Who peed on the floor, again (I'm banking on it not being my girls, but the boys each claim innocence with cherubic faces)? Who's toothpaste spit didn't get rinsed down? Who has been licking the sliding door? Who left a (used) fork on the stairs?
Surprisingly enough, these are not uncommon questions I voice in my own home....but I rarely get anyone owning up to the offense. We are--like many other families--plagued with those household mischief-makers, Not Me and Ida Know.
Well, I have an answer for that...I want an at-home, do-it-yourself DNA kit for Christmas. A quick swab and I have an answer to the above questions and get to save myself time and effort trying to determine who is responsible to take care of said issues.
I think I'm really on to something here. Parents everywhere will be lining up. It'll be bigger than "Tickle-Me-Elmo!"
Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Feeling thankful
So, before I can post about our trip to the peninsula, I have to fetch pictures from another computer--maybe tomorrow.
Tonight--I'm just feeling thankful....We got to visit for the afternoon with some old friends (old meaning for a long time--10 years!). The kids had a wonderful time and we moms laughed and cried and visited. See, this is a friend of mine who understands about having a sick kid. And while I am slowly moving past all we went through with Jennifer, she is still very much in the thick of things due to her son's long-term, ongoing condition. But, both of us know what it is to be "in the trenches" of waiting with an aching heart by the hospital bed of a sick child--praying desperately for healing, comfort, relief...release. This is the first friend I would call every time I was on my way to Children's Hospital Emergency room--because she knew precisely the emotions roiling inside me. This is the friend with whom I traded and refilled a Tully's card--because she knows how hard it is to keep vigil in the hospital while sporting a killer caffeine headache!
I'm thankful for where Jennifer is right now in her health journey...and I'm thankful for my friend whom God provided as a support for me when I really needed it.
Thankful is a good place to be....
Tonight--I'm just feeling thankful....We got to visit for the afternoon with some old friends (old meaning for a long time--10 years!). The kids had a wonderful time and we moms laughed and cried and visited. See, this is a friend of mine who understands about having a sick kid. And while I am slowly moving past all we went through with Jennifer, she is still very much in the thick of things due to her son's long-term, ongoing condition. But, both of us know what it is to be "in the trenches" of waiting with an aching heart by the hospital bed of a sick child--praying desperately for healing, comfort, relief...release. This is the first friend I would call every time I was on my way to Children's Hospital Emergency room--because she knew precisely the emotions roiling inside me. This is the friend with whom I traded and refilled a Tully's card--because she knows how hard it is to keep vigil in the hospital while sporting a killer caffeine headache!
I'm thankful for where Jennifer is right now in her health journey...and I'm thankful for my friend whom God provided as a support for me when I really needed it.
Thankful is a good place to be....
Monday, April 26, 2010
Re-entry is bumpy
We just arrived back from a week-long vacation to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. While there were some nice highlights (future blogs with pics coming!), I have to admit, vacationing with 4 kids in tow is hard on a family! For me, there are moments it doesn't feel like a vacation at all--I'm still doing the same cooking, tidying, laundry, etc.--I just have to do it away from my comfortable environment! And then there's the return from vacation....
No matter how hard I try to prepare for re-entry, it's usually bumpy on a number of levels. This vacation was no different. We returned 3 days ago. I think in a couple more days, I'll feel somewhat recovered! I guess transitions aren't always easy.
I'm at the point in the year, too, where I am longing for the "school year" to end (although we usually do some school through the summer). I guess it's really the commitments that I'd like to be done with. I long for the weeks where several days in a row are free of "gotta go here" and "hafta be there." This is one transition which I think will feel like smooth sailing!
No matter how hard I try to prepare for re-entry, it's usually bumpy on a number of levels. This vacation was no different. We returned 3 days ago. I think in a couple more days, I'll feel somewhat recovered! I guess transitions aren't always easy.
I'm at the point in the year, too, where I am longing for the "school year" to end (although we usually do some school through the summer). I guess it's really the commitments that I'd like to be done with. I long for the weeks where several days in a row are free of "gotta go here" and "hafta be there." This is one transition which I think will feel like smooth sailing!
Monday, March 1, 2010
OnStar Toy Division
My ten-year-old, Alex, has shared that he'd be interested in learning to skateboared. There are few toys on the market that conjure up pictures of blood quite like a skateboard. To be fair to Alex, it's really his younger brother, Garrett (age 8) that I worry about. Garrett has always had trouble defining his own limitations. In a word, Garrett is: Dauntless. This will someday turn in to a tremendous character quality that will take Garrett far, but until then, it mostly just causes me to cringe!
I have come up with a solution, however. OnStar. Yep, that's right. I think toymakers should consider equipping toys--particularly fast-moving ones with wheels--with OnStar as a courteousy to parents of kids like Garrett. It would be a simpler version with a couple of differences. I imagine it this way:
First, there would be no need for hands-free calling. "Look, mom, no hands," is a phrase I already have to hear--I don't need it to apply to wireless communication in addition to reckless tricks performed at high speed by my beaming boys. Second, I would keep the blue diagnostic/information button with some small changes--I would give it to the parents on a remote and also allow OnStar to call parents if they determine an approaching disaster. That way, periodically, I could could push that button (or be automatically notified)--even if I am not in view of my boys and a friendly OnStar operator would come on and tell me--based on the position, etc. of the toy--whether my boys are trying tricks that will likely lead to injury and blood. "Well, Mrs. Graf, based on our satellite readings of the global positioning, altitude and general angle of your son's skateboard, we advise you to instruct your son to rethink his course of action." Finally, the red emergency button. Yes--only the one on the toy would notify the parent first and then we'd have a button on our remote in case we needed to bring emergency services to the scene (no sense paying for an ambulance ride you don't really need--no matter how exciting your kids might find it!).
Yes, I think I've hit on a winner here. I think it would be a big hit among parents. Sure there would be a cost involved, but it would probably be cheaper than your average emergency room visit! Maybe I should contact GM. They could use something to rev up their flagging industry....
I have come up with a solution, however. OnStar. Yep, that's right. I think toymakers should consider equipping toys--particularly fast-moving ones with wheels--with OnStar as a courteousy to parents of kids like Garrett. It would be a simpler version with a couple of differences. I imagine it this way:
First, there would be no need for hands-free calling. "Look, mom, no hands," is a phrase I already have to hear--I don't need it to apply to wireless communication in addition to reckless tricks performed at high speed by my beaming boys. Second, I would keep the blue diagnostic/information button with some small changes--I would give it to the parents on a remote and also allow OnStar to call parents if they determine an approaching disaster. That way, periodically, I could could push that button (or be automatically notified)--even if I am not in view of my boys and a friendly OnStar operator would come on and tell me--based on the position, etc. of the toy--whether my boys are trying tricks that will likely lead to injury and blood. "Well, Mrs. Graf, based on our satellite readings of the global positioning, altitude and general angle of your son's skateboard, we advise you to instruct your son to rethink his course of action." Finally, the red emergency button. Yes--only the one on the toy would notify the parent first and then we'd have a button on our remote in case we needed to bring emergency services to the scene (no sense paying for an ambulance ride you don't really need--no matter how exciting your kids might find it!).
Yes, I think I've hit on a winner here. I think it would be a big hit among parents. Sure there would be a cost involved, but it would probably be cheaper than your average emergency room visit! Maybe I should contact GM. They could use something to rev up their flagging industry....
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Rearranging the furniture
Today I want to address a burning question--or at least a question that makes me burn!
Probably the most oft concern posed to homeschooling families is, "What about socialization?" I have to tell you this question has caused untold amount of emotion in the homeschooling community--everything from anxiety to infuriation! As for me, I admit, I fall toward the infuration end.....let me explain why.
Miriam-Webster's main entry to define socialization reads: the process by which a human being, beginning at infancy, acquires the habits, beliefs, and accumulated knowledge through education and training for adult status.
Now, although that entry mentions education, it does not indicate specifically how a child should be educated. Here's why: It doesn't matter! A child can receive as balanced an education and social experience in a home setting as they can in a corporate education experience. Despite popular rhetoric, I do not believe I am raising children. I believe I am training young people to one day become functional, curteous and pleasant adults. Our family has chosen to make this happen using home schooling as one of our tools. Other parents may make a different choice--and I'm okay with that, provided I am also given the freedom (read, not have to constantly justify my position) to make the choice I have.
It is an unfortunate misconception (largely purportrated by our media) that a child who is kept home for education will "miss out" on all the wonderful social opportunities with peer groups that corporate education offers. Let me tell you--my children far from lack social opportunities with their peer groups. In my community alone (and I live in a relatively small town), I could have my children involved in: sports teams, YMCA programs, music classes, Boy or Girl Scouts, AWANA, Sunday School, library programs, Camp Fire, Vacation Bible Schools, Gymnastics, Dance, programs at the Boys and Girls Club, craft classes, summer camp, 4-H programs....and the list goes on (a list which I, incidentally, compiled completely from memory without looking at any resources). Truth be told, we have to decline most of the social opportunities offered or we'd never have any time for our curriculum or our family!
A while back at a social gathering, an acquaintance posed the question at hand to me. Smiling back at her I found myself answering in a way that had never occurred to me before.
"So, what do you do about socialization?" she asked in that way familiar to homeschoolers--a subtle, but real expression of a need to fill you in on what you are missing (did any readers miss the irony that we were actually at a social gathering!)
"It's funny you should ask that," I replied, "I wonder the same about you."
"What ever do you mean?"
"Well, I have the responsibility of seeking out opportunities for my children to interact socially with others their same age. You, have the responsibility to seek out opportunities for your children to interact with others not in their same age group."
Her face was priceless. She definitely had something new to chew on.
It was fun to turn the tables.
Probably the most oft concern posed to homeschooling families is, "What about socialization?" I have to tell you this question has caused untold amount of emotion in the homeschooling community--everything from anxiety to infuriation! As for me, I admit, I fall toward the infuration end.....let me explain why.
Miriam-Webster's main entry to define socialization reads: the process by which a human being, beginning at infancy, acquires the habits, beliefs, and accumulated knowledge through education and training for adult status.
Now, although that entry mentions education, it does not indicate specifically how a child should be educated. Here's why: It doesn't matter! A child can receive as balanced an education and social experience in a home setting as they can in a corporate education experience. Despite popular rhetoric, I do not believe I am raising children. I believe I am training young people to one day become functional, curteous and pleasant adults. Our family has chosen to make this happen using home schooling as one of our tools. Other parents may make a different choice--and I'm okay with that, provided I am also given the freedom (read, not have to constantly justify my position) to make the choice I have.
It is an unfortunate misconception (largely purportrated by our media) that a child who is kept home for education will "miss out" on all the wonderful social opportunities with peer groups that corporate education offers. Let me tell you--my children far from lack social opportunities with their peer groups. In my community alone (and I live in a relatively small town), I could have my children involved in: sports teams, YMCA programs, music classes, Boy or Girl Scouts, AWANA, Sunday School, library programs, Camp Fire, Vacation Bible Schools, Gymnastics, Dance, programs at the Boys and Girls Club, craft classes, summer camp, 4-H programs....and the list goes on (a list which I, incidentally, compiled completely from memory without looking at any resources). Truth be told, we have to decline most of the social opportunities offered or we'd never have any time for our curriculum or our family!
A while back at a social gathering, an acquaintance posed the question at hand to me. Smiling back at her I found myself answering in a way that had never occurred to me before.
"So, what do you do about socialization?" she asked in that way familiar to homeschoolers--a subtle, but real expression of a need to fill you in on what you are missing (did any readers miss the irony that we were actually at a social gathering!)
"It's funny you should ask that," I replied, "I wonder the same about you."
"What ever do you mean?"
"Well, I have the responsibility of seeking out opportunities for my children to interact socially with others their same age. You, have the responsibility to seek out opportunities for your children to interact with others not in their same age group."
Her face was priceless. She definitely had something new to chew on.
It was fun to turn the tables.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
I'm back.....
I guess what I should do is apologize and explain about what a busy few months we've had, etc., etc., etc.---but I'm not going to because it's too much typing and you probably don't entirely care about the boring details! Suffice to say, I'm back and have a renewed desire to post more consistently....
All that said, I think I will devote more of this space to just general, everyday elements of my life--not just waiting until inspiration strikes (which, rarely, happens when I have time to sit down at the keyboard!).
So, today, it's Saturday and Paul got called in to work. There go the big plans of "projects" I had for today. I guess I'll just focus on getting the Christmas decorations put away. Yes....they are all still up--even the tree! See, I coordinated my nephew's wedding on Dec. 5 and so our decorating got started late. The kids really wanted to enjoy the decorations for a little longer, so they are still up. Why is it the Christmas tree becomes more fragrant as the days pass? I guess it's because it's dying.
That makes me think of the verse in the Bible that talks about Christians being the fragrance of Christ. It seems like when I try really hard to "be a good Christian example"--it doesn't work out so well. Maybe what I should do is start dying--to self that is. Maybe that's where the nice fragrance comes in....like my dying Christmas tree. Hmmm....interesting thought. And what do you know--I started typing away about seemingly meaningless drivel and--SHAZAM!--inspiration struck!
It's good to be back....
All that said, I think I will devote more of this space to just general, everyday elements of my life--not just waiting until inspiration strikes (which, rarely, happens when I have time to sit down at the keyboard!).
So, today, it's Saturday and Paul got called in to work. There go the big plans of "projects" I had for today. I guess I'll just focus on getting the Christmas decorations put away. Yes....they are all still up--even the tree! See, I coordinated my nephew's wedding on Dec. 5 and so our decorating got started late. The kids really wanted to enjoy the decorations for a little longer, so they are still up. Why is it the Christmas tree becomes more fragrant as the days pass? I guess it's because it's dying.
That makes me think of the verse in the Bible that talks about Christians being the fragrance of Christ. It seems like when I try really hard to "be a good Christian example"--it doesn't work out so well. Maybe what I should do is start dying--to self that is. Maybe that's where the nice fragrance comes in....like my dying Christmas tree. Hmmm....interesting thought. And what do you know--I started typing away about seemingly meaningless drivel and--SHAZAM!--inspiration struck!
It's good to be back....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
