We are now three track meets down and eleven to go. Last week Juan and I did a little dividing and conquering. Mary sang with a combined choir from several Catholic schools at a festival celebrating the arts in Dayton area Catholic schools. She had to miss the her first track meet. She was less than devastated.
I took the bookends to the arts festival, and Juan took all of the middle children to watch Natalie compete at the meet. Natalie did very well and had a blast. She was ready to go soon after Kate, Mary and I arrived at the field. This track thing is not so rough, I thought.
Friday, Julia had her first Munchkin meet. I took her and left the others at home. She finished third in her first race, the 100 meter. Then, came the 400 meter. She came in at the back of the of the pack. Everyone gets a ribbon, which is great if your ribbon is blue, red or white, but Julia was not happy with the three pink 6th place ribbons she got. She was an absolute bear after the 400 and her remaining events. We had a little heart to heart on the way home about being a good sport and striving to her best without worrying to much about beating the other runners. I am hopeful that she will turn it around and have more fun next week.
Today was Mary's first meet. Juan had some work to do today so I took all five children with me to track. We had lunch before the meet and packed snacks and water bottles so our needs would be met. I knew there was a possibility of our being in the stands for five hours. Mary and Natalie had to be there by 11:30, and by 12:15, Julia, John, and Kate were hot, thirsty, hungry, bored and dissatisfied with life in general.
After the 100 meter heats had been run, we wandered around by the field events. John, Kate and Julia got absolutely filthy. There was not a rock or piece of dirt they didn't touch. Their legs, arms, hands, faces were covered with dirt.
After Juan arrived, the day seemed to moved a little more quickly. Natalie and Mary had finished three events each by 3 p.m., but Mary still had to run the 200 meter, the last event of the day. John spent a lot of time running up and down bleachers and lying on his stomach playing with a little figure he brought along. Julia entertained herself with Bitty Baby and an orange ribbon. Kate played with her Madame Alexander baby doll that Santa gave her (and that I had to pull over and confiscate and keep in time out on the way to the track because she whacked Natalie in the head) and was a pretty good girl for the rest of our time in the stands.
Kate made a friend at the meet, another four-year-old girl. At first, Kate ignored the other girl, but when the girl sat down with a bag of Cheetohs and started handing them to Kate, they were fast friends. Nothing finds its way to Kate's heart like junk food.
When the bag was empty and Kate came to find her baby doll, I got a different picture of how the deal went down. Kate said, "I am giving her my baby." I think she had promised her doll in exchange for the Cheetohs. I apologized to the little girl and told her that Kate couldn't give her the doll that Santa had given her, but the "pretend lipstick that isn't real" that Kate brought along with her was a suitable toy for giving away. Kate was unwilling to part with it. After all, along with bubble wrap, it was all she asked for at Christmas. Thankully, Kate's new friend was understanding.
At 4:45, I loaded 4 sweaty, dirty, sun-kissed children into our van, and Juan took Natalie in his little car which he has running again after 3 years parked on our driveway. We should have come home and showered, but instead we dined in at City BBQ followed by Graeter's (THE best ice cream shop for those of you not from Ohio) for an early celebration of Natalie's birthday.
Next week, I think we will divide and conquer again.
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Returning from a Hiatus: A Few Stories About My Youngest Children
I am still trying to figure this blogging thing out. I am used to being able to type in my word processing application and then cut and paste to Caring Bridge which is nice when I don't have internet access. I can't do that here, or at least, I can't make it happen. I am sure it's user error. I have had so many things happen that I have wanted to post here, but haven't had the time to sit down and write. After time passes, so do the ideas.
A few of the times I considered blogging include:
One day in the car, I realized that every time Kate (age 4) starts a conversation with me she says, "When I am mom, I am going to..."
"...chew gum and drink Coke."
"...live in a tree house."
"...have two dogs and one is going to be a weiner dog."
"...have candy in my house."
"...bake cakes and pies."
"...have babies but no kids and no dad."
John says, "The thing about babies, Kate, is that they grow up to be kids."
Another gem:
John's (age 6) pre-K teachers from last year asked him and his friend in jest if they wanted to teach class one morning. John's friend giggled and said, "Oh, you're so funny," to the teacher. John said, "Sure. Why not?"
He walked to the front of the class, introduced himself, assured them that he knew what he was doing because he had been to pre-K and proceeded to teach them all about fog. It reminded me of a college public speaking course I took. One day the instructor sent us the the front of the classroom one at a time and gave us each a topic. One topic I remember was dust bunnies. The student who could speak the longest without using um, er, like, you know, etc. won the admiration of the class and instructor. John would have excelled.
One last story for today:
One afternoon a few weeks ago, Kate and I were reading in my bed. I was so sleepy, I asked her if she wanted to rest with me and to my surprise, she said, "Okay, Mommy." She was no fun to sleep with as she kept tossing, turning, kissing me, and touching my face with her hands, including the one with the finger she sucks.
I asked her if she would like to rest in her room and she said, "Okay, Mommy." And she headed down the hall to her room where she made no noise and let me rest for 20 minutes or so before I shook off the fog enough to remember that Kate does really naughty things when she is quiet.
I walked down to her room and the door was opened. Her room was neat, and she had set up a little office with a V-Tech computer and lap desk. My heart was so warmed. It was one of those sweet moments a mom holds in memory. I asked her if she wanted to play with Play-do on the back stoop, and she was so happy because I truly don't like the mess she makes with Play-do. I was high on good feelings. She sat right outside the door while I read my book just inside the door at our big kitchen table. I could hear that sweet child singing her made up song about pink and rainbows and princesses and candy.
Just before the big kids walked in the door from the bus, I peeked out another window to the back yard and noticed a scarf that Julia had worn when she had cancer and no hair. I thought "That's odd," but the weather had been so nice, and the kids had been playing out so much, and I was so feeling so happy and content that I just thought, "Oh well, they've been playing one of their make believe games called 'Poor Little Girls Who Don't Have a Mother' (I know this bears some explanation. Another post...) so I won't say anything. I'll jut have them pick it up when they come in this afternoon."
When the big kids walked in, I asked John to run out in the yard and bring in the scarf. He went out with no argument but did not come back in. I threw open the back door to find out what was taking so long. He was laughing a big, deep belly laugh with his arms loaded with not only the scarf but hats, dirty undies, socks, uniforms, doll clothes, gloves, etc. I could not figure it out at first. How had all of these things ended up in the yard? Then I looked up and saw a hole in the screen. Remember when I said the weather had been nice? We had the windows cracked open to let in fresh air.
Kate denied any wrong doing. "I didn't do it. It wasn't me." I put her in her room with the door open and Mary (age 13) posted outside. Before I left her, she admitted that she had helped along a small tear in the screen and shoved the clothes out while making her office tidy. I told her that she could have been hurt and that screens were there to keep bugs and critters out of the house. That may have been a mistake because after she had taken full responsibility with me and Daddy, she recanted and blamed the squirrels. We keep her windows closed now.
There is always a price to pay for every moment of peace I steal.
A few of the times I considered blogging include:
One day in the car, I realized that every time Kate (age 4) starts a conversation with me she says, "When I am mom, I am going to..."
"...chew gum and drink Coke."
"...live in a tree house."
"...have two dogs and one is going to be a weiner dog."
"...have candy in my house."
"...bake cakes and pies."
"...have babies but no kids and no dad."
John says, "The thing about babies, Kate, is that they grow up to be kids."
Another gem:
John's (age 6) pre-K teachers from last year asked him and his friend in jest if they wanted to teach class one morning. John's friend giggled and said, "Oh, you're so funny," to the teacher. John said, "Sure. Why not?"
He walked to the front of the class, introduced himself, assured them that he knew what he was doing because he had been to pre-K and proceeded to teach them all about fog. It reminded me of a college public speaking course I took. One day the instructor sent us the the front of the classroom one at a time and gave us each a topic. One topic I remember was dust bunnies. The student who could speak the longest without using um, er, like, you know, etc. won the admiration of the class and instructor. John would have excelled.
One last story for today:
One afternoon a few weeks ago, Kate and I were reading in my bed. I was so sleepy, I asked her if she wanted to rest with me and to my surprise, she said, "Okay, Mommy." She was no fun to sleep with as she kept tossing, turning, kissing me, and touching my face with her hands, including the one with the finger she sucks.
I asked her if she would like to rest in her room and she said, "Okay, Mommy." And she headed down the hall to her room where she made no noise and let me rest for 20 minutes or so before I shook off the fog enough to remember that Kate does really naughty things when she is quiet.
I walked down to her room and the door was opened. Her room was neat, and she had set up a little office with a V-Tech computer and lap desk. My heart was so warmed. It was one of those sweet moments a mom holds in memory. I asked her if she wanted to play with Play-do on the back stoop, and she was so happy because I truly don't like the mess she makes with Play-do. I was high on good feelings. She sat right outside the door while I read my book just inside the door at our big kitchen table. I could hear that sweet child singing her made up song about pink and rainbows and princesses and candy.
Just before the big kids walked in the door from the bus, I peeked out another window to the back yard and noticed a scarf that Julia had worn when she had cancer and no hair. I thought "That's odd," but the weather had been so nice, and the kids had been playing out so much, and I was so feeling so happy and content that I just thought, "Oh well, they've been playing one of their make believe games called 'Poor Little Girls Who Don't Have a Mother' (I know this bears some explanation. Another post...) so I won't say anything. I'll jut have them pick it up when they come in this afternoon."
When the big kids walked in, I asked John to run out in the yard and bring in the scarf. He went out with no argument but did not come back in. I threw open the back door to find out what was taking so long. He was laughing a big, deep belly laugh with his arms loaded with not only the scarf but hats, dirty undies, socks, uniforms, doll clothes, gloves, etc. I could not figure it out at first. How had all of these things ended up in the yard? Then I looked up and saw a hole in the screen. Remember when I said the weather had been nice? We had the windows cracked open to let in fresh air.
Kate denied any wrong doing. "I didn't do it. It wasn't me." I put her in her room with the door open and Mary (age 13) posted outside. Before I left her, she admitted that she had helped along a small tear in the screen and shoved the clothes out while making her office tidy. I told her that she could have been hurt and that screens were there to keep bugs and critters out of the house. That may have been a mistake because after she had taken full responsibility with me and Daddy, she recanted and blamed the squirrels. We keep her windows closed now.
There is always a price to pay for every moment of peace I steal.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Bar...
I was a first year law student when I found out I was expecting my first child. I chose to go to law school because I thought it was the most prestigious career path for someone with my skill set. Had I known then what I know now, I might have made other education choices.
The initial plan was for me to take a year off in order to care for our new baby with the freedom to breastfeed and catch sleep without worrying about keeping up with reading, preparing for class, or attending lectures. As the year went on, I realized that there was nothing in the law that captivated me so much that I would leave my baby in another's care, and because it was not necessary that I work for our financial security, I decided not to go back when that year ended. Instead, we moved to Ohio and planned to have a second child, which we did, two and a half years after our first. She was the only planned pregnancy we had.
The third, fourth, and fifth followed at two year intervals. I would finish nursing one and be pregnant shortly after. Yes, we had to endure a fair amount of teasing and rude comments. "You sure have your hands full." "You aren't going to have anymore are you?" Or, my favorite, "Don't you know how that happens?" Most of the time, I smiled and gave a non-committal nod. Sometimes, I used a borrowed, "We can't even hold hands or wash our underclothes together." Or on occasion, I would reply, "Oh yes, we SURE do."
I have said, in an attempt to sound witty, that I chose prolific procreation over juris prudence, but now I spend much of my time engaged in alternative dispute resolution, which is true except that to say "I chose prolific procreation" is a bit overstated.
I have been blessed with five children, and this blog will be an outlet for me to write about my experiences as a mother and our adventures as a family. It is not a manifesto on motherhood or parenting. When my oldest was an infant and through her toddler years, I acted as though I had personally invented motherhood, which is why she will need the most therapy. As the years go on, I realize that I have a lot to learn. Now my philosophy is that we should do the very best we can at the time with what we have in terms of time, talent, or treasure.
Rather than offering advice, I simply hope to entertain you or perhaps let you learn from my mistakes or just let you know that there is someone else who has trampled this path before you.
I have a head full of stories that I have been meaning to write and share. Those will have to wait for another day. Until later...
The initial plan was for me to take a year off in order to care for our new baby with the freedom to breastfeed and catch sleep without worrying about keeping up with reading, preparing for class, or attending lectures. As the year went on, I realized that there was nothing in the law that captivated me so much that I would leave my baby in another's care, and because it was not necessary that I work for our financial security, I decided not to go back when that year ended. Instead, we moved to Ohio and planned to have a second child, which we did, two and a half years after our first. She was the only planned pregnancy we had.
The third, fourth, and fifth followed at two year intervals. I would finish nursing one and be pregnant shortly after. Yes, we had to endure a fair amount of teasing and rude comments. "You sure have your hands full." "You aren't going to have anymore are you?" Or, my favorite, "Don't you know how that happens?" Most of the time, I smiled and gave a non-committal nod. Sometimes, I used a borrowed, "We can't even hold hands or wash our underclothes together." Or on occasion, I would reply, "Oh yes, we SURE do."
I have said, in an attempt to sound witty, that I chose prolific procreation over juris prudence, but now I spend much of my time engaged in alternative dispute resolution, which is true except that to say "I chose prolific procreation" is a bit overstated.
I have been blessed with five children, and this blog will be an outlet for me to write about my experiences as a mother and our adventures as a family. It is not a manifesto on motherhood or parenting. When my oldest was an infant and through her toddler years, I acted as though I had personally invented motherhood, which is why she will need the most therapy. As the years go on, I realize that I have a lot to learn. Now my philosophy is that we should do the very best we can at the time with what we have in terms of time, talent, or treasure.
Rather than offering advice, I simply hope to entertain you or perhaps let you learn from my mistakes or just let you know that there is someone else who has trampled this path before you.
I have a head full of stories that I have been meaning to write and share. Those will have to wait for another day. Until later...
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