Learning As I Go
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Post-Mother's Day Reality
Until the day AFTER Mother's Day, I didn't realize how much mileage I was getting out of the holiday. The week leading up to the wonderful Sunday that celebrates me, in my mom-role, was extremely busy. Every kid-activity is coming to an end and seemingly requires rehearsals, recitals, tournaments, team parties and the accompanying food and treats. All of this is fun, but also requires cooperative, happy children, rather than slow-poke, ornery, disagreeable, whiny ones. So, ever...
More...May. 16, 2012 | Permalink | Kim B -
Rain Outs
Why is it that the only bad weather days are days when my son's baseball team has a game scheduled? Torrential rains at the end of March: game days. The recent rainstorm and tornado day: game day. Monday's wet fog day: game day. Note that all the surrounding days have been sunny and gorgeous. Call it Murphy's Law, applied to the Little League Cubs. With the combination of regular games and make-up games, we are currently scheduled to play on Saturday, a double header on Sunday an...
More...Apr. 11, 2012 | Permalink | Kim B -
Unlimited Library Day
It's been a rough few weeks, behavior-wise, at our house. Chalk it up to Spring Fever, Cabin Fever, School Field Trips, the barometric pressure, or anything else....but it's been lousy. Everything has been a fight: Time for Bed Get Dressed Enough of the Wii Come to the Dinner Table, the first time it's requested Come Inside Go Outside Wash Your Hands Keep Your Hands to Yourself Stop Copying Your Sister Leave Your Brother's Toothbrush Alone Stop Yelling! (Usually yelled, ...
More...Mar. 14, 2012 | Permalink | Kim B -
Baseball Tryouts
Baseball Tryouts make my stomach hurt. I cannot throw, catch or hit a baseball worth a darn, so of course the thought of doing all of that, while a legion of coach-dads take notes from the outfield should strike fear into my heart, right? Except, of course, for the fact that I am not actually doing any of these things. When it comes to my seven-year-old son, though, what's the difference? Last weekend, it came. The surest sign of Spring, yet...Little League Baseball Tr...
More...Feb. 22, 2012 | Permalink | Kim B -
Almost 5
A big birthday approaches!
More...Jan. 25, 2012 | Permalink -
A Mind for Numbers
My son has always had a mind for numbers. When he was a year old and obsessed with creating patterns with his blocks, a math teacher mom-friend predicted,"He's sure to be an arithmetic whiz!" We smiled and nodded and went about our business. When he was three years old and had every number of every NASCAR driver memorized, it made for a great party trick. Adults, dads especially, marveled at his ability to connect Tony Stewart with #14 and Sam Hornish Jr. with #77. Easily. Quickly. W...
More...Jan. 04, 2012 | Permalink | Kim B -
A Star is Born
'Tis the season for school Holiday Programs. Attending a church-run preschool, my daughter is involved in a program that celebrates the story of Mary and Joseph's trek to Bethlehem and the birth of baby Jesus. All of the children participate in the nativity scene. We have sheep and shepherds, angels, wise men and donkeys. As a group, the four and five-year-olds sing songs and stay (mostly) still and smile, as the adult narrator moves the action along. Until this week, we thought tha...
More...Dec. 14, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
A Bread Basket for a Manger
Preschool religion collides with kitchen work.
More...Nov. 30, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Wardrobe Issues
If you were to ask me what was the single most consistent point if contention in our house right now, I would say, simply, wardrobe. Yes, wardrobe. This crazy Texas Summer/Fall/Winter weather is not a mother's friend. Having children who strongly object to any transition to long pants and long sleeves doesn't help the situation. Weather forecasters who incorrectly predict rain, along with a cold front, aren't serving me well. Elementary schools that are unwilling or unable to com...
More...Nov. 16, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Football Is For Everyone
It's Football Season, no doubt about it. Baseball is over. Basketball is not even happening. Little kid Flag Football is starting, practices and games. We have football themed TV commercials; the Sunday Night Football song, Monday Night Football song and College Game Day theme song are ringing through my head, constantly. Dear old dad brought home some football freebies for our kids this week. They are pint-sized, easy grip balls with bright colors. Our seven-year-old s...
More...Nov. 02, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
For the Love of Baseball or Soccer
How does a seven-year-old choose?
More...Oct. 19, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Review: National Acrobats of China
The performers amaze and delight the audience.
More...Oct. 11, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
PR Works On Kids, Too!
School Fundraisers know their audience.
More...Oct. 05, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Is This My Project or Yours?
Should the school work be done by the parent or the student? Why is it so hard to find the right balance?
More...Sep. 14, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Marks for Citizenship
My son is quickly becoming acclimated to the first grade. Here, as opposed to Kindergarten, he has his own desk, his own mini-locker and rotating science/social studies classes. Also new this year...a grading system. Thankfully, my dear boy is a good student. Academic skills come easily to him. As is the case with many other little boys, the discipline to have consistently good behavior doesn't come as easily. When my husband and I attended this year's school orientation meetin...
More...Aug. 31, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
No.
"No" is most often viewed as a negative word. You cannot do something. You did not get the position. You will not win the prize. You did not meet the deadline. Permission is not granted. One great parenting tip, received from a wise mom, even stated "Try and say yes as often as you can, so that when you say no, your kids will know that you mean it." I've found this to ring true. While you may not understand the request, if it doesn't really matter, say yes. Yes, you can we...
More...Aug. 24, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Practicing Thankfulness
Being good at anything, even being thankful, takes practice.
More...Aug. 17, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Which Stage is Your Favorite?
Are you a new-baby lover or and older-baby fan?
More...Aug. 10, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B -
Next!
If I had a magic wand, I would happily fast-forward to the next season. Most obviously, this heat must go. It's moved beyond entertaining, to ridiculous and now a little scary. When a mom is clocking the number of hours at summer camp against the number of gallons of water and gatorade that must be consumed by her child, something is amiss. The time has also come for the season of routine, scheduling and reasonable bedtimes. I was the first mom to relish the end of school and the start...
More...Aug. 03, 2011 | Permalink -
Unexpected Entertainment
My kids have hit a summer "wall." It's too hot, most of the summer camps are over. Our family vacation is complete and the swimming pool birthday parties have lost their novelty. Familiar board games and puzzles hold little interest. The two of them wander around the house, aimlesly searching for something to do or asking for something to eat. All of my bright ideas are landing on deaf ears. It was looking like a long week ahead of us, until... ...The Fence Guys showed up! Who knew ...
More...Jul. 27, 2011 | Permalink | Kim B
