I just put Pea to bed. (Dumpling skipped his nap and was asleep by 6:15.) Even though it is not terribly late, she is still overwrought, calling me in for water and to ask me weepily whatever happened to the paper we made in a super-crowded museum in Minnesota in MARCH. (We left it to dry, then it was time to leave, and we forgot and left it there.) Or what ever happened to her hippo blanket (a pink fleece blanket that we lost track of at least a year ago.) The fact is, the child never forgets. Right now, there is "cake batter" that she made yesterday ALL by herself that I am just going to have to bake up, although I would really prefer it if she forgot it. It promises to be fairly inedible. But if I don't bake it, sure as the sun rises tomorrow, she will remember it and remind me that I did, indeed tell her I would. So I will. Oops, I hear her again. Sweet, tired girl.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Painted Poetry
So, I really want to homeschool the children next year. I really do. (I also want to have another baby, get chickens, expand the garden and preserve more food). Right now they are at a lovely little Montessori school, in the same class. Pea goes five days a week from 8:30 to 12:00, and Dumpling goes three days, same time.
And, sometimes I feel really panicky, like I must start teaching and showing myself that I can do it, and I start to nag Pea--let's play with your moveable alphabet, let's write a letter, etc, etc. It sometimes, but doesn't always work. But if I sit down and start writing a letter myself, which, I must confess, rarely happens, she will inevitably join the party. The other day, I remembered how I used to decorate my classroom with words--I would find poetry that I liked, write it somewhat fancily in permanent marker on watercolor paper, and then paint over it. I decided to try to make something like that for our nature table for Thanksgiving, and so I found a Thanksgiving poem, and copied it and painted it in fall colors. And guess what--the kids were so into it. We ended up painting over several poems of their choosing for their room, and then Pea dictated her own poem to me, which she then painted over:
Hendersonville Happiness
Morning sun
lights the ditches,
beautiful sunshine
lights up the
beauty of the world.
Not bad for a five year old. And she is writing. I am satisfied.
And, sometimes I feel really panicky, like I must start teaching and showing myself that I can do it, and I start to nag Pea--let's play with your moveable alphabet, let's write a letter, etc, etc. It sometimes, but doesn't always work. But if I sit down and start writing a letter myself, which, I must confess, rarely happens, she will inevitably join the party. The other day, I remembered how I used to decorate my classroom with words--I would find poetry that I liked, write it somewhat fancily in permanent marker on watercolor paper, and then paint over it. I decided to try to make something like that for our nature table for Thanksgiving, and so I found a Thanksgiving poem, and copied it and painted it in fall colors. And guess what--the kids were so into it. We ended up painting over several poems of their choosing for their room, and then Pea dictated her own poem to me, which she then painted over:
Hendersonville Happiness
Morning sun
lights the ditches,
beautiful sunshine
lights up the
beauty of the world.
Not bad for a five year old. And she is writing. I am satisfied.
I am writing this while Jesse takes the kids out to ice cream. Last night he promised Pea that if she didn't laugh when he blew a rasberry on her armpit, he would get her an ice cream. Silly man. With our genes, you would think he would know that she would be up to almost any challenge for ice cream.
So, Dumpling is pretty much back in our bed again. Which is cool. I like having his little warm body next to mine. And actually, I kind of remember that at three, Pea came back to our bed again for a good while too. I remember sleeping with both of their little bodies cuddled up next to mine--it was fall, as well, and it was so cozy.
What is less cool, although kind of cute, is that Dumpling, although totally capable of using the potty(well, keeping himself and the house dry) during the day, still needs a diaper during the night. However, now that he is accustomed to being dry and not having a big, warm cloth diaper on, he does not want to wear it. Last night Dumpling woke up and told me, very seriously, "Mommy, this is not going to work. My penis is not going to work." And he took off his pajamas. And, lo and behold, he wet the bed. Honestly, Jesse was sleeping upstairs, and it is a big bed, and so we just slept out the night huddled on the other side of the bed, It's kind of gross, but you have got to do what you have got to do, especially when you have a three year old who has decided that he again needs to nurse at night. And, if I knew how to do it, here would be a picture of the quilts and sheets out on the line. I even took it, but, well, issues with the cord, etc.
We had a nice, quiet weekend. This Saturday was the first Saturday after the end of the lovely local Tailgate Market, where you will find us every Saturday morning May through October. And, although we miss it, it was kind of nice to be able to decide what we want to do on a Saturday. (What we wanted to do was go out to Louise's, a local place to eat in downtown Black Mountain, that we have hereby declared our MOST favorite place for breakfast.) Then, we cleaned house for a while, which stinks and I always want to wait for bad weather, but it turns out in the mountains of NC in the fall, there is no bad weather.
Then, yard work. Well, garden work. Pea helped me with the strawberry beds. I am sternly keeping them to two beds. That's all. BUT, Pea, a business woman at heart, was a little disappointed that my plans for next year's hopefully plentiful strawberry crop is NOT to sell them, but to, well, eat them, and maybe make some jam. She requested a small space that could be fenced off, so she could grow her own strawberries to sell. Luckily, we have big plans for our house and property (all .4 acres.) We are going to build a better fence (chickens-to come, and privacy) and rip out all of the rotten English Ivy along our property, and, plant rasberries, apple trees, and apparently, strawberries for Pea. I am so, so, so excited.
Also, as both children were squabbling over the one child sized wheelbarrow, Jesse and I decided to get one more, as children's gardening is always to be encouraged. It was fun to watch both of them filling them with leaves, and dumping them on their own little sections of the garden. They do get tired of taking care of their gardens mid summer, but spring and fall, they are INTO it. And they really do have the most amazing understanding of how plants grow.
The next day was taken up mostly with church related activities. Pea and Jesse went to church, Pea wearing her new, beautiful church coat and hat from Grammy, a beautiful dress, and her old, beat up, dirty sneakers. Dumpling stayed home so he could nap, as Daylight Savings Time ending has rocked his little world. Then and afternoon Sunday School/church dinner, and then two overwrought and exhausted(end of Daylight Savings Time again) children went to bed after lots of stories.
So, Dumpling is pretty much back in our bed again. Which is cool. I like having his little warm body next to mine. And actually, I kind of remember that at three, Pea came back to our bed again for a good while too. I remember sleeping with both of their little bodies cuddled up next to mine--it was fall, as well, and it was so cozy.
What is less cool, although kind of cute, is that Dumpling, although totally capable of using the potty(well, keeping himself and the house dry) during the day, still needs a diaper during the night. However, now that he is accustomed to being dry and not having a big, warm cloth diaper on, he does not want to wear it. Last night Dumpling woke up and told me, very seriously, "Mommy, this is not going to work. My penis is not going to work." And he took off his pajamas. And, lo and behold, he wet the bed. Honestly, Jesse was sleeping upstairs, and it is a big bed, and so we just slept out the night huddled on the other side of the bed, It's kind of gross, but you have got to do what you have got to do, especially when you have a three year old who has decided that he again needs to nurse at night. And, if I knew how to do it, here would be a picture of the quilts and sheets out on the line. I even took it, but, well, issues with the cord, etc.
We had a nice, quiet weekend. This Saturday was the first Saturday after the end of the lovely local Tailgate Market, where you will find us every Saturday morning May through October. And, although we miss it, it was kind of nice to be able to decide what we want to do on a Saturday. (What we wanted to do was go out to Louise's, a local place to eat in downtown Black Mountain, that we have hereby declared our MOST favorite place for breakfast.) Then, we cleaned house for a while, which stinks and I always want to wait for bad weather, but it turns out in the mountains of NC in the fall, there is no bad weather.
Then, yard work. Well, garden work. Pea helped me with the strawberry beds. I am sternly keeping them to two beds. That's all. BUT, Pea, a business woman at heart, was a little disappointed that my plans for next year's hopefully plentiful strawberry crop is NOT to sell them, but to, well, eat them, and maybe make some jam. She requested a small space that could be fenced off, so she could grow her own strawberries to sell. Luckily, we have big plans for our house and property (all .4 acres.) We are going to build a better fence (chickens-to come, and privacy) and rip out all of the rotten English Ivy along our property, and, plant rasberries, apple trees, and apparently, strawberries for Pea. I am so, so, so excited.
Also, as both children were squabbling over the one child sized wheelbarrow, Jesse and I decided to get one more, as children's gardening is always to be encouraged. It was fun to watch both of them filling them with leaves, and dumping them on their own little sections of the garden. They do get tired of taking care of their gardens mid summer, but spring and fall, they are INTO it. And they really do have the most amazing understanding of how plants grow.
The next day was taken up mostly with church related activities. Pea and Jesse went to church, Pea wearing her new, beautiful church coat and hat from Grammy, a beautiful dress, and her old, beat up, dirty sneakers. Dumpling stayed home so he could nap, as Daylight Savings Time ending has rocked his little world. Then and afternoon Sunday School/church dinner, and then two overwrought and exhausted(end of Daylight Savings Time again) children went to bed after lots of stories.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
I am getting into this blogging thing. I do like to write, and I like to write for imaginary audiences. I don't want to forget or lose this (as I would a journal.) It helps. I wish I had a camera. I wish that I could know how to upload pictures from my camera (I am almost positive that that is the right way to put it.) As I walk through the house, trying to clean it up a little, and really trying to think about organization, I find dolls put to bed--in the living room, in my place on our bed, and in the laundry room. Pea is a very concientious mother. She really only has two beloved dolls--others come and go, but Valerie and Buttercup Anne are the constants. She also cares for Harry, Dumpling's doll, as Dumpling is, at three, kind of young to be a mother. (Although talking about his new cousin Ellie, Dumpling said that he was going to kiss her and hug her gently, and also nurse her. More on that later.) She brought Valerie with us to Earthfare the other day--Buttercup Anne doesn't like shopping so she stayed home. And she and Dumpling used the bathroom (I held Valerie) then Valerie's diaper had to be changed, on the changing table. She has so many stories about her children and her techniques for soothing them and nursing them and wearing them and not wearing them. I am utterly charmed. And I know this, like Dumpling's extreme contrariness, will pass. But I love it while it's here.
Also, I have just been reading this wonderful blog, http://talkfeeleez.typepad.com/, and it is making me think. She talks about empathy for our children, and avoiding praise, and I love it. She doesn't believe in punishment--I don't either, really, although sometimes I lose it and seem to. Also, she posted a video clip of her talking to her three year old about why she liked to nurse. It was funny--the little girl had the same chubby cheeks as Dumpling. They kind of looked alike, like maybe nursing does something that makes three year olds look particularly cute...anyway, it calmed me down. It is okay to be nursing still. It is unusual, but it is not damaging or gross. I don't know when the little man will be ready to stop nursing, but he will. And then I will miss it, I suppose.
Also, I have just been reading this wonderful blog, http://talkfeeleez.typepad.com/, and it is making me think. She talks about empathy for our children, and avoiding praise, and I love it. She doesn't believe in punishment--I don't either, really, although sometimes I lose it and seem to. Also, she posted a video clip of her talking to her three year old about why she liked to nurse. It was funny--the little girl had the same chubby cheeks as Dumpling. They kind of looked alike, like maybe nursing does something that makes three year olds look particularly cute...anyway, it calmed me down. It is okay to be nursing still. It is unusual, but it is not damaging or gross. I don't know when the little man will be ready to stop nursing, but he will. And then I will miss it, I suppose.
Halloween
In our small town, which is geographically fairly large, but with a small population, trick or treating happens on one block right near the very small downtown. And it has grown, so that literally thousands of people come from all over to trick or treat on this block. The people who live there spend hundreds of dollars on candy, and I don't know how much on decorations. When Pea was a baby, and didn't really care about Halloween, it was kind of fun. People go all out--the parents and children are dressed up, the lawn displays are incredible, and there is a sort of festival atmosphere.
Every year I have liked it less. The decorations are scary and overwhelming. I feel like I am going to lose track of my children. Dumpling went to about five houses before he was done, declaring that he had "enough candy." Luckily, both kids learned this very sweet song at Montessori pre-school, about how the ghosts and goblins, witches and bats were just silly costumes for Halloween, and would break into the song upon seeing an adult in a scary costume.
I remember setting out in my neighborhood to trick or treat, and it was so deliciously spooky without being too much. All the houses had homemade jack-o-lanterns, and it was so much fun to go to all those houses in the dark, to see a few other costumed children out trick or treating, and then to come back home to see our own jack-o-lanterns burning, my father passing out candy, and to look through the candy bag and take off my costume and go to bed. And, although I may be too nostalgic, I think it was better than the totally wild, over the top Halloween that is happening here. And I want to declare that next year we are going to stay in the neighborhood (we always go to our neighbors, who buy candy just for the few children in the neighborhood.) Maybe we will have a bonfire, and I can make candy to pass out, and it will be simpler and sweeter. I don't want to have to get into a car to drive anywhere. I want one of us to be able to stay home and pass out candy. Pea may object, but I think she will have fun.
And at some point, I am going to figure out how to actually post pictures here, and then I could post some of their cute costumes. Soon, soon.
Every year I have liked it less. The decorations are scary and overwhelming. I feel like I am going to lose track of my children. Dumpling went to about five houses before he was done, declaring that he had "enough candy." Luckily, both kids learned this very sweet song at Montessori pre-school, about how the ghosts and goblins, witches and bats were just silly costumes for Halloween, and would break into the song upon seeing an adult in a scary costume.
I remember setting out in my neighborhood to trick or treat, and it was so deliciously spooky without being too much. All the houses had homemade jack-o-lanterns, and it was so much fun to go to all those houses in the dark, to see a few other costumed children out trick or treating, and then to come back home to see our own jack-o-lanterns burning, my father passing out candy, and to look through the candy bag and take off my costume and go to bed. And, although I may be too nostalgic, I think it was better than the totally wild, over the top Halloween that is happening here. And I want to declare that next year we are going to stay in the neighborhood (we always go to our neighbors, who buy candy just for the few children in the neighborhood.) Maybe we will have a bonfire, and I can make candy to pass out, and it will be simpler and sweeter. I don't want to have to get into a car to drive anywhere. I want one of us to be able to stay home and pass out candy. Pea may object, but I think she will have fun.
And at some point, I am going to figure out how to actually post pictures here, and then I could post some of their cute costumes. Soon, soon.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Discipline and Halloween
I have read, and believe, that it is important to find the positive motivation behind children's misbehavior. If your daughter throws a fit because she can't have pumpkin bread, it's important to acknowledge her frustration and feeling of unfairness that her brother got one and she did not, while not allowing her to necessarily have that pumpkin bread. This really resonates with me--I am, in general, interested in why people do things. Generally, I think there is always a reason for misbehavior, even with adults, and although it doesn't excuse it, it is helpful to know.
Sometimes, this is totally easy and second nature, like when Dumpling ripped up Pea's puzzle box up after helping his daddy take down boxes for recycling. Other times, probably when it is more important to find that positive motivation, it is really hard, like when Dumpling slapped his sister in the face when she grabbed his hands in excitement about Halloween, and I totally fail to even try to find the motivation, and send him to his room and tell him that he can't go trick or treating if he comes out before I tell him too. Hmmmm....looking back, I can see that he probably misinterpreted his sister's intentions, or just didn't want her to hold his hands at that point, and lacked the words to say it. But at that moment, I was stuck, partly because he had just hit someone I love, and partly because I love him and am shocked at this behavior. Jesse always says that you have to focus on being a good enough parent, and I need to remember that, but it is hard when you do something you don't want to. I love these little people so much and I want to do it RIGHT, gosh darn it. I wish I had some massive insight, but I don't. This parenting gig is kind of hard.
I also want to post about Halloween and how I want to do it totally differently next year, and of course put pictures up of the children in their adorable, totally obviously homemade (by a non-perfectionsist, non sewer kind of mama) and adored costumes. But I have go to go finish putting leaves down around the garden to subtly increase it's size. I MUST have more....
Sometimes, this is totally easy and second nature, like when Dumpling ripped up Pea's puzzle box up after helping his daddy take down boxes for recycling. Other times, probably when it is more important to find that positive motivation, it is really hard, like when Dumpling slapped his sister in the face when she grabbed his hands in excitement about Halloween, and I totally fail to even try to find the motivation, and send him to his room and tell him that he can't go trick or treating if he comes out before I tell him too. Hmmmm....looking back, I can see that he probably misinterpreted his sister's intentions, or just didn't want her to hold his hands at that point, and lacked the words to say it. But at that moment, I was stuck, partly because he had just hit someone I love, and partly because I love him and am shocked at this behavior. Jesse always says that you have to focus on being a good enough parent, and I need to remember that, but it is hard when you do something you don't want to. I love these little people so much and I want to do it RIGHT, gosh darn it. I wish I had some massive insight, but I don't. This parenting gig is kind of hard.
I also want to post about Halloween and how I want to do it totally differently next year, and of course put pictures up of the children in their adorable, totally obviously homemade (by a non-perfectionsist, non sewer kind of mama) and adored costumes. But I have go to go finish putting leaves down around the garden to subtly increase it's size. I MUST have more....
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
I had both kids home today. Pea was completely exhausted and overwrought from Halloween, and Dumpling doesn't go on Tuesdays. It was uneventful but lovely. We went to Earthfare (the healthy grocery store in Asheville), and had a late breakfast, then shopped. Earthfare has those little carts for the kids to push, which in the past I have moaned and groaned about, but today they had such a good time that it was worth it. It did make the shopping trip go longer, but it was fun, and it wore them out, which is always good. Dumpling fell asleep on the way back, and Pea listened to some Sparkle stories while I tried to restore order in the chaos that had arisen, again, from Halloween. Then we did some minor art projects-I made a kitty pirate sewing card for Dumpling, with which he was totally delighted, and he actually sat and sewed with it for a while before he smeared it and himself with glue and paint. Pea painted and drew, then a bath for both of them as Dumpling was covered with glue and paint. To be honest, the bath didn't do much--Pea was following him around for the rest of the day trying to peel it off of him. I threw together some soup for dinner later, then it was time for Pea's violin lesson. Dumpling plays with Pea's friend on the playground while Pea and I go in, then we play for a while after. I love violin day--I love the strictness and warmth of her violin teacher, I love getting to watch, and I love that she is learning to make music. I love that she loves it, and looks forward to it. Afterwards, they played on the playground, managed to work out their squabbles, and I cast on for Dumpling's sweater. I feel better with at least two interesting projects on the needles...typically, I like the beginnings of things.
Anyway, it is lucky that I am writing for myself, as the minutiae of our day is not particularly compelling, however, I just do love having them home together. I love the unhurridness and flow of our days together. I just like having them around.
Anyway, it is lucky that I am writing for myself, as the minutiae of our day is not particularly compelling, however, I just do love having them home together. I love the unhurridness and flow of our days together. I just like having them around.
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