Looking Back on the Summer Garden

I spent much of yesterday afternoon outside surveying and cleaning the garden.  While there is still a lot growing and blooming, it is clear that it is time to wrap things up for the summer and move on into the fall.

This year was a success for my family in the garden.  John built Jack and Amelia each a garden box.  They had free reign on what to grow and a budget to help get them started.  Jack focused on flowers and Amelia on Vegetables.  At 8 and 6, they were at a great age to take ownership of their own gardens.  They chose flowers and vegetables that they would enjoy caring for and harvesting.  They took great care to weed and monitor progress.  I was amazed by how observant they were.

Here is what they grew

Jack's Flower Garden

Amelia's box in full bloom

Jack harvested many tomatoes and Amelia beans, peas, potatoes and carrots.  They learned that you can’t predict your successes.  Amelia’s peppers and cucumbers didn’t produce.    Some times things surprised them and grew beyond their wildest dreams.  Jacks hollyhocks and petunias ran wild!  Amelia had enormous nasturtiums and tons of potatoes.

Once again, I have been totally inspired by my children.  As we clean up for fall, I think we will try some fall plantings.  That will be a first for our garden.

Enjoying  a home grown potato

What were your biggest garden successes and failures of the summer?

Comfort Music

Enjoying the Sounds of Home

The biggest success that came out of my many hours of travel preparations was, hands down, making each child their own playlist.  Since the time that Jack, my middle child, turned 3, I have often used headphones and music to soothe him.  It started as a night time "PLEASE SLEEP!!!" tool and then grew branches into other areas of our lives.  Now I also use it with Jack for:

Anger management cool down
To beat car boredom
Early morning seclusion /(don't wake up the rest of us)

Having spent his 3 years in a musical household, Liam has always had a song in his heart.  He sings as he plays with cars, takes a bath, eats,  and goes to the bathroom, pretty much all of the time.  In fact, often, Liam chooses to sing in conversation rather then speak.   Jack and Liam even been heard arguing in song ("It ...  is....    mine"  "NO IT"S NOT"  "yes...   it...    is"   "NO IT"S NOT".  

It should have been no surprise that, while traveling, the best source of comfort (outside of Mom and Dad) for my children was music.  Why?  Music evokes emotion and memory.  It transports us, soothes us, calms us and gives a voice to emotions that we can not find the words for ourselves.   I was simply trying to find a way to keep my children from being bored and frustrated.  But, music gave them much more then entertainment.  It gave them comfort.

Liam's favorite music, a Kindermusik medley.  In particular, anything car themed and the song"Apples and Bananas".  Amelia escaped to her tween pop happy place while Jack rocked out to his pretween songs of angst.  I enjoyed my favorite sound of all, quite.

What is your child's favorite song or musical style?

Music is a Tool for Travel Success

                                  When the music changes, so does the dance                                                   
                                                                 -African Proverb

Today I started making playlists with the kids for our big trip.  They love doing this, and it is always fun to see what music they pick out.  I have always felt that you can tell so much about a person by the type of music they are drawn to.   Oddly enough, as I type I have a 3 yr. old running through the house singing James Browns "Make it Funky"and a seven year old belting the song "Paris(Ooh La La)" by Grace and the Potter and the Nocturnals.  What does that say about my boys?  Seriously, any guesses?


The past two months my older two have been obsessing over "The Voice".  I am not sure that this show was totally appropriate for a 7 and an 8 year old.  Just letting my kids look at Christina Aguilera felt questionable.  But, I told my self that they didn't catch any of the trashy comments or questionable lyrics.  Jack and Amelia were crazy about the show.  Even though the show has ended, every conversation that we have still somehow circles back to "The Voice".  That said, it will be of no surprise when I let them each choose 3 songs from itunes they chose:  Cee Lo, Vicci, Dia, Maroon 5 and Xenia (I told Jack that he had to "sleep on"his Beverly decision).  


Some old favorites mixed with some new and we have created a pretty compact piece of entertainment.  However, music is great for travel for more then just relieving boredom.  It helps to block out noise, lets you to retreat inward from the claustrophobia of the plane, and lifts your mood (or brings it down depending on your song choice).  Once the plane lands it is still a fantastic tool.  A softer playlist helps children to wind down, while moving to something upbeat will help them to release some built up energy or stress from travel.


It's true, unless you are going backwoods, you will surely have access to the radio or a computer.  Still, bringing a familiar set of songs from home can be very soothing.  Especially, should homesickness or travel anxiety set in.  If you aren't crazy like me don't have time to make multiple playlists for everyone in the family, Pandora is a good friend.  We listen to a lot of pandora in our house.  If you do to, you know that they recycle a lot of songs.  While that may be boring for adults, kids love the repetition.
If you haven't used it before, check it out:  www.pandora.com


Don't forget to pack some music for yourself.  You don't even have to put and Kindermusik, Raffi or Wiggles on it!