There’s a little survey of sorts going around in regards to LABOR Day…although, not in the fashion the holiday was meant for, but nonetheless.  I thought I’d post along

How long were your labors?

Well, so far, I’ve had one.  Singular.  And, I forget how long the labor actually was because I was induced.  I do remember the nurses waking my husband and myself up telling him that if he planned to shower before we got going he should get on it.  I would have to look back in my journal, but I think I was feeling the contractions SOME when he got out.How did you know you were in labor?

I was hooked to machines from the get go, so that was a pretty good indicator.  And, then when I felt like I was dying, I was pretty sure that was it…or, I was dying.  I was hoping it was labor….unless of course death would be faster?  (kidding.  Well, maybe not so much in that moment.)Where did you deliver?

Hospital.  Woohoo.

Drugs?

Here’s where it gets a little interesting.  I was all about the epidural.  I’ve had one before and while I know how they work and how it feels, I was a little nervous about a needle being poked in my back, but hey.  Well…apparently the anesthesiologist ever so slightly nicked a nerve, which made my leg shoot out from under me.  I got yelled out and told to keep still.  Um, dude?  You’re the one holding the needle.  You try to hold still while I jab your nerves and let’s see what happens.  K?  When my leg jerked, the needle punctured a membrane, which essentially gave me a spinal tap with a MUCH thicker needle.  They had to do a blood patch, which ended up having one person with a needle in my back, while someone else drew from my arm because they couldn’t keep my blood from turning to jelly long enough for one person to do it all.  Fun times.  He did try again, with no luck.  I ended up with some Stadol and something else.  Took the edge off, but I felt pretty much all of it.  And, still got the migraines from the epi.  Lucky me.  I have resolved that next time…no epi.  Right after I had L, I was able to scoot myself (using my legs) off of the bed and walk myself all the way to my new room.  That’s how much my epi did NOT work.  Sorry nurse, it was NOT because I don’t take medicine well and have no pain tolerance.  I know what a working epi feels like, and that wasn’t it.

C-section?

Nope.Who delivered?

My doctor.  Although, let me tell you – with my first birth, I had random yo yos feeling me up, including trainees with eyes as big as saucers.  “Do you mind?” they asked me.  “Why not, everyone else in this hospital has!” I say gritting my teeth through a contraction.  And believe me, that was a one time deal.  I usually require at least dinner and a movie.  GAW.

Welcome back!

I feel that with every challenge in life, there comes an opportunity – and opportunity to grow and exceed all expectations.  I believe with every fiber of my being that this is true, and that I’m not just gripping for some higher cause to make me feel better when things get rough.  If you would’ve asked me when I was 18 if I would ever cloth diaper my child, I would have laughed in your face.  Same for hanging clothes out on the line.  But, growing my own food?  I probably would have snorted liquids out of both of my nostrils.  Funny what life’s challenges can show you.  What began out of necessity to provide our family with fresh vegetables this summer (that we could afford), became something that we love – and look forward to doing in future years, regardless of our income.  Our circumstances pushed me to give up the products I thought I could never do without.  It pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone – and being my stubborn self, I resisted…heavily.  My husband resisted even more.  But once, I managed to let go of certain items I thought I could never do without, my eyes opened.

I didn’t need them at all.

It became a game.  What can I get rid of next and live without?  Where else can I cut out cost?  We began cloth diapering half-time, making more meals and eating out much less (which hadn’t been that much to begin with, but is almost “0″ now – especially when it’s just us.)  What was born out of necessity has become something that EMPOWERED us.  TAUGHT us.  EMBRACED and FREED us, all at once.

And, now.  For something a little different.

I have a few new projects…or goals, in mind.  I may change my mind about any of them as I begin to learn more, but right now, I’m inspired.

1.  I’m collecting cookbooks.  OLD cookbooks.  While most of America is searching for 3 item recipe cookbooks, where you use a can of this and a can of that, I’m looking for cookbooks which may not even still have a cover on them.  I’m looking for cookbooks where the main ingredients are in their simplest forms – flour, tomatoes, squash, etc.

2.  I’m going to learn how to make my own pasta.  My own bread without the breadmaker (although I will mostly use the breadmaker.  I just want to know HOW and be confident in my ability to do so.)

3.  I plan to learn and fully educate myself on how to freeze all types of food, and other ways (like canning and drying) seasonal fruits and veggies from our garden, so we may eat them year round.  Because I can.

4.  By the spring of 2009, I want a Composter.  A nice one.  Preferably the rolling bins with legs.  My organic garden did well this year, but imagine if I had my own organic fertilizer?

5.  I plan to plant a garden next year, again.  Only this time, I’ll plant a little extra…just to give away to someone who needs it.  It’s time I do my part to do what I can to make this place I live in a little more caring about each other.

6.  I plan to learn even more about essential oils and herbs.  I want to learn how to use whole herbs to treat common ailments, and grow them and learn to use them.  I began exploring alternative medicine when we lost health insurance, but I have found something so very promising.  We’ll have health insurance starting TOMORROW (!!!!), but I still believe that the Earth can do so much more than we give it credit for (but I do still love some of Western medicine).

7.  And Lastly, next spring we plan to learn more about our region, this place we call home, by eating LOCALLY (except for the things that aren’t available).  We’ll do our best, and see what happens.  I’m hoping we can do this for an entire year.  This doesn’t mean eating from local grocery stores and restaurants, it means eating LOCALLY GROWN things.  It doesn’t have to be from my own garden, it can be from farmers markets, other small farms (like the Amish), or the game my family hunts.  Why would I do such a thing?  Because it’s a challenge.  Because I no longer look at food (or much else) the same way, now that I know (or don’t know) what’s in it.  I look forward to establishing relationships with local farmers, and trading and buying with them.  I look forward to helping support the little farmers.  I look forward to the education this will provide my family – that we will better appreciate the food we eat, and the bodies we have.  I look forward to being another person who is choosing to educate themselves on the dying art of natural food and medicines so that we may continue to have some hope for our future that is not filled with high fructose corn syrup and unhealthy additives that do little else than destroy the same bodies we strive to nourish.

If ANYONE is AT ALL interested in some of these “journeys” I am choosing to go on, do let me know.  I would be more than happy to post recipes, resources, and other random thoughts that I experience and learn.  You don’t have to travel with me, but I’d be more than happy to share any pieces you might be interested in, just let me know what you’re seeking.

Dear Ashley,

You just turned 23 and I contemplated writing a letter to your former 17 year old self – our friends tell me it’s quite therapeutic. But, to be honest, I feel that wading knee deep into the murky waters of our past won’t help much at all. You just can’t change the past, nor would I want to. Our past has helped shape who we’ve become, and it is us who chooses to allow ourselves to be continuously molded.

With that said, I do want to talk to you about now, though. God knows there is plenty to discuss. First, you really need to forgive a few people. Two, actually. The anger you’ve harbored for so long is eating you alive – you need to release it. You don’t have to open your arms completely to them just yet – or ever- but do know that your anger and resentment are making it very hard for you to see clearly. You need to let go – even if for your own sanity.

And, I know you’re terrified over the prospect of not being prepared – of not being able to stand on your own two feet, but you can’t live your life with a Plan B always lurking in the shadows, lest you wish you find yourself there (if you think about something enough, it can become your truth. IF you let it.) Stop the needless worrying about what if. Get your savings account in order, maybe even go back to school if you want to – just in case you should ever need it. And, hey. Stop stressing about whether to become a Pscyh major or Educator. Why not go for a double major? You can do it. You love learning, anyhow. Wait until the money is right and consider it your “Christmas and Birthday present” – while everyone else asks for toys and goodies, just save your money and apply it to your future college. Then, keep your certificates and be who you want to be. Even if that is a stay at home mom for the next 10 years. So what? Psychology and Education are two GREAT degrees to have as a MOM, WIFE, and FRIEND. So, go for it. Rock it. It doesn’t have to be now, but soon…in the near future.

I’m loving that you have started crafting, reading, and writing again. Keep expressing yourself. You…we …need it to survive. It’s who we are. You could definitely stand to exercise though. I mean, seriously. You aren’t fat but you really need to keep with the whole exercise regimen – especially the cardio part. For your health, remember? What good is all of this healthy eating and supplements and these natural cures and cutting down on toxins if you refuse to do the most basic thing to care for your body? We need to work this one out. Find something that doesn’t suck to do. Oh yeh, and you might want to find someone a bit more … enthusiastic …about being your cardio partner. Obviously the setup isn’t working as it is, and it’s only making you annoyed and giving you an easier time to cop-out when they drop-out. You’ve exercised how much lately? That’s what I thought. I know, I was/am there. Get on it, woman.

One last thing for now, we need to connect more often. Mostly, just watch yourself. Myself. Confused yet? Hah. Watch your language, body language, tone, and all of that. Make sure your actions and words portray the person you truly wish to be. Because, it only matters to a point what is in your head, the rest lies in what you do with it. So, make it good.

Love,

Me.

P.S. – I hope you get some really cool stuff for your birthday. Bwahahahaahahahah.

There’s just something about mother-and-me products that just warms my heart. Not to exclude any of you fatherly figures out there, it’s just that I happen to be a mother, rather than a father, so relating to motherhood comes much easier to me. I find myself imagining treks to the grocery store, with our matching bags in hand, filling up on the freshest fruits and veggies as Elle loads up on anything that even resembles a banana (her favorite thing). I imagine sweet picnics together, and I imagine journeys to Camp Mimi or Granny’s, with her little carrybag in hand. I can’t help it. Those images in my head just make me smile from the inside out.

Even more-so when those images in my head become real life. I can’t get over how adorable Elle looks as she paces her room one last time, collecting a few last items for her reisenthel xs carrybag. Or, waddling down the sidewalk with her reisenthel xs carrybag in hand and her Mimi behind her, off to Mimi’s house for the night.

I love that Elle and I have these versatile, matching bags – but, I love even more that L wants to take her bag wherever she goes. Adorable, I tell you.

The original reisenthel carrybag and the xs carrybag (for kids) come in a rainbow of colors – so you’re sure to love them no matter what your favorite color is.

Love these.

 We’ve been having a huge problem with gnats, lately.  So, I declared war – in the form of liquid dish soap and white vinegar.  Kind of like High Fructose Corn Syrup is for humans – only this works a little faster.  Enjoy your twinkie

(PS- If you were wondering if my methods had made an impact, I would like to assure you that they have.  Judging by the bodies I had to empty out this morning, we had more gnats than I thought.  Unless of course they can reproduce after they’re dead?  I didn’t think so.)

Although we haven’t completed everything on the 3-12 Months list, I’m going to start working on this one as well. It’s not that I don’t think she’s CAPABLE of doing the other things, I just never really thought to have her try on a glove in the middle of summer. Bad mommy. So, I’ll play catch up with a few off the other list, and then move on to these:

TODDLERS:12-24 MONTHS

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Matching a Cut-out Piece and Its Outline
Activity 2: Assembling a Simple Puzzle
Activity 3: Matching Geometrical Shapes
Activity 4: Distinguishing Same from Different
Activity 5: Tracing and Matching Shapes
Activity 6: Matching Numbers
Activity 7: Identifying Objects Belonging to a Specific Group
Activity 8: Looking at a Sequence of Events
Activity 9: Focusing On a Moving Object
Activity 10: Matching Objects and Pictures by Concept

MOTOR ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Clipping Clothes Pegs Onto a Rim
Activity 2: Placing Objects “In” and “Out”
Activity 3: Putting Objects In and Out of a Pocket Booklet
Activity 4: Putting Lids On and Taking Them Off
Activity 5: Unwrapping Objects
Activity 6: Picking Objects Up with a Magnet
Activity 7: Putting Pieces in and Out of a Puzzle
Activity 8: Stringing Objects
Activity 9: Transferring Objects Using the Pincer Grasp
Activity 10: Transferring from One Container to Another

SENSORY ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Identifying Colors in Color Booklets
Activity 2: Matching Pairs of Objects by Color
Activity 3: Identifying the Ten Basic Parts of the Body
Activity 4: Identifying Objects by Feel
Activity 5: Taking a Theme Walk
Activity 6: Matching Objects by Pattern and Texture
Activity 7: Working with Play Dough
Activity 8: Identifying “Loud” and “Soft” Sounds
Activity 9: Identifying Sources of Sounds
Activity 10: Identifying Smells

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Naming Ten Basic Parts of the Body
Activity 2: Retrieving a Named Object
Activity 3: Naming Pictures in a Book
Activity 4: Naming Colors in a Color Booklet
Activity 5: Beginning Basic Counting
Activity 6: Naming Pictures Starting with the Same Phonetic Sound
Activity 7: Naming Objects Starting with the Same Phonetic Sounds
Activity 8: Naming and Matching Objects and Cards
Activity 9: Adding and Taking Away Identical Objects
Activity 10: Practicing Like Phonetic Sounds

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Exploring Treasure Bags in a Group
Activity 2: Imitating Facial Expressions
Activity 3: Passing an Object Back and Forth
Activity 4: Watching and Imitating Body Movements
Activity 5: Listening To and Following Instructions
Activity 6: Identifying and Naming Others
Activity 7: Making Music As a Group
Activity 8: Matching Photos to People
Activity 9: Sharing Materials
Activity 10: Recognizing Feelings

PRACTICAL LIFE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Unrolling and Rolling Up a Work Mat
Activity 2: Wiping Up Spills
Activity 3: Sorting and Matching Utensils
Activity 4: Using Cookie Cutters to Cut Bread into Shapes
Activity 5: Sweeping Up
Activity 6: Self Care
Activity 7: Cutting Soft Food into Pieces
Activity 8: Serving Food
Activity 9: Pouring Beverages from One Container to Another
Activity 10: Setting Places for Meals

TWOS: 24-36 MONTHS

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Sorting Objects by Concept
Activity 2: Matching Pictures by Concept
Activity 3: Carrying Out a Two-day Project
Activity 4: Associating Objects and Numbers
Activity 5: Matching Three Basic Geometrical Shapes
Activity 6: Transferring Equal Numbers of Objects
Activity 7: Matching Shapes to Outlines
Activity 8: Sorting Events by Sequence
Activity 9: Manipulating a Fraction Puzzle
Activity 10: Matching Pictures of Parents and Babies

MOTOR ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Cutting with Scissors
Activity 2: Throwing from a Distance
Activity 3: Using a Hole Puncher
Activity 4: Clamping Clothes Pegs onto a Rim
Activity 5: Transferring Water Using Squeezing Implements
Activity 6: Stringing Objects Using a Cord
Activity 7: Making Building Blocks
Activity 8: Walking the Line
Activity 9: Transferring Tiny Objects Using Grasping Implements
Activity 10: Transferring Using Spooning Implements

SENSORY ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Matching Objects by Color
Activity 2: Hunting for Treasure
Activity 3: Pairing Objects According to Color and Pattern
Activity 4: Discriminating between Sizes of Shapes
Activity 5: Painting
Activity 6: Exploring a Texture Box
Activity 7: Observing Nature Close Up
Activity 8: Experiencing Smell Bags
Activity 9: Growing Plants Outside
Activity 10: Visiting the Bird Feeder

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Identifying Pictures of Objects with Unusual or Complex Names
Activity 2: Naming Parts of the Human Body
Activity 3: Naming Pictures Starting with the Same Phonetic Sound
Activity 4: Naming Objects Starting with the Same Phonetic Sound
Activity 5: Looking at Number Booklets
Activity 6: Creating a Story from Pictures
Activity 7: Becoming Familiar with Letters and Their Sounds
Activity 8: Listening to an Audio Book
Activity 9: Using “I Spy” to Practice Identifying
Activity 10: Matching Letters on an Alphabet Board

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Opening and Closing Doors Quietly
Activity 2: Practicing “Please” and “Thank You”
Activity 3: Pulling Together
Activity 4: Singing the “No” Song and the “Yes” Song
Activity 5: Making Group Art
Activity 6: Recognizing and Describing Emotions
Activity 7: Planning a Trip
Activity 8: Imitating an Action Story
Activity 9: Changing Partners
Activity 10: Making Butter Together

PRACTICAL LIFE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Fastening Clothes
Activity 2: Washing Kitchen Objects
Activity 3: Washing Napkins
Activity 4: Preparing Vegetables and Fruit for Cooking and Eating
Activity 5: Making Fruit Salad
Activity 6: Washing Windows and Other Large Objects
Activity 7: Sewing
Activity 8: Taking Apart and Putting Back Together
Activity 9: Polishing
Activity 10: Making Snacks

I’ve been incredibly busy researching and trying to figure out some sort of way to “map” L’s progress with the new skills she’s learning. I felt like I had all of these Montessori skills and ideas to try out, but they all floated around randomly. I wanted something that I could look at and say, “Okay, she’s mastered this one, what’s next?” – Instead of skipping from a level 0 concept to a level 4 and then back to level 2 (if that makes any sense). Some things are obvious when it comes to what a 16 month old can do, but some things I take for granted and others I would have never thought she could do them, yet she can.

So, I’ll be posting some of the new things we are trying, and great resources I’m finding, and our little journey in general. I know that some of you who aren’t into the whole homeschool or Montessori thing won’t care much, so you can skip over this post if you want lol. I just think it’d be great if someone else can find help by me journaling what we’ve done.

I forgot to mention that last week, I re-organized L’s room. Yes. Again. I thinned out her toys, and luckily she didn’t have too many that I couldn’t store on the top shelves of her bookcase in canvas baskets or on the shelves in her closet. Then, I use the 6 shelves she has low to the ground and filled those using the Montessori categories as a guide. One cubby has sensorial toys: plush rattle, squeaky octopus that plays a different note depending on which leg you squeak, maracas, and a baby “mp3″ player. Another shelf has a couple of baby dolls and a stuffed bear. Another cubby has wooden blocks, a pull along toy, stackable rings, etc. Yet another cubby has an assortment of different sized books (from only a couple of inches big to really tall books), and all with different types of pages. Another cubby has items for pretend play – a Melissa and Doug picnic basket with pretend food, pretend baby bottle, etc. And, the last cubby has a basket with personal care items – hair brushes of different kinds, a hand mirror, a hat, washcloth, easy to put on shoes, etc.

We use the other rooms to store some of her other toys like a car with blinky lights, balls, etc. We do arts and crafts in the kitchen and coloring sometimes in the living room. Although, she gave my Thesaurus a good coloring, so I think I may need to clean off the table completely when we do coloring, eh? Any extra toys would go into the attic if they needed to, to be switched out with what she currently has every month or so. The idea is that she has enough to play with but not enough to get overwhelmed. That, and we really want her to learn how to play extensively with each toy and not just pick one up to throw it down and pick up another. (Plus, it makes it a lot easier to clean up and tidy.)

I also put together an activity list with ideas geared towards certain age groups. First, I’ll post the 3-12 Months list:

INFANTS: 3-12 MONTHS

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Focusing On an Object
Activity 2: Remembering an Object’s Location
Activity 3: Matching Lids to Pots
Activity 4: Making a Simple Toy
Activity 5: Identifying and Finding Specific Objects When Asked
Activity 6: Finding Covered Objects
Activity 7: Matching Shoes
Activity 8: Tracking Objects Being Moved
Activity 9: Fitting Nesting Cups
Activity 10: Putting On a Glove

MOTOR ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Rolling Over
Activity 2: Grasping Objects
Activity 3: Developing the Pincer Grasp
Activity 4: Introducing “In” and “Out”
Activity 5: Dropping an Object into a Container
Activity 6: Putting Shapes into Holes
Activity 7: Practicing “In” and “Out”
Activity 8: Stacking Assorted Objects
Activity 9: Pouring Dry Material from One Container to Another
Activity 10: Pulling a Hidden Object Out Of a Cylinder

SENSORY ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Following Movement with the Eyes
Activity 2: Experiencing Different Food Textures
Activity 3: Experiencing Different Sounds
Activity 4: Hearing Different Levels of Sound
Activity 5: Recognizing Patterns
Activity 6: Making Different Sounds with Utensils
Activity 7: Experiencing Different Fabric Textures
Activity 8: Gathering Objects in Nature
Activity 9: Identifying Containers with Objects Inside
Activity 10: Experiencing “Warm” and “Cold”

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Focusing On Names of Objects
Activity 2: Naming Parts of the Face
Activity 3: Naming Parts of the Body
Activity 4: Identifying Pictures of Familiar Objects in a Book
Activity 5: Adding Sound Effects to Favorite Stories
Activity 6: Naming Categories of Objects
Activity 7: Retrieving a Hidden Object
Activity 8: Providing Specific Objects When Requested
Activity 9: Identifying Objects from Their Description
Activity 10: Introducing Numbers

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Imitating Facial Expressions and Mouth Sounds
Activity 2: Anticipating
Activity 3: Reaching Out and Touching
Activity 4: Learning Quiet-time Exercises
Activity 5: Recognizing Simple Songs
Activity 6: Pulling an Object Back and Forth
Activity 7: Joining a Rhythm
Activity 8: Filling In Words to a Song
Activity 9: Trying On Hats
Activity 10: Sharing the Treasure Basket

PRACTICAL LIFE ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Introducing Eating Utensils
Activity 2: Handling Eating Utensils
Activity 3: Sorting Eating Utensils
Activity 4: Squeezing a Sponge or Cloth
Activity 5: Crushing Paper
Activity 6: Ripping Paper into Strips
Activity 7: Nose-Wiping
Activity 8: Using a Spoon
Activity 9: Pouring Water
Activity 10: Drinking out of a Cup

Not really, I just figured I’d make something up. Please don’t beat me up.

My love Miss just awarded me this awesome award. I’m taking it upon myself to assume that she thinks I kick arse so much that I deserve it twice, and not because she hit “Mark All Read” one too many times in her reader. Right, Miss? Hehe, Thanks. I love this award and I love me some Miss even more. She pretty much rocks, strawberry chapstick and all.

And, because I am just so dang interesting Hockeyman tagged me for a meme. I’m not going to be a cheater (cough cough), and will do the full 8. I am, however an ass kisser. Except, I don’t know whose.
8 things I am passionate about

-Lorelei
-My family
-My friends
-My morals
-Children
-My beliefs
-Learning
-Art/Crafts
-Helping those that need it.

8 books I’ve read and enjoyed

• Harry Pothead – I mean Potter.
• The Boxcar Children (childhood)
• My Side Of The Mountain (childhood)
• The DaVinci Code
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Little House on the Prarie
• Any of Janet Evanovich’s number books
• White Oleander

4 words/phrases I say often

• Put that in your juice box and suck it.
• What up, homeskillet?
• Steven, get off me.
• Steven, you’re getting on my nerves. Will you please shut up?
• Hey Steven, will you make me some brownie bites?
• Huh? Did you say something?
• I’m sorry.
• Ahm…I’m telling! (Hubs and I say this as a joke to each other. We might be the only ones that think it’s not weird. We realize and accept this.)

8 things I want to do before I die

• Watch my daughter and any other children grow up to be old and happy
• Write a book
• Change people’s lives
• Travel the world
• Live debt free and comfortably
• Inspire others
• Love like nothing else matters
• And lastly, I hope to be sedated when I die. Well, I want to say goodbye, but would rather not be in excruciating pain. I’m a wuss like that.

8 things I’ve learned in life

• Everyone has their own agenda. Accept it. Move on. Deep down, so do you. Even if your agenda is to love and help others because you enjoy helping others.
• Homeschool does not necessarily mean schooling your children in a remote barn with pigs. If you do it right, your child will be just as socialized as anyone else’s, considering their personality type.
• Some people just say the wrong stuff. All the time. They’re accidental asses, but they mean well. Most of the time.
• It’s the tough stuff that makes you the strongest, and sometimes the loneliest (because you get so hard).
• Some of the unhappiest people are the ones with the biggest smiles and rainbow puppy fart blogs/conversations. Basically, it takes a while to REALLY get to know ppl.
• 90 percent of the people that ask you how you are doing really don’t care. They want and expect you to say “good” and move on. They don’t want to hear anything else, and they may not know how to react. Learn it and embrace it. Maybe they care but maybe they are too uncomfortable with their own lives to listen to your issues, because once they start it means they’ll have to recognize theirs too.
• If you truly want to learn and grow, accept opinions different than yours. You don’t have to take them as your own, but listen to them, and in your own brain decide if you want to accept them and why or why not. The worst thing a person can do is shut another person down because they share different opinions. Challenge yourself to know your own self and why you believe what you do. Learning to accept others for being unique and having different opinions and understanding where they are coming from is a beautiful thing.
• If you want a friend, be a friend. It’s really taxing when you are the only person in a friendship that makes the phone calls, send the emails, drive to meetup, arrange the “dates”, etc. Same goes for significant others. Relationships need both sides working.

8 places I want to see

• Canada
• Italy
• France
• Ireland
• NYC
• California
• Germany
• Las Vegas
• (there are tons more)

And, for tagging, TAG you’re it. if you want to be, that is. For a second there, I almost considered tagging some random people just to see if they’d come to my blog. But, then a wave of niceness overwhelmed me. Don’t worry. It’ll be over soon.

Oh yeh, and because I rock so much, will you please go vote for me? (You will need to click on Boss Sanders to earn your 100 years of good fortune.)

I’ve been doing loads of reading and research, trying to figure out the best ways to go about this whole Montessori thing – without dropping $500 a month in tuition.  One of the first things I began noticing that I would need was a small area rug.  It didn’t have to be cute or pretty, but it did need to be all cloth, no rubber.  $2.50 seemed to be the right price at Walmart, so that’s the one I got.  The idea of the small rug is to help your child focus on one activity.  You place the activity on the rug, and they get a little less anxious about the things lining their walls.  It seemed to work.  Except, we got a multicolored one, and I think I’d recommend something a little more solid.  Although, now that I have the thicker rug, I can always lay a bath towel over it.  I’m all for using what I have.

I also bought a small collander (sp?).  It’s like teeny.  And red.  Way cuter than the one we (grown ups) use.  I thought a nice intro to preparing food would be draining pasta.  I can’t wait to use it!  I mean, her use it.

Of course, I had to buy some rice, too.  Just plain ol’ cheap white rice.  I wanted something she could practice scooping and pouring with (that’s easier than liquids).  A lot of people start off with beans, but I figured swallowing rice might be less of a hazard.  But, after she kept accidentally spilling bits of rice from pouring, she finally decided “What the heck” and just began slinging it.  I’m chalking that up to her being tired, but I still haven’t jumped back in with the rice yet.  That stuff is really hard to clean up.  Maybe we’ll do it on the patio instead.

Lorelei also has her own mini silverware.  A knive, spoon, and fork.  She can use the latter two, and tries to use a knife like she does a fork.

This weekend, Lorelei got her very own toothbrush.  When she was younger, my mom got her finger toothbrush.  And funny enough, as much as she would tell me I should be brushing the kid’s teeth, SHE would never volunteer to stick her finger into the pirahna’s mouth either.  I personally like my fingers intact and unbruised, something that couldn’t be promised once entering L’s mouth.  So, we were prepared to buy her a musical toothbrush that I’d seen online for $10.  Turns out that toothbrush looked way bigger in the store, so I bought the $2 version which doesn’t sing or dance, but it is tiny and cute – and L is now brushing her teeth.  And tongue.  And, if you are lucky, she’ll try to brush yours too.

Now, I’m looking for farm and domestic animals that are 3 and 4D (think little figurines, preferably not breakable).  And, farm/domestic animals that are magnets as well.  I may end up making the magnets by cutting out pictures and adhering them magnets.  We’re also working on getting her a magnifying glass for exploring and some mini tongs (like you use for sugar cubes) to work on transferring objects from one place to another.

Here are some other skills she’s learned recently:

Transferring ice from one bowl to another using scoops and spoons (and her hands):

Putting clothes pins in a jar.  (She was introduced to this today and immediately MASTERED it).  This is probably her favorite right now.  Although slinging rice comes in close as second *sigh*

Since last week, when I really began learning about the Montessori method and implementing it in our life, I’ve noticed a difference in Lorelei. Of course, there are many things that our current lives shared in common with the Montessori traditions, but by learning how to truly “study” my own child, I’ve learned so much.

For example, I look at the “testing phase” much differently. According to the Montessori tradition, the word “testing” is negative, because what a child is really trying to do during this time is LEARN what is expected of him/her in their family and society. They aren’t trying to be bad, that’s why they look to you, waiting for you to either tell them it’s okay or that it’s not. That, and at first, little ones don’t understand the meaning of “no.” They know you keep looking at them, and your voice is growing more agitated and louder, but what is mommy saying? Does she want me to touch it? So, maybe I should hurry up and touch it? –It’s so easy to become confused…both of you.

I have also learned that children WANT to help. The things we look at as chores, they look at as being a part of something, as being allowed to be part of the family unit. You may think you are doing them a favor by letting them play and do no “work,” but did you know that your child will feel more respected and will gain self confidence if allowed to do age appropriate work? The thing is, though, is you have to do it on their time. I’ve been spending a lot of time sitting quietly in L’s room as she does her solo play, just watching. Listening. I’ll watch her interact with her father and grandparents and I pay close attention to her interactions with me.

Tonight, I learned she wanted to do the dishes. She’s 16 months old and barely says a few words, so for some people, it’s hard to take her seriously. Steven was loading the dishwasher and L kept walking behind him, trying to imitate the things he was doing (which was pulling things out of the dishwasher). He would shoo her away and tell her no. Like most parents, he assumed she wanted to “play” with things that were not toys (and things that could be dangerous). But, she kept coming back. “Steven, I think she wants to help you do dishes” I said softly. He paused. He and I had talked extensively about children helping in the house – especially in regards to Montessori. “Let’s give her the silverware to sort,” I suggested.

And, sort she did. She was ready for the task, and for the next 10 minutes, she spent her time sorting dirty silverware and filling the basket (except for the knives. We put those in right before we closed the door.) In fact, she loved this so much, she got really mad when she was all finished. She was ready to dump them out and start over!

Although we now know that L CAN sort silverware, we are also aware that she may only hold interest in this particular task for a short time before she moves on to something new to learn. And, that’s okay. We thought we were saving our kid from having to do “non fun” stuff, when really we were keeping her from doing what she wanted most – being a working part of the family, doing “family” things. We are now fully aware and are immediately handing all housework over to the little one. Pronto. (Just kidding)