If you check the date of my last blog entry, it just so happened to be the first day of school. Of course, I didn't write about the first day of school because the whole point was to distract myself from my feelings of panic and anxiety! Let me paint the picture for you...
It was early on Thursday morning. We had been up since 6 and the whole family arrived together with backpacks and bags of school supplies. We walked into the school and were greeted by friendly faces all around. After signing ourselves into the visitor log, we humbly made our way down the hallway towards Abby's class. Once at her room, Abby sauntered off, turned around once and flipped a brief wave in our direction and was gone. Little Miss Independent was happy to be there. We continued on to Ford's classroom and arrived to a very busy scene of parents and Kindergartners and many awkward good-byes. I showed him his hook and he hung up his bag. He looked happy to see his name on things. Then we delivered school supplies to his teacher. Baxter took him to a table to settle in and I spoke to the teacher, doing my best to hold back the tears. Ford, however, was teary-eyed himself and looked like he might haul off and hit somebody if they crossed him. Reluctantly, we decided to leave.
That morning was strange. The house seemed empty. The pets even wondered what I had done with the children. I settled in with a cup of coffee on the deck. I listened to the birds and I spent time praying and reading my Bible. I began to get comfortable with myself again. I decided to work on something so I started some ad copy for Great Wraps that needed to be back that day. I had just gotten into a groove when the phone rang. It was Mrs. Merletti. Ford was inconsolable. "We are giving you the option," she said, "of either coming to get him or trying to console him over the phone." Well, not being one to give up too easily, I decided to try and comfort him over the phone first in the hopes that he could remain there until the release bell rang. Between sobs, I told him that he was a big boy. I told him that he could control himself if he wanted to. I told him that I loved him and I trusted his teacher to take care of him. He listened and he tried and in the end he pulled himself together. From 11 am until 2 pm, I waited for the phone to ring again. I waited and I waited. I had to have a distraction but writing about gyros was next to impossible so I decided to blog - blog about vacation. I enjoyed that post! However, even at the end of my keyboard time, the anxiety returned. For three hours I felt like I could throw up. Once they were in the car again, I could feel my blood pressure returning to normal. The panic started to subside.
I never believed my parents when they said things were harder on them than on me. Who ever believes that nonsense? Well, apparently, they were right. It is harder on the parents. I mean, I'm sure it was a difficult day for him too but even now he looks back on that day as a "big" day an "important" one....me? I just feel exhausted even thinking about it. The subsequent days were easier and after a week or two, he is downright happy to go to school and I'm happy to have this new schedule of professional and personal time to myself.
Ford came down with something yesterday and I kept them both out of school today. Early on, I was kind of happy to have them both here. We watched National Velvet and The Three Stooges and ate popsicles. Then things appeared worse so I decided a trip to the doctor was in order. Turns out he has strep throat. Suddenly, I wish he were in school and I was missing him instead of him being sickly and upset and near me. Poor thing.
Showing posts with label Loving My Kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loving My Kids. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Drought of 2008
Do you ever wonder what stuff will leave a lasting impact on your kids? I've been thinking about this a lot lately as I am realizing my oldest is at the age to remember most everything into adulthood. She is old enough to make lifelong friends and carry scars around when people mistreat her. I need to be wary of letting them hear things on the news and when I'm being candid with a friend over the phone about problems within the family. Little minds are being shaped here!
I have also been thinking about The Gulf oil spill. It has to be the worst disaster ever, or at least in our lifetime. The vastness of its' impact is hard to comprehend. I wonder if this will make my kids more sensitive to environmental issues, more concerned for animals, or turn them into members of E.L.F. You just never know. A little thing can have a huge impact. I overheard a teacher telling my mom that I'd be a writer when I grew up and it's all I ever wanted to do after that. What are we telling our kids that will impact them as adults? Are we telling them they're beautiful or scolding them for being bratty? Are we telling them they are kind or are we rolling our eyes and being sarcastic to them when they don't listen the first time? Are we helping them become the best they can be or are we stunting their spiritual growth?
We had a drought in 2008 and had to really watch how much water we used. Driving past the local lakes would make you want to cry, seeing docks standing there in clay, dust flying around in the morning instead of dew. We caught every drop of water we could in the shower to water plants with. I used bathwater from the kids to keep my lilies alive. Don't worry, I used a biodegradable soap. It was so bad, we watched how many times we flushed the toilet and only flushed after it was really necessary. I know this sounds gross, but it was the worst drought in state history. At the time, Abby was 5 and Ford was 3 and this has apparently left a huge mark on them because they still can't remember to flush the toilet! Twice a day, I smell something and I find a present in there from one of them. They remember to wash their hands. They remember to wipe well, but they cannot remember to flush. If this one thing so easily molded their behavior, it does make me wonder what else will stick. I hope it's mostly the good stuff.
I have also been thinking about The Gulf oil spill. It has to be the worst disaster ever, or at least in our lifetime. The vastness of its' impact is hard to comprehend. I wonder if this will make my kids more sensitive to environmental issues, more concerned for animals, or turn them into members of E.L.F. You just never know. A little thing can have a huge impact. I overheard a teacher telling my mom that I'd be a writer when I grew up and it's all I ever wanted to do after that. What are we telling our kids that will impact them as adults? Are we telling them they're beautiful or scolding them for being bratty? Are we telling them they are kind or are we rolling our eyes and being sarcastic to them when they don't listen the first time? Are we helping them become the best they can be or are we stunting their spiritual growth?
We had a drought in 2008 and had to really watch how much water we used. Driving past the local lakes would make you want to cry, seeing docks standing there in clay, dust flying around in the morning instead of dew. We caught every drop of water we could in the shower to water plants with. I used bathwater from the kids to keep my lilies alive. Don't worry, I used a biodegradable soap. It was so bad, we watched how many times we flushed the toilet and only flushed after it was really necessary. I know this sounds gross, but it was the worst drought in state history. At the time, Abby was 5 and Ford was 3 and this has apparently left a huge mark on them because they still can't remember to flush the toilet! Twice a day, I smell something and I find a present in there from one of them. They remember to wash their hands. They remember to wipe well, but they cannot remember to flush. If this one thing so easily molded their behavior, it does make me wonder what else will stick. I hope it's mostly the good stuff.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
My Blonde Baby
Sometimes I think Abby is too good to be true. I know I'm her mom and I know I'm biased, but really - it's just everything I ever thought having a daughter would be like. She's 7 1/2 now. Too big for her britches. She still asks me to braid her hair, but she also likes to put on frosty lip gloss when I'm not paying attention. She got caught at the Mexican restaurant last week and tried to hide her lips from me. Didn't work out the way she thought it would. I wasn't really mad, but I did make her wipe it off.
This week, she was invited to a Felicity-themed-American Girl-birthday-party-extravaganza. I have secretly wanted to make her and her doll matching dresses since Christmas but haven't had a good excuse. I took the opportunity to avoid laundry, meal preparation, and general cleanliness to get the dress done in time. My mother found some old fabric, perfect for this sort of thing, with pretty yellow, lavender, coral and blue flowers. I trimmed the dresses in yellow ribbon and made her a bonnet and purse to match for each of them. She looked more beautiful and more pure and more Abby than I've seen her look since the day she was born. When we left for the party, I did feel something like pride; but it was more complicated than that. I don't really have a word for the way I felt. Maybe I was just happy for her. I hope to have many moments like that.
Last night, she spent the night with a friend. They stayed up way too late and watched Hannah Montana reruns and painted their toenails on towels. Today, she asked me if I could help her get the blue polish off of her toes. The boys had an event to attend together, so we had a "girls night." We took a long walk around Smyrna and talked the whole time. We talked about her brother and how I was like him in some ways when I was growing up and how I was like her in some ways when I was growing up. Then we talked about Patrick Owen, who used to hit me in the head with his metal lunch box and how he really had a crush on me. We laughed at how silly boys are. She talked vaguely about boys that liked her but wouldn't get specific. Then, we had leftovers for dinner in front of the TV and we painted our toenails on towels and had the most fun!
Today was a special day. Her whole week has been pretty special - but even on hard days when we don't get along and the thought of what 14 will bring sends shivers down my spine, she always ends the day with the same words in her sweet little voice, "Mommy, I love you." It's simple, it's sincere, and it has to be one of my favorite things in this whole world. Like I always tell her, if I could pick any little girl in the whole world to me my little girl, I would pick her. Thank you God for blessing me with this precious daughter! May we always be as close - closer - than we are today.
This week, she was invited to a Felicity-themed-American Girl-birthday-party-extravaganza. I have secretly wanted to make her and her doll matching dresses since Christmas but haven't had a good excuse. I took the opportunity to avoid laundry, meal preparation, and general cleanliness to get the dress done in time. My mother found some old fabric, perfect for this sort of thing, with pretty yellow, lavender, coral and blue flowers. I trimmed the dresses in yellow ribbon and made her a bonnet and purse to match for each of them. She looked more beautiful and more pure and more Abby than I've seen her look since the day she was born. When we left for the party, I did feel something like pride; but it was more complicated than that. I don't really have a word for the way I felt. Maybe I was just happy for her. I hope to have many moments like that.
Last night, she spent the night with a friend. They stayed up way too late and watched Hannah Montana reruns and painted their toenails on towels. Today, she asked me if I could help her get the blue polish off of her toes. The boys had an event to attend together, so we had a "girls night." We took a long walk around Smyrna and talked the whole time. We talked about her brother and how I was like him in some ways when I was growing up and how I was like her in some ways when I was growing up. Then we talked about Patrick Owen, who used to hit me in the head with his metal lunch box and how he really had a crush on me. We laughed at how silly boys are. She talked vaguely about boys that liked her but wouldn't get specific. Then, we had leftovers for dinner in front of the TV and we painted our toenails on towels and had the most fun!
Today was a special day. Her whole week has been pretty special - but even on hard days when we don't get along and the thought of what 14 will bring sends shivers down my spine, she always ends the day with the same words in her sweet little voice, "Mommy, I love you." It's simple, it's sincere, and it has to be one of my favorite things in this whole world. Like I always tell her, if I could pick any little girl in the whole world to me my little girl, I would pick her. Thank you God for blessing me with this precious daughter! May we always be as close - closer - than we are today.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
God Isn't Finished With Me Yet
The Lord is still at work here. The past week has been awesome. I finished my resume and applied to two positions that I am actually qualified for. I also attended a mom's night out with my homeschool group friends. I really enjoyed my time with these ladies and I left feeling that I would truly miss them next year. As excited as I have been to jump back into work full-time, it got me thinking. One thing I have realized during this job search, is that many of the jobs I'm looking at are telecommuting ones. That is fabulous. I telecommute now and I'm good at it. I stay motivated, keep on task, and finish my work on time. AMTC's clients are very happy with my work. I know that I could handle something larger in the same vein. Perhaps I could take on more work while continuing to homeschool? With homeschool academies and other options all around me, it is definitely a possibility.
Also, Baxter is having his yearly review this week. It was going to take place at the end of May, so I'm taking this as a sign of divine providence that they are having it now. We know he is going on salary and we know he is getting a raise. What we don't know is how much of one. How wonderful would it be if he comes home with a salary large enough to maintain our standard of living while taking on this mortgage? I know God will provide. I know He will set me in the direction He wants me to go. Nothing is set in stone yet. I know that I would love to continue to homeschool if I can. I have an entire curriculum picked out if I get to use it. I also have other options open to me, including public school. I have a trusting heart. It's an exciting time to be at the precipice of something.
My prayer today is for strength for my husband, that he may know the words to use and the actions to take and that he may glorify God in all his success. My prayer is for my children to continue to take the highest priority in my personal life because raising children is the most important job in the world. I also pray that God will sustain us through all the changes that may come and that we will not turn away from the path He has set for us.
Also, Baxter is having his yearly review this week. It was going to take place at the end of May, so I'm taking this as a sign of divine providence that they are having it now. We know he is going on salary and we know he is getting a raise. What we don't know is how much of one. How wonderful would it be if he comes home with a salary large enough to maintain our standard of living while taking on this mortgage? I know God will provide. I know He will set me in the direction He wants me to go. Nothing is set in stone yet. I know that I would love to continue to homeschool if I can. I have an entire curriculum picked out if I get to use it. I also have other options open to me, including public school. I have a trusting heart. It's an exciting time to be at the precipice of something.
My prayer today is for strength for my husband, that he may know the words to use and the actions to take and that he may glorify God in all his success. My prayer is for my children to continue to take the highest priority in my personal life because raising children is the most important job in the world. I also pray that God will sustain us through all the changes that may come and that we will not turn away from the path He has set for us.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Gluten
Who knows anything about gluten allergy? I know it's the latest thing to be allergic to and I'm thinking of stepping on the bandwagon with my son. I have good reasons though. Keep in mind that he is five. He's way too old to be having real temper tantrums like a two year old. He has had bouts of belligerence and defiance - where he looks at me (or on Sunday, my Mom) with outright hatred, complete with the most hateful speech. He has had trouble sleeping at night here and there - waking up in a complete frenzy and difficult to calm down. He was refusing to eat meals. He refused to do almost anything. When I say he was belligerent, I'm really not giving him the justice he is due. He was completely uncooperative. The smallest things would set him off. For example, if I'm in the middle of a lesson with Abby and can't stop everything I'm doing to help him with a simple worksheet that he really shouldn't need any help on, he'll just break down sobbing.
Then, there are physical symptoms as well. He has been complaining about pain in his jaw. He has pain in his legs from time to time as well. He has always been underweight and has trouble keeping his pants from falling down despite a healthy diet. He also has increasingly worse eczema on his face. He didn't have it as a baby. It probably showed up around age 2 and has never really gone away despite many creams and ointments that promised to take care of it. I've been wondering if he has lactose intolerance because he has occasional unexplained digestive symptoms.
Before my dad started to go mentally, he mentioned gluten allergy to me and wondered if Ford had it. At the time, I kind of brushed it off; but now I'm wondering if he saw something last year that I'm just now beginning to see? I am not one to rush off to the doctor for a diagnosis, especially with something that doesn't require real medication to cure. I decided to try and eliminate gluten for a while and see what happens. Well, I started yesterday. He seemed better throughout the day and was able to mostly control his emotions. In other words, it was the first day in a long time that he didn't go throw himself on his bed to sob for 30 minutes. He slept well last night. This morning, instead of being greeted with scorn and contempt, my son told me he wanted a hug for breakfast. A hug for breakfast. He smiled sweetly, and he even has a case of the giggles this morning. This kid was incapable of being happy a few days ago. INCAPABLE. Is one day's evidence enough to go on? What benefit is there to taking him in for a medical diagnosis and how hard is it to get one? If you know any information about gluten allergy or Celiac disease, please share or please feel free to share this with someone you know who has an allergy.
Update:
We are still seeing dramatic changes to Ford's behavior!! The only words I heard from him yesterday were, "sure, yes, and OK!" Since I haven't complained on here about his past behavior, you really have no idea how much better this is. Trust me, it's incredible. He is cooperative for the first time in a LONG TIME. Also, he had been so sad for a while now. I was concerned that he was depressed and may need to see someone for it. My mom even mentioned giving him something like St. John's Wart for depression, which I was really hesitant to do. Well, all of that sadness is gone. It's like a miracle, really. His skin is also clearing up!
The only down-side to stopping the gluten is that once the antibodies are out of the system in a few more days, I won't be able to get him diagnosed. I would have to reintroduce it and then have him tested. At this point, I don't see the use and wouldn't want to ever give it to him again.
Here are some things I learned about gluten allergy over the past few days:
Then, there are physical symptoms as well. He has been complaining about pain in his jaw. He has pain in his legs from time to time as well. He has always been underweight and has trouble keeping his pants from falling down despite a healthy diet. He also has increasingly worse eczema on his face. He didn't have it as a baby. It probably showed up around age 2 and has never really gone away despite many creams and ointments that promised to take care of it. I've been wondering if he has lactose intolerance because he has occasional unexplained digestive symptoms.
Before my dad started to go mentally, he mentioned gluten allergy to me and wondered if Ford had it. At the time, I kind of brushed it off; but now I'm wondering if he saw something last year that I'm just now beginning to see? I am not one to rush off to the doctor for a diagnosis, especially with something that doesn't require real medication to cure. I decided to try and eliminate gluten for a while and see what happens. Well, I started yesterday. He seemed better throughout the day and was able to mostly control his emotions. In other words, it was the first day in a long time that he didn't go throw himself on his bed to sob for 30 minutes. He slept well last night. This morning, instead of being greeted with scorn and contempt, my son told me he wanted a hug for breakfast. A hug for breakfast. He smiled sweetly, and he even has a case of the giggles this morning. This kid was incapable of being happy a few days ago. INCAPABLE. Is one day's evidence enough to go on? What benefit is there to taking him in for a medical diagnosis and how hard is it to get one? If you know any information about gluten allergy or Celiac disease, please share or please feel free to share this with someone you know who has an allergy.
Update:
We are still seeing dramatic changes to Ford's behavior!! The only words I heard from him yesterday were, "sure, yes, and OK!" Since I haven't complained on here about his past behavior, you really have no idea how much better this is. Trust me, it's incredible. He is cooperative for the first time in a LONG TIME. Also, he had been so sad for a while now. I was concerned that he was depressed and may need to see someone for it. My mom even mentioned giving him something like St. John's Wart for depression, which I was really hesitant to do. Well, all of that sadness is gone. It's like a miracle, really. His skin is also clearing up!
The only down-side to stopping the gluten is that once the antibodies are out of the system in a few more days, I won't be able to get him diagnosed. I would have to reintroduce it and then have him tested. At this point, I don't see the use and wouldn't want to ever give it to him again.
Here are some things I learned about gluten allergy over the past few days:
- Gluten allergy runs in families with Type I diabetes (hmmmm?)
- 1 in 133 people in the US have it
- Once you stop consuming gluten, the results are almost instantaneous
- Symptoms include: beligerence, depression, gastrointestinal upset, feeling "foggy headed," skin rash, joint pain
- If you don't stop eating gluten, you can do permanent damage to your intestines and deprive the brain of proper nutrients...it may stunt the growth of children
If you're interested in Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease, here are some great internet resources:
Friday, September 4, 2009
When God Touches Your Shoulder
A few of my friends received an email from me earlier this week. It was a long, complaining one, about all of the silly things that are annoying me right now. It was titled "woes" and it was just basically me venting frustration towards friendly ears. Sometimes we all need to do that, and my responses back were encouraging and even hilarious.
In part of my email, I complained about how many times per week we are supposed to drive to Mableton for soccer practice. Yes, 4-5 times per week is a lot of time, gas, and commitment to my kids. It's a lot of time from our schedule. However, last night I was approached by a mother arriving just a few minutes before our practice was ending. She wanted to know what team we were and I told her. She asked if this was the only U8 field. I explained the layout to her and pointed out the fields where the U8's practice. I also told her that we were almost finished but that more teams would be showing up for the 7-8 time-slot. I told her, her best bet was just to ask around as I had on Tuesday. She didn't know the team name or which field they were practicing on, only the first name of the coach, Rob. Most mothers would have probably paid more attention to the emails - or maybe gone to the parents meeting - but this mother has other things on her mind. Her beautiful little girl had no hair on her head. She obviously has been battling cancer, and there she was, wanting so badly to play soccer like all of the other little girls. I felt so ashamed for complaining about parking and late nights. It touched me so deeply that I had to pray to God for forgiveness. How blessed my life is! Don't take your beautiful and healthy children for granted!!!
In part of my email, I complained about how many times per week we are supposed to drive to Mableton for soccer practice. Yes, 4-5 times per week is a lot of time, gas, and commitment to my kids. It's a lot of time from our schedule. However, last night I was approached by a mother arriving just a few minutes before our practice was ending. She wanted to know what team we were and I told her. She asked if this was the only U8 field. I explained the layout to her and pointed out the fields where the U8's practice. I also told her that we were almost finished but that more teams would be showing up for the 7-8 time-slot. I told her, her best bet was just to ask around as I had on Tuesday. She didn't know the team name or which field they were practicing on, only the first name of the coach, Rob. Most mothers would have probably paid more attention to the emails - or maybe gone to the parents meeting - but this mother has other things on her mind. Her beautiful little girl had no hair on her head. She obviously has been battling cancer, and there she was, wanting so badly to play soccer like all of the other little girls. I felt so ashamed for complaining about parking and late nights. It touched me so deeply that I had to pray to God for forgiveness. How blessed my life is! Don't take your beautiful and healthy children for granted!!!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Down on the Farm
A look back at the weather...
Monday: Beautiful
Tuesday: Fair to partly cloudy
Wednesday: Thunderstorms all day
Thursday: Pleasant
Friday: Clear & sunny
As you can see, the week went mostly well for our little homeschool family. Wednesday was frustrating, but we have had days like that before homeschool. In fact, I think we had more of them before homeschool started. But, I won't drag you through the mud with me. Let's focus on the good times. Endless joy, right?
Monday was great. We started off our week going to a friend's farm. They are local growers of organic produce and their place is literally about 5 minutes from my house. That tells you just how out in the sticks I really am! We were invited to "help ourselves" to an overabundance of green beans and boy did we! We filled a small basket and had I brought a larger vessel - would have had no problem filling it up. I think we gathered that from two or three plants alone. Anyway, the kids were smitten with the idea of being on their friend's farm and asked a lot of questions about what it would be like to live on an actual farm. It was a great learning experience for us. Despite the fact that we wore jeans and long socks and heavy shoes, Abby still managed to find the ants we were forewarned about and suffered several nasty bites. Still, that didn't ruin our day and we snapped and enjoyed our beans with a roasted chicken and black eyed peas. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
The Lewis' have a nice little spread and I have to admit, I envy the lifestyle. Their kids have a vast wilderness to play on compared to our microscopic yard. Although easy to keep "tidy", I am becoming disenchanted with the idea of having to take my kids somewhere in order to really play outside. How nice it would be to open the door and send them out to get good and dirty before we begin our studies every day! I definitely think they wouldn't have much of a problem sitting still after a good romp in the grass, chasing locusts or butterflies. Abby still wants to milk a cow and we may have to work that into another week later in the year if we find a good place. But, thanks to Lisa and Geoff, we had a great start to our week of study.
Other great moments - Abby strugging through and finishing Green Eggs and Ham, Abby learning to count by 10s, Ford helping me snap green beans, playing mummy on the playground with both of them and remembering just how truly sweet my kids are.
BTW - I promise to write something non-homeschool-related very soon! Sorry if you're bored!
Monday: Beautiful
Tuesday: Fair to partly cloudy
Wednesday: Thunderstorms all day
Thursday: Pleasant
Friday: Clear & sunny
As you can see, the week went mostly well for our little homeschool family. Wednesday was frustrating, but we have had days like that before homeschool. In fact, I think we had more of them before homeschool started. But, I won't drag you through the mud with me. Let's focus on the good times. Endless joy, right?
Monday was great. We started off our week going to a friend's farm. They are local growers of organic produce and their place is literally about 5 minutes from my house. That tells you just how out in the sticks I really am! We were invited to "help ourselves" to an overabundance of green beans and boy did we! We filled a small basket and had I brought a larger vessel - would have had no problem filling it up. I think we gathered that from two or three plants alone. Anyway, the kids were smitten with the idea of being on their friend's farm and asked a lot of questions about what it would be like to live on an actual farm. It was a great learning experience for us. Despite the fact that we wore jeans and long socks and heavy shoes, Abby still managed to find the ants we were forewarned about and suffered several nasty bites. Still, that didn't ruin our day and we snapped and enjoyed our beans with a roasted chicken and black eyed peas. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
The Lewis' have a nice little spread and I have to admit, I envy the lifestyle. Their kids have a vast wilderness to play on compared to our microscopic yard. Although easy to keep "tidy", I am becoming disenchanted with the idea of having to take my kids somewhere in order to really play outside. How nice it would be to open the door and send them out to get good and dirty before we begin our studies every day! I definitely think they wouldn't have much of a problem sitting still after a good romp in the grass, chasing locusts or butterflies. Abby still wants to milk a cow and we may have to work that into another week later in the year if we find a good place. But, thanks to Lisa and Geoff, we had a great start to our week of study.
Other great moments - Abby strugging through and finishing Green Eggs and Ham, Abby learning to count by 10s, Ford helping me snap green beans, playing mummy on the playground with both of them and remembering just how truly sweet my kids are.
BTW - I promise to write something non-homeschool-related very soon! Sorry if you're bored!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Homeschool...Here We Come!
Two nights ago, Baxter and I made a decision that seems last minute; but was actually simmering long ago. We decided not to go ahead and send Ford back to preschool this year. Taking inspiration from Jen, Beth and others and adopting a "what's one more" approach, I realized that it was really the best thing. So, as we began our first official day as a homeschooling family, I had two at the dining room table.
What once seemed daunting and terrifying turned out to be absolutely wonderful. We were very successful today. We had already completed reviewing the phonics and math skills she acquired before this year. Today we set out to learn something new. We began with a devotional which was really more of a lesson on imagery than anything. Using a book I found called Images of God, I taught them about God as a light image (light of the world etc...) and then they made pictures of something they loved that they never wanted to be in darkness. Then we discussed the calendar and sang songs about the days of the week and months of the year and I had her copy the date from my dry erase board. Abby watched two videos on NatGeo online to introduce her to people of Ancient Civilizations. Next, we headed off to the library for storytime.
We had a nice time there. They are both very comfortable at the library and really enjoyed themselves. I picked up some books that we needed for the rest of the week and I allowed them each to pick out two books each. As soon as I got home to make lunch, Abby went straight to the bag and pulled out her new basic reader she picked out. She sat down on the sofa and started reading it. I know she couldn't read it all on her own but she was enjoying the book independently and without my suggestion ----SUCCESS!!!
Later, we read through a book about the Ancient Greeks to get ready for tomorrow and finished off her day with a letter to her pen-pal, Alex. Ford participated in most of the activities in his own way and enjoyed it too. When he couldn't do what she was doing, he played on their vtech notebook or with Mr. Potato Head. It was so much fun that I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow!
I love my kids!!!
What once seemed daunting and terrifying turned out to be absolutely wonderful. We were very successful today. We had already completed reviewing the phonics and math skills she acquired before this year. Today we set out to learn something new. We began with a devotional which was really more of a lesson on imagery than anything. Using a book I found called Images of God, I taught them about God as a light image (light of the world etc...) and then they made pictures of something they loved that they never wanted to be in darkness. Then we discussed the calendar and sang songs about the days of the week and months of the year and I had her copy the date from my dry erase board. Abby watched two videos on NatGeo online to introduce her to people of Ancient Civilizations. Next, we headed off to the library for storytime.
We had a nice time there. They are both very comfortable at the library and really enjoyed themselves. I picked up some books that we needed for the rest of the week and I allowed them each to pick out two books each. As soon as I got home to make lunch, Abby went straight to the bag and pulled out her new basic reader she picked out. She sat down on the sofa and started reading it. I know she couldn't read it all on her own but she was enjoying the book independently and without my suggestion ----SUCCESS!!!
Later, we read through a book about the Ancient Greeks to get ready for tomorrow and finished off her day with a letter to her pen-pal, Alex. Ford participated in most of the activities in his own way and enjoyed it too. When he couldn't do what she was doing, he played on their vtech notebook or with Mr. Potato Head. It was so much fun that I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow!
I love my kids!!!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
A Great Family Day
Yes, we bleed red and black. My first UGA game was not what I had imagined. Nor was my 2nd, 3rd, or any game those first couple of years as a student here. We were being coached by Goff at the time and to put it succinctly, we sucked. I had never been exposed to much college football and I have to admit, I was a little disenchanted. Fast-forward to 1999. We were still struggling but we were getting better that year. I met Baxter that August and, without even knowing, had entered into another realm of football appreciation. I remember feeling fairly nonchalant about his invitation to the Kentucky game. I had to ask off work to go and game days were very very lucrative. But I guess I already had rent taken care of so I went ahead. The tailgate was pleasant enough and I remember being very well received by his Mom and his Dad, who I discovered had not missed a single home game in over 50 years. Whoa. As we entered the stadium and descended into the "good seats" that as a student I had never had the opportunity to enjoy, something began to stir. We had a great time. It was a date I'll never forget.
I've considered myself a die hard fan ever since. I'm not saying that I can spout off stats like Baxter or his Dad can - but I'll sit there and yell passionately with the best of 'em. If there's a bad call or if one of our players get hurt, you'll probably see me hold my hands together and say a quick word of prayer.
When we got married back in 2001, I really wanted a fall wedding. My maid of honor quickly faxed me a copy of the season schedule to where I worked...
When we decided to have kids, little changed. I paraded my pleasantly plump body to every home game. We played in the SEC championship that year and I still remember wearing my largest pair of pregnant jeans, my red,black and white pregnant sweater and my black cowboy boots and waddling my way into the Georgia Dome. Abby was born soon after on January 8th. The following season, she could get in for free! Those of us crazy enough to take a tiny baby to a football game at least don't have to buy an extra ticket for them. I have to say, she was always an angel and I have wonderful memories of her sleeping on my shoulder through all of the many thousands of decibels worth of noise - including at the GA/FL game where I had the luxury of club-level seats where we could retreat to the air-conditioned lounge. Every year we buy new cute little outfits for her and watch her grow in her appreciation of Georgia football. The addition of our son made things a little more tricky. A single kid is one thing but a toddler and a baby is quite another. That was our year to hire sitters for 8 hour stretches, spending an additional $80 per game just on babysitting - ouch! Last year, for many reasons, I didn't get to go to that many games. I missed it a lot. I told myself I didn't but I did. Baxter stayed home with me once just to make me feel better and we told each other that watching it from our living room was great - air conditioning, snacks, drinks, comfortable convenience - but it just wasn't the same.
Besides the fact that UGA was pre-season ranked #1, things have already gotten off to a great start. Originally, our plan was that Baxter would take Ford to this first game and then Abby to the game next week. Then I would go to every game after Alabama. Well, at the tailgate, we concocted a plan to get everybody in the game and it worked. I'm not going to incriminate myself here or anything but lets just all be grateful that I'm petite and can squeeze in very tight places! So our whole family got to go and it was AWESOME! I explained the game to Abby and for the first time, her cheering was heartfelt - not just because she likes cheering. She saw us running with the ball and that first wave of excitement hit her and she cheered because she wanted to, not because I told her to. Ford had a great time when the two of us walked down by the hedges and watched the end of the 2nd quarter and half-time show. It was sweltering hot and that little trooper walked all the way back up to our seats under the overhang. They stuffed their faces full of cotton-candy and roasted peanuts and sucked down soft drinks faster than you can say "where's the ATM?" and we all had a blast.
We beat Georgia Southern, of course - 45-21 Go Dawgs!!!
I've considered myself a die hard fan ever since. I'm not saying that I can spout off stats like Baxter or his Dad can - but I'll sit there and yell passionately with the best of 'em. If there's a bad call or if one of our players get hurt, you'll probably see me hold my hands together and say a quick word of prayer.
When we got married back in 2001, I really wanted a fall wedding. My maid of honor quickly faxed me a copy of the season schedule to where I worked...
When we decided to have kids, little changed. I paraded my pleasantly plump body to every home game. We played in the SEC championship that year and I still remember wearing my largest pair of pregnant jeans, my red,black and white pregnant sweater and my black cowboy boots and waddling my way into the Georgia Dome. Abby was born soon after on January 8th. The following season, she could get in for free! Those of us crazy enough to take a tiny baby to a football game at least don't have to buy an extra ticket for them. I have to say, she was always an angel and I have wonderful memories of her sleeping on my shoulder through all of the many thousands of decibels worth of noise - including at the GA/FL game where I had the luxury of club-level seats where we could retreat to the air-conditioned lounge. Every year we buy new cute little outfits for her and watch her grow in her appreciation of Georgia football. The addition of our son made things a little more tricky. A single kid is one thing but a toddler and a baby is quite another. That was our year to hire sitters for 8 hour stretches, spending an additional $80 per game just on babysitting - ouch! Last year, for many reasons, I didn't get to go to that many games. I missed it a lot. I told myself I didn't but I did. Baxter stayed home with me once just to make me feel better and we told each other that watching it from our living room was great - air conditioning, snacks, drinks, comfortable convenience - but it just wasn't the same.
Besides the fact that UGA was pre-season ranked #1, things have already gotten off to a great start. Originally, our plan was that Baxter would take Ford to this first game and then Abby to the game next week. Then I would go to every game after Alabama. Well, at the tailgate, we concocted a plan to get everybody in the game and it worked. I'm not going to incriminate myself here or anything but lets just all be grateful that I'm petite and can squeeze in very tight places! So our whole family got to go and it was AWESOME! I explained the game to Abby and for the first time, her cheering was heartfelt - not just because she likes cheering. She saw us running with the ball and that first wave of excitement hit her and she cheered because she wanted to, not because I told her to. Ford had a great time when the two of us walked down by the hedges and watched the end of the 2nd quarter and half-time show. It was sweltering hot and that little trooper walked all the way back up to our seats under the overhang. They stuffed their faces full of cotton-candy and roasted peanuts and sucked down soft drinks faster than you can say "where's the ATM?" and we all had a blast.
We beat Georgia Southern, of course - 45-21 Go Dawgs!!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Things I Would Miss
There are a lot of things that you miss out on when you decide to have a family. For instance, it would no longer be prudent for Baxter and I to go sky diving, base jumping or hang gliding. I suppose one of us could try it as long as the other kept their feet planted firmly on the ground. But then how would we decide who went? Which one of us would the kids need most? I guess we'd better not go flying among the clouds. I even know one couple who are so afraid of their children being orphaned that they never fly on the same plane together. They go on lots of trips - they just take separate flights! Now, that's taking it a bit far, but maybe it helps lessen the panic for them.
There are a lot of other things you miss out on that aren't so huge. I love the movie Knocked-Up and its' take on becoming a parent. Katherine Heigl's character can't keep going out to clubs (they won't let her in with the bulge), Seth Rogen's character finally stops smoking pot and Pete, the brother-in-law complains that he'll never be able to go to India because of his family. Of course, by the end of the movie, perspective is all set back into place by the birth of the baby. If only life were as simplistic as a movie plot. In reality, we all feel deprived from time-to-time. This is especially true if you don't make enough time for other un-kid-related-interests or if you neglect your marriage.
I recently joined Facebook. A few days ago, I read over someone's profile and it described her perfect day as, "waking up to Curious George and falling asleep watching Barney." For about a day after I read that, I remember thinking, "gee - that is NOT my idea of a perfect day. Not even close...am I a bad mother?" I let this thought eat away at me. I think it really effected me. I even overindulged my children and literally let them watch TV almost all day. We began waking up to Curious George and ended with Dragon Tales (I don't allow the big purple dinosaur into my home, even when grossly effected by facebook profile envy.) And I have to say, that is not me. No, I have to have grown up interaction. I have to leave my house once in a while. I have to wear makeup and I still enjoy getting dressed up and feeling like a woman (not just a mom).
But am I missing out on things because I'm a mom? Of course not! I have constructed my life to be exactly as I want it. I don't ever "wake up" to reality because I bask in my reality every day. There are, though, plenty of things I would miss if I were not a mommy. Most of these things are fleeting - I know that when they're grown I will only have these memories. So this post is a reminder to cherish the small moments that surround us.
I would miss Ford dragging me up the stairs by his tiny hand. It is always a little bit sticky and always warm. He looks up and smiles at me with that winsome grin that tells me he is still unspoiled, still innocent, still a pure spirit of love and goodness. He is all boy. I would miss his imaginative games like when he pretends to be a super-hero or a cowboy. I would miss seeing him play the harmonica or guitar and making up blues-type songs like, "You Get Time-Out". I would miss his determination to run around the house without any clothes on, especially, it seems, when neighbors or friends are just about to ring the doorbell. I would miss his love of chocolate and the elaborate schemes he concocts to sneak a cupcake or a tootsie roll when nobody's looking. I would miss the way he hugs me, with a firmness that is missed in the hugs of older children and grown-ups. He wraps his arms around my neck and holds on in a trusting and sincere embrace. I would miss his bravery, his composure, his frustration and all of his little victories.
I would miss Abby who is always ready for female bonding. We paint our toenails together, have makeovers, put rollers in her hair, listen to "girl music", watch Nancy Drew, go shopping, bake and talk. We talk all of the time. She asks me questions almost constantly and I do not find it aggravating or annoying. I love her questions. Some of them are simple like, how do they make lemon drops? Some of them are more complex like, "what is a divorce?" or, "will I ever die?" A lot of the time, I know the answers. I can reason out and explain why air is invisible or what gravity is. I can tell her about the tides, the phases of the moon, what a mammel is or why boys can't have babies (which is apparently no longer accurate!). Some of her questions require more forethought, sensitivity or even a little research. My goal is always to answer her questions honestly, no matter what they are. I think this makes us especially close and I would miss out on one of the most important relationships in my life if I weren't a mother. I would miss out on all those teachable moments, insights into life and new discoveries that her questions inevitably bring. I would also miss her sweet heart and her endearing nature. I would miss seeing her grow from a beautiful baby into a beautiful girl. Someday I will see her grow into a beautiful woman.
So, to all my friends out there who are not mothers but are thinking about it: you won't miss a thing! And to all of those who know what I'm talking about: never, ever, take it for granted.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Tag - You're It!
I know I have a few mommies out there who peek at my blog from time to time and I got this idea from reading my friend Jennifer's blog, Crossroads. This is all about my first born. So, here's my answers and maybe some more of you can play along!
1. Were you married at the time? Yes.
2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? I was a little shocked at first since we only really "tried once" to get pregnant and BOOM there we were, parents-to-be!
3. How old were you? 25 when I found out, 26 when I gave birth.
4. How did you find out you were pregnant? My brother-in-law and his wife were down in Savannah visiting us and she made a comment about how huge my boobs were and I told her that I was just a few days late. We decided to get up early the next morning and go buy a test before the boys were up and that's just what we did. Baxter had gotten out of bed while we were at the store debating about which test to go with and was waiting when I walked in. He was really surprised that I was going to do a test and I think he thought we were both a little nutty. I went back to the bathroom and did my thing, came out, put the stick on the mantle (all dramatic like) and then when the time was up, Baxter and I looked at it at the same time and --- positive!
5. Who did you tell first? Besides Baxter, Spencer, Claire and Hannah who were there, we sat on the news for a couple of weeks. It was close to Father's Day and I thought we could do something special for our Dads. I had special Father's Day cards printed for each of them and we made a trip to Atlanta and then Athens to break the news in person with the cards. My Dad didn't get it at first. I had to make him read it at least 2 or 3 times! My father-in-law read his card at the table at the country club so everyone in Athens knew within minutes after that!
6. Did you want to find out the sex? I knew the sex. When I was only 2 weeks along (and didn't know of course), I had this weird dream about finding a baby girl in a basket on our doorstep. She was beautiful - I mean beautiful! When I found out I was pregnant, I just knew it was a girl. I immediately went out and bought the most Barbie shade of pink I could get at Home Depot and started planning. Later the sex was confirmed, but I never doubted before that I would have anything else.
7. Due date? February 10, 2003
8. Did you deliver early or late? 5 WEEKS early on January 8, 2003
9. Did you have morning sickness? I got a little nauseous but I never puked with either one
10. What did you crave? Fruit! Especially exotic varieties. Also, spicy foods, barbecue, carrots with ranch dressing, and PINTS of lemon ice cream
11. Who irritated you the most? my mother, anyone who felt they could reach out and stroke my belly and most nurses that I encountered - sorry, nurses
12. What was your first child's sex? Girl
13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 42
14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I was put on bed rest at about 32 weeks which almost drove me completely insane. I had early contractions and then my water spontaneously burst at 35 weeks.
15. Where did you give birth? In Savannah at St. Joseph's-Candler Hospital
16. How many hours were you in labor? I went into labor on Monday the 6th, just before midnight and she was born on the 8th at 8PM. You do the math.
17. Who drove you to the hospital? Baxter
18. Who watched? Baxter
19. Was it natural or c-section? Natural (with help from epidural)
20. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? I took whatever they gave me...
21. How much did your child weigh? 5 lbs 8oz
22. Did your child have any complications? A little jaundice but nothing else
23. What did you name him/her? Abigail Mayes
24. How old is your first born today? 5 1/2
1. Were you married at the time? Yes.
2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? I was a little shocked at first since we only really "tried once" to get pregnant and BOOM there we were, parents-to-be!
3. How old were you? 25 when I found out, 26 when I gave birth.
4. How did you find out you were pregnant? My brother-in-law and his wife were down in Savannah visiting us and she made a comment about how huge my boobs were and I told her that I was just a few days late. We decided to get up early the next morning and go buy a test before the boys were up and that's just what we did. Baxter had gotten out of bed while we were at the store debating about which test to go with and was waiting when I walked in. He was really surprised that I was going to do a test and I think he thought we were both a little nutty. I went back to the bathroom and did my thing, came out, put the stick on the mantle (all dramatic like) and then when the time was up, Baxter and I looked at it at the same time and --- positive!
5. Who did you tell first? Besides Baxter, Spencer, Claire and Hannah who were there, we sat on the news for a couple of weeks. It was close to Father's Day and I thought we could do something special for our Dads. I had special Father's Day cards printed for each of them and we made a trip to Atlanta and then Athens to break the news in person with the cards. My Dad didn't get it at first. I had to make him read it at least 2 or 3 times! My father-in-law read his card at the table at the country club so everyone in Athens knew within minutes after that!
6. Did you want to find out the sex? I knew the sex. When I was only 2 weeks along (and didn't know of course), I had this weird dream about finding a baby girl in a basket on our doorstep. She was beautiful - I mean beautiful! When I found out I was pregnant, I just knew it was a girl. I immediately went out and bought the most Barbie shade of pink I could get at Home Depot and started planning. Later the sex was confirmed, but I never doubted before that I would have anything else.
7. Due date? February 10, 2003
8. Did you deliver early or late? 5 WEEKS early on January 8, 2003
9. Did you have morning sickness? I got a little nauseous but I never puked with either one
10. What did you crave? Fruit! Especially exotic varieties. Also, spicy foods, barbecue, carrots with ranch dressing, and PINTS of lemon ice cream
11. Who irritated you the most? my mother, anyone who felt they could reach out and stroke my belly and most nurses that I encountered - sorry, nurses
12. What was your first child's sex? Girl
13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 42
14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I was put on bed rest at about 32 weeks which almost drove me completely insane. I had early contractions and then my water spontaneously burst at 35 weeks.
15. Where did you give birth? In Savannah at St. Joseph's-Candler Hospital
16. How many hours were you in labor? I went into labor on Monday the 6th, just before midnight and she was born on the 8th at 8PM. You do the math.
17. Who drove you to the hospital? Baxter
18. Who watched? Baxter
19. Was it natural or c-section? Natural (with help from epidural)
20. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? I took whatever they gave me...
21. How much did your child weigh? 5 lbs 8oz
22. Did your child have any complications? A little jaundice but nothing else
23. What did you name him/her? Abigail Mayes
24. How old is your first born today? 5 1/2
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
"I've Got the joy, joy, joy, joy...."
"Let the children come to Me" -Mark 10:14a
What better place to find joy - an endless stream of joy - than at vacation bible school. This week I have had the privilege of shepherding a group of 16 4 and 5 year-olds through their Summer VBS experience. They're at that really amazing age where they can form those first concepts about God and religion. It's a delicate time for little people and I want to share some special moments as well as some funny ones.
Monday brought me joy during storytime. I love the answers the kids give to the storyteller's questions.
"What do you do when you're scared and you need help to know what to do?"
#1: "Run!" (very logical)
#2: "Call the cops!" (he obviously watches a lot of TV)
#3: "Pray" (my little Abby - I'm so proud!)
Tuesday brought me joy during arts and crafts. We made "Prayer Pails" containing things they are thankful for or like to pray for. Here are a few choice examples:
-mommy & daddy (of course)
-my doggie that died (what can I say?)
-the new baby (from the beaming big sister)
-cars (you never know what you're gonna get from a 5 year old)
Wednesday was hard. The kids were so tired and cranky. Ford didn't want to go at all and I think a lot of others were dragging this morning. Shepherding was nerve racking because they kept wandering off every time we turned around. Still, there was plenty of joy all around us.
Abby and her friend Max volunteered to lead the prayer this morning and for a 5 year old to volunteer to pray in front of 400 children and adult volunteers is quite impressive in my opinion. One of our girls, Emma, danced with such enthusiasm during music time that I well imagine we will see her on Dancing With the Stars before too long!
Thursday - everyone was tired. 1/4 of the children did not brush their hair today (which is fine, of course, but a strong indicator that they were dragged from their beds and shipped directly to me.) Following VBS and back-to-back playdates (why do I do this to myself?) I managed to find joy lurking in, of all places, my big jacuzzi bathtub. Yes, it was late in the day, but I think it still counts. I relaxed to Diana Krall and loofahed my rough spots on the outside, which seemed to buff away the rough spots I experienced during the day. Calgon - take me away!
Friday was amazing. The kids were tired but they poured their little hearts into everything we did. As always, I found myself choking back the tears as I sat on the floor of our fellowship hall while they performed several little songs they learned this week. To watch Christ pouring out of their little faces brought me an overwhelming sense of the closeness of God. I felt blessed for having been a part of this whole experience. I actually can't wait for next year!
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