All posts by Janna

My week with Ada – Day Three

Kids

Today was recovery from yesterday.  I slept in.  At 8:30 Chad brought a tired, wrapped up Ada into our bed to rest with me.  We chatted a little, then I asked if she was ready to get up.  She said she wanted to rest some more.  Not a problem.  Then she tried to talk me into breakfast in bed – my bed.  Nice try.

Puzzles, Wii, cartoons, and suddenly Chad was home for lunch and we were still in our jammies.  So recovery was a success!  We ate lunch with him, and she said, “If you need to go to … Read the rest

My week with Ada – Day Two

Kids

I had to wake Ada up at 7 to get our day started.  I gently rubbed her forehead, she looked at me and said, “Good morning, momma.”  Those are the first words out of her mouth every single day.  And it makes me smile every single day.  She wrapped her teeny arms all the way around my neck and I asked if she was ready to go to Kyra’s house.  Kyra is her dear friend from Sonrise Preschool who moved away this spring and I planned a day trip for us to go see her.  She said, “Yes, after I … Read the rest

My week with Ada – Day One

Kids

Today we dropped Grace and Eli off at Camp Lakewood for a week of playing, singing, swimming, forming new friendships, and learning more about God.  So Ada is flying solo and she told Grandma and Grandpa that she will not miss Grace and Eli while they are gone.  After we left camp however, she was very quiet but refused to admit that anything was wrong.  I gave her my iPhone to take her mind off things for a bit, and so she didn’t have to struggle to not cry (I know my girl).

We went to Culver’s for ice cream, … Read the rest

My Ada

Kids

I remember this conversation very clearly from when Ada was just three…
Me: Ada, do you want more?
Ada: silence
Me: Ada, please answer me.
Ada: I answered you with my eyes.
Me: Your eyes don’t talk.
My dad: Oh yes they do.

And they really do.  She has the most expressive eyes and eyebrows I’ve ever seen.  Her feelings are made known before she ever says a word, and she doesn’t need body language either.  It is all on her face.

This morning she made one of those faces, her “I’ve been wronged” … Read the rest

My thoughts on “having it all”

Just My Thoughts

I read an interesting article recently about the struggle for women to have careers AND families, and I realized that I don’t like the phrase “have it all”.  Well, really I guess I don’t like what it means.  This phrase suggests that in order to “have it all” you must have a successful career and a family.  So women who don’t have children only have half?  Or women who choose not to work only have half?

What if we reframed it?  What if…”having it all” meant being successful at your chosen life.  Maybe the single woman who works full-time and … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: June 27, 2012

Wednesday Wit

Me: After breakfast, it will be time for chores.
Ada: I hate chores.
Me: I know.
Ada: I don’t want to do chores ever again!  And I don’t mean until I’m a teenager, I mean until I’m a…. until I’m DEAD.

Me: It’s time to do chores.
Kids: Groaning.
Me: At least you get paid for your chores, dad and I don’t.
Ada: Well, it’s a hard life for moms and dads, but you have to get through it.

Me: We’re going camping soon on the beach and I’m so … Read the rest

Where we’re at today

Parenting

It is day to day, isn’t it?

I think I can say, with fingers crossed, eyes raised to Jesus in a silent prayer, that Grace’s anxiety is fairly under control.  She hasn’t even been taking her acid reflux medicine.  Chad and I are working very intentionally on seeing a mood swing coming and talking through it with her before it’s in full action.  And I just think SHE’S getting better at handling her emotions which is truly the ultimate goal.  I want her to have the tools to manage this on her own, because someday I won’t be there to … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: June 6, 2012

Wednesday Wit

Eli: I’m starting to feel like a man!
Me: Oh yeah?  Why is that?
Eli: Because I’m really stretching out and getting tall.

Ada: Do you know Gloria on Madagascar?  When she’s a baby?  Do you know that dad?  Dad?  Do you know when Gloria’s a baby on Madagascar?  Dad?
Chad: Yes, Ada.
Ada: She has a big bottom.  I don’t like big bottoms.  Not on cartoons anyway.
Chad: But in real life is it ok?
Ada: Yeah, that’s ok.

Me: Ada, get a jacket please, it’s kind of chilly out.… Read the rest

Tears on water day

More About Me

Today I spent a couple hours in Ada’s Kindergarten classroom.  Tomorrow is their last day of school, but tomorrow I work, so I went in today to be with her.  And this building is only Pre-K and Kindergarten, so tomorrow marks the end of our season in this building.  And THIS, friends, makes me very sad.

First, it was room cleaning time.  The kids got to choose which area they worked in.  I had the great privilege of sorting and organizing the hundreds of books.  They are all labeled 1-45, depending on the subject, and are supposed to be in … Read the rest

Summer break is looming

Parenting

Yes, the fact that my children only have two days of school left makes me a little panicky.  I’m always ready for a break from the morning routine and from homework, but I do like that school provides separation for them for 6.5 hours.  They are very close in age, and fight A LOT.  Sure, there are times when they play well together, but they honestly just get tired of being together all day.  And this is what makes me panicky.  How on earth are we going to make it through 75 days of togetherness??  Yes, I know how many … Read the rest