Category Parenting

Accident-Prone? – Is Clumsiness Genetic?

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Accident-Prone? – Is Clumsiness Genetic via Daily Prompt: Roots

Clumsiness 2

Friday night my four year old was screaming at the end of the hall. I ran to rescue him and found that his toe was stuck under the door. 😦

My daughter cried a short time later because she missed the last step coming downstairs and hurt her leg.

My six year old provided a presentation of the bruises he had gained during the week, as we put on his pj’s.

Hubby laughed and said, “I don’t think they got any of my genetics. They got all that clumsiness from you.”

My gracious reply was, “How do you explain their ability to forget everything they are supposed to be doing when the TV is on, the day ends in Y, or the sun is shining?” (Then I stuck out my tongue.) His response, “Maybe they did get one thing from me.”

png 1 Do genes impact one’s clumsiness? Do our parents pass down accident prone propensities? Continue reading “Accident-Prone? – Is Clumsiness Genetic?” →

Catching Luck

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Clammy

The last thing my daughter expected to catch out of Grandma’s pond was this mussel.

Sunday was a beautiful evening and the kids requested to fish in Grandma’s pond. What the heck, we weren’t doing anything else. Popo dug up a few worms, my three little anglers grabbed some poles, and we were off the pond bank.

Our youngest chose a Lightening McQueen fishing pole. My older son chose a tried-and-true Zebco. My daughter chose Grandma’s very nice and expensive Shakespeare pole because it was guaranteed to catch the biggest fish (at least according to my daughter).

After just a few minutes, both boys had reeled in some nice, little blue gill and bass. In spite of her desperate desire to catch a fish, my little girl went without a bite for quite some time.

Suddenly, she yelled, “There’s something on my hook. It’s really heavy.” Clearly there was something on her line because she was struggling to bring it in, but there didn’t seem to be any fight in the water.

Continue reading “Catching Luck” →

Childhood Chores

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chores.jpg

My childhood chores involved babysitting, folding laundry, doing dishes, baling hay, milking cows, and whatever else my parents needed.

We no longer milk cows. My kids are too small to bale hay (and we no longer square bale anything). Many of the jobs that were considered okay for my generation and generations previous are considered unsafe for children to do today.

The thing that is most unnerving to me is not that chores are unsafe, but rather the fact that we are raising future citizens who don’t know how to fold their own shirts.

Recently, I overheard two women talking about their teenage children. They were childhood chore funnydiscussing the fact that they don’t let their kids do the laundry. The reasoning for this was that they didn’t have the patience to teach their children how to use the washing machine and that the kids never folded the clothes the way they (the moms) like it.

Okay?!?

png 1 If we don’t demonstrate patience for our children, how will they know what the skill of being patient looks like? If we don’t teach them how to use the washing machine, who will? Some nice lady at the laundry mat?

png 1 Secondly, how can our children improve their skills, in things like laundry folding, if we don’t guide them? I don’t mind if my shirts are a bit sloppy when folded, at least somebody folded them.

Another time a mom told me she didn’t know how I had the patience to let my kids cook with me. “They are so messy, and I am already tired when I get home. I don’t want them underfoot when I am trying to get dinner on the table,” was what she told me.

png 1 Cooking is messy. Learning is messy. Kids are messy. The cool thing about cooking childhood chores (2)with my kids is that they are learning. They learn how to make food. They learn how to clean up. They learn how to work as a team preparing, making, and serving our meals. Plus, my time with them is so precious in the evenings; it is nice to be able to do something productive.

I am not gonna lie. We don’t cook together every night. I don’t let my kids put the clothes away all the time. Sometimes I am too tired to be patient with them and sometimes they are too tired to work with me. But we still try most of the time. Continue reading “Childhood Chores” →

Hatching Dinosaurs

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Hatching Dinosaurs

Hatching dinos

For Easter my son received a dino egg from his godparents. Within minutes of receiving the egg, it was in a bucket of water and surrounded by eight anxious children.

This particular egg was one that advertised to hatch within 12-24 hours so long as it remained fully covered in water. The directions advised to keep the water temperature below 99 degrees and above 32 degrees. No problem, right?

Well, the dinosaur hatched within the 24 hour time period (with only a little help from the kids) 😉

It was a beautiful triceratops. My son named her Peaches because of her peachy tone. She was our newest prized possession. Once the kids could no longer stand the torture of watching her grow in the bucket of water, out she came. (The directions suggested leaving the dinosaur in water for up to 36 hours for full growth.)

When we traveled to my grandmother’s to celebrate Easter, Peaches came along for the ride. Everything was great until it was time to hunt Easter eggs. As I stood up, my foot struck something under my chair and water sloshed onto the floor. What the heck?

I looked in the plastic bucket and saw what looked like Peaches, but not really. When I touched “Peaches,” she disintegrated between my fingers. It was really, really gross. The water was hot and the dinosaur was not. Continue reading “Hatching Dinosaurs” →

Fairy Garden Dreams Become Reality (pixie dust not required)

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Fairy Garden Dreams Become Reality (pixie dust not required)

fairy garden love

Three years ago my children saw the Tinkerbell movie and began planning to make a fairy garden. Well, this year we finally made it happen!

This is one of those magical projects that brought my kids and I together in a successful collaboration of creativity.

The local dollar store provided adorable and affordable garden decor and my good friends at Dudenhoeffer’s Countryside Gardens offered the sweetest little plants for our flowery festivities.

Even though each of my children started out with roughly the same tools and supplies, fairy garden girlthey each created a unique and whimsical fairy garden. The garden of each child was an terrific representation of their personalities.

There were two things that I really loved about this project.

  1. My kids played in the dirt and made something cool. It doesn’t get any better than that!
  2. I was able to witness my children’s imagination at work. There is nothing more inspiring and motivating than pure, childlike awe and excitement. I honestly wish I had made a garden for myself. Tapping into that innocence and creativity would do anyone’s heart some good.

fairie garden 2

While we know fairies aren’t real, it is important to remember that nurturing the ideas and wishes of our children is a very real and necessary element of life. Providing opportunities to dream and create is something that benefits all of us.

The fairy gardens are beautifully displayed along our front walk. They bring smiles to the faces of everyone who comes to our home and provide a tremendous sense of pride for my children. I have caught each of them peeking at their gardens wondering if the fairies had visited. Their awe and wonder is so sweet.

I encourage you to take time to create something with those you love. Share your dreams and imagine together. You don’t have to build a garden to create something that lasts. The longest lasting part might be the memories you make, but those memories are magical. They can appear anytime you choose.

Believe in the magic of time spent together. Allow yourself to be inspired by the imagination that is shared. Put your intent into building energy that grows love and memories. It doesn’t require more than a little faith and trust (pixie dust not required.)

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. I really do want to make my own fairy garden someday.

 

Life is a Hammock. Rock It! – Wise Words Wednesday

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Life is a Hammock. Rock it! – Wise Words Wednesday

Life is a Hammock

Seriously, there is no end to the rocking of my hammock! Everyday I make a list of what I believe is a do-able amount of objectives. Everyday my list outgrows what I can do and I often find myself going to bed at 11:00 p.m. still reeling from the turns my day took.

png 1 Can you relate?

Hammocks are supposed to be relaxing and fun. Life is not relaxing and fun at times.

Often we are faced with choices we did not see coming. The choices that swing us in new directions are meant to teach us something. Life is a hammock. We have to rock it or rock with it.

Last night my son’s team had their first practice. I printed drills and an agenda for the coaches (hubby and buddy J.). I printed copies of the schedule for the team on blue paper (so it would stand out). All the gear was in a tub and sitting in the hallway (so we wouldn’t forget it). Supper was made early. All three kids were dressed in clothes for the ballpark, with socks and shoes on their feet!

Hubby came in 20 minutes before we needed to leave. He needed a shower and wondered if we needed keys for the supply closet at the field. 😦  After a quick phone call, a set of keys was located. All I had to do was go get them….wait a minute… my son couldn’t find his bat. Okay, I would drive to get the keys, while hubby showered and the kids sought out the bat.

I got the keys and returned home. Bat was found. Hubby was showered. Hubby couldn’t find his glove. We were already 2 minutes late to set up for practice. Continue reading “Life is a Hammock. Rock It! – Wise Words Wednesday” →

They Zip by too Fast

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They Zip by too Fast via Daily Prompt: Zip

Zipping By

I never count down the days until school is out.

A lot of fellow educators and even more students will disagree with this, but let me explain why I never count down the days at the end of the school year.

The days zip by too fast.

png 1 I need my students to know that they are my priority. It needs to be clear that the lesson at hand is the focus. Yes, our objective is to have another year under our belts, but we don’t have to wish our year away.

png 1 I need to keep my focus on the tasks at hand. As an educator grading and instruction need to remain in the forefront of my mind… not what I am going to do with my summer vacation, or how much hay we will bale, or what my kids’ ball schedules are, or how soon my BFF and I can plan our girls’ trip. I must stay focused on the task at hand. The deadlines zip by too fast.

png 1 For my students and children, the time of life that they are in is so important to their development and growth. It zips by way too fast. Childhood and adolescence need to be savored and remembered. Make the lessons we teach count and the activities we do make a positive impact. The time zips by too fast.

While it is important to set goals and make plans, be sure to enjoy the moments that are present. Don’t let opportunities zip past you because you are too eager to get to a certain date. Slow down! Take advantage of what is here and now.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. I really wish we could set a speed limit on time. It really needs to slow down.

 

Putting Us In Our Place – Wise Words Wednesday

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Putting Us In Our Place – Wise Words Wednesday

In Our Place

Photo credit: Pinterest

I am a horrible human being…

At least some of the time.

We all are.

Our kids, spouses, siblings, in-laws, and many, many others possess resounding powers to bring out the failure in us.

These failures lead us to dark and unhappy places. It is really tough to be put in these places and even tougher to move past them.

Here is the amazing news… we are not meant to stay in one place.

As human beings we are challenged to grow, move, and change all the time.

While I may want to duct tape my child into a grocery cart at times, most of the time I am more eager to entrap my darling with hugs. Continue reading “Putting Us In Our Place – Wise Words Wednesday” →

Tick Stuck – Something Special from My Son

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Tick Stuck – Something Special from My Son

Tick Stuck

Upon entering the house Monday after school, my son threw down his backpack, rummaged around for two small pieces of paper, and promptly waved them very closely to my face.

“Mom, look! One of them is really special.”

Here is what was on the two slips of papers:

Slip #1:  A treasure chest full of stickers for making good choices

Slip #2: A note from the school nurse with a tick taped to it; The note stated, “Removed tick from head, sent back to class; tick attached”

png 1 Can you see my conundrum? Which of these slips of paper was the “really special one” in the eyes of my six year old?

In my infinite mommy wisdom, I said, “Wow, buddy, that is so much awesomeness! Which one do you think is more special?”

His reply, “The treasure chest. The tick was just stuck in my head, so the 8th grade teacher helped me get it out, and then they taped it to the paper. Can I go outside?”

Well, there you have it.

My son valued his success in making good choices over a parasite. I am Mom of the Year! Continue reading “Tick Stuck – Something Special from My Son” →

Adventures with my Children…Where did they go?

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Adventures with my Children…Where did they go? via Daily Prompt: Blindly

Blind Adventures.jpg

At 2:06 p.m. on Saturday I called my neighbor Lisa.

The call went something like this:

Me: Lisa, are you home?

Lisa: Yes, what’s up?

Me: I can’t find my kids. Did they make it up the creek behind your house? 

Lisa: Oh no. I haven’t seen them.

Me: I have been looking for about half an hour. They don’t answer when I call for them. I can’t even find the dog.

Lisa: Okay, I will go… (phone goes dead)

Me: (insert four letter word that starts with “d”) Continue reading “Adventures with my Children…Where did they go?” →