Monthly Archives: February 2012

Where is she?

OK, maybe you haven’t been wondering that about me, but I haven’t been on here lately.  I just haven’t had anything to write.  I’m working on closing my laptop more so I can be more intentional with my kids.  I’m working on having more intentional time with God rather than just checking off that I read my Bible and moving on.  Oh sure, a blog post might come out of one of those things, but so far it hasn’t, and I’m ok with that.  I can’t force it.  AND Grace has the lovely ISTEP tests next week for the first … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: February 22, 2012

Ada: She is the bossiest kid in class.  Sometimes she bosses me in the housekeeping area.
Me: OK, well you just use nice words, and if that doesn’t work get a teacher.
Ada: No mom, first you ignore, then you walk away, then you use nice words, then you use firm words, THEN you get a grown up.  That’s what you do at school if someone is bugging you.  (pause)  Sometimes you bug me.
Two can play that game, kid. 

Grace: I have mosquito issues when we go camping.
Ellen: I have hair issues.
EliRead the rest

This should be interesting…

I’ve had a sore throat for a while now, but with chronic sinusitis this is a common occurrence and not cause for alarm.  But yesterday my voice started getting raspy, and now today it is at about 10%.  Ruh-roh.  Naturally, my kids are home from school today for Presidents’ Day.

My kids are behaving the way they always do: having fun, playing the Wii, deeply involved in their land of make-believe.  Today my tolerance for baby voices and cat sounds is greatly diminished by not feeling well and poor sleep for multiple nights.  So I have retreated to my bedroom … Read the rest

My kids amaze me

When I make myself step out of the day-to-day work of being a mom (consequences, refereeing, laundry, dishes, snacks, cooking, cleaning, bedroom disasters, flushing yet another toilet that I didn’t use) and just think about my kids and our day, I realize that they are pretty incredible, and they amaze me.  If I sit too long in “what I’m parenting through” it can get pretty discouraging, so let me encourage you to stop, breathe, and really think about your kids.  Each one of them.  Who are they?  What is their personality?  How does that translate as an adult?  As a … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: February 15, 2012

Eli: Mom, do you know why boys like to sweat?
Me: No…
Eli: Because it makes their hair straight.
Ada: And that makes them handsome?
Eli: No, Ada.  When their hair is straight it helps them attract girls.
Ada: Well, if your hair was straight it would NOT attract me.

Playing Lego Harry Potter…
Eli: Do you know who my favorite character is?  Voldemort.  Because he’s the strongest.
Chad: But he’s evil, and Harry Potter defeats him.
Grace: And I bet he doesn’t brush his teeth.

Ada: Daddy, look at … Read the rest

Thoughtless Words

I was riding in an elevator this weekend with a very nice couple who had twelve children (yes…twelve) and a woman got on the elevator who only heard those two words.  Her reply was, “TWELVE??  You must be crazy.”  Ouch.  The saintly woman who birthed a dozen was very gracious and said that having twelve was not much different than having three (we had discussed my Littles), you just do things for longer.  Truth be told, it was that “longer” part that got me, my stages seem to last plenty long.  She got off the elevator too soon though, because … Read the rest

The down side of intentional parenting

What?  There’s a down side?  Yes, in a manner of speaking.  Reacting is easier.  It just happens.  It’s like a reflex – the doctor smacks your knee and your foot jumps out.  You don’t think, you just act.  It doesn’t take effort.  But you might kick someone, because you’re not really in control.  That’s WHY we parent with intention instead of just reacting.  We need to be in control – of ourselves, not our children.

This is where the down side comes in… it’s exhausting.  It is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting.

Physically – no more parenting from the … Read the rest

Parenting Anxiety

I’ve written before about Grace’s anxiety, and we are still learning A LOT about her and how to parent her through this.  We are now trying a new resource called Turnaround.  It is an audio program for the child, rather than a book for the parent to read then figure out how to apply to the child.  It’s about 6 kids who go on a hike, each with a different social problem: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (like Grace), shy (not your average kind of shy, but won’t go to school shy), perfectionism (again, the kind that disrupts normal daily … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: February 1, 2012

Grace: Do you know what a kid’s worst enemy is?  Bed time.
Ada:  No.  I kid’s WORST enemy is ROBBERS.  Because they ROB YOU.

Eli: When I grow up I want to do what dad does.
Grace: When I grow up I want to be a saloner.  I love going to DT Nails.
Ada: When I grow up I am going to be a paleontologist. (And this was, of course, perfectly enunciated.)

Ada: Today at recess I threw mud at in those yellow things.
Me: Are you supposed to do that?
Ada: … Read the rest