I'm really trying to have a good attitude about laundry. I know I've got it easy when you think about the fact that I have a working washer and dryer; however, laundry is the bane of family life. Give me sibling rivalry and spilt milk; I will overcome and speak with wisdom and patience (sometimes) but laundry, oh laundry, just is.
So I've decided to write a song. OK, not fully through-composed, but I've changed the words to "This is the Song that never Ends". Because seriously, it will never end. The sooner I accept that I'm chosen to do my own laundry until the day I die, the happier I'll be, right? Or maybe laundry could be my reason to feign early dementia and secure my room at the assisted living center...
Anyway, enough dreaming. Here's my song.
It's the laundry that never ends
I'm always lugging it, then I bend
To put it into the washer, then over to the dryer,
Then up the stairs, to fold, and hang it up higher
It's the laundry that never ends
What goes in it makes me wretch
Dirt and grass and pasta, and pee and poo galore
I never ever know what the clothes have in store
'Cause it's the laundry that never ends
I don't even want to talk about the linens
Top bunk sheets to make, plus the mattress pads
Then the one who like to take her pillow out to the quad
It's the laundry that never ends...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Super Girl
Just a funny video of Sabrina (Again, the cell phone, sorry!)
She is
Super Gi-rlllllllllll!
She is
Super Gi-rlllllllllll!
Friday, September 5, 2008
The image of the Invisible God?
This is a video (from my cell phone, sorry about the poor quality) of last week's chapel at the boys' school. You can't see our kids in the video, but it was just so sweet to hear all these kids worshiping.
After the singing, a speaker was talking about God's care for us, even when we can't see him. He's asking the crowd of 3-12 year olds, "Why can't we see God?" Some of the kids were raising their hands, some were mumbling the answer—He's invisible—to their neighbors, but Stuart, oh my sweet Stuart, confidently shouts from the JK class area in the front, "Because He's wearing a disguise!" No one could miss that answer! He's too funny!
After the singing, a speaker was talking about God's care for us, even when we can't see him. He's asking the crowd of 3-12 year olds, "Why can't we see God?" Some of the kids were raising their hands, some were mumbling the answer—He's invisible—to their neighbors, but Stuart, oh my sweet Stuart, confidently shouts from the JK class area in the front, "Because He's wearing a disguise!" No one could miss that answer! He's too funny!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Patience & Forgiveness
It's been a very trying month. The kids have been chomping at the bit to get back to school and I have been missing the forced routine of it all. Michael has been in the process of getting a new job all while his current job is demanding more & more. We've traveled across the state & across the country for big family events; and I've been sick for 2 weeks. Lots of difficult scenery through which to negotiate the already difficult play of parenting.
Laughing it off works sometimes
Michael was working late & I was bathing the kids; things were not going smoothly. No one had napped that day & everyone was on edge. I was standing next to the tub, holding Chase's towel, and I asked him to get out of the tub. He looked at me like I was speaking French. "Get out of the tub, Chase," a bit irritated this time. Again, dumb-founded look as if this request were strange & bizarre. "GET OUT OF THE TUB!" Yes, I'm yelling now. Now Chase is frozen with confusion. In a nanosecond, I'm thinking, "This is a brilliant child. How can he not understand this simple direction? He's not being defiant, he's looking literally confused. How is this possible?" Then I feel the absolute ridiculousness of the situation. My bright, naked, almost 6 year old, standing in the tub, confused about what to do when bath time is over. So I just had to laugh. I put his towel over his head, roughed up his hair & pushed him in the water as if we were at the pool. We just fell apart into giggles. I still don't know what the problem was, but I do know that the time bomb of anger was diffused by a bit of playfulness. I'm thinking that worked out much better than the road of frustration and hostility we were on. Chase thought it was so funny that I pushed him, with his towel, into the tub. We just laughed & laughed while we finished getting ready for bed.
Asking for forgiveness from your child opens hearts
Stuart, Lord love him, is a lot like me—easily distracted. You would think I would have so much patience for his eccentricities & tangents...not so much. This same evening (before the giggling bath incident) Stuart was preparing his backpack for the next day. He just couldn't find his backpack. It was hanging on the hook where he left it after school, right where it was supposed to be. All he needed to do was put his folder in the backpack. That's it; easy, right? No. He roamed the house looking for his backpack, which I had told him where it was, and couldn't find it. Now I'm thinking, "It would be so much easier if I just did it for him. No, he'll never learn if I do if for him. He can do this." So I hear the front door open & he's leaving the house to look for his backpack. Now, I'm livid! I grab his hand and pull him into the house & slam the door behind us and scream, "YOUR BACKPACK IS RIGHT THERE! PUT YOUR FOLDER IN IT!!!!!!!" I immediately realize I'm out-of-line and I've gone too far. Stuart is wide-eyed and about to cry. We get the folder in the backpack & I take his hand and we walk to his room. I get on his level & look at his eyes and say, "Stuart, I'm so sorry I yelled at you and slammed the door. I shouldn't have let me anger control me. Will you forgive me?" In my head I'm wanting to make all the excuses, "If you would have just done what I asked, or simply followed the directions earlier" but none of that mattered. The truth was, I let my emotions dictate how I related to my child and that needed an apology. He immediately softened and gave me a hug and said "Yes, I forgive you, mama." The surprise to me was how much better I felt. I needed to apologize for me just as much as for him. I really could have done some damage to his little heart had I not apologized. I'm not saying I get it right all the time, but I'm so thankful that's where God lead me that night, because Stuart & I are closer for it.
Teaching takes patience (even when they already know what to do, sometimes they forget)
If you've ever met Chase, you'll know he's a bright child. This can cause me a lot of problems because I will except things from him that his intelligence may be able to handle, but his emotional or physical maturity may not. We were cleaning up his art kit and he was trying to organize it so it wasn't just a trash pit of papers, tape, scraps, & scissors. We were working together & I was getting frustrated because he just wasn't getting how to do it. My frustration came from, "but we've done this before". That's when I had to stop myself and realize I needed to reteach and offer some immediate practice. Even when he knows what to do, sometimes he honestly can't make it all fit together. Parenting is so much about teaching and that simply takes patience. I would really like a 'one lesson and then we're done for the rest of your childhood,' but that's not reality! Repetition is a key to learning. Repetition is key to learning. Repetition is key to learning. (I'm just reminding myself!) One of my issues is that as an adult, repetition seems like such a waste of time. But then I remember, what is the point of my time with them—to teach them! And guess what, repetition is key to learning. So again, God builds my character as I train my kids.
Just my little discoveries about being a parent. I'm sure I'll forget and God, in His great patience, will laugh and allow me the opportunity to repeat the lesson.
These are some of my discoveries this month.
Laughing it off works sometimes
Michael was working late & I was bathing the kids; things were not going smoothly. No one had napped that day & everyone was on edge. I was standing next to the tub, holding Chase's towel, and I asked him to get out of the tub. He looked at me like I was speaking French. "Get out of the tub, Chase," a bit irritated this time. Again, dumb-founded look as if this request were strange & bizarre. "GET OUT OF THE TUB!" Yes, I'm yelling now. Now Chase is frozen with confusion. In a nanosecond, I'm thinking, "This is a brilliant child. How can he not understand this simple direction? He's not being defiant, he's looking literally confused. How is this possible?" Then I feel the absolute ridiculousness of the situation. My bright, naked, almost 6 year old, standing in the tub, confused about what to do when bath time is over. So I just had to laugh. I put his towel over his head, roughed up his hair & pushed him in the water as if we were at the pool. We just fell apart into giggles. I still don't know what the problem was, but I do know that the time bomb of anger was diffused by a bit of playfulness. I'm thinking that worked out much better than the road of frustration and hostility we were on. Chase thought it was so funny that I pushed him, with his towel, into the tub. We just laughed & laughed while we finished getting ready for bed.
Asking for forgiveness from your child opens hearts
Stuart, Lord love him, is a lot like me—easily distracted. You would think I would have so much patience for his eccentricities & tangents...not so much. This same evening (before the giggling bath incident) Stuart was preparing his backpack for the next day. He just couldn't find his backpack. It was hanging on the hook where he left it after school, right where it was supposed to be. All he needed to do was put his folder in the backpack. That's it; easy, right? No. He roamed the house looking for his backpack, which I had told him where it was, and couldn't find it. Now I'm thinking, "It would be so much easier if I just did it for him. No, he'll never learn if I do if for him. He can do this." So I hear the front door open & he's leaving the house to look for his backpack. Now, I'm livid! I grab his hand and pull him into the house & slam the door behind us and scream, "YOUR BACKPACK IS RIGHT THERE! PUT YOUR FOLDER IN IT!!!!!!!" I immediately realize I'm out-of-line and I've gone too far. Stuart is wide-eyed and about to cry. We get the folder in the backpack & I take his hand and we walk to his room. I get on his level & look at his eyes and say, "Stuart, I'm so sorry I yelled at you and slammed the door. I shouldn't have let me anger control me. Will you forgive me?" In my head I'm wanting to make all the excuses, "If you would have just done what I asked, or simply followed the directions earlier" but none of that mattered. The truth was, I let my emotions dictate how I related to my child and that needed an apology. He immediately softened and gave me a hug and said "Yes, I forgive you, mama." The surprise to me was how much better I felt. I needed to apologize for me just as much as for him. I really could have done some damage to his little heart had I not apologized. I'm not saying I get it right all the time, but I'm so thankful that's where God lead me that night, because Stuart & I are closer for it.
Teaching takes patience (even when they already know what to do, sometimes they forget)
If you've ever met Chase, you'll know he's a bright child. This can cause me a lot of problems because I will except things from him that his intelligence may be able to handle, but his emotional or physical maturity may not. We were cleaning up his art kit and he was trying to organize it so it wasn't just a trash pit of papers, tape, scraps, & scissors. We were working together & I was getting frustrated because he just wasn't getting how to do it. My frustration came from, "but we've done this before". That's when I had to stop myself and realize I needed to reteach and offer some immediate practice. Even when he knows what to do, sometimes he honestly can't make it all fit together. Parenting is so much about teaching and that simply takes patience. I would really like a 'one lesson and then we're done for the rest of your childhood,' but that's not reality! Repetition is a key to learning. Repetition is key to learning. Repetition is key to learning. (I'm just reminding myself!) One of my issues is that as an adult, repetition seems like such a waste of time. But then I remember, what is the point of my time with them—to teach them! And guess what, repetition is key to learning. So again, God builds my character as I train my kids.
Just my little discoveries about being a parent. I'm sure I'll forget and God, in His great patience, will laugh and allow me the opportunity to repeat the lesson.
Just some shorts
I've been thinking about lots of serious parenting issues, but it's been a busy month, so, here's just a few short, funny things.
Chase had a watermelon lollipop from Trader Joe's and he told me, "It has hint of lemon in it. Not a lot, just like the size of the pink part of a cow's nose."
I was telling Michael at dinner one night about a teenager who'd forgotten their luggage on a trip and the parents were going to buy them some new clothes. Michael tells the kids, "You all forget your luggage at 17, I'm not buying you new clothes!" The boys look clueless and Sabrina says, "I get clothes?" (I think she missed the point!)
Stu loves "playing" Candyland. He doesn't actually play by the rules. By himself, he uses the cards and the plastic guys like army men. "You, green guy, go here, and yellow guy, stay over here."
Also, here's a picture from the first day of school
Chase had a watermelon lollipop from Trader Joe's and he told me, "It has hint of lemon in it. Not a lot, just like the size of the pink part of a cow's nose."
I was telling Michael at dinner one night about a teenager who'd forgotten their luggage on a trip and the parents were going to buy them some new clothes. Michael tells the kids, "You all forget your luggage at 17, I'm not buying you new clothes!" The boys look clueless and Sabrina says, "I get clothes?" (I think she missed the point!)
Stu loves "playing" Candyland. He doesn't actually play by the rules. By himself, he uses the cards and the plastic guys like army men. "You, green guy, go here, and yellow guy, stay over here."
Also, here's a picture from the first day of school
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Strong Boys
As we were leaving the Y yesterday, I was eating a protein bar after lifting weights.
Chase: What are you eating?
Me: A protein bar.
Chase: Why?
Me: Because I just lifted weights & my muscles need some protein.
Chase: Yeah, because lifting weights break down your muscles and you need the protein to build them back up.
Me: Uh, yes, that's right. (Thinking, where did you learn that? Have I said that before?)
Later that afternoon, the boys got out some 5lbs weights in my room while I was working in there. They lifted their little hearts out: over their heads, bicep curls, tricep kickbacks...it was so funny. Then their arms got a little tired, and Chase exclaims, "I've lifted a lot, I need a smoothie now!" Stuart says, "Yeah, I need a banana smoothie. My muscles need protein."
So yes, for snack we had chunky monkey smoothies (yogurt, milk, banana, chocolate syrup, & flax seed!)
Well, maybe some healthy lifestyle habits will continue with these funny boys.
Chase: What are you eating?
Me: A protein bar.
Chase: Why?
Me: Because I just lifted weights & my muscles need some protein.
Chase: Yeah, because lifting weights break down your muscles and you need the protein to build them back up.
Me: Uh, yes, that's right. (Thinking, where did you learn that? Have I said that before?)
Later that afternoon, the boys got out some 5lbs weights in my room while I was working in there. They lifted their little hearts out: over their heads, bicep curls, tricep kickbacks...it was so funny. Then their arms got a little tired, and Chase exclaims, "I've lifted a lot, I need a smoothie now!" Stuart says, "Yeah, I need a banana smoothie. My muscles need protein."
So yes, for snack we had chunky monkey smoothies (yogurt, milk, banana, chocolate syrup, & flax seed!)
Well, maybe some healthy lifestyle habits will continue with these funny boys.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
My first experience of "You're Wearing That?"
Sunday morning Chase decided to choose his own outfit. This isn't unusual; he picks his clothes most days. But today, oh my, today, it was something else.
First of all, he wanted to wear a short-sleeved, button-down oxford shirt. No big deal, sage green with navy and white stripes. He paired that with navy dress shorts. Still very nice. Well here comes the 'accessories'! First a sage tie...yes, a neck-tie. For traditional churches, normal, for Jubilee, "Nice to meet you."
Well, then the icing on the cake was the cream-colored, navy and brown argyle dress socks pulled up to his knees with his dirty brown tennis shoes! I came through the living and saw the complete outfit and had to grab the wall to keep from laughing. He was dead serious and so proud of himself!
The day before, the boy was on the farm in cut-offs, soaking wet, and covered in mud from tip to toe. This morning, he was Mid-West version of a scrubbed clean, war-time English school boy.
I know there are far worse things that he could be wearing and there will be many other things we'll face in the future. But this morning was my first chance to practice letting the little things go and be thankful he was excited to be going to church and was practicing Ps. 121:3-4
But that doesn't mean I didn't giggle every time I thought of those knee socks!
First of all, he wanted to wear a short-sleeved, button-down oxford shirt. No big deal, sage green with navy and white stripes. He paired that with navy dress shorts. Still very nice. Well here comes the 'accessories'! First a sage tie...yes, a neck-tie. For traditional churches, normal, for Jubilee, "Nice to meet you."
Well, then the icing on the cake was the cream-colored, navy and brown argyle dress socks pulled up to his knees with his dirty brown tennis shoes! I came through the living and saw the complete outfit and had to grab the wall to keep from laughing. He was dead serious and so proud of himself!
The day before, the boy was on the farm in cut-offs, soaking wet, and covered in mud from tip to toe. This morning, he was Mid-West version of a scrubbed clean, war-time English school boy.
I know there are far worse things that he could be wearing and there will be many other things we'll face in the future. But this morning was my first chance to practice letting the little things go and be thankful he was excited to be going to church and was practicing Ps. 121:3-4
But that doesn't mean I didn't giggle every time I thought of those knee socks!
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