br /><br />At any rate, the pressure of Christmas is currently mixed in with every other week phone calls with my siblings regarding my father's estate. And perhaps that is the source of the weight that is settling on my chest every damn day. It is an awful thing to discuss the distribution of the parts and parcels of a person's life. And it gets harder when we discover that out of the seven kids, more than one of us (of course) find particular parts and parcels to be equally important and therefore must find a way to decide who gets what.<br /><br />Trust me, it is ridiculously unpleasant.<br /><br />Now I must move forward in my holiday quest to figure what ELSE I have neglected to do/find/call/write or pay...Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-33005625871140036752009-11-11T18:27:00.000-08:002009-11-11T18:44:33.661-08:00Keep Moving ForwardMy father passed away at the end of September. And I find that the long-held and often given advice of "give it time, it will get better" is true, but that the advice rides shotgun with the Dorothy Parker line of "What fresh hell is this?" at any given moment when I abruptly remember that he is no longer with us.<br /><br />To add to the scenario, he was our kiddos' last surviving grandparent. It is a downright off-putting feeling to lose that last pillar of strength - not a safety net so much as a source of help, advice, silent support...and while I know that at 44, I am most certainly an adult entirely on my own, it always gave me stability, knowing that my dad was around to talk to. As if you are steadily leaning on someone that is hundred of miles away.<br /><br />That being said, we are now entering the holiday season, which leads to the question of how to establish new traditions that pay tribute to former traditions that are now no longer able to be celebrated. So we are looking forward to having our "own" holidays, but also are sort of dreading the feeling of nothing being how it used to be.<br /><br />So, in the midst of all this, we are working, cleaning, washing, sweeping, mowing, laundering, learning, crying, laughing, fighting, driving, eating, shopping, touring, living -- and remembering that it really is our job, our obligation, to "keep moving forward", as Walt Disney said.<br /><br />We keep moving forward, with the past in our pockets, close to our hearts.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-73560901667586513232009-08-10T08:44:00.001-07:002009-08-10T09:15:32.636-07:00Choosing childrenI was thinking recently about what makes a person decide to have children, and what makes a person decide not to have children. I have always said that I can appreciate the decision to not have children - I mean, obviously, you would save a great deal of money, and time, and stress. It does not take a genius to see that as an adult, your life would certainly be your own to a greater extent, and that your career could take a greater role. Heck, your marriage, if you chose to go that route, could even gain, I suppose, by having a greater amount of time to spend on one another.<br /><br />One day last week, though, I was watching one of my younger kiddos sleep. He happened to be right next to me, sleeping in bed with my husband and I, early in the morning. This is not a baby or a toddler - this is a 7 year old, very nearly 8 - yet nevertheless, looking at his face, I found myself overcome with a feeling of...I'm not sure I know how to describe it.<br /><br />I looked at him, and all in one moment I again (because I have felt this before) recognized that this human being was mine, in a way nothing else ever will be, and that his face and his hair and his long fingers are all a result of two people who love him so entirely and completely. And I felt that overpowering pull of protectiveness, possessiveness, pride - all of those things that make a parent a parent. That pull that made me reach out and lay my hand on his face, and stare at him as if he was about to disappear. Looking at him and knowing him.<br /><br />THAT - that feeling I am completely failing to describe entirely appropriately? THAT is one of many reasons I count my blessings that I have children.<br /><br />I do not want to go through my life - my particular life - without having that. Without knowing I don't have that. I realize that with all things being relative, a person who chose not to have children would not realize he/she was missing that feeling. It is impossible to miss what you don't know you are missing. BUT - I know, because I have made another decision, that I would not want to live without having THAT feeling knit into my very self.<br /><br />All of my boys bring out that emotion at varying times, and I try to at least for a second capture that feeling when it comes and swats me in the face.<br /><br />I capture it so that when I am hollering at the pack to tone down their voices, and when I am reminding everyone to throw dirty clothes down the laundry chute instead of on the nearest floor, and when I am making the fourth trip of the day to or from a football field, school or grocery....I can always reach around and remember that yes, I did choose this life, and that in spite of the daily insanity and the fraying of the nerves --- I am so damn glad this is the life I chose.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-42041173530512330002009-07-09T13:24:00.000-07:002009-07-09T13:41:04.292-07:00Summer Catch-UpI wonder how many times it is considered kosher to say you are still "catching up" to summertime and its endless ability to make mush out of a previously scheduled life.<br /><br />It is nearly criminal for me to complain at the moment, however, as it is a lovely 83 degrees here in northern Virginia, and it is sunny and not all too humid. Furthermore, I'm sitting on my screened-in porch, with two children outside playing and two elder children inside playing (Xbox, anyone?), and it is the first semblance of peace I have had all day.<br /><br />I get limited feedback to my blog, but I hope to someday gain insight as to how other parents feel about certain issues. I find myself wound pretty tight about very few things, but boy, the ones that get me going are ones I cannot get over. Some issues I question:<br /><br />1. Use of candy in school as motivation and/or reward. I don't consider myself an antique, but I can say that candy was never distributed by a teacher in any of the schools I went to. I have to be frank and say that I do "get" why teachers might rely on candy, but I don't have any appreciation for it.<br /><br />2. Are sports camps now a requirement for a kiddo to be considered a "serious" athlete? Summer is just one specialty sport camp after another for some kids I know, and I have no problem admitting that I don't get it.<br /><br />3. If my eldest (14 y/o) is to be believed, I am in a class by myself in not permitting him to see "R" movies without heavy parental involvement (as in I or my husband see the movie first or view it with him). Honestly, this has come up at least 4 times already this summer, and I know he is being factual about some of his pals, but c'mon - explain why any 14 y/o should be allowed to see "Bruno" or "The Hangover"?<br /><br />I've seen "The Hangover", and its level of raunch made <em>me</em> regretful of the $$$ spent to see it!<br /><br />I'll stop there - feedback would be greatly appreciated, though. Those are things I find myself thinking about, and they are nuts I just can't crack.<br /><br />Final note for today: stumbled upon an old fave candy at Cracker Barrel this weekend: Tootsie Pop Drops. Anyone else remember these? "The Tootsie Pop Without The Stick". Can't tell you the last time I found these - a small thing that made me extraordinarily happy.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-30042664295194742192009-05-31T06:11:00.000-07:002009-05-31T06:24:51.089-07:00Swimming to the topI feel very much as if I have been bumbling about under the surface of the water, thinking I was breathing air when in fact, I was sucking in water. Not drowning, but definitely not in the light of day.<br /><br />Life has gotten the better of us in the past few weeks. It is so easy to get caught up in the very "dailiness" of life, particularly Monday through Friday. And then the weekends become a blur of catching up on chores, sleep, food, family - and then, just like that, Monday arrives and the hamster wheel begins spinning again.<br /><br />Summer is rapidly approaching - my clan of boys begin their summer on June 16. It actually marks a rather interesting segue in our lives. My eldest will be leaving middle school and readying to enter high school in the fall. That will result in having one or more children in each branch of the school system - two in elementary, one in middle, and one in high school. That has all the makings of an adventure. Add to that: all four in football, other extracurriculars, added studies for the eldest, possible junior Navy ROTC, and you know - life in general - and September will be nothing if not "interesting".<br /><br />But for now, it is the last day of May, and we have 12 days of this school year remaining. I have work that has been my pleasure to do for the last six weeks (new job that began April 20), work I find simultaneously interesting and educational, with a little bit of frustration with "the system" thrown in. And that is not a bad mix. Working from home is proving to be an excellent option for me, in spite of the sometime distraction from my tasks in the shape of household chores and family members who want my attention. But again - it is not a bad mix.<br /><br />I am compiling a list of most excellent children's books and a couple of mighty fine items I highly recommend for your family. Believe me when I say that with four boys, my husband and myself, we do manage to find a way to "test drive" various items. Our findings are exceedingly reality based, trust me on that.<br /><br />But for now, it is a Sunday morning, and I have two dogs that are looking beseechingly at me to take them outside. And offspring eating Captain Crunch on the couch, which is technically a no-no (not the cereal, but the dining on the couch). Breakfast for the rest of the clan remains a hope, as well - perhaps my husband will deliver on THAT one. We can only hope.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-46385358266814159692009-04-03T12:03:00.000-07:002009-04-03T12:53:00.214-07:00Biden, Sparkplugs and ChangeIt has been a rather intense week in our household, and although I am relieved to have the weekend upon us, I think I will feel better once we come up with a solution to the hand we were dealt this week.<br /><br />However - to recap the going-ons that made this week altogether unique:<br /><br />1. We attended the Congressional Fire Services Institute's National Fire & Emergency Services Dinner last night at the Washington Hilton. I have attended before, and I have heard (then) Senator Joe Biden speak before, but oddly enough, when a senator become Vice-President, it is amazing how much difference a title makes. There were more than 2000 people in attendance, and when the Vice-President spoke, there was <em>not one word</em> being spoken by anyone other than him.<br /><br />That being said, the entire time he was speaking, there were cellphones and cameras raised all over the room, snapping pictures and recording the sound of his voice. It was rather comical, actually, seeing the evident respect and admiration for him while watching men in full dress uniforms try to peer into their phone's screens to be sure they have the right shot.<br /><br />2. Also this week brought a significant change to our household in that I will be taking on a new job later this month. Changing over from working for a locality to working for the state should prove interesting and challenging, to say the least. One major perk: I will be able to work from a home office, and while that presents challenges of its own, it will offer flexibility that our family of six desperately requires.<br /><br />3. Last, our family truckster, which is six years olds and was recently paid off, spit out another sparkplug (this made five in the last 15 months), but this time, the sparkplug stripped the chamber. What this means to you and me is this:<br />Choose from the following 3 options:<br /><ol><li>spend $3XXX for a new cylinder head</li><li>spend $7XXX for a new engine</li><li>or go into auto loan debt all over again with a new car</li></ol><p>Sometimes having choices does not necessarily mean any one of those choices is GOOD.</p><p>Anyone with any knowledge of the apparently known problem of 1995-2003 Ford 5.4 liter Triton engines spitting out sparkplugs, please feel free to leave me a comment with any potentially helpful advice!</p><p>Lastly, I am reading a book worth recommending: American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld. I will put up a link to Amazon later, but for now - I highly recommend it as a not-so-lightweight read. Excellent writing by an author I already liked.</p><p>Now I get to go find out just how much option 3 from above will really cost us...</p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-18868677775960435752009-03-24T17:02:00.000-07:002009-03-24T17:08:03.438-07:00Slow on the uptakeSometimes technology and I completely click. Other times - not so much. I just spend a truly inordinate amount of time compiling the charming list of book titles in the left column of this site. I am positive it is not supposed to be as difficult as I made it. But there you are.<br /><br />The books listed in "The Reading List" are ones my kiddos have heartily approved. Part of my goal for this weblog is to advance the cause of children's literature, and one way of doing that is showing titles that my family of six has found to be particularly engaging, fun to look at, touching or just plain a great read.<br /><br />So please view at will, and be aware that it will change as our library grows. In general, if a book is on that list, we likely already own it. In hardback. Because I just cannot seem to help myself.<br /><br />That being said, though, I am a HUGE advocate of public libraries, and oftentimes, a book is checked out a multitude of times from the library (a good example is the Mo Willems' "The Pigeon Finds/Eats/Gets..." series) prior to being added to the permanent library.<br /><br />And oddly enough, almost 100% of my grown-up reading list is from the library. Apparently I reserve the book purchases for those under the age of....well, under my age.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-32028215454416175642009-03-18T16:53:00.000-07:002009-03-18T17:08:08.586-07:00Put your thinking caps onTwo items I ran across on the web today have me thinking.<br /><br />1. The first is a story about the cable channel named PBS Sprout. <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/03/11-11">http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/03/11-11</a><br /><br />If you are not familiar with it, just think "All PBS, all the time". Well, make that all PBS children's programming, all the time. Literally - it runs 24/7. A charming little show is on in the evening hours called (aptly) The Good Night Show. It seems to be built around the idea that a slower pace of programming with a host to guide the viewer along might be conducive to sleepy-time. Well, because so many American parents have apparently become a bit dependent on the show, now a whole contingent of parents are saying "PBS, stop showing this progam, because now my children are STAYING UP TOO LATE watching it".<br /><br />I have to be honest and say I had one, singular reaction to this story:<br />If you don't like your kiddo watching t.v. at bedtime, find that switch that turned the t.v. on and reverse the process. Turn. It. Off.<br /><br />But no - instead, a vocal group of parents is requesting that the show be taken off the air. "Advocates for children" are stating that Sprout is exploiting the trust of parents by the mere fact they have a show designed - by all appearances - to be sleep-provoking.<br />My children do not have t.v.s in their bedrooms, and they do not watch t.v. while going to sleep (unless they happen to nod off during an episode of "Big Love" -- I jest, I jest). So this is not a problem I can readily identify with. However - if any one has an argument to make in favor of removing a harmless t.v. show rather than simply shutting the blasted t.v. off - please be my guest and make it. I'd love to shoot arrows through it. Again, just kidding - but honestly, I cannot see a justification for this argument. Am I being thick-headed?<br /><br />2. I subscribe to Google Reader, and one of the blogs/sites I follow is "Metrodad". I ran across one of his posts today, and perhaps as a result of having been on this parenting road for the last 14+ years, I found myself absolutely howling with laughter at his responses to many parenting questions he states folks shoot his way. See for yourself: <a href="http://metrodad.typepad.com/index/2009/03/all-your-parenting-questions-answered.html">http://metrodad.typepad.com/index/2009/03/all-your-parenting-questions-answered.html</a><br /><br />I particularly like the idea of encouraging newly minted married couples who believe they are ready for a kiddo to get a puppy first. I do just that - folks who say "Oh, we just cannot wait to start a family!" after having been married for 15 minutes are prime candidates for me to say "You know, a puppy is a great way to gradually accustom yourself to what life is like with an infant - up to a point". And usually that point comes when the new parent realizes that the baby cannot be put into a crate like a puppy - at least, not in any states I know of...Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-5454751302133501632009-03-16T18:19:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:47:30.633-07:00Findings 3/16/09<div>Stumbled upon websites, books and bits of information:<br /><br />1. Eric Carle, an all-time favorite author of ours, has a blog. Did you know? It was news to me.<br />Read what the author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" has to say here: <a href="http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/">http://ericcarleblog.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />2. For anyone who loves smooth round river/ocean rocks, check these out-- made of renewable bamboo. I am wishing I had a bowl of them, waiting to sift through my hands: <a href="http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=490">http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=490</a><br /><br />3. Children's book recommendation for today: The Happy Hocky Family, by Lane Smith.</div>A book with visual and story appeal, this is an ongoing favorite in our house. It is on great manilla-looking paper, with illustrations that you <em>almost</em> feel like you could at least dream of drawing, and snapshot stories of the Hocky Family, including Mr/Mrs. Hocky, Baby Hocky, Henry and Holly Hocky, and Newton - the cat.<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FRPG73V7L._SL160_.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FRPG73V7L._SL160_.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; MARGIN: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" height="1" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpapparentl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0140557717" width="1" border="0" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140557717?ie=UTF8&tag=httpapparentl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140557717"></a><br /><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1626792066579818011.post-53696644549968493292009-03-16T14:26:00.000-07:002009-03-16T14:35:18.556-07:00Introductions are in order<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Greetings from my corner of the world. My corner is in northern Virginia, although I have also lived in corners in Missouri (St. Louis/Kansas City/Columbia), Ohio (Cincinnati area), and Colorado (Castle Rock) prior to this corner.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">I have thoughts and issues and topics I believe to be worth discussing, and I got tired of hearing my own responses to my own ideas - so now the ideas have a new home. I like to think of things having homes. Around my house, things have places they live. So the kids ask "Where does the spatula live?" instead of "Where does the spatula go?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Of course, that scenario requires the kids to a) be able to identify a spatula, and b) be in a position where said child would actually be displaying responsibility in terms of putting things away. I'll have to do a quick mental review to see if these things happen with any degree of regularity in my house.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Answer? Not often enough, thank you very much.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">I am a parent - and also a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a pet owner, and a friend. Doesn't everyone have a multitude of roles to play? But it is funny how the "parent" role impacts every thing else, more than any other role. There is no getting away from it once you have kiddos. It is a permanent role, a permanent connection, and a permanent source of amusement, irritation and emotion. And frustration. And humor. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">You get the idea.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">So off we go. </span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420354678775306466noreply@blogger.com0