Yep, I think that's me. Over the past year and a half, I've actually come up with some goals, all of which will be begun over the rest of this year, and pursued in true earnest in 2010:
Begin homeschooling my eldest daughter in spite of her autism (actually because, but the diagnosis originally freaked me out enough that I thought she might need government schools until she was 18).
Become Debt Free using the Total Money Makeover. We already have the grand set up, but we can't begin paying down debt until after we find the money to pay our property taxes at the end of 2009, and we don't escrow, so that's a chunk of change.
Give the Gluten Free Casein Free diet the college try, going 6 months without either, to see if it helps Kasandra.
Be open to another child. I have always believed that "we don't have enough money" is not a reason to postpone family additions. I'm not talking about how-are-we-going-to-make-the-mortgage-payment poor, or no-going-to-the-grocery-store cash-strapped. My husband is home and has as secure of a job as I can imagine right now in the private sector, I'm employed part-time again, and we have more than our deductible saved in our HSA. There is no wolf at the door, we just need to focus on keeping the future wolf-free.
Get my house ready to sell if the right opportunity comes along. I love my house, but part of Kasandra's therapy has involved riding horses, and the transformation has been amazing. 3 and 1/2 acres is not enough area to keep a horse well, so there will eventually be a transition. It's just too beneficial to Kasandra.
Yep, insane. Watch this space for even more craziness!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Monday, April 7, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Memed...
Dale tags me with the Parables Meme, and since I feel his pain with my Royals sweeping his Tigers this week (been there, dude...), I guess I'd better get on it.
In increasing order of preference:
5. The Lost Sheep - Love it, but never having been a sheep-type person, it's not one I think of often.
4. The Rich Man and Lazarus - I tell my husband we'll never be rich because I'll give everything away first. He thinks I'm joking...
3. The Brothers... You know, one says he'll go work in the vineyard, then doesn't, the other refuses, then does. This is kinda my life in a nutshell. Sadly I've done more than my share of imitating the first brother.
2. The Prodigal Son - This is a better reflection of my faith life than most conversion stories. I always knew what I was supposed to do, but in implementation lieth the difficulty.
1. The Mustard Seed - Why did this one win? Well, as a kid, it was one that really resonated. I have met my share (okay, been one) of hardheaded folks and I think even before the nun explained it to my first grade class, I got it. I'm also enough of a dork that I remembered it on a day during "kid church" that the Priest asked if anyone could explain what we thought Jesus wanted us to get out of the parable. I answered when he called on me, in the middle of his homily, and he pretty much looked at me like I was a prodigy. That doesn't happen often, and it was kinda nice.
Hmm, I think I'll tag Sarah, Elena (since she doesn't have enough going on with her family's stomach virus, poor thing), Heather (yes, your hubby spared you... :)), Jen, and Melanie.
In increasing order of preference:
5. The Lost Sheep - Love it, but never having been a sheep-type person, it's not one I think of often.
4. The Rich Man and Lazarus - I tell my husband we'll never be rich because I'll give everything away first. He thinks I'm joking...
3. The Brothers... You know, one says he'll go work in the vineyard, then doesn't, the other refuses, then does. This is kinda my life in a nutshell. Sadly I've done more than my share of imitating the first brother.
2. The Prodigal Son - This is a better reflection of my faith life than most conversion stories. I always knew what I was supposed to do, but in implementation lieth the difficulty.
1. The Mustard Seed - Why did this one win? Well, as a kid, it was one that really resonated. I have met my share (okay, been one) of hardheaded folks and I think even before the nun explained it to my first grade class, I got it. I'm also enough of a dork that I remembered it on a day during "kid church" that the Priest asked if anyone could explain what we thought Jesus wanted us to get out of the parable. I answered when he called on me, in the middle of his homily, and he pretty much looked at me like I was a prodigy. That doesn't happen often, and it was kinda nice.
Hmm, I think I'll tag Sarah, Elena (since she doesn't have enough going on with her family's stomach virus, poor thing), Heather (yes, your hubby spared you... :)), Jen, and Melanie.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Celebrate the Little Things...
I made it through March of 2008 without attending a funeral.
April looks like the first month of the year that I might not have to travel.
Little One and Big Sister have now been playing downstairs harmoniously for almost an hour.
My pantry is now organized and nothing in it is expired.
My laundry is actually caught up according to a definition that doesn't involve rationalization!
April looks like the first month of the year that I might not have to travel.
Little One and Big Sister have now been playing downstairs harmoniously for almost an hour.
My pantry is now organized and nothing in it is expired.
My laundry is actually caught up according to a definition that doesn't involve rationalization!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Safety Concerns
One of the reasons it took me a while to get comfortable using my and my family's first names is safety. We live rurally, which is good, but with a husband that is periodically deployed, we have to be careful about our safety. Unfortunately, as this post at Catholic Family Vignettes describes, blogging is not always the safe activity we'd like it to be. I've never been a sitemeter tracker, but I may have to start working on that, even though I don't get much traffic. I had no idea how useful those tools could be!
Props: Sarah at Catholic Pondering
Props: Sarah at Catholic Pondering
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!!!
Yay! My Jayhawks win their third straight Big 12 tournament championship, to go with their shared regular-season championship (shared with Texas, whom they defeated today to win the tournament). Life is good. :)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Other than the taste...
This is why I drink only distilled water. A short summary: drugs we take are ending up in our drinking water. How? We take them, they pass through us, the septic water is treated, and then recycled into drinking water. The drug traces are not totally removed.
The drug that worries me the most, especially for my children, is the birth control pill/patch. My sister was astonished to learn that her daughter's doctor was relieved that her seven year-old didn't have signs of puberty. Seven. Estrogen and Progesterone from birth control pills have been contaminating our water for decades. All of the prescriptions of The Pill have overdoses of these hormones, because that is how they work. We cannot process or use all of it, so our bodies rid ourselves of it. Maybe the concentration is no big deal for a fully grown woman. But children cannot handle the same concentrations that we can.
The article references the fact that "bottled" water isn't necessarily any better than tap. Lots of it is just packaged, possibly purified tap water. That's why I pay a bit more to buy distilled water. In bulk, with a reusable container, it costs me $.60 per gallon from a distillery. Tastes great, I feel better (progesterone in tap water has been linked to PCOS, which is present in my family and I have some early indicators), and my kids actually like water!
The drug that worries me the most, especially for my children, is the birth control pill/patch. My sister was astonished to learn that her daughter's doctor was relieved that her seven year-old didn't have signs of puberty. Seven. Estrogen and Progesterone from birth control pills have been contaminating our water for decades. All of the prescriptions of The Pill have overdoses of these hormones, because that is how they work. We cannot process or use all of it, so our bodies rid ourselves of it. Maybe the concentration is no big deal for a fully grown woman. But children cannot handle the same concentrations that we can.
The article references the fact that "bottled" water isn't necessarily any better than tap. Lots of it is just packaged, possibly purified tap water. That's why I pay a bit more to buy distilled water. In bulk, with a reusable container, it costs me $.60 per gallon from a distillery. Tastes great, I feel better (progesterone in tap water has been linked to PCOS, which is present in my family and I have some early indicators), and my kids actually like water!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Road Warrior
Today, my little Civic hit a milestone:
Yep, we've driven this car 250,000 miles now. It's been almost exactly 10 years since the car was manufactured, and my husband took possession of it in August 1998. We paid it off in 2001, and we've spent surprisingly little to maintain it. It's a manual transmission, and the original clutch lasted 185,000 miles. New tires about every 60,000 miles (I think the originals lasted longer) are probably the most annoying recurring expense. We did have an issue with the main rear seal going bad and causing oil to leak. But that turned out to be almost a good thing, because as the mechanic was fixing that, he took a look at the clutch and saw that it was about ready to go. So, he replaced the clutch and only charged us for the part, since he had the whole car taken apart anyway. So we replaced our clutch before it started giving us problems!
I did just replace the strut assemblies (asking the originals to go 250,000 miles is a bit much), and we switch out the transmission fluid occasionally. I think we went 90,000 miles before the first tune-up, but it's been every 60,000 after that.
Now, some might ask, why would a girl drive this:
when she has a comfy, good-looking minivan in the garage?
I'll tell you why:
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
It Only Feels Like the Flu...
Tonsilitis, possible strep infection, maybe bronchitis... Thank God for ZPac.
I still don't think I've ever truly had influenza. Weird. This is the worst year for it, and I have had maybe two flu shots in my entire life, none this year.
Oh well, I'll take anything over the intestinal/gastric virus I had last November. Fever, body aches, cough, bring it on. Just never another digestive ailment unless there is a baby to anticipate!
I still don't think I've ever truly had influenza. Weird. This is the worst year for it, and I have had maybe two flu shots in my entire life, none this year.
Oh well, I'll take anything over the intestinal/gastric virus I had last November. Fever, body aches, cough, bring it on. Just never another digestive ailment unless there is a baby to anticipate!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Who Knew?
Who knew that "a little croupy" could turn into "barely able to breathe" in a matter of a few hours? I now know far more than I want to about croup. I would much rather have read about it online or in a textbook than listen to it for a day and a half in a hospital room, sleeping on the equivalent of a park bench.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Birthday, Hon.
Those are the sweetest words that I have heard today.
Also heard:
Well, she has an ear infection and a little croup.
Man, this house is a mess! (yes, I talk to myself. What of it?)
Uh-Oh, need some new clothes!
Yeehaw.
Also heard:
Well, she has an ear infection and a little croup.
Man, this house is a mess! (yes, I talk to myself. What of it?)
Uh-Oh, need some new clothes!
Yeehaw.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The On-Line Neighborhood
Jen at Et-tu has a great post up reflecting on how much of her adult interaction come from online sources. It's a terrific read, as usual. She closed her comments for Lent, so I guess I'll vent about how much I agree, and how sad it makes me, here.
I noticed this phenomenon when I began staying home in our new-to-us house with Kasandra. We live rurally, which I enjoy, but I'm becoming more of an introvert (okay, hermit) as I get older. When the Husband deployed the first time, I frequented blogs, and joined an online message board. I made sure during that deployment to go somewhere and interact with someone every single day, precisely because I did not want all of my adult interaction to come from the computer.
Then, when Bill returned, gas prices around here went crazy. When I began staying home, gas was $1.50 a gallon. Four and a half years later, anything less than $3.00 feels like a repreive. So, going places became a luxury. Well, I'm the only non-retiree in the neighborhood who is home during the day. The closest grocery store (that's not in a gas station) is 10 miles away. And we live on a gravel road, so going for a walk with a stroller is only possible if you drive first. I can literally go a week in the winter without having a face-to-face conversation with anyone other than my children. And I don't think that if I lived in a more populated area that it would be any different. We just don't live in a face-to-face world any more. As sad as I think that is, I really should be doing more to change my own habits.
So, my to do list for tomorrow includes calling the lady who organizes the parish play group, and talking to at least one person while I work out at the gym. We'll see what happens...
I noticed this phenomenon when I began staying home in our new-to-us house with Kasandra. We live rurally, which I enjoy, but I'm becoming more of an introvert (okay, hermit) as I get older. When the Husband deployed the first time, I frequented blogs, and joined an online message board. I made sure during that deployment to go somewhere and interact with someone every single day, precisely because I did not want all of my adult interaction to come from the computer.
Then, when Bill returned, gas prices around here went crazy. When I began staying home, gas was $1.50 a gallon. Four and a half years later, anything less than $3.00 feels like a repreive. So, going places became a luxury. Well, I'm the only non-retiree in the neighborhood who is home during the day. The closest grocery store (that's not in a gas station) is 10 miles away. And we live on a gravel road, so going for a walk with a stroller is only possible if you drive first. I can literally go a week in the winter without having a face-to-face conversation with anyone other than my children. And I don't think that if I lived in a more populated area that it would be any different. We just don't live in a face-to-face world any more. As sad as I think that is, I really should be doing more to change my own habits.
So, my to do list for tomorrow includes calling the lady who organizes the parish play group, and talking to at least one person while I work out at the gym. We'll see what happens...
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Long Day's Journey...
Well, I'm two for two on funerals per month in 2008. I attended the funeral of a soldier today. He died at 26 in a car accident. I'm kinda tired of funerals.
Thankfully, though I came home tonight with two tired little girls, they were so excited to brush their teeth. They ran with big smiles down the hallway, grabbed their toothbrushes, and started singing the ABC song.
That makes everything worthwhile.
Thankfully, though I came home tonight with two tired little girls, they were so excited to brush their teeth. They ran with big smiles down the hallway, grabbed their toothbrushes, and started singing the ABC song.
That makes everything worthwhile.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Brave?
My Nana lived through the Great Depression, and has enough perspective to remember good times in the 1930’s. She remembers that she played the piano at gatherings of people her age. She remembers meeting the love of her life, and the frugal ways that sustained her poor family. She had the strength and perseverance to earn a teaching degree, and then walk away from that career when she realized it wasn’t her calling. She left the love of her life, moved halfway across the country from him, and had the strength to go back to him. Soon after they married, pregnant with their first child, she watched the love of her life leave to serve their country. Alone, she bore and lost her first child. Once Granddad returned, they were never again separated for very long. Together, they raised four children and lost another. Together, they inspired a generation of twelve grandchildren with their love and sacrifice.
Nana has been without Granddad for over a month now. They are not just separated by miles, but by a world. She cannot just pick up the phone and call him, or send him an email. She can talk to him, but cannot hear his voice. She remembers, but can’t see, that handsome crooked smile he perpetually wore. After 63 years together, she is without him.
And she tells me, “You are so brave, Catherine.”
Nana has been without Granddad for over a month now. They are not just separated by miles, but by a world. She cannot just pick up the phone and call him, or send him an email. She can talk to him, but cannot hear his voice. She remembers, but can’t see, that handsome crooked smile he perpetually wore. After 63 years together, she is without him.
And she tells me, “You are so brave, Catherine.”
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
How do they know?
Before my husband left this morning, the baby awakened. I took her, and we snuggled on the couch while Daddy packed his final things. He changed her, and gave the big girl a goodbye kiss.
Right after he left, the baby pooped. How do they know?
Right after he left, the baby pooped. How do they know?
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Fighting The Funk
I've been trying to figure out why this impending deployment (which officially begins on Ash Wednesday, fittingly) is starting out to be so much harder than the last. Last time, I had an itty bitty baby, a new-to-me fixer-upper house, and mounting debt. This time, I have two munchkins, neither are itty bitty, I'm used to the house, and we're in a better financial position. But I'm more stressed this time. Perhaps it's because I know what's coming? I know that for the first week I'll be in a funk. I won't want to work out, I'll want to eat everything I see (especially if it isn't good for me), and I'll be short with the munchkins.
To combat that funk and its consequences, I'm going to join a community center with nursery care so that I can get a good workout (I just can't lift weights well at home). I'm not going to miss a single Weight Watchers meeting, and I think I might get a decent box of wine for the lonely evenings. Oh, and I might whine here too. I'm certainly not going to promise not to do so.
Sadly, all of that will just take the edge off. I just have to put one foot in front of the other, and make it day by day, just like I did last time. The days will fly by and the nights will drag. The children will adjust, and then adjust to the new way of doing things when he returns. Somehow, we will get to the other side.
To combat that funk and its consequences, I'm going to join a community center with nursery care so that I can get a good workout (I just can't lift weights well at home). I'm not going to miss a single Weight Watchers meeting, and I think I might get a decent box of wine for the lonely evenings. Oh, and I might whine here too. I'm certainly not going to promise not to do so.
Sadly, all of that will just take the edge off. I just have to put one foot in front of the other, and make it day by day, just like I did last time. The days will fly by and the nights will drag. The children will adjust, and then adjust to the new way of doing things when he returns. Somehow, we will get to the other side.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
123 Book Meme
Book Meme Rules
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
When your child is playing with playdough, it's very important to give him time to explore and experiment with it. Say nothing and just let him go to it. OWL to learn exactly what he's doing.
It should surprise no one that the book closest to my computer is It Takes Two to Talk. That book has been so helpful!
I tag Elena, Sarah, Tricia, . . . and that's it since everyone else that does memes has been tagged!
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
When your child is playing with playdough, it's very important to give him time to explore and experiment with it. Say nothing and just let him go to it. OWL to learn exactly what he's doing.
It should surprise no one that the book closest to my computer is It Takes Two to Talk. That book has been so helpful!
I tag Elena, Sarah, Tricia, . . . and that's it since everyone else that does memes has been tagged!
Why I'm Yawning Today...
I stayed up to watch the game last night. K-State is the real deal this year. My Jayhawks are a perennial power, and they're plenty good this year. But when those three freshman Wildcats are turning it on like they did last night, they'll beat anyone. They've been really good in the conference, and I won't be surprised if the Sunflower Powers share the Big 12 title. This year's going to be even more fun to watch than college basketball normally is. I should probably stock up on coffee...
Monday, January 28, 2008
A Story Of Two Days
At the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, the school that Kasandra will probably be attending next year always has an open house. It's a chance to showcase the work of the students and to get to know the teachers. Since my niece was part of the service, we figured this would be a good chance for the kindergarten teachers to meet Kasandra and offer some input.
Here's how I imagined the conversation would go:
Me: Kasandra is old enough for kindergarten next year, but I'm not sure she's ready (boring explanation of her delays follows here).
Teacher: Yes, she looks like she might well benefit from a year of pre-K first.
Here's how it did go:
Me: Kasandra is old enough for kindergarten next year, but I'm not sure she's ready (boring explanation of her delays did really follow).
Teacher: Have you looked at the list of readyness goals for kindergarten that we put on the wall in the hallway?
Me: Yes, she can do all of those.
Teacher: So, she doesn't have a learning disability or processing problem?
Me: No, she's just not particularly communicative.
Teacher: Does she eventually warm up to people and can she handle a classroom environment?
Me: Yes.
Teacher: Well, you could put her in Pre-K, but looking at her here (Kasandra was playing happily and doing "school" things like fixing the weather chart to match the weather outside), she'd be bored in Pre-K and would be just fine in Kindergarten.
You could have knocked me over with a feather. My baby? Kindergarten?
Here's how I imagined the conversation would go:
Me: Kasandra is old enough for kindergarten next year, but I'm not sure she's ready (boring explanation of her delays follows here).
Teacher: Yes, she looks like she might well benefit from a year of pre-K first.
Here's how it did go:
Me: Kasandra is old enough for kindergarten next year, but I'm not sure she's ready (boring explanation of her delays did really follow).
Teacher: Have you looked at the list of readyness goals for kindergarten that we put on the wall in the hallway?
Me: Yes, she can do all of those.
Teacher: So, she doesn't have a learning disability or processing problem?
Me: No, she's just not particularly communicative.
Teacher: Does she eventually warm up to people and can she handle a classroom environment?
Me: Yes.
Teacher: Well, you could put her in Pre-K, but looking at her here (Kasandra was playing happily and doing "school" things like fixing the weather chart to match the weather outside), she'd be bored in Pre-K and would be just fine in Kindergarten.
You could have knocked me over with a feather. My baby? Kindergarten?
Friday, January 25, 2008
What a wonderful story...
... of a recent mother who, in the tradition of St. Gianna, gave her own life to save her child's.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Read to Your Children...
... just don't be surprised if you end up crazy and they end up great readers. My children bring me books in the bathtub (Hey, get back in bed!). This morning, I hadn't had my coffee yet and Mr. Brown Can Moo was being pushed in my face. We haven't eaten and already the little one wants a book! I drew the line at a long, involved book intended for her older sister. The insanity will begin after breakfast, thankyouverymuch!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Nudging Along With a Speech Delay
Kasandra's speech delay has caused me much consternation. I talked early and eloquently, according to those who knew me during my second year on Earth. Since I was also small for my age, this created great adventures. A seventeen month-old wearing 9 month clothes and speaking in paragraphs of complete sentences (often without proper volume control) will get some attention. Having a four year-old who won't tell stories is quite a challenge. Here are some things I've found to be very helpful in nudging her along:
1. I turn the radio off in the car. I tend to zone out when I drive, and the radio makes it worse. In silence, Kasandra will sometimes tell me things. Since she has to sit still in her carseat, I think the silence makes her want to do something.
2. OWLing. This was recommended in the book It Takes Two To Talk, available most inexpensively here. It stands for Observe, Wait, Listen. Since I tend to speak quickly (unfortunately, sometimes before thinking), I used to assume that Kasandra wasn't going to say anything if she didn't do so quickly. I have learned that, sometimes, she just needs more time to formulate what she is going to say.
3. Siblings, cousins, kids. Kasandra is much more outgoing now that she goes to school. She constantly asks to see her cousins, and has begun entertaining Mary. Since Mary is a high-energy, outgoing sort of almost-18 month-old, this seems to be helpful for her development, as well as Mommy's sanity. This is probably one of the biggest votes for institutional school for my daughter versus homeschooling. Yes, she could interact quite a bit with other kids if I homeschool. But she really seems to learn through modeling. That will be a BIG concern once peer pressure seems to kick in, but for right now, it's a help.
4. Scripts. This seems actually to be how Kasandra thinks sometimes. I have used scripts to teach her how to convey information if it's needed. For instance, I taught her to say her full name when someone says, "What's your name?" Should she ever (God forbid) be separated from me accidentally, she needs to answer this question with something other than a blank stare or an echo of the question. We've done the same thing with her age and birthday. I know we'll need to get past this eventually, but short-term needs shouldn't be forsaken in the pursuit of an eventual goal.
Since Mary is shaping up to be completely different from Kasandra, I should probably try to remember these strategies if they're needed much later. I could just see our children alternating: Kasandra is quiet and contemplative like her father, Mary is high-energy and vocal like her mother, the next one... who knows?
1. I turn the radio off in the car. I tend to zone out when I drive, and the radio makes it worse. In silence, Kasandra will sometimes tell me things. Since she has to sit still in her carseat, I think the silence makes her want to do something.
2. OWLing. This was recommended in the book It Takes Two To Talk, available most inexpensively here. It stands for Observe, Wait, Listen. Since I tend to speak quickly (unfortunately, sometimes before thinking), I used to assume that Kasandra wasn't going to say anything if she didn't do so quickly. I have learned that, sometimes, she just needs more time to formulate what she is going to say.
3. Siblings, cousins, kids. Kasandra is much more outgoing now that she goes to school. She constantly asks to see her cousins, and has begun entertaining Mary. Since Mary is a high-energy, outgoing sort of almost-18 month-old, this seems to be helpful for her development, as well as Mommy's sanity. This is probably one of the biggest votes for institutional school for my daughter versus homeschooling. Yes, she could interact quite a bit with other kids if I homeschool. But she really seems to learn through modeling. That will be a BIG concern once peer pressure seems to kick in, but for right now, it's a help.
4. Scripts. This seems actually to be how Kasandra thinks sometimes. I have used scripts to teach her how to convey information if it's needed. For instance, I taught her to say her full name when someone says, "What's your name?" Should she ever (God forbid) be separated from me accidentally, she needs to answer this question with something other than a blank stare or an echo of the question. We've done the same thing with her age and birthday. I know we'll need to get past this eventually, but short-term needs shouldn't be forsaken in the pursuit of an eventual goal.
Since Mary is shaping up to be completely different from Kasandra, I should probably try to remember these strategies if they're needed much later. I could just see our children alternating: Kasandra is quiet and contemplative like her father, Mary is high-energy and vocal like her mother, the next one... who knows?
Heath Ledger
Dead at 28. People have asked me before if I'd like to be famous. When I was a child, I wanted to be. Now, though, it's the last thing I'd want. No privacy, crazy stresses, insanity waiting around every corner. I haven't been to a movie theater since the Passion (my pocketbook-induced boycott of Hollywood continues apace...), but I loved his roles in 10 Things and The Patriot. He was, at least until Brokeback Mountain, one of the few handsome actors left. Him, Mel, Matt Damon, Sean Connery. The rest of them all look like boys to me.
My his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace.
My his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Winter, Winter, more Winter...
At least we did have Christmas recently. The low tonight is supposed to be 4 degrees farenheit. If I hadn't been out in it tonight, I would think the dogs hacked my Weatherbug. I just can't leave them in an unheated garage. The weekend highs are going to be in the teens. I'm gettin' soft in my old age.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Good Morning!
7:45 am, 30 min after Mary gets up:
Me: Good Morning Kasandra! Ready to get up?
K: No thank you, please!
Me: Okay... (dresses baby)
8:00 am:
Me: Kasandra, ready for breakfast?
K: No thank you, please!
8:15 am:
K: Time to get up, please!
A child after her mother's heart...
Me: Good Morning Kasandra! Ready to get up?
K: No thank you, please!
Me: Okay... (dresses baby)
8:00 am:
Me: Kasandra, ready for breakfast?
K: No thank you, please!
8:15 am:
K: Time to get up, please!
A child after her mother's heart...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Ready for Kindergarten?
One of the biggest decisions I face over the next year, whether I homeschool Kasandra or send her to school, is which grade she should begin next August. Granted, this is more flexible with homeschooling, but I still need to figure out where to focus her efforts.
Part of the difficulty is that Kasandra's birthday is in June. As a result, if I put her in Kindergarten "on time," she will be in class with children far older than she is. I've had teachers tell me that if a child's birthday is after April, they believe the child will be served best by starting kindergarten after turning six. My sister would agree with this, as she's a July baby who started kindergarten, left, and came back the next year. She was quite successful and socially well-adjusted throughout the rest of her school years. I have a niece that has a similar birthday and is "on time" according to the school "schedule" and is doing fine. So I could go either way.
There are many reasons to go ahead with kindergarten: Kasandra is sounding out simple words that she sees often, she can count to thirty without assistance, and to one hundred with remiders that 40 is not 30-10, she is apparently a teacher's dream in the classroom, and has an amazing memory and attention span. But there are also reasons to wait, even aside from her age: the speech delay is lessened but not gone, she's still a bit of a loner, and still echoes things others say when she isn't sure what she should say. Neither option is "safe," as Kasandra really seems to learn well through the modeling of other children and to be quite responsive to the challenge of more advanced company. So if I hold her back, she may not advance as well as if I send her with older children, and if I send her, she may have social challenges from being "different," or "quiet."
At Ambleside Online, I found this list of goals for a child of six:
"A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint
of a curriculum outline from a CM school in the 1890's.
from Summer 93 Parents Review pub by Karen Andreola
1. To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns
2. to recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm
3. to add and subtract numbers up to 10, with dominoes or counters
4. to read--what and how much, will depend on what we are told of the child
5. to copy in print-hand from a book
6. to know the points of the compass with relation to their own home, where the sun rises and sets, and the way the wind blows
7. to describe the boundries of their own home
8. to describe any lake, river, pond, island etc. within easy reach
9. to tell quite accurately (however shortly) 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from early English, and 3 from early Roman history (my note here, we may want to substitute early American for early English!)
10. to be able to describe 3 walks and 3 views
11. to mount in a scrap book a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
12. to do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees
13. to know 6 birds by song, colour and shape
14. to send in certain Kindergarten or other handiwork, as directed
15. to tell three stories about their own "pets"--rabbit, dog or cat.
16. to name 20 common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
18. to keep a caterpillar and tell the life-story of a butterfly from his own observations.
Kasandra only turns 5 this June, so being able to do all of these things by the next June is not unrealistic. Now I get to review the progress report from her teachers...
Part of the difficulty is that Kasandra's birthday is in June. As a result, if I put her in Kindergarten "on time," she will be in class with children far older than she is. I've had teachers tell me that if a child's birthday is after April, they believe the child will be served best by starting kindergarten after turning six. My sister would agree with this, as she's a July baby who started kindergarten, left, and came back the next year. She was quite successful and socially well-adjusted throughout the rest of her school years. I have a niece that has a similar birthday and is "on time" according to the school "schedule" and is doing fine. So I could go either way.
There are many reasons to go ahead with kindergarten: Kasandra is sounding out simple words that she sees often, she can count to thirty without assistance, and to one hundred with remiders that 40 is not 30-10, she is apparently a teacher's dream in the classroom, and has an amazing memory and attention span. But there are also reasons to wait, even aside from her age: the speech delay is lessened but not gone, she's still a bit of a loner, and still echoes things others say when she isn't sure what she should say. Neither option is "safe," as Kasandra really seems to learn well through the modeling of other children and to be quite responsive to the challenge of more advanced company. So if I hold her back, she may not advance as well as if I send her with older children, and if I send her, she may have social challenges from being "different," or "quiet."
At Ambleside Online, I found this list of goals for a child of six:
"A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint
of a curriculum outline from a CM school in the 1890's.
from Summer 93 Parents Review pub by Karen Andreola
1. To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns
2. to recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm
3. to add and subtract numbers up to 10, with dominoes or counters
4. to read--what and how much, will depend on what we are told of the child
5. to copy in print-hand from a book
6. to know the points of the compass with relation to their own home, where the sun rises and sets, and the way the wind blows
7. to describe the boundries of their own home
8. to describe any lake, river, pond, island etc. within easy reach
9. to tell quite accurately (however shortly) 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from early English, and 3 from early Roman history (my note here, we may want to substitute early American for early English!)
10. to be able to describe 3 walks and 3 views
11. to mount in a scrap book a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
12. to do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees
13. to know 6 birds by song, colour and shape
14. to send in certain Kindergarten or other handiwork, as directed
15. to tell three stories about their own "pets"--rabbit, dog or cat.
16. to name 20 common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
18. to keep a caterpillar and tell the life-story of a butterfly from his own observations.
Kasandra only turns 5 this June, so being able to do all of these things by the next June is not unrealistic. Now I get to review the progress report from her teachers...
Friday, January 11, 2008
Wishing For Another One...
Between Danielle's beautiful post about the benefits of lots of siblings, Melanie's impending arrival, and Heather's new one, a mom can get really caught up in the desire to have another child! So much beauty, so much happiness is wrapped up in a little blanket that conveniently fits in the crook of my arm. To fight the tears, I have to remind myself that my time is not God's time, and that there are reasons to be cautious. From health issues that must be handled, to unavoidably absentee fathers-to-be, to the needs of the two beautiful souls already in my care, there are so many reasons that even though the default position is to have another baby, we just shouldn't right now.
I wish I could tell everyone I meet how sad I am about it (and I do this probably far too often), but it would be an oversharing penalty. (Oversharing, offense, 10 yard penalty, loss of down!) I will keep reading all of these wonderful posts, and keep trying to fight the tears, and pray that as soon as my husband returns safely, we will be in a position to add another limb to the family tree...
I wish I could tell everyone I meet how sad I am about it (and I do this probably far too often), but it would be an oversharing penalty. (Oversharing, offense, 10 yard penalty, loss of down!) I will keep reading all of these wonderful posts, and keep trying to fight the tears, and pray that as soon as my husband returns safely, we will be in a position to add another limb to the family tree...
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Sounds About Right...
My "Bloginality:" ESTP
Not the most specific test (I actually prefer smaller gatherings to large ones, and the difference is larger as I get older), but accurate, especially as a view to my childhood personality. I used to be the most outgoing person, but as I get older, I become more and more hermit-like each year. It's strange how time and experiences shape you sometimes.
Not the most specific test (I actually prefer smaller gatherings to large ones, and the difference is larger as I get older), but accurate, especially as a view to my childhood personality. I used to be the most outgoing person, but as I get older, I become more and more hermit-like each year. It's strange how time and experiences shape you sometimes.
Switch Flipping?
Last night I almost had a conversation with Kasandra:
Kasandra: Cupcakes for snack!
Me: Cupcakes, really?
Kasandra: Harley's Birthday!
Me: Did you say, "Happy Birthday, Harley?"
Kasandra: Happy Birthday Harley!
...pause...
Me: What color hair does Harley have?
Kasandra: Um, brown!
She proceeded to try to tell me other things, but I couldn't quite get them. I'm sure to someone who has a "normal" four year-old, this seems weird. But this is by far the most give-and-take we've ever had verbally. Maybe we're breaking through?
Kasandra: Cupcakes for snack!
Me: Cupcakes, really?
Kasandra: Harley's Birthday!
Me: Did you say, "Happy Birthday, Harley?"
Kasandra: Happy Birthday Harley!
...pause...
Me: What color hair does Harley have?
Kasandra: Um, brown!
She proceeded to try to tell me other things, but I couldn't quite get them. I'm sure to someone who has a "normal" four year-old, this seems weird. But this is by far the most give-and-take we've ever had verbally. Maybe we're breaking through?
Monday, January 7, 2008
Home, Sweet Home...
... or, "Travelling Thoughts" . . . "Airlines Stink" . . . "The Deployment Begins" . . .
- I'll try not to brag but... my children travel well. No meltdowns in the air, sweetness to everyone they met with one understandable exception, sleeping through flights!
- The exception? I love KCI. They exempted my family based on age and military ID. Always keep it with you! I loathe being searched, Richmond. Anyone who thinks a mommed-up, frizzy-haired, dragging-two-children-and-a-car-seat chick like me has a bomb is both not a parent and nuts. Even worse, I had to stand by while my four year-old was patted down like a criminal. Her offense? We listened to the idiot who said it was okay to carry her through the scary metal detector. The guy who said, "The airline thinks so much of you that they selected you guys for extra screening" deserved every bit of the scowl he got. At least the baby was fine in the stroller. And thank God my husband could go with me.
- Cincinnati has a good set-up for the security we must now endure. Restaurants and gates open into a huge common area. You can get your food and go straight on to the plane. Thank God I checked in Richmond whether buying coffee would result in it being confiscated after thirty feet. Even I can't drink coffee that fast.
- The Husband's full-time military gig begins today. Weekdays away and weekends home through early February, then gone and maybe a visit once in March, April, and May, and then June will find him in Kosovo. I love you and Godspeed, good man.
Lastly, I don't think I will ever go to another funeral of a loved one and keep Good Ride, Cowboy by Garth Brooks out of my head. What a great tribute song, and I'm sure good ole Chris Ledoux doesn't mind sharing. My Grandad had a great ride. And he will be missed terribly.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Saying hello to a new year, and goodbye...
My Grandfather passed away last night. I don't know the details, but my Grandmother is now in the hospital. She's had heart issues for a long time. Interesting how Discover has decided that this quarter will have 5% cash back on airline travel and rental cars...
This is my third grandparent that I have lost. For some reason, losing this generation hits me hard. I knew my husband's paternal grandparents before they passed, and I was surprised at how hard losing both of them was. I'm not surprised this time. My Grandfather was memorable, and he and my Grandmother made sure that we knew them well, even after my father (their son) left us. I remember three extended relatives making cross-country trips to see us when we were children. My great-aunt, Grandad's sister, made one trip from Minnesota, and Nana and Grandad were regular visitors from the east coast. Now it's my turn to make the trip that has become familiar to me as an adult. Even though you can't say someone dying at age 87 is all that surprising, I wish I were making the trip for happier circumstances.
This is my third grandparent that I have lost. For some reason, losing this generation hits me hard. I knew my husband's paternal grandparents before they passed, and I was surprised at how hard losing both of them was. I'm not surprised this time. My Grandfather was memorable, and he and my Grandmother made sure that we knew them well, even after my father (their son) left us. I remember three extended relatives making cross-country trips to see us when we were children. My great-aunt, Grandad's sister, made one trip from Minnesota, and Nana and Grandad were regular visitors from the east coast. Now it's my turn to make the trip that has become familiar to me as an adult. Even though you can't say someone dying at age 87 is all that surprising, I wish I were making the trip for happier circumstances.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
So... How was Your holiday?
Here's hoping it didn't include a trip to the hospital for a 16 month-old with pneumonia, like mine did. She's much better now, thank God. Antibiotics, Pedialyte, and Tylenol/Advil are wonderful things.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Decisions, Decisions... or School Update
Kasandra does extremely well in school, and seems to enjoy the activities they do. Her notes that come home always describe her day as "happy," and I don't doubt it. The part she talks about the most is snack, always ready to tell us what she had for snack that day. But I know she has enjoyed getting to know new children, and that she follows the instructions of the teachers very well, and her language is progressing, though I can't tell if it is progressing all that much faster than if she weren't in school.
However, there are drawbacks, even aside from the daily schedule that must be kept strictly so that her day is successful. In her article "Schooling At Home," Sally Thomas talks about the delineations of having a "school life" and a home life. I've noticed this dramatically with Kasandra. We used to practice making letters almost every day, and she enjoyed showing me how she would make them, either with markers or pens, or shaping the letters in the rinse water while she helps me with dishes. She also used to love to sing songs with me, asking me to sing her favorites. She no longer wants to do letters, and even though her teachers say that she participated well in their little Christmas Tea, singing the songs, she doesn't want anyone to sing at home. Pink Eye kept me from attending the Tea, so I can't tell whether she just stood in the correct place or whether she belted the songs. She seems to be separating parts of her day already, and she's 4 and 1/2. What will it be like when she's older?
I've long agreed with the take in "Homeschooling and Christian Duty." I've never felt all that comfortable with the idea of changing things from the inside via my children. If I choose to be employed as a teacher in a school system that needs help, that's one thing. Sending a virtually helpless child into a situation like that is quite another. I can't be there all of the time, and I really shouldn't be.
The question for us is simply do we send our children to an excellent Catholic school that is a bit far away, or do we keep them home and teach them? Since my neices attend that school, we got to see their Christmas Program this week. It was wonderful. The children weren't all on key, of course, but they were on time, which is something they can control. The Church was full of supportive parents and teachers, and the children had obviously been taught to help each other in the course of preparing for the show. The grades interacted seamlessly, which is excellent to see. I know that all of the teachers, the Monsignor in charge of the school, and the nuns (just a couple, but they're there) all put everything they have into that school. I just don't know whether my children should be on the inside as part of the school, or whether our family should support the school more from the outside. Decisions, decisions.
Thankfully, I don't have to decide yet. I'm not waiting for a lightning bolt, just waiting to see what happens down the line.
However, there are drawbacks, even aside from the daily schedule that must be kept strictly so that her day is successful. In her article "Schooling At Home," Sally Thomas talks about the delineations of having a "school life" and a home life. I've noticed this dramatically with Kasandra. We used to practice making letters almost every day, and she enjoyed showing me how she would make them, either with markers or pens, or shaping the letters in the rinse water while she helps me with dishes. She also used to love to sing songs with me, asking me to sing her favorites. She no longer wants to do letters, and even though her teachers say that she participated well in their little Christmas Tea, singing the songs, she doesn't want anyone to sing at home. Pink Eye kept me from attending the Tea, so I can't tell whether she just stood in the correct place or whether she belted the songs. She seems to be separating parts of her day already, and she's 4 and 1/2. What will it be like when she's older?
I've long agreed with the take in "Homeschooling and Christian Duty." I've never felt all that comfortable with the idea of changing things from the inside via my children. If I choose to be employed as a teacher in a school system that needs help, that's one thing. Sending a virtually helpless child into a situation like that is quite another. I can't be there all of the time, and I really shouldn't be.
The question for us is simply do we send our children to an excellent Catholic school that is a bit far away, or do we keep them home and teach them? Since my neices attend that school, we got to see their Christmas Program this week. It was wonderful. The children weren't all on key, of course, but they were on time, which is something they can control. The Church was full of supportive parents and teachers, and the children had obviously been taught to help each other in the course of preparing for the show. The grades interacted seamlessly, which is excellent to see. I know that all of the teachers, the Monsignor in charge of the school, and the nuns (just a couple, but they're there) all put everything they have into that school. I just don't know whether my children should be on the inside as part of the school, or whether our family should support the school more from the outside. Decisions, decisions.
Thankfully, I don't have to decide yet. I'm not waiting for a lightning bolt, just waiting to see what happens down the line.
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