I have been caught. I say things that my kids don't understand. I don't think about what I am saying, I just say it thinking I understand, they should too, right? So maybe not! Yesterday Emma reminded me how different her perception and understanding are from mine! Let me illustrate with this little story. I hope it makes you laugh because I am still laughing every time I think about it. Be patient with me as I try to describe the events in this story. If I had a video, it would
be much better, however, finding myself struck with a bad case of dumbfoundedness, I wasn't thinking fast enough to video this exchange. At the time, I couldn't think much beyond "did that just happen?" or "did she just do what I thought she did?"
So yesterday morning, I got home from a meeting and had a pounding headache. Of course the girls were intent on being uncooperative and had been from the moment they had opened their eyes! Not being able to think straight, I told the girls, "Mommy has a headache, and is tired, so you better not cross me today!" Can you see where this is going? Of course I didn't think twice about what I just said, and I definitely did not think about how the girls would interpret my statement. I guess that joke was on me. I just happened to glance over at her. At first glance it looked as if she was just waving her hand around in the air as she has been known to do on occasion. A few seconds passed as he continued. I soon realized exactly what she was doing. She had one finger out as if she were writing with her finger. She was moving her finger the in the shape of a T or a cross. She was crossing me! I couldn't believe it! Luckily for her I saw the humor in the situation. I couldn't stop laughing (and am still laughing!), the whole thing was too funny! I quickly forgot about my headache as we were consumed with laughter.
Maybe I should think about things from their perspective more often!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Spring is in the Air!
Warm weather! Ahhh . . . we love the warm weather! We love to be outside in the sunshine. Because I have been outside more, computer activities have been limited the past few days! But, I thought I would list some of the things we love to do in the spring!
We love:
Taking walks after dinner, riding bikes, going to the zoo, writing messages with sidewalk chalk, playing on the swing-set, going to the park, walking to and from school (which we have not started yet, but we will soon!), blowing bubbles, and many more.
We have enjoyed most of these activities since the kids have very limited attention spans. This limitation allows us to participate in many different activities each day! On Saturday I thought it would be fun to take the kids to the zoo. I just didn't think so many other people would be as brilliant as I am! I got to the zoo and drove around for ten to fifteen minutes just looking for a parking spot! Yikes. I couldn't believe how busy it was! But it was so worth it. The kids enjoyed it. Amber walked around with the zoo map telling us where we should go. Interesting that all she really wanted to see was the black bear!
We took a walk after dinner on Sunday. But didn't get too far as we stopped to talk to a neighbor along the way! Oops. John had been gone. Upon arriving home and finding us still missing he came to find us. It was a good thing we took the same route we usually take, despite pleas from Amber to take a different way!
Amber has loved being outside. She has been so cute with Timothy. She is teaching him to go down the slide. She holds on to him as he goes down so he doesn't fall off the side. She has also fetched him from the street multiple times. Timothy has a fascination with the street! It is a good thing I live in a cul-de-sac where the traffic is very limited! He got mad at me today when I wouldn't let him play in the backyard by himself. He was in heaven when the girls decided they wanted to play on the swing-set! Timothy is happiest when he can just wander. He hasn't quite covered the entire backyard, but he is coming close! Maybe tomorrow!
Sorry no pictures again. I need to get back outside and supervise the activities out there. While I am sure they can take care of themselves, I don't want to leave them out there by themselves for too long! They need to know I am watching them still! Toodle doo for now! Another update sure to come soon.
We love:
Taking walks after dinner, riding bikes, going to the zoo, writing messages with sidewalk chalk, playing on the swing-set, going to the park, walking to and from school (which we have not started yet, but we will soon!), blowing bubbles, and many more.
We have enjoyed most of these activities since the kids have very limited attention spans. This limitation allows us to participate in many different activities each day! On Saturday I thought it would be fun to take the kids to the zoo. I just didn't think so many other people would be as brilliant as I am! I got to the zoo and drove around for ten to fifteen minutes just looking for a parking spot! Yikes. I couldn't believe how busy it was! But it was so worth it. The kids enjoyed it. Amber walked around with the zoo map telling us where we should go. Interesting that all she really wanted to see was the black bear!
We took a walk after dinner on Sunday. But didn't get too far as we stopped to talk to a neighbor along the way! Oops. John had been gone. Upon arriving home and finding us still missing he came to find us. It was a good thing we took the same route we usually take, despite pleas from Amber to take a different way!
Amber has loved being outside. She has been so cute with Timothy. She is teaching him to go down the slide. She holds on to him as he goes down so he doesn't fall off the side. She has also fetched him from the street multiple times. Timothy has a fascination with the street! It is a good thing I live in a cul-de-sac where the traffic is very limited! He got mad at me today when I wouldn't let him play in the backyard by himself. He was in heaven when the girls decided they wanted to play on the swing-set! Timothy is happiest when he can just wander. He hasn't quite covered the entire backyard, but he is coming close! Maybe tomorrow!
Sorry no pictures again. I need to get back outside and supervise the activities out there. While I am sure they can take care of themselves, I don't want to leave them out there by themselves for too long! They need to know I am watching them still! Toodle doo for now! Another update sure to come soon.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Amber's Birthday party
You could not have convinced me six years ago that I would feel more pain at my daughter's disappointments than she would. But, six years and one birthday party later, I am utterly convinced! Amber was so adamant about having a birthday party this year with friends. I hesitated, fearing the inevitable. Somehow it seems that when I plan things, everything goes awry, only ending in disappointment. However, I wanted to shield Amber from any and all possible disappointments this time. She has already had her share of mistreatment and disappointment in school. I just didn't want her to be hurt once again.
But, being a mom, I sucked it up and helped her invite five friends to her little party. She then proceeded to plan games and activities for her party! She wanted to plan most of it. So I encouraged her plans and guided her to appropriate activities. Then we sat back to wait. The party started at 11 a.m. One friend came. 10 minutes later I put on a movie for Amber and her friend. The other games Amber planned required more people to play!
11:15, still only one friend. John went to get pizza as planned.
11:20, Amber asks for the 10th time, "Where is everybody else, are they coming?" I didn't know what to say. I told her I thought they were coming, but we would just wait and see. We would just watch a movie until they got here!
11:30, John got home with pizza, still only one friend. Pizza put in oven to keep warm.
Shortly after John got home, one more friend showed up! Amber was in heaven. Finally, two friends! Yay. She didn't have to wonder anymore if her friends really wanted to come to her party.
12:00, an hour after the party started, Amber's last friend came. A total of three friends came.
To me, three friends is a good number for the first time having a birthday party with friends. the hard part for me, as the mom, was watching her and hearing the disappointment in her voice when she wondered if anybody was going to come. How do I help her at that point? I was at such a loss. I wanted to cuddle up with her and tell her it was all okay, but if only one person had come, she would have been forever scarred! She is such a sensitive little girl. No, she is not anything like me! Haha.
Despite the disappointing start to Amber's party, she had a splendid party. Once her friends were here, they all had a lot of fun. We ate pizza, played musical chairs, played animal charades, and decorated gift bags to take goodies home in. We had brownie cake and homemade icecream. Amber and her friends played with barbies, to the dismay of the one boy at her party. But he found other things to play with, and didn't seem too put out that the girls played with barbies! Whew, I was worried for a bit.
Everybody went home, and I still felt bad about the fiasco with no guests for her party! I'm glad Amber is so resilient and bounces back so quickly from disappointment. I surely don't. Next time I'm not sure I will bend when she is so adamant about having a party. I can handle the disappointment much better if it comes from me rather than others. I can control what happens when it comes from me, but not from others. I know I can't shield her forever, but I sure wish I didn't have to let her be hurt!
I have pictures, but blogger is not letting me post my slideshow from picasa, so no pictures today!
But, being a mom, I sucked it up and helped her invite five friends to her little party. She then proceeded to plan games and activities for her party! She wanted to plan most of it. So I encouraged her plans and guided her to appropriate activities. Then we sat back to wait. The party started at 11 a.m. One friend came. 10 minutes later I put on a movie for Amber and her friend. The other games Amber planned required more people to play!
11:15, still only one friend. John went to get pizza as planned.
11:20, Amber asks for the 10th time, "Where is everybody else, are they coming?" I didn't know what to say. I told her I thought they were coming, but we would just wait and see. We would just watch a movie until they got here!
11:30, John got home with pizza, still only one friend. Pizza put in oven to keep warm.
Shortly after John got home, one more friend showed up! Amber was in heaven. Finally, two friends! Yay. She didn't have to wonder anymore if her friends really wanted to come to her party.
12:00, an hour after the party started, Amber's last friend came. A total of three friends came.
To me, three friends is a good number for the first time having a birthday party with friends. the hard part for me, as the mom, was watching her and hearing the disappointment in her voice when she wondered if anybody was going to come. How do I help her at that point? I was at such a loss. I wanted to cuddle up with her and tell her it was all okay, but if only one person had come, she would have been forever scarred! She is such a sensitive little girl. No, she is not anything like me! Haha.
Despite the disappointing start to Amber's party, she had a splendid party. Once her friends were here, they all had a lot of fun. We ate pizza, played musical chairs, played animal charades, and decorated gift bags to take goodies home in. We had brownie cake and homemade icecream. Amber and her friends played with barbies, to the dismay of the one boy at her party. But he found other things to play with, and didn't seem too put out that the girls played with barbies! Whew, I was worried for a bit.
Everybody went home, and I still felt bad about the fiasco with no guests for her party! I'm glad Amber is so resilient and bounces back so quickly from disappointment. I surely don't. Next time I'm not sure I will bend when she is so adamant about having a party. I can handle the disappointment much better if it comes from me rather than others. I can control what happens when it comes from me, but not from others. I know I can't shield her forever, but I sure wish I didn't have to let her be hurt!
I have pictures, but blogger is not letting me post my slideshow from picasa, so no pictures today!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)