7/8/09
M: Mom, come here. There's something mysterious in my window.
Me: Hmm, mysterious in your window? Let's see!
Enters M's room and hears the music that's coming from neighbors who live behind through M's open window. I told her that the neighbors were playing music and that we could hear it, kind of like when Big Daddy plays music when he's cleaning the garage. Her tone, though, throughout was of awe that there's was fun music outside.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Literacy
This year, M learned to read in school.
It's amazing to me, watching M learn to read and helping out at the end of school for a few week, that any child learns to read. English is a bitch of a language. When we're reading together, it's a constant struggle....
Me: No honey, this time the "i" sounds like ice cream, not kitten.
I can see that M gets frustrated and I can't always blame her. What's really funny about it, though, is that all the kids I read with at her school and in helping her, the kids stumble on what is seemingly the easiest, and most common words, like it, is, in, and sail through sometimes and elephant. I think it's because is, it, and in "look" alike (word recognition) and they have to really stop and think about the sounds, while elephant and sometimes don't "look" like other words they're using at this point.
What's also been interesting is that, despite Big Daddy and I being huge readers and having read to M since before her birth, she really doesn't want to read by herself. I think that is due to a) she doesn't like to do things that she doesn't do well (hmm....apple falling from tree?) and b) she gets our (Big Daddy & my) undivided attention when we read together. Truth be told, I love snuggling up with her and reading together.
In the interest of practice, though, we have a deal this summer to read for at least 10 minutes and do some workbook pages in exchange for time on the computer to play with the god-forsaken Webkinz that we caved and bought her. We include her reading to Little Peeps, which, I have to say, is one of the cutest things ever. Peeps is reading and Little Peeps is rolling all over her to get closer. It's hard not to eat them both up in their cuteness.
It's amazing to me, watching M learn to read and helping out at the end of school for a few week, that any child learns to read. English is a bitch of a language. When we're reading together, it's a constant struggle....
Me: No honey, this time the "i" sounds like ice cream, not kitten.
I can see that M gets frustrated and I can't always blame her. What's really funny about it, though, is that all the kids I read with at her school and in helping her, the kids stumble on what is seemingly the easiest, and most common words, like it, is, in, and sail through sometimes and elephant. I think it's because is, it, and in "look" alike (word recognition) and they have to really stop and think about the sounds, while elephant and sometimes don't "look" like other words they're using at this point.
What's also been interesting is that, despite Big Daddy and I being huge readers and having read to M since before her birth, she really doesn't want to read by herself. I think that is due to a) she doesn't like to do things that she doesn't do well (hmm....apple falling from tree?) and b) she gets our (Big Daddy & my) undivided attention when we read together. Truth be told, I love snuggling up with her and reading together.
In the interest of practice, though, we have a deal this summer to read for at least 10 minutes and do some workbook pages in exchange for time on the computer to play with the god-forsaken Webkinz that we caved and bought her. We include her reading to Little Peeps, which, I have to say, is one of the cutest things ever. Peeps is reading and Little Peeps is rolling all over her to get closer. It's hard not to eat them both up in their cuteness.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Recently
While eating breakfast (7/2/09):
M: Mom, who killed God?
Me: [??? scrambling widely to figure out where this is coming from*] What do you mean?
M: Who killed God? Why did he die?
Me: You mean Jesus?
M: Yes
Me: Long, explanation about God, Jesus His Son, Ancient Times, Concepts of Ancient Justice Systems... And when Jesus lived, they didn't have jails so they punished people other ways.
M: Like what?
Me: Well, they tied them up to a tree like they did Jesus [shows small representation with pencils and pens.] You know what else they did?
M: What?
Me: Well, if you stole something, they'd cut your hand off.
M: Why?
Me: Because if you don't have a hand then how would you take care of yourself? You would have to have someone take care of you, and who would want to take care of a thief?
M: Other theives.
Me: [internally - crap, foiled again] Of course.
***************************************
A short time later that same morning (have I ever mentioned M's curiosity?)
M: What happens to the water soldiers when blah, blah?
Me: You mean the Coast Guard guys?
M: Yes.
*Note that I did actually try to explain to a six-year old the complexities of Creation, God, Jesus, the killing of Jesus, and Ancient History. The more I tried to explain it to someone with a black and white view of the world (nuance and subtlety still lacking, although she's pretty good at sarcasm, go figure :-) ) and it seems totally insane.
M: Mom, who killed God?
Me: [??? scrambling widely to figure out where this is coming from*] What do you mean?
M: Who killed God? Why did he die?
Me: You mean Jesus?
M: Yes
Me: Long, explanation about God, Jesus His Son, Ancient Times, Concepts of Ancient Justice Systems... And when Jesus lived, they didn't have jails so they punished people other ways.
M: Like what?
Me: Well, they tied them up to a tree like they did Jesus [shows small representation with pencils and pens.] You know what else they did?
M: What?
Me: Well, if you stole something, they'd cut your hand off.
M: Why?
Me: Because if you don't have a hand then how would you take care of yourself? You would have to have someone take care of you, and who would want to take care of a thief?
M: Other theives.
Me: [internally - crap, foiled again] Of course.
***************************************
A short time later that same morning (have I ever mentioned M's curiosity?)
M: What happens to the water soldiers when blah, blah?
Me: You mean the Coast Guard guys?
M: Yes.
*Note that I did actually try to explain to a six-year old the complexities of Creation, God, Jesus, the killing of Jesus, and Ancient History. The more I tried to explain it to someone with a black and white view of the world (nuance and subtlety still lacking, although she's pretty good at sarcasm, go figure :-) ) and it seems totally insane.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The War on Ignorance
In February, our Physical Therapist (PT) put E in a walker. We'd been working on progressing through various gross motor milestones and it was time to begin working upright.
While filming her on my camera phone, I thought nothing of the fact that she was in a walker or uses an assitance device. Where before having E, I would have looked at a child and thought something pitying ("oh, how sad") and some gratitude that it wasn't my child. What an ass I now realize I was (okay, still am sometimes), because I didn't feel pity for my child for using a walker. I cheered and laughed and was so excited to see her have the use of equipment that would help her. I was grateful, so grateful for people who think about how to provide therapy and therapeutic equipment for kids (and adults).
I felt rather proud of myself that I can realize the juxtaposition of these ideas. That I realize that people might view the video above and feel sadness or pity towards my child; and I'm a little smug knowing that they are the ones to be pitied because of their blinders (you know, the ones I used to wear, or so I thought).
Now, I should digress and let you know that we have a standing PT appointment on Tuesday. Generally, we see familiar faces of other kids who are seeing other therapists (speech, PT, occupational). There's a kind of protocol of smile and acknowledge, but no one really talks about the various conditions/circumstances that bring kids to the center.
There's a baby girl (probably 9 months old) who has been coming in with her dad. I'm not sure what her circumstances are, but she seems to have some physical limitations and I have yet to really see her alert. However, her dad (and sometimes her mom) are there every week.
At Tuesday's meeting, we worked on walking in the walker (now with no seat), climbing stairs (E loves!) and the treadmill. The room we were in, though, had other various equipment, but mostly the kind of wheelchairs that provide full body support. We carried on, trying to give them privacy while also working on our issues (the room is the one with the stairs equipment). As it transpired, though, they were putting the little girl in one of the wheel chairs.
Despite what I know, I still had that moment of sadness tinged with pity. I would like to know more about her and her family (the questions I would ask, though, may not be the obvious ones now....that's for another post), but the whole privacy thing (and HIPAA) prevent it; not to mention that we're there to work on E and not socialize. Anyway....the point is, I had that moment of pity coupled with gratitude that their circumstances seemed, to me at least, to be harder than mine. I was grateful that our little E was not being fitted for a wheelchair.
Then, as we were moving to the room where the treadmill was, I saw the dad taking pictures of his little girl in her wheelchair; and I knew that his only thought was that this piece of equipment was going to make his daughter's life better in some way.
While filming her on my camera phone, I thought nothing of the fact that she was in a walker or uses an assitance device. Where before having E, I would have looked at a child and thought something pitying ("oh, how sad") and some gratitude that it wasn't my child. What an ass I now realize I was (okay, still am sometimes), because I didn't feel pity for my child for using a walker. I cheered and laughed and was so excited to see her have the use of equipment that would help her. I was grateful, so grateful for people who think about how to provide therapy and therapeutic equipment for kids (and adults).
I felt rather proud of myself that I can realize the juxtaposition of these ideas. That I realize that people might view the video above and feel sadness or pity towards my child; and I'm a little smug knowing that they are the ones to be pitied because of their blinders (you know, the ones I used to wear, or so I thought).
Now, I should digress and let you know that we have a standing PT appointment on Tuesday. Generally, we see familiar faces of other kids who are seeing other therapists (speech, PT, occupational). There's a kind of protocol of smile and acknowledge, but no one really talks about the various conditions/circumstances that bring kids to the center.
There's a baby girl (probably 9 months old) who has been coming in with her dad. I'm not sure what her circumstances are, but she seems to have some physical limitations and I have yet to really see her alert. However, her dad (and sometimes her mom) are there every week.
At Tuesday's meeting, we worked on walking in the walker (now with no seat), climbing stairs (E loves!) and the treadmill. The room we were in, though, had other various equipment, but mostly the kind of wheelchairs that provide full body support. We carried on, trying to give them privacy while also working on our issues (the room is the one with the stairs equipment). As it transpired, though, they were putting the little girl in one of the wheel chairs.
Despite what I know, I still had that moment of sadness tinged with pity. I would like to know more about her and her family (the questions I would ask, though, may not be the obvious ones now....that's for another post), but the whole privacy thing (and HIPAA) prevent it; not to mention that we're there to work on E and not socialize. Anyway....the point is, I had that moment of pity coupled with gratitude that their circumstances seemed, to me at least, to be harder than mine. I was grateful that our little E was not being fitted for a wheelchair.
Then, as we were moving to the room where the treadmill was, I saw the dad taking pictures of his little girl in her wheelchair; and I knew that his only thought was that this piece of equipment was going to make his daughter's life better in some way.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Findings
Me: Why is there a pile of ripped up tissues under your bed?
M: I wanted confetti for my guys [stuffed animals].
M: I wanted confetti for my guys [stuffed animals].
Progress
February 3, 2009
June 23, 2009
Doesn't E look so much bigger with the piggies? Also, this video needs the Top Gun theme song playing in the background. That was the only thing I could think of when I was watching her in the harness.
June 23, 2009
Doesn't E look so much bigger with the piggies? Also, this video needs the Top Gun theme song playing in the background. That was the only thing I could think of when I was watching her in the harness.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Making the Connection
Yesterday, I was doing some work at the computer, Little Peeps was napping, Big Daddy was out in the garage cleaning out the attic and Big Peeps was playing in the front yard.
Big Daddy brought down the retired Barbie golf set that hadn't been received as enthusiastically as imagined. Because we don't have a ton of garage space, it was stored away. It's reappearance yesterday prompted some interest which was relayed to me when Big Daddy came in laughing and said:
"So I was telling M the names of the clubs and she pointed to the wedge and I said it was a wedge, the same for the putter, but then she told me she knew what the big one was called. When I asked her, she said it was the Beatermeyer."
This cracked us both up. Now, M does have a talent for labeling things (globe=world ball), but neither of us could figure out where Beatermeyer came from. Regardless, we thought it was a great name and Big Daddy has rechristened his retro driver to the Beatermeyer.
Today, M and I were at the table and she was looking at Ottoline and the Yellow Cat. We were chatting about Ottoline and her friend, Mr. Monroe, and various story elements when she said something about the furniture in the book. Now, this book is really, really clever. I can't imagine the time the author and illustrator, Chris Riddell, has put into this book. Part of the book, though, involves the furniture in the apartment where Ottoline lives. Furniture such as a Biedermeier chair, ottoman, rocker, etc. Riddell's drawings of each piece are stylized, simplistic, oversized images that dwarf Ottoline and Mr. Monroe.
So, while the driver isn't really a golf club of prodigious power; I do have a six year old who is correctly able to associate and label her equipment in proper stylistic periods.
Big Daddy brought down the retired Barbie golf set that hadn't been received as enthusiastically as imagined. Because we don't have a ton of garage space, it was stored away. It's reappearance yesterday prompted some interest which was relayed to me when Big Daddy came in laughing and said:
"So I was telling M the names of the clubs and she pointed to the wedge and I said it was a wedge, the same for the putter, but then she told me she knew what the big one was called. When I asked her, she said it was the Beatermeyer."
This cracked us both up. Now, M does have a talent for labeling things (globe=world ball), but neither of us could figure out where Beatermeyer came from. Regardless, we thought it was a great name and Big Daddy has rechristened his retro driver to the Beatermeyer.
Today, M and I were at the table and she was looking at Ottoline and the Yellow Cat. We were chatting about Ottoline and her friend, Mr. Monroe, and various story elements when she said something about the furniture in the book. Now, this book is really, really clever. I can't imagine the time the author and illustrator, Chris Riddell, has put into this book. Part of the book, though, involves the furniture in the apartment where Ottoline lives. Furniture such as a Biedermeier chair, ottoman, rocker, etc. Riddell's drawings of each piece are stylized, simplistic, oversized images that dwarf Ottoline and Mr. Monroe.
So, while the driver isn't really a golf club of prodigious power; I do have a six year old who is correctly able to associate and label her equipment in proper stylistic periods.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
First Socks
Why knit socks when you can buy them cheaply?
Because it's a great feeling to wear them on your feet as you go through your day. Kind of like when you're wearing delicate, hand-washables under your everyday clothes.
These are the second pair that I've knit for myself. On the first pair (details to come), I made one too long and have to rip it out. On this one, the one on the left is a bit long, but I'm not ripping out because they were a toe-up construction. Details at Ravelry.
Because it's a great feeling to wear them on your feet as you go through your day. Kind of like when you're wearing delicate, hand-washables under your everyday clothes.
These are the second pair that I've knit for myself. On the first pair (details to come), I made one too long and have to rip it out. On this one, the one on the left is a bit long, but I'm not ripping out because they were a toe-up construction. Details at Ravelry.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Typical Man
Recent conversation:
M: how old do you think Santa is?
Me: I don't know. How old do you think he is?
M: [thinking...] 32
Me: Oh. Okay.
M: And I think that Mrs. Claus is 23.
M: how old do you think Santa is?
Me: I don't know. How old do you think he is?
M: [thinking...] 32
Me: Oh. Okay.
M: And I think that Mrs. Claus is 23.
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