Noelle Christine was born on December 24, 1968 at Notre Dame Hospital in Manchester, NH. She weighed 7lbs. 15oz. and had a lot of black hair just like I did when I was born. We lived upstairs at 134A Orange St., right next door to Paquette's Market! Noelle was a colicky baby and I, being a first-time mom, probably contributed to the problem by making some errors as a result of inexperience! Anyway, I did not get much sleep, for a long while. On a lighter note, we were at a La Leche League meeting when she was just a few weeks old....I had nursed her and was holding her in my lap to burp her and when there was a momentary lull in the conversation, she let out the loudest burp you can imagine, and we all burst out laughing!
When she could move around, she liked to take the magazines from the corner shelf and tear them up.....probably an indication that she would later love reading, and like to make things out of paper!
On summer weekends, we liked to pack up our Chevy sedan with everything but the kitchen sink and drive out to Bear Brook State Park for a picnic. Most weekdays I did not have a car, so I put her in the Stroll-o-Chair and we would walk a few blocks to downtown, or to the park, or to the Paquette's! Or, we would visit our elderly neighbor, Mrs. Seavey. She kept a little basket of greeting cards that Noelle could play with....again, the paper thing. Mrs. Seavey and I would talk about everything, including her childhood in Virginia, where she was cared for by the family's "Mammy". If it was a hot day, our little family could drive just outside town to Lake Massabesic, where it was always ten degrees cooler! We took Noelle to Montreal when she was about 8 months old, and explored the World's Fair, carrying her in a new-fangled baby backpack! We visited Wood's Hole Massachusetts on that same trip, as I recall.....
Another favorite outing was to visit Aunt Margaret and Uncle Raymond Paquette, and their German Shepherd Herlick, who lived a little way out in the country.
On her first birthday, we had a big party for all the Paquette's, and Noelle received a toy spinet piano!
When Noelle was about 15 mos. old, we had the opportunity to buy the house next door to Grandma Frances for $7000, so we relocated to Indianapolis and lived at 4930 Brookville Road for the next six years. David was born about six weeks after we moved in.....we had a nice yard and a big garden there.
One day, when I was on the phone, Noelle and David, probably aged 2 and 1, entertained themselves by sticking pieces of dry spaghetti into the toothpaste tube, withdrawing them and proceeding to lick the flavorful stuff off, for a treat I like to call "spaghetti popsicles"!
I am sure that was her bright idea! Then there was the time that she painted nail polish designs on my full-length mirror after I dozed off when we lay down at nap time! When she received a set of finger paints, I was so reluctant to break it out because of the perceived mess it would make.....not to worry....when I finally did, she was so disturbed about getting her hands messy that she never wanted to do it again!
Noelle started tapping at Dance Arts at age 5 with a group, went on to solo, and is still tapping today. One of her most memorable contest novelty acts was when she dressed up as Uncle Remus, blackface and all, and told the story of The Tar Baby, by Joel Chandler Harris. She won, too.....no doubt it would be considered "offensive" today!
I think one of her least favorite memories was when her dad bought 3 different sizes of the same "ugly" sneakers at Sears Save Shop, and she had to wear them "FOREVER"! Noelle was a very good student at St. Bernadette, and then flourished in the 6th grade AT program at #99! she skipped the seventh grade and went on to win the Booster Club Scholarship to Scecina at OLL!
In her senior year she was selected to be one of the Wm. H. Block Department Store H. S. Models. She participated in fashion shows, and was one of Santa's elves at Christmas time. It was fun to visit Santa Land when she was there...
Noelle and David were at odds during most of their younger years.....so much so that I sometimes had doubts about their survival to adulthood. But somewhere along the way through high school, maturity won out, and they moved beyond sibling rivalry. So parents, there is hope! Of course, I had to endure the same situation with Daniel and Nadia......definitely not fun to go through it twice!
At our annual Christmas Eve party, we always sing "Happy Birthday" to Baby Jesus and Noelle, and I am again so thankful for my special Christmas gift so many years ago.....
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Nancy Bum Bancy
Tierra go fancy, tee-legged, tie-legged, bow-legged Nancy! I just had to put that in because that is the "name game" that my mother taught me when I was a child!
So, Nancy was born on payday, November 15, 1971, at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove. If I recall correctly, she weighed 8lbs. 15oz. just like David(I don't have that info at my fingertips).
She was always cute and smart, but she liked to cut hair, probably the result of big sister Noelle giving her a "trim"! I remember thinking that since Nancy's hair was always in a "bird's nest" on the crown of her head, and did not seem to grow very fast, and was generally unruly, she really did not need a haircut! Someone might have gotten a spanking on that one.....
That "bird's nest" drove Grandma Frances nuts! Nancy was her favorite from the getgo, probably because they were both Scorpios! Anyway, Grandma took her to the beauty parlor many times for hair cuts or permanents in order to tame those stubborn locks or to repair a "whack" job...
Anyway, Nancy learned to read early, and began school early(see previous post), and she never looked back. She reveled in the AT program at IPS#99, and enjoyed the field trips and other enrichment activities that we learned about, like The Feast of The Hunter's Moon!
She and David tapped together until he went to high school. Then she and Nina made a great duet....two tall, good-looking girls with flying feet!
Nancy was the only girl in Miss Bowron's calculus class, and she got A's! In freshman engineering at Purdue, calculus posed no problem for her either....boy, were we proud! (She gets the math gene from Donald!)
Nancy took up rock-climbing in high school for a time. This was before climbing walls appeared indoors and on playground equipment. I never had the opportunity to observe her skills, and, even now, when I think about it, I get the creeps! Speaking of heights, I only learned years later(thank God) that she and her friend Karen climbed out of the window upstairs and onto the roof for "fun"! That was in grade school...
She played softball at Irvington Little League and then for her senior year at Scecina, and
Nancy was known for her coolness on the pitcher's mound. One could never discern the game
situation by her demeanor!
It took a LONG time to realize that Nancy is allergic to nuts and to cats. I think there is even a photo of her, napping on the mattress, right next to Sparky, or whichever cat was current at the time. And, she used to cough at night for no apparent reason. Duh! Every once in a while(usually at Christmas), her lips would swell. Duh! She was in high school, and was holding and loving up a kitten when I finally put 10 and 10 together! Her neck had turned red! Duh! Call CPS!
In spite of the circumstances, no charges have as yet been filed..........
So, Nancy was born on payday, November 15, 1971, at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove. If I recall correctly, she weighed 8lbs. 15oz. just like David(I don't have that info at my fingertips).
She was always cute and smart, but she liked to cut hair, probably the result of big sister Noelle giving her a "trim"! I remember thinking that since Nancy's hair was always in a "bird's nest" on the crown of her head, and did not seem to grow very fast, and was generally unruly, she really did not need a haircut! Someone might have gotten a spanking on that one.....
That "bird's nest" drove Grandma Frances nuts! Nancy was her favorite from the getgo, probably because they were both Scorpios! Anyway, Grandma took her to the beauty parlor many times for hair cuts or permanents in order to tame those stubborn locks or to repair a "whack" job...
Anyway, Nancy learned to read early, and began school early(see previous post), and she never looked back. She reveled in the AT program at IPS#99, and enjoyed the field trips and other enrichment activities that we learned about, like The Feast of The Hunter's Moon!
She and David tapped together until he went to high school. Then she and Nina made a great duet....two tall, good-looking girls with flying feet!
Nancy was the only girl in Miss Bowron's calculus class, and she got A's! In freshman engineering at Purdue, calculus posed no problem for her either....boy, were we proud! (She gets the math gene from Donald!)
Nancy took up rock-climbing in high school for a time. This was before climbing walls appeared indoors and on playground equipment. I never had the opportunity to observe her skills, and, even now, when I think about it, I get the creeps! Speaking of heights, I only learned years later(thank God) that she and her friend Karen climbed out of the window upstairs and onto the roof for "fun"! That was in grade school...
She played softball at Irvington Little League and then for her senior year at Scecina, and
Nancy was known for her coolness on the pitcher's mound. One could never discern the game
situation by her demeanor!
It took a LONG time to realize that Nancy is allergic to nuts and to cats. I think there is even a photo of her, napping on the mattress, right next to Sparky, or whichever cat was current at the time. And, she used to cough at night for no apparent reason. Duh! Every once in a while(usually at Christmas), her lips would swell. Duh! She was in high school, and was holding and loving up a kitten when I finally put 10 and 10 together! Her neck had turned red! Duh! Call CPS!
In spite of the circumstances, no charges have as yet been filed..........
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Nina, Nina, Bo Bina..........
Nina was born on March 22, 1974 at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove. She weighed 7lbs. 10oz., and was named after Pauline Smith (who I called "Nina"), my second "mother". She cared for me when I was an infant and my mother was at work. Back then, she and her husband Ben lived at 9th and Chester Sts. We lived with them for a short time, at least until my first birthday.
Nina Catherine(my mother's middle name), was baptized on May 18th 1974, our sixth wedding anniversary, and we had a party at St. Bernadette's after Mass. Grandma Frances sewed her a blue coat and bonnet to wear on that special day!
On her first birthday, she fell asleep in her highchair....probably too much excitement!
I know that I took a photo of her without her two front teeth but I can't find it for some reason, and I feel bad about it....maybe it will still turn up!
Nina was rather shy and retiring in the grade school classroom, but she saved her energy for home and family! Her teachers could hardly believe that she could be a "screaming banshee" when it suited her!
Around 1980, her little tap group was the first to go to Regency Dance Competition Nationals in St. Louis and win a big trophy!
On our trip to Omaha in about 1984, great-uncle Leo let Nina drive the tractor at one point. She didn't know how to stop, and when he stepped up to help her, he was accidentally knocked to the ground, and the back wheel of the tractor passed over his abdomen! Luckily we were near and made him lie still, and called the ambulance! At the hospital he vomited what they thought was blood, but actually, he had been eating a lot of raspberries in the garden.....he stayed overnight though. It was a traumatic experience for all concerned!
In Albuquerque in 1985 we went on a trail ride along the Rio Grande...Nina was very nervous on her horse and it did not help that our guides would say things designed to engender fear of snakes and runaway horses! When we got to Bryce Canyon, Utah, she and I stayed behind in camp when the others took an early ride into the canyon....
One evening we were watching TV in the living room. Nadia's hamster was getting it's nightly exercise on it's rather squeaky wheel, and the usual sibling banter was being exchanged. All
at once Nina came bouncing into the room on the Pogo-Ball, and I totally lost it! I was
laughing so hard that I had a pain in my side! It was one of those times that I could not stop
laughing at the craziness of our "3-ring circus"!
I have loved watching Nina dance all these years(I can't count how many times), and I am thankful that I still have the opportunity 35+ years later!
Nina Catherine(my mother's middle name), was baptized on May 18th 1974, our sixth wedding anniversary, and we had a party at St. Bernadette's after Mass. Grandma Frances sewed her a blue coat and bonnet to wear on that special day!
On her first birthday, she fell asleep in her highchair....probably too much excitement!
I know that I took a photo of her without her two front teeth but I can't find it for some reason, and I feel bad about it....maybe it will still turn up!
Nina was rather shy and retiring in the grade school classroom, but she saved her energy for home and family! Her teachers could hardly believe that she could be a "screaming banshee" when it suited her!
Around 1980, her little tap group was the first to go to Regency Dance Competition Nationals in St. Louis and win a big trophy!
On our trip to Omaha in about 1984, great-uncle Leo let Nina drive the tractor at one point. She didn't know how to stop, and when he stepped up to help her, he was accidentally knocked to the ground, and the back wheel of the tractor passed over his abdomen! Luckily we were near and made him lie still, and called the ambulance! At the hospital he vomited what they thought was blood, but actually, he had been eating a lot of raspberries in the garden.....he stayed overnight though. It was a traumatic experience for all concerned!
In Albuquerque in 1985 we went on a trail ride along the Rio Grande...Nina was very nervous on her horse and it did not help that our guides would say things designed to engender fear of snakes and runaway horses! When we got to Bryce Canyon, Utah, she and I stayed behind in camp when the others took an early ride into the canyon....
One evening we were watching TV in the living room. Nadia's hamster was getting it's nightly exercise on it's rather squeaky wheel, and the usual sibling banter was being exchanged. All
at once Nina came bouncing into the room on the Pogo-Ball, and I totally lost it! I was
laughing so hard that I had a pain in my side! It was one of those times that I could not stop
laughing at the craziness of our "3-ring circus"!
I have loved watching Nina dance all these years(I can't count how many times), and I am thankful that I still have the opportunity 35+ years later!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Dan The Man!
Daniel was born on December 6, 1976, and weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. He came out face-up, so I had a lot of back pain! He was my St. Nicholas Day surprise!
About 18 months later, just after his little sister Nadia was born, he had his first adventure.....we had returned from church and were awaiting a visit from friends who were coming over to see newborn baby Nadia. They arrived and came in to visit. ( There were about eleven people in the house.) Some minutes later, as we were talking, someone was at the front door. It was toddler Daniel!
Apparently, he had slipped out, unnoticed, and gone for a walk. Our guests, who had not seen him for a while, told us that they had seen him, nearly two blocks from our house, just walking along! We were astonished, to say the least......he had crossed one street and a railroad track! I guess then he turned around and came home. These things sometimes happen in large families, I hear.....thank God for Guardian Angels!
In late November of 1979, we drove to Florida for Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa Paquette at their condo, with a stop at Disney World on the way. When we headed home, our VW van broke down near Lake City. It was not the bustling stop it is today, so we ended up at the Days Inn near the I-75 Exit. With the car in the shop for major repairs, we had to walk to the grocery and to KMart for whatever we needed. The weather was cool and it rained for most of the three or four days we spent in close quarters there. Good thing Grandma Frances was there to help with the children! We did manage to put together a visit from St. Nicholas and a decent 3rd birthday party for Daniel in spite of the circumstances...
When Daniel did the reading at his First Communion (Grade One, back then), it was a very proud moment for me.
One morning a few years later, he was angry about something or other, so he put his foot through the transom window on the upstairs landing! In the process, a big shard of glass went into his foot. Our resident nurse, Grandma Frances, removed the shard, cleaned the wound, and bandaged him up.
I went to countless Little League baseball games, Scecina football games, and CYO basketball games. Then there were the dance recitals, contests and programs. One time he and Nadia were doing a pantomime/tap. It began with a song exchange between a boy and a girl, then a tap dance. Well, they exchanged roles, and Daniel dressed as a Flapper, and Nadia as the guy! They performed it out only once, and I did NOT take a picture! Wish I had....always good to have those pix handy to show at engagement parties or wedding rehearsal dinners!
On Christmas Eve 2001, we were busy getting ready for our annual party. Grandma had opened the doors to her living room, and I had just sat down for a few minutes while Nancy was helping with last-minute food prep. I was a little bit sad because it would be the first Christmas Eve without all our family there. Daniel had been in China for four months, teaching English. I saw a shadow cross the window on the front porch and thought one of our guests was a little bit early. Nancy opened the door, and in walked Daniel! What a surprise! He had traveled for two days to arrive on time! I couldn't believe it! What a memorable Christmas that was! And, we were all together....
All these years later, I am still marveling at how he taught himself to play the guitar, and at how he and Christopher could just stand there and jam like they did so many times in the basement......and when he accompanies me on the guitar, why can't I ever start the song on the correct note? It's a puzzlement!
About 18 months later, just after his little sister Nadia was born, he had his first adventure.....we had returned from church and were awaiting a visit from friends who were coming over to see newborn baby Nadia. They arrived and came in to visit. ( There were about eleven people in the house.) Some minutes later, as we were talking, someone was at the front door. It was toddler Daniel!
Apparently, he had slipped out, unnoticed, and gone for a walk. Our guests, who had not seen him for a while, told us that they had seen him, nearly two blocks from our house, just walking along! We were astonished, to say the least......he had crossed one street and a railroad track! I guess then he turned around and came home. These things sometimes happen in large families, I hear.....thank God for Guardian Angels!
In late November of 1979, we drove to Florida for Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa Paquette at their condo, with a stop at Disney World on the way. When we headed home, our VW van broke down near Lake City. It was not the bustling stop it is today, so we ended up at the Days Inn near the I-75 Exit. With the car in the shop for major repairs, we had to walk to the grocery and to KMart for whatever we needed. The weather was cool and it rained for most of the three or four days we spent in close quarters there. Good thing Grandma Frances was there to help with the children! We did manage to put together a visit from St. Nicholas and a decent 3rd birthday party for Daniel in spite of the circumstances...
When Daniel did the reading at his First Communion (Grade One, back then), it was a very proud moment for me.
One morning a few years later, he was angry about something or other, so he put his foot through the transom window on the upstairs landing! In the process, a big shard of glass went into his foot. Our resident nurse, Grandma Frances, removed the shard, cleaned the wound, and bandaged him up.
I went to countless Little League baseball games, Scecina football games, and CYO basketball games. Then there were the dance recitals, contests and programs. One time he and Nadia were doing a pantomime/tap. It began with a song exchange between a boy and a girl, then a tap dance. Well, they exchanged roles, and Daniel dressed as a Flapper, and Nadia as the guy! They performed it out only once, and I did NOT take a picture! Wish I had....always good to have those pix handy to show at engagement parties or wedding rehearsal dinners!
On Christmas Eve 2001, we were busy getting ready for our annual party. Grandma had opened the doors to her living room, and I had just sat down for a few minutes while Nancy was helping with last-minute food prep. I was a little bit sad because it would be the first Christmas Eve without all our family there. Daniel had been in China for four months, teaching English. I saw a shadow cross the window on the front porch and thought one of our guests was a little bit early. Nancy opened the door, and in walked Daniel! What a surprise! He had traveled for two days to arrive on time! I couldn't believe it! What a memorable Christmas that was! And, we were all together....
All these years later, I am still marveling at how he taught himself to play the guitar, and at how he and Christopher could just stand there and jam like they did so many times in the basement......and when he accompanies me on the guitar, why can't I ever start the song on the correct note? It's a puzzlement!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
David, That Little Stinker!
David was born on May 7, 1970, and he weighed 8lbs. 15oz! He was a good baby, but sometimes prone to projectile vomiting!
I took Noelle and David to Cincinnati to visit my friend Donna when he was between one and two years old. There was another little girl there about the same age. At some point during the visit, David bit her right on the face! How embarrassing!
David's third birthday was celebrated in Manchester, New Hampshire at Grandma and Grandpa Paquette's house. I made a cake in the shape of a choo-choo train!
Early one morning at our house on Brookville Road, before we remodeled the upstairs, David came into our bedroom in his yellow "bunny suit". He had black blotches from head to toe, since he had obviously been playing in the fireplace!
The night before the Indy 500 in 1977, Donald was working at the St. Bernadette Bingo. Daniel was nearly six months old. I had sent the children upstairs to bed. Before long, David came down in his pajamas to tell me that my bed was on fire! I rushed upstairs and, sure enough, he was right! He had lit a Kleenex and dropped it on my bed! There was water in the bathtub and I could have soaked a bath towel in it and put the fire out, but I couldn't think! I called the Fire Department and got everyone out of the house. They came right away and put it out, but it had ruined our bed, part of the floor, and there was some water damage to the ceiling in the room below! We had to sleep on the playroom mattress downstairs until our room was repaired....plus we got new bedroom furniture! Donald came home that night with two tickets to the Indy 500 that someone at Bingo had given him. So the next day we took baby Daniel to the Race and sat in the Tower Terrace! Believe me, it was a welcome distraction. I found it difficult to sleep for many nights. I was so thankful that David's pajamas had not caught fire, and that he had not been afraid to tell me what had happened! He went to the Fire Station for a counseling session about fire safety too.
Probably the following Christmas Eve, Donald and I were downstairs late helping Santa. Finally, it was time to go to bed. As we went up the stairs, there was David, his face between two newel posts above the landing with a direct view down into the hall, and sound asleep on his stomach, his chin resting on the wood base of the railing! I wish we had taken a photo, but we were too tired. He did not wake up when Donald carried him to bed. I love remembering that!
David liked to draw very extensive and detailed "battle" scenes, with little tanks, soldiers, guns, and planes, which would entirely cover a sheet of paper! And he liked to tell stories so much that he could talk your ear off! On a visit to Omaha, David slept in a room with my uncle Eddie. I was up very early one morning and on my way to the bathroom I could hear David's voice, talking on and on to Uncle Eddie about whatever. I remember smiling at the time....
David liked being a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout, and an Explorer Scout. The latter afforded him experience with computers at the former Naval Avionics plant.
I love you, David!
I took Noelle and David to Cincinnati to visit my friend Donna when he was between one and two years old. There was another little girl there about the same age. At some point during the visit, David bit her right on the face! How embarrassing!
David's third birthday was celebrated in Manchester, New Hampshire at Grandma and Grandpa Paquette's house. I made a cake in the shape of a choo-choo train!
Early one morning at our house on Brookville Road, before we remodeled the upstairs, David came into our bedroom in his yellow "bunny suit". He had black blotches from head to toe, since he had obviously been playing in the fireplace!
The night before the Indy 500 in 1977, Donald was working at the St. Bernadette Bingo. Daniel was nearly six months old. I had sent the children upstairs to bed. Before long, David came down in his pajamas to tell me that my bed was on fire! I rushed upstairs and, sure enough, he was right! He had lit a Kleenex and dropped it on my bed! There was water in the bathtub and I could have soaked a bath towel in it and put the fire out, but I couldn't think! I called the Fire Department and got everyone out of the house. They came right away and put it out, but it had ruined our bed, part of the floor, and there was some water damage to the ceiling in the room below! We had to sleep on the playroom mattress downstairs until our room was repaired....plus we got new bedroom furniture! Donald came home that night with two tickets to the Indy 500 that someone at Bingo had given him. So the next day we took baby Daniel to the Race and sat in the Tower Terrace! Believe me, it was a welcome distraction. I found it difficult to sleep for many nights. I was so thankful that David's pajamas had not caught fire, and that he had not been afraid to tell me what had happened! He went to the Fire Station for a counseling session about fire safety too.
Probably the following Christmas Eve, Donald and I were downstairs late helping Santa. Finally, it was time to go to bed. As we went up the stairs, there was David, his face between two newel posts above the landing with a direct view down into the hall, and sound asleep on his stomach, his chin resting on the wood base of the railing! I wish we had taken a photo, but we were too tired. He did not wake up when Donald carried him to bed. I love remembering that!
David liked to draw very extensive and detailed "battle" scenes, with little tanks, soldiers, guns, and planes, which would entirely cover a sheet of paper! And he liked to tell stories so much that he could talk your ear off! On a visit to Omaha, David slept in a room with my uncle Eddie. I was up very early one morning and on my way to the bathroom I could hear David's voice, talking on and on to Uncle Eddie about whatever. I remember smiling at the time....
David liked being a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout, and an Explorer Scout. The latter afforded him experience with computers at the former Naval Avionics plant.
I love you, David!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
A Week With Our Grandson Kam
Every morning, just like clockwork, Kam was up and ready to face the day between 6:00 and 6:30a.m.! He is a fascinating 6 1/2 year old little boy who loves clocks and clock towers, signs, math, flags, and the weather! If I want to know the time, I ask him. If I want to know the weather forecast, he will find it out by checking The Weather Channel app OR, he will draw and write a "Kam" forecast in his spiral notebook and share it with me!
Big Ben is his favorite clock tower, and the Westminster chimes too. Was it just a coincidence that the first two movies we watched featured Big Ben? Kam wanted to keep watching the same scenes over again and again! As for clock towers here in Florida, I had never noticed any around this area of Palm Beach County, but we managed to find two of them to visit, plus a clock on an ornamental pole in Lake Worth! Kam was happy!
Our condo doors sport official-looking "Exit" signs, courtesy of Kam, Nancy, and our printer! While Kam was here, my iPad was never in danger of a low battery because he loves to plug electronic gadgets into their chargers.
As the week went on, Kam seemed to accept "homework time" every morning more readily. Of course clock face pages are the favorites in his math workbook. When there weren't more for him to do, his mother made one from scratch! Then he drew one in his notebook for her to do....he likes to write the directions for her to follow. He does NOT like two-sided worksheets however! I wonder if he will be a test-writer when he grows up, or a climatologist, or a clock maker?
Then there are the ocean and the swimming pool! Kam loves both! In the pool, he and his mother had many swimming races from one end to the other. He and Grandpa played games of water frisbee, which were scored like tennis matches. Kam likes to keep score. By the way, no seniors were harmed in the course of these activities! At the beach, Kam can keep himself busy digging, pouring water, and tossing sand or shells into the ocean. This year he discovered how much he liked wading out into the waves and jumping over them! His other favorite pastime is alternately chasing the birds and feeding them popcorn. He likes to suck them in with the food, and then run at them when they come to get it!
Kam and his mother made 24 Valentine cards one rainy day. Of course they put clock faces on the fronts, and on each one he printed "It's time to say....Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Kam".
I was impressed!
Last year, I found a little game, Skillball, at the thrift store. It consists of a little metal half-round tray with holes in it, and twelve marbles. Each hole has a point value. Little did I know that it would become a source of rainy-day fun for Kam and Grandpa! Tournament were held and Kam did a lot of adding up scores in the process...a good thing. I hear that they used a cardboard box to make one for play at home!
Early in the week, Kam was NOT ready to read books to me, but by Friday, he did so willingly. Actually, we alternated reading pages. I made a list for his teacher of the five books that we read, and I signed it. I hope she was impressed with this, AND with the fact that he completed ALL his homework!
On his last morning here, he came to me and said, "Grandma, may I please use your iPad?" That, and my bedtime hugs were my very favorite moments of the week:0)
P.S. When I read over this, it made me tired! No wonder I was falling asleep every night before ten! Nancy, you are the best mother that this boy could have! God bless you both!
Big Ben is his favorite clock tower, and the Westminster chimes too. Was it just a coincidence that the first two movies we watched featured Big Ben? Kam wanted to keep watching the same scenes over again and again! As for clock towers here in Florida, I had never noticed any around this area of Palm Beach County, but we managed to find two of them to visit, plus a clock on an ornamental pole in Lake Worth! Kam was happy!
Our condo doors sport official-looking "Exit" signs, courtesy of Kam, Nancy, and our printer! While Kam was here, my iPad was never in danger of a low battery because he loves to plug electronic gadgets into their chargers.
As the week went on, Kam seemed to accept "homework time" every morning more readily. Of course clock face pages are the favorites in his math workbook. When there weren't more for him to do, his mother made one from scratch! Then he drew one in his notebook for her to do....he likes to write the directions for her to follow. He does NOT like two-sided worksheets however! I wonder if he will be a test-writer when he grows up, or a climatologist, or a clock maker?
Then there are the ocean and the swimming pool! Kam loves both! In the pool, he and his mother had many swimming races from one end to the other. He and Grandpa played games of water frisbee, which were scored like tennis matches. Kam likes to keep score. By the way, no seniors were harmed in the course of these activities! At the beach, Kam can keep himself busy digging, pouring water, and tossing sand or shells into the ocean. This year he discovered how much he liked wading out into the waves and jumping over them! His other favorite pastime is alternately chasing the birds and feeding them popcorn. He likes to suck them in with the food, and then run at them when they come to get it!
Kam and his mother made 24 Valentine cards one rainy day. Of course they put clock faces on the fronts, and on each one he printed "It's time to say....Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Kam".
I was impressed!
Last year, I found a little game, Skillball, at the thrift store. It consists of a little metal half-round tray with holes in it, and twelve marbles. Each hole has a point value. Little did I know that it would become a source of rainy-day fun for Kam and Grandpa! Tournament were held and Kam did a lot of adding up scores in the process...a good thing. I hear that they used a cardboard box to make one for play at home!
Early in the week, Kam was NOT ready to read books to me, but by Friday, he did so willingly. Actually, we alternated reading pages. I made a list for his teacher of the five books that we read, and I signed it. I hope she was impressed with this, AND with the fact that he completed ALL his homework!
On his last morning here, he came to me and said, "Grandma, may I please use your iPad?" That, and my bedtime hugs were my very favorite moments of the week:0)
P.S. When I read over this, it made me tired! No wonder I was falling asleep every night before ten! Nancy, you are the best mother that this boy could have! God bless you both!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Last of the Old Notes
Here is the last of the observations that I saved from 25-30 years ago...
High School
Those four years go by so fast!
Keep tabs on your child's friends and activities. I talked to them every day about what went on that day. Of course, some were more communicative than others.
You need to make sure that they are taking the proper courses. Look into what is offered. Do not depend on counselors to steer your child in the right direction.
It never hurts to ask questions about requirements for graduation, honors' programs, etc.
I always tried to inform teachers immediately to let me know if homework wasn't being handed in, or if there was a behavior problem!(It is better to nip any problems in the bud from the getgo! You should apply this at every grade level.)
If your child wants to work, I recommend only a few hours a week to make a little pocket money. We were lucky that our girls were able to work a few hours a week at the dance studio, and there was babysitting for both boys and girls.
It is good for teens to be involved in after-school activities such as sports, theatrics, clubs, and so forth, because along with classwork and homework, being busy is the greatest way to feel useful and productive! Community service and volunteering are also worthwhile ways to be involved.
Today(2012), I would reiterate all of the above with emphasis on keeping close tabs on your children! I have told many working mothers that, in my opinion, it is of vital importance that a parent be in the home for teens when they return from school each day! Why many parents think that supervision should lessen for high schoolers is beyond me! At this age youngsters still need structure, though they would never admit it! My children always knew that if they were in any kind of situation that warranted it, they could fall back on "My mom(dad) won't let me!). If their friends thought I was mean, so be it! I know there were kids who did not like to call our home because I answered the phone most of the time!
We had very few parties at our house because they knew we did not allow alcohol. I felt bad for Nina the one time she did have people over because she was so busy checking up on whether anyone was trying to sneak booze, that she really did not have time to enjoy herself!
A few years later it was not unusual to see a yard full of cars, and groups of "alternative" young people on our porch and in our yard, because we were hosting a "show" in our creepy basement! We had so many bands play there, rattling the windows upstairs, and necessitating the wearing of earplugs! (I have NEVER understood just WHY the bass had to be SO incredibly LOUD!) Sometimes I would offer homemade brownies, with a jar for monetary donations for our missionary cousin in Haiti! There were lots of laughs and conversations on our porch between sets....many of my evaluations of those who attended were based on whether they greeted me, and if they could carry on a conversation(or would) with me! There was no music after 11:00p.m., and we informed our neighbors about upcoming shows. I remember being amused when passing cars would slow way down when they approached our yard, wondering what in the world was going on at that old house!
It is good when you can offer a wholesome place where young people can gather, just to hang out, work on a project, do homework, play games, and so on. I am proud to say that our two granddaughters, who are now in college, have such a home. Just make sure that YOU are nearby and that all abide by the rules of your home!
High School
Those four years go by so fast!
Keep tabs on your child's friends and activities. I talked to them every day about what went on that day. Of course, some were more communicative than others.
You need to make sure that they are taking the proper courses. Look into what is offered. Do not depend on counselors to steer your child in the right direction.
It never hurts to ask questions about requirements for graduation, honors' programs, etc.
I always tried to inform teachers immediately to let me know if homework wasn't being handed in, or if there was a behavior problem!(It is better to nip any problems in the bud from the getgo! You should apply this at every grade level.)
If your child wants to work, I recommend only a few hours a week to make a little pocket money. We were lucky that our girls were able to work a few hours a week at the dance studio, and there was babysitting for both boys and girls.
It is good for teens to be involved in after-school activities such as sports, theatrics, clubs, and so forth, because along with classwork and homework, being busy is the greatest way to feel useful and productive! Community service and volunteering are also worthwhile ways to be involved.
Today(2012), I would reiterate all of the above with emphasis on keeping close tabs on your children! I have told many working mothers that, in my opinion, it is of vital importance that a parent be in the home for teens when they return from school each day! Why many parents think that supervision should lessen for high schoolers is beyond me! At this age youngsters still need structure, though they would never admit it! My children always knew that if they were in any kind of situation that warranted it, they could fall back on "My mom(dad) won't let me!). If their friends thought I was mean, so be it! I know there were kids who did not like to call our home because I answered the phone most of the time!
We had very few parties at our house because they knew we did not allow alcohol. I felt bad for Nina the one time she did have people over because she was so busy checking up on whether anyone was trying to sneak booze, that she really did not have time to enjoy herself!
A few years later it was not unusual to see a yard full of cars, and groups of "alternative" young people on our porch and in our yard, because we were hosting a "show" in our creepy basement! We had so many bands play there, rattling the windows upstairs, and necessitating the wearing of earplugs! (I have NEVER understood just WHY the bass had to be SO incredibly LOUD!) Sometimes I would offer homemade brownies, with a jar for monetary donations for our missionary cousin in Haiti! There were lots of laughs and conversations on our porch between sets....many of my evaluations of those who attended were based on whether they greeted me, and if they could carry on a conversation(or would) with me! There was no music after 11:00p.m., and we informed our neighbors about upcoming shows. I remember being amused when passing cars would slow way down when they approached our yard, wondering what in the world was going on at that old house!
It is good when you can offer a wholesome place where young people can gather, just to hang out, work on a project, do homework, play games, and so on. I am proud to say that our two granddaughters, who are now in college, have such a home. Just make sure that YOU are nearby and that all abide by the rules of your home!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Grade School
Our children all started grade 1 in parochial grade school. I was a room mother and volunteer tutor. When Noelle was in the fifth grade it became apparent to me that she was bored. I decided to make application to the Indianapolic School Academically Talented Program, which I had heard about from a friend. I applied for a specific classroom/teacher and Noelle was admitted for her sixth grade year. It was finally a world for her where she and her classmates could carry on intelligent conversations, and she loved it!
That year her Iowa Test scores indicated that she was doing 10th grade work, so I decided to inquire at another parochial school if she could go directly to the eighth grade. (I did NOT want to send her to a public junior high, since the AT Program was not available there.) Anyway, I inquired, she went, and she was an outstanding student!
I have had many encounters with school "authorities" and my advice is this: Keep up with what your child is doing academically and behaviorally. Do not be intimated by such people. Make it clear that you want to work together for the good of your child?
Make sure that your young child knows that his or her teacher/principal carries a lot of weight with you. Don't undermine that person's authority with your child. You and the teacher/principal should present a united front to the child even if you do not agree on every little thing.
I ended up sending five of our six children to that program in IPS for fifth and sixth grades. In retrospect, I should have asked them to take David on a conditional basis, but I did not press hard enough at the time.
At age 4 Nancy learned to read from David's kindergarten books. I knew that I needed to get her into school early so I had her tested and put into first grade right away at age five, instead of kindergarten.(She was reading at fourth grade level.) It was difficult for me to even take her to be tested, because I was unsure of my judgement, but I was right about her. It was a great boost to my self-confidence about my observations!
Daniel had just turned five (December), and he was in Howe pre-school. His teacher and I felt the need to get him into kindergarten. I went to the principal at Lourdes(where Noelle had gone), and asked if he could finish out the year in kindergarten. He did, and then went on to first grade a year early.
Nadia was in the first grade with only eight classmates. Then, in second grade, she was put into a split classroom of second and third grade. When she got to the 3/4 split class the next year, by October her teacher approached me about moving her on to the fourth grade. We discussed it at length...she was already young(June baby), and decided to go ahead.
Looking back from present day.....Nina and David were the only ones not to skip a grade, and it worked out ok for them. Under different circumstances, I might not have pushed Nadia ahead since she was young already, but it is what it is. Several of our grandchildren are not being challenged in school, so the dilemma goes on. Do we settle for mediocrity? Or do we demand that our child's needs be met? It is a shame that so many parents settle......and that many teachers don't have the either the desire or the means to challenge.
That year her Iowa Test scores indicated that she was doing 10th grade work, so I decided to inquire at another parochial school if she could go directly to the eighth grade. (I did NOT want to send her to a public junior high, since the AT Program was not available there.) Anyway, I inquired, she went, and she was an outstanding student!
I have had many encounters with school "authorities" and my advice is this: Keep up with what your child is doing academically and behaviorally. Do not be intimated by such people. Make it clear that you want to work together for the good of your child?
Make sure that your young child knows that his or her teacher/principal carries a lot of weight with you. Don't undermine that person's authority with your child. You and the teacher/principal should present a united front to the child even if you do not agree on every little thing.
I ended up sending five of our six children to that program in IPS for fifth and sixth grades. In retrospect, I should have asked them to take David on a conditional basis, but I did not press hard enough at the time.
At age 4 Nancy learned to read from David's kindergarten books. I knew that I needed to get her into school early so I had her tested and put into first grade right away at age five, instead of kindergarten.(She was reading at fourth grade level.) It was difficult for me to even take her to be tested, because I was unsure of my judgement, but I was right about her. It was a great boost to my self-confidence about my observations!
Daniel had just turned five (December), and he was in Howe pre-school. His teacher and I felt the need to get him into kindergarten. I went to the principal at Lourdes(where Noelle had gone), and asked if he could finish out the year in kindergarten. He did, and then went on to first grade a year early.
Nadia was in the first grade with only eight classmates. Then, in second grade, she was put into a split classroom of second and third grade. When she got to the 3/4 split class the next year, by October her teacher approached me about moving her on to the fourth grade. We discussed it at length...she was already young(June baby), and decided to go ahead.
Looking back from present day.....Nina and David were the only ones not to skip a grade, and it worked out ok for them. Under different circumstances, I might not have pushed Nadia ahead since she was young already, but it is what it is. Several of our grandchildren are not being challenged in school, so the dilemma goes on. Do we settle for mediocrity? Or do we demand that our child's needs be met? It is a shame that so many parents settle......and that many teachers don't have the either the desire or the means to challenge.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A Few Words About Summers
Over the years, our summer activities varied. Dance lessons and competitions went on every year. Several children were in Little League and All-Stars. Other activities included Bible schools at Irvington churches, 4-H and the County Fair, Summer Reading Club at the Library, Summer School, Happening Day Camp at the park, Tennis, Movies at the Library, getting free books at the Bookmobile, and a few field trips here and there.
Most of these things were free or at a nominal cost, great for the budget!
I kept track of everything by taking the pages for June, July, and August from a calendar that had decent-sized day spaces, and affixing them to a poster board(s) so that it appeared as one big calendar. I put it up in a prominent place where we could easily check it, and filled in the particulars as I acquired the schedules and information.
Swim lessons were a large part of our summers. I sat at Ellenberger Park Pool for 1 or 2 hours a day, five days a week, for usually 2 three-week sessions, every summer for at least six years. I wanted all my children to learn to swim. We took the children swimming in the evenings, and week ends so that they could practice. Those evening swims cooled all of us off and helped us sleep better.
I told them that I would take them to McDonald's or for ice cream if they would float, or back float, or do whatever skill was needed to get into a more advanced group. Once those milestones were passed, they could go on to the next phase. I made sure they stuck it out through "group 4", the survival test, high dive, and so on, so they could get a Red Cross certificate.
At Ellenberger, it was my suggestion that at the end of the session of swim lessons, the pool would hold a "Family Swim", so that all of us moms could take a cool dip(it was HOT on that cement every day), and the children could show off all they had learned! Dads, grandmas and grandpas could come too! There was plenty of "Look at me!" and "Look at what I can do!" to be heard.....
The children played outside.....we moms had our get-togethers outside...and many times we packed up drinks and popcorn and enjoyed movies at the drive-in! Plus there were sometimes vacation trips, and we went to the Indianapolis Zoo or the Children's Museum!
There were several summers when we were able to get free lunch at the pool after the morning lessons. What a great deal that was for me, especially when I was babysitting three extra children!
Most of these things were free or at a nominal cost, great for the budget!
I kept track of everything by taking the pages for June, July, and August from a calendar that had decent-sized day spaces, and affixing them to a poster board(s) so that it appeared as one big calendar. I put it up in a prominent place where we could easily check it, and filled in the particulars as I acquired the schedules and information.
Swim lessons were a large part of our summers. I sat at Ellenberger Park Pool for 1 or 2 hours a day, five days a week, for usually 2 three-week sessions, every summer for at least six years. I wanted all my children to learn to swim. We took the children swimming in the evenings, and week ends so that they could practice. Those evening swims cooled all of us off and helped us sleep better.
I told them that I would take them to McDonald's or for ice cream if they would float, or back float, or do whatever skill was needed to get into a more advanced group. Once those milestones were passed, they could go on to the next phase. I made sure they stuck it out through "group 4", the survival test, high dive, and so on, so they could get a Red Cross certificate.
At Ellenberger, it was my suggestion that at the end of the session of swim lessons, the pool would hold a "Family Swim", so that all of us moms could take a cool dip(it was HOT on that cement every day), and the children could show off all they had learned! Dads, grandmas and grandpas could come too! There was plenty of "Look at me!" and "Look at what I can do!" to be heard.....
The children played outside.....we moms had our get-togethers outside...and many times we packed up drinks and popcorn and enjoyed movies at the drive-in! Plus there were sometimes vacation trips, and we went to the Indianapolis Zoo or the Children's Museum!
There were several summers when we were able to get free lunch at the pool after the morning lessons. What a great deal that was for me, especially when I was babysitting three extra children!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Is Toilet-Training Necessary? (just kidding)
After several tries at this, I came to realize that it is actually MOM who is being trained...trained to say, at approximately EVERY HOUR of the day, "Do you need to go potty?" or "Let's go potty!", or any other variant of that, ad nauseum....
Make sure that your child is close to at least two years of age before you begin this, especially if you have other children and a busy household.
I finally came up with the idea to make a "ster" chart. You can even use a large calendar on which the days are clearly visible.
EVERY time the child pees in the potty that day, place a star on the chart. If you are lucky enough to catch a B.M. in the pot, then place a sticker on that day for each one. Get some stickers that your child likes.
Of course, you praise them up one side and down the other when they are successful! Plus, the chart is a visual record of their success!
When I started to do this, the child in question was trained in less than two weeks....
2012(approximately 31 years since I trained my last child)
Parents are still agonizing over this subject, if the questions and posts on mamapedia are any indication! Eleven of my twelve grandchildren are trained, many of whom had a "star" chart, I am proud to say! I have shared the idea with many moms over the years...but with the number of questions about it on the mamapedia website, I often wonder if these people ever read the advice that is given to others!
Today, in some cases, bribes are not uncommon, such as, "When you get ? stars/stickers on your Potty Chart, I will take you to the Dollar Store!" Special BIG girl/boy underwear has been purchased, potty books have been read, and, in many cases apparently, the age of training
has been extended into the three's and sometimes four's! Good grief! Thank God that daycares and pre-schools have requirements!
Make sure that your child is close to at least two years of age before you begin this, especially if you have other children and a busy household.
I finally came up with the idea to make a "ster" chart. You can even use a large calendar on which the days are clearly visible.
EVERY time the child pees in the potty that day, place a star on the chart. If you are lucky enough to catch a B.M. in the pot, then place a sticker on that day for each one. Get some stickers that your child likes.
Of course, you praise them up one side and down the other when they are successful! Plus, the chart is a visual record of their success!
When I started to do this, the child in question was trained in less than two weeks....
2012(approximately 31 years since I trained my last child)
Parents are still agonizing over this subject, if the questions and posts on mamapedia are any indication! Eleven of my twelve grandchildren are trained, many of whom had a "star" chart, I am proud to say! I have shared the idea with many moms over the years...but with the number of questions about it on the mamapedia website, I often wonder if these people ever read the advice that is given to others!
Today, in some cases, bribes are not uncommon, such as, "When you get ? stars/stickers on your Potty Chart, I will take you to the Dollar Store!" Special BIG girl/boy underwear has been purchased, potty books have been read, and, in many cases apparently, the age of training
has been extended into the three's and sometimes four's! Good grief! Thank God that daycares and pre-schools have requirements!
Monday, January 30, 2012
What About Preschool?
My eldest attended Co-operative preschool at age four. None of the others did, because I realized it was not for me. It did not possess the structure I desired. Children were pretty much allowed to do as they pleased, whereas it is my contention that they need to at least try everything. Some of the boys spent that entire year playing with blocks and trucks!
After that, I utilized short-term programs offered by the city through the Department of Parks and Recreation(six weeks each in the Fall, Winter, and Spring), and then a program offered at Howe High School for a limited number of children in the Fall and Spring.
Of course I supplemented all these programs at home with plenty of crafts, play materials, reading, and so on.....
Looking back, I remember that having the tip of Noelle's finger ripped off by a kid throwing a big wooden block did not help my opinion of Co-op! She often complained that the boys would rampage through the "housekeeping" area, and nothing was ever done about it.....allowing a boy to wear his coat during class annoyed me too....because it was for no other reason than that he did not want to take it off!
My grandchildren have attended Day Care, Co-op's, and church-run pre-school programs, with the desired results.......some structure, socialization, and a little break for mom!
To clarify, the Howe program was an adjunct to a class taught by Mrs. (Blanche?) Ferguson, and gave her students experience working and interacting with children. I hope there are such programs today. Mrs. Ferguson prompted me to enroll Daniel in kindergarten right from her class(around December), I think he had just turned five, and I was able to get him into Miss Schmink's class at OLL for the remainder of the year.
Remember, YOUR reinforcement of the things taught in pre-school, plus your supplemental activities at home and beyond are the things that enable your children to get the most out of
the years before the age of five....the years when their brains are absorbing things like a
sponge....so be sure to help your children be ALL they can be! They will thank you for it one day....mine did:0)
After that, I utilized short-term programs offered by the city through the Department of Parks and Recreation(six weeks each in the Fall, Winter, and Spring), and then a program offered at Howe High School for a limited number of children in the Fall and Spring.
Of course I supplemented all these programs at home with plenty of crafts, play materials, reading, and so on.....
Looking back, I remember that having the tip of Noelle's finger ripped off by a kid throwing a big wooden block did not help my opinion of Co-op! She often complained that the boys would rampage through the "housekeeping" area, and nothing was ever done about it.....allowing a boy to wear his coat during class annoyed me too....because it was for no other reason than that he did not want to take it off!
My grandchildren have attended Day Care, Co-op's, and church-run pre-school programs, with the desired results.......some structure, socialization, and a little break for mom!
To clarify, the Howe program was an adjunct to a class taught by Mrs. (Blanche?) Ferguson, and gave her students experience working and interacting with children. I hope there are such programs today. Mrs. Ferguson prompted me to enroll Daniel in kindergarten right from her class(around December), I think he had just turned five, and I was able to get him into Miss Schmink's class at OLL for the remainder of the year.
Remember, YOUR reinforcement of the things taught in pre-school, plus your supplemental activities at home and beyond are the things that enable your children to get the most out of
the years before the age of five....the years when their brains are absorbing things like a
sponge....so be sure to help your children be ALL they can be! They will thank you for it one day....mine did:0)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Appearance Matters (but not in the way you might think)
I guess I feel a need to address this subject because of the many children I encounter at school whose parents apparently have NO concern about it.
It is my feeling that every child can be clean and well-groomed in spite of their sociology-economic background.
This, to me, is another way of making sure they feel good about themselves.
For one thing, I always made sure the childrens' hair was trimmed and OUT OF THEIR EYES (forget Nadia's 8th grade picture!). I am not a beautician but I always paid attention when I was at a salon and I would ask questions. I guess that is why I am able to cut hair to some degree. I still trim the girls' hair from time to time and can manage a decent blunt cut. I cut boys' hair when they were small and now only give an infrequent touch-up here and there.
In school, I insisted on compliance with uniform regulations and dress codes. It annoyed me that many parents did not. If children do not learn early on that certain types of clothing are unacceptable in certain situations, there is no magic wand that someone is going to wave when they are 18 or 21 that is going to change their habits.
My mother always thought that my kids' shoes should be cleaner(who in the world ever got the
white shoe thing going anyway?), but I did the best I could!
On to 2012!
A few words of explanation....the hair thing bothered me so much because so many children were distracted by their own hair in the classroom, constantly pushing it out of their eyes and so on, taking away from their learning time. You could tell that many had never been taught to use a brush or a comb either. I have other opinions about hair, but I won't go into them right now!
Today at least some of the public schools have adopted uniforms, which has improved the overall appearance of their students greatly! The first time I drove by a school playground in our urban neighborhood, I was so impressed! I wore uniforms from grades 1-12 and my children wore both uniforms and street clothes, and, as a parent, I can tell you that the uniform thing meant less hassle overall in our household! There was no question about what you were wearing when you got up in the morning....and no wondering if this went with that and so on!
Of course, over the years things have gotten out of control in some areas too, such as the "designer" clothing thing, where labels came to mean too much! We went through some of that,
though usually a little "late"....I remember fighting "Black Friday" crowds for SWATCH shirts!
Nowadays, the whole "body image" thing is so far out of control that it has become, in many cases, a matter of life or death! So very sad...I hope that, at some point, we can return to our senses and to the appreciation of persons for what is inside their hearts:0)
It is my feeling that every child can be clean and well-groomed in spite of their sociology-economic background.
This, to me, is another way of making sure they feel good about themselves.
For one thing, I always made sure the childrens' hair was trimmed and OUT OF THEIR EYES (forget Nadia's 8th grade picture!). I am not a beautician but I always paid attention when I was at a salon and I would ask questions. I guess that is why I am able to cut hair to some degree. I still trim the girls' hair from time to time and can manage a decent blunt cut. I cut boys' hair when they were small and now only give an infrequent touch-up here and there.
In school, I insisted on compliance with uniform regulations and dress codes. It annoyed me that many parents did not. If children do not learn early on that certain types of clothing are unacceptable in certain situations, there is no magic wand that someone is going to wave when they are 18 or 21 that is going to change their habits.
My mother always thought that my kids' shoes should be cleaner(who in the world ever got the
white shoe thing going anyway?), but I did the best I could!
On to 2012!
A few words of explanation....the hair thing bothered me so much because so many children were distracted by their own hair in the classroom, constantly pushing it out of their eyes and so on, taking away from their learning time. You could tell that many had never been taught to use a brush or a comb either. I have other opinions about hair, but I won't go into them right now!
Today at least some of the public schools have adopted uniforms, which has improved the overall appearance of their students greatly! The first time I drove by a school playground in our urban neighborhood, I was so impressed! I wore uniforms from grades 1-12 and my children wore both uniforms and street clothes, and, as a parent, I can tell you that the uniform thing meant less hassle overall in our household! There was no question about what you were wearing when you got up in the morning....and no wondering if this went with that and so on!
Of course, over the years things have gotten out of control in some areas too, such as the "designer" clothing thing, where labels came to mean too much! We went through some of that,
though usually a little "late"....I remember fighting "Black Friday" crowds for SWATCH shirts!
Nowadays, the whole "body image" thing is so far out of control that it has become, in many cases, a matter of life or death! So very sad...I hope that, at some point, we can return to our senses and to the appreciation of persons for what is inside their hearts:0)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Reading and Writing With Children
I read to the children every day and often Dad read to them on weekends.
We attended many, many library programs and the children got cards as soon as they could print their names. At home we had many, many books...some that I had as a child, and others that I bought. Garage sales are a good source of books.
I always encouraged them to learn their ABC's early. In the car we would look for the letters on signs and billboards. At home we used the computer paper that Dad brought home, tied it into a book, and on each page printed a letter (upper and lower case). Then we encouraged the children to find and cut pictures from magazines or catalogues that began with the letter, and pasted it on the appropriate page.
Today, I remember that every day between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. was story time before naps. There were bedtime stories sometimes too. Plus, our children knew that both their parents loved to read...books, newspapers, and magazines, so we were teaching by example too. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of books in the home....I give my grandchildren books that I find now at Goodwill, thrift stores, and Big Lots...I keep books that I can read to them when they visit. I have Christmas books for the holidays, and I give out Halloween, Easter, Valentine, and patriotic stories as the season indicates, if I have them.
Pre-school children can "write" stories or sentences by dictating to you. Have them draw a picture. Then ask them about it. Print their description of it at the bottom before you
display it or send it to Grandma. Point to each word you have written and help them "read" it.
In your home, with your young child(ren), label familiar objects (door, pillow, window, chair, etc.) by printing its name on an index card and taping up the card on the object. Have the child look at the card from time to time, say the word, and spell it(with help, if necessary).
When learning ABC's, try to always say the consonant sounds and have the child repeat it.
Remind them that familiar names of things or animals, or people, begin with (?)....you can do this with an infant or toddler as well....it is important for them to hear those sounds often.
Back in the day of the "giant" computer paper, Donald brought home enough "bound" good sized "books" that each child was able to have one. At least every other page was blank, if not more, so they were ideal for the children to draw and color in. Being able to have space to draw, write, and color is essential for good eye-hand coordination, and fine motor skills are something that need to be developed, ideally before kindergarten. Today there are newsprint tablets available for a reasonable price, chalkboard paint can transform a space into a drawing area, sidewalk chalk is fun outside, you can use copy paper or even blank sides of scrap paper for drawing, coloring or writing!
More on "learning" later......
We attended many, many library programs and the children got cards as soon as they could print their names. At home we had many, many books...some that I had as a child, and others that I bought. Garage sales are a good source of books.
I always encouraged them to learn their ABC's early. In the car we would look for the letters on signs and billboards. At home we used the computer paper that Dad brought home, tied it into a book, and on each page printed a letter (upper and lower case). Then we encouraged the children to find and cut pictures from magazines or catalogues that began with the letter, and pasted it on the appropriate page.
Today, I remember that every day between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. was story time before naps. There were bedtime stories sometimes too. Plus, our children knew that both their parents loved to read...books, newspapers, and magazines, so we were teaching by example too. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of books in the home....I give my grandchildren books that I find now at Goodwill, thrift stores, and Big Lots...I keep books that I can read to them when they visit. I have Christmas books for the holidays, and I give out Halloween, Easter, Valentine, and patriotic stories as the season indicates, if I have them.
Pre-school children can "write" stories or sentences by dictating to you. Have them draw a picture. Then ask them about it. Print their description of it at the bottom before you
display it or send it to Grandma. Point to each word you have written and help them "read" it.
In your home, with your young child(ren), label familiar objects (door, pillow, window, chair, etc.) by printing its name on an index card and taping up the card on the object. Have the child look at the card from time to time, say the word, and spell it(with help, if necessary).
When learning ABC's, try to always say the consonant sounds and have the child repeat it.
Remind them that familiar names of things or animals, or people, begin with (?)....you can do this with an infant or toddler as well....it is important for them to hear those sounds often.
Back in the day of the "giant" computer paper, Donald brought home enough "bound" good sized "books" that each child was able to have one. At least every other page was blank, if not more, so they were ideal for the children to draw and color in. Being able to have space to draw, write, and color is essential for good eye-hand coordination, and fine motor skills are something that need to be developed, ideally before kindergarten. Today there are newsprint tablets available for a reasonable price, chalkboard paint can transform a space into a drawing area, sidewalk chalk is fun outside, you can use copy paper or even blank sides of scrap paper for drawing, coloring or writing!
More on "learning" later......
Friday, January 27, 2012
Dance Lessons
My mother knew a little girl who took tap at Dance Arts Studio and so she gave Noelle lessons at age 5 (1974). This began years of tap, acrobatics, ballet, and jazz for ALL of the children. My mother subsidized many of the lessons and helped with many costumes. Luckily it was a very reputable studio where we certainly received our money's worth.
I spent many hours watching lessons. The teacher, Patricia Heath, was one who advanced the children as their ability allowed (she did not teach the same thing all year), and she choreographed each dance from scratch (others teach the same routines over and over). We had a recital every other year (it is just too much to do it annually), and our lessons were year-round. If a student missed a class, he or she scheduled a make-up class to learn whatever had been missed.
At Dance Arts, students were not admitted until age 5, ballet was not taught until age 9 or so, and jazz was not offered until age 11 or 12 or older. I found, over the years, that these are sound practices.
I highly recommend tap dancing for children...it develops coordination, memory, counting and so on....there is just nothing like watching them really having to THINK! If a particular step required real concentration, it was often referred to as a "think" step!
Acrobatics is a great way to give a child self-esteem! As a child, I was never even able to do a somersault or a cartwheel, much less a backbend or a headstand! I made sure that all my children could do these things...you would be surprised how they impressed their peers in school gym classes, etc.
I admit I bribed them, especially on backbends. I think Nadia was the only one who ever did a back handspring, and no one has done an aerial cartwheel, but I know it has been good for them to know that they accomplished all those other stunts!
We participated in dance competitions early on and it added a new dimension to our lives. We really got to enjoy it and saw such places as St. Louis, Myrtle Beach, Louisville, and Columbus, OH, because of it. The many trophies won by the kids I guess made up for the ones I longed for as a child...
For the most part I did not insist on practice, but they seemed to do it on their own. I did demand it before contests, however, because those entry fees etc., are a big investment. Their teacher and I only asked that they do their best...the winning or losing was always up to the judges....
Looking back....a few comments....
I took tap and jazz for a while and was in two recitals with the children, and in one contest.
My experience was nothing like the one you might see today on DANCE MOMS, the reality show. I made many friends at the studio and we had fun. Two of my daughters, two granddaughters, and one grandson, are taking at the same studio today. Several of my daughters worked there during high school too. The twenty-plus years there was an invaluable family experience for all of us, and the structure provided lessons that have served us well.
I forgot to mention that not only did Dance Arts put on programs in the community when asked, but our family put on a few itself for our parish and for a couple of other gatherings!
I spent many hours watching lessons. The teacher, Patricia Heath, was one who advanced the children as their ability allowed (she did not teach the same thing all year), and she choreographed each dance from scratch (others teach the same routines over and over). We had a recital every other year (it is just too much to do it annually), and our lessons were year-round. If a student missed a class, he or she scheduled a make-up class to learn whatever had been missed.
At Dance Arts, students were not admitted until age 5, ballet was not taught until age 9 or so, and jazz was not offered until age 11 or 12 or older. I found, over the years, that these are sound practices.
I highly recommend tap dancing for children...it develops coordination, memory, counting and so on....there is just nothing like watching them really having to THINK! If a particular step required real concentration, it was often referred to as a "think" step!
Acrobatics is a great way to give a child self-esteem! As a child, I was never even able to do a somersault or a cartwheel, much less a backbend or a headstand! I made sure that all my children could do these things...you would be surprised how they impressed their peers in school gym classes, etc.
I admit I bribed them, especially on backbends. I think Nadia was the only one who ever did a back handspring, and no one has done an aerial cartwheel, but I know it has been good for them to know that they accomplished all those other stunts!
We participated in dance competitions early on and it added a new dimension to our lives. We really got to enjoy it and saw such places as St. Louis, Myrtle Beach, Louisville, and Columbus, OH, because of it. The many trophies won by the kids I guess made up for the ones I longed for as a child...
For the most part I did not insist on practice, but they seemed to do it on their own. I did demand it before contests, however, because those entry fees etc., are a big investment. Their teacher and I only asked that they do their best...the winning or losing was always up to the judges....
Looking back....a few comments....
I took tap and jazz for a while and was in two recitals with the children, and in one contest.
My experience was nothing like the one you might see today on DANCE MOMS, the reality show. I made many friends at the studio and we had fun. Two of my daughters, two granddaughters, and one grandson, are taking at the same studio today. Several of my daughters worked there during high school too. The twenty-plus years there was an invaluable family experience for all of us, and the structure provided lessons that have served us well.
I forgot to mention that not only did Dance Arts put on programs in the community when asked, but our family put on a few itself for our parish and for a couple of other gatherings!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Travel Time With Children
Be advised that the following was written BEFORE seat belt laws, booster seats, and airbags! Car seats were not mandated, and our children played on the floor of our van where we had removed the middle seat and spread blankets! My husband built a wooden platform behind the rear seat of our VW van, outfitted it with a thick, cloth-covered foam rubber pad and pillows, and our children read, napped, and played there back in the days of the mid to late 70's!
Breastfeeding always made it easy to travel with an infant. We have taken numerous car trips around the U.S., a few plane trips, and a couple of train trips. I always tried to have plenty for the kids to do...books, games, small toys, etc.
Often I would purchase things at garage sales that were " new" to my kids and save them for trips.
One thing that I did many times was to make or copy outline maps of the U.S. and give one to each child. Then, as we spotted license plates of different states, they would color in that state. It was always interesting to see how many of the states' plates we would see on our way to New Hampshire, for instance, or on our way to Nebraska or New Mexico! Plus, it was reinforcing U.S. geography at the same time. As they got older we would discuss the states more in detail, its capital, history, and if we had been there before....and maybe read from the AAA travel guide.
In May of 1973, when I had three children ages 4, 3, and 1 1/2, I took them on a 24 hour train trip to Boston. I talked to them about it for three months beforehand, explaining each leg of the trip. What the train would be like, and how we would have to change trains in NYC. I took a very lightweight holdup stroller for the youngest, and carried our immediate necessities in a backpack. My mother made little backpacks for each child in which to carry some little toys. Our other bags were checked through.
Just to ensure that no one would get too far from me in crowded Penn Station, Donald placed wrist straps at the ends of ropes which were able to be attached to a belt around my waist by means of spring clips. This meant that my hands were free to push the stroller and that those children could hold on or walk near me without getting away! This device proved to be a godsend in the crowd we encountered on our way to our train. We had a great trip!
In the car, metal cafeteria trays made great lap trays for playing cards, coloring, building with Legos etc. Those little Hot Wheels cars or game pieces wouldn't roll off. We played lots of "Riddley, Riddley Ree! and spotting the ABC's on road signs and billboards, and Travel Bingo too.
As the children got older they would take turns sitting up front with the driver and following the map or TRIPTIK route we would get from AAA. It was always fun to count down the miles to our next destination!
Breastfeeding always made it easy to travel with an infant. We have taken numerous car trips around the U.S., a few plane trips, and a couple of train trips. I always tried to have plenty for the kids to do...books, games, small toys, etc.
Often I would purchase things at garage sales that were " new" to my kids and save them for trips.
One thing that I did many times was to make or copy outline maps of the U.S. and give one to each child. Then, as we spotted license plates of different states, they would color in that state. It was always interesting to see how many of the states' plates we would see on our way to New Hampshire, for instance, or on our way to Nebraska or New Mexico! Plus, it was reinforcing U.S. geography at the same time. As they got older we would discuss the states more in detail, its capital, history, and if we had been there before....and maybe read from the AAA travel guide.
In May of 1973, when I had three children ages 4, 3, and 1 1/2, I took them on a 24 hour train trip to Boston. I talked to them about it for three months beforehand, explaining each leg of the trip. What the train would be like, and how we would have to change trains in NYC. I took a very lightweight holdup stroller for the youngest, and carried our immediate necessities in a backpack. My mother made little backpacks for each child in which to carry some little toys. Our other bags were checked through.
Just to ensure that no one would get too far from me in crowded Penn Station, Donald placed wrist straps at the ends of ropes which were able to be attached to a belt around my waist by means of spring clips. This meant that my hands were free to push the stroller and that those children could hold on or walk near me without getting away! This device proved to be a godsend in the crowd we encountered on our way to our train. We had a great trip!
In the car, metal cafeteria trays made great lap trays for playing cards, coloring, building with Legos etc. Those little Hot Wheels cars or game pieces wouldn't roll off. We played lots of "Riddley, Riddley Ree! and spotting the ABC's on road signs and billboards, and Travel Bingo too.
As the children got older they would take turns sitting up front with the driver and following the map or TRIPTIK route we would get from AAA. It was always fun to count down the miles to our next destination!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Mattress
One of the best things we ever did was to place a full-size mattress on the floor in a corner of our playroom! It had come with the first house we had bought and was nearly new....we took it along to our bigger house six years later and it was used for a total of 10-12 years!
It was a resting place where, every afternoon, all of us would lie down crossways, read 2-3 storybooks, and then fall asleep for a nap. It was our rule for a long time that everyone take a nap until age five....or at least rest and/or play quietly, including me and sometimes our cat, Buckwheat, and later, Sparky....
The most memorable breach of that rule was when my oldest got into my nail polish and "decorated" my bedroom mirror at our first house. Otherwise it worked pretty well for all of us, including Dad on weekends....
The mattress served as an exercise mat too, well-suited for jumping, rolling, somersaults, and the like. It especially came in handy in the winter, when much outdoor exercise was not available.
Plus, the children who were in beginning acrobatics all learned back bends on that well-padded surface.....
Many a sleepyhead in p.j.'s fell asleep on its "PEANUTS" characters' fitted sheet in the evenings and was carried and/or guided up to bed at a later hour.
When the time came, it was really hard to let it go, and I have recommended having even a twin-size one to many parents over the years, for the exercise value alone!
It was a resting place where, every afternoon, all of us would lie down crossways, read 2-3 storybooks, and then fall asleep for a nap. It was our rule for a long time that everyone take a nap until age five....or at least rest and/or play quietly, including me and sometimes our cat, Buckwheat, and later, Sparky....
The most memorable breach of that rule was when my oldest got into my nail polish and "decorated" my bedroom mirror at our first house. Otherwise it worked pretty well for all of us, including Dad on weekends....
The mattress served as an exercise mat too, well-suited for jumping, rolling, somersaults, and the like. It especially came in handy in the winter, when much outdoor exercise was not available.
Plus, the children who were in beginning acrobatics all learned back bends on that well-padded surface.....
Many a sleepyhead in p.j.'s fell asleep on its "PEANUTS" characters' fitted sheet in the evenings and was carried and/or guided up to bed at a later hour.
When the time came, it was really hard to let it go, and I have recommended having even a twin-size one to many parents over the years, for the exercise value alone!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Some Helpful References and WTH are Playdates?
Here are the names of some books that helped me along:
NOBODY SAID IT WOULD BE EASY by Dan Kiley
THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING (La Leche League Manual)
NURSING YOUR BABY by Karen Pryor
and any book by Dr. John Rosemond.
Also Adele Davis' book about nutrition for children...the title escapes me in my old age!
Plus, THE STRONG-WILLED CHILD by Dr. James Dobson....plus I gave his book, RAISING BOYS to my daughter who has two sons.
Sadly, several of these books are out of print, but you never know, you might find them online somewhere....
The most important thing I learned for myself was to use the ideas of an author that reflected the things that were important to me in raising my children...in other words, I never took just one "expert" and blindly followed him or her.....
Today, I hear so much about "playdates".
Well, for us, back in the day, it was "mommy dates"!
Every Wednesday, rain or shine, three or four of us, plus children, would gather at the home of one mom and exchange store coupons and have grown-up talk time. In our little neighborhood circle, it would mean about 6-8 children present in the school months, more in the summer!
This is how we kept our sanity!
Oh yes, the children would play, and we might have to referee a little, but it was for us and about us moms! I don't get that idea when I hear about "playdates" today...
It was good too, in that it provided each of us a motive for straightening up for company, and we provided a healthy snack and beverage for all....well, most of the time it was healthy!
So, if YOU are not the focus of these "playdates", Moms, wise up! You definitely need your sanity, if you haven't already noticed! Change the focus of your gatherings and let your children play together while you enjoy each other's company!
NOBODY SAID IT WOULD BE EASY by Dan Kiley
THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING (La Leche League Manual)
NURSING YOUR BABY by Karen Pryor
and any book by Dr. John Rosemond.
Also Adele Davis' book about nutrition for children...the title escapes me in my old age!
Plus, THE STRONG-WILLED CHILD by Dr. James Dobson....plus I gave his book, RAISING BOYS to my daughter who has two sons.
Sadly, several of these books are out of print, but you never know, you might find them online somewhere....
The most important thing I learned for myself was to use the ideas of an author that reflected the things that were important to me in raising my children...in other words, I never took just one "expert" and blindly followed him or her.....
Today, I hear so much about "playdates".
Well, for us, back in the day, it was "mommy dates"!
Every Wednesday, rain or shine, three or four of us, plus children, would gather at the home of one mom and exchange store coupons and have grown-up talk time. In our little neighborhood circle, it would mean about 6-8 children present in the school months, more in the summer!
This is how we kept our sanity!
Oh yes, the children would play, and we might have to referee a little, but it was for us and about us moms! I don't get that idea when I hear about "playdates" today...
It was good too, in that it provided each of us a motive for straightening up for company, and we provided a healthy snack and beverage for all....well, most of the time it was healthy!
So, if YOU are not the focus of these "playdates", Moms, wise up! You definitely need your sanity, if you haven't already noticed! Change the focus of your gatherings and let your children play together while you enjoy each other's company!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Eating Habits
Written 25-30 years ago....
When breastfeeding, it is advisable to wait until your baby is at least 4 to 6 months of age before introducing solids very gradually. One of the best indicators of readiness is when your baby grabs for your food or shows real interest when sitting at the dinner table with the family.
One of the greatest things ever invented is the hand operated baby food grinder, which can be brought to the table and into which you can place small amounts of cooked meats, vegetables, fruit, etc, and grind them right there for your baby's consumption.
If you are into gardening, or have access to fruit crops you can puree ripe peaches, plums, carrots, etc., and freeze the puree in ice cube trays for consumption later.I never bought much prepared baby food.
I heard a woman on TV who had an overweight child claim that nursing on demand was a factor in later childhood obesity....nonsense! Probably the opposite is true...I tried to make sure that I did not use food to heal hurts etc. Since I have always been overweight, I did not want my children to go the same route. So use hugs and cuddling instead.
And please remember, you are NOT running a restaurant!! You fix what is nutritious and delicious and that is what everyone eats. Give the kids small portions initially...they can always have more.
Here is how I stretch a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese:
1. Open box.
2. Take out cheese sauce packet.
3. Fill empty space in box with other dry macaroni.
4. Cook as directed.
5. Add milk and butter or margarine as directed, and stir in cheese powder from packet.
6. Then add some grated cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
(Scrambled cooked hamburger, sausage, or ground turkey, can be added to make it a main dish!)
(Or, add cooked peas, or chopped broccoli for a good side dish.)
2012...I saved my baby food grinder so my kids can use it...I doubt you can find them in the store:0( It was great to take to restaurants too! I am proud to say that my grandchildren eat lots of kinds of foods because our family introduces them to many things from the getgo....some have gone through the "chicken nuggets and french fries" stage of course, but pretty much have moved on to lots of variety! When we go out to eat, it is an adventure!
When breastfeeding, it is advisable to wait until your baby is at least 4 to 6 months of age before introducing solids very gradually. One of the best indicators of readiness is when your baby grabs for your food or shows real interest when sitting at the dinner table with the family.
One of the greatest things ever invented is the hand operated baby food grinder, which can be brought to the table and into which you can place small amounts of cooked meats, vegetables, fruit, etc, and grind them right there for your baby's consumption.
If you are into gardening, or have access to fruit crops you can puree ripe peaches, plums, carrots, etc., and freeze the puree in ice cube trays for consumption later.I never bought much prepared baby food.
I heard a woman on TV who had an overweight child claim that nursing on demand was a factor in later childhood obesity....nonsense! Probably the opposite is true...I tried to make sure that I did not use food to heal hurts etc. Since I have always been overweight, I did not want my children to go the same route. So use hugs and cuddling instead.
And please remember, you are NOT running a restaurant!! You fix what is nutritious and delicious and that is what everyone eats. Give the kids small portions initially...they can always have more.
Here is how I stretch a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese:
1. Open box.
2. Take out cheese sauce packet.
3. Fill empty space in box with other dry macaroni.
4. Cook as directed.
5. Add milk and butter or margarine as directed, and stir in cheese powder from packet.
6. Then add some grated cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
(Scrambled cooked hamburger, sausage, or ground turkey, can be added to make it a main dish!)
(Or, add cooked peas, or chopped broccoli for a good side dish.)
2012...I saved my baby food grinder so my kids can use it...I doubt you can find them in the store:0( It was great to take to restaurants too! I am proud to say that my grandchildren eat lots of kinds of foods because our family introduces them to many things from the getgo....some have gone through the "chicken nuggets and french fries" stage of course, but pretty much have moved on to lots of variety! When we go out to eat, it is an adventure!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Hygiene
Here is something I wrote about 25 years ago probably....still needs to be said today.
Give yourself a break, Mom!
The idea that a baby or a young child HAS TO HAVE a bath every day is nonsense! In the summertime, maybe, but in my opinion this is just another ruse calculated to sell more baby shampoo and make our days even more hectic than they already are. Believe me, when they get to a certain age, you won't be able to pry them out of the bathroom!
Use your own common sense. If they're actually dirty. Then give them a bath! None of my kids ever died from dirty ankles or necks!
Now to today....if your children are parked in front of the TV or the Wii after they do their homework, then there is even less of a chance that they need a bath. Strenuous sports activity, now that is another matter....
Newborns can be given a sponge bath, with special attention given to the creases in their skin that can harbor lint and dirt.
Children need some dirt in their lives, how else are they going to build up immunity to anything? When I was a kid, I loved playing with mud....there is just something about mixing water and dirt, thick or thin mixtures, mud pies or mud soup, that could occupy my attention for hours! I do see such activity at the beach today with fine sand and sea water, of course, but not so much back at home....I don't know if putting a water hose at the bottom of the slide and letting a mud hole to slide into develop counts or not!
We may believe that our water supply is endless, but it isn't.....conserving water is just one of the many "green" activities that we should be practicing.
Give yourself a break, Mom!
The idea that a baby or a young child HAS TO HAVE a bath every day is nonsense! In the summertime, maybe, but in my opinion this is just another ruse calculated to sell more baby shampoo and make our days even more hectic than they already are. Believe me, when they get to a certain age, you won't be able to pry them out of the bathroom!
Use your own common sense. If they're actually dirty. Then give them a bath! None of my kids ever died from dirty ankles or necks!
Now to today....if your children are parked in front of the TV or the Wii after they do their homework, then there is even less of a chance that they need a bath. Strenuous sports activity, now that is another matter....
Newborns can be given a sponge bath, with special attention given to the creases in their skin that can harbor lint and dirt.
Children need some dirt in their lives, how else are they going to build up immunity to anything? When I was a kid, I loved playing with mud....there is just something about mixing water and dirt, thick or thin mixtures, mud pies or mud soup, that could occupy my attention for hours! I do see such activity at the beach today with fine sand and sea water, of course, but not so much back at home....I don't know if putting a water hose at the bottom of the slide and letting a mud hole to slide into develop counts or not!
We may believe that our water supply is endless, but it isn't.....conserving water is just one of the many "green" activities that we should be practicing.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Talk to your baby.....
From the very beginning, talk to your baby....but keep "baby-talk" to a minimum.....it will only make YOU feel like less of a human being!
I always talked to my children...I asked them questions...I gave them directions...I told them about things....and do not be afraid to use correct names for things from the beginning.
You may be surprised how this practice will influence the vocabulary of your child!
I would expect an 18 month old to have a vocabulary of around 100 words or so if you get into this habit....no kidding!
I always talked to my children...I asked them questions...I gave them directions...I told them about things....and do not be afraid to use correct names for things from the beginning.
You may be surprised how this practice will influence the vocabulary of your child!
I would expect an 18 month old to have a vocabulary of around 100 words or so if you get into this habit....no kidding!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Thoughts on Breastfeeding in honor of my brand new grandson!
I nursed my six children for 9 months(the first), to 2 1/2 years(the last).... I would say that the last five probably never had a bottle, in fact, most of them would not even accept one if offered.
For that I give credit to my mother, because when she babysat, she could appease them until I returned home!
At that time, I was able to participate in La Leche League for 13 years....such a big help for me.
Initially, nurse as often as you can in order to establish your milk supply and to avoid painful engorgement. Nurse on both sides, 10-15 minutes each, and burp in between.
If your baby is a "sleeper", it is a good idea to wake him/her up every 2 1/2-3 hours, so that you do not become overly full.
If your breasts are engorged or too full, you may have to gently massage around your nipples to soften them enough that you can manually express some milk, so that baby is able to fully latch on, and not " chew" on your nipples.
Pure lanolin or the oil from Vitamin E capsules can be put on sore nipples to help heal them, and it will not hurt your baby.
Breastfeeding means that your baby will most likely have less allergies and more protection against viruses, colds, ear infections and the like.
For you, it means help with your recovery from childbirth( your uterus back in shape), and in the long term you are less likely to have breast cancer.
Drink plenty of liquids and a glass of wine or beer won't hurt once in a while either.
If you find that certain foods seem to cause your baby to be colicky or restless, it is best to avoid those for a few months. Some culprits may be spicy foods or cabbage, cauliflower or bean soup, and so on.....
Around 6 weeks and 3 months of age your baby will experience a growth spurt....you might have to nurse every hour or two for 1-3 days in order to increase your supply to keep up with baby's growth. It is important to know this so that you can anticipate it and prepare for the temporary accelerated schedule!
More random thoughts on this subject later.........
For that I give credit to my mother, because when she babysat, she could appease them until I returned home!
At that time, I was able to participate in La Leche League for 13 years....such a big help for me.
Initially, nurse as often as you can in order to establish your milk supply and to avoid painful engorgement. Nurse on both sides, 10-15 minutes each, and burp in between.
If your baby is a "sleeper", it is a good idea to wake him/her up every 2 1/2-3 hours, so that you do not become overly full.
If your breasts are engorged or too full, you may have to gently massage around your nipples to soften them enough that you can manually express some milk, so that baby is able to fully latch on, and not " chew" on your nipples.
Pure lanolin or the oil from Vitamin E capsules can be put on sore nipples to help heal them, and it will not hurt your baby.
Breastfeeding means that your baby will most likely have less allergies and more protection against viruses, colds, ear infections and the like.
For you, it means help with your recovery from childbirth( your uterus back in shape), and in the long term you are less likely to have breast cancer.
Drink plenty of liquids and a glass of wine or beer won't hurt once in a while either.
If you find that certain foods seem to cause your baby to be colicky or restless, it is best to avoid those for a few months. Some culprits may be spicy foods or cabbage, cauliflower or bean soup, and so on.....
Around 6 weeks and 3 months of age your baby will experience a growth spurt....you might have to nurse every hour or two for 1-3 days in order to increase your supply to keep up with baby's growth. It is important to know this so that you can anticipate it and prepare for the temporary accelerated schedule!
More random thoughts on this subject later.........
Monday, January 16, 2012
About this blog...
Hello.....back in the day, when I was raising my six children, I wrote down a lot of what I was doing and ideas that worked for me. I saved them and want to share them with you.
Technology has made it possible to do that with blogs, so here I am!
I was trying to get on my granddaughter's travel blog this morning and it turned out that I was guided to start this...(I had been putting it off...)
So, I will do my best to get my thoughts together and write something of interest, maybe later today...
Technology has made it possible to do that with blogs, so here I am!
I was trying to get on my granddaughter's travel blog this morning and it turned out that I was guided to start this...(I had been putting it off...)
So, I will do my best to get my thoughts together and write something of interest, maybe later today...
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