I did it! Back in January I signed up for the #50BookPledge as promoted by @SavvyReader. I thought at the time I was going to zoom through the books and be more then done by mid year. The next thing I knew it was summer and things slowed down a fair bit the vacations and entertaining my daughter. As September started I thought I was going to be hard pressed to keep going and meet the goal set 9 months earlier, especially since I had shifted my focus from reading to working on my family history and searching for work. However, I'm very pleased to say that I reached my goal of 50 books read in 2012, but I doubt I'll sign up for next year. If reading children's books count, then I've probably read a couple hundred more.
Book 50 Cyndi Lauper A Memoir by Cyndi Lauper with Jancee Dunn from Simon and Schuster 2012.
Loved this book to pieces. Found that it flowed very well and I was able to relate to the story. There are several references to Cyndi playing a dulcimer which I find absolutely fantastic as my daughter is learning to play one now. Some of the references to other artists were very intriguing especially when Canadians are mentioned.
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Monday, November 5, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 49 What's for Lunch
Book 49 is What's for Lunch?How Schoolchildren Eat Around the World by Andrea Curtis from Red Deer Press 2012
This is a Canadian book about the assorted types and locations of school lunches around the world. It also looks at how children, families, communities and governments are working to make nutritious lunches available to all.
I really enjoyed the book which was an easy and short read. It would have been nice to read about more scenarios, but that may have been overwhelming. I don't think Miss R is ready for this book yet, but in a few years it will be helpful when she stops eating her school lunches.
Congratulations Ms Curtis for opening our eyes to how others live.
This is a Canadian book about the assorted types and locations of school lunches around the world. It also looks at how children, families, communities and governments are working to make nutritious lunches available to all.
I really enjoyed the book which was an easy and short read. It would have been nice to read about more scenarios, but that may have been overwhelming. I don't think Miss R is ready for this book yet, but in a few years it will be helpful when she stops eating her school lunches.
Congratulations Ms Curtis for opening our eyes to how others live.
Friday, September 7, 2012
#50BookPledge Books 43 & 44 - Bringing Up Bebe & Beautiful Ruins
I'm reviewing books 43 and 44 in the same post because I can and not because there is a common theme.
Book 43 was Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman from Penguin Press 2012.
As you may or may not know I like to read parenting books especially those about different styles as we try to mold Miss R into a well rounded individual. In a lot of ways I found that Bringing Up Bebe reflected a lot of the techniques that my parents used raising me and could really relate to them. While I don't necessarily agree with everything in Druckerman's book there are definitely ideas that I can use in my own home. The book moves along at a fairly quick pace and does a lot of compare and contrast between what the author sees living in France and what she sees when visiting family in the United States. She also makes it clear that neither style is necessarily right or wrong but there are good attributes in both. What I really see is that France uses more of the Village approach while North Americans tend to be much more insular. Worth the read and I know it is making an impact in our home.
Book 44 was Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter from Harper Collins 2012.
I loved this book, actually wasn't able to put it down. All of the characters, the scenery and the flow of the story just made it that much more wonderful. My apologies to the author but I originally thought Beautiful Ruins was written by a woman and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a man. The novel spans a large period of time, but is done in such a manner that you don't get lost but are drawn in. My rating for this book is 5 out of 5.
Book 43 was Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman from Penguin Press 2012.
As you may or may not know I like to read parenting books especially those about different styles as we try to mold Miss R into a well rounded individual. In a lot of ways I found that Bringing Up Bebe reflected a lot of the techniques that my parents used raising me and could really relate to them. While I don't necessarily agree with everything in Druckerman's book there are definitely ideas that I can use in my own home. The book moves along at a fairly quick pace and does a lot of compare and contrast between what the author sees living in France and what she sees when visiting family in the United States. She also makes it clear that neither style is necessarily right or wrong but there are good attributes in both. What I really see is that France uses more of the Village approach while North Americans tend to be much more insular. Worth the read and I know it is making an impact in our home.
Book 44 was Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter from Harper Collins 2012.
I loved this book, actually wasn't able to put it down. All of the characters, the scenery and the flow of the story just made it that much more wonderful. My apologies to the author but I originally thought Beautiful Ruins was written by a woman and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a man. The novel spans a large period of time, but is done in such a manner that you don't get lost but are drawn in. My rating for this book is 5 out of 5.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
First Week Lunches
Well I haven't done horrible for the first week of school lunches but it hasn't been perfect yet. The good news is she hasn't left anything uneaten yet, the bad news is we've had some leaks.
On Wednesday when I picked Miss R up I noticed that her cooler was wet. When I asked her if she knew what/how she didn't have an answer! As I unpacked the cooler I discovered her chocolate milk leaked. The culprit, a water bottle that wasn't closed properly. Cleaned everything out and rinsed out cooler but it needs a good scrubbing so went to emergency cooler for Thursday. I also decided since the cooler was empty to find out if she had enough food. She told me that she did/but didn''t. She was fine for first break and lunch, but not for second break. It then decided to give some extra on Thursday.
I worked on Wednesday night to make some rice pudding and after some challenges with it. It eventually thickened and I was able to send it with Miss R. Well that didn't work as planned. She opened the rice pudding first break then decided to eat the easier food of applesauce and raspberries. The problem was she didn't close the lid properly so when she opened her cooler again at lunch the rice pudding had spilled all over. Thankfully someone at school helped her clean it up and I got a soggy wet napkin home. Good news is Miss r had enough to eat and even brought home a small piece of hot dog.
On Wednesday when I picked Miss R up I noticed that her cooler was wet. When I asked her if she knew what/how she didn't have an answer! As I unpacked the cooler I discovered her chocolate milk leaked. The culprit, a water bottle that wasn't closed properly. Cleaned everything out and rinsed out cooler but it needs a good scrubbing so went to emergency cooler for Thursday. I also decided since the cooler was empty to find out if she had enough food. She told me that she did/but didn''t. She was fine for first break and lunch, but not for second break. It then decided to give some extra on Thursday.
I worked on Wednesday night to make some rice pudding and after some challenges with it. It eventually thickened and I was able to send it with Miss R. Well that didn't work as planned. She opened the rice pudding first break then decided to eat the easier food of applesauce and raspberries. The problem was she didn't close the lid properly so when she opened her cooler again at lunch the rice pudding had spilled all over. Thankfully someone at school helped her clean it up and I got a soggy wet napkin home. Good news is Miss r had enough to eat and even brought home a small piece of hot dog.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Back To School 2012
So today was the first day of school for Miss R this year. She is in Full Day Kindergarten Year Two meaning she needs a lunch and two snacks. I've been dreading the menu portion of her day for a while and working on ideas to make sure she is well fed. I don't know why I was worried about it because I've already done this for full day summer camps and if perfectly honest when she's home with me all day.
Miss R is taking an active role in selecting her lunch bag contents and so far that has served me well. Today she took applesauce, carrots and tomatoes, milk, water, and cheesy pasta as well as the standard napkin, ice pack and her folding spoon. Doesn't sound like much, but she really didn't touch her water and decided not to eat the carrots. Miss R can be a finicky eater, but when push comes to shove if she's hungry she'll eat what she's given.
We'll see what tomorrow brings since she's asked for applesauce, cheesy pasta, milk (packed differently as the tetra's are very hard to drink from), water and raspberries. I'm waiting for the milk program to start because that will mean one less thing I need to put in her cooler. On the other hand I'm not super thrilled with hot lunch. The hot lunch choice is pizza every Wednesday, but we've opted for pizza once a month.
I just need to remember if she's hungry she'll eat and if she's involved she's more apt to eat it.
Miss R is taking an active role in selecting her lunch bag contents and so far that has served me well. Today she took applesauce, carrots and tomatoes, milk, water, and cheesy pasta as well as the standard napkin, ice pack and her folding spoon. Doesn't sound like much, but she really didn't touch her water and decided not to eat the carrots. Miss R can be a finicky eater, but when push comes to shove if she's hungry she'll eat what she's given.
We'll see what tomorrow brings since she's asked for applesauce, cheesy pasta, milk (packed differently as the tetra's are very hard to drink from), water and raspberries. I'm waiting for the milk program to start because that will mean one less thing I need to put in her cooler. On the other hand I'm not super thrilled with hot lunch. The hot lunch choice is pizza every Wednesday, but we've opted for pizza once a month.
I just need to remember if she's hungry she'll eat and if she's involved she's more apt to eat it.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 36 Vaclav and Lena
Before I start on this post let me first say that it is easier to write reviews immediately after reading a book rather than waiting until you have time.
Vaclav and Lena by Haley Tanner from Vintage Canada 2012
Vaclav and Lena is a very interesting book on so many levels. When one first starts reading it you might expect it to be a young adult/coming of age book but it is so much more and requires a lot of attention to the story. There are so many layers of to the story and to the characters covering everything from immigration to adoption to fitting in to abuse to growing up. I greatly appreciate Ms Tanner's ability to stay true to her characters by writing them in English as a Second Language text especially in the early chapters. While I found the ESL dialogue difficult at times it really does help to establish the characters. On top of that Vaclav and Lena both lose their Russian accent as they grow into what Rasia deems "American Teenagers."
Vaclav, the male lead in this book seems like a very normal individual with a strong relationship with his mother Rasia. He also shows that love at first site happens and doesn't disappear just because that person is no longer in your life. I commend Vaclav on his desire to help/protect Lena while finding out the truth about her past without requiring her to face the history directly.
I really felt for Lena, the female lead, because even though it isn't explicitly stated until near the end of the book, you know that something bad is happening to her. Lena turns out, or so it seems, to be a very well adjusted young lady until her secret is revealed to her and those around her. Lucky for her she has people around to help her including Emily who she calls her Real Mom, Rasia - Vaclav's mom and even though it doesn't initially seem that way her Aunt Ekaterina who tries to shelter her from the seedy world that she was a part of thanks to her method of immigration.
Vaclav and Lena is a book that will take you time to read and make you think about what you are reading, but it is worth reading because you will grow as a result.
Vaclav and Lena by Haley Tanner from Vintage Canada 2012
Vaclav and Lena is a very interesting book on so many levels. When one first starts reading it you might expect it to be a young adult/coming of age book but it is so much more and requires a lot of attention to the story. There are so many layers of to the story and to the characters covering everything from immigration to adoption to fitting in to abuse to growing up. I greatly appreciate Ms Tanner's ability to stay true to her characters by writing them in English as a Second Language text especially in the early chapters. While I found the ESL dialogue difficult at times it really does help to establish the characters. On top of that Vaclav and Lena both lose their Russian accent as they grow into what Rasia deems "American Teenagers."
Vaclav, the male lead in this book seems like a very normal individual with a strong relationship with his mother Rasia. He also shows that love at first site happens and doesn't disappear just because that person is no longer in your life. I commend Vaclav on his desire to help/protect Lena while finding out the truth about her past without requiring her to face the history directly.
I really felt for Lena, the female lead, because even though it isn't explicitly stated until near the end of the book, you know that something bad is happening to her. Lena turns out, or so it seems, to be a very well adjusted young lady until her secret is revealed to her and those around her. Lucky for her she has people around to help her including Emily who she calls her Real Mom, Rasia - Vaclav's mom and even though it doesn't initially seem that way her Aunt Ekaterina who tries to shelter her from the seedy world that she was a part of thanks to her method of immigration.
Vaclav and Lena is a book that will take you time to read and make you think about what you are reading, but it is worth reading because you will grow as a result.
Friday, June 15, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 35 French Kids Eat Everything
French Kids Eat Everything (and yours can too) by Karen Le Billon from Harper Collins 2012
I'm always looking for ways to get Miss R to eat better, even though most of my friends and the family doctor don't think she's picky. By reading Karen's book I've discovered that Miss R maybe isn't much different then most of her peers, but that doesn't mean things can't change.
French Kids Eat Everything presents things in such a way that it is easy to see where the two cultures, North American and French, are different when it comes to approaches to food. I read the book and started to implement some of the suggestions immediately. It was a huge surprise to mean just how well using fixed times for snacks works.
The thing that really got my attention in this book was Chapter 9 when the family returns to Vancouver from France only to find out that the French method of eating may not work in all situations and adaption will be required to fit into your unique circumstances.
I have marked the last chapter of for my husband to read because it summarizes the rules and hope to try some of the recipes very soon. I also plan on posting my version of the rules somewhere near my kitchen to remind me what I'm trying to accomplish for the entire family.
Hopefully Karen's book is read by the right people to make changes in our school systems so our children don't continue to rush through their lunches just so they can be hungry a couple hours later.
Thank you Karen for showing me that I can get my child to eat better/more without driving myself crazy.
I'm always looking for ways to get Miss R to eat better, even though most of my friends and the family doctor don't think she's picky. By reading Karen's book I've discovered that Miss R maybe isn't much different then most of her peers, but that doesn't mean things can't change.
French Kids Eat Everything presents things in such a way that it is easy to see where the two cultures, North American and French, are different when it comes to approaches to food. I read the book and started to implement some of the suggestions immediately. It was a huge surprise to mean just how well using fixed times for snacks works.
The thing that really got my attention in this book was Chapter 9 when the family returns to Vancouver from France only to find out that the French method of eating may not work in all situations and adaption will be required to fit into your unique circumstances.
I have marked the last chapter of for my husband to read because it summarizes the rules and hope to try some of the recipes very soon. I also plan on posting my version of the rules somewhere near my kitchen to remind me what I'm trying to accomplish for the entire family.
Hopefully Karen's book is read by the right people to make changes in our school systems so our children don't continue to rush through their lunches just so they can be hungry a couple hours later.
Thank you Karen for showing me that I can get my child to eat better/more without driving myself crazy.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 30 Ain't Misbehavin'
Ain't Misbehavin' by Alyson Schafer from Wiley and Sons Canada 2011
Ain't Misbehavin' is the latest of Alyson Schafer's parenting books. Unlike the other 2 books, this one is filled with solutions or suggestions to deal with different behaviours parents encounter on a regular basis. Ain't Misbehavin' groups behaviours by type covering everything from the bedroom to school to sibling rivalry to extra curricular activities. This books need not be read from start to finish if there is an area you really want to challenges in but I recommend reading all of it. Alyson offers suggestions for dealing for with the behaviour when it happens and solution to work towards at reducing and often eliminating unwanted reactions. I really enjoyed the book and am finding Alyson's tips are making life in my home less confrontational even though the gist of it is Mommy Butt Out and that is hard to do after five years. I am a firm believer in having as many tools as you need to keep your family functioning well and Ain't Misbehavin' has found a permanent home in my family library. The concepts are consistent throughout the book and even if you encounter a situation not specifically covered, you can use the techniques explained to work on a solution. Thanks again Alyson.
Ain't Misbehavin' is the latest of Alyson Schafer's parenting books. Unlike the other 2 books, this one is filled with solutions or suggestions to deal with different behaviours parents encounter on a regular basis. Ain't Misbehavin' groups behaviours by type covering everything from the bedroom to school to sibling rivalry to extra curricular activities. This books need not be read from start to finish if there is an area you really want to challenges in but I recommend reading all of it. Alyson offers suggestions for dealing for with the behaviour when it happens and solution to work towards at reducing and often eliminating unwanted reactions. I really enjoyed the book and am finding Alyson's tips are making life in my home less confrontational even though the gist of it is Mommy Butt Out and that is hard to do after five years. I am a firm believer in having as many tools as you need to keep your family functioning well and Ain't Misbehavin' has found a permanent home in my family library. The concepts are consistent throughout the book and even if you encounter a situation not specifically covered, you can use the techniques explained to work on a solution. Thanks again Alyson.
Friday, April 27, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 28 Honey, I Wrecked the Kids
Honey,
I Wrecked the Kids: When Yelling, Screaming, Threats, Bribes,
Time-Outs, Sticker Charts and Removing Privileges All Don't Work by Alyson Schafer from Wiley Canada
I'm always looking for new/additional methods for nurturing my daughter and make sure we aren't getting into never ending battles. This book was an eye-opening read as Alyson seemed to have insight into what is happening in my family/my head. One of the challenges Alyson presents is to go a week without saying no to your child. This is something I'm tackling and must admit not doing well with, but I plan to stick with it because when I get it right it makes life much easier. What I like in particular about Alyson's writing is that she is writing from experience since she is a parent and lived the style of parenting she's promoting for her life. Honey, I Wrecked the Kids: When Yelling, Screaming, Threats, Bribes, Time-Outs, Sticker Charts and removing Privileges All Don't Work is having a positive impact on my family.
I'm always looking for new/additional methods for nurturing my daughter and make sure we aren't getting into never ending battles. This book was an eye-opening read as Alyson seemed to have insight into what is happening in my family/my head. One of the challenges Alyson presents is to go a week without saying no to your child. This is something I'm tackling and must admit not doing well with, but I plan to stick with it because when I get it right it makes life much easier. What I like in particular about Alyson's writing is that she is writing from experience since she is a parent and lived the style of parenting she's promoting for her life. Honey, I Wrecked the Kids: When Yelling, Screaming, Threats, Bribes, Time-Outs, Sticker Charts and removing Privileges All Don't Work is having a positive impact on my family.
Friday, April 13, 2012
#50BookPledge Book 27 Breaking the Good Mom Myth
Breaking the Good Mom Myth by Alyson Schafer from John Wiley & Sons 2006
I really enjoyed this book, probably because it was written by a mom and she admits she sometimes has to regroup. I've read a number of parenting books over the last four years and this is by far one of the better ones. It tackles real life situations, giving you alternatives to what current society expects. The solutions offered when reviewed carefully are good old common sense and initially leave you wondering "why didn't I think of that?" My biggest take away was that I don't need to be like every other mom on the block and really shouldn't try to be, but instead be realistic with expectations of both self and child. Well worth a 4 out of 5 review.
I really enjoyed this book, probably because it was written by a mom and she admits she sometimes has to regroup. I've read a number of parenting books over the last four years and this is by far one of the better ones. It tackles real life situations, giving you alternatives to what current society expects. The solutions offered when reviewed carefully are good old common sense and initially leave you wondering "why didn't I think of that?" My biggest take away was that I don't need to be like every other mom on the block and really shouldn't try to be, but instead be realistic with expectations of both self and child. Well worth a 4 out of 5 review.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Four and Frugal
My little girl is four and has been shopping with me since birth. Apparently she's picked up some of my habits and is starting to incorporate them into her shopping. For starters she knows not to go grocery shopping without a list and I will buy certain things if they are on sale or if I have a coupon.
The other day my daughter was at the Toy Grocery Store and asked if she could use her money to buy a new toy. I said if there was something she really wanted and it was within her $10 budget. At the Toy Grocery Store it is easy to see what is on sale because they use bright yellow stickers. My daughter looked at items on sale and could not find anything she wanted. We then headed to clothing department where she found a cute top. Her first question was whether it was on sale and they could she buy it. Since this wa clothes I told her I'd buy it letting her keep her allowance.
When I related the story to my husband later that day he was surprised that our daughter would know when something was on sale and that she didn't spend her money. He was the one that suggested this post.
The other day my daughter was at the Toy Grocery Store and asked if she could use her money to buy a new toy. I said if there was something she really wanted and it was within her $10 budget. At the Toy Grocery Store it is easy to see what is on sale because they use bright yellow stickers. My daughter looked at items on sale and could not find anything she wanted. We then headed to clothing department where she found a cute top. Her first question was whether it was on sale and they could she buy it. Since this wa clothes I told her I'd buy it letting her keep her allowance.
When I related the story to my husband later that day he was surprised that our daughter would know when something was on sale and that she didn't spend her money. He was the one that suggested this post.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Love Notes
Way back when we were dating (some 14 years ago) my husband and I started writing letters to each other at Christmas. I kept them all and like to look back every so often to see what the special memories are (often something very simple). Now this is the one time a year I as hubby to get in touch with his feelings, but he doesn't complain. Some of the letters are longer than others but it is really the thought we both appreciate.
We also write annual birthday letters to our daughter. These started two weeks before she arrived and are really meant as a journal for when she is older. I share the special memories for the year, key milestones like first haircut and hopes/dreams for the future. The future stuff is pretty general because I don't want her reading these in 20 years and feeling she's disappointed us by not living up to our dreams for her.
We also write annual birthday letters to our daughter. These started two weeks before she arrived and are really meant as a journal for when she is older. I share the special memories for the year, key milestones like first haircut and hopes/dreams for the future. The future stuff is pretty general because I don't want her reading these in 20 years and feeling she's disappointed us by not living up to our dreams for her.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Kisses - Little Reminders
Now one would think it is obvious where kisses come into play reminding another person in your life how important they are but maybe there are other times or situations you have not considered.
It seems whenever someone in our house hurts someone's feelings the best way to make the pain go away is for the offender to give a kiss and say I'm Sorry! It is fun when this happens between the adults and our daughters sees it because it helps her to understand how feelings get hurt and how a little caring can fix them.
Kisses also make for a heartfelt yet inexpensive reward system. When I "catch" my daughter being good I'll often sneak a kiss and let her know I am happy with what she is doing. Most of the time this results a smile!
It seems whenever someone in our house hurts someone's feelings the best way to make the pain go away is for the offender to give a kiss and say I'm Sorry! It is fun when this happens between the adults and our daughters sees it because it helps her to understand how feelings get hurt and how a little caring can fix them.
Kisses also make for a heartfelt yet inexpensive reward system. When I "catch" my daughter being good I'll often sneak a kiss and let her know I am happy with what she is doing. Most of the time this results a smile!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Pictures - Preserving Memories
This is where the old saying, "A picture says a thousand words," really holds true. I am not a huge picture person and think my husband's aunt is a bit crazy when she tries to get 75+ people between the ages of 0 and 80 together for the annual family photo.
Pictures are a very important part of who we are and do a great job of telling our stories. We regularly print pictures we've taken from vacations and special events or just a part of everyday life. We find these pictures helpful when our daughter asks a question about something that happened in the passed.
We regularly display pictures around our house, changing them to keep current. My daughter has photo albums she looks at regularly along with the photos on our computers. This encourages me to want to take me more pictures just because. Of course this is becoming more fun as our daughter is starting to take her ourn photos, often of her feet.
Two of the biggest photo events for our family, however, are the slide shows my husband put together for a couple big events. The first was for my dad's 65th birthday and we had a difficult time locating enough pictures to fill five minutes plus nothing from his childhood. Luckily with the help of his coworkers and friends we were able to pull it off. The second slide show was to celebrate our daughter's adoption and baptism. This time the problem was limiting the number of photos.
So enjoy your photos. Share them often, download them and see how they can brighten someone's day.
Pictures are a very important part of who we are and do a great job of telling our stories. We regularly print pictures we've taken from vacations and special events or just a part of everyday life. We find these pictures helpful when our daughter asks a question about something that happened in the passed.
We regularly display pictures around our house, changing them to keep current. My daughter has photo albums she looks at regularly along with the photos on our computers. This encourages me to want to take me more pictures just because. Of course this is becoming more fun as our daughter is starting to take her ourn photos, often of her feet.
Two of the biggest photo events for our family, however, are the slide shows my husband put together for a couple big events. The first was for my dad's 65th birthday and we had a difficult time locating enough pictures to fill five minutes plus nothing from his childhood. Luckily with the help of his coworkers and friends we were able to pull it off. The second slide show was to celebrate our daughter's adoption and baptism. This time the problem was limiting the number of photos.
So enjoy your photos. Share them often, download them and see how they can brighten someone's day.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Little Things Add Up
My daughter gets enough candy as it is so I did not see the need for a candy filled Advent Calendar. Last year I purchased the beige and red Advent Cottage at Loblaws that allows me to fill each day This year we're doing an alternating day mix of books and other stuff which doesn't fit in the little doors. Instead each morning my daughter opens the requisite door to find a clue then heads off to find the prize that "Santa" left.
That's correct I said Santa. My four year old firmly believes that Mr. Claus is playing a fun game with her leading up to his big visit on Christmas Eve and I don't feel like dissuading her since she's only going to believe for such a short time.
My only challenge with this project is that my daughter is waking up almost an hour earlier each morning to get the next prize and that means I'm up earlier as well. This is workable because of her enthusiasm and the fact this is something special we share before my husband wakes up.
And with that I want to wish everyone reading a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
That's correct I said Santa. My four year old firmly believes that Mr. Claus is playing a fun game with her leading up to his big visit on Christmas Eve and I don't feel like dissuading her since she's only going to believe for such a short time.
My only challenge with this project is that my daughter is waking up almost an hour earlier each morning to get the next prize and that means I'm up earlier as well. This is workable because of her enthusiasm and the fact this is something special we share before my husband wakes up.
And with that I want to wish everyone reading a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Story Time
It is amazing what your child will learn during story time. We always have some sort of story time with our daughter and both of us do parts of it. There are four different types of daily story time in our home. I'll try to explain them here and what they mean to us.
1) Snuggle Time Can be with either Mommy or Daddy. This is story time where anyone can pick the books, but usually our daughter does and she sits with the reader. Usually this happens at bedtime with my husband reading or during quiet time after school with me. Often when bedtime story occurs I will sneak into my daughter's bedroom to listen. My husband really makes the stories come alive with different voices. Snuggle time with me has been know to happen in the car, at a restuaren or at the Doctor's office while waiting. Almost everywhere we go we have books with us to helpp make the wait seem shorter.
2) Tell Me A Story These are occasions when my daughter wants to hear about something she has done, usually with one or both of us. These stories are retold on the fly often in the bathroom and can cover anything form how we became her parents to her most recent class trip where I tagged along. Early on we tried to use different characters and tell the stories in the third person but I kept changing the names back to Rachel so we don't bother anymore. Our daughter loves these stories and we probably should write them down, but I doubt that will happen so my daughter will have to rely on her electronic scrapbook as she gets older.
3) I Read To You This story time is the most fun. My daughter picks a book or books and read them to one of us or her toys. She may not read the words but she is really familiar with stories so she reads the pictures and is often really close to the written story. I find it very creative on her part and lots of fun even when I'm eavesdropping on a story being told to the stuffed animals.
4) Private Reading This is when someone in the house can be found reading to themselves. My husband and I feel it is extremely important that our daughter "catches" us reading with hopes that it will encourage her to do the same. This seems to be working and often when I go looking for her when she's being very quiet I'll find her in her room reading a book or 12.
1) Snuggle Time Can be with either Mommy or Daddy. This is story time where anyone can pick the books, but usually our daughter does and she sits with the reader. Usually this happens at bedtime with my husband reading or during quiet time after school with me. Often when bedtime story occurs I will sneak into my daughter's bedroom to listen. My husband really makes the stories come alive with different voices. Snuggle time with me has been know to happen in the car, at a restuaren or at the Doctor's office while waiting. Almost everywhere we go we have books with us to helpp make the wait seem shorter.
2) Tell Me A Story These are occasions when my daughter wants to hear about something she has done, usually with one or both of us. These stories are retold on the fly often in the bathroom and can cover anything form how we became her parents to her most recent class trip where I tagged along. Early on we tried to use different characters and tell the stories in the third person but I kept changing the names back to Rachel so we don't bother anymore. Our daughter loves these stories and we probably should write them down, but I doubt that will happen so my daughter will have to rely on her electronic scrapbook as she gets older.
3) I Read To You This story time is the most fun. My daughter picks a book or books and read them to one of us or her toys. She may not read the words but she is really familiar with stories so she reads the pictures and is often really close to the written story. I find it very creative on her part and lots of fun even when I'm eavesdropping on a story being told to the stuffed animals.
4) Private Reading This is when someone in the house can be found reading to themselves. My husband and I feel it is extremely important that our daughter "catches" us reading with hopes that it will encourage her to do the same. This seems to be working and often when I go looking for her when she's being very quiet I'll find her in her room reading a book or 12.
Friday, December 9, 2011
The Value of Saying No!
No is one of the hardest words for me to say yet I that it is necessary if I want to keep some degree of control over my life.
With the Holiday Season fast approaching I've always tried to make sure that we find a way to say yes to all the family, friend and other events that come our way. That was fine when there were only two of us, but when the holiday season starts on Thanksgiving and ends on January 23 it isn't realistic to say yes to everything for any family. Instead I'm saying no to some activities based on flexible guidelines my other half has agreed to. These guidelines are meant to help keep everyone in our house happy, especially the four year old. The guidelines include things like:
1. No more than one event per day - Our apologies to the London Post Adoption Support Group but we have a family Christmas out of town later the same day.
2. No evening events on school nights unless they are school or current extra-curricular related.
So far this is working and the people I'm saying no to our understanding of the decision. I feel less stressed as a result. Based on our history of over-scheduling my husband call home the other day to make sure he read the calendar correctly because a couple weekends in late November had nothing scheduled.
No is also being used more frequently when it comes to presents and discretionary purchases. I have a really good friend whom my mom calls the sister I never had and have no issue getting together with her for coffee on a regular basis or exchanging gifts for Christmas and Birthdays. On the other had I have an acquaintance I only talk to once every few months and our children don't really know each other so I don't feel comfortable doing a gift exchange with her family.
The dilemma of gifts for teachers and service providers recently came up in our house with a lot of confusion. The lady who started off as my daughter's teacher in September recently left on maternity leave and instead of giving her a gift we did up a special card for her. The replacement teacher started the beginning of December and we won't be giving her a either but rather a really nice Christmas card. This is a no that I feel has no lasting effect on anyone in the long term.
Lastly we're selective about the fundraisers we participate in at school. I have no issue buying my daughter or others books and magazines through the school, but draw the line at buying for the sake of getting stuff just so the school can get a 1% return. I was torn on this for a short period of time until my husband said if it is something you were already thinking of buying then go ahead, otherwise pass.
In conclusion, saying no isn't the end of the world. Yes you might have an initial feeling of guilt but that passes fairly quickly. To paraphrase a friend you need to do what is right for you and your family at a given time.
With the Holiday Season fast approaching I've always tried to make sure that we find a way to say yes to all the family, friend and other events that come our way. That was fine when there were only two of us, but when the holiday season starts on Thanksgiving and ends on January 23 it isn't realistic to say yes to everything for any family. Instead I'm saying no to some activities based on flexible guidelines my other half has agreed to. These guidelines are meant to help keep everyone in our house happy, especially the four year old. The guidelines include things like:
1. No more than one event per day - Our apologies to the London Post Adoption Support Group but we have a family Christmas out of town later the same day.
2. No evening events on school nights unless they are school or current extra-curricular related.
So far this is working and the people I'm saying no to our understanding of the decision. I feel less stressed as a result. Based on our history of over-scheduling my husband call home the other day to make sure he read the calendar correctly because a couple weekends in late November had nothing scheduled.
No is also being used more frequently when it comes to presents and discretionary purchases. I have a really good friend whom my mom calls the sister I never had and have no issue getting together with her for coffee on a regular basis or exchanging gifts for Christmas and Birthdays. On the other had I have an acquaintance I only talk to once every few months and our children don't really know each other so I don't feel comfortable doing a gift exchange with her family.
The dilemma of gifts for teachers and service providers recently came up in our house with a lot of confusion. The lady who started off as my daughter's teacher in September recently left on maternity leave and instead of giving her a gift we did up a special card for her. The replacement teacher started the beginning of December and we won't be giving her a either but rather a really nice Christmas card. This is a no that I feel has no lasting effect on anyone in the long term.
Lastly we're selective about the fundraisers we participate in at school. I have no issue buying my daughter or others books and magazines through the school, but draw the line at buying for the sake of getting stuff just so the school can get a 1% return. I was torn on this for a short period of time until my husband said if it is something you were already thinking of buying then go ahead, otherwise pass.
In conclusion, saying no isn't the end of the world. Yes you might have an initial feeling of guilt but that passes fairly quickly. To paraphrase a friend you need to do what is right for you and your family at a given time.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Hand Me Downs
I know what your thinking...what do hand me downs have to do with quality time? Well this little story should shed some light on that issue.
Hand me downs or clothes with a story can really mea a lot to your child. My daughter has always loved clothes that she has received from certain others and we are trying to instill the concept of charity in her when she outgrowns something that in terms of donating it or passing it on.
Recentl, however, the importance of clothes with a story really came to life for me. My mom's sister was married 35 years ago this passed May and I was her flower girl. I wore a pretty, yet typical, 70s polyester dress that my grandmother made. My family kept the dress and it moved into my office closet about 2 years ago. The plan was that my daughter could where it for dressup.
At my parents trailer park they have Halloween in the middle of August making it difficult to get a Halloween costume. In early July I suggested to my daughter she be a princess and wear the pink dress in the closet. She wasn't thrilled with the idea until I showed her a picture of me in the dress. From then on we had a mission to transform the dress into one fit for a butterfly princess. My darling child showed me where she wanted the butterflies and handed me the beads to embelish the sleeves, but wanted nothing to do with the fittings to ensure the train didn't drag on the ground. I finished the dress a week before the August event and my daught was eager to wear it. She asked to wear the it to the campground but I exllained she'd probably be more comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt until trick or treating started. On Saturday she made sure the dress was packed in the car and off we went. When anyone asked her where she got such a pretty dress she proundly told that it was mine.
The whole event reminded me of myself as a teenager when I used to "borrow" my mom's clothes. These were good times and I look forward to the day my daughter "borrows" my clothes.
I have my wedding dress packed awaybut don't expected my daughter will wear it. I am hopeful she'll wear my veil and maybe do something special with the dress, but who knows. I'm sure my husband doesn't want to tink about her getting married for another 20 years.
As a side note the floweer dress will get one more day of wearing when my Butterfly Princess wears it to school and out trick or treating on the 31st of October.
Hand me downs or clothes with a story can really mea a lot to your child. My daughter has always loved clothes that she has received from certain others and we are trying to instill the concept of charity in her when she outgrowns something that in terms of donating it or passing it on.
Recentl, however, the importance of clothes with a story really came to life for me. My mom's sister was married 35 years ago this passed May and I was her flower girl. I wore a pretty, yet typical, 70s polyester dress that my grandmother made. My family kept the dress and it moved into my office closet about 2 years ago. The plan was that my daughter could where it for dressup.
At my parents trailer park they have Halloween in the middle of August making it difficult to get a Halloween costume. In early July I suggested to my daughter she be a princess and wear the pink dress in the closet. She wasn't thrilled with the idea until I showed her a picture of me in the dress. From then on we had a mission to transform the dress into one fit for a butterfly princess. My darling child showed me where she wanted the butterflies and handed me the beads to embelish the sleeves, but wanted nothing to do with the fittings to ensure the train didn't drag on the ground. I finished the dress a week before the August event and my daught was eager to wear it. She asked to wear the it to the campground but I exllained she'd probably be more comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt until trick or treating started. On Saturday she made sure the dress was packed in the car and off we went. When anyone asked her where she got such a pretty dress she proundly told that it was mine.
The whole event reminded me of myself as a teenager when I used to "borrow" my mom's clothes. These were good times and I look forward to the day my daughter "borrows" my clothes.
I have my wedding dress packed awaybut don't expected my daughter will wear it. I am hopeful she'll wear my veil and maybe do something special with the dress, but who knows. I'm sure my husband doesn't want to tink about her getting married for another 20 years.
As a side note the floweer dress will get one more day of wearing when my Butterfly Princess wears it to school and out trick or treating on the 31st of October.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Dealing with the Insensitive
So what do you do when a family member or someone close to you says something that is insensitive and probably should not have been said especially in front of your children.
This is a situation that happened with us and our four year old daughter on the weekend. Our daughter is a very cute child who has some shape to her, however, the family doctor has stated she is exactly where she should be on the the growth chart. By nature my daughter is a grazer and this has been curbed somewhat by school. This eating habit doesn't bother my husband or I as long as the choices are healthy.
We had a visitor who commented on the fact that our daughter seemed to eat nonstop and therefore her backside was expanding proportionately. My husband and I basically ignored the comment and it is something that was difficult for me to do. I am usually the first person who would screama t this person and ask them what they were thinking.
We are trying to raise a young lady who has a healthy body image and makes healthy choices, but doesn't feel the need to change her habits because of what one person says. In hindsight I think the fact we ignored the comment was a good lesson for our daughter and it showed her that you don't always have to acknowledge something you don't agree with, but rather sometimes it is better to just let things go.
This is a situation that happened with us and our four year old daughter on the weekend. Our daughter is a very cute child who has some shape to her, however, the family doctor has stated she is exactly where she should be on the the growth chart. By nature my daughter is a grazer and this has been curbed somewhat by school. This eating habit doesn't bother my husband or I as long as the choices are healthy.
We had a visitor who commented on the fact that our daughter seemed to eat nonstop and therefore her backside was expanding proportionately. My husband and I basically ignored the comment and it is something that was difficult for me to do. I am usually the first person who would screama t this person and ask them what they were thinking.
We are trying to raise a young lady who has a healthy body image and makes healthy choices, but doesn't feel the need to change her habits because of what one person says. In hindsight I think the fact we ignored the comment was a good lesson for our daughter and it showed her that you don't always have to acknowledge something you don't agree with, but rather sometimes it is better to just let things go.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Date Night Part 2
So last week I wrote about the importance of date night and a dinner on the town. This week I'm going to talk about those inexpensive or free options. There is a lot of opportunity to connect with your significant other without having to break the bank.
Believe it or not you probably take 15 minutes out of you day to connect without realizing it. This is usually the time the two of you spend together in the morning before getting out of bed or those precious few minutes you have after the children are safely tucked in. I don't consider these to be date night opportunities but they are extremely important to your family.
For us these date nights happen about once every couple of weeks and usually after our daughter goes to bed. Sometimes we watch a movie together on the couch with all the movie snacks and our gadgets turned off. Other times it is just coffee on the front porch or doing something that requires both our input on the computer like selecting the pictures for the respective mother's annual calendar.
During these date nights things are very relaxed and therefore we find it easy to talk about pretty much everything. It is surprising how quickly the night passes and we've managed to accomplsh something while having a great time together.
Tell me what do you do for date night?
Believe it or not you probably take 15 minutes out of you day to connect without realizing it. This is usually the time the two of you spend together in the morning before getting out of bed or those precious few minutes you have after the children are safely tucked in. I don't consider these to be date night opportunities but they are extremely important to your family.
For us these date nights happen about once every couple of weeks and usually after our daughter goes to bed. Sometimes we watch a movie together on the couch with all the movie snacks and our gadgets turned off. Other times it is just coffee on the front porch or doing something that requires both our input on the computer like selecting the pictures for the respective mother's annual calendar.
During these date nights things are very relaxed and therefore we find it easy to talk about pretty much everything. It is surprising how quickly the night passes and we've managed to accomplsh something while having a great time together.
Tell me what do you do for date night?
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