Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Hooliganting: Kids: You did WHAT? Why?
Hooliganting: Kids: You did WHAT? Why?: After working in the fast paced waterlogged snowmelt one, of a post flood museum, sometimes I find that my brain is tired. I caught myself p...
Kids: You did WHAT? Why?
After working in the fast paced waterlogged snowmelt one, of a post flood museum, sometimes I find that my brain is tired. I caught myself putting the coffee into the fridge today and knew that perhaps more sleep might be in order. Nonetheless, today was also the day of the dance run. One of those days...
I enjoy children in all their wacky phases, although as you know, I have moments that challenge my perceptions of what children are really like. Over the past couple of weeks, there have been some incredible moments that have pulled on my heart strings and caught my breath. Like the note on my mirror...
"Mommy, what can I get for you today. Hot Water with lemon. Or your lady tea. Check box and writ back on my mirror. Love your dauter." (sic)
That was awesome. Or the thrill that my youngest had when I handed her an American Girl publication on Feelings and dealing with your emotions. I got the largest warm fuzzy and smiles. She even read it aloud in the van.
These are the moments that I treasure.
On the flip side, there are the moments that really make you wonder how it is that you came to be having such a strange conversation. Here are some from the past couple of days that either had me rolling my eyes or howling with laughter. Of course, the expression on my face was grave and serious at the time...
1) Child is practicing dance and turns and kicks sister in the head. Hard. I stare in stunned disbelief and then proceed to administer justice. Text to parents of said siblings and words of chastisement to children.This is an eye roll moment. Can't believe that I am having this conversation. This is followed up by a heart string moment when my eldest creates an art project to make the two in question feel better.
2) My youngest decides to slide down an icy snow bank on her knees and wonders why a) there are holes in her pant knees, b) why she has bruises on her knees and c) why she is soaking wet. Ummm really?
3) Ghosts. Elder "not my kid my kid" decides to ask what a poltergeist is. I explain about ghost theory and the types of ghosts portrayed in literature and film. Younger not my kid my kid from a different family sharply says "there are no such thing as ghosts." Debate ensues...as spirits are portrayed in the Bible as being good Angels or bad spirits which fits in with religious philosophy. Conflict rages between the children while I tried to referee all points of view on well...ghosts, angels, devils and the afterlife...all on a 20 minute drive with 6 children. Peeves from Harry Potter - you are responsible. Wow.
4) Child drops pineapple on floor. Which is worse? To invoke the 5 second rule or wash it? Did I know how much bacteria is in the water? Did I know that the sink was in the bathroom? Do I realize what people do in a bathroom. There are GERMS in there. Ummmm....maybe the muddy floor is better? What do I know? Garbage it was...hunger was better.
Then, you get into the really interesting stuff...the stuff that you never even thought of as it wouldn't make sense to an adult...EVER. Except, once it is explained...it almost does. Note the almost.
1) Storing clean clothes in the laundry basket so that they are easier to find, rather than having to go through the drawers. If I happen to wash them, then they are twice as clean...
My head hurts on this one.
2) Not bothering to learn how to spell as it won't be important in high school anyway. Isn't that what spell check is for? Math gets the same logic. Insert the word calculator here.
3) Using the school skipping ropes as transportation devices for toys, clothes and ...live cat from floor to floor to save time. Never minding the mess that is made when the baskets tip etc. These same ropes are used for leashes, locks and fort racks, but rarely for actual skipping. Jump Rope for Heart...I don't need anymore skipping ropes in the house. Why? Because we were told to recycle at work and the ropes are being useful.
4) Art projects that require all your baking goods to create pastes, potions and serums. Being expected to sample them is the worst...sigh. Why? To make you have more energy.
5) Cleaning the bathroom with toothpaste to get a minty fresh scent. It cleans teeth so why not toilets? Sit on the seat...I dare you. Why? The cleaning ladies missed a spot.
6) Putting the alarm clock under the bed to muffle the sound so it is not annoying. Why? I need more sleep. The thought of going to bed on time doesn't seem to occur to them.
That is all from the past couple of days that I can remember. Children are delightful but challenging to the imagination. Tomorrow is another adventure. I wonder what I will do then?
I enjoy children in all their wacky phases, although as you know, I have moments that challenge my perceptions of what children are really like. Over the past couple of weeks, there have been some incredible moments that have pulled on my heart strings and caught my breath. Like the note on my mirror...
"Mommy, what can I get for you today. Hot Water with lemon. Or your lady tea. Check box and writ back on my mirror. Love your dauter." (sic)
That was awesome. Or the thrill that my youngest had when I handed her an American Girl publication on Feelings and dealing with your emotions. I got the largest warm fuzzy and smiles. She even read it aloud in the van.
These are the moments that I treasure.
On the flip side, there are the moments that really make you wonder how it is that you came to be having such a strange conversation. Here are some from the past couple of days that either had me rolling my eyes or howling with laughter. Of course, the expression on my face was grave and serious at the time...
1) Child is practicing dance and turns and kicks sister in the head. Hard. I stare in stunned disbelief and then proceed to administer justice. Text to parents of said siblings and words of chastisement to children.This is an eye roll moment. Can't believe that I am having this conversation. This is followed up by a heart string moment when my eldest creates an art project to make the two in question feel better.
2) My youngest decides to slide down an icy snow bank on her knees and wonders why a) there are holes in her pant knees, b) why she has bruises on her knees and c) why she is soaking wet. Ummm really?
3) Ghosts. Elder "not my kid my kid" decides to ask what a poltergeist is. I explain about ghost theory and the types of ghosts portrayed in literature and film. Younger not my kid my kid from a different family sharply says "there are no such thing as ghosts." Debate ensues...as spirits are portrayed in the Bible as being good Angels or bad spirits which fits in with religious philosophy. Conflict rages between the children while I tried to referee all points of view on well...ghosts, angels, devils and the afterlife...all on a 20 minute drive with 6 children. Peeves from Harry Potter - you are responsible. Wow.
4) Child drops pineapple on floor. Which is worse? To invoke the 5 second rule or wash it? Did I know how much bacteria is in the water? Did I know that the sink was in the bathroom? Do I realize what people do in a bathroom. There are GERMS in there. Ummmm....maybe the muddy floor is better? What do I know? Garbage it was...hunger was better.
Then, you get into the really interesting stuff...the stuff that you never even thought of as it wouldn't make sense to an adult...EVER. Except, once it is explained...it almost does. Note the almost.
1) Storing clean clothes in the laundry basket so that they are easier to find, rather than having to go through the drawers. If I happen to wash them, then they are twice as clean...
My head hurts on this one.
2) Not bothering to learn how to spell as it won't be important in high school anyway. Isn't that what spell check is for? Math gets the same logic. Insert the word calculator here.
3) Using the school skipping ropes as transportation devices for toys, clothes and ...live cat from floor to floor to save time. Never minding the mess that is made when the baskets tip etc. These same ropes are used for leashes, locks and fort racks, but rarely for actual skipping. Jump Rope for Heart...I don't need anymore skipping ropes in the house. Why? Because we were told to recycle at work and the ropes are being useful.
4) Art projects that require all your baking goods to create pastes, potions and serums. Being expected to sample them is the worst...sigh. Why? To make you have more energy.
5) Cleaning the bathroom with toothpaste to get a minty fresh scent. It cleans teeth so why not toilets? Sit on the seat...I dare you. Why? The cleaning ladies missed a spot.
6) Putting the alarm clock under the bed to muffle the sound so it is not annoying. Why? I need more sleep. The thought of going to bed on time doesn't seem to occur to them.
That is all from the past couple of days that I can remember. Children are delightful but challenging to the imagination. Tomorrow is another adventure. I wonder what I will do then?
Friday, March 28, 2014
Hooliganting: Daughter Drama: Sisters
Hooliganting: Daughter Drama: Sisters: The princesses rise from the curtained softness of slumber each morning. They are beautiful, smart, funny and dramatic. While I love this st...
Daughter Drama: Sisters
The princesses rise from the curtained softness of slumber each morning. They are beautiful, smart, funny and dramatic. While I love this stage of having them individually, the pair together leads to drama. Friend lead to drama. Activities lead to drama. By the end of the day, I find myself wishing for quiet time.
I am so proud of their accomplishments and love watching them grow. They need love and encouragement. They need kindness and stability. They are both doing things that they never thought possible. The flip side of that is they need discipline and grounding more than they seem to be able to get along.
Why do girls argue and fight about the rules, fairness, and who is allowed to play with whom or what? Why do they constantly seem to be picking battles that no one can win? Some of what we are coping with comes from the age difference, and I get that. Some is coming from that impossible Grade 3 stage. Thank goodness, I am on the second go round with it. (I will be over the moon happy to be done with the awfulness that is Grade 3 girls - they seem to be more hormonal than the 11/12 set). They are refusing to play independently, yet when they play together they fight. If they are along, they are bored. I keep grounding them from electronics and TV in the hopes that their active imaginations reengage.
Now, that brings me to the next challenge. ACK. The imaginations have reengaged. We have baking projects or jumping on the furniture to not touch the floor games. We have water experiments or burned microwaved croissants. There are paintings on the floor and pins in the walls. Of course, in the process of causing mayhem, chaos and disorder, they fight.
Sisters should be friends...shouldn't they?
I thought they would be best friends with each other, enjoy each other and well...like each other. I am so tired of refereeing. I love spending time with them, but often I am finding that we can't spend time together as a family because they fight. I have a special trip planned for them and I dare not tell them yet. They might fight over that ...airline seats, who gets the window, what to pack, who is more responsible and helpful, who is smarter, who is the best at what...CRAZY...
I could write a whole page on the disagreements...
Living for the moments when there is peace in the house is well, what I am doing best. I love when things are going well. I love when they work together and can play for more than an hour. I am finding that the less electronics, the better they interact with their world. I love their acting out of their stories.
How do I encourage more of that?
I am so proud of their accomplishments and love watching them grow. They need love and encouragement. They need kindness and stability. They are both doing things that they never thought possible. The flip side of that is they need discipline and grounding more than they seem to be able to get along.
Why do girls argue and fight about the rules, fairness, and who is allowed to play with whom or what? Why do they constantly seem to be picking battles that no one can win? Some of what we are coping with comes from the age difference, and I get that. Some is coming from that impossible Grade 3 stage. Thank goodness, I am on the second go round with it. (I will be over the moon happy to be done with the awfulness that is Grade 3 girls - they seem to be more hormonal than the 11/12 set). They are refusing to play independently, yet when they play together they fight. If they are along, they are bored. I keep grounding them from electronics and TV in the hopes that their active imaginations reengage.
Now, that brings me to the next challenge. ACK. The imaginations have reengaged. We have baking projects or jumping on the furniture to not touch the floor games. We have water experiments or burned microwaved croissants. There are paintings on the floor and pins in the walls. Of course, in the process of causing mayhem, chaos and disorder, they fight.
Sisters should be friends...shouldn't they?
I thought they would be best friends with each other, enjoy each other and well...like each other. I am so tired of refereeing. I love spending time with them, but often I am finding that we can't spend time together as a family because they fight. I have a special trip planned for them and I dare not tell them yet. They might fight over that ...airline seats, who gets the window, what to pack, who is more responsible and helpful, who is smarter, who is the best at what...CRAZY...
I could write a whole page on the disagreements...
Living for the moments when there is peace in the house is well, what I am doing best. I love when things are going well. I love when they work together and can play for more than an hour. I am finding that the less electronics, the better they interact with their world. I love their acting out of their stories.
How do I encourage more of that?
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Hooliganting: Tomorrow is a Brand New Day
Hooliganting: Tomorrow is a Brand New Day: "Tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes in it yet." I have read and re-read these words through the pages of Anne of Green G...
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