Mothering 4 kids can be like walking, sometimes running, on a treadmill while reading, pulling up your socks, and blocking the sun from your eyes all at the same time! Rarely does any one person get my full attention. And I feel scattered, unfocused, most of the time.
This reality seems to have the biggest impact on my youngest child. It's very hard for him to get a word into the conversation when his silblings are around. No wonder he gets frustrated so easily!
Tonight he and I were alone at home together and we had the most wonderful conversations! Thomas is such a smart and imaginative person! And boy can he talk. I forget that about him after some time with the pack (we do seem like a pack of dogs from time to time).
Alone time with our kids is SO important! Alone, uninterrupted time with real listening, that is.
Now I remember the innocent happy soul who is my youngest. That should get me through a few more grouchy days with him. Or better yet, how about more alone time to prevent them!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sick Kid?
Does this every happen to you? Your child was sick yesterday and, in the morning, still seems a little under the weather but is much better than the day before. Do you to push your child to go to school or allow him/her to decide what to do?
This probably wouldn't be such a big deal if I were a stay at home mom (or maybe it would, I don't know). But staying home today means I miss another day of work. It's not the money since I have sick leave. It's missing time with my students and teachers. I feel an obligation to both my family and my students.
I don't want my child, who gets sick more often than any of my other kids, to stop listening to his body. I want him to be his own best advocate. But I also don't want him to take advantage of me and my time.
This is one of the hardest things about being a working mom!!
This probably wouldn't be such a big deal if I were a stay at home mom (or maybe it would, I don't know). But staying home today means I miss another day of work. It's not the money since I have sick leave. It's missing time with my students and teachers. I feel an obligation to both my family and my students.
I don't want my child, who gets sick more often than any of my other kids, to stop listening to his body. I want him to be his own best advocate. But I also don't want him to take advantage of me and my time.
This is one of the hardest things about being a working mom!!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Spring ~ Easter Sale
Hi everyone. I am having a Spring ~ Easter Sale on my jewelry site. If you want to check it out go to http://treefrogjewelry.etsy.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
Pay if Forward give away!!
Information on my Pay it Forward give away is close to the bottom of my posts. I can't figure out how to bring it to the top so I'm referencing it here. If you keep a blog, make something by hand, and want a gift, you can be one of the 2 people left who will receive a gift from me. Just follow the directions that are posted.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wolf Rock
Sunday was a family day. The weather was warm and cloudy. Mark and I decided that it would be a nice day to go on a hike as a family, especially since we have been overwhelmed with work and school demands.
Comfortable and safe, we rolled out in our Expedition at about 11:00. As we drove up Rt. 15 the decible level decreased. "Look at the deer!", Mark joked, pointing at a field of cows. "Those are cows, Dad!" Thomas informed us, not getting the corny joke.
As we plodded up the trail (it was almost all uphill for about one mile), there was some complaining. More importantly, though, we heard occasional bits of interest and insight from the kids. Mark and I had the chance to teach our kids why it's important to stay on the trail (to prevent erosion and protect the natural environment), how to walk safely, not run on a trail, and how to wait at a trail intersection for the rest of the group. Since we both have a love of the natural world, it was very satisfying to see our kids practice respect and appreciation for nature.
Wolf Rock doesn't really look like a wolf to me. It looks more like a turle's head with an open beak. The hiking itself was actually pretty boring. If the kids hadn't been complaining and asking the occasional question, it would have been meditative. In contrast, walking along the rock was HARROWING with Sam and Thomas! They had no awareness or fear of the deep crevases that exist between some of the rock formations. Alone, or even with the older kids, I would have been quite at ease. But with my two daredevils, I was a couple of jolts away from a panic attack! Thank God for little arms and grown up hands!!
Eventually Mark took over and everyone was happy! Thomas even learned how to find a foot hold when climbing down a rock!
Following our visit with the Wolf/Turtle, we enjoyed a satisfying late lunch at the Country Kitchen, a wonderful little diner in Thurmont. They served us good food at reasonable prices. And we bought home baked deserts for the ride home!
Thank You for my Family and for Hiking!!
Pictures of the Hike http://picasaweb.google.com/treefrogjewelry/WolfRock#
Comfortable and safe, we rolled out in our Expedition at about 11:00. As we drove up Rt. 15 the decible level decreased. "Look at the deer!", Mark joked, pointing at a field of cows. "Those are cows, Dad!" Thomas informed us, not getting the corny joke.
As we plodded up the trail (it was almost all uphill for about one mile), there was some complaining. More importantly, though, we heard occasional bits of interest and insight from the kids. Mark and I had the chance to teach our kids why it's important to stay on the trail (to prevent erosion and protect the natural environment), how to walk safely, not run on a trail, and how to wait at a trail intersection for the rest of the group. Since we both have a love of the natural world, it was very satisfying to see our kids practice respect and appreciation for nature.
Wolf Rock doesn't really look like a wolf to me. It looks more like a turle's head with an open beak. The hiking itself was actually pretty boring. If the kids hadn't been complaining and asking the occasional question, it would have been meditative. In contrast, walking along the rock was HARROWING with Sam and Thomas! They had no awareness or fear of the deep crevases that exist between some of the rock formations. Alone, or even with the older kids, I would have been quite at ease. But with my two daredevils, I was a couple of jolts away from a panic attack! Thank God for little arms and grown up hands!!
Eventually Mark took over and everyone was happy! Thomas even learned how to find a foot hold when climbing down a rock!
Following our visit with the Wolf/Turtle, we enjoyed a satisfying late lunch at the Country Kitchen, a wonderful little diner in Thurmont. They served us good food at reasonable prices. And we bought home baked deserts for the ride home!
Thank You for my Family and for Hiking!!
Pictures of the Hike http://picasaweb.google.com/treefrogjewelry/WolfRock#
Friday, March 6, 2009
Doggie Number Two
I know what you're probably thinking but that's not the "number two" I am talking about. In my previous post shared about my encounters with needy animals, most recently a stray dog. At the end I asked the question, "Is this the beginning of a new spring trend?"
Today I met dog number two. While running errands I saw a beautiful shaggy dog, doing what, sniffing a tree of course! There were no people around and lots of cars zipping past him. He was a couple of feet from the curb. So I dutifully turned around, put on the hazzard lights, and got out of my truck. When he first saw me he looked like he might bolt. But when I squatted down and put out my, hand he crept up for a sniff.
Thankfully this boy dog had a collar WITH tags. I called his house and talked to his surprised "mom" who thought he was in the back yard. She rushed out in her slippers, said thanks, and quickly walked him home. Actually, he walked her home.
It seems that dogs are the theme this spring.
Today I met dog number two. While running errands I saw a beautiful shaggy dog, doing what, sniffing a tree of course! There were no people around and lots of cars zipping past him. He was a couple of feet from the curb. So I dutifully turned around, put on the hazzard lights, and got out of my truck. When he first saw me he looked like he might bolt. But when I squatted down and put out my, hand he crept up for a sniff.
Thankfully this boy dog had a collar WITH tags. I called his house and talked to his surprised "mom" who thought he was in the back yard. She rushed out in her slippers, said thanks, and quickly walked him home. Actually, he walked her home.
It seems that dogs are the theme this spring.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Animals out of the blue
There is thing about me that I don't understand but that I accept as a gift, a way to help. For some reason, needy animals find their way to me from time to time. Last spring, I happend across injured birds on three separate occasions. One of them was an injured baby duck that I found crossing a busy 6 lane intersection. There was no water to be seen, and no other ducks. So, I jumped out of my van, carefully crossed the street (which amazingly to me, had no oncoming traffic), and scooped up the quacking duckling. I made it back to the van before any cars arrived!
Dutifully and lovingly, my son Thomas and I transported that little duck to Second Chance Wildlife Refuge (It is a non profit that cares for injured and orphaned wild creatures with the goal of returning them to their natural environments). Because I had already made at least one trip to their center that spring, I knew exactly where to go with my wiggling quacking bundle. It was just a side trip before hitting the play area at the mall.
Well, it's a new year and spring is approaching. Yesterday, Caitlin and I were on a mother daughter shopping trip. On our way from the shoe store we spotted a little white dog next to a busy road. I stopped to hold him, thinking that he had escaped from his walker or home. I didn't want him to be injured! And, of course, Caitlin was smitten immediately!
Spunky (as he was later named by the kids), walked right up to me and let me take his collar. I looked around expectantly but there were no people running toward me saying, "Thank you for holding him!!" And there were no open gates. For that matter, there were absolutely NO people anywhere in sight! So, with a breaking heart, I picked that dirty little sweet boy dog up and put him in our truck.
Caitlin, Spunky and I drove around for about half of an hour, hopefully looking for people and asking questions of those we did see. Noone recognized him. So we took him home, fed and watered him, set up a quiet quarantined space for him to rest, and went about our important Saturday activities. Finally, when the day had ended at 10:30 pm, I realized that Spunky had to go to the animal shelter where he could be given medicine and a really good bath. We would LOVE to adopt him but we already have 4 kids and 2 dogs! We miss him.
Is this the beginning of a new spring trend?
Dutifully and lovingly, my son Thomas and I transported that little duck to Second Chance Wildlife Refuge (It is a non profit that cares for injured and orphaned wild creatures with the goal of returning them to their natural environments). Because I had already made at least one trip to their center that spring, I knew exactly where to go with my wiggling quacking bundle. It was just a side trip before hitting the play area at the mall.
Well, it's a new year and spring is approaching. Yesterday, Caitlin and I were on a mother daughter shopping trip. On our way from the shoe store we spotted a little white dog next to a busy road. I stopped to hold him, thinking that he had escaped from his walker or home. I didn't want him to be injured! And, of course, Caitlin was smitten immediately!
Spunky (as he was later named by the kids), walked right up to me and let me take his collar. I looked around expectantly but there were no people running toward me saying, "Thank you for holding him!!" And there were no open gates. For that matter, there were absolutely NO people anywhere in sight! So, with a breaking heart, I picked that dirty little sweet boy dog up and put him in our truck.
Caitlin, Spunky and I drove around for about half of an hour, hopefully looking for people and asking questions of those we did see. Noone recognized him. So we took him home, fed and watered him, set up a quiet quarantined space for him to rest, and went about our important Saturday activities. Finally, when the day had ended at 10:30 pm, I realized that Spunky had to go to the animal shelter where he could be given medicine and a really good bath. We would LOVE to adopt him but we already have 4 kids and 2 dogs! We miss him.
Is this the beginning of a new spring trend?
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