Our son is in first grade this year. He's a smart little guy. He's so darn smart, that he will avoid extra work if it's not needed. He can't be bothered to show off, because he already know he's smart and fun and awesome.
He IS awesome! He is reading and writing at a level far beyond what my inner city kids were expected to achieve. His math understanding is phenomenal- negative numbers are par for the course with him, so place value, that's kid stuff!
That said, he spends so much time focusing on new stuff, that he does the bare minimum when it comes to school work. If you tell him you need AT LEAST 2 sentences, he writes- 2 sentences. If you say first graders should be able to read this book- that's the most difficult book he'll read. He'll rise to the challenge you issue... BUT only the challenge you issue.
I grew up competitive- I like to win. I found out recently that this is called optimism- Apparently, because I am sometimes overly confident in my abilities, living up to my own goals is difficult, but I work my butt off to meet my own goals. Our son though, he doesn't see the need to set his own goals yet, he's young. He'd rather attain whatever goals are placed in front of him, as long as they are reasonable!
We're gearing up for parent teacher conference. I never thought I would be this parent. I am a teacher by trade, my skills, my training- this is what I do! Here I sit, drawing nearer to December, wondering.... How do I express to the teacher all that we see? How do we show his real potential? How do we tell her that he is probably the smartest kid in her class? So smart that he can't be bothered with putting his work in writing?
I remember being where he was. This was the easy stuff... the kid stuff- basic (really basic) arithmetic, simple geometry (naming shapes). I remember knowing it so well that I didn't bother to put any effort in. I don't want to be THAT parent, but here I sit, knowing that the only way he will put his best foot forward is if I am obnoxious enough to make the teacher see, believe and understand that he will do whatever is asked of him!
When racing go karts, we can ask that he improve by one second at a time- just one second, but one second is a lot. One second is the difference between passing and being passed. One second is the difference between 3rd place and dead last. If we don't tell him he should try for third, he's happy with fourth. The first time he came in fourth, he was ecstatic! "I didn't realize there was a fourth place!" he said... "So we all can win!" What a revelation for him.. What a revelation for us! As his parents, that helped us to see, he is capable of whatever he sets his mind to. We also saw that he will only set his mind to meeting the expectations laid out in front of him.
We have 3 weeks. In 3 weeks, we need to be able to show his teacher that he needs to be in her most accomplished reading group. In 3 weeks, we'll have to explain how putting him in the math group he doesn't seem ready for, or how telling him to double his work output is not only reasonable, but imperative will benefit her.
When we found out he had a teacher that was, for all intents and purposes a first year teacher, we were optomistic. Now we need to be obnoxious instead. He needs this. It is our job as parents to ensure that he is pushed to do what he can, learn all he can, and see the joy in doing the best work he is capable of. I only hope that we, his parents, can rise to meet this challenge!
November 20, 2011
July 20, 2011
July 19, 2011
The Mostril Story
For end of the year teacher gifts, I turned the kids loose with sharpies on some white plastic flower pots. The hubby sprayed them with clear coat... They came out cute. It was father's day, and the kids wanted to make one for the hubby. Since this is a big secret surprise, spraying the clear coat on this one fell to me. The application of the clear coat went uneventfully. I left the Father's Day Flower pot in the driveway to cure. I capped the spray can an headed back to the garage, and then it all went south....
Once inside the garage, it made sense to leave the spray can with the other flower pots in case a second coat was deemed necessary. The other pots were set on a rubbermaid lid, balanced on a go kart stand (you can picture a saw horse with a little foam padding across the horizontal part). The riding lawnmower was parked between the garage door and the stand. The regular mower was angled in front of the stand. Beyond that were bikes and trikes and power wheels... you get the picture, its a real garage for a family with a mechanic, mom, and 2 kids...
I stepped over the pushmower to set the paint on the lid beside the pots. I picked up my back foot, promptly tangling it in the pull cord to start the push mower. I had one of those moments of panic where your life flashes in front of your eyes... I had too much momentum to stop, and besides, in that instant, I wasn't thinking "Hey, I'd have to squeeze the lawnmower handle to start it" but rather, if I pull this cord with my foot I'll start the mower and cut my leg off. I toss the spray can near it's intended location and put my hands out to break my fall. My left hand fails miserably at this task, missing all things I could possibly grab on the way down, so I focus in that instant in making contact with my right. Well I did... My right hand catches the very edge of the rubbermaid lid... Except we have to remember, this is balanced on the stand with nothing but light plastic pots holding it down. So the stand acts as a fulcrum, the lid as a see saw, and the pots, spray can, and lid are all catapulted into the air, flying across the garage and tumbling in various locations, and my hand once again is falling.
The stand is getting closer and closer to my face, so I turn my head, and catch myself with my nostril. Well, really the whole side of my face from my pointy teeth/lip area to my brow bone. Then everything stops... I wait for a second, get my bearings, stand up, check my foot (no longer tangled). Breath a few times, collect all the flower pots and things (this time MOVING the lawn mower to put them in their designated location.
For the most part, the story ends there. However, the next day, sitting all alone, I start having a little stinging burning sensation along side my nose... so I announce to the world "My mostril is hurting" and the world replies back with "" and the world responded: "I hate it when my mostrils bruise" and "yeah, bruised mostrils are the worst!"
This, of course, resulted in the need to explain the mostril story. Explaining the mostril story, when don't in person, is accompanied by pantomiming the events and reliving the momentary fear of death... and at least one coworker crying from laughing at me so hard. So, sorry if you need a tissue now... Next time, I'll try to get it on video!
July 16, 2011
A new trend- Salad as Landscaping
When we bought our house, we worried about the neighborhood, the schools, the commute and more. One of the last things I considered was maintaining the landscape! The VERY first thing we did when we closed on this house was dig a trench through the front yard. It was mid december, and there was snow on the ground. Thankfully a close family member just purchased a backhoe, so he hooked us up... Unfortunately, this means that we displaced a lot of landscaping. Did I ever mention that the previous owner was a landscaper?
So for the past year and a half, we've struggled to decide which projects to do next. What makes sense? What can we afford? What will we later destroy in efforts to fix something else? What do we need to put minimal effort into because it will be a while before we can really do it right? Landscaping has mostly fallen into that last category. Hopefully the downstairs bathroom can be our next priority (once we clean up the mess from the current project, that is, demolition of the illegal sun room off the back of the house...)
When we moved in, the hubby and I discussed the garden. I need a garden to feel whole. A garden can be a big commitment, and depending on how it is done, a big expense. Then my mom bought the kids about $20 in seeds that they chose. So we both caved... We dug (by hand) a little plot, planted some stuff straight into the dirt, and nutured what we could until the deer ate up 2/3 of our crops. I also tried to plant a little herb garden behind our roses. The second bag of compost I opened should have been labeled "mulch." It was 1" pieces of bark and wood... It was 10:00 at night, I didn't have the energy to return it, so I decied I'd make it work. I got some sprouts, but within a week, they were gone... At the time, I blamed the dirt, and moved on...
We started with fresh resolve this year, building a better fence with some lumber scraps (and some bought lumber) and some hand me down fencing. We started tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower and broccoli inside at the end of March. When the farmers market opened the first week of may I picked up some more varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and the kids BEGGED for lettuce. How does a mom turn THAT down? But we had a problem... while we enlarged the garden this year, we had plans for every square inch of it... so where to put the lettuce? Well, for a week, it sat in a sunny window in the kitchen. And then it came to us... We bought one more bag of garden soil, filled up the area behind the roses a bit more with nice fresh dirt, and planted those lettuces right in our front flower beds. I dropped some seeds for green looseleaf and swiss chard in as well. We discovered that the dirt probably wasn't the issue last year... as the purchased seedlings dug right in, the sprouts we tried to start from seed would disappear about 2 days after we saw them... critters... The bigger plants didn't seem to attract them, so for now, we'll stick with some already started varieties!
Hopefully we don't get arrested for this front yard implementation. I'm wondering if we can start a new trend instead. Tired of pulling weeds? Lettuces are pretty good for keeping them at bay (or you could just eat your dandelions, they're possibly more nutritious than the domestic leafy greens!) We interspersed some marigolds for pest prevention. Artistically arranged our varieties... It's quite possibly the prettiest part of our landscaping... well... like I said, the rest will have to wait for later!
So for the past year and a half, we've struggled to decide which projects to do next. What makes sense? What can we afford? What will we later destroy in efforts to fix something else? What do we need to put minimal effort into because it will be a while before we can really do it right? Landscaping has mostly fallen into that last category. Hopefully the downstairs bathroom can be our next priority (once we clean up the mess from the current project, that is, demolition of the illegal sun room off the back of the house...)
When we moved in, the hubby and I discussed the garden. I need a garden to feel whole. A garden can be a big commitment, and depending on how it is done, a big expense. Then my mom bought the kids about $20 in seeds that they chose. So we both caved... We dug (by hand) a little plot, planted some stuff straight into the dirt, and nutured what we could until the deer ate up 2/3 of our crops. I also tried to plant a little herb garden behind our roses. The second bag of compost I opened should have been labeled "mulch." It was 1" pieces of bark and wood... It was 10:00 at night, I didn't have the energy to return it, so I decied I'd make it work. I got some sprouts, but within a week, they were gone... At the time, I blamed the dirt, and moved on...
We started with fresh resolve this year, building a better fence with some lumber scraps (and some bought lumber) and some hand me down fencing. We started tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower and broccoli inside at the end of March. When the farmers market opened the first week of may I picked up some more varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and the kids BEGGED for lettuce. How does a mom turn THAT down? But we had a problem... while we enlarged the garden this year, we had plans for every square inch of it... so where to put the lettuce? Well, for a week, it sat in a sunny window in the kitchen. And then it came to us... We bought one more bag of garden soil, filled up the area behind the roses a bit more with nice fresh dirt, and planted those lettuces right in our front flower beds. I dropped some seeds for green looseleaf and swiss chard in as well. We discovered that the dirt probably wasn't the issue last year... as the purchased seedlings dug right in, the sprouts we tried to start from seed would disappear about 2 days after we saw them... critters... The bigger plants didn't seem to attract them, so for now, we'll stick with some already started varieties!
July 15, 2011
A little fear is Healthy... right?
People are scary... In the computer age, you don't know your neighbors the way you used to... or that is, you have millions more neighbors... people that you've never met that know all of your secrets. Sometimes this is great. I've met women all over the country through online playgroups for my two kids. We've visited with them, exchanged pen pal letters for the bigger one, and stickers for the little one. Holiday gifts have been sent and received, some random packages that you find on your doorstep when you come home for no reason other than your friends were thinking of you. We've supported one another through marriages, divorces, new babies and loss of babies. The internet is a grand thing. Its kind of fun going through customs into Canada, how long will you be staying? Just the day. Purpose of visit? Seeing friends. How do you know these friends? Umm... we met on the internet.... I usually skip that answer and go with we're part of a parenting group!
So why is it, that I go to buy something on Craigslist, and find myself paralyzed with fear? Oh, right... psychotic sickos.. that's why. So we plan ahead. I'm buying something for $1... it is perfectly reasonable that this woman wouldn't want to drive to meet me somewhere (cause there goes the profit margin!), so she gives me her home address. I run it through google maps, print it out, set it on the ledge to the stairs and leave the house. (Note to my friends, if I ever turn up missing, I don't have my directions with me... that's my "insurance" policy, memorize the directions and leave them at home for the hubby to find). The woman's house is all of 4 miles away through 3 backroads (we're kind of neighbors). When I arrive ten minutes later than I planned (oops), she comes to the door and she asks the inevitable "did you find it OK?" This is where I excercise my insurance policy "oh yes, good thing it was easy to get here, since I left my directions at home!" Now she knows that I've left a trail right to her doorstep if she pulls any funny stuff. I pull out my dollar and we make the exchange.
Then she surprises me. I'm still on guard, I don't know this woman. She asks, "do you want some perennials to take with you?" I only brought my dollar with me, so I politely decline, when she explains that she rescued these from her friends greenhouse, they were headed for the trash, and she wants to give them a second chance. We proceeded to load my car up with a flat of creeping phlox, a flat of portulaca, a HUGE hibiscus, and 2 more flats of perennials. As I'm about to get into the car with the kids, she asks if they'd like to see some chickens. Now my guard is up again. But, the kids want to see chickens, what can you do.
Off we go up into her yard, where she has 4 week old chicks, and some 8 week old chicks, and a batch of 4 freshly hatched bantams with their momma (and daddy and aunts) and a big (HUGE) ol Rooster named Rodney, and a bunch more up in a little shed that she let out to run around beneath a mulberry tree. My kids, not known for being brave, boldly followed the largest chickens right over to the mulberry tree and stood in the middle while the birds munched. The rooster came over and joined us for some of our visit. They were in awe! She had chickens with funny hair doos and a bunch of eggs she'd already collected. She talked to me about how the chickens would get broody if she didn't pick their eggs up soon enough, so she'd have to let them hatch. She showed us themomma bantam sitting right on her day old chicks.The kids laughed as Rodney the rooster attempted to... ahem.... get a piggie back ride As we were headed back to the car, we saw even more chickens. They'd just built them a new coop. and put it out under the mulberry tree. Already thinking like a farmer, my big guy noticed that the holes in the chicken wire were big enough for the mulberries to fall through, and my little one pointed out the rectangle of picked clean grass beside the cage (where they had been the day before.). And then we left. So what started out as an overcautious trip to pick on one silly little thing turned into a lesson on farming for my kids, and landscape work for me. A little fear seems healthy, as long as you can still put it aside when the time comes!
Editing to add a pic of our columbine rock garden...
July 13, 2011
July 12, 2011
Momma, How Much is a Trillion?
Okay, so no one asked me this today, but after hearing a little mis-information on the radio this morning, it got my gears turning (and grinding a bit...). It was a really simple mistake, I caught someone saying a Trillion dollars is a million Billions... that's not quite right... a Trillion dollars is a thousand billions, or a million millions (a million squared). There's 12 zeroes after the trillion... that's a lot of 0s
Our country owes SOMEONE 14.5 Trillion bucks... If that number is accurate (lesson of the day... where does that website get their info? I don't know, but the number does roughly match what I've heard in other media sources, so I am using it for blogging purposes, I wouldn't trust it if, say, I was writing a check to pay off my share. When you hear information, check your sources people), each tax payer in the US has an extra $130K in debt. Its our country, it's our debt.
I can only speak for myself, but whether the money is owed by the government on my behalf, or owed by me personally, it's unsettling at best. The personal debt of my family is less than the debt the government has incurred "on behalf" of both my husband and I. We're not rich, but we're not impoverished, so when the amount the average American "owes" is more than what I am comfortable owing as a 2 working parent family, something needs to change.
Every now and then, I venture off into some conspiracy tangents, but I try to keep them reigned in. Really, I'm not worried who it is making the decisions to put me into debt... what I am worried about is the alarming rate it is increasing, and how to make it stop.
Here's a few things to consider-
Who makes the money, as in, what agency is responsible for literally creating money. It's NOT the US government. The Federal Reserve, while in theory has oversight from our government, in reality is a seperate institution, sanctioned by the US government, but not tied to it, other than having the power to tell the little banks what to do, and loaning their printed money to the government at interest. The US has the power and authority to print their own money, they just choose not to (Interestingly, JFK tried it for a bit, printing Silver Certificates, legal tender-money backed by silver sitting in US coffers... No president has done that since according to my research)
How does the national debt compare to your personal debt? If you add in 130K for each taxpayer in your family, how much more does your debt add up to? How do you feel about that? What if you were given the option to pay it off? Would you? Could you? Is it feasible in your lifetime to pay off an extra 130K? 260K? Will your kids grow up saddled with worry about if their government is going to allow an outside agency to create inflation that drives away industry and jobs?
If you've supported social programs in the past (or present) that the government funds, does it feel different to know that you 130K of public debt, that you own, increases with each program? That whenever we provide free health care, that the cost of services is being added right in there? If you were going to get a bill, you might ask up front how much the service would cost, but since the government doesn't really advertise the idea that you are your own soverign nation, they don't tell you the cost, or encourage you to ask... they just put it on your tab. Or your kids tab... or your grandchildren's tab.
Our country owes SOMEONE 14.5 Trillion bucks... If that number is accurate (lesson of the day... where does that website get their info? I don't know, but the number does roughly match what I've heard in other media sources, so I am using it for blogging purposes, I wouldn't trust it if, say, I was writing a check to pay off my share. When you hear information, check your sources people), each tax payer in the US has an extra $130K in debt. Its our country, it's our debt.
I can only speak for myself, but whether the money is owed by the government on my behalf, or owed by me personally, it's unsettling at best. The personal debt of my family is less than the debt the government has incurred "on behalf" of both my husband and I. We're not rich, but we're not impoverished, so when the amount the average American "owes" is more than what I am comfortable owing as a 2 working parent family, something needs to change.
Every now and then, I venture off into some conspiracy tangents, but I try to keep them reigned in. Really, I'm not worried who it is making the decisions to put me into debt... what I am worried about is the alarming rate it is increasing, and how to make it stop.
Here's a few things to consider-
Who makes the money, as in, what agency is responsible for literally creating money. It's NOT the US government. The Federal Reserve, while in theory has oversight from our government, in reality is a seperate institution, sanctioned by the US government, but not tied to it, other than having the power to tell the little banks what to do, and loaning their printed money to the government at interest. The US has the power and authority to print their own money, they just choose not to (Interestingly, JFK tried it for a bit, printing Silver Certificates, legal tender-money backed by silver sitting in US coffers... No president has done that since according to my research)
How does the national debt compare to your personal debt? If you add in 130K for each taxpayer in your family, how much more does your debt add up to? How do you feel about that? What if you were given the option to pay it off? Would you? Could you? Is it feasible in your lifetime to pay off an extra 130K? 260K? Will your kids grow up saddled with worry about if their government is going to allow an outside agency to create inflation that drives away industry and jobs?
If you've supported social programs in the past (or present) that the government funds, does it feel different to know that you 130K of public debt, that you own, increases with each program? That whenever we provide free health care, that the cost of services is being added right in there? If you were going to get a bill, you might ask up front how much the service would cost, but since the government doesn't really advertise the idea that you are your own soverign nation, they don't tell you the cost, or encourage you to ask... they just put it on your tab. Or your kids tab... or your grandchildren's tab.
June 16, 2011
Insulation
This weekend, I was watching my kids play with the bouncy horse that I enjoyed as a toddler. It was fantastic, they had so much fun, got a little excercise, and were all smiles... even through taking turns, there was little discord. Hubby mentioned a brilliant idea to my cousin about how making bouncy horses like this and selling them would be a money making proposition.
Then the list began. Our bouncey horse was red, which means it probably has lead paint having been made in the 60s or 70s. And then, there's the real hazard of pinching a finger in the springs. Or worse yet, another child might walk in front and get hit with the horses mouth. The government has created laws that prohibit people from selling toys like that. You can't make and sell new ones, and we couldn't legally sell this one at a yard sale without risking the US government deciding that we've broken a federal law.
Children of the 21st Century are insulated from the natural consequences of their actions.
Remember studying for the SATs, and you needed to understand analogies? In our lives, we can learn lessons used in one situation, and apply them to situations we encounter in others. Natural consequences allow humans to develop reasoning and logic skills (common sense, anyone?).
With the horsey, 5 children played uneventfully for several hours. No one licked the horse. No one stuck their fingers in the springs and got pinched. No one got hit when walking past too close to the horse. My family all kind of sat back and let the kids play, isn't that what kids are supposed to do after all?
Based on this experience, and similar previous ones, I trust my kids. I trust that if their friends are jumping on a trampoline, my kids will be smart enough not to grab the springs. I trust that if they walk by some kids swinging, that they'll allow a wide enough berth not to get kicked in the head. I trust my older one to avoid licking lead paint, and supervise the younger one, sometimes from a distance, to ensure that she remains trustworthy as I develop that trust in her.
I often hear about 2 schools of thought. One is that if we grew up doing it, and it didn't hurt us, it was good enough for us, it's good enough for our kids. Then I hear about how when we know better, we do better. I see merit in both arguements. I don't want to be casting my 6 year olds arm, or 3 year old's leg. I don't want to see my kids get hurt. What I DO want is for my kids to develop the ability to make good choices on their own without me questioning every choice they make. I want them to be confident in their physical abilities, but realistic about their skills as well. If that means that they misjudge a distance at the playground and fall, I might be taking a trip to the ER... When you fall, you get hurt... that's a natural consequence, and kids need to learn it.
As we were packing up to leave our little get together, our bigger one was playing on an excercise ball. His dad was right there, within arms reach, when he lost his sense of direction for a moment somehow. He crashed to the floor, landing, of course, on his head. The goose egg formed immediately, and tears ensued. A little ice applied. The injury of the day came, not from playing with the outlawed toy, but from enjoying a "safe" inflatable ball.
Then the list began. Our bouncey horse was red, which means it probably has lead paint having been made in the 60s or 70s. And then, there's the real hazard of pinching a finger in the springs. Or worse yet, another child might walk in front and get hit with the horses mouth. The government has created laws that prohibit people from selling toys like that. You can't make and sell new ones, and we couldn't legally sell this one at a yard sale without risking the US government deciding that we've broken a federal law.
Children of the 21st Century are insulated from the natural consequences of their actions.
Remember studying for the SATs, and you needed to understand analogies? In our lives, we can learn lessons used in one situation, and apply them to situations we encounter in others. Natural consequences allow humans to develop reasoning and logic skills (common sense, anyone?).
With the horsey, 5 children played uneventfully for several hours. No one licked the horse. No one stuck their fingers in the springs and got pinched. No one got hit when walking past too close to the horse. My family all kind of sat back and let the kids play, isn't that what kids are supposed to do after all?
Based on this experience, and similar previous ones, I trust my kids. I trust that if their friends are jumping on a trampoline, my kids will be smart enough not to grab the springs. I trust that if they walk by some kids swinging, that they'll allow a wide enough berth not to get kicked in the head. I trust my older one to avoid licking lead paint, and supervise the younger one, sometimes from a distance, to ensure that she remains trustworthy as I develop that trust in her.
I often hear about 2 schools of thought. One is that if we grew up doing it, and it didn't hurt us, it was good enough for us, it's good enough for our kids. Then I hear about how when we know better, we do better. I see merit in both arguements. I don't want to be casting my 6 year olds arm, or 3 year old's leg. I don't want to see my kids get hurt. What I DO want is for my kids to develop the ability to make good choices on their own without me questioning every choice they make. I want them to be confident in their physical abilities, but realistic about their skills as well. If that means that they misjudge a distance at the playground and fall, I might be taking a trip to the ER... When you fall, you get hurt... that's a natural consequence, and kids need to learn it.
As we were packing up to leave our little get together, our bigger one was playing on an excercise ball. His dad was right there, within arms reach, when he lost his sense of direction for a moment somehow. He crashed to the floor, landing, of course, on his head. The goose egg formed immediately, and tears ensued. A little ice applied. The injury of the day came, not from playing with the outlawed toy, but from enjoying a "safe" inflatable ball.
June 15, 2011
The Tinkerbell Party
With the next birthday looming right around the corner (OK, so its more than 3 months away...) I decided it was time to blog the last birthday for the girl. She's already planning this year's party, so these ideas need to come out so new ones can formulate, right?
The lil one was ALL about Tinkerbell this year, so sneaky mom that I am, had a co-worker who was thin, and blond, and a sucker....
Meet Tinkerbell!
The party started, as most parties we host do, with something that everyone could be involved in until everyone had arrived... in this case, beads and pipecleaners... I had the stash already for the most part, including bigger wooden beads for the littlest guests. Once Tinkerbell arrived (as announced with some jingle bells and a twinkling light that could be seen outside the window:
"She's here! She's here!"Apparently I was caught in the act of creating Tink's costume, because my munchkin announced to her and the room at large that she THOUGHT I would be making her a costume, but I DIDN'T (the nerve) so she didn't ahve a costume to wear! Tink was appropriately sympathetic... and then told us about the sprinting thistles... You know... those little meadow creatures that are always "poking everybody in the petunia."
Well.. you don't want them on your side of the meadow, so you toss them over the hill into the other side... and back and forth until arms are tired or the game gets boring (in this case, about 20 minutes!)
Next, we do some projects: On the list for today: Bug Fingerpuppets and Ice Painting (note the spring time arriving theme? First Tinkerbell movie? eh? anyone? eh?). Up next, some more games of course... (aka, give my suckers, errrr... family a chance to clean up my mess while I have fun with the kids... ) So we labeled some paper squares with kids names and put all their take home goodies on the back counter, and headed over the the orange foam boards I'd taped to the floor... AKA: theAlligator Crocodile Pit. You grab a little vial of pixie dust (glitter in a small bottle with water) and balance across the beam, avoiding the snapping croc to deliver the dust Tink needs to get back home. I was worried that this involved story line would bore all but the oldest kiddoes, what I found was the the tiny ones were taken with the miniature tubes and the challenge of the balance... we let them keep playing, and the big kids that came helped by taking turns being Crocodiles or returning the collected pixie dust to the start for more fun!
Our daycare provider (whom we love and are so fortunate to have in our lives!) made an Everyone Wins! Pin the Tink on Pixie Hollow game for the party (which hung in the girls room for MONTHS!). All the little goodies that I'd grabbed at 75% off in the Target dollar bins made GREAT everyone wins prizes, plus, each munchkin got to take home the Tinkerbell with their name on it! They were ecstatic!
The lil one was ALL about Tinkerbell this year, so sneaky mom that I am, had a co-worker who was thin, and blond, and a sucker....
"She's here! She's here!"
Well.. you don't want them on your side of the meadow, so you toss them over the hill into the other side... and back and forth until arms are tired or the game gets boring (in this case, about 20 minutes!)Next, we do some projects: On the list for today: Bug Fingerpuppets and Ice Painting (note the spring time arriving theme? First Tinkerbell movie? eh? anyone? eh?). Up next, some more games of course... (aka, give my suckers, errrr... family a chance to clean up my mess while I have fun with the kids... ) So we labeled some paper squares with kids names and put all their take home goodies on the back counter, and headed over the the orange foam boards I'd taped to the floor... AKA: the
Our daycare provider (whom we love and are so fortunate to have in our lives!) made an Everyone Wins! Pin the Tink on Pixie Hollow game for the party (which hung in the girls room for MONTHS!). All the little goodies that I'd grabbed at 75% off in the Target dollar bins made GREAT everyone wins prizes, plus, each munchkin got to take home the Tinkerbell with their name on it! They were ecstatic!
And then it was time for cake: The request: Cherry cake with Strawberry Icing, but she was willing to settle for whatever I could find in pink... The result? A LOT of pink!
And that was that... we sent everyone off with a goodie bag with a tiny little glitter notebook, tinkerbell markers or crayons, some type of Tink make up/jewelry/hair doo-dad, and some fairies socks... Pretty successful year!
May 5, 2011
Mincing Words
How my 3 Year Old woke up today...
"Do you Bee-nember Momma? Do you bee-nember when we went to Bee-nagra falls? Bee-nember that? Momma?"
Yes! I remember when we went to Niagara Falls!
"I bee-nember too! I liked when we played the bee-tend fruits game where you WHACK them!"
"Bee-Nember when we went to the movies that we not at your work? they weren't at the "Child Cancer", right momma?" (FYI, I don't work in the Health Profession, nor does my job entail young people with Cancer... just another "cute" thing my 3 year old says!)
Yes! I remember that!
"Bee-nember when dad took me and my brother to Friendly's to get you a Happy Birthday Cake for your Happy Mothers Day? Bee-nember that?"
No, I don't remember that... was that supposed to be a secret?
"YES!"
"Ok, don't tell me about that, OK?"
"OK Momma!"
"Do you Bee-nember Momma? Do you bee-nember when we went to Bee-nagra falls? Bee-nember that? Momma?"
Yes! I remember when we went to Niagara Falls!
"I bee-nember too! I liked when we played the bee-tend fruits game where you WHACK them!"
"Bee-Nember when we went to the movies that we not at your work? they weren't at the "Child Cancer", right momma?" (FYI, I don't work in the Health Profession, nor does my job entail young people with Cancer... just another "cute" thing my 3 year old says!)
Yes! I remember that!
"Bee-nember when dad took me and my brother to Friendly's to get you a Happy Birthday Cake for your Happy Mothers Day? Bee-nember that?"
No, I don't remember that... was that supposed to be a secret?
"YES!"
"Ok, don't tell me about that, OK?"
"OK Momma!"
April 23, 2011
You should know better
The Handbasket Kitchen was recently remodeled, including a lovely butcher block counter top beside the stove. With that countertop comes the need to season it. With that need, comes a bunch of research. What can we season it with that will serve the purpose, but still be food safe, and preferably environmentally friendly? We finally decided on Mineral Oil.
A little more research, and we find out where to buy the oil. The pharmacy. With the laxatives.
I happily grab the bottle for $5, a bargain! I march up to the teenage boy cashier. Boy looks at the bottle ("intestinal lubricant") and at me... back to the bottle, back to me... Awkward pause, awkward silence which I know I shouldn't fill, but I am compelled.
"Just gotta season up the butcher block before the relatives come for dinner" I tell him happily...
I should have known that would come out as a potty inuendo... the boy just about turned green. Thankfully, I had the wisdom to stop talking, rather than explain to the rest of the store.
A little more research, and we find out where to buy the oil. The pharmacy. With the laxatives.
I happily grab the bottle for $5, a bargain! I march up to the teenage boy cashier. Boy looks at the bottle ("intestinal lubricant") and at me... back to the bottle, back to me... Awkward pause, awkward silence which I know I shouldn't fill, but I am compelled.
"Just gotta season up the butcher block before the relatives come for dinner" I tell him happily...
I should have known that would come out as a potty inuendo... the boy just about turned green. Thankfully, I had the wisdom to stop talking, rather than explain to the rest of the store.
April 12, 2011
Oldies But Goodies
Christmas, 2009
She's JUST turned 2, and of course speaks in complete sentences.
Off we go on a family visit to the bookstore for GrinchMas... where she quickly becomes obessessed with the Grinch... One Problem...
Momma, member when we saw the Bitch at the Books Place? I yiked that.
GULP... the bitch? think Helena, think... Then it became the game... Is dad a Grinch? No, Dad's not a bitch! Is Momma a Grinch? No, Momma's not a Bitch... are you a Grinch?
YES! I a yittle Bitch! (Jumping up and down and clapping)
Summer 2010
We're temporarily using a different child care while our other provider heals from an injury. This daycare has Christian influences, and says grace with meals. The lil one is off washing her hands, and looks down to see them together in "prayer" position....
"Oh!" she says "Thank you Cheeses!"
Christmas Season, 2010
The "kid friendly" radio station with holiday music, played on the radio, conveniently at about 8:30 AM each weekday morning, about the 12 things at Christmas that are such a pain to me.... The second thing? Rigging up the light.... and as you near the end of the verses, "Now Why the Hell are they blinking?" (links to edited version, which is NOT played on the radio... of course!)
3YO, laughing HYSTERICALLY in the backseat.... "Why the HOL-I-DAY blinking!
Kid Friendly? Kid Safe? I guess... if you have my kids!
She's JUST turned 2, and of course speaks in complete sentences.
Off we go on a family visit to the bookstore for GrinchMas... where she quickly becomes obessessed with the Grinch... One Problem...
Momma, member when we saw the Bitch at the Books Place? I yiked that.
GULP... the bitch? think Helena, think... Then it became the game... Is dad a Grinch? No, Dad's not a bitch! Is Momma a Grinch? No, Momma's not a Bitch... are you a Grinch?
YES! I a yittle Bitch! (Jumping up and down and clapping)
Summer 2010
We're temporarily using a different child care while our other provider heals from an injury. This daycare has Christian influences, and says grace with meals. The lil one is off washing her hands, and looks down to see them together in "prayer" position....
"Oh!" she says "Thank you Cheeses!"
Christmas Season, 2010
The "kid friendly" radio station with holiday music, played on the radio, conveniently at about 8:30 AM each weekday morning, about the 12 things at Christmas that are such a pain to me.... The second thing? Rigging up the light.... and as you near the end of the verses, "Now Why the Hell are they blinking?" (links to edited version, which is NOT played on the radio... of course!)
3YO, laughing HYSTERICALLY in the backseat.... "Why the HOL-I-DAY blinking!
Kid Friendly? Kid Safe? I guess... if you have my kids!
Mincing Words
3YO: Momma, did you see that bite? it was EGLANTOUS! I mean it was weally, weally, weally, WEALLY BENOURMOUS!
April 11, 2011
Mincing Words
Converstaion between Darling Husband, 6 Year Old and 3 Year Old the other night
DH: Kids, I am the cat master
6YO: I am the cat master too!
DH: No, but you are the cat Master in Training
6YO: I want to be a cat master
(This is where I interject that Master in Training has the same initials as his future school, M.I.T.)
DH: Kids, this is important, I am the cat master
3YO: Why are you the cat bastard?
DH: Kids, I am the cat master
6YO: I am the cat master too!
DH: No, but you are the cat Master in Training
6YO: I want to be a cat master
(This is where I interject that Master in Training has the same initials as his future school, M.I.T.)
DH: Kids, this is important, I am the cat master
3YO: Why are you the cat bastard?
April 10, 2011
This Year's Event
This year's party was great! 16 kids in attendance, ranging from 3 1/2 to 7. Most parents stayed, but a few chose not to. My main goal for the past week was to have everything seperated into laundry baskets in the order it was needed, that way, I could walk in with one basket, and then if someone showed up early, I could get things rolling. Otherwise, I could have the buckets out, and take advantage of the kindness of my mom, her husband, my aunt, grama, and other relatives. They've all seen how I run parties, and are AWESOME at playing along and helping out!
We started out with Lego Time at the tables. I searched out a great deal at Toys R Us (birthday coupon for $3, flier with $5 coupon, buy 2 get 3rd free, get free extra mini-set, 20% off one set... , I walked away with 3 large sets and a bonus set for about $22).
Knowing that not every kid is a lego building fan, some mazes and other idea starters were out on the tables as well, such as:
http://robotclub.ab.ca/articles/20/lego-and-duplo-printable-grids
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/space-exploration/printable/34168.html
http://www.printactivities.com/ConnectTheDots/astronaut-dot2dot-2.html
http://www.busybeekidsprintables.com/Space-Stationery.html
Next, we converted a game from Diane Craft's Active Play into a Meteor Shower. I carefully set it up with the kids, and they really take it from there. Basically, I had about 40 small stuffed "rocks" or Meteors for the kids. They don't want them on their side of the barrier, so they toss them over to the other side. There are kids over there throwing them back though. It seems like 6 years old is a little too old for this as a large group, but since it was a party, and not school, a little chaos is fun, right?
When the game was over, I challenged the kids to stuff all the meteors into the black hole... Just a coffee can with tissue paper hiding the label.. it was tough, and took a few minutes. Meanwhile, all my relatives were busy cleaning up the legos, and putting out the next activity (Did I say thanks? Thanks!).
We had 2 space ship options to create, with supplies for each child to do one of each. One was this flying saucer from Family Fun. The other was a pre-made kit, which I bagged individually. I ran around with a sharpie writing names on saucers and baggies with spaceships, and I know at least one other marker was out there too!
When that started wrapping up, we played "Pin the Person on the Planet," a variation of the game we're all familiar with, right? Each munchkin picked a lego guy (there were about 30 options, and a few extra heads)and a flashcard that showed a planet (from the Target dollar bins). We made sure they knew which planet they were aiming for, then the blindfold, and you stick your lego person onto the lego planet... The "winner" prizes were to one side, and the "consolation" prizes were to the other side, so when the first 5 kids all won, we were able to just let kids pick whichever prize they wanted... no biggie!
Two guys on Mars
Next was the pull string Pinata. I found a lot of VAGUE directions like this...but that was enough to get me started... I used a diaper box, and had the hubby cut a bread crumb canister into 8 one inch sections using a razor blade, covered them in tissue paper, and stuck them on the "top" which was actually the bottom. For the pull strings, we did a whole bunch of ribbons, but one was looped through a few holes I'd punched in the "bottom" flap. I didn't follow these directions, though you could!
The only thing holding the box shut was a layer of tissue paper, and while only one of the two flaps would get pulled open, I counted on gravity and brute force to make all the candy fall out the open side, which it did! Since the theme was Space AND Lego, and the Pinata was Lego, it only seemed fair to fill the pinata with Spacey items... So SUNmaid raisins, STARburst, and MILKY WAY, along with glow bracelets were the goodies. The glow bracelets all cracked when they fell to the floor, which made for a neat effect (and hopefully not too many upset parents, for sending a TON of stuff home with their kids!). We did the "all pull at once" version, I should have made the strings about 3 feet instead of the 2, but it worked fine. Each kid had a baggie (no ziplock, just the cheapies) in one hand, with their name for collecting, we counted to 6 and PULL! I super curled the key ribbon so I could make sure it got pulled too.
Last was, of course, CAKE! We changed some of the directions from that website, NECO wafers are so hit or miss, we left them out entirely... I added Oreos to the filling layer. We talked through the beverages, but the easiest option was juiceboxes... at the last minute I decided to offer water as well... good thing.. it was about a 50/50 split for the kids!
On the way out the door, of course, everyone received a goodie bag. Each one had Lego Crayons (made from the molds, which are tough to come by, at least in the US), a Space/Lego booklet, Lego Magazine, a space toy from a Space Toob, and a little lego kit, all in a brown paper bag, which was big enough to hold everything but the Flying Saucer...
Soundtrack to the party:
I am the Highway, Audio Slave
Why does the Sun Really Shine, They Might Be Giants
Airplanes, B.o.B.
Speed and Velocity, They Might Be Giants
Satellite, Dave Matthews
Bad Moon Rising, Creedance Clearwater Revival
See you on the Moon, Great Lakes Swimmers (off for the kids 3)
Spacegrass, Clutch
Why does the sun shine?, They Might Be Giants
Rocket Man (punk rock cover), Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
We are All Earthlings, The Muppets
Space Oddity, David Bowie
Blue (Da ba dee), Eiffel 65
Across the Universe, Jim Sturges (covering Beatles)
How Many Planets?,They Might Be Giants
Countdown, Rush
Rocket Man, Elton John
Fly me to the Moon, Matt Dusk (but Frank Sinatra would work too!)
I don't want to live on the moon, Ernie and Shawn Colvin on Elmopalooza
What is a shooting star?, They Might Be Giants
Items included in the activity booklet:
http://www.printactivities.com/ColoringPages/Space-Coloring-Pages/space-travel-road-signs.html
http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes/Shape_Mazes/Astronaut-Maze.shtml
http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes/Math-Mazes/Space-CountingBy1s.shtml
http://www.printactivities.com/ConnectTheDots/Planet-Dot2Dot.shtml
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/devices/spaceshuttle/label/
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/space-exploration/printable/34168.html
http://www.busybeekidsprintables.com/Space-Stationery.html
http://creative.lego.com/en-us/parentscorner/activities/default.aspx
http://www.1800dentist.com/LEGO-Battles-coloring-pages
http://www.livinglocurto.com/2010/07/free-printable-lego-bingo-game/
http://www.dltk-cards.com/doorknob/dk4-lego.asp
http://powerminers.lego.com/en-us/downloads/posters.aspx
http://robotclub.ab.ca/articles/20/lego-and-duplo-printable-grids
We started out with Lego Time at the tables. I searched out a great deal at Toys R Us (birthday coupon for $3, flier with $5 coupon, buy 2 get 3rd free, get free extra mini-set, 20% off one set... , I walked away with 3 large sets and a bonus set for about $22).
Knowing that not every kid is a lego building fan, some mazes and other idea starters were out on the tables as well, such as:
http://robotclub.ab.ca/articles/20/lego-and-duplo-printable-grids
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/space-exploration/printable/34168.html
http://www.printactivities.com/ConnectTheDots/astronaut-dot2dot-2.html
http://www.busybeekidsprintables.com/Space-Stationery.html
Next, we converted a game from Diane Craft's Active Play into a Meteor Shower. I carefully set it up with the kids, and they really take it from there. Basically, I had about 40 small stuffed "rocks" or Meteors for the kids. They don't want them on their side of the barrier, so they toss them over to the other side. There are kids over there throwing them back though. It seems like 6 years old is a little too old for this as a large group, but since it was a party, and not school, a little chaos is fun, right?
When the game was over, I challenged the kids to stuff all the meteors into the black hole... Just a coffee can with tissue paper hiding the label.. it was tough, and took a few minutes. Meanwhile, all my relatives were busy cleaning up the legos, and putting out the next activity (Did I say thanks? Thanks!).
We had 2 space ship options to create, with supplies for each child to do one of each. One was this flying saucer from Family Fun. The other was a pre-made kit, which I bagged individually. I ran around with a sharpie writing names on saucers and baggies with spaceships, and I know at least one other marker was out there too!
When that started wrapping up, we played "Pin the Person on the Planet," a variation of the game we're all familiar with, right? Each munchkin picked a lego guy (there were about 30 options, and a few extra heads)and a flashcard that showed a planet (from the Target dollar bins). We made sure they knew which planet they were aiming for, then the blindfold, and you stick your lego person onto the lego planet... The "winner" prizes were to one side, and the "consolation" prizes were to the other side, so when the first 5 kids all won, we were able to just let kids pick whichever prize they wanted... no biggie!
Next was the pull string Pinata. I found a lot of VAGUE directions like this...but that was enough to get me started... I used a diaper box, and had the hubby cut a bread crumb canister into 8 one inch sections using a razor blade, covered them in tissue paper, and stuck them on the "top" which was actually the bottom. For the pull strings, we did a whole bunch of ribbons, but one was looped through a few holes I'd punched in the "bottom" flap. I didn't follow these directions, though you could!
Last was, of course, CAKE! We changed some of the directions from that website, NECO wafers are so hit or miss, we left them out entirely... I added Oreos to the filling layer. We talked through the beverages, but the easiest option was juiceboxes... at the last minute I decided to offer water as well... good thing.. it was about a 50/50 split for the kids!
He's happy here, I swear!
On the way out the door, of course, everyone received a goodie bag. Each one had Lego Crayons (made from the molds, which are tough to come by, at least in the US), a Space/Lego booklet, Lego Magazine, a space toy from a Space Toob, and a little lego kit, all in a brown paper bag, which was big enough to hold everything but the Flying Saucer...
Soundtrack to the party:
I am the Highway, Audio Slave
Why does the Sun Really Shine, They Might Be Giants
Airplanes, B.o.B.
Speed and Velocity, They Might Be Giants
Satellite, Dave Matthews
Bad Moon Rising, Creedance Clearwater Revival
See you on the Moon, Great Lakes Swimmers (off for the kids 3)
Spacegrass, Clutch
Why does the sun shine?, They Might Be Giants
Rocket Man (punk rock cover), Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
We are All Earthlings, The Muppets
Space Oddity, David Bowie
Blue (Da ba dee), Eiffel 65
Across the Universe, Jim Sturges (covering Beatles)
How Many Planets?,They Might Be Giants
Countdown, Rush
Rocket Man, Elton John
Fly me to the Moon, Matt Dusk (but Frank Sinatra would work too!)
I don't want to live on the moon, Ernie and Shawn Colvin on Elmopalooza
What is a shooting star?, They Might Be Giants
Items included in the activity booklet:
http://www.printactivities.com/ColoringPages/Space-Coloring-Pages/space-travel-road-signs.html
http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes/Shape_Mazes/Astronaut-Maze.shtml
http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes/Math-Mazes/Space-CountingBy1s.shtml
http://www.printactivities.com/ConnectTheDots/Planet-Dot2Dot.shtml
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/devices/spaceshuttle/label/
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/space-exploration/printable/34168.html
http://www.busybeekidsprintables.com/Space-Stationery.html
http://creative.lego.com/en-us/parentscorner/activities/default.aspx
http://www.1800dentist.com/LEGO-Battles-coloring-pages
http://www.livinglocurto.com/2010/07/free-printable-lego-bingo-game/
http://www.dltk-cards.com/doorknob/dk4-lego.asp
http://powerminers.lego.com/en-us/downloads/posters.aspx
http://robotclub.ab.ca/articles/20/lego-and-duplo-printable-grids
April 6, 2011
Over achiever
I like kids' birthday parties.
There, I said it.
Actually, I LOVE them! I love the fun and excitement and singing and cake and frosting (especially the frosting!)
I've been accused of being an overacheiver (moi?)
The thing is, they're fun! I'm too old to have my own party, so YES I will live vicariously through my children, and YES I will go overboard on elaborate schemes, because if I don't, who will, and... it's FUN! Parties I plan have themes, and activities, and movement, and treats, and tradition, and everything else that goes with having a birthday party. Before I had my own children, you'd catch me joining in with other people's party planning. At one point, I looked at a career in planning kids birthday parties... the problem is, I'd go over budget everytime, and spend all the money I took in on "just one more" great idea!
I've done the party place thing. I've been to party places, bowling alleys, Chuck E Cheese, and kids activity places... they're fun, no doubt. One year, I even tried paying to have a party at one of those places. It was just as stressful, didn't go the way I'd have planned it, and I walked away with a sense of disappointment, rather than, I'll admit, the pride I get from the parties I host!
All this to say... My boy's turning 6 in less than a week. He's had a duck party, a train party, a monster truck party, a USA party, a Trick or Treat party and this year... Space Lego party... More to come!
There, I said it.
Actually, I LOVE them! I love the fun and excitement and singing and cake and frosting (especially the frosting!)
I've been accused of being an overacheiver (moi?)
The thing is, they're fun! I'm too old to have my own party, so YES I will live vicariously through my children, and YES I will go overboard on elaborate schemes, because if I don't, who will, and... it's FUN! Parties I plan have themes, and activities, and movement, and treats, and tradition, and everything else that goes with having a birthday party. Before I had my own children, you'd catch me joining in with other people's party planning. At one point, I looked at a career in planning kids birthday parties... the problem is, I'd go over budget everytime, and spend all the money I took in on "just one more" great idea!
I've done the party place thing. I've been to party places, bowling alleys, Chuck E Cheese, and kids activity places... they're fun, no doubt. One year, I even tried paying to have a party at one of those places. It was just as stressful, didn't go the way I'd have planned it, and I walked away with a sense of disappointment, rather than, I'll admit, the pride I get from the parties I host!
All this to say... My boy's turning 6 in less than a week. He's had a duck party, a train party, a monster truck party, a USA party, a Trick or Treat party and this year... Space Lego party... More to come!
March 29, 2011
Speech Therapy
My son has always had a huge vocabulary. HUGE for his age. At the one year appointment, when the pediatrician asks "how many words does he have" I was nearly dumbstruck... I knew it was coming, but was unprepared. "Ummmm... Lots" I stammered. Pediatrician gives me a quizzical look as my son sits quietly playing... and not talking. At that point, he had too many words to count... problem was, I was the only one that knew what he was saying (I mean, would you know that fahp wajj was his way of telling you he was about to throw something out? somewhere in his mind, fahp wajj was synonymous with garbage).
At the grocery store, he had a cashier girlfriend. Each time we visited, she'd try to strike up a conversation, and he'd enthusiastically reply to each of her questions... Then I'd translate. He was never one to simply reply "fine" when you ask "how are you?"
We considered speech therapy, but I knew kids with bigger speech issues, and he was obviously hearing us most of the time. He was able to duplicate even difficult sounds, as long as we told him how to make them with his mouth.... But do you really expect a 4 year old with a vocabulary that rivals most adults to slow down for his pronounciation? When his school offered informal speech therapy, we gladly accepted. Can't hurt right?
I've worked in the public school system. I've worked with speech therapists. As with anything, there's the good and the bad. And there's the variable of one therapist assigned to every child in the elementary school. In our case, our speech therapist also works with Carmen. I know this because Carmen shows up on our report card. Because our speech therapist wrote a little paragraph to explain how Carmen was progressing, and then copy and pasted it into Wyatt's report... without changing her name in one place.
She tells us how "his little tongue comes poking out" when really, he's closer to being tongue tied and keeps that thing in his mouth almost always. She tells us how he can't get the inital sound and medial sound, but he has those ending sounds down, when we see him start his words out clearly, and then drift off at the end. She tells us of all the great progress he's made, when, who's fooling who, he is for the first time in his life around a group of children that speak more clearly than he does. Of course he's made progress, he has a model, he has the motivation of needing to be heard by other kids and his teacher... do we really think 5 minute speed sessions a few times a week is due credit for Wyatt's hard work?
Report cards have come out again. I'm reminded to work on his homework that "will be coming home weekly." I recieved homework for the first time since November along with that report card. It was the 4th time this school year we've received it. Each time, it's a work sheet with pictures that tie into a certain letter sound. They've moved on to /r/ at this point. Really? His speech is as bad as you'd have me beleive, so you're going to work on one of the notoriously hardest sounds, in the winter/spring when allergies are at their worst? You're going to do the sound that pediatricians have determined many kids don't hear until they are 6-8 years old? You're going to ask me to practice this sound with my child, but not give instruction to me about the proper way to use your mouth and lips and vocal cords to do so? You're going to work on this sound in the initial position of the word, rather than as part of a consonant blend where it's known to be easier? Because success isn't something we look for in speech class?
I try not to be "that" parent, in so many ways, but my child doesn't need to miss out on class time in this way. It's offensive. Time to schedule the parent teacher conference!
At the grocery store, he had a cashier girlfriend. Each time we visited, she'd try to strike up a conversation, and he'd enthusiastically reply to each of her questions... Then I'd translate. He was never one to simply reply "fine" when you ask "how are you?"
We considered speech therapy, but I knew kids with bigger speech issues, and he was obviously hearing us most of the time. He was able to duplicate even difficult sounds, as long as we told him how to make them with his mouth.... But do you really expect a 4 year old with a vocabulary that rivals most adults to slow down for his pronounciation? When his school offered informal speech therapy, we gladly accepted. Can't hurt right?
I've worked in the public school system. I've worked with speech therapists. As with anything, there's the good and the bad. And there's the variable of one therapist assigned to every child in the elementary school. In our case, our speech therapist also works with Carmen. I know this because Carmen shows up on our report card. Because our speech therapist wrote a little paragraph to explain how Carmen was progressing, and then copy and pasted it into Wyatt's report... without changing her name in one place.
She tells us how "his little tongue comes poking out" when really, he's closer to being tongue tied and keeps that thing in his mouth almost always. She tells us how he can't get the inital sound and medial sound, but he has those ending sounds down, when we see him start his words out clearly, and then drift off at the end. She tells us of all the great progress he's made, when, who's fooling who, he is for the first time in his life around a group of children that speak more clearly than he does. Of course he's made progress, he has a model, he has the motivation of needing to be heard by other kids and his teacher... do we really think 5 minute speed sessions a few times a week is due credit for Wyatt's hard work?
Report cards have come out again. I'm reminded to work on his homework that "will be coming home weekly." I recieved homework for the first time since November along with that report card. It was the 4th time this school year we've received it. Each time, it's a work sheet with pictures that tie into a certain letter sound. They've moved on to /r/ at this point. Really? His speech is as bad as you'd have me beleive, so you're going to work on one of the notoriously hardest sounds, in the winter/spring when allergies are at their worst? You're going to do the sound that pediatricians have determined many kids don't hear until they are 6-8 years old? You're going to ask me to practice this sound with my child, but not give instruction to me about the proper way to use your mouth and lips and vocal cords to do so? You're going to work on this sound in the initial position of the word, rather than as part of a consonant blend where it's known to be easier? Because success isn't something we look for in speech class?
I try not to be "that" parent, in so many ways, but my child doesn't need to miss out on class time in this way. It's offensive. Time to schedule the parent teacher conference!
March 28, 2011
Up Do
Every day, my favorite 3 1/2 year old girl has a decision to make... What "kind" of hair shall we do today?
Most days, maybe 9 out of 10, the choice is Tinkerbell hair. Tinkerbell hair is simple really, it means one ponytail centered somewhere on her head. There's also Fawn hair (a braid), Silvermist hair (add a little hair goo, maybe blow dry it), Rosetta Hair (pulled back on the sides somehow) or "Nossing!" at which point I convince her (or attempt to) that a headband would be better... at least it LOOKS like we tried when we get to the grocery store, library, park, or daycare.
This morning, as in most mornings, it was "Tinkerbell please!"
"All your hair?"
"No, just some of it"
So I set her up with a classic pebbles topknot and we go on about our usual day. Only I forgot to turn on the radio, and for a change, she doesn't shout from the backseat "Turn it up please!!!!!" About halfway to daycare, I hear what sounds like a 3 year old humming/singing to herself. You know the sound... can't quite be sure what the words are, you just hope it doesn't involve profanity (she does have a soft spot for White Zombie) I adjust the rearview mirror. She's swinging her head in dizzying circles, singing one of her new favorite songs: Whip my Hair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymKLymvwD2U
I always said my kids wouldn't have stupid pet tricks, but how can I help showing this off?
-Helena
Most days, maybe 9 out of 10, the choice is Tinkerbell hair. Tinkerbell hair is simple really, it means one ponytail centered somewhere on her head. There's also Fawn hair (a braid), Silvermist hair (add a little hair goo, maybe blow dry it), Rosetta Hair (pulled back on the sides somehow) or "Nossing!" at which point I convince her (or attempt to) that a headband would be better... at least it LOOKS like we tried when we get to the grocery store, library, park, or daycare.
This morning, as in most mornings, it was "Tinkerbell please!"
"All your hair?"
"No, just some of it"
So I set her up with a classic pebbles topknot and we go on about our usual day. Only I forgot to turn on the radio, and for a change, she doesn't shout from the backseat "Turn it up please!!!!!" About halfway to daycare, I hear what sounds like a 3 year old humming/singing to herself. You know the sound... can't quite be sure what the words are, you just hope it doesn't involve profanity (she does have a soft spot for White Zombie) I adjust the rearview mirror. She's swinging her head in dizzying circles, singing one of her new favorite songs: Whip my Hair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymKLymvwD2U
I always said my kids wouldn't have stupid pet tricks, but how can I help showing this off?
-Helena
Young Love
Have you ever sat and listened to 3, 4 or 5 year olds talking about love? If only it was so simple.
I found out the other day that the little boy in my life is growing up. Only in Kindergarten, and it's starting! You may have gone through this already. You go to a birthday party for a random child you hardly know from daycare or school. Strike up an awkard conversation with parents you don't know at all, or hardly know if you're lucky. "Which one's yours?" they ask and you point him out, hoping they don't have a negative association. Maybe you get a reaction like "Oh, he's a real sweetie!" or not so nice "Oh, he's so active, isn't he!" or maybe, it happens...
"Oh, my OTHER child, my daughter is in his class...
.
.
.
.
.
He was the first boy she kissed!"
.
.
.
.
I need to sit down.
-Helena
I found out the other day that the little boy in my life is growing up. Only in Kindergarten, and it's starting! You may have gone through this already. You go to a birthday party for a random child you hardly know from daycare or school. Strike up an awkard conversation with parents you don't know at all, or hardly know if you're lucky. "Which one's yours?" they ask and you point him out, hoping they don't have a negative association. Maybe you get a reaction like "Oh, he's a real sweetie!" or not so nice "Oh, he's so active, isn't he!" or maybe, it happens...
"Oh, my OTHER child, my daughter is in his class...
.
.
.
.
.
He was the first boy she kissed!"
.
.
.
.
I need to sit down.
-Helena
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