I think these kinds of lists are very interesting when I read other people's blogs, and since a blog in its essence is narcissistic, I figured I'd embrace it and assume you're dying to know about me. I'll break this list down into a few entries for brevity's sake.
1. I have never broken a bone.
2. I wanted to go "natural" for Clara's birth but was so glad I got that epidural and had no regrets afterwards.
3. My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathtub and shower. The worst. Okay, cleaning the blinds is the worst.
4. I have gone to the gym at 5:00am five days/week consistently for the past few years.
5. I prefer to eat five to six times a day instead of three large meals.
6. I don't like flowery descriptive language in books and skim over those parts. Let's get on with the story!
7. I am a terrible bed sheet folder. In fact, my husband folds clothes in general much more neatly than I do. He is also more artistic, kinder, and in general a better person. But that's why I married him. And that leads me to #8.
8. One of my favorite things about Michael is that he makes me want to be a better person but loves and accepts me for who I am. It was one of the things that attracted me to him when we were dating.
9. I don't really like soda--the bubbles are just too much.
10. My piano skills have significantly atrophied over the years--any pianists have suggestions for a good practice routine? Daily scales? Sight-reading regularly?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Good Mom Bad Mom
Some days I am not such a good mom. I tell my child, "We'll do that as soon as . . ." and then forget to follow through. Or I bite her head off for little things that in and of themselves are insignificant but in my mind mean that my child will never be able to function independently and make meaningful relationships.
Not that any of you have ever done such a thing.
I had such a day (or two) last week. So when Clara came in wearing a bag on her head and excitedly gave me a bag for me to wear, too, I had to take a picture to pretend that I was being a good mom.
I then proceeded to wear it while I finished making jambalaya until it started making my head itch.
It fit surprisingly well.
This morning at 6:22am I got a text from the county school office informing parents that school is cancelled.
Again. Because of ice.
These unexpected cancellations tend to annoy/stress me because I have my agenda of things I need to do. I've got errands to run! Bills to pay! Floors to sweep! Weights to pump! Blogs to surf! A den meeting to plan! Music to practice!
(What do you mean my first job is to be a wife and mother?)
(What do you mean I only have one child and you get twice as much done with four?)
Fortunately, or unfortunately, last night I had allowed Clara to crawl into bed with me because of the storm last night and Michael was in Texas (My dark eye circles this morning serve as testimony to the efficacy of this idea). So I just turned off my alarm and slept in until . . . wait for it . . . 6:55am.
And even though the roads were too icy and my poor child only has me for a playmate, we managed to have a fun and (for me) productive day.
We baked.
We painted.
We listened to Frank Sinatra and Claude Debussy, among other classical stars like Laurie Berkner.
And we read a whole lot of this fabulous page-turner.
Quite frankly, I think some of my "bad mom" moments recently might be stemming from an inferiority complex because of Ma.
Because who can feel competent compared with someone who can make head cheese?
Not that any of you have ever done such a thing.
I had such a day (or two) last week. So when Clara came in wearing a bag on her head and excitedly gave me a bag for me to wear, too, I had to take a picture to pretend that I was being a good mom.
I then proceeded to wear it while I finished making jambalaya until it started making my head itch.
It fit surprisingly well.
This morning at 6:22am I got a text from the county school office informing parents that school is cancelled.
Again. Because of ice.
These unexpected cancellations tend to annoy/stress me because I have my agenda of things I need to do. I've got errands to run! Bills to pay! Floors to sweep! Weights to pump! Blogs to surf! A den meeting to plan! Music to practice!
(What do you mean my first job is to be a wife and mother?)
(What do you mean I only have one child and you get twice as much done with four?)
Fortunately, or unfortunately, last night I had allowed Clara to crawl into bed with me because of the storm last night and Michael was in Texas (My dark eye circles this morning serve as testimony to the efficacy of this idea). So I just turned off my alarm and slept in until . . . wait for it . . . 6:55am.
And even though the roads were too icy and my poor child only has me for a playmate, we managed to have a fun and (for me) productive day.
And we read a whole lot of this fabulous page-turner.
Quite frankly, I think some of my "bad mom" moments recently might be stemming from an inferiority complex because of Ma.
Because who can feel competent compared with someone who can make head cheese?
Monday, February 14, 2011
Making an educated decision
I am like many of you in that I LOVE reading. I LOVE getting drawn into a good story and wanting to read it so much I neglect my child. (Okay, that last part isn't such a good thing to love.) I also enjoy a good movie, although I find that a decent one is getting harder and harder (and harder and harder) to come by.
But I cannot stand having to close a book or turn off a movie when I come to an offensive scene, language, etc. Leaving a book or movie unfinished is so annoying.
And getting suggestions from others can be a risky business when everyone has varying tastes and standards. So what to do?
May I introduce to you to two wonderful websites:
FOR BOOKS
The Literate Mother is one that my mother-in-law told me about and I finally subscribed to it in my Google Reader so I could be up on new book reviews. The books are for young adult and children's lit mostly, but as that is what I often enjoy for my "fluff" reading, it is right up my alley. The synopses and ratings aren't as fleshed-out as I might like, and the overall perspectives are, obviously, subjective, but it is very helpful to know what a book contains. The website also has a handy alphabetical index.
FOR MOVIES
Plugged In Online is run by Focus on the Family, and we have used it for years. I love how it breaks down the language, sexual content, and violence as well as giving an overall Christian perspective. It also contains reviews of music and TV shows.
In case you're looking for a good clean book, have you read The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner? The first book is good but the subsequent books are even better. Really enjoyable.
But you don't have to take my word for it . . . (cue butterfly and LeVar Burton)
But I cannot stand having to close a book or turn off a movie when I come to an offensive scene, language, etc. Leaving a book or movie unfinished is so annoying.
And getting suggestions from others can be a risky business when everyone has varying tastes and standards. So what to do?
May I introduce to you to two wonderful websites:
FOR BOOKS
The Literate Mother is one that my mother-in-law told me about and I finally subscribed to it in my Google Reader so I could be up on new book reviews. The books are for young adult and children's lit mostly, but as that is what I often enjoy for my "fluff" reading, it is right up my alley. The synopses and ratings aren't as fleshed-out as I might like, and the overall perspectives are, obviously, subjective, but it is very helpful to know what a book contains. The website also has a handy alphabetical index.
FOR MOVIES
Plugged In Online is run by Focus on the Family, and we have used it for years. I love how it breaks down the language, sexual content, and violence as well as giving an overall Christian perspective. It also contains reviews of music and TV shows.
In case you're looking for a good clean book, have you read The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner? The first book is good but the subsequent books are even better. Really enjoyable.
But you don't have to take my word for it . . . (cue butterfly and LeVar Burton)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Live and learn
After the previous post pics, Clara biffed it on her scooter and wailed through her tears, "I'm not a superhero anymore!"
"Even superheroes fall sometimes," I informed her . . .
. . . and then their mothers go and buy them safety pads. (Strange how you never see that part in the movies.)
In other news, guess what I have been spending hours working on?
No, not the poster . . . just my new calling as Cub Scout den leader. (I just put it in black and white so as not to bring attention to my stylin' outfit, complete with skinny metallic pink belt.)
Evidence that I don't know what I'm doing as I try to start up this den from scratch with a Cubmaster who has had no training either:
Yesterday I went to the Boy Scout store to get some supplies for the boys and myself. Since the store is a good distance away (half an hour), I thought I'd save a trip and get all the Bobcat, Wolf, and Bear badges at one time. You know, thinking positively that all the boys would advance.
"Do you have the advancement report?" the employee asked me.
"The what?" I responded blankly.
"You can't buy the badges until you have the report."
"Oh, okay . . . " I nonchalantly replied as I hurriedly put them back and got my hind parts out of there before I tainted the place with too much Scouting ignorance.
Apparently "living and learning" must be done at any age. And an appropriate wardrobe--whether it be a cape or a neckerchief--is crucial to success.
"Even superheroes fall sometimes," I informed her . . .
. . . and then their mothers go and buy them safety pads. (Strange how you never see that part in the movies.)
In other news, guess what I have been spending hours working on?
No, not the poster . . . just my new calling as Cub Scout den leader. (I just put it in black and white so as not to bring attention to my stylin' outfit, complete with skinny metallic pink belt.)
Evidence that I don't know what I'm doing as I try to start up this den from scratch with a Cubmaster who has had no training either:
Yesterday I went to the Boy Scout store to get some supplies for the boys and myself. Since the store is a good distance away (half an hour), I thought I'd save a trip and get all the Bobcat, Wolf, and Bear badges at one time. You know, thinking positively that all the boys would advance.
"Do you have the advancement report?" the employee asked me.
"The what?" I responded blankly.
"You can't buy the badges until you have the report."
"Oh, okay . . . " I nonchalantly replied as I hurriedly put them back and got my hind parts out of there before I tainted the place with too much Scouting ignorance.
Apparently "living and learning" must be done at any age. And an appropriate wardrobe--whether it be a cape or a neckerchief--is crucial to success.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Super Clara
There's more than one kid who looks great in a cape.
And quite frankly, she uses the Force to do pretty powerful stuff, too . . . like melting her momma's heart.
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