A new year is around the corner and new challenges await. This is my last post for this blog. Believe me when I write that it's been an amazing adventure. Parenting is by far my most challenging endeavor. While it's obviously full of joy, there are definitely times of uncertainty. Sharing the good, the bad, and everything in between has been a privilege. But this isn't the end. There are many more pictures, projects and fun facts to share. Be sure to follow National Geographic Kids on Facebook and Twitter.
Posts in “Mom Moments” Category
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Is it just me or did this year go by too quickly? I hardly knew you, 2011! Oh well, on to the next. I'm not much for resolutions, but I do have some goals for the coming year to share with you.
1. Plan more trips - By this I don't mean an elaborate travel schedule, although we do have a trip to Italy in the works. It does mean getting out in my own state (or even in our neighborhood) and discovering new places as a family.
2. Try new foods - I love finding new places to eat, especially if they offer new tastes and fit a modest budget. It's great for kids to experience foods of the world and it's especially fun when it can be something new for the whole family.
3. Less time in front of a computer - I waste too much time in front of a small screen. Not only do I loose track of time, but I feel guilty about it. Next year, I will have more discipline and less guilt. Setting an alarm is key.
4. Out with the old - Becoming minimalists has been a long-term goal of ours. We have been trying to whittle down all the stuff that we own so we do more with less. Now the project starts in earnest in 2012.
5. Enjoy each day - I hope this doesn't sound too "out there," but I'm trying to end each day appreciating something about the past 24 hours. It's so easy to let each day pass without any thought to what's transpired. I want to make more of an effort to feel grateful for at least one thing every day.
Do you have any goals for the next year?
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011
We are listening to a lot of music lately, and it's not just Christmas tunes. I just put a Raffi album on my iPhone and Kellan has requested it over and over.
I'm actually a bit dubious when it comes to kids' music. Sure, your kids like to listen but do you? My answer is often "no," but now that I've listened to Raffi on heavy rotation I've discovered it is music even the most resistant parent can enjoy.
Raffi has been around since I was a kid, so I wonder why it took so long for me to appreciate his music. His songs are not only catchy, but the lyrics are witty and memorable. I also appreciate his commitment to children's and environmental issues. Kellan started singing along the day after I bought the songs. It reminds me how quickly children learn through music. Too bad you can't put algebraic equations to music!
Does your preschooler have a favorite song or album?
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
It's not hard to see why children pick up mannerisms and ways of speaking from their parents. We live together, learn together, and talk to one another constantly. Plus sharing genetics helps too.
I had a chance to really stop and notice my husband and son in action while on a walk recently. That's them looking for birds. They have the same look on their faces when looking at far off birds. They also make a similar "thinking" face. My best friend once showed me a picture of her, her dad, and grandfather standing in the exact same way while looking off in the distance. When I was a little girl, I was always told I looked just like my dad. Must have been the bushy eyebrows.
It's interesting to see how we rub off on our kids. They arrive with their own distinct personalities but it's fascinating to see more subtle influences, whether intentional or not.
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Friday, December 2, 2011
We were driving in the car a couple of days ago and Kellan asked me if the band playing on the radio was famous. I replied that they were probably pretty famous. Kellan thought a moment and said, "I want to be famous." But when I asked him if he knew what it meant to be famous, he admitted that he didn't know.
It's actually not that hard to make a kid famous these days. With social media and YouTube, parents post videos of their kids doing everything from singing a hit song to acting loopy after dental surgery. Some parents have cornered the market on instant fame.
I enjoy sharing my experiences as a parent, but I think I'll save potentially embarrassing videos of Kellan for another time. Maybe for a girlfriend in the distant future.
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Monday, November 28, 2011
I really dislike when stores sell Christmas and Hanukkah merchandise before Halloween, but I guess that's the reality of retail. It's hard for me to feel festive when I'm bombarded way before December. Now that Thanksgiving is over, there's no avoiding it, especially at home.
It would be an understatement to say Kellan is excited about Christmas. His enthusiasm is about as big as it gets for a four year old. He begged for a tree ornament we saw at the grocery store so he could have Christmas tree in his room. Over the weekend, he "decorated for Christmas" by taping toys on the edge of our kitchen island. This kid is full of holiday cheer.
Kellan's enthusiasm is making me get into the holiday spirit, despite my aversion to commercializing the holidays. It also gives me the opportunity to talk about Christmas being about more than just presents. That's definitely the fun part, but not the only part that makes it special.
How do you help your kids to understand the meaning of the holiday season? Check out our suggestions for making the season a bit merrier for others.
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I recently saw an ad for the 3-D version of the Lion King, which is now in theaters. I barely remember the movie because I was well beyond the age of its target audience when I saw it 15 years ago. I'm sure it's still an entertaining movie, but sometimes movies, television shows, or books aren't as good as you remember them. Sometimes they are even better.
We recently showed Kellan part of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I did not like this movie when I was young. It's no Mary Poppins or Sound of Music, but it was much better than I remembered. Kellan loved the car and the candy factory, but we'll save the whole movie for later since the movie villain is too scary.
Kellan's bookshelves have quite a few books we loved as kids. My husband read all of the Tin Tin adventures and has already read some of the cartoon books with Kellan. I loved the Frances books by Russell and Lillian Hoban. We read Bread and Jam for Frances often, and Kellan says he's Frances whenever he eats jam on toast.
Is there a movie or book from your childhood you look forward to sharing with your kids?
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
For the past year I have talked about taking a beginning drawing class at the local arts center. In fact, the arts center has all kinds of classes I'd love to take, from metal working to making mosaics. My excuse has always been that I don't have time, but that's not exactly true.
Figuring it out takes work, but I can definitely squeeze in more creative time in my life. I just need to make it a priority. It doesn't even have to involve taking a class. But I will check the class schedules after the holidays.
How do you find time for your favorite hobbies?
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Wednesday, October 26, 2011
If there's one thing I wish I had more time to do, it's reading. Even when I'm on vacation, it's hard to find a large chunk of time to just sit and read. I've been making more of an effort lately because I have two good books that I'm excited to get through.
Some people may be good at reading more than one book at a time, but I am not one of them. I just couldn't help myself. I was reading a very engaging book called Swamplandia. Then bought a book called Look at Me because I loved another book by the same author. So now I'm reading two books. Hooray for multitasking!
Hopefully, this is not an exercise in futility and I end up not finishing either book. What do you go out of your way to make time for?
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Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The kids not only learned about pumpkins, but also how apple cider is made and how baby chicks get sent through the mail. According to Kellan, the highlight was a tractor ride. I think most of his classmates liked the fresh donuts the best though. Somehow the smell of fresh donuts and a farm go together, especially with a gaggle of kids around.
Walking through a squishy, muddy field may not be my first choice to spend a morning, but hanging out with 14 curious four-year-old kids is always amusing. And now we have two pumpkins to carve!
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