A Journey through Summer

One of my goals for summer was to read some books for entertainment.  I have been reading books, articles, watching webinars, all about birth and breastfeeding.  Staying current for my work is important and leaves little time for getting lost in a book. But sometimes you need to get lost in a book.  Create time and space so the world can stand still while you explore another one.  So, I placed a book from my ever growing reading list on hold at the library and picked it up yesterday. The book is H Is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald.  I had seen a PBS program about her training goshawks, and it shared she had written an award winning book about her experiences.   Coming back to the present moment, it is nap/quiet time in the household on a Saturday afternoon.  Just what I needed, but the toddler has other ideas.  He can be half asleep on the floor downstairs, but the moment you take him to bed he perks up like a mom on her second cup ...

The kids were ready for a break. Summer has been fun with lots of energy, fun, and excitement. But the kids needed a break. Cue the Rainy Day.  Swimming lessons? No time in the pool today kids! Let's watch a safety video instead! Parents, you can sit outside, listen to the quiet roar of the rain on the patio roof, and smell the sweet aroma of the first summer rain. Boredom?  You can come back another day.  There are crafts the kids have been waiting for a rainy day to try. Nap time? Eh, let the kids relax, tucked in on the couch for a while. After dinner fun? Puddle jumping time, muddy toes, and practice riding new bikes. No rushing, no big agendas; just a rainy day. Thanks Summer.  We needed that.

Thoughts from the back seat Driving from one adventure to another lends itself to random questions and conversations.  The most intriguing question of the week was "where do our eyelids go when our eyes are open?"  A comparison to a garage door and self exploration led to a satisfactory answer.  I often leave the radio off so I can catch these bits of conversation.  Sometimes it is more entertaining than any radio show. Heart Exercises Swimming lessons kicked off this week.  The joyous cry of "Mommy, I can swim!" does a momma's heart good.  But on the other side, hearing your child beat themselves up for not being perfect in a technique can make your heart cry in sorrow.  It is a struggle we deal with regularly.  Creating small attainable goals like making a new friend in class and going just a bit farther than last time seem to help. Counting down the days My husband and I will be escaping in a few weeks for a much needed trip to res...

We are almost three weeks into the summer.  Routines are being established and lessons being learned.  Swimming lessons began today.  I am learning to focus a little less intensely at certain moments so the kids can figure their own ways.  By stepping back, my daughter shared her own voice in questions and concerns for the class. I have also taken on some tasks that I have been putting off for some time.  A bit of sewing for myself and a deep cleaning and reorganization of the kitchen cabinets.  With these drawing my focus the kids have become industrious in their creations, especially when teamwork is at play.    The youngest is beginning to understand games but is convinced he is supposed to win every game.  Lessons in losing and good sportsmanship are a work in progress. We are learning to pace ourselves.  Naps make for more successful afternoons and good choices.  Our next adventure will be bowling ag...

My brave adventures and I made a trek to Indianapolis this week to check out the Eiteljorg Museum.  We were also joined by my dad on our adventure.  I had often seen the statue out in front of the museum as we drove past towards other locations in the city, like the Indianapolis Zoo, an Indians baseball game, or the Indiana State Museum.  They are all located in the White River Gardens Park along the canal.  Still, in my many years I had yet to visit. With a budding artist and a child getting ready to learn Indiana history, I figured it would be a good experience for everyone.  In doing my research I found a post sharing that the first Tuesday of each month was Community Tuesdays where admission for children was free and discounted for adults.  Great!  I put the date on the calendar, ready to see some native American art and history. We packed a lunch and coloring pads and crayons to make their own art on the way to and from Indianapolis....

It never seems to fail that Mondays are hard. Except when your Monday is Tuesday due to a holiday, or an extra day off work, snow storms, etc. I have decided that it isn't Mondays themselves that is the issue, it is instead Weekend Whiplash. Weekend Whiplash:  the sudden change of inertia in daily activities causing painful adjustments to new pace of activities I used to love playing on the swings.  Swinging back and forth trying to touch the sky.  Loved it! Now I am not used to it anymore.  When I do swing the sensation of falling freaks me out and makes my stomach nauseous.  The same is for Weekend Whiplash.  The change makes you feel off and unsettled and it is reflected in your behavior.  It doesn't matter if you have the busiest weekend or the slowest and most relaxing; changing back to a different routine always messes you up.  And if you are a 3 year old or sensitive 7 year old? Forget about it, you are done even before the en...

  Summer time, for as long as I can remember included one constant activity.  Gardening   My dad always had some tomato plants along with some various combination of potatoes, strawberries, green beans, peas, asparagus, or pumpkin.  My mom always had her flowers out in the front of the house.  The planting with dad and weeding the flowers with mom are strong memories for me.  And I am sure the same is for my parents who also grew up with extensive gardens as well.   John and I have continued the tradition.  I have flowers out front, and John has grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, apple trees, and our largest venture; strawberries.  We created a large strawberry bed four or five years ago.  There has been a few fallow years while we tended to our other garden of kids.    This year is a refresher year for the strawberry bed,  We replaced plants and had a hard winter, so the number of productive pl...

"Don't forget me Mommy!" These words came out of my youngest child's mouth this evening as he prepared to go upstairs for bed with his Daddy.  Such simple words heavy with so much meaning.  I can't imagine forgetting the person that wakes me up each morning at 6:30AM and is one of the last people I see before I fall asleep.  But for this little guy, he needs the reassurance that Mommy will still be there when he needs me.  The evening had some rough moments.  Lessons being taught about not punching sister.  Tears of frustration for not getting his way.  Seeking comfort with mom, but being told milk time would have to wait until bed.  Being three can be so hard.  As parents we try to set good guidelines and examples and be there for reassurances when needed. Hence, the "Don't forget me Mommy!" request tonight.  Eventually he won't need mommy at bedtime.  Time with friends will replace time with mom.  An occasional cal...