I was going through a stack of papers last night and ran across an article entitled What Style of Mom are You? that I had torn out of the May 2006 issue of Babytalk magazine. It contains excerpts from the book MotherStyles: Using Personality Types to Learn to Parent From Your Strengths by Janet Penley with Diane Eble.
I was encouraged by the article because it pointed out that all moms are not the same. We all have our own personalities and our own strengths and weaknesses. I may not do everything exactly the same way my best friend or my neighbor down the street does things, but that doesn't mean I love my kids any less. I like the idea that instead of competing with other moms or feeling guilty because I seem in my own mind to never measure up, I can use my strengths (and the gifts God has given me) to be the best mom I can be.
The styles of mothering are based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality types. (If you don't know your type, the MotherStyles website has a short quiz to help you guess at your type.) I am probably an ISTJ (or maybe an INTJ ... I got both results on the MBTI at different times in college), and a couple of things I learned about ISTJ moms totally fit me. First, it said "I have a serious love affair with to-do lists." That is so funny because I was going to blog about my to-do lists sometime in the near future. The "stay-sane" tip for ISTJ moms like me is to give myself some uninterrupted quiet time each day. No wonder I crave quiet time so much!
I probably will spend a few minutes over the next few days reading the MotherStyles blog, and maybe I'll pick up the book at the library sometime soon.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Vaccinations
Earlier this week I took Drew to the Health Department for another round of shots. Although neither Drew nor Gracie have had any bad reactions to shots (so far), taking them for their shots always makes me nervous.
I think there are a number of reasons I'm nervous about them getting shots. First, the shot clinics at the Health Department is always VERY busy. I always come away hoping that the nurses filling the syringes got the right ones for my baby. I'm sure they do it enough that they have the system down pat and don't make mistakes, but still, it makes me nervous.
What makes me more nervous, though, is the question of whether Drew and Gracie really need all (or any) of the many recommended vaccinations. When Gracie was a baby, I didn't really question it. I just took her to the Health Department at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months, and let them give her whatever shots they recommended. I winced when they gave her 6 shots in one day when she was 12 months old (2 in each leg and 1 in each arm), but allowed it because I was told at the Health Department that doctors recommended that a child get all six shots at once. (I have later come to the conclusion that this recommendation is probably from a "public health" viewpoint -- if you give a child as many shots at once as possible (and require fewer visits) they're more likely to be fully vaccinated.) I mentioned it to her pediatrician afterward, and he said it was not necessary to get them all at once. And it seems like they keep adding "required" vaccinations -- between the time that Gracie got her shots and now, they have added two more vaccinations to the list of recommendations.
Recently I have read on several message boards and Yahoo groups about mothers who do not have their children vaccinated at all. Their viewpoint, that I am allowing people to pump terrible toxins into my children's bodies, is frightening to me.
Obviously, I love Drew and Gracie very much and want to do what is best for them to keep them healthy. I just feel like I don't have enough information to make an informed decision. I trust our pediatrician very much, and I did ask him after Drew was born what he thought about vaccinations. He said that there are not many people who do not vaccinate their children and that I should take Drew for all of the recommended shots. His opinion was that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Someday, though, I would like to do some research for myself.
I think there are a number of reasons I'm nervous about them getting shots. First, the shot clinics at the Health Department is always VERY busy. I always come away hoping that the nurses filling the syringes got the right ones for my baby. I'm sure they do it enough that they have the system down pat and don't make mistakes, but still, it makes me nervous.
What makes me more nervous, though, is the question of whether Drew and Gracie really need all (or any) of the many recommended vaccinations. When Gracie was a baby, I didn't really question it. I just took her to the Health Department at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months, and let them give her whatever shots they recommended. I winced when they gave her 6 shots in one day when she was 12 months old (2 in each leg and 1 in each arm), but allowed it because I was told at the Health Department that doctors recommended that a child get all six shots at once. (I have later come to the conclusion that this recommendation is probably from a "public health" viewpoint -- if you give a child as many shots at once as possible (and require fewer visits) they're more likely to be fully vaccinated.) I mentioned it to her pediatrician afterward, and he said it was not necessary to get them all at once. And it seems like they keep adding "required" vaccinations -- between the time that Gracie got her shots and now, they have added two more vaccinations to the list of recommendations.
Recently I have read on several message boards and Yahoo groups about mothers who do not have their children vaccinated at all. Their viewpoint, that I am allowing people to pump terrible toxins into my children's bodies, is frightening to me.
Obviously, I love Drew and Gracie very much and want to do what is best for them to keep them healthy. I just feel like I don't have enough information to make an informed decision. I trust our pediatrician very much, and I did ask him after Drew was born what he thought about vaccinations. He said that there are not many people who do not vaccinate their children and that I should take Drew for all of the recommended shots. His opinion was that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Someday, though, I would like to do some research for myself.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Gracie's Summer Reading List (Part 2)
We'll be going to the library again tomorrow, so I thought I would post an update to Gracie's reading list. There are some nonfiction titles as well as picture books this week because our library's reading program has a challenge to read books from different numbered ranges of the Dewey Decimal system.
Gracie has had definite favorites each week -- look for Gracie's Picks to be posted soon.
How's the Weather? A Look at Weather and How it Changes by Melvin and Gilda Berger
Daniel's Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla
Rebecca's Nap by Fred Burstein
Cowboy Sam by Edna Walker Chandler
Inclined Planes by Michael Dahl
-it as in Sit by Kelly Doudna
The Little Rabbit by Judy Dunn
Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky
Little Toot and the Loch Ness Monster by Hardie Gramatky
Astronauts Today by Rosanna Hansen
What's it Like to be a Baby Polar Bear? by Honor Head
Angelina and Alice by Katharine Holabird
Angelina at the Fair by Katharine Holabird
My "d" Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure
Freddie Visits the Doctor by Nicola Smee
Spacebusters: The Race to the Moon by Philip Wilkinson
Gracie has had definite favorites each week -- look for Gracie's Picks to be posted soon.
How's the Weather? A Look at Weather and How it Changes by Melvin and Gilda Berger
Daniel's Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla
Rebecca's Nap by Fred Burstein
Cowboy Sam by Edna Walker Chandler
Inclined Planes by Michael Dahl
-it as in Sit by Kelly Doudna
The Little Rabbit by Judy Dunn
Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky
Little Toot and the Loch Ness Monster by Hardie Gramatky
Astronauts Today by Rosanna Hansen
What's it Like to be a Baby Polar Bear? by Honor Head
Angelina and Alice by Katharine Holabird
Angelina at the Fair by Katharine Holabird
My "d" Sound Box by Jane Belk Moncure
Freddie Visits the Doctor by Nicola Smee
Spacebusters: The Race to the Moon by Philip Wilkinson
House Hunting
My husband and I have both been feeling restless lately, and I think my husband's restlessness is the main reason he is interested in looking for a new house. Yesterday for Father's Day we went to look at two houses. One was probably in the same price range as our current house. The other was probably out of our price range entirely (unless we want to sign up for 30 years of debt). My husband, at 6 feet 6 inches, is too tall for either one of the houses. When we were looking for our current house, he told me that any house where he would bump his head on a ceiling or doorway was automatically out of the running. I had forgotten how many houses we disqualified when we were looking the first time around because of low doorways. But I don't blame him ... who wants to have to think about ducking (or else get a bump on the head) each time they walk through their home?
Gracie had never been to an open house before, but her reactions were cute. "Oh, look at this room," and later, "This kitchen is really nice." One of the houses must have had a family with young girls because there was a play room with a dress up box. We asked Gracie which house she liked best, and she said she liked the house with the dress up box. How do you explain to a three-year-old that the dress up box doesn't come with the house?
I think (I hope) that my husband is not really serious about buying a new house any time soon. He knows it takes me a long time to get used to the idea of change, so he likes to test the waters with outrageous suggestions, but he usually takes his time in actually acting on them. And I am surprised at how quickly my attitude changes when he makes his suggestions. A few weeks ago I was horrified by the thought of ever moving from our current house. (I do love it here!) But now I am at least open to looking at some other houses and getting a feel for what we like and how much it might cost.
Now back to the subject of houses and debt. After we re-did our budget, my husband and I decided to pay a little bit extra on our mortgage each month, to try to pay it off sooner. When I went to the bank to change our automatic payment, the teller tried to convince me that a mortgage is "good debt" and that I shouldn't be so anxious to pay it off. I guess it probably is better than some other kinds of debt, but wouldn't it be better to be out of debt entirely? Wouldn't it make more sense to earn interest rather than to pay interest? Am I missing something here?
Gracie had never been to an open house before, but her reactions were cute. "Oh, look at this room," and later, "This kitchen is really nice." One of the houses must have had a family with young girls because there was a play room with a dress up box. We asked Gracie which house she liked best, and she said she liked the house with the dress up box. How do you explain to a three-year-old that the dress up box doesn't come with the house?
I think (I hope) that my husband is not really serious about buying a new house any time soon. He knows it takes me a long time to get used to the idea of change, so he likes to test the waters with outrageous suggestions, but he usually takes his time in actually acting on them. And I am surprised at how quickly my attitude changes when he makes his suggestions. A few weeks ago I was horrified by the thought of ever moving from our current house. (I do love it here!) But now I am at least open to looking at some other houses and getting a feel for what we like and how much it might cost.
Now back to the subject of houses and debt. After we re-did our budget, my husband and I decided to pay a little bit extra on our mortgage each month, to try to pay it off sooner. When I went to the bank to change our automatic payment, the teller tried to convince me that a mortgage is "good debt" and that I shouldn't be so anxious to pay it off. I guess it probably is better than some other kinds of debt, but wouldn't it be better to be out of debt entirely? Wouldn't it make more sense to earn interest rather than to pay interest? Am I missing something here?
Saturday, June 16, 2007
No Limit
Up until a couple of months ago, our library limited the number of books a patron could check out at one time to 25. I was always right at the limit -- after all, I usually check out books for myself and my husband as well as for Drew and Gracie. Actually, when I say right at the limit, I mean 25 books plus or minus five (or so). I occasionally pushed the limit, and the librarians didn't seem to mind too much.
Then one day I let Gracie choose some books and she ended up picking more than I thought she would. I knew I would be *way* over the limit. I mentioned it to the librarian when I went to check out, and she said they no longer had a limit.
No limit. Hmmmm. That is probably a dangerous thing for a book lover like me. My husband is convinced that I am attempting to check out the entire library at one time, bringing the books into the house one bag at a time, one day at a time. Right now I have 48 books checked out. And I'm getting ready to go to the library when I finish this post to pick up another book. (I am returning four books ... but you never know what else will look interesting when I get there!)
Below is the list of books that I have recently read, am currently reading, or will be reading soon. Maybe I'll blog about them sometime soon.
Nonfiction
Why Johnny Can't Read by Rudolf Flesch
Hard Times in Paradise by David and Micki Colfax
Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet
The Hurried Child by David Elkind
The Power of Play by David Elkind
Einstein by Walter Isaacson
Beyond Survival: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring
Farm: A Year in the Life of an American Farmer by Richard Rhodes
Fiction
Snitch by Rene Gutteridge
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
River's Edge by Marie Bostwick
What are you reading right now? I would love some suggestions!
Then one day I let Gracie choose some books and she ended up picking more than I thought she would. I knew I would be *way* over the limit. I mentioned it to the librarian when I went to check out, and she said they no longer had a limit.
No limit. Hmmmm. That is probably a dangerous thing for a book lover like me. My husband is convinced that I am attempting to check out the entire library at one time, bringing the books into the house one bag at a time, one day at a time. Right now I have 48 books checked out. And I'm getting ready to go to the library when I finish this post to pick up another book. (I am returning four books ... but you never know what else will look interesting when I get there!)
Below is the list of books that I have recently read, am currently reading, or will be reading soon. Maybe I'll blog about them sometime soon.
Nonfiction
Why Johnny Can't Read by Rudolf Flesch
Hard Times in Paradise by David and Micki Colfax
Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet
The Hurried Child by David Elkind
The Power of Play by David Elkind
Einstein by Walter Isaacson
Beyond Survival: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring
Farm: A Year in the Life of an American Farmer by Richard Rhodes
Fiction
Snitch by Rene Gutteridge
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
River's Edge by Marie Bostwick
What are you reading right now? I would love some suggestions!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
So Much to Blog About, So Little Time
I started this blog one day when I was sick, a few weeks ago. Since I was sick, I ignored my regularly scheduled duties in favor of something that only required sitting and thinking. I originally intended to log into a blog that I created two or three years ago -- it only had one entry before it fell by the wayside -- but I couldn't remember the password. I thought this blog would probably be a one-time deal, too. After all, I'm not much of a writer and I don't usually have much to say.
To my surprise, I think of new things that I want to write about almost every day. I have a long list of topics waiting for me in a notebook upstairs, and another shorter list on a scratch pad in front of the computer. My problem now is finding time to sneak off to the computer to write.
Most days, I don't really know where my time goes. By evening time, I feel exhausted and don't have a lot to show for my day. I am home all the time (except when I'm not). My house is kind-of messy, so I'm not spending all of my time cleaning. I love to read, but I haven't finished reading a book for several days, so I'm not spending all of my time with my nose in a book (at least this week ... although the fact that I haven't finished a book could be due to the fact that I have started reading four or five and keep jumping from book to book). I have read several books to Drew and Gracie. I have spent a lot of time keeping Drew from chewing on power cords, replacing the outlet plug covers he pulls out of outlets, and keeping Gracie's crayons off of the floor so that Drew doesn't eat them. I have washed some dishes, done some laundry, cooked some meals. And tomorrow I'll be doing it all again. Sometimes it's discouraging to not have any visible proof that I have done something worthwhile all day.
Maybe I'll get to some of those topics on my list eventually. But for now, I have to go. Drew is headed for the power cords again.
To my surprise, I think of new things that I want to write about almost every day. I have a long list of topics waiting for me in a notebook upstairs, and another shorter list on a scratch pad in front of the computer. My problem now is finding time to sneak off to the computer to write.
Most days, I don't really know where my time goes. By evening time, I feel exhausted and don't have a lot to show for my day. I am home all the time (except when I'm not). My house is kind-of messy, so I'm not spending all of my time cleaning. I love to read, but I haven't finished reading a book for several days, so I'm not spending all of my time with my nose in a book (at least this week ... although the fact that I haven't finished a book could be due to the fact that I have started reading four or five and keep jumping from book to book). I have read several books to Drew and Gracie. I have spent a lot of time keeping Drew from chewing on power cords, replacing the outlet plug covers he pulls out of outlets, and keeping Gracie's crayons off of the floor so that Drew doesn't eat them. I have washed some dishes, done some laundry, cooked some meals. And tomorrow I'll be doing it all again. Sometimes it's discouraging to not have any visible proof that I have done something worthwhile all day.
Maybe I'll get to some of those topics on my list eventually. But for now, I have to go. Drew is headed for the power cords again.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Gracie's Summer Reading List
Drew, Gracie, and I went to the library again today. Gracie is well on her way to her goal of having 45 books read to her. Below is the list of picture books we have read so far this summer (in order by author's last name). I plan to update this list each week.
I also plan to write entries about some of her favorite stories. I'm not an expert on children's books -- just a mom who loves to read with her children -- but I think it will be fun to share the books we have enjoyed with others.
A Children's Book About Being Messy by Joy Berry
When Will I Read? by Miriam Cohen
Sharing is Fun by Joanna Cole
Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack
Fire Station Number 4: The Daily Life of Firefighters by Mary T. Fortney
My Pet Zoo by Janie Spaht Gill
Chuck E. Gets a Sister by Kiki
The Babysitter Comes Over by Kiki
The New Bike by Kiki
Snuggle Wuggle by Jonathan London
The Biggest, Smallest, Fastest, Tallest Things You've Ever Heard Of by Robert Lopshire
Goodbye, Hello by Shen Roddie
The Bookshop Dog by Cynthia Rylant
Cousins by Lola M. Schaefer
Sisters by Lola M. Schaefer
Start and Stop by Lola M. Schaefer
Freddie Goes to Playgroup by Nicola Smee
Freddie Goes to the Beach by Nicola Smee
Mrs. Minetta's Car Pool by Elizabeth Spurr
The Stowaway by James Stevenson
Fire Trucks by Darlene R. Stille
Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope
Barney's Night Before Christmas by Stephen White
Summertime in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I also plan to write entries about some of her favorite stories. I'm not an expert on children's books -- just a mom who loves to read with her children -- but I think it will be fun to share the books we have enjoyed with others.
A Children's Book About Being Messy by Joy Berry
When Will I Read? by Miriam Cohen
Sharing is Fun by Joanna Cole
Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack
Fire Station Number 4: The Daily Life of Firefighters by Mary T. Fortney
My Pet Zoo by Janie Spaht Gill
Chuck E. Gets a Sister by Kiki
The Babysitter Comes Over by Kiki
The New Bike by Kiki
Snuggle Wuggle by Jonathan London
The Biggest, Smallest, Fastest, Tallest Things You've Ever Heard Of by Robert Lopshire
Goodbye, Hello by Shen Roddie
The Bookshop Dog by Cynthia Rylant
Cousins by Lola M. Schaefer
Sisters by Lola M. Schaefer
Start and Stop by Lola M. Schaefer
Freddie Goes to Playgroup by Nicola Smee
Freddie Goes to the Beach by Nicola Smee
Mrs. Minetta's Car Pool by Elizabeth Spurr
The Stowaway by James Stevenson
Fire Trucks by Darlene R. Stille
Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope
Barney's Night Before Christmas by Stephen White
Summertime in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Saturday, June 9, 2007
What's For Dinner?
I think "What's for dinner?" is my least favorite question ever. I am definitely burned out on grocery shopping and cooking. I'm even burned out on eating. Can't we just cancel all meals until further notice? (Just kidding ... mostly!)
My husband wants to look for a larger house for our family. In order to decide how much we can afford (and with some encouragement from Michelle's blog, Smart Not Cheap) I am in the middle of re-doing our budget. I do this every year or so, and at first it is fun to create a plan and work to keep it. Then after a few months I begin to relax, or get behind on record keeping, and everything begins to slide. The two areas that get out of control first for me are eating out and groceries.
I think to help me control my spending at the grocery store and still have food in the house (so eating out is not necessary) I need to start creating a meal plan and grocery list each week. In the next few days I am planning to look for some meal planning resources to help me with this project.
I've looked briefly at web sites like Saving Dinner and at books like Once-a-Month Cooking by Mary-Beth Lagerborg and Mimi Wilson, but there are some picky eaters in my family and I think it would take as much effort for me to modify another system to fit my family as it would to create something from scratch.
I'm always looking for nutritious, simple, and quick meals for my family. (With a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old usually in the kitchen helping me, simple might be my most important criteria right now!) What are some of your family's favorite meals? Do you have a weekly or monthly meal plan?
I'm really looking forward to having a plan. When I go shopping I'll be able to stick to my list. I won't buy things we don't need. Things we have won't go to waste. And I'll no longer dread hearing the question, "What's for Dinner?"
My husband wants to look for a larger house for our family. In order to decide how much we can afford (and with some encouragement from Michelle's blog, Smart Not Cheap) I am in the middle of re-doing our budget. I do this every year or so, and at first it is fun to create a plan and work to keep it. Then after a few months I begin to relax, or get behind on record keeping, and everything begins to slide. The two areas that get out of control first for me are eating out and groceries.
I think to help me control my spending at the grocery store and still have food in the house (so eating out is not necessary) I need to start creating a meal plan and grocery list each week. In the next few days I am planning to look for some meal planning resources to help me with this project.
I've looked briefly at web sites like Saving Dinner and at books like Once-a-Month Cooking by Mary-Beth Lagerborg and Mimi Wilson, but there are some picky eaters in my family and I think it would take as much effort for me to modify another system to fit my family as it would to create something from scratch.
I'm always looking for nutritious, simple, and quick meals for my family. (With a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old usually in the kitchen helping me, simple might be my most important criteria right now!) What are some of your family's favorite meals? Do you have a weekly or monthly meal plan?
I'm really looking forward to having a plan. When I go shopping I'll be able to stick to my list. I won't buy things we don't need. Things we have won't go to waste. And I'll no longer dread hearing the question, "What's for Dinner?"
Thursday, June 7, 2007
My First Comment
I was so excited when I checked my blog this morning to find that someone had taken the time to leave me a comment. I especially appreciated the links to Michelle's web site, One of a Kind Wisconsin and to her blog, which both contain some reviews of children's books. I enjoyed browsing her sites this morning. I haven't had time to read all of her childrens' book reviews yet, but I am definitely going to have to check out Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky to read to Drew and Gracie the next time we go to the library. Thank you, Michelle!
Actually, I was just as amazed that someone besides me actually took the time to read part of my blog! A few days after I created my blog I added the code for Google Analytics so that I could see how many people had viewed my blog. I haven't been blogging for long -- so far I have only had four unique visitors (including myself) -- but it is interesting to see the statistics.
Eventually I hope to write some book reviews, expand my lists of favorite links, and provide some information that is interesting or useful -- at least to me. I'm primarily blogging just to share what goes on in my world, and some of the things that I am interested in.
What makes you stop to read a blog? What makes you come back? What information would you find interesting or useful?
Actually, I was just as amazed that someone besides me actually took the time to read part of my blog! A few days after I created my blog I added the code for Google Analytics so that I could see how many people had viewed my blog. I haven't been blogging for long -- so far I have only had four unique visitors (including myself) -- but it is interesting to see the statistics.
Eventually I hope to write some book reviews, expand my lists of favorite links, and provide some information that is interesting or useful -- at least to me. I'm primarily blogging just to share what goes on in my world, and some of the things that I am interested in.
What makes you stop to read a blog? What makes you come back? What information would you find interesting or useful?
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
The "Big Owner"
Gracie says some funny things sometimes. The other day she was playing with her daddy, and he pretended to be a "Big Ogre" and eat her up. I came into the room to her giggles and a request for me to save her from the "Big Owner." Ever since then, my husband has been the Big Owner, and Drew has been the Little Owner. Oh, and Gracie is the Little Snack and I am the Big Snack. We are so silly.
Some other cute Gracie sayings: One day my husband was trying to get her to come so he could help her with her shoes. He told her to "Bring those little toes over here." Gracie said, "It would be easier to bring all of me." :)
And the last one for now: Gracie sometimes has a hard time being quiet during church, so I often give her a pen and paper to draw with in hopes that it will help her stay quiet. One Sunday morning, she was singing "Happy Mother's Day to you" ... to the tune of "Happy Birthday to you." (Now, I did think that was very sweet, except that it happened to be during a particularly quiet part of the service and it was the week after Mother's Day.) When my husband asked her to be quiet, she replied, "It's hard to draw without a song."
Some other cute Gracie sayings: One day my husband was trying to get her to come so he could help her with her shoes. He told her to "Bring those little toes over here." Gracie said, "It would be easier to bring all of me." :)
And the last one for now: Gracie sometimes has a hard time being quiet during church, so I often give her a pen and paper to draw with in hopes that it will help her stay quiet. One Sunday morning, she was singing "Happy Mother's Day to you" ... to the tune of "Happy Birthday to you." (Now, I did think that was very sweet, except that it happened to be during a particularly quiet part of the service and it was the week after Mother's Day.) When my husband asked her to be quiet, she replied, "It's hard to draw without a song."
Monday, June 4, 2007
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Gracie's First Bicycle
Last night we got Gracie a bicycle -- a red 16 inch bicycle with Dora the Explorer on it, complete with training wheels and a small purple Backpack fastened in the middle of the handlebars with Velcro. I had been wanting to get Gracie a bicycle for a while, but now that she has one, I am beginning to realize that I wanted her to have it more than she really wanted it. When we took her to the park this afternoon to practice riding her bicycle, she spent a few minutes pedaling but then wanted to go swing. I guess I am hurrying her, getting her a bicycle before she is really ready for it ... but I do hope that she comes to enjoy it with time.
Even though I spend all day every day with Drew and Gracie, they can still surprise me sometimes. Yesterday we took Drew and Gracie to a carnival that was hosted by a church in town. I rode with Gracie on the carousel and my husband took her on the ferris wheel. I was pretty sure she would love the carousel (she did), but I thought she might be scared on the ferris wheel. (I don't like heights so I would have been scared!) To my surprise and delight, her face was beaming the entire time she was on the ferris wheel, and when she got off she exclaimed that she went "way up high" and that she wanted to do it again.
It is delightful to get to know these unique little people, my children, as they grow. I am glad that Gracie is trying new things. I sometimes find it challenging to strike a balance between providing opportunities for them to learn and to experience new things, and pushing them into new things that they are not interested in or ready for. And sometimes I project what *I* am ready for them to do or what *I* want onto them.
I just hope that Gracie will learn to love riding her new bicycle eventually!
Even though I spend all day every day with Drew and Gracie, they can still surprise me sometimes. Yesterday we took Drew and Gracie to a carnival that was hosted by a church in town. I rode with Gracie on the carousel and my husband took her on the ferris wheel. I was pretty sure she would love the carousel (she did), but I thought she might be scared on the ferris wheel. (I don't like heights so I would have been scared!) To my surprise and delight, her face was beaming the entire time she was on the ferris wheel, and when she got off she exclaimed that she went "way up high" and that she wanted to do it again.
It is delightful to get to know these unique little people, my children, as they grow. I am glad that Gracie is trying new things. I sometimes find it challenging to strike a balance between providing opportunities for them to learn and to experience new things, and pushing them into new things that they are not interested in or ready for. And sometimes I project what *I* am ready for them to do or what *I* want onto them.
I just hope that Gracie will learn to love riding her new bicycle eventually!
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Saturday Morning Workout
I just got in from my Saturday morning workout -- mowing the lawn! I enjoy the exercise, but I enjoy the uninterrupted 1 1/2 hour break from my children even more. Drew and Gracie enjoy playing with their Daddy while I'm outside mowing, and it is the only time during the week that I can count on to have time entirely to myself.
Most stay-at-home moms can probably relate to the feeling of being "on-the-job" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One time I compared it to living at my place of employment; getting no evenings, weekends, sick days or holidays off; and being required to take one or two "co-workers" (a.k.a. the children) with me any time I wanted to leave.
I need a break sometimes, but I tend to feel guilty about saying that. At least when I'm out for my "Saturday morning workout" I get a break, get exercise, and get the lawn mowed -- all at the same time!
Most stay-at-home moms can probably relate to the feeling of being "on-the-job" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One time I compared it to living at my place of employment; getting no evenings, weekends, sick days or holidays off; and being required to take one or two "co-workers" (a.k.a. the children) with me any time I wanted to leave.
I need a break sometimes, but I tend to feel guilty about saying that. At least when I'm out for my "Saturday morning workout" I get a break, get exercise, and get the lawn mowed -- all at the same time!
Friday, June 1, 2007
Summer Reading Program
Our library's summer reading program starts on Monday. I am so excited! I remember participating in summer reading programs when I was growing up and now I get to help Drew and Gracie learn to love the library. They both have been on outings to the library with me almost every week since birth, so going to the library is nothing new for them.
This will be Gracie's second year in the summer reading program. Drew is still too young to sign up and get prizes, but he enjoys listening when I read to Gracie. Our typical method of choosing books is to wander up and down the aisle of picture books and pull books off the shelf at random. We tend to get an interesting selection this way. In the last few months Gracie has shown more interest in choosing her own books, and she will often pick books that we have read together before.
I am always looking for suggestions of books that are "must reads," either picture books, or read-alouds suitable for young children. What are some of your favorite books for children?
This will be Gracie's second year in the summer reading program. Drew is still too young to sign up and get prizes, but he enjoys listening when I read to Gracie. Our typical method of choosing books is to wander up and down the aisle of picture books and pull books off the shelf at random. We tend to get an interesting selection this way. In the last few months Gracie has shown more interest in choosing her own books, and she will often pick books that we have read together before.
I am always looking for suggestions of books that are "must reads," either picture books, or read-alouds suitable for young children. What are some of your favorite books for children?
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