My Kind Of Man
Mood:  flirty
Topic: Lauren
We'd been talking to Lauren about the Beatles for a while which caused her to keep asking to hear some of their songs. So the other day I popped The Best of The Beatles into the CD player in the car and listen we did. Lauren seemed to be enjoying the music and I could tell she was really listening. How do I know? Because after Can't Buy Me Love finished she said "He is definitely not the man for me!" Between chuckles I had to ask whyand without hesitation Lauren replied that it’s because he wouldn’t be buying her diamonds and things. Wait you say, as I did, the lyrics are that he’ll buy a ring or anything that would make her feel alright. Well, that’s true it does say that but it goes on to say he would prefer that she say she doesn’t need a diamond ring and that she asks for things that money can’t buy. See? She was listening…all the way through. I was truly surprised. 

It doesn’t stop there either. The next song was A Hard Day’s Night after which she piped up. "He’s the man for me…maybe". Obviously unlike the man above, this guy would work all day to get money to buy things. She continued on "I like things. I want someone who is rich. He can go to work all day and I"ll stay home. Then when he comes home, I’ll make him coffee." Actually quite appalled at the thought of my daughter waiting on a man, I had to do my best to nip that notion in the bud. I pointed out that there are many other more important characteristics like if he’s nice to her and helps her. I even brought up the fact that she wants to be a scientist when she grow up. She wouldn’t go for it. For her, things, especially bright, sparkly things take precedence over all else and for that she'll need a rich man indeed.  Hey! Maybe she could put in a good word for the mother-in-law! 

The Dry Sponge Curriculum
Mood:  down
Topic: Rants

Just after we had eased by the "Reading is boring" situation, Lauren came home from school and announced, "Math is boring". And, really, who can blame her when the lesson of the day was which number is higher?

During Curriculum night, the teachers had mentioned that they use a system called everyday math which is supposed to help kids see how numbers fit into the real world. At the time I thought that sounded well and good. Then came the homework and I knew it was not going to be well and good. The number order homework was followed by: tally marks (i.e. lll = 3), find and count the thermometers in your house, write your phone number, and count the clocks in your house. 

These kids are 6 and 7 years old for crying out loud. Which number is higher...hmpf! They should be doing addition and subtraction! Everyday math is fine and dandy, but why can't that be supplemental to some good old fashioned math?  These kid’s brains are sponges ready to soak up anything and everything, why not throw in something more complicated than which number is higher? Time is being wasted here and the sponges are slowly drying out.

After the tally marks I decided I was going to have my own math lessons with Lauren. She was already doing simple addition and subtraction, so I added easy double digit addition and subtraction, then double digit addition with carrying the tens and for good measure, I even threw in a double digit addition that resulted in a triple digit sum. I even had her adding fractions! I drew four pies, a whole, one in halves, one in quarters, and one in eighths and we did things like how many eighths would it take to make three quarters? She got it people...she got it all. And many times on the first try. I haven't yet gone to the double digit subtraction with borrowing a ten, but that time will come. There will be no dry sponge on my watch!

First Grade Curriculum
Mood:  surprised
Topic: Lauren

With the class list under our belts, it was on to First Grade Curriculum Night.  On our way in to the parents-only meeting, Tony just happened to mention that Lauren had come home from school that day and announced that they had had reading and it was boring. Apparently, the teacher would read a sentence and then the students would repeat it back to her. For someone who is able to read chapter books, it must have been torture. We knew Lauren was reading above her grade level, but we had no idea it was so much higher until the meeting began. Imagine our surprise when they had us pull out a sample reader and it read "The fat cat. The fat cat sat." Lauren was reading such stories two years ago in preschool! Tony and I just looked at each other. Lauren's teacher, who was sitting in the front facing the audience, must have seen us because after the meeting she made a beeline for us and said "Don't worry. Lauren will be in another class. I'll call you."

So Lauren's new reading class started two weeks ago.  Besides reading at their level, they are also covering parts of speech: nouns, verbs, and the like.  This is much more to her liking...and to ours.

Good Dancer
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Lauren

With dance class about to begin, Lauren was feeling so excited she could hardly contain herself. She jumped off the school bus shouting, "Dance class tonight. Yay!" It's nice to see her so excited about something and to have that excitement carry over from year to year. The difference for her this year though, was that she wanted to be good. Like Rudolph.

Huh? I didn’t remember Rudolph doing any amazing dance moves in his Christmas special. Nor did I remember any of the other characters doing any kind of dancing in the show. When I asked Lauren to refresh my memory, she mentioned him leaping and spinning while traveling in a large circle. Well, for the life of me I still couldn’t come up with the clip. Then it dawned on me. We had recently watched a PBS special on Nureyev... Rudolph Nureyev. You know…the ballet dancer. 

Back To School
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Lauren

I have to admit I was a bit worried when I learned that most of the girls from Lauren's Kindergarten class now have Mrs S. whereas Lauren and a couple of girls that she didn't really associate with much during Kindergarten have Mrs. K.. I imagined Lauren feeling a bit left out, but I should learn not to project my childhood feelings onto Lauren because, apparently, it didn't phase her at all. She was just happy that there were a few kids that she knew whether she had played with them last year or not.

I was also worried about how she would do with the full days, but it seems I didn't need to worry about that either. I had heard all of the horror stories about kids arriving home to eat a snack and go to bed for the evening, or being holy terrors, but Lauren has done well with this too. Oh, there are days when she is crabby or weepy, but for the most part she doesn't cause too much of a problem or come home ready to fall into bed.

So, school has been in session for about a weekand I'd say things are going fairly well.

Pop Goes The Teacher Bubble
Mood:  smelly
Topic: Lauren

We arrived at soccer practice expecting to get right to "dribble, dribble, blast it!", but were met with a lot of excitement and talk about teachers. Yes, it was the day the class list postings went up and the girls, most of whom had been in the same Kindergarten class last year wanted, no needed, to know if they would all be together again this year.  

O. - Mrs. S.

A. - Mrs. S.

L. - Mrs. S.

C. - Mrs. S.

C. - Mrs. S. 

Lauren - Mrs. K. 

Five Years Worth Of Memories
Mood:  crushed out
Topic: Lauren

I will always remember when at:

9 months - you gave me your first kiss and played pat-a-cake 

2 years - You were jumping on your bed and called out to me, compliments of Pinocchio, "Do I look like a jackass?".

3 years - You'd had a rough day full of temper tantrums and whining, but were being given an ice cream cone treat anyway. You had one last tantrum because Daddy took a small lick from your cone. Once you settled down your answer to what had gone on was, compliments of Paddington Bear, "We'd better leave before anything else happens".

3 years - after your birthday party, you ran across the hardwood floor, fell, and hit your head. I picked you up when you started to cry and you passed out. I was never so afraid in all my life as when I held your limp body in my arms. We called 911, and it turned out you had forgotten to breath when you started crying, you were fine. What a relief!

4 years - When you and Daddy came down to meet me at work and you wanted to ride home with me. I wasn't feeling too well and said I would rather you ride with Daddy in case I got into an accident. Your reply was that you understood because if there was an accident you would, compliments of Charlotte's Web, "get bumps, bruises, and lacerations."

5 years - Christmas - Santa brought you tickets to Sesame Street Live. You were so excited you started rattling off all of the details about the show. When Daddy asked you how you knew all of that information, you said you'd heard it on public television when they were "begging for money". 

5 years - You stood up on a chair and stated "I have a proclamation!" and then proceeded to tell us what it was.

And how could I forget the two best words over the past few years - porkypine and eggsparagus.

The best parts of all are your smile, your intelligence, your cuteness, your stubborness, yes, your stubborness , and your hugs and kisses.

Happy 6th Birthday to my one and only! I love you!

They Say Bad News Comes In Threes
Mood:  down

First my friend was diagnosed with breat cancer, then a neighbor boy drowned, and now a major bridge, not six blocks from where I work, has collapsed sending 50+ cars plunging 60-some feet to the river below. It is just unbelievable that that bridge, which services 200,000 cars per day, could have been in such poor shape as to actually collapse. Not just buckle, but completely collapse. It is a miracle as many people survived as did. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

 

There Are No Words
Mood:  sad
Topic: Family and Friends

There is nothing as heartwrenching as a funeral for a child.

Little Tommy was 3 and a 1/2 years old. He was a beautiful little boy, always ready with a smile and a greeting. He had a very adventurous spirit and, as Lauren reminds us, loved bugs. His mommy, so brave that she spoke during the service, mentioned what a privilege it was to have been blessed to have him in her life for the time that he was here. His father spoke of the Father's Day card Tommy had made for him listing all of the things he loved to do with his daddy. His grandparents spoke of his love of life and outgoingness.

The minister talked about many things, one of them being a man he had met that would always end his conversations with "I'm glad you passed my way". What a nice change from the typical "Nice meeting you." It seems to say so much more. It sounds like there was an exchange that took place, not just words that passed between two people, but an honest to goodness exchange.  That's how it was with Tommy. The minute he saw you, he was exchanging. He was telling you all about his day and asking about yours. He was engaging and engaged.

Tommy will be deeply missed by family and friends.

And Tommy, all of us in the neighborhood are glad you passed our way.

There's Nothing Like The Beach
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Family and Friends

It was the biennial trip to NC and once we were past the last minute glitches,  we were truly excited! It is always fun to see relatives we haven't seen for two years, especially if we do it at the beach! This year my cousin brought his wife's sister's daughter who is about Lauren's age and it turned out to be one of the best moves ever. Lauren and S hit it off right away and became inseparable for most of the rest of the trip. They both especially loved playing in the waves and, boy, were there waves this year!

A little side story on the waves - One day the kids were caught off-guard as a wave came up behind them and swept them off their feet. I got it on video!! I watch that thing over and over and roll on the floor laughing every time. Of course, it wasn't so funny to the kids, but we mananged to make light of it and kept the fear in check. As I helped Lauren dry off she commented with a smile and excitement in her voice, "That was scary. My head went under the water. Good thing I didn't faint!". It was priceless!

Back to the kids - what is it kids have that grown-ups do not? I have the hardest time meeting new people and trying to find some common ground, any common ground, to work from. I never feel comfortable with the process and don't think I ever will. But kids...they can make friends at the drop of a hat and not just any friends, best friends.  At one point, I think on the second day of the trip, S, while pretending to surf the waves, turned to Lauren, put her hand on Lauren's shoulder, and in all sincerity said, "If I die you can have my glow worm." To be inseparable and to offer up your prized possession after only two days? Is that friendship or what?! If I could have that with just one person in my lifetime, I would feel blessed.