With Elliot back at his old school this week, Ted has resumed his am drop off routine in the car. Apparently he couldn't find his keys the other morning, so grabbed the valet key instead. Elliot caught him inserting the key into the door lock, and opening the door by hand. This morning, Elliot ran down the stairs ahead of Ted. He grabbed the regular set of car keys and bolted out the door. Ted followed him out to the car.
Ted: Why didn't you open the door, Bub?
Elliot: (Trying to stick the key into the door lock) I'm trying to.
Ted: Just push the button on the clicker.
Elliot: Nooooo, that's the old-fashioned way!
Wednesday, September 30
Saturday, September 26
Happy Half-Birthday To Theo!
My dearest Baby Theo:You're at it again. You're growing up right before my very eyes! This week you turned six months old. You celebrated this milestone with so many firsts - we brought out your ultrasaucer, you tried out the swings at the park, and tomorrow, you'll taste your first bite of cereal! Each day you grow more alert, and more interested in the world around you. Your whole routine has turned upside down this month. You used to live on the EASY schedule -- eat, awake, sleep, you (meaning mommy time.) Now, you're too alert to do more than nibble except when falling asleep. You can stay up for 3 hours or more at a time, and never tire of watching your brothers.
For some strange reason, you giggle uncontrollably when they go up and down the stairs. We still think you look most like Jack. When I look at you, I'm reminded of Pop Pop, my dad. You reach and grab everything now. It's hard to hold you on my lap to eat. If I forget even for a moment, you grab a big handful of whatever is on my plate. Luckily for me, amidst all these firsts, you're still my sweet tiny baby in so many ways. You still love to be swaddled when you sleep. You still sleep on a sheepskin in your small, round crib beside our bed. You're favorite place is in our arms. We take you everywhere, happily tucked into the Ergo. You love to ride around, pressed close to mom or dad, holding tightly onto our shirts with your tiny fists. Your 
knuckles are dimples, carved out of your sweet chubby hands. Your toes curl around under your feet. Your brothers still refer to you simply as "Baby." And, you're never happier than when you're in my arms nursing, and I'm giving you the ultimate sustenance - love, nourishment, health, life.
Friday, September 25
Aquí se habla español
"Spanish is spoken here"This one's for you, Mom.
If you've read my previous posts, you know about Jack's provisional placement in the bilingual program at his new school. It is still going well. He's enjoying his first week in the English classroom. It's been a nice break for me too. He is able to do his nightly reading and homework on his own; no translating required. But, it's still Spanish full throttle at home. I do my best to speak all Spanish to the boys. They speak in all English to me, but I answer them and direct them in Spanish. The one big exception is dinner. We eat long before Ted gets home. The only thing that keeps everyone at the table, and constructively occupied, is a conversation they can all contribute to. So, we do mostly English at dinner, with an occasional "quédate en tu asiento" or "no hagas eso" or "toma tu leche" thrown in. Having lived in several Spanish households, it doesn't seem too strange to me. But, I am much more self conscious when we are out and about. First of all, I look about as un-Spanish as you could imagine. Second, the kids can often be heard yelling, "What? I don't understand you!" or "Speak in English!" back at me as we go. There are also a good number of Spanish speakers in our neighborhood, so our conversations are often overheard. Then I have to give a full explanation of how a blond-haired, blue-eyed, girl from Philadelphia came to speak Spanish so well, and with a Castillian accent to boot. In truth, I owe it all to my mother. When I was in sixth grade, we had to choose what language we were going to study in junior high. The choices were French or Spanish. Ever the romantic, I longed to study French, but my mother insisted that I choose Spanish. A terrible, week-long fight ensued; my mother won. When the next school year started, I began Spanish class. I fell in love at once. It was completely unexpected, and a pleasant surprise that I was crazy about languages. I went on to spend most of a summer in Spain at age 15, visiting a Spanish girl I had met in PA, and then an entire year there as an exchange student between high school and college. By then, my Spanish was practically perfect. Since college it's been nothing more than a hobby. So, I guess it's good to take it out of the closet and dust it off from time to time. There aren't too many things that would make me happier than having my kids be bilingual as well. I hope that I'm up to the challenge.
Wednesday, September 23
Tuesday, September 22
The Year When Elliot Didn't Go To School
The school year is finally getting into full swing. Elliot is still tagging along with me everywhere I go. The most frequent question I seem to be getting from friends these days is "any news on the school front?" So, here's an update for everyone, curious or not.
Jack is still attending the third grade bilingual class at his new (public) school. He is officially enrolled in the English only third grade class, but the school has agreed to put him in the bilingual section, at least temporarily. The bilingual program consists of two classes for each grade. One classroom is English only; the other is Spanish only. The kids switch back and forth from one class to the other each Monday. The teachers do not repeat material week to week, so the kids receive half of their education in each language. They do reading, writing, math and science in both languages. The school purports to have a rule that no child can enter the bilingual program after second grade without some knowledge of both languages. Since Jack entered in the third grade, he had to take a Spanish reading test. They administered the test last Spring, which he "failed", in the school's words. (Don't even ask me about that one.) But, Ted and I have made it clear to the teacher and the principal that we are only interested in the bilingual program. We've been making that clear since last Spring, when Jack first won a spot (through the public school lottery) in the school. The difficulties started back then, when the principal was out on leave for a semester, and no one else at the school explained the policy in such black and white terms. By the time we were able to talk to her this fall, school was already starting, and Jack was there. She consented to let him sit in the bilingual section for now, but seems to feel strongly that he should not stay there. The third grade Spanish teacher asked to speak with me after the first few days of school, and suggested that we place Jack in either the English only class, or that we put him in the second grade of the bilingual program. As I have said, we have no interest at all in the English only program. We would consider the second grade placement, but not yet. We would like to give Jack a chance in the third grade, before we put him back one year. For any of you who don't know me well, I am bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English. I spoke to Jack in all Spanish until he was roughly 18 months old. Being sick and pregnant with Elliot was too much for me though, and I gave it up at that point. We have now resumed Spanish instruction. Since the first day of school, I have been trying to speak all Spanish to the boys again. It's not easy, but it does seem to be going well for the most part. All of the kids are picking up a lot of Spanish. We wrote a letter to the school explaining that we can speak Spanish to Jack at home. I offered to help him with his homework and classwork. I agreed to speak Spanish to him to help accelerate his progress. We promised that we would not let him fail. The principal listened to our hopes and our plans and said, "I know that anything is possible." She agreed to let him stay temporarily, but expressed concern over how much work would be required to catch him up to the other students. We asked her to give us a month or two. She agreed to give him 2 weeks. We are supposed to meet again next week. I don't know what will happen at that point. On one hand, he is in the bilingual class. And we are dilligently working on Spanish at home. We do vocab flash cards, we read Spanish books, I try to speak all Spanish to them. Ted even invented a new (and very popular) game called "Mamá dice." I know that there are many children in the class who are reasonably fluent in both languages at this point. But, I also suspect that there are several who are nowhere close. It will be difficult for me to hear (again) that Jack has failed another test, or is not welcome in the class. But it also seems to me that the school will not flat out refuse us, or force him to leave the program. I hope that if we keep insisting that he stay in the class, he will be allowed to continue. In the meantime, we will continue to work, and work, and work on our Spanish. It is both hard and exciting for me. The rewards of seeing my children advance in their Spanish keep me going. Cross your fingers. Say a prayer for us. Hope that the school appreciates the excitement, hard work and effort of a family striving to find a place in their school.
"And Elliot?" you ask. Well, we entered both boys in the same public school lottery last Spring. On the lottery form, each family is asked to list 4-5 schools, ranked in order of preference. Elliot was assigned to a school that did not even appear on our list. We had never heard of it before. For many reasons, we decided to decline his placement at that school, and stick with his spot on the waiting list at Jack's school. He has been #2 on the waiting since the initial school assignments last Spring. Since thousands of children participate in this lottery, a #2 spot on the waiting list is considered very high. Everyone assured us that there is always a lot of movement over the summer, and Elliot would undoubtedly get a spot before school started. He did not. Then everyone told us that there are kids who just don't show up for school every year. They said it would only be a matter of 5-10 days of school, and Elliot would surely get one of those spots. Well, tomorrow will be day #9. He is still #2 on the waiting list. I patiently and quietly waited for the first 5 days of school to pass, and then went to see the principal. I was hoping to hear that someone had not showed up for first grade. She told me that she had no idea about attendance yet, and told me that the Family Resource Center handled all waiting list issues. She told me that it is not up to her, and that she has nothing to do with waiting list assignments. All public school placements are handled through the Family Resource Centers. This is where you go to enroll your child in school, make any changes, etc. I called them to check on the waiting list status after the first few days of school. They were so busy, they had forwarded all of their phone lines to a Parent Hotline. But the Parent Hotline doesn't handle school assignments, so they couldn't help me. They suggested that I go in person to the Family Resource Center. I did that. They weren't much help. The man I spoke with told me, "we can do much more if you are here in person." So, I waited three days and went back again. This time, the woman I spoke with said, "You don't need to come here in person. Just call on the phone." Ahhhhhh. So, yesterday I tried calling on the phone. After being told to call a different number, someone took my name and number and said someone would get back to me. No one did. I called again today. Another nice (but completely unhelpful) person told me that the principal is the one who initiates movement on the waiting list. The principal, she explained, is the one who lets the FRCs know that there is an opening in the school. The FRC then goes down the waiting list to fill the spot. I am sure that that is right. But, the principal made it clear to me that she cannot help me. So, I'm back where I started. Elliot tags along with me. He told the woman at the FRC last week that he doesn't want to go to school ever. I wish I could say the same thing. I'm beginning to think that this year will forever be known in our family as the year when Elliot didn't have to go to school...
Jack is still attending the third grade bilingual class at his new (public) school. He is officially enrolled in the English only third grade class, but the school has agreed to put him in the bilingual section, at least temporarily. The bilingual program consists of two classes for each grade. One classroom is English only; the other is Spanish only. The kids switch back and forth from one class to the other each Monday. The teachers do not repeat material week to week, so the kids receive half of their education in each language. They do reading, writing, math and science in both languages. The school purports to have a rule that no child can enter the bilingual program after second grade without some knowledge of both languages. Since Jack entered in the third grade, he had to take a Spanish reading test. They administered the test last Spring, which he "failed", in the school's words. (Don't even ask me about that one.) But, Ted and I have made it clear to the teacher and the principal that we are only interested in the bilingual program. We've been making that clear since last Spring, when Jack first won a spot (through the public school lottery) in the school. The difficulties started back then, when the principal was out on leave for a semester, and no one else at the school explained the policy in such black and white terms. By the time we were able to talk to her this fall, school was already starting, and Jack was there. She consented to let him sit in the bilingual section for now, but seems to feel strongly that he should not stay there. The third grade Spanish teacher asked to speak with me after the first few days of school, and suggested that we place Jack in either the English only class, or that we put him in the second grade of the bilingual program. As I have said, we have no interest at all in the English only program. We would consider the second grade placement, but not yet. We would like to give Jack a chance in the third grade, before we put him back one year. For any of you who don't know me well, I am bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English. I spoke to Jack in all Spanish until he was roughly 18 months old. Being sick and pregnant with Elliot was too much for me though, and I gave it up at that point. We have now resumed Spanish instruction. Since the first day of school, I have been trying to speak all Spanish to the boys again. It's not easy, but it does seem to be going well for the most part. All of the kids are picking up a lot of Spanish. We wrote a letter to the school explaining that we can speak Spanish to Jack at home. I offered to help him with his homework and classwork. I agreed to speak Spanish to him to help accelerate his progress. We promised that we would not let him fail. The principal listened to our hopes and our plans and said, "I know that anything is possible." She agreed to let him stay temporarily, but expressed concern over how much work would be required to catch him up to the other students. We asked her to give us a month or two. She agreed to give him 2 weeks. We are supposed to meet again next week. I don't know what will happen at that point. On one hand, he is in the bilingual class. And we are dilligently working on Spanish at home. We do vocab flash cards, we read Spanish books, I try to speak all Spanish to them. Ted even invented a new (and very popular) game called "Mamá dice." I know that there are many children in the class who are reasonably fluent in both languages at this point. But, I also suspect that there are several who are nowhere close. It will be difficult for me to hear (again) that Jack has failed another test, or is not welcome in the class. But it also seems to me that the school will not flat out refuse us, or force him to leave the program. I hope that if we keep insisting that he stay in the class, he will be allowed to continue. In the meantime, we will continue to work, and work, and work on our Spanish. It is both hard and exciting for me. The rewards of seeing my children advance in their Spanish keep me going. Cross your fingers. Say a prayer for us. Hope that the school appreciates the excitement, hard work and effort of a family striving to find a place in their school.
"And Elliot?" you ask. Well, we entered both boys in the same public school lottery last Spring. On the lottery form, each family is asked to list 4-5 schools, ranked in order of preference. Elliot was assigned to a school that did not even appear on our list. We had never heard of it before. For many reasons, we decided to decline his placement at that school, and stick with his spot on the waiting list at Jack's school. He has been #2 on the waiting since the initial school assignments last Spring. Since thousands of children participate in this lottery, a #2 spot on the waiting list is considered very high. Everyone assured us that there is always a lot of movement over the summer, and Elliot would undoubtedly get a spot before school started. He did not. Then everyone told us that there are kids who just don't show up for school every year. They said it would only be a matter of 5-10 days of school, and Elliot would surely get one of those spots. Well, tomorrow will be day #9. He is still #2 on the waiting list. I patiently and quietly waited for the first 5 days of school to pass, and then went to see the principal. I was hoping to hear that someone had not showed up for first grade. She told me that she had no idea about attendance yet, and told me that the Family Resource Center handled all waiting list issues. She told me that it is not up to her, and that she has nothing to do with waiting list assignments. All public school placements are handled through the Family Resource Centers. This is where you go to enroll your child in school, make any changes, etc. I called them to check on the waiting list status after the first few days of school. They were so busy, they had forwarded all of their phone lines to a Parent Hotline. But the Parent Hotline doesn't handle school assignments, so they couldn't help me. They suggested that I go in person to the Family Resource Center. I did that. They weren't much help. The man I spoke with told me, "we can do much more if you are here in person." So, I waited three days and went back again. This time, the woman I spoke with said, "You don't need to come here in person. Just call on the phone." Ahhhhhh. So, yesterday I tried calling on the phone. After being told to call a different number, someone took my name and number and said someone would get back to me. No one did. I called again today. Another nice (but completely unhelpful) person told me that the principal is the one who initiates movement on the waiting list. The principal, she explained, is the one who lets the FRCs know that there is an opening in the school. The FRC then goes down the waiting list to fill the spot. I am sure that that is right. But, the principal made it clear to me that she cannot help me. So, I'm back where I started. Elliot tags along with me. He told the woman at the FRC last week that he doesn't want to go to school ever. I wish I could say the same thing. I'm beginning to think that this year will forever be known in our family as the year when Elliot didn't have to go to school...
Monday, September 21
Book of the Week
Little Pea, by Amy Krouse RosenthalDo your kids gobble up their vegetables and ask for more? If they don't, and they're like my kids, they will love this story. It's a twist on the classic dinner time struggle to get kids to eat their vegetables. Little pea LOVES vegetables, but can only have them after s/he's eaten all of her candy. The kids will love seeing what type of candy Little Pea has to eat every day, and listening to the sounds Little Pea makes, repulsed by every sweet bite. In the end, Little Pea does eat all of his/her candy, and gets her surprise dessert... spinach, which s/he gobbles up. It's a very simple story with beautiful illustrations. My kids practically fall over laughing when we read this story. It's one of our all time favorites!
To see my previous book picks, click on the Book of the Week label below this post, or go to www.minivanlane.blogspot.com.
Christmas... is in the air?
The days are getting shorter. It's downright nippy in the morning. The kids are back at school. It's apple picking time. Fall is definitely in the air, but Christmas? Well, it is, at least for some members of our household. Elliot made his first Christmas list today. Mattie brought me a Lincoln Log chimney, and elaborately demonstrated how Santa makes it down. I'm not exactly sure what ushered in the holiday season so early this year, but apparently, it's here...
Sunday, September 20
Memory Lane
As is often the case here in Boston, the first week of school brought with it the first taste of fall. It has been breezy and cool since Labor Day. This morning, I hung the cloth diapers out to dry on the clothesline. It was first thing in the morning, and although the sun is still strong, it was cold out there. I found myself savoring the activity a little bit more than usual, knowing that it won't be long before it's too cold to hang anything outside at all. I love cloth diapers for many reasons, but more than anything else, I love watching the diapers hang outside to dry. It's crazy, I know. I could sit there all day, just watching them float on the line, and blow in the breeze. I'm sure that for many people, the idea of hanging anything out to dry in a city conjures up images of tenements, with laundry hanging out the windows everywhere. But, for me, the swaying clothesline, weighted down by the wet diapers, is a symbol of relaxation and tranquility.I grew up spending several weeks each summer at my grandparents' beach house. It was in Cape May Point, NJ. The house was big and old, and wonderfully romantic to a small child. During all the years my grandparents owned the house, they never had a clothes dryer. So, the wash was always hung outside to dry. I spent some of the most fun and relaxing days I can remember at that house. I'm sure that is why I associate hanging the diapers outside to dry with relaxation and happiness.
As I stood out on our deck this morning, carefully pinning the diapers to the line, I thought about the happy memories I have from my childhood. A wave of good feelings came over me. And then I looked inside at my children. I want them to be full of wonderful childhood memories as well. I hope that many of them include me, and the things I do. Only time will tell what things will stand out in their minds. But, if I could pick, they would remember: me hanging the baby diapers out to dry, making fresh baked bread and kneading it on our table, reading stories all crammed into our favorite rocking chair, taking long car trips, with all of us and all of our stuff packed into the car, having two Christmas trees, our big weekend breakfasts of bacon, eggs and grits, and of course, going to the beach every summer.
Saturday, September 19
Quote of the Day
"There's no way out of here."
- A perplexed Mattie, trying to get to the food court from the neverending aisles of a large Sears department store tonight, during our "Bruins game" outing.
- A perplexed Mattie, trying to get to the food court from the neverending aisles of a large Sears department store tonight, during our "Bruins game" outing.
Bruins Game
Daddy just left with Jack and Elliot to go to the first Bruins game of the season. There was much excitement in the house, but unfortunately, only for those who got to go to the game... Mattie collapsed on the stairs crying as the big boys left. I asked him what he wanted to do at the Bruins game, and he said "play." So, I asked him if he wanted to go to the Bruins game with me and play and have pizza. He cheered up and excitedly yelled, "yeah!" So, I'm taking him to the mall. I'm sure he'll be certain to announce proudly to his brothers tonight that Mama took him to the Bruins game too, and he played and had pizza there. A trip out can be whatever you make of it when you're two, even a Bruins game. I might even let him wear a Bruins shirt home...
Tuesday, September 15
A Glimpse
Several months ago, a friend of mine, who already has three kids herself, asked me what life was like with four. I have yet to find the time to reply to her question. So, in honor of her question, I'm offering a glimpse of my life with four, during these "first days", the craziest time of my year.
Most of the time life with four is good. Our days are orderly. We arrive places on time. The house is fairly clean. The dishes are done. Dinner's on the table each night, and includes at least one vegetable. The laundry's put away. The mail is answered; the messages returned. But, then there are the dark days. The days I don't (usually) write about. These are the days when the laundry has piled up so high that it overflows into the hallway. The kids have gone days without baths. The breakfast dishes (and sometimes the milk) are still on the table at dinner time. Dinner consists of something hastily defrosted from the freezer, served lukewarm, each item on the plate a different shade of tan. The keys get left in the door (sometimes the mailman is kind enough to ring the buzzer to tell me.) There's pee, poop, toothpaste, or all three on the carpet at some point during the day. The library calls to tell me I have $10 in late fines. Everything is lost in the mess. I'm exhausted and grouchy. I drink caffeine to stay awake, and eat meals of peanut butter spoonfuls chased with chocolate chips. I lose my patience with the kids. I vent my frustrations on Ted.
We arrived home from our vacation on Labor Day. Just in time for "first days", what the director of the boys' pre-school affectionately calls the beginning of each school year. These are those introductory days at every school -- the half days, the days when parents are supposed to stay and hang out in the classroom, the days when your child's grade hasn't started yet. The days that count as school days to everyone except the parent who is waiting for the REAL school days to start. This is my busiest time of year. With kids in multiple schools (and one kid still on a waiting list for school this year,) I race around from drop off, to pick up, to open house, to the school supply store, breastfeed the baby and squeeze in a diaper change and nap between aforementioned stops. I rarely make it home between the first drop off and time to make the dinner. While the boys are home with me all summer, I put many thing on hold. I make a promise to myself that I will have time again once school starts. And I will. But the beginning of school has a deceptive lure. It's not until long after school starts that I find that time again.
These busy days, I am caught living moment to moment. As I come and go, I walk by our only partly unpacked suitcases. I dare not hope to accomplish something each day. I cannot find the few moments of mental peace needed to formulate a to-do list. I know that I will only be able to do the urgent things that come up -- the boo-boo's that need doctoring, the lunch to be packed, the form that must be returned to school today, the food we need for tonight's dinner.
This morning I picked up my toothbrush and put toothpaste on it. Then, someone needed my attention right away. I put the toothbrush down on the counter. I didn't see it, or think about it, again until I was headed out to parents' night tonight. Oh well.
The general tone of our family life is still upbeat, even in these busy times. But, I do sometimes feel like a hamster on the wheel. Or, to be more accurate, I feel like I'm swimming in a beautiful pool of deep water. I love being in the water, but the pool is so deep that I can't reach the bottom. I have to swim constantly to stay afloat. At some point, long after dark, someone tosses me a soft, comfortable raft. I climb up onto it and rest, falling instantly to sleep. Sometime early the next morning, while still deep in slumber, the raft is yanked out from under me, to the tune of someone crying. I start swimming again...
Most of the time life with four is good. Our days are orderly. We arrive places on time. The house is fairly clean. The dishes are done. Dinner's on the table each night, and includes at least one vegetable. The laundry's put away. The mail is answered; the messages returned. But, then there are the dark days. The days I don't (usually) write about. These are the days when the laundry has piled up so high that it overflows into the hallway. The kids have gone days without baths. The breakfast dishes (and sometimes the milk) are still on the table at dinner time. Dinner consists of something hastily defrosted from the freezer, served lukewarm, each item on the plate a different shade of tan. The keys get left in the door (sometimes the mailman is kind enough to ring the buzzer to tell me.) There's pee, poop, toothpaste, or all three on the carpet at some point during the day. The library calls to tell me I have $10 in late fines. Everything is lost in the mess. I'm exhausted and grouchy. I drink caffeine to stay awake, and eat meals of peanut butter spoonfuls chased with chocolate chips. I lose my patience with the kids. I vent my frustrations on Ted.
We arrived home from our vacation on Labor Day. Just in time for "first days", what the director of the boys' pre-school affectionately calls the beginning of each school year. These are those introductory days at every school -- the half days, the days when parents are supposed to stay and hang out in the classroom, the days when your child's grade hasn't started yet. The days that count as school days to everyone except the parent who is waiting for the REAL school days to start. This is my busiest time of year. With kids in multiple schools (and one kid still on a waiting list for school this year,) I race around from drop off, to pick up, to open house, to the school supply store, breastfeed the baby and squeeze in a diaper change and nap between aforementioned stops. I rarely make it home between the first drop off and time to make the dinner. While the boys are home with me all summer, I put many thing on hold. I make a promise to myself that I will have time again once school starts. And I will. But the beginning of school has a deceptive lure. It's not until long after school starts that I find that time again.
These busy days, I am caught living moment to moment. As I come and go, I walk by our only partly unpacked suitcases. I dare not hope to accomplish something each day. I cannot find the few moments of mental peace needed to formulate a to-do list. I know that I will only be able to do the urgent things that come up -- the boo-boo's that need doctoring, the lunch to be packed, the form that must be returned to school today, the food we need for tonight's dinner.
This morning I picked up my toothbrush and put toothpaste on it. Then, someone needed my attention right away. I put the toothbrush down on the counter. I didn't see it, or think about it, again until I was headed out to parents' night tonight. Oh well.
The general tone of our family life is still upbeat, even in these busy times. But, I do sometimes feel like a hamster on the wheel. Or, to be more accurate, I feel like I'm swimming in a beautiful pool of deep water. I love being in the water, but the pool is so deep that I can't reach the bottom. I have to swim constantly to stay afloat. At some point, long after dark, someone tosses me a soft, comfortable raft. I climb up onto it and rest, falling instantly to sleep. Sometime early the next morning, while still deep in slumber, the raft is yanked out from under me, to the tune of someone crying. I start swimming again...
Monday, September 14
Book of the Week
To all of my "fans", I apologize for being absent form the blogging world for a while. I miss it as much as you do. I have high hope that this week will be kinder than last week...
"Charlie and Chocolate Factory" is my book pick for the week. I just finished reading this book out loud to Jack and Elliot. At 6 and 8, they were at the perfect age for it. They loved the descriptions of the other four golden ticket winners, each one more detestable than the one before. And I could see their mouths watering after hearing about each of Wonka's edible inventions. Neither Jack nor Elliot could get enough of the fantastical story, always asking me to read one more chapter. It's a perfect read aloud story. We completed the experience by watching the 1971 version of the film. Although there are a few gruesome images on the chocolate river boat ride, the rest of the movie was great, and they really enjoyed watching the story come to life on video.
If you would like to see any of my previous book picks, simply click on the book of the week label at the bottom of this post.
"Charlie and Chocolate Factory" is my book pick for the week. I just finished reading this book out loud to Jack and Elliot. At 6 and 8, they were at the perfect age for it. They loved the descriptions of the other four golden ticket winners, each one more detestable than the one before. And I could see their mouths watering after hearing about each of Wonka's edible inventions. Neither Jack nor Elliot could get enough of the fantastical story, always asking me to read one more chapter. It's a perfect read aloud story. We completed the experience by watching the 1971 version of the film. Although there are a few gruesome images on the chocolate river boat ride, the rest of the movie was great, and they really enjoyed watching the story come to life on video.
If you would like to see any of my previous book picks, simply click on the book of the week label at the bottom of this post.
Wednesday, September 9
The Machine
After a wonderful and long vacation, this week brought us back to reality. Each day this week we have some sort of back to school activity. Yesterday we went to Mattie's new pre-school (the same one Jack and Elliot went to,) for an open house. Everyone got dressed, and the five of us headed out the door bright and early. We stopped at the corner at the end of our street, waiting for the light to change. Another mom walking with her mother and new baby stopped as well. After giving us the once over, she commented on how amazing it was to see us out so early, proceeding on our daily business in such an orderly fashion. I smiled, and thanked her, feeling very proud. After all, I work very hard to keep this family running like a well oiled machine. And, for a few minutes each day, we actually achieve it.
Saturday, September 5
The Perfect Life
It's 10:00 at night. It's our last night at my in-laws'; tomorrow we head back to Boston. The kids are all in bed at last. My in-laws have gone upstairs. Everyone else has gone home. I find myself sitting in semi-darkness at the dining room table, reflecting on the week. I had a wonderful time here. I loved being able to just open the front door and let the kids outside at any time of day to play. We discovered several new favorite activities right here in the neighborhood, from fishing in the pond, to walking and biking on the trail, to playing in a nearby creek. And as always, we spent every evening in the company of Ted's siblings and their children.
As many of you know, we have been talking (ad nauseum) about moving for the last year or so. We are continually discussing whether or not to leave Boston, and if we do, where we should move. We spend most of our time discussing various towns in MA. But, after weeks like this one, we inevitably revisit the idea of moving closer to our families.
I find these discussions exhausting and frustrating. Ever the perfectionist, I am looking for the perfect place to live, to lead the ideal life. In this case, it would mean a great town, with a reasonable cost of living, lots of outdoor space and activities for families, lots of sunny weather, a big house with a bigger yard, close to Ted's (equally perfect) job, and within a few miles of all of our relatives. When this option doesn't readily present itself, I find myself unable to choose between any of the other, less perfect options at all. So, we find ourselves slowly growing grey right where we are. (Which is not a bad place at all, but does fall somewhat short of my dream place.)
I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that I have found certain aspects of adulthood overwhelming. I felt very sure of myself as a child, and always knew which way I was pointed and where I was headed. I had my plans and goals outlined in front of me clearly. It was easy to make the "right" choices and work towards them. I knew that I wanted to enjoy high school, travel abroad, go to Princeton, and get married and have a family soon after college. I did all those things, just as planned. But, I found that my life wasn't laid out so clearly after that. While I sometimes enjoy taking hold of destiny's reigns, I also struggle at times with the myriad of choices I have, and still find myself hoping to catch a glimpse of a path, laid out clearly before me.
As many of you know, we have been talking (ad nauseum) about moving for the last year or so. We are continually discussing whether or not to leave Boston, and if we do, where we should move. We spend most of our time discussing various towns in MA. But, after weeks like this one, we inevitably revisit the idea of moving closer to our families.
I find these discussions exhausting and frustrating. Ever the perfectionist, I am looking for the perfect place to live, to lead the ideal life. In this case, it would mean a great town, with a reasonable cost of living, lots of outdoor space and activities for families, lots of sunny weather, a big house with a bigger yard, close to Ted's (equally perfect) job, and within a few miles of all of our relatives. When this option doesn't readily present itself, I find myself unable to choose between any of the other, less perfect options at all. So, we find ourselves slowly growing grey right where we are. (Which is not a bad place at all, but does fall somewhat short of my dream place.)
I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that I have found certain aspects of adulthood overwhelming. I felt very sure of myself as a child, and always knew which way I was pointed and where I was headed. I had my plans and goals outlined in front of me clearly. It was easy to make the "right" choices and work towards them. I knew that I wanted to enjoy high school, travel abroad, go to Princeton, and get married and have a family soon after college. I did all those things, just as planned. But, I found that my life wasn't laid out so clearly after that. While I sometimes enjoy taking hold of destiny's reigns, I also struggle at times with the myriad of choices I have, and still find myself hoping to catch a glimpse of a path, laid out clearly before me.
Friday, September 4
My Homeschool
I can't believe I haven't blogged about this at all yet. It must be a symptom of denial. Between the ephemeral last days of summer, and our lengthy (vacation) absence from home, my mind is elsewhere. But, ready or not, it's coming. Next week brings the annual back to school ritual in Boston.
For the first time this year, I will have three boys in school. I find myself strangely, and uncharacteristically sad about Mattie starting school. I feel like a first time mom all over again. He is set to attend the same pre-school that Jack and Elliot went to, which I wholeheartedly adore. But, for some reason, I am dreading our first day separation. We have been away from the school for the last year, with Jack and Elliot both in elementary school. Mattie does not have the same familiarity with the school that Elliot did, having dropped off and picked up Jack countless times during the year before he started there. Mattie's first day will be next Wednesday, the day before elementary school starts. I will be doing the drop off with everyone in tow. Perhaps that will make it easier.
Jack and Elliot will also be attending a new school this year. We decided to give the Boston Public Schools a chance for the first time. We selected a school just 2 blocks from our house, which offers a bilingual Spanish English immersion program. But, this switch is not without a set of hurdles still to conquer. Jack will be starting third grade. The other kids in the immersion program have had 3 years of Spanish already. Jack has had none. So, the school wants to start Jack out in an English only classroom. On the surface that doesn't sound problematic, except that the English only program has been eliminated in the school. Jack's grade is the last one that still offers it. The program, having been phased out, has no future in the school. It has no one with an interest in promoting, improving or pouring energy into it. For reasons owing to the workings of the BPS lottery system, the English only classroom is also purported to be full of kids whose parents have little interest in their children's education. It is also rumoured to have more discipline problems. So, we told the school that we are only interested in the bilingual program for Jack. The principal was out last semester on family leave, so we have not gotten any assurances from the school concerning his placement. If Jack isn't offered a spot in the bilingual program, we're not sure whether we'll send him to the school. We also don't have anywhere else to send him. Elliot is in an entirely different, but worse, situation. Elliot was not offered a spot at any of the schools (4) that we listed on our lottery form last year. Instead, he was assigned to another public school, farther away from our home, that we had never heard of. We opted to decline his spot at that school, and instead placed him on the waiting list at Jack's school. He is currently second on that list. So, right now, he does not have a spot at any school. Jack's school has assured me that they typically see lots of movement on the waiting list, but not until after the school year starts (and they figure out who is a no show.) So, what will we do next Thursday? The current plan for Elliot is homeschooling.
Given my personality (obsessive compulsive, type A, etc.) it's even hard for me to believe that we're in this situation. But, I'm surprisingly ok with it. I guess the truth is that, on some inner level, I feel like everything will work out fine. And if it doesn't, I'm confident that we'll be able to pull something else together quickly. After all of my frustrations with Jack and Elliot's old school, and my fears about their new school, the idea of temporary homeschooling doesn't actually sound that scary. And maybe, if things don't work out, this will be the final push for us to move. Whatever it is, I'm actually looking forward to letting fate take me for a ride.
For the first time this year, I will have three boys in school. I find myself strangely, and uncharacteristically sad about Mattie starting school. I feel like a first time mom all over again. He is set to attend the same pre-school that Jack and Elliot went to, which I wholeheartedly adore. But, for some reason, I am dreading our first day separation. We have been away from the school for the last year, with Jack and Elliot both in elementary school. Mattie does not have the same familiarity with the school that Elliot did, having dropped off and picked up Jack countless times during the year before he started there. Mattie's first day will be next Wednesday, the day before elementary school starts. I will be doing the drop off with everyone in tow. Perhaps that will make it easier.
Jack and Elliot will also be attending a new school this year. We decided to give the Boston Public Schools a chance for the first time. We selected a school just 2 blocks from our house, which offers a bilingual Spanish English immersion program. But, this switch is not without a set of hurdles still to conquer. Jack will be starting third grade. The other kids in the immersion program have had 3 years of Spanish already. Jack has had none. So, the school wants to start Jack out in an English only classroom. On the surface that doesn't sound problematic, except that the English only program has been eliminated in the school. Jack's grade is the last one that still offers it. The program, having been phased out, has no future in the school. It has no one with an interest in promoting, improving or pouring energy into it. For reasons owing to the workings of the BPS lottery system, the English only classroom is also purported to be full of kids whose parents have little interest in their children's education. It is also rumoured to have more discipline problems. So, we told the school that we are only interested in the bilingual program for Jack. The principal was out last semester on family leave, so we have not gotten any assurances from the school concerning his placement. If Jack isn't offered a spot in the bilingual program, we're not sure whether we'll send him to the school. We also don't have anywhere else to send him. Elliot is in an entirely different, but worse, situation. Elliot was not offered a spot at any of the schools (4) that we listed on our lottery form last year. Instead, he was assigned to another public school, farther away from our home, that we had never heard of. We opted to decline his spot at that school, and instead placed him on the waiting list at Jack's school. He is currently second on that list. So, right now, he does not have a spot at any school. Jack's school has assured me that they typically see lots of movement on the waiting list, but not until after the school year starts (and they figure out who is a no show.) So, what will we do next Thursday? The current plan for Elliot is homeschooling.
Given my personality (obsessive compulsive, type A, etc.) it's even hard for me to believe that we're in this situation. But, I'm surprisingly ok with it. I guess the truth is that, on some inner level, I feel like everything will work out fine. And if it doesn't, I'm confident that we'll be able to pull something else together quickly. After all of my frustrations with Jack and Elliot's old school, and my fears about their new school, the idea of temporary homeschooling doesn't actually sound that scary. And maybe, if things don't work out, this will be the final push for us to move. Whatever it is, I'm actually looking forward to letting fate take me for a ride.
Thursday, September 3
Sleeping Like a Baby
A while back, Ted shared a joke with me that he heard at a conference. Two insurance salesmen were talking to each other, discussing their business in light of the poor economy. The one salesman asked the other how he slept at night. The reply was that he slept like a baby: he woke up every two hours screaming.
I think of that joke often in my daily life with the fab four. I just returned to the table after putting Theo back to sleep, a skill that has become painfully routine this week in VA. Theo, like Mattie, has been a great sleeper since birth. We followed the same routine with both boys - we swaddled them from day one, and always tried to put them down awake, but sleepy. But, something happened after we arrived in VA this week. Theo has started waking up at night again, and has suddenly stopped taking his normal 3 hour afternoon nap. Overall, he really still sleeps very well for a 5 month old. But, he is not sleeping nearly as well as he has all summer. I am very unhappy about it. The most frustrating part for me is the disruption to his afternoon nap. He has been going down like usual, but waking up after an hour or an hour and half, crying loudly. Normally, he wakes up from his naps very happy. My rule for babies and napping is that anytime a baby wakes up crying, he didn't sleep long enough, and needs to go back to sleep. So, the first day Theo woke up crying, I tried nursing him back to sleep. It worked. Unfortunately, he has repeated that pattern every day this week. Each time, I'm stuck sitting in a dark room, nursing him back to sleep, then holding him quietly until he goes into a deep enough sleep to put back into his bed. After that, he goes on to sleep another 2 hours. So, he's still taking his long afternoon nap, just in two segments, joined together by a breastfeeding session. Part of me wants to blame Theo's bad sleep on traveling, but we were at my parents' house last week, and he slept fine there. Something else is going on.
Having gone through this many time before, I know this is just a phase. This too shall pass. It's not really much of an inconvenience with Ted and so many other relatives here to help. But, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I'm not happy that my otherwise perfect baby has ceased sleeping perfectly. And, next week I may be in even more trouble. School starts for Jack, Elliot and Mattie. I will be doing pick-ups at two different schools from 2:15 until 3:45 each afternoon. I'm not exactly sure where, when or how Theo will sleep then. I guess the best I can hope for, is that he'll sleep like an adult.
I think of that joke often in my daily life with the fab four. I just returned to the table after putting Theo back to sleep, a skill that has become painfully routine this week in VA. Theo, like Mattie, has been a great sleeper since birth. We followed the same routine with both boys - we swaddled them from day one, and always tried to put them down awake, but sleepy. But, something happened after we arrived in VA this week. Theo has started waking up at night again, and has suddenly stopped taking his normal 3 hour afternoon nap. Overall, he really still sleeps very well for a 5 month old. But, he is not sleeping nearly as well as he has all summer. I am very unhappy about it. The most frustrating part for me is the disruption to his afternoon nap. He has been going down like usual, but waking up after an hour or an hour and half, crying loudly. Normally, he wakes up from his naps very happy. My rule for babies and napping is that anytime a baby wakes up crying, he didn't sleep long enough, and needs to go back to sleep. So, the first day Theo woke up crying, I tried nursing him back to sleep. It worked. Unfortunately, he has repeated that pattern every day this week. Each time, I'm stuck sitting in a dark room, nursing him back to sleep, then holding him quietly until he goes into a deep enough sleep to put back into his bed. After that, he goes on to sleep another 2 hours. So, he's still taking his long afternoon nap, just in two segments, joined together by a breastfeeding session. Part of me wants to blame Theo's bad sleep on traveling, but we were at my parents' house last week, and he slept fine there. Something else is going on.
Having gone through this many time before, I know this is just a phase. This too shall pass. It's not really much of an inconvenience with Ted and so many other relatives here to help. But, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I'm not happy that my otherwise perfect baby has ceased sleeping perfectly. And, next week I may be in even more trouble. School starts for Jack, Elliot and Mattie. I will be doing pick-ups at two different schools from 2:15 until 3:45 each afternoon. I'm not exactly sure where, when or how Theo will sleep then. I guess the best I can hope for, is that he'll sleep like an adult.
Wednesday, September 2
Quote of the Day
Mattie: "Where do birds live?"
Me: "They live in nests, in trees."
Mattie: "No, they live in cuckoo clocks."
Me: "They live in nests, in trees."
Mattie: "No, they live in cuckoo clocks."
Grammy Camp
This morning I drove from VA to MD to pick up Elliot. He spent the last four days alone at my parents' house, enjoying what I call "Grammy Camp." Jack was the first grandchild to be invited to Grammy Camp. He spent 4 days with them last summer. This year, he was invited for a whole week. Elliot wasn't quite ready to go last summer, but this summer he couldn't wait! Ted called me in the car on my way back from today's pick-up. He was anxious to hear how it went. Not surprisingly, Elliot had a fantastic time, and didn't want to leave. This is a sample of one of his four days: wake up 6:40 am, eat favorite breakfast foods, including lots of sugary cereal, get dressed, watch video while Grammy gets dressed, head to arboreteum to play in tree houses, enjoy picnic lunch there, swim at Grammy's pool, stop at Rita's Water Ice for "treat", play baseball outside with Pop Pop, eat favorite vegetable-free dinner, watch new video Grammy bought him with popcorn, play 6 rounds of favorite game, take jacuzzi, read stories with Pop Pop, go to sleep at 9pm. With days like that, who could blame him...
Tuesday, September 1
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