A Little Wacky

Jim thinks it's weird that I remember the way my first grade teacher would hug us as we came into class.
He thinks it's weird that I remember the name of a certain boy, in second grade, stealing my vowel squares, so I couldn't make any words.  He thinks it's weird that I remember the name of almost every teacher I ever had.  He thinks it's weird that I remember books from my childhood in vivid detail.

I think it's weird that he doesn't.

Lately, I've been getting books for Dylan from the library each Monday.  This past Monday, when I saw the book "Wacky Wednesday" on the shelf, the memories came rushing back.  I'm not sure how old I was when I got the book out from the library, but before I even opened the book, I remembered what was on the first page.  I remembered loving the book as a kid.  I remembered how silly I thought it was, and how fun I thought it was to try and find all the wacky things on each page.  I grabbed it to bring home.

Dylan is a very discerning reader.  He will often decide he doesn't even want to look inside a book, simply by looking at the cover.  If the book doesn't feature a character he already knows and loves, it might take me a bit on convincing to get him to "allow" me to read it to him.  That was the case with this book.  But, I know my kid, and all I had to say was, "It's really SILLY!", to get him interested.

At this age, anything that is not quite "right", or that doesn't make sense, is "silly", and usually results in loads of giggles.  The book was a hit.  After reading it a few bazillion times, he had to make his own "wacky" drawing.

We've also been looking for "wacky" things all around the house.  "This huge pile of papers on the kitchen table, where I need to put dinner?  Well, that's just WACKY!!", I yell, followed by a round of giggles from my sidekick.  "This dustbunny on the floor in the bedroom that could probably eat a small child?!  WACKY!"  "The fact that I am the only one who seems to understand that the things on the bottom steps are there because they need to go upstairs?  WACKY!!"

There's a lot of wacky things going on in this house.  I really should have posted this post on Wednesday, instead of a Thursday, but I ran out of time.   I'm wacky like that.

Mommy Books

The past few weeks, I've been getting books from the library, for me to read to Dylan.  I don't spend a lot of time looking for books to check out.  I don't have a lot of time, with Mr. Impatient at my side.  Usually something will just catch my eye - a title, the cover picture, an author - that will make me grab the book.  I very rarely read them before bringing them home, which is nice, because Dylan and I get to experience the book together for the first time.  I've been checking out 7 books a week.  Some are duds, and are only read once.  Some are okay.  This week's pile brought two complete gems that I have to tell you about.


The first, which I read to him on Sunday, is "Mama Says", by Rob D. Walker.  On the book itself, it says "A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons", and that is exactly what it is.  If you have a son, you need this book.  I also think it would be perfect as a gift from a grown man to his mom.  Because I couldn't say it any better, this is how the website describes it...


"In this elegant expression of wisdom and love, mothers around the world share lifes simplest yet important lessons with their sons. With Leo and Diane Dillons magnificent paintings, these moments of sharing are profound, engrossing, and a tender display of hope and trust, strength and support. Each verse presents a different family and is translated into a language related to their culture. Whether Cherokee or Korean or American, true love between parent and child transcends our differences and unites us all."


Before I talk about the second book, I should tell you I don't LOVE my job.  I do what I do, (being a part time nanny), because it allows me to make enough money to stay home with Dylan Wednesday through Friday.  I cherish the time that I am getting to spend with him while he is young.  I try to make that time extra special because I know how fast that time will go.  So, when it is sunny and beautiful on Monday and Tuesday, and cold and rainy on Wednesday, I get a bit grumpy.  Today I decided to hell with the rain, we would enjoy the day anyway.  We went to Barnes & Nobles for story time and to play with the train.  When we got home, we snuggled under a blanket to read "Let's Go On A Mommy Date", by Karen Kingsbury, and I cried while reading it.  By the end, my voice was an octave higher,  the tears were streaming down my cheek, and I had to explain to Dylan that sometimes people cry when they are happy.


"See, time will take you far from here; you're growing way too fast.
All I want is Mommy time to make the moments last.
Something we'll remember so that come some far-off day,
you'll know how much I loved you 'cause we took the time to play."

Memorial Day Weekend

What we did this weekend...

(Went to a picnic/birthday party, and watched Dylan play with his second cousins).

(Spent some time enjoying nature, and throwing rocks in the stream).

(Ran through the sprinkler.  Or, in Dylan's case, tiptoed AROUND the sprinkler, not wanting to get his face wet).

(Jim and my dad planted 12 more of those trees in the background.  Then, we all went to Dylan's favorite restaurant - Eat N Park)

(Finally got the water table set up in the yard, and ordered a sandbox, which should be arriving any day now!)

(Spent some time reading.  No, it's not one of the ones I bought at the library.  I found out the Mom's Club I belong to is going to discuss it at the next book club meeting, and decided to see if the library had it.  I walked up to the librarian and asked her "Do you have a soft place to land?"  Yep, I did.  What was I thinking?  You should have seen the look she gave me!  After I clarified, "Uh, the book?", we both started cracking up.  I should finish it today).

The weekend went by way too fast, even with the extra day.  What did you do?  Hope you enjoyed it!

A Little Help?

One thing I've learned about this world of mommy bloggers, is that there is a wealth of information out there!  If I have a question, chances are that at least one of you has the answer.  Here are the three I'm throwing out into the blogosphere today...

Jim and I are hooked on way too many TV shows.  But, most of them will be ending very soon.  There are only two that I know of that we will want to watch in the summer months, so I told Jim that my goal this summer is to READ.  Books, oh, how I have missed you!  Okay, I have managed to read a few this year, but now I mean business.  I was wondering how to go about my plan.  We didn't really have the money for me to buy a stack of new books at the bookstore.  I could check out books at the library, but that meant probably reading older books, and having to remember to return them on time.  I could also borrow books from friends, but I am a defiler.  I like to have the freedom to mark up my books.  I underline things I want to remember.  I highlight great lines.  Don't even get me started on Kindle because ACK! RIDICULOUS!

Then, I hit the jackpot!  The library was having a used book sale.  I scored this pile for $9.50!  (Squeal!)

Oh, I did say something about a question, didn't I?  The question is...

1.  Has anyone read any of these?  Please NO SPOILERS or I will have to hurt you, but could you just tell me, a. Awesome book - read that one first, or b. Don't bother unless you enjoy wasting hours of your life.
If you can't see those, here's the list...

-Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult
-All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, Janelle Brown
-Breath, Eyes, Memory, Danticat
-Every Last Cuckoo, Kate Maloy
-Can You Keep A Secret?, Sophie Kinsella
-Firefly Lane, Kristin Hannah
-Swapping Lives, Jane Green
-The Ten-Year Nap, Meg Wolitzer
-The Year Of Fog, Michelle Richmond
-Remember Me?, Sophie Kinsella

2.  We went to the birthday party of Dylan's best buddy yesterday.  He turned three.  There were five other three year olds there.  Here's the thing, none of them really played with each other that much.  They were all in the same space, but playing separately, for the most part.  Those of you with kids three or older, do they suddenly hit four and become more social, because I taught four year olds and I remember them playing together more?

3.  I went to get my hair done last weekend.  Five minutes before I left, I realized I had only shaved ONE leg.  I could grate cheese with the other one.  I'm not the only person who has done this, right?  RIGHT?!

Simple

When you look at this picture, what do you think, and more importantly, how do you feel? Do you feel confused, bored, slightly agitated and restless? Or, do you feel content, peaceful, connected? Now, imagine yourself and your child/children in the scene. How do you think they would feel?

I was reading the book one evening, "Simplicity Parenting", by Kim John Payne, and Lisa M. Ross, and Dylan came over. "What are you reading?", he asked. "Can I see it?" When he looked at the picture, he asked, "What are they doing?" I countered, "What do YOU think they are doing?" "They're going to go swimming!", he answered excitedly. "Well, maybe. Or maybe, they're just sitting there talking, or maybe they are just listening", I told him. "Listening to what?", he asked. "Well, what might they hear? Maybe a bird chirping, or the wind blowing through the trees?" "Or a train going WOOOO!", he shouted. I smiled, pleased that although his first instinct was to assume they needed to do something active (go swimming), he could also entertain the idea of them "just listening".

How often do we get to do that, as adults? Just listen? How often do our children get to "just listen"? To just BE in the moment? So often, we are all scurrying around like frantic little ants, rushing to get from one activity to the next. How many times in our week do we find ourselves in traffic/in line at the grocery store/ waiting at the door for our children - our heart beating, our pulse racing, our hands clenched? Wondering "Why can't they hurry up? I have somewhere I need to be!" How many times a week do we find ourselves admonishing our children to "HURRY UP!"

I find myself longing for more time to "just listen". To just be in the moment, not rushing or anticipating. I long for things to be just a little more... simple. When I passed by this book, on the shelf at a bookstore I could only be in for a few moments because I was in a hurry, the picture spoke to me. I stared at it, transfixed. I imagined the beauty of that moment, shared by a father and his son, whether they talked or not. Then I smiled, thinking of a moment I had like that, years and years ago.

A good friend of mine from college and I were working at a camp. One day, everyone was going to get together and play softball. My friend convinced me to go exploring, instead. We wandered off through the woods, talking and laughing when we suddenly came to a spot that made us both stop. There was a brook, surrounded by trees, with the sunlight flickering off the water, and a waterfall up ahead. Without saying a word to each other, we sat down on a big, flat rock, and that is where we stayed for probably around 40 minutes. Neither of us said a word, but we shared a moment there.. just listening. When we finally left, she turned to me, hugged me, and said "Thank you. I really needed that, and I needed you to be with me".

Standing there in that bookstore, I imagined what simplifying my life and my child's life would feel like. I imagined him... one day... hugging me and saying "Thank you. I really needed that". It's so simple, really. Simple.

If My Books Could Talk

Sometimes I almost think that inanimate objects can talk. I know they can't, but if they could, this is what my books have been saying lately...


A Book's Plea

Look at me,
on a shelf I sit.

I've been sitting here
for quite a bit.

Inside of me
wild adventure looms.

But I just sit
in dusty rooms.

I tell a tale
of love so sweet.

Star-crossed souls
destined to meet.

Or a story
of great suspense,

With twists and turns
that are quite intense.

I hold passion,
horror, and mystery.

Poems written
with subtlety.

Turn off your computer.
Turn off your TV.

Put down your cell,
and spend time with me.

Grab a drink,
climb into bed.

It's time your
love of words was fed.

Some Kind of Spurt

I know that kids go through growth spurts, but do they go through learning spurts? If so, that is what was going on with Dylan yesterday. He didn't play with a single toy all day. All he wanted to do was gather information. He was like a little alien, sent to earth to gather data on our planet. "Must...learn...more...meep...Need...more...books...meep...need...more...flashcards...meep".

I swear that I read him every toddler appropriate book in the house, (and we have a lot!) Then, he shoved flashcards at me, over and over, plopping his little learning butt in my lap. I finally had to take the crazy kid to the library. He ran into the children's section shouting, "Books, Mommy!" After reading every book in our house, my excitement must have been a bit lacking, because he pulled on my arm until I finally put the appropriate amount of enthusiasm in my voice and agreed, "Yes! Books, Dylan!"

I started singing him a song, later - "The Wheels on the Bus". He's heard it many, many times before, but he usually just stared at me, probably wondering why my singing voice is so bad. Yesterday, out of nowhere, he sang the whole song, over and over again. Of course, I had to get him to do it for Jim when he got home...

Storytelling

Well, since I am still living in the Land of Books over here, guess what this post is going to be about? Are you sick of this yet? Sorry, I can't hear you. So, I'm sure you said, "No, Jen, please tell us more about books!" Well, okay, since you asked so nicely. Actually, since I've been reading so many books lately, I've been thinking about the art of storytelling. You know how some people can tell a story, and you have to keep your eyelids pried open with toothpicks, while another person can tell the exact same story, and you laugh so hard you have to squeeze your legs tightly together and sit down quickly so you don't pee?

When I was in grad school training to get my degree in Elementary Education, I was videotaped teaching a group of second graders an art lesson. I read a story during the lesson. When I watched the video tape later, I just sat there in shock. The teacher I was working with was very nice, just saying I might want to "read the story with more excitement and variation in my voice". I said, "Holy crap! Am I really that boring?!" I set out to become a better storyteller, and to pat myself on the back a bit, I would say I definately succeeded.

When I worked as a preschool teacher in a room with two other teachers, we would take turns reading to the kids, while the other two set out lunch and the mats for nap time. Sometimes when telling a story, I like to use different voices for each character. One of the other teachers commented to me, "I can always tell when you are stressed out, because your voices get even crazier than usual!"

Once I read the book "The Rainbow Fish" to the kids. If you aren't familiar with it, it is about a fish with beautiful sparkly scales. The other fish admire his scales, but he is selfish and doesn't want to give them away. He learns the importance of giving to others. It's a great book. After I read the book, I started to ask the kids questions about the story. One question I asked was, "Why didn't the rainbow fish want to give his scales away at first?" A little boy raised his hand and confidently shouted out, "Because he was a shellfish!" Shellfish-Selfish-Tomato-Tomahto.

In the summers, we would take the kids to the nearby library once a week, and they would each get to choose one book to take out. A child asked one of my coworkers if she would read the book he selected before lunch, so she began the story. Suddenly, she stammered and paused, and I looked over at her. Her face was red, and her eyes were looking at the page in surprise. She was reading about a kid whose grandpa was in the hospital, or something, and suddenly they were all at a huge party having fun. When she held the book up, (very quickly), to show the picture, I noticed all the people at the "party" were wearing black! Watching her ad lib the rest of the story was hilarious!

Another time, it was my turn to read before lunch, and I read them the book "The Paper Bag Princess". In the book, the princess is engaged to marry Ronald, the prince, but she discovers that he really doesn't care about her, and that he is much too concerned with her looks and what she is wearing. The line in the story is, "Prince Ronald, you may look like a prince, but you're really a bum". Shortly after I read the book, my coworkers husband came to visit for the very first time - to see where his lovely wife worked, and see the adorable children she talked about everyday. He came over nervously to sit beside her, and she introduced him, "Everyone, this is my husband Ron". The kids shouted out, "YOU'RE A BUM!!" Funny, I don't recall him visiting much after that.

I have been collecting children's books for a long time, and once, before Dylan came along, I asked Jim to read me one of the books. He abliged, nervously, and started reading a story about a bear to me. He was really trying. I'm sure he felt I was critiquing him, and evaluating his future worth as a father. He read one part, "Then, the bear closed his beddy little eyes". While trying not to bust out laughing, I gently asked, "His what?" "Um, his beddy, err his beady little eyes!", came his reply with the sheepish embarassed grin that I love. He has really improved since Dylan came along. Well, we certainly get enough practice.

Can't Handle the Cuteness

Since turning one, Dylan has been the pinnacle of cuteness, learning new tricks, and doing cute stuff all over the place. My tombstone will read something like this..."Here lies Jen. Her son was so cute, it killed her". He's cute with the helmet on, don't get me wrong, but when I take it off it's like looking directly at the sun. Must.Shield.My.Eyes.From.The.Cuteness. What I don't understand is, how did this happen? I never thought of myself as ugly, but I'm no Angelina, and Jim, while Gorgeous in my eyes, is no Brad, but when I look at Dylan I suddenly feel more Angelina-like, (lips poofing and boobs busting out of my too small bra).

This child, (who for the first four months of his colic filled life, cried with such intensity I thought my head would explode and splatter all over his meticulously painted nursery), can now make me melt with just a smile, or a laugh, or a touch. I'm weak at the knees and my heart's all a flutter. I haven't felt this way since I discovered Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street! Love - what a miraculous emotion.

He's been cruising around the furniture for a long time, and taking a few steps before tumbling awkwardly to the ground. But, on Thanksgiving, he started walking! Dylan's walk is comparable to that of a drunken sailor, or a guy doing a line dance. A few steps to the front, two steps to the left, two steps to the right, one step back, and shimmy, shimmy, shimmy! The look of pure glee when he does it is what gets me. Who knew walking could be so exciting?

This kid LOVES praise. When he figured out how to get his blocks into the square hole, on one of his toys, Jim and I were sitting there watching him, and we were so excited, we raised our arms up in the air and shouted "YAY!". You should've seen the look on his face, like "Now that's what I"m talking about!". He did another one, and looked at us. "YAY". Another one. "YAY"! Jim: "You realize we're going to have to do this EVERY time now?". Yep, and we do, and he still LOVES it.

Another thing he loves is books. As a person who would probably rather go to a bookstore than an amusement park (Yes, I am a nerd), the fact that he loves books makes me float around in mommy euphoria. He will sit and look at one after the other, after the other, and he is very discerning about it too. Not just any book will do. It has to have style, substance, and wit. Well, okay, the criteria might actually be tastes good to chew, has bright colors, and has pages that are easy to turn, but whatever. I read to him before his naps, and his daddy reads to him before bedtime. As soon as I sit in the chair he squeals, grabs a book and tries to climb up my legs into my lap.

He also likes to sit on the floor, surrounded by ALL of his books. I say ALL, because he never leaves any books on the shelves. I envision my clumsy self, stepping on a book and sliding across the floor on it, my body airborne, my arms flailing, so I put the books back on the shelves. This is what I imagine is going on in Dylan's brain. He is lying in the crib, snuggling the bumper pad, about to doze off into dreamland, when suddenly he senses something isn't quite right. His eyes shoot open, and he quickly scans the room, when suddenly he sees it! A clean floor! "Now how the heck did that happen"?, he thinks. "Who the hell put the books on the bookshelf? They don't belong there! What are these people trying to do to me? I am going to get out of this crib right now and put them back where they belong - ON THE FLOOR. If I can just lift my head. Oh, I'm so tired. I'll do it in a minute". His eyes start to flutter. "There is no way I'm going to be able to sleep with those books on the ....ZZZZZzzzzz".