So There!
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Lauren
Back in September, after just two short weeks of preschool, Lauren's teacher mentioned that we should think about having Lauren repeat preschool next year - yes, you read that right, repeat PRESCHOOL! In her opinion, while Lauren was doing well with the activities, she was having a rough time of it socially, particularly during unstructured time. She went on to say that, with a late summer birthday, Lauren is one of the youngest in the class as well as one of the smallest. Of course, between ourselves, Tony and I immediately launched into how there was no way we would have her repeat preschool. She would be so bored because she was already doing things kindergarteners were just learning. We also went over how, in just the last few months, Lauren had changed so much as far as being more social. She had separated from us during the summer recreation program, granted there were a few tears when I dropped her off vs. Tony dropping her off, but it went well after that first time. She had also ventured out to ask other kids to play with her and then was so proud of herself for doing so. And when preschool started, she would greet the other kids in the hall only to be met with blank stares.

A month later in October when we had a conference with the teacher and she brought up another year of preschool, we were ready with our examples of why we felt she didn't need another year. When she asked if Lauren talked much at home we said yes and that it was non-stop. When she brought up that she was going to put together a play date list, we said great and asked which kids in class were the more articulate ones. When she responded that she thought Lauren would be much better paired with the quieter kids, we pointed out that Lauren loves to play with older girls who actually converse with her. When she brought up Lauren's participation, or lack thereof, during playground time, we said maybe it was because she has never liked crowded play areas where she would be jostled or maybe because, as she told me numerous times, she just didn't want to. Why couldn't that be the reason? It certainly didn't have to be anything deeper than she just didn't want to. I believe we truly surprised her with our stories of how Lauren is outside of class.

Since that time, Lauren has ridden bikes with other kids in the gym. I've seen her talking to other kids while doing puzzles. She has ventured off her "home base" bench on the playground and actually played on the equipment. And, get this; just last week while listening to a story during circle time, she sat with her arm around another boy in class!! The teacher made a bee line for Tony after class and, beaming, said "It was so cute!" Lauren even went back in the classroom to say goodbye to M, they shared a little hug, and M said "See you Monday Lauren".

I guess that little comment I barely managed to utter to the teacher back at the beginning of the school year was right on the money. Once Lauren gets to know people, she does do much better. Repeat Preschool - HA!

So there Teacher!

Morbid Curiosity
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Cool
Here's a small article that really caught my attention. Photos of relatives who have passed - did they carry them around like we do wallet photos of our children? Or did they display them in their homes? Maybe they put them in a drawer for safe keeping only to be taken out when they felt the need to “see” their loved again. It seems to have served a purpose for those who needed it, but I don’t think it would be for me. You can’t tell from the web page, even when you click on the image to enlarge it, but the eyes on the baby in the casket are open. That would definitely bother me. Actually, I can understand a photo of someone in the casket, not that I would want that kind of photo, but the dead mother propped up to “hold” her infant is just too much for me. I can’t imagine posing, much less wanting, something like that. I would be appalled to come across a photo of me, as a child, being held by my dead mother. I certainly wouldn’t be able to shake that shudder out of my shoulders for the rest of my life.

Yet, I’m curious. So there’s definitely a trip to the Hennepin History Museum in my future. I think I’ll hit the postmortem display first and believe you me, I'll be sure to follow it up with "Hips, Pips and Strips: A Revealing History of Burlesque in Hennepin County" and Carrie’s “educated bosom”.

$$$$
Mood:  happy
Topic: Lauren
I was pleasantly surprised yesterday when Lauren demonstrated that she is beginning to understand the concept of money. After we divided a pocketful of coins into pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, I explained that they were 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, and 25 cents respectively. Then I quizzed her to see if she had grasped the concept. She knew a quarter was more than a dime or nickel and just to be sure she hadn't based her answers on the size of the coin, I held out a dime and a nickel. She knew a dime was more than a nickel. I even asked her how many pennies would make a nickel and she counted out five! All of this is well and good, but it could also be the start of a dangerous time. Right now when we go shopping and she finds something that she would like, she'll ask me how much it costs. Usually I hike up the price a bit, but not always, and she responds with "That's too much money". I've got her trained...trained for now anyway. I'm sure in the next year or so she'll put the rest of the puzzle together and when she can read and understand a price tag, I'm sure she'll call me on my antics. Hopefully by then she'll also understand need vs want.

Out Of TheMouths Of Preschoolers
Mood:  silly
Topic: Lauren
While admiring Tony's beard, Lauren's play dates told Tony that he looked like an elf. After I caught my breath and got up off the floor, I told him it could be considered a compliment to be told you look like an elf. They're nice, they're happy, and they spend their days singing, dancing, and making great toys for the good little boys and girls. And really, who wouldn't want to be a helper to the big guy at the North Pole?

Then, when I arrived home yesterday it was my turn. Lauren was excited to tell me that she had had a gingersnap cookie. She had never had one before and although she thought it was spicy, she liked it. When she asked me if I liked gingersnaps, I replied that I love them. "Oh," she said, "you're a spicy lover".

Hey, beats being an elf! At least I don't have to live where it's cold and I get to wear much cooler looking outfits.

And Then There Was Light
Mood:  cool
Speaking of Lauren's reaction when she finally understands today, tonight, and tomorrow brought back memories of the times I tutored students and saw the proverbial light bulb go on.

I started tutoring when I was in the 6th grade. Every Tuesday and Thursday I would go to other side of the school where the 3rd grade classes were held and I would tutor a few students in reading. I don't really remember how it began, whether I volunteered or I was volunteered by my teacher, but I thought it was fun. My next stint wasn't until my college years when the Spanish professor asked me to help out. I jumped at the chance because I remembered the fun I'd had way back when. Besides, it was considered work study and I would be paid! Some students just wanted someone to help with vocabulary memorization, some needed a bit more help with grammatical concepts, and some needed more help than I thought I could give. One man in particular was so in over his head; I often wondered why he didn't just give up and I have to admit, at times, I felt like steering him toward that end. He was older, a professional student, and he had the hardest time with even the simplest of concepts. Over and over again I tried to explain the difference between the verbs ser and estar (both mean to be, but ser indicates permanence while estar does not) and this gentleman simply could not grasp the concept. I will never forget the day he finally understood. I wanted to jump up and down and shout to the whole campus.

It was during these college years that I really began to "see" the students as they learned. I noticed many a look of frustration and determination on faces and in eyes as they struggled to create a grammatically correct sentence or simply to memorize vocabulary. But I also witnessed the joy, the pride, and the relief when they finally got it! You know what? It really does look like a light goes on and light spreads over their entire faces :-) I think I enjoyed their successes as much as they did. Although, in reality, I'm sure not even half as much.

Fess Up
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Lauren
Have you ever pulled a Calvin and Hobbes and tried to confuse your kids just for the fun of it? I love when Calvin's father does that! Or, hey, we could start our own game "Boggle Her Mind" aka Name That Tune. I can name that tune in four notes - I can boggle her mind in four words. Then tell her that tomorrow will be today.

Is Today Tonight?
Mood:  crushed out
Topic: Lauren
That is my all time favorite question from Lauren.

She generally asks it when we say she can watch a movie "tonight" and really, it makes sense in her world. She wants to know if that means she gets to watch one yet today, before she goes to bed. The other question I like is "Do you have to work tonight?" when she really means do you have to work tomorrow. Again it makes sense in her world since it's dark when I climb out of bed in the morning and to Lauren, dark equals night.

I've explained that one day is made up of a morning, afternoon, and evening, but the minute I mention a tonight, all bets are off. She shrugs her shoulders and says "I don't get it." So, I haven't quite hit upon the answer that will bring it all together for her, but, oh, when I do. I just can't wait to see her eyes twinkle and her smile brighten up her beautiful little face.

An Ass IsAn Ass Is An Ass
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Rants
I am embarrassed to say I’m from MN right now. In fact, I’m going to stop saying it. I’m going to say I’m from WI and live in MN (which is true). In case you haven’t heard, you can read about it here - the second page has most of the printable detail. If the allegations are true, then there are more than a few Minnesota Viking football players that deserve some punishment and not the slap on the wrist kind either. The good old fashioned kind. The “know you’ve done something wrong and you’re in big trouble now” kind. The “sweat it out until dad comes home” kind. As embarrassed as I am though, if having the story air across the nation (and internationally thanks to CNN) facilitates appropriate and adequate punishment, then great! I’m all for it!

What would be an appropriate and adequate punishment for their totally inappropriate and over the top behavior? I say fine them, suspend them, and then sue them. Hit them where it hurts. They love their money, their status, and their “power”. Fine them a year or two’s salary. Suspend them for the rest of the season or longer. Sue they’re asses off. And I think there needs to be a little something extra for those players that showed up at the press conference yesterday wearing a smirk and strutting around like what they did was harmless play. These players need to realize we are sick and tired of their juvenile exploits and the embarrassment that goes along with it. Obviously they have no shame.

Of course, not all the blame belongs on the players - the coaches, the owners, and the franchise should take some too. They are family men, they have children. What do they do when their children misbehave? If these players are going to behave like children, then treat them like children and dole out some consequences! Write conduct clauses into the contracts and back them up with action. They made a start by getting rid of Randy Moss, now they need to keep it going and deal with these others.

I may be in the minority with Jim Souhan now, but I certainly hope the minority is finally about to become the majority.

Silver Linings
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Lauren
I can't count the number of times Lauren has been on the verge of tears lately. Last week Monday her preschool teacher reported that Lauren had had a rough day and was on the verge of tears for the whole class. Apparently Lauren has formed quite a bond with the student teacher and she was out sick that day. Of course, now the student teacher has been instructed to put some distance between herself and Lauren. I know it's the right thing to do, but I just hate to imagine my little girl in there feeling lonely.

Tuesday when I arrived at preschool there was a sign on the door indicating parents should pick up their children on the playground. As I walked toward the door, I happily imagined Lauren out there running around with the other kids burning off extra energy. What I found was disappointing, although not necessarily surprising. All the kids were running around making noise. All of them except Lauren. She was sitting on a bench all by herself watching the other kids, none of which even came near her. Of course, my mind immediately brought up the face she makes when she is about to cry - eyes filling with tears, mouth turned down at the corners, the beginnings of a sniffle. I watched for a couple minutes to see if maybe she was just resting. She wasn't. Later when I asked her about it, the only thing she would offer was that she hadn't wanted to play.

This last scene certainly gives me cause to revisit my prediction, but I know it's too early to do that. It's really only the second full week of preschool. I think most of the kids in her class have never been in daycare and, based on attendance during orientation day, not many of them have siblings. It's no wonder none of the kids talk or play with each other during class yet. Not only are they getting used to being away from their stay-at-home parent, but also to being in a class with so many other kids. Actually Lauren has already made a good start on initiating conversations with other kids. She goes right up to other girls in her class while we're waiting for class to start and says hello. I have to believe that will continue to progress and eventually translate to play. While we were talking about class playtime and who she plays with (the student teacher) I tried to plant an idea in her mind of a way to do that by suggesting that next time she ask a classmate to join them. She seemed to like the idea. We'll see.

The tears are not just school related either. Lauren is also on the verge of tears when going to bed at night. For the last month our bedtime ritual has been to read a chapter from a book and then I leave for two minutes during which time Lauren reads two books on her own and hopefully drifts off to sleep. The ritual went well...for a while. Lately, when I leave, she gets teary, her mouth turns down, and her voice cracks as she says "bye bye mommy". Do you know how hard it is to continue with the ritual when presented with that sad little face?! So I give her an extra hug and I head out the door.

I totally understand how Lauren feels and my heart goes out to her, but there are some things she's just going to have to learn on her own. I know the right thing for me to do is to give her time and stay in the background ready with support and encouragement when she needs it. Besides, I'm sure it's just some sort of phase. A little black hovering rain cloud which has a silver lining because they always do. Here it is...just yesterday, out of the blue, Lauren explained to me what she does when she feels sad or lonely. "I calm myself down by thinking about something happy or something fun to do". It seems to me all of these teary episodes have helped Lauren learn an important life lesson about being positive and looking on the bright side.

Did You Know...
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Lauren
wild animals, tigers in particular, can have allergies to pollen? That's right, allergies. We heard it from Lauren the animal expert the other night at dinner. She wasn't too interested in eating much dinner, but that tiger was. At first he simply had a bent ear or chin and needed a bite of broccoli (taken in via Lauren's mouth) to straighten it out, but then he started getting thinner and he needed a bite of cauliflower for that. Eventually he was so thin he was almost disappearing and then he had to have a bite of chicken. It was when that didn't help that Lauren declared "He must have allergies to pollen". Poor tiger - doomed to waste away to nothing no matter how much he eats.