I love house work, and I don't are if that makes boring.

Today is the last Tuesday and, thus, free morning before the end the the year.  I probably should mail some gifts at the post office or run some other errands child free.  But, I chose to clean.  Not because my house is a disaster, or I have anyone but my family entering it in the near future.  I just love a clean house.  I even like the act of cleaning.

I don't think it is because I am crazy.  It isn't because I have no interests.  Rather, being a visual person, it makes me very happy when things are tidy and in order.  Just as it bothers me to the core when my middle wears his skull cap on top of his hood, or when my husband calls navy "green" and pairs it with black, things need to flow for me visually.  I spend a good part of my day at home and I like it to make sense and be in order.

To be more poetic and less odd, I also like what the act of caring for my house symbolizes for my family.  I like giving the gift of order to them.  I am happy to create an environment where things make sense, visually or otherwise.  The world is unpredictable and refuses to be constrained by order.  In my home, I like to take a break from that chaos.  So, clean on I will.

How do you view house work?  With dread or delight?

Mondays are pretty great...or are they?

I am probably in the minority, but some weeks I really love Monday mornings.   Sometimes, it’s hard saying goodbye to the weekend and getting back into work-activity-school-mode.  Other times, I am just reminded how good I have it.  While John was up and out on his 45 minute commute by 5AM, I find myself at home.  Here I am In a quiet house, by the fire,  lounging with my dogs.  Not a bad way to start the week! Yes, things will explode into aliveness at any moment.  Child wake-up to school drop off time is a challenge.  But, 2/3 of my kids are dropped off for 6 hour each day!  Leaving me with time to go to boxing class,  run an errand or two, do some art with Liam, and (hopefully) enjoy a quiet house during his afternoon nap.  I won’t get into the complexities of the after school hours.  Why ruin a good story?

The weekend was pretty great too.  All three children spent Saturday afternoon in the theater with their grandparents while John and I stayed home…alone!  How often does that happen?  Pretty much....never.  Sunday, we skipped church and spent the day together.  A lazy brunch, a trip to the gym for a workout , family basketball (you guessed it, I was a star), and swimming.  Then home for some Christmas Crafting.

First, a rustic Christmas Wreath made with Liam.  We used last years wreath frame (thank you, John for saving everything to a fault), and greens from our yard.  Created with leland cypress, mock orange and something things that I don’t know the names of and tied together with twine.  Tada!  Free holiday wreath.

I love using the word "rustic" in place of "scrappy

Next, Amelia and I worked on creating woven headbands out of an old tee shirt.  Another free craft - yipee!  Amelia is working on ideas for Christmas gifts.  So act suprised if you are on her list.  She made hers herself.  I made one too, but how can I post a picture of my baby hair next to Amelia's amazing lion mane?  The boys decided they were basketball sweat band.  As you can see, they also decided that they were hilarious.

Who wore it best?

Good food, family, a workout, and crafting.  It may have been the perfect day.  Thinking about the weekend, my Monday doesn't seem so wonderful as it did a few minutes ago.  Time for some coffee to rearrange my view.....

What is your favorite way to spend a Sunday?

Why I am saying goodbye to my adventures with Kindermusik

I have been thinking about writing this post for a few weeks now.  In fact, I think a good reason to why there has been tumbleweed blowing around my blog is because I couldn't bring myself to do it.  While I have made my official "this will be my last semester announcements" to my classes, my family, my friends and St. Luke's, putting it in writing seems a lot more committal.  I suppose that is where the phrase "put it in writing" comes from.  It isn't so easy to do.  Over the past month, I have come to know well that the hardest decision are those that have you the most emotionally involved.  For me, my Kindermusik studio has always been about a lot more then teaching music.


I love teaching music!  I love each child that I have taught.  It has been a joy watching them come alive in song and dance.  It has been a priviledge watching the love in a parents eyes as they witness their child being moved to music, interacting with peers, or just doing something ridiculously adorable.  I love watching the St. Lukes Pre-K class share ideas musically.  Seeing friends dance and sing together is beautiful.  I adore knowing that a parent and child can come into my class and experience moments of tenderness and quite as they rock and snuggle to music.  


At this point you may be expecting the flip side, what I really hate about my teaching experience.  While every moment has not been perfect.  Most of my time in the classroom has felt pretty darn close.  I even enjoy the preparation.  Using my brain to communicate with parents and other grown-ups has been great.  There really aren't a whole lot of skunks in the yard.


To say that I have decided to stop teaching so that I have more time to spend with my family sounds like a really good answer.  Unfortunately, it would be a lie.  I love my family.  I also spend PLENTY of time with them.  I don't need more time to "get things done" around the house.  The truth is, I have been very efficient for the past five years.  I have managed to teach in the morning, spend time with my children, exercise the dogs, make a fresh healthy meal, make it to the gym and be in bed by 10PM all with a clean house.  There in lies my reason for closing my little Minuet Studio.  I have no time for nothing.  In reading this over, it sounds like a "it's hard being beautiful" kind of rant.  That is not my intention.  But rather, to make the point that striving to be a "super mom" can leave you feeling a little empty.  Even when, with practice, you have become pretty good at it.  There is a sacrifice.


When I speak of doing nothing, I don't mean "nothing" as in hanging around with my family with no where to be and nothing on my to-do list.  My "nothing" is all about me.  Be it selfish or not, I am ready to care for myself as a priority.  When I find free moments by myself, I have found that I'm pretty tapped out physically and creatively.  It has taken me 9 years of parenting to finally realize the depth into which I need my solitude.  While I may not come across this way while teaching, I am an introvert to the core.  I thoroughly love my time with students, friends and my family.  But, I NEED time by myself, lots of it.  If you are a parent or caregiver, you know how impossible this can be when you hold a loaded schedule.


For the past five years, my creativity has been devoted to my studio, and my children.  I am ready to revisit the aspects of my creativity that have been often dormant.  It doesn't mean that I will be creating masterpieces, or learning to play the trombone.  Rather, I am leaving space to create in whatever capacity I am drawn to each day.  Maybe in a meal for my husband, maybe in a short story, maybe in redecorating my laundry room.  It may not sound as interesting as running a small music business, but to me, right now, it sounds very luxurious.   


I recently spoke with Father Paul (of St. Luke's) about my plans to stop teaching.  In addition to his kindness and loving support he made a comment something like this:  "Many busy families find themselves spinning their wheels.  If you are able to take the time to keep the hearth fires going strong, what a difference you can make in your lives".    I have always seen this as important as it relates for my family.  I now see how important is is for me to keep the hearth fires in my own heart burning, and daily.

What fires would you like to rekindle?  

Meet Cheesy McQueen

Welcome Thanksgiving break!!!!! How I love having my big kids home during the day!  No waking up early to make lunches and tie up loose ends, no uniforms, and a little extra time in the morning to hang out and play.  This morning, Liam and Jack helped to make banana pancakes and we went to work building a play mobile castle.  Dixie Belle Boyds went to work eating any toys she could sneak before being caught.  Amelia worked on sleeping in (lucky thing).

Then, we were off to the gym.  Kids to kids club and I to a crazy hard step and weights class.   I followed that with a shower in peace.  Funny how a shower at the gym is more private then a shower at home.  No one even opened the shower curtain to comment on my various body parts!  Next, off to Michael's for Chirstmas card supplies and home for lunch.  With a little extra time, we had a water drinking competition (I won, yes, I've still got it) and the kids constructed their own sandwiches:  butterless grilled cheese in the sandwich maker.  Liam was given the choice:  light cheese, medium, lots of cheese or...Cheesy McQueen.  Of course, he went with the McQueen.  Here is his creation.

                                                  
                                           Don't you See the Resemblance?

I think the onions are supposed to be the front and back windows.  I'm not too sure how the carrots fit in.  We couldn't put the bread together (of course, that would ruin it), so it was baked in the oven.  The problem: Liam couldn't bring himself to eat, and thus kill, McQueen.  So, we settled on him taking a few portraits so that he could live on forever.  He never did eat the carrots.

Long Live Cheesy McQueen!

Single Parenting Take 4

If Joey had red hair, this trio would be a perfect Match to my three.

Why is it that when my children are sick they still have abundant energy?  No lethargic, cuddlers taking long naps.  Nope, mine get really crabby (in fact mean) and are still bouncing off of the walls.  Why do I bring this up?  You guessed it, I have a sick child.  


My first clue that something was wrong happened this morning.  Just as finished step class, the kids club attendant came to get me. Since Liam is not in diapers and never gets lonely for me there, I knew that he was either a) sick or b) naughty.  To my delight, the answer was c) both a and b.  Apparently, my Liam had a massive and violent temper tantrum that included him kicking the attendant and calling her "stupid" (I'm so proud).  When I came to collect him, he was hiding in shame.  He also had a slight fever.  The very kind caregivers were understanding as he has never done anything like this before. I made sure to blame big brother and sister for the introduction of the word "stupid" to his vocabulary (when they say it I blame the Junie B Jones books they read in Kindergarten). I had to carry him out screaming, flailing, and kicking.  If I would have known that this was how my gym experience would end, I would have chosen lighter weights during class.


So, a slightly runny nose and a slightly feverish boy meant a complete rearrangement of my schedule.  No preschool for Liam tomorrow.  Which leads to no childcare, which leads t no Pre-K Kindermusik class for St. Luke's tomorrow.  No husband to hand off to so...no family outing for Amelia's end of the season soccer party.  Many thanks to the lovely and understanding Mrs. M for bringing her and, hopefully, bringing her back.  They are still out partying.

Single Parenting, Take 3

I'm not sure what is different about this time.  But, after being gone for 3 days, Liam no longer calls his father "Daddy".  He is now referred to as "John".

To be honest, it was much harder to have to go it alone when my kids younger.  Now, our lives are so busy that I don't seem to notice that I am on my own until the day comes to a close.  The biggest frustration to me is that I can't go anywhere alone.  I usually hold my grocery shopping,  dog hikes, and errand running until John comes home from work.  Or, save it for the weekend.  Now,  every trip is a lively adventure.  The one thing that I can't bring the kids to that pains me most is yoga.


The bright side of this change in routine is that I had to fit a yoga class into the only window that was available to me.  Today, during my one free morning while Liam is in preschool, I tried a class that I had never gone to before.  Labeled as a basic flow class, my ego didn't even think to consider going.  I am so glad that I did!  I knew that the instructor was amazingly gifted, so I'm not sure why I was surprised that I got so much out of it.  In a nut shell, it was a reminder that everything needs to be built on a good foundation in order to bring fulfillment yoga and life alike.  I left feel more grounded and inspired then I have felt in a long time.  

Single Parenting Take 2

The happy times of yesterday continued into the day.  In this chilly weather, I spent as much time as possible next to the fire with a book and someone to snuggle.  I feel a little guilty that while we are toasty and warm in our cozy home, John is freezing cold and sleeping elbow to elbow with loudly snoring sailors.  But, he probably hasn’t been pelted by “I hate you” for the better part of the afternoon.

In preparation for the battle of wills with my three year old, I spent the morning in heavy bag boxing.  If I haven’t said it enough before, I LOVE BOXING.  Maybe, it’s the little person complex in me trying to feel badass.  Maybe, it is the pent up energy from all of the times I have had to bite my tongue with my fiery three year old.  Maybe, it is just a super fun, sweaty workout.  Whatever it is, it left me ready to conquer the world.  Or, if not the world, sneaker shopping and another trip to China Lake with Liam and the dogs.  My advice to all mothers of young children:  You must try boxing!!!!!  It is an amazing stress relief. 

The heavens smiled down on me and moved Jack’s soccer coach to cancel practice at the last minute.  An afternoon with nothing planned!  No carpool, no errands, no meetings, nothing.  So, back to the fire it was for homework and warm milk.  The kids were thrilled that I had baked English Muffins and served them breakfast for dinner.  I was happy to slack on meals with no other adult to cook for.  That is one of my favorite parts of single parenting, lazy meals and no complaints.  It almost makes me want to convert to boring meals all together.  But , not quite.

Well, I just got a hair stroke and a gentle “ I love you, you’re a good mom” from my angry dictator…..

Day 2 gets 4 stars!

What is your favorite stress relief?

Five Little Vizslas

This week I find myself single parenting.  John left at 6AM to go underway with a sub and the children and I to carry on as usual.  The extra hour of sleep left everyone but me extra spunky.  After a chaotic and painful trip to the food co-op, I could see the energy oozing from my children’s pores.  I am not sure what was louder on the car ride home, the lively sounds from the backseat or the screaming in my head.  No, it was probably the real screaming that I delivered back to my noise-makers.

The next stop was to run the energy out of our dogs at China Lake.  Which brought on a chorus of moaning and back talk.  Really, not much would have been different if John were home.  I would have had someone to complain to at the end of the morning.  Instead, I complained to myself.   Which, only made me feel more crazy and out of control. 

I knew that the outdoors would make everyone feel better.  I was right.  My five little vizslas flew out of the gate (or mini-van) and didn’t stop.  Pure, raw energy released.  After 45 minutes, the clock was ticking to get home before the howls of hunger set in.  Just as no one wanted to come in the first place, now no one wanted to leave (please say this is not just my children that do this).  Home for lunch and an afternoon nap for Liam, everyone was happy.

 Zonked Out Doggies by the Fire

The afternoon was left for games, cleaning, crafting and sprucing up our family center.  Liam screamed for most of the day.  I think it is just habit now.  No middle ground, only “I love you” or “ I hate you” with a ratio of about 1 to 20.  Now we are off for build your own sandwiches followed by “Meerkat Manor” (my children’s newest favorite).  Followed by the sweet silence and the peace of knowing that everyone is safely sleeping in our warm, cozy house.  Tomorrow is another day.

A site worth looking in to

If you are a Minuet parent or a parent of a young child, I have a website wort looking into.  For a while now, Kindermusik has had a sister site, http://play.kindermusik.com.  On this site, you can purchase music and download your class songs.  The site has recently been updated to include lyrics and home activity books as well.  If you are currently enrolled in a class, this is all accessible to you.

I hope that you will find this useful in continuing your musical experiences outside of the studio.

If you have already registered at Play Kindermusik but did so before the home guides were available, here is what you do:   Go to the MY ACCOUNT page of play.kindermusik.com and click on the GREEN button to receive the Lyrics & Home Activities PDFs -- it's EASY!


Right now, my Liam's favorite class song is "Mister Sun".


What is your child's favorite Kindermusik song?

There are many times when being the third child really stinks.  You only wear hand me downs, you get dragged around all day running errands, and dropping your brother and sister off at school and activities, your parents are burnt out from years of “playing” so you have to beg your siblings who rarely say yes, you have 4 people to boss you around, and the list goes on.  When Halloween comes around, being the youngest is great.

Just one of the big kids ready for candy 

Liam made out like a bandit this year.  There is NO WAY I would have let Amelia or Jack trick-or-treat until their bags were too heavy to carry.  When Amelia was three, the parties she was invited to served apple slices, pumpkin seeds and milk.  Liam, on the other hand, got in on the big kid’s parties.  Cupcakes, cookies, candy corn,  and soda were featured on the party spreads this weekend.  The tables were eye level and parents were distracted.  It felt pretty good to be the little brother.  Those poor kids from preschool were probably at home painting pumpkins or making leaf rubbings with there enthusiastic parents.  Liam was eating guacamole that had been barfed up from a jack-o-lantern.  He was the coolest  three year old on the block.   Halloween had arrived.

The Booty

Who said being the youngest doesn't have it's rewards?

Are you more lenient with your younger children?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  It's hard to believe that a weekend long of celebrating was just the prologue for today.  If you are a teacher today, best of luck.  If you are a teacher tomorrow, best of luck times two.

To spite all of my complaining about the extreme celebrating for this holiday, we had a great weekend.  We got to catch up with friends while the children got wild in someone else's house.  And, I didn't have to make dinner for two nights in a row!  Not bad at all.

Today leaves us with one more round of costuming.  I think that Amelia's quickly thrown together red fox will make it one more night.  Jack's bat wings came off a few times on Saturday, but a few quick stitches quickly put them back in place.  Liam is yet to wear his full monkey costume (grrr), that I spent an afternoon hunting down on request (double grrr.), so it is still in fine condition for this evenings festivities.  

We will head out early in our house at 6 PM to leave plenty of time for treating, assessing and over sugaring.  Halloween is the only day of the year that I loosen my very tight (and overbearing) grip of my children's treat consumption.  After getting home tonight, they get to feast on as much candy as they like before brushing their teeth (EXTREMELY well) and going to bed.  I am always surprised that they don't actually eat until they vomit or finish their stash.  This year, my money is on Liam eating the most of them all.  I also predict that tomorrow's sugar withdrawal is going to be a challenge for all.

For our teachers:  May the angels be with you today and tomorrow!

When did Halloween get so big?

Yesterday while passing by the bulk bins at the Tacoma Food Co-op my children innocently asked:  "Can we buy yogurt covered pretzels?"  My response:  "Hmmm, Friday you have a school harvest party,  we are going to 2 halloween parties on Saturday, there is a harvest party after church on Sunday and Halloween is on Monday.  Sorry, there is NO WAY I am bringing anything with sugar home with us today".  They didn't even begin to counter.


Growing up, I don't remember having a Halloween party at school.  Maybe, I just wasn't invited, but I don't think I ever went to Halloween parties outside of school either.  I certainly wasn't parading around local business districts soliciting candy.  I don't think I even wore my costume outside of the house until Halloween night.  I have nothing against Halloween.  I love that my children get to wear their well planned costumes a few times before they outgrow them next year.  Still, it just feels like over kill.  With Thanksgiving and Christmas waiting as we round the corner back from trick-or-treating, I could do without the week long festival of candy and gluttony we celebrate every October.  How do you say "bah humbug" in halloween?  


Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I can give mention to all of the sweet things that haven't seemed to change much over the years.  It is funny how the important parts of life seem to carry on.  Those things that we treasure most stand the test of time.  Forget about the candy, these are the sweet things:


Watching my Children admiring their costumed selves in the mirror for the first time.


Getting together with friends that I don't get to see often enough.


Watching the Charlie Brown, Great Pumpkin, with the kids.


Toasting pumpkin seeds.


Family night walks to check out the best decorations in the neighborhood.


Illuminating our well planned jack-o-lanterns on Halloween night.


Saying hello to neighbors that we rarely see.


The palpable excitement in the air as we head down set off trick-or-treating.


The sheer delight on my children's faces as they dump out the mountain of candy they have collected on the living room floor.


What are your thoughts on Halloween?  The bigger the better or simple is sweet?

Step and Rest

My 24 hrs. plus to share with my husband was perfect!  Saturday brought rain instead of a hike.  But, the rain brought a little more time to poke around in Olympia and linger over lunch.  The rain made our cozy cabin and with a fire a happy retreat.  A dry Sunday sent us heading for The Olympic National Park.  No kids or dogs to guide our hike this time!  So, we went big.  To set out for the wagon wheel lake climb just inside the staircase entrance.

View from the (almost) top

Six miles round trip doesn't seem like a lot for a day hike.  It seems like a lot more when the elevation gain of those 3 miles in is 3200 ft.  Wow, it was tough.   One of the most difficult in the entire park.  But, so rewarding.


Like any physically challenging endeavor  requiring a good amount of endurance, the first 20 minutes or so always seem to be the hardest.  It isn't the physicality so much as the mentality at this point.  Such was the case yesterday.  "What did I get myself into?  If it is this hard now, how much worse might it get? Why am I even doing this?  I hate hiking!  When can I rest?"  ....and on and on. 


During my monkey brain circus, my wise husband mentioned that he was using a technique that he learned years ago in a class with the Mountaineers, "rest with each step".  So simple and so transformative.  Very yogic too.  I was amazed how instantly I realized that through the challenge, there was calm.  My body was working, but it wasn't screaming after all.  That was just my mind.  As I start a new week, certain to be filled with both peace and challenge, I plan to take that with me.  Whether struggling with an unhappy child, feeling overwhelmed with to do's, or dealing with the unexpected, I don't need shut down, hide or panic. There is always time to rest with each step.

Happy Notes

It's Friday!  I was excited about Tuesday, but that doesn't come close to my super charged Friday excitement.  There are so many things that I love about the weekend.  Who doesn't have a long list of weekend happy notes?  They most likely include many of mine:

Sleeping in
Family Time
Spending time with my husband
Stealing lazy moments of quiet
Leaving the house without a child.....

I could go on.  This weekend is especially exciting for me.  John and I get 24 hrs + without the kids.  Since dollars aren't burning a whole in my hand at the moment, we are going to keep it simple and affordable.  Were are packing up the dogs and heading to the cabin.  A stop in Olympia, a little hiking, puppy play, and a day to actually finish a conversation, uninterrupted.  It may not sound luxe, but it is to me!  We haven't been without the kids for a night since May.  I don't feel even the slightest twinge of sadness to leave them.  Don't feel bad for them.  They are just excited to be rid of us and have Grandma and Grandpa to shower them with attention.

What are your weekend plans?  When is the last time (if ever) you have been away from your child over night?

Vices

What are your Vices?

When times get tough do you find yourself running to the same vices?  Or, maybe you overuse vices in hard times because they are now habit?  Perhaps you are you a model of happiness who turns to healthy vices?

This has been on my mind lately as I have been trying to rid myself of the all of my backfiring vices.   I have good productive vices too.   I often use exercise, mediation and prayer, yoga, walks and hmmm…I expected my healthy vice list to be longer   Well, here they are, my poor choice vices:

Coffee

Food

Cuticle biting

Wine (maybe that one should move to second place below coffee)

Wasting time on the internet

Complaining

Before I go on, I should clarify about the wine.  I am not pulling up to school drop off with a thermous full or topping myself off after lunch.  But,  the glass on wine on the weekend after the kids are put to bed slowly stretches from Saturday to Friday and Sunday.  Next it creeps to Monday and Thursday.  And now you have a habit, and not a healthy one.

The same is true for me with coffee.  I never actually see the bottom of a coffee cup.  I pour and dump from about 6 AM until 8:30 AM.  My coffee is the little bit of happiness in the chaos of the morning.   It is warmth in the cold and dark morning.  Sometimes I try to bring that happiness to the afternoon too.  It often backfires and makes me feel horrible. 

For the past few weeks, I have taken coffee and wine out of my weekday routine.  Ditching wine during the week has been pretty easy.  But the coffee….a little harder.  I am fortunate that I never get caffeine headaches .  Tea (especially when it’s caffeinated ) does a fine job as a replacement for the most part.  I still miss coffee.  The sad truth is that it is a little bit of a security blanket for me.  A self -medicating happy blanket.  And, a hard habit to break.

Here is my dilemma:  while some of these vices should be, pretty much eliminated: cuticle biting, internet, and complaining.  I can’t quite pull the plug on the others completely.  I don’t care to live my remaining days with out coffee, wine, and certainly not without food.  Being an all or nothing person is a challenge.  It is great when you need to finish a task list at full speed or plow through a workout.  It stinks when you have no idea how to live in moderation.  I’d like to blame society for push until you drop (or have a nervous breakdown) mentality.  I will also tip my hat to genetics on my paternal side (sorry Dad, you Northen’s are intense).

So, for now I will continue on my weekend only plan to keep balance.  It isn’t perfect.  I’ve had coffee mid week and I try not to guilt myself.  The down side is that my cuticle biting and complaining have hit a new all time high.  One thing at a time.

Do struggle with any unhealthy vices?  What are they?

Oops, grrr...ehh

That lovely run that I had planned for yesterday didn't go so well.  Well, the running part was okay.  But the "long" run did not happen.  Silly me.  Beautiful day, shinning sun, cool Fall air and I giant sign that says "Five Mile Loop".  I noticed the air and the sun, it's just the sign that escaped me.  Thankfully, having my head in the clouds did not lead to me getting lost and the eaten by wild dogs or zombies.  It just meant that I had circled back to my car after 2.4 miles.  Right when my hands were beginning to thaw.  Bleh. 

On the bright side, I was here....

So, instead of working off my stress with a good exhausting run, I went home frustrated.  Since I had a quick run, I now had time for a long shower and a little more time to spend with my delicious soy latte at Bluebeard.

So, I have lot's of pent up energy to spend at step class this morning.  Especially since I slept 9 hours last night after taking an hour nap in the afternoon.  


I believe that I was meant to hibernate in the winter.


How about you. Are you effected by seasonal sleepiness?

What can I cram into 2 hours?

Today is Tuesday!  I know that doesn't sound very exciting to you.  But, it is for me.  Why?  Tuesday is my free morning.  Okay, that is an overstatement.  Taking away the time spent in the car, I have 2 hours between dropping Liam off at preschool and scooping him back up again.  This year, Liam attends preschool two mornings a week.  Since I teach the other morning, that leaves me with one wonderful 2-hour block to do as I please.  A sweet, sweet rarity.  Liam has been in school for almost a month now.  Yet, every Tuesday that comes and goes, I panic with how to spend my time.  I am so excited to do all of the things that I can't do normally, that I am paralyzed and chose something totally random or otherwise lame.  Last week I took Dixie to Point Defiance (not lame), took a shower, sang a little, cleaned a little (getting duller), and finished dinner (yawn). Instead of enjoying it, I was rushing around trying to cram in as much as possible.  Totally unsatisfying.


Today is different.  I am going for a long and lovely fall run on at Point Defiance, taking a quick shower, and parking it at Bluebeard Coffee for 20 minutes of quite to prepare for my classes for the week.  I am going to fight the urge to do a quick load of laundry, walk the dog (sorry Dixie, I need to run too), or mop the floors.  

Sometimes being inefficient is the best way to be efficient.

What do you do with your time when you have a free hour or two to yourself?

New evidence that music raises the IQ

Wow!  There have been some interesting findings on the impact of music on cognitive development.  A Canadian study of four to six year old children showed increased verbal IQ scores for children who had been exposed to an experimental animated computer music program. 

If you are interested in the details of the study, you can read about them here: 

www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/young-children-show-improved-verbal-iq-after-20-days-of-exposure-to-music-based-cognitive-training-cartoons.html

While this study offers more proof that music is good for the brain, I can’t help but wonder:  Don’t children who participate in live musical instruction benefit even more?  If you watch the brief clip in this article, it you may wonder the same.  I certainly believe that any exposure to music education is beneficial.  However, I hate to hand over music education to a computer.  The best way to learn about music is to live it.  The concepts and sounds can be replicated, but there is a lot that is lost too.

Sound itself is created by vibration.  The vibrations that come from a speaker can’t compare to the vibrations and energy experienced when singing in a group, listening to a piano or beating a drum.  Live music incorporates more of the senses, not just sound and sight. The Kindermusik classes that I teach (and maybe you attend?) emphasize the growth of the whole child.  I love that we keep music a whole body experience with dance, touch, sight, communication, or social interactions.  If only you could taste the music we would have all of the bases covered.  Music celebrates both the self and those we share it with.  The brain blossoms to receive this celebration.    It grows as it fills with joy and wonder.

If a child’s IQ surges from computer based instruction, imagine how he responds to live musical instruction? 

Do you think that children can learn as well from a computer as they can a teacher?

Having a baby is not like having an angry boss (part 2)

There are days I would love to wake up to a demanding boss instead of a child.  I would really be thrilled for an adult of any kind.    Why? 

• Most adults don’t make up screaming, and if they do it is usually just until they get a caffeine fix.   
• I can’t imagine that many employers make you late for a meeting because their bowels are calling just as you are headed out the door. 
• I doubt they demand that you wipe their bottom either.  
• I can’t imagine a boss asking “Can I help?” as much as my son does only to destroy what it is that I am doing.  No, a boss wants you to actually be productive.  
• I have never had a boss say “I hate you” or “you smell”.  I have been fired, and I have been talked down to.  It is much more pleasant then being heckled by a 3 year old.
•  I have never had a boss cry while wrapping themselves around my leg when I left the office.  Never did one put his finger in my face and order me “don’t go to yoga when I go into the other room”.   

The real problem is with that tired analogy is that when you work for a baby or child boss, you are constantly worried about their safety.  If an adult boss can’t be trusted in the bath alone for fear of drowning, they should not BE boss.  In addition, this idea implies that the parent has one boss and one job.  Some of my biggest struggles stem from the fact that I have many jobs and bosses/children.  Caring for a child and nothing else is tough.  Caring for a child, his/her siblings, pets, and spouse is another.  Add to that constant worry about your child’s safety and emotional health and things get really complicated.

So, if we parents are not employees, what are we?  Just for fun, I looked up Wikipedia’s definition of indentured servant.  No, that didn’t fit either.  Slave was closer, but still not quite right.  A drudge? Almost there, but it still was missing the emotional side.  I guess there is no point in trying to explain parenthood as anything other then what it is.  Whatever that is.  

Having a baby is not like having an angry boss (part 1)

You have heard an analogy before that goes something like this:  “Having a baby is like having a demanding boss breathing down your back 24 hours a day.”

I realize that who ever first came up with this idea was trying to give sort of recognition to stay at home parents.  The hours are long, your work never seems to be good enough, you are always on call etc., etc.  Those are all true.   I also realize that my children aren’t infants.  But, my 3 year old is pretty demanding.  Not nearly as demanding as when he was an infant, but not exactly easy to care for either.  My 7 and 8 year old can be difficult too.  But, I won’t pretend that it is nearly as challenging as the infant and preschool years in this area.

Once in a blue moon Often, life devoted to a young child is much better then it would be with a demanding boss.  Today after calling Jack in sick to school (only to  discover him suddenly “better” within 5 minutes), the boys and I headed to Point Defiance.  I chose where and when we were going (they’re not the boss of me!), and we hit the trails.  We took Dixie along too.  Most mean bosses don’t let you bring your dog to work.   My boys even played with her.  We brought along a bag to collect nature treasures.  Since I assigned a nature walk to 2 of my classes this week, I thought that we should do our homework too.  The trails were empty as they often are in the fall.  We compared the feel of different mosses, listed to birds and something that sounded like a tree frog.  We collected soggy pinecones and pieces of fern.  The air was beautiful and crisp.  The park was intensely green.  When we were done, we turned around and headed home to create our new mantel:

Liam and Jack's Treasure Jars

An Autumn Afternoon

This morning I had supportive co-workers.  They were the slightly under-qualified, “still learning the ropes” types.  But, they were eager go -getters.  


What do you think?  Is life with an infant or preschooler harder or easier then having a tyrannical boss?

Puppy Power

…and I thought babies grew quickly.  Our very frisky Dixie Cotter is growing by the minute.  She is sleeping through the night (mostly), and is even starting to conform to our crazy schedule.  With the exception of her ability to escape from her travel crate - in the car only to appear underneath my feet while I’m driving!, and razor sharp teeth, she is PERFECT.

To prove my point, here are some pictures taken from the weekend.  Dixie had her first trip to Lake Cushman and first of many hikes on the Hoodsport trail.  If you notice that the pictures are better then the norm, it is because I didn’t take them.  I was not in Hoodsport, but parked on the couch eating left over birthday cake and watching Fat Albert with Jack and Amelia.  Hey, hey, hey,  don’t judge me.  That was all I could muster after the birthday chaos of the week before.  No wonder why this week is getting of to a rocky start.  I seriously need a childless vacation.  Back to the pictures, yes the pictures.  Here they are!

Still Adorable, a little less wrinkled

Perhaps, a swim?

I'm the perfect puppy, admit it!

Okay, I guess I should include a cute Liam picture to make me look less crazy and more like a loving mother (though I probably lost all credibility by divulging the cake and Albert tidbit).

"I loved going to the cabin with my Dad, he gave me an enormous piece of cake for lunch!"

"My mom chose a vizsla because they match my hair" 

Have you slacked lately as a parent out of exhaustion or boredom?  What did YOU do?

Third Graders Gone Wild

As the title suggests, Friday night’s birthday fiesta was one wild party.  The kids had a great time.  Unfortunately, I have never really been that big on wild parties.  Now that I am closer to 40 then 30, they really bring the anxious, ninny out in me.  Add in to that the screams of children, and the responsibility of returning these children unharmed to their parents and you automatically add a giant dose of host anxiety. 

I did get to have the fun of decorating

I made the wild children use the back door

And stay in the playroom until dinner time

Did you see all of those streamers?  They stayed up for...hmmm...about 4 minutes.  Then they were torn down and rolled in.  Along with all of my handmade signs, and table clothes.  There was a lot of balloon wrestling and high pitched screaming.  Apparently, otherwise well behaved children with amazing parents and wonderful homes follow the same sociological rules as adults.  In large groups they feel anonymous.  So, my redirection and pleas for order did little to stop that tornado.  

All in all, they were nine years olds.  I think they had fun.  If not, they burnt off a lot of steam from the sitting in a desk at school during the day.  There was a lot of laughter.  A lot of story telling and joking. A lot of "I almost peed my pants" from one party goer. Amelia had a great time.  She didn't seem to mind the lack of order or that no one could sit still long enough to watch her to open gifts.  She was a little disappointed that the decorations were destroyed. I am glad to see that she has some of my blood after all.

How do your nerves do around big, wild groups of children?  Cool as a cucumber or hot tamale?

My Amelia

Dear Amelia,

Do you remember that day nine years ago when you just wouldn't cooperate?  When you pulled out every stop in the book just to stay in bed a little longer.  To spite the pitocin, epidural and even morphine (yes, morphine!), I remember it well.  Somehow, foolishly, I though that I gave you life that day.  Oh, how wrong I was!  The gifts that were given were all   to me.  Thank you for sharing your life with me every day.  I was blessed beyond words when your life became intwined with mine.

From shallowness and fog

you came masterfully

Shocking my humility  

divine beauty 

warmly charged love

Amelia

The soulful artist

 Goofy girl

 Caring sister

Super soccer star

lover of joy

Obsessed reader

Nature Lover

You bring love, humor, happiness and beauty to our family.  Happy Birthday Amelia!

Birthday on the Brain

Tomorrow my sweet Amelia turns 9!  Impossible!  I have been busy planning her birthday fiesta.  I am not just trying to sound festive.  That is what she requested, a birthday fiesta.  To my dismay, Amelia asked for a fiesta instead of the girly options I tried to push on her.  I have two boys to hold basketball parties and lego themed events.  It would be nice if I could go girly once in a while.  But, her reasons are good ones.  Amelia wanted to invite boys and did not want to subject them to jewelry making or the like.  So, a fiesta it is.  I have had most of the plans simmering for a couple of weeks, but this week I have to actually get out of the "idea" faze.  


Yesterday, during Liam's nap I finished the party favors.  I found this idea for mini pinata's here:  http://onecharmingparty.com/2011/04/29/cinco-de-mayo-pinata


Mine aren't quite as cute, but not too bad...

I dedicate this post to my glue gun.  You are a strong, loyal friend and my favorite crafting tool.


Do you prefer to hold your children's parties at home or in a public venue?