The May Herald
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Child Resumes
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Playground Politics
Kelven and I were face-to-face with the upper/downer debate this evening. Unfortunately, we were blind-sided by another passive-aggressive parent (with the first child I would have been a little insecure about my belief in uppers, but confidence kicks in with child number two).
This debate is about more then just the act of upping vs. downing. Those who allow the "ups" do have a valid viewpoint just as those who allow only the "downs" do, too. Heck, a dear friend of mine only allows the downs (you'll know who you are).
Parker recently experienced the joy of a slide. His eyes and grin get huge as he speeds down! He also impressively climbs the slide like a champ. Take the boy's shoes off and those big toes will bend to a perfect degree and he becomes a human koala.
Tonight we took the kids to a nearby park with five different slides. The park was empty until another dad and his two and five year-olds showed up. His two year-old son came over to Parker at the bottom of the slide and kept yelling, " NO!" at him. Finally the dad came over and told his son to stop yelling at Parker. Then the dad turned to his son and said, "Let his parents do their job. You are right, we only go down slides." Side note - this exact situation happened last week too!
And thus, the debate begins.
Uppers - Kelven and I allow our kids to climb up slides. It's a challenging climb that gives kids a sense of power and confidence. Do you remember how it felt to climb a slide? I do. Seems way quicker and way more fun than the stairs. Yes, it challenges the (unwritten) rules. I am pro rules. Big time. Allowing our kids to climb up slides comes with our own set of boundaries. To climb a slide it must be unoccupied and the tie always goes to the slider. No questions asked. The slide is there to be slid down just like the monkey bars are intended for arms. Yet, if there is no line at the monkey bars, is it not acceptable to swing those legs up and hang upside down? Life is about challenging the limits. Yet, challenging the limits requires a conscious responsibility for safety and others. I am all for teaching kids to be courteous and fair.
Kelven's input - The more you can put the decision in the hand of the kid, the better. If they are just following rules to follow rules, they don't even think about it. But if kids are allowed to use their own judgement they're using their own minds to think about what is right and wrong. Example, Jada is about to climb the slide and sees a kid at the top. She'll stop because she saw the danger of a collision and also knows how to be responsible in the playground. This is a critical thinking moment.
Back to Tami - Here's the kicker for me. If you don't want your kids to climb slides it is totally okay with me, but teach your kids that different families have different rules. That'll solve a lot of your "but he's doing it!" debates.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What a Moment
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Happy Birthday, Jada
Nothing like catching butterflies from an elephant's trunk. The fun lasted about five minutes and then on to the next adventure.
Our precious girl is three!
Thanks for helping us celebrate Heinz's, Johnson's, and McKinney's!
Monday, January 25, 2010
New House?!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Housing Market and the Big Bad Short Sale
Made an offer close to asking price on a short sale (sellers owe more than can sell house for so the bank helps by creating a plan to sell the house without foreclosing on it). All paperwork in. Heard that short sales can take two to four months.
Month Two (August)
Wait.
Month Three (September)
Wait.
Month Four (October)
Man, I thought we'd be moving by now. Hear paperwork is sitting on management's desk.
Month Five (November)
Hear paperwork is still on management's desk. Answer probable in two weeks.
Month Six (December)
Should be hearing something any day (feel I have the right to insert - blah, blah, blah). Just need one more bit of information from sellers. We have to be out of our house by April 1st. Cutting it a little too close for comfort.
Month Seven (January)
Find different house (bank owned). Make an offer. Should hear something by tomorrow.
Looks promising. Large house on nice dead end street, at least two families with little kids, big yard with a playset, elementary school down the street, close to Kelven's work. Needs new carpet, paint, and other little repairs, but has everything else on our list.
I have this weird suspicion "short sales" don't really exist. Live and learn.
Monday, January 4, 2010
(Jada's words in purple)
Nember (remember) my buns were hot on Nana's boat at her nother house. (Referring to the hot seat in Kelven's parents' boat in Chelan).
Nember I fell and the lamp fell on me.
Papa Boo lives in Heaven. Way up in the sky. You sad about that, Mommy. Because he lives so far away. Nember he says boo and I do dis (hides her face and laughs).
Nember daddy likes my poop. We only talk about poop in da potty. Nember I only pick my nose in da bafroom. Nember, Mommy?
I asked her what she likes about herself and she said that she "eats real food in the kitchen" and that she "has friends Evie and Cooper." Not sure she understands the whole self-esteem thing yet, but maybe she's just humble. We also talked about how mommy and daddy love her so much and how we'll always love her, even when she's big like us. And she said, "I grow big and go to high school, Mommy? And I be a teacher. And Parker will be big like me."
Then I asked her if mommy yelled today (I try to keep my cool, but Jada was putting my beloved pictures in her mouth and bent a few with her kicks. I really don't yell much, but at nine cents a picture plus shipping and handling, I take my scrapbooking pretty seriously). She said, "Yeah, and I got sad." Then I asked if mommy said sorry for yelling and she said, "Yeah." We're trying to help her understand the concept of sorry. And finally I asked what it feels like when she gets sad or mad and she said, "I just need you. I want you, Mommy. Cuz I got little tears in my eyes." Melt my heart. Reminds me that listening to our children is so important. There wasn't sadness in her request, just a simple statement. No book or advice hits you like hearing the words I just need you straight from the source.