Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Whoa, Nellie!
Baby Boy is now pulling himself to standing without any help! Walking is right around the corner. Yikes!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Reading Material
One of my favorite things about being a mother is watching behavior and finding meaning in it. For example, my little baby boy is drawn to one of the bookshelves in the living room and loves to pull the books off. He then proceeds to eat the pages before mommy comes screaming, "No! Stop! Ack!" But I must say, his choice of material is fascinating.
For the longest time he went after Kathleen Norris' book, The Cloister Walk. Clearly, this boy is contemplative. He has also sampled What Paul Meant by Gary Wills, and, in my proudest moment, Perelandra, by the esteemed C.S. Lewis. Not the easiest C.S. Lewis to start with, but if he wants to dive right in, who am I to stop him? Oh, the literary journeys he and I will take in future years! The great discussions of spirituality! The ruminations of the state of the soul!
In a fit of folly, the boy did choose some Moliere yesterday. I'm glad to see that he has a sense of humor, this child, and can appreciate the occasionally caustic irony and even the knee-slapping comedy that Moliere offers. And, it was a collection in the original French, so I really have no choice but to endorse his selection.
Maybe I should go add some money to his therapy fund. I'm sure, with this mindset, the poor child is doomed to some sort of complex due to his mother's expectations.
For the longest time he went after Kathleen Norris' book, The Cloister Walk. Clearly, this boy is contemplative. He has also sampled What Paul Meant by Gary Wills, and, in my proudest moment, Perelandra, by the esteemed C.S. Lewis. Not the easiest C.S. Lewis to start with, but if he wants to dive right in, who am I to stop him? Oh, the literary journeys he and I will take in future years! The great discussions of spirituality! The ruminations of the state of the soul!
In a fit of folly, the boy did choose some Moliere yesterday. I'm glad to see that he has a sense of humor, this child, and can appreciate the occasionally caustic irony and even the knee-slapping comedy that Moliere offers. And, it was a collection in the original French, so I really have no choice but to endorse his selection.
Maybe I should go add some money to his therapy fund. I'm sure, with this mindset, the poor child is doomed to some sort of complex due to his mother's expectations.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
My Beautiful Babies
Aren't they cute? I know, I'm shameless. I adore my sweeties. K, the daughter, who does not lack self-esteem, reminds me frequently, "Mom, you only make the most beautiful babies." I have to say, she is lovely AND wise, this girl.
Friday, July 06, 2007
I'm Chip; I'm Dale
My husband always surprises me. No, not with flowers or gifts for no particular reason. He surprises me with his deep fount of random information.
Tonight is Friday, which, in our family, makes it Friday Family Movie Night. It is our tradition to let our daughter pick out any movie on this night (usually a DVD, although we sometimes go out) and we are all obligated to watch it with rapt attention. It's a fun tradition that we all enjoy.
Tonight's selection is a Mickey Mouse Christmas movie. And yes, we know it's July. K chose it because it is rather short (we are all very tired) and requires very little brain power, since it is made up of amusing little vignettes.
One of these vignettes featured Chip and Dale of chipmunk fame. K wondered out loud how anyone could possibly tell them apart. My dear husband went on to explain the various nuances that make Chip and Dale entirely different. One is smart, the other is not. The not-so-bright chipmunk (are any chipmunks brainiacs?) is made to look like a hill-billy. Their teeth differ. He went on to tell us various neumonic devices he uses to tell them apart. Wha-huh? When did my husband become so knowledgeable about cartoon chipmunks? Fascinating! It was like talking to a parent of identical twins who has no trouble telling which is which, and we are embarrased to even ask which is Shane and which is Shawn, when they are dressed exactly alike. I marvel at his wells of information. This keeps the marriage interesting.
Tonight is Friday, which, in our family, makes it Friday Family Movie Night. It is our tradition to let our daughter pick out any movie on this night (usually a DVD, although we sometimes go out) and we are all obligated to watch it with rapt attention. It's a fun tradition that we all enjoy.
Tonight's selection is a Mickey Mouse Christmas movie. And yes, we know it's July. K chose it because it is rather short (we are all very tired) and requires very little brain power, since it is made up of amusing little vignettes.
One of these vignettes featured Chip and Dale of chipmunk fame. K wondered out loud how anyone could possibly tell them apart. My dear husband went on to explain the various nuances that make Chip and Dale entirely different. One is smart, the other is not. The not-so-bright chipmunk (are any chipmunks brainiacs?) is made to look like a hill-billy. Their teeth differ. He went on to tell us various neumonic devices he uses to tell them apart. Wha-huh? When did my husband become so knowledgeable about cartoon chipmunks? Fascinating! It was like talking to a parent of identical twins who has no trouble telling which is which, and we are embarrased to even ask which is Shane and which is Shawn, when they are dressed exactly alike. I marvel at his wells of information. This keeps the marriage interesting.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Lindsay, oh Lindsay
My daughter will be turning 8 this month, which brings its share of "serious" conversations. We discussed where babies come from (she deemed this "dis-GUS-ting." Good.), drugs, and alcohol, all in a rather hypothetical and removed sense. As in, "sometimes some people do certain things..." She also is reluctant to discuss these things. She just plain doesn't like it. She also likes all things Disney. So she was watching something rather benign Disney channel show and they were advertising an upcoming Lindsay Lohan movie to be aired over the summer.
Later in the day, K the daughter very shyly asked me why there is a movie with Lindsay Lohan when she had been arrested. I was shocked! How did she know that the little misguided actress had been arrested? What does she know of such things? It wasn't all that long ago that I knew everything that went into my child's head. So I asked her if she knew what LL had been arrested for. Her answer? She thought LL had been arrested for drinking too much caffeine. Hee hee.
So then we had the requisite discussion in 8-year-old terms about poor choices, the illness of addiction, and so forth. All the while, I was mentally cursing LL for forcing this issue with my little girl and taking away just a little more of her innocence. There's also the issue of corporate responsibility: Will Disney continue to employ LL? And why do so many Disney shows and movies have no mothers in sight?
I suppose this is the age where my daughter is starting to learn how sticky life can be. I pray that I can guide her through it so she is a strong adult. Oy, what a responsibility.
Later in the day, K the daughter very shyly asked me why there is a movie with Lindsay Lohan when she had been arrested. I was shocked! How did she know that the little misguided actress had been arrested? What does she know of such things? It wasn't all that long ago that I knew everything that went into my child's head. So I asked her if she knew what LL had been arrested for. Her answer? She thought LL had been arrested for drinking too much caffeine. Hee hee.
So then we had the requisite discussion in 8-year-old terms about poor choices, the illness of addiction, and so forth. All the while, I was mentally cursing LL for forcing this issue with my little girl and taking away just a little more of her innocence. There's also the issue of corporate responsibility: Will Disney continue to employ LL? And why do so many Disney shows and movies have no mothers in sight?
I suppose this is the age where my daughter is starting to learn how sticky life can be. I pray that I can guide her through it so she is a strong adult. Oy, what a responsibility.
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