PASS THE TORCH (old site -- visit new site at 2passthetorch.com)

Guess What??

2006-09-25T22:05:00.000-04:00

I just launched my new site.

PASS THE TORCH is now located at:

www.2passthetorch.com

So come on over and visit me for PASS THE TORCH TUESDAY!!

SPARK Peer Tutor Training

2006-09-25T10:03:00.000-04:00

I promised I'd give you a rundown on my San Jose SPARK Peer Tutor training, and Delightful Duchess asked for more information, so here it goes!

SPARK Peer Tutoring is a program I initiated as a school guidance counselor, then published when I started my company, Empowering Youth, Inc. Peer tutors provide a valuable service to students, in an era of high academic standards, and low resources. The SPARK Peer Tutor Training Manual gives educators the tools they need to appropriately prepare tutors for their service. Many districts pay for SPARK programming with No Child Left Behind funding.

Tutors learn about the 40 Developmental Assets, student needs, communication, sensitivity and study skills during the four-hour, activity-based training. Sometimes, advisors prefer that I come to train their tutors, and that's what I did this weekend at San Jose's Archbishop Mitty High School. I love these trainings because I'm always so impressed by the youth and educators that invite me.

I promise I'll be around to visit your sites as soon as I catch up. See you for Pass the Torch Tuesday tomorrow and have a great week!

Pass the Torch

Vote for me!

2006-09-24T01:40:00.000-04:00

I'm so honored and humbled to have been nominated for one of Mysterious Lady's blog Emmy awards! But I need your votes, so please go there right away.

There are several categories with excellent nominees. So check it out!

You only have until tonight to vote.

Thanks!

UPDATE: Thank you to all of you who voted for me! The results are in, and although I didn't win an award, I was in excellent company, and it was so affirming to be recognized as a nominee. Please visit Mystery Lady to see all the Blog Emmy winners, including Pink Diary, for overall excellence. Congrats Kailani!

Have a super weekend!

2006-09-22T11:06:00.000-04:00

I'm off to sunny San Jose, California to facilitate a SPARK Peer Tutor training. I'll be back next week to give you an update on the excellent youth I meet there.

Have a super weekend!

30 Days of Diminishing Resolve

2006-09-22T08:56:00.000-04:00

"Mom! We're going to Wal Mart to buy a remote control monster truck!" Curt squealed as we loaded the car.

"Well that's odd," I glared at my husband, "Since we're supposed to be in the middle of 30 Days of Nothing."

At which point, I launched into a lecture about remote control monster trucks, how we trashed one of them this past summer, how another one languishes in the toy box and how the plastic pieces of garbage are just a ploy to suck consumers in to buying overpriced batteries.

"Curt, you're not getting a monster truck," my husband declared.

We'd already slipped that morning, having traveled to the city to buy my husband's work shoes. We'd put it off as long as we could, but it really was a necessity. We'd also broken down and allowed our kids to spend their newly-set allotment of candy money. We all have our addictions.

Clearly, our resolve is diminishing. We've discovered 30 days is a very long time.

But we have set some financial goals. Both Curtis and Deena have decided to spend no more than $1.50 per week on candy, will deposit $2 per month to the bank, and put $1 per month in the Unicef box on our counter.

My husband and I have committed to paying extra toward our mortgage every month, to work toward paying it off early. We'll add to our giving, by contributing to community drives and sponsorships that would foster our kids' participation, like buying for the food shelf, sponsoring a family's Christmas, etc. And we've learned that by putting off impulse purchases, we often skip them entirely, because it turns out we don't miss the thing we didn't buy. So we'll continue to limit our trips to the city. Period.

What are your financial goals?

More 30 Days posts:
Pre-30 Days
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2
30 Days of Gratitude

For more participants in this project, visit Intent.
Technorati Tag: 30 Days of Nothing

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Mommy, Queen of Nags

2006-09-21T07:15:00.000-04:00

"I have a genetic predisposition to nag. This, coupled with control freak tendencies, is a recipe for catastrophe..."

My article, Queen of Nags was published today at The Imperfect Parent. Don't you want to know how the story ends?

SIDEBAR BROWNIE POINTS to anyone that goes over there and comments!

http://2passthetorch.com/2006/09/21/mommy-queen-of-nags/

Love Thursday

2006-09-21T01:11:00.000-04:00

LOVE

People show it in so many ways. I show it with a hug and a smile, or asking my kids to snuggle in my lap.

But my husband often shows it through play. And he does it better than anyone I know.

I snapped this shot two years ago on a family vacation. And I still remember them playing that day.

Karen and Irene host Love Thursdays. So visit them to get some more love.

But go to the bathroom before reading Chookooloonks. Because, well, her post is really funny;)

How do YOU show love?

Skills for Listening to your Kids

2006-09-20T11:24:00.000-04:00

I think it's a natural tendency to believe the most important part of communication is the "talking" part. But that's really not true. The way we receive messages can sometimes play a more valuable role, than the way we send them.

Much of the coursework for my MS in Counseling was related to listening skills. Although I don't always practice these skills, I'm a much more effective parent when I do. We aren't naturally groomed to respond this way as parents (particularly numbers 4-6), so I thought it might be helpful to share a few "active listening" techniques that help to improve communication with kids. (And adults!)

1. Eye contact -- If you're looking into your kids' faces, they know you're "with them".

2. Minimal encouragers -- subtle expressions, verbal or non-verbal, like a nod of the head, or "mmm-hmmm", or "interesting". Minimal encouragers help to keep the conversation continuing, without interrupting the flow.

3. Clarifying -- asking a specific question to encourage your child to expand on their thought, so that you understand completely. "Really? How did..."

4. Paraphrasing -- subtly repeating what they just said. "So math was fun, but you forgot your homework."

5. Reflecting -- guessing at feelings. "Sounds like you were pretty mad at Mr. Johnson..."

6. Silence. Sometimes they don't need anything from you but to listen without interruption.

What helps you listen to your kids??

For more tips on everythingknowntowoman, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

This post is a part of Problogger's always-excellent writing project. Click here for more "how to" posts.

Things

2006-09-20T11:04:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Kallie for being chosen for this week's Pass the Torch Tuesday spotlight post about honesty. Pass the Torch Award winners receive the magnet on the sidebar, the award button to display on their site, as well as front page listing from me for a week.

The Carnival of Education is up at The Median Sib, featuring my post, Email Teachers. Please visit for some thought-provoking reading. My picks this week are What Are Parents Thinking? and Last Regular Day.

And Spunky Homeschool's "Educational Moment" Contest is still open for entries until Friday night at midnight. You could win a digital camera from the Academic Superstore.

Why not to park a bike on the road...

2006-09-20T01:28:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here. Technorati Tag: Wordless Wednesday

Pass them the Torch

2006-09-19T01:40:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Pass the Torch Tuesday, where bloggers share simple and stupendous times kids make us proud. Guidelines are simple:

1. Write about catching a kid being good.
2. Link to here from your post.
3. Permalink your post from here.

Join us with a story or comment. And visit all the participating bloggers! Complete guidelines and former PTT links are HERE.

Pass them the Torch

I'll interrupt my regularly scheduled bragfest about my kids to mention another young person I wrote an article about several years ago.

As a high school guidance counselor I advised a SPARK Peer Tutoring club. During one of our monthly meetings to discuss service projects, one sophomore, Josh, suggested we start a SPARK program at the middle school.

Although this seemed like a great idea, there were many reasons I did not want to get involved. There was little communication between the staff at the middle school and high school, so I did not have a reliable contact there. And I had no way of personally advising a program in another building. I felt that our high school group was already going out of its way to help as tutors at the middle school and I really did not feel like taking on any more responsibility.

But Josh was not expecting me to deal with any of those issues. He was suggesting a project to the group and several members seemed quite interested. So rather than communicate all the roadblocks, I just removed myself from the lead. Instead, I empowered them to find the answers to their own questions. That's really all they needed or wanted from me anyway.

Within months, Josh led the group to identify and connect with interested middle school staff. He wrote and received a grant to fund the project, facilitated a training for eighth grade tutors and handed over a well-organized peer tutoring program to the new middle school advisor.

And I never lifted a finger.

How often we assume that the ideas generated by kids are just going to add to our plate. I wonder how many times I've shot down suggestions from my own children because I just don't want more responsibility?

Have a garage sale. Wash the car. Plant a garden. Stain the deck.

All my kids really need is a little rein, and for their mother to not worry so much about the fact it might not work out exactly "right."

I say, if they want to take the torch? Pass it to them.

Please visit my new website at 2passthetorch.com

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch, Developmental Assets, peer tutor

Carnival of Family Life

2006-09-18T20:49:00.000-04:00

Kailani's Carnival of Family Life is up and she's done a fantastic job of organizing this very diverse list!

My Ticket Etiquette post is featured, and a few of my favorites include:

It's about more than a great school district.
Am I a worse parent than Britney Spears?
Still my sweet baby.
Would you get involved?
Nothing gets past my kid.
Walk a Mile

Tangible

2006-09-18T01:07:00.000-04:00

Though I love the flexibility of working at home, I don't enjoy the intangible nature of what I do. As a fulltime educator outside the home, there was no question that I was busy all day doing whatever educators do. As a stay-at-home mom with two young children, there wasn't any question either.

But now, with both kids in school fulltime, I often feel as though whatever I do during the day isn't enough. It isn't that anyone else projects that onto me, but sometimes I feel it myself.

Where does the day go?

Well, I may be on the phone for two hours trying to get our airplane vouchers redeemed and tickets purchased. Maybe this is the day that I catch up on a month's worth of Quickbooks business accounting, or I spend an hour and a half moving papers from that file into those files and doing the 27 thing fling. I may package games and ship them to distributors from the warehouse office. I may query editors or plug away at my book proposal. Or I could spend an entire morning making my computer ad free, virus protected, backed up and a bazillion kilobytes deleted. And none of this addresses the general kid management and home maintenance that just "gets done."

And then there's blogging, of course.

But nothing LOOKS different.

So guess what I did Friday? I stained the deck.

Now that's tangible.

So a guy walks into an ATV store...

2006-09-17T19:05:00.000-04:00

My husband and son go to a sports dealership. My son runs over to the seven-year-old sized four-wheeler and drools while he climbs aboard.

The salesman asks my husband, "Can I help you?"

Husband says, "No, just waiting to pick up a boat."

Salesman says, "Your son really likes that ATV. It runs $2500, but I could make you a deal on a used one."

Husband says, "Ahhh, I better not. My wife wouldn't be too happy."

Salesman says,

"Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission."

Obviously the salesman doesn't know this particular wife.

Heard in my World

2006-09-16T08:51:00.000-04:00

Ring Ring

"Mom?"

"Hi Deena!"

"Um, I forgot the flower for science class."

"Hmmm, you also forgot your retainer yesterday. And your permission slip on Monday."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, Mom."

"I'll be in at 9:30."

"Thanks Mom."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I don't usually enable my children. But lately I've been so disorganized myself, I feel it's hard to expect organization from them.

Do you have any words of advice for me?

UPDATE: Thank you for weighing in on this. On the way home from a birthday party on Saturday, I talked to Deena about my expectations of her. And I explained that I won't be bringing to school the things she forgets. She was very mature about it and seemed to understand completely.

LOOK UP

2006-09-16T03:44:00.000-04:00

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.
Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

Theme: LOOK UP.

Bridge to Sault St. Marie, Ontario. My daughter and I rode our bikes on an island wilderness trail under the bridge near the locks.

Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone...

2006-09-15T16:31:00.000-04:00

(whispering)

Susie at Bluebird Blogs is giving away TWO free customized blog designs to celebrate the beginning of the autumn season. For those of you who don't know it, Susie designed this beautiful site.

All you have to do is send an email with your name and blog address to:

bluebirdblogs(at)gmail(dot)com

by next Friday, September 22, and your name will be entered into the drawing.

I'm getting 5 EXTRA entries into the drawing because anyone who mentions the contest on their blog gets 5 extra entries.

So now I suppose you're gonna go tell everybody;)

The winner will be announced on the Bluebird Blogs website on the morning of Saturday, September 23rd, 2006 . Good luck to everyone!

Halfway through 30 Days

2006-09-15T07:09:00.000-04:00

Today I'll celebrate what's gone (relatively) well during the past week, regarding 30 Days of Nothing.

1. On a bike ride, Deena started talking about saving up for some handle bar finger warmers she saw on her uncle's bike. "I think I'd like to start buying things I decide I need, rather than buying things to eat (candy)." For us, this is a major shift in spending. So far this month, the kids have still not spent any of their money.

2. I've decided one of the main things I did right this month is to keep track of what we didn't buy, rather than what we did buy - since the "what we didn't buy" list is way shorter than the stuff we did buy.

3. Two of the four people in our family have made financial goals to include spend, save and give. To find out which two, check comments. The goals will be revealed next week.

4. I read the comment left on my last 30 Days entry by Laurie, a Canadian living in Sri Lanka, and got some perspective on poverty. I read the entry to Deena and got mostly silence, followed by, "Can we talk about something else now?" Awareness.

5. And I bought rice, but have yet to psych myself up for an entire day of the stuff. To be continued...

More 30 Days posts:
Pre-30 Days
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2

For more participants in this project, visit Intent.
Technorati Tag: 30 Days of Nothing

Priorities

2006-09-14T18:57:00.000-04:00

After a long discussion last night, my son stayed firm in his decision to join neither 2nd grade football nor 2nd grade basketball. He's a soccer man. And if that means he only plays a sport in May and June, so be it.

Then today after school, as I prepared to load the car with two kids and the Girl Scout registration papers, Deena informed me she didn't want to be in Girl Scouts this year. The same Girl Scouts that I've served as assistant leader for three years.

Are you sure? Yes. Completely sure? Yes. Piano lessons are enough.

And even though I know how important it is for kids to be involved in youth programming, I said, "Okay." Maybe, just maybe, our kids have a better handle on what's right for our family, than I do right now.

We played tackle frisbee instead.

Feedback? Pretty Please?

2006-09-14T13:57:00.000-04:00

I'm part of the Absolute Write blogging chain and this one started with a discussion about the reasons we write. Reading through the chain (below), I find there are just as many reasons we blog. For instance, before me in the chain, my writer friend, Simran, wrote about Indian cinema, a subject about which she's well-versed. Each blogger has his or her own agenda.

So why do I blog?

I've thought about this question a lot recently, partly because I'm converting to Wordpress and need to make some decisions about the direction of Pass the Torch.

Initially, the purpose of this blog was to promote my educational products. While I've done little of that, I've done much navel-gazing, wrist-slapping, and finding meaning in mushy cookies. It's inspired pride in my kids, rekindled my passion for photography, and challenged me to try something, even if I may fail. And by linking to others each Pass the Torch Tuesday, it's highlighted responsibility, empowerment, courage and thoughtfulness.

But as I streamline my blogging to meet personal AND professional goals, I need your feeback.

Why do you read Pass the Torch?

Is it because of the stories about empowered kids? the imperfect parent? the pretty pictures? or my feeble attempts at humor? I love your comments and my site counter shows a whole lot more watchers here than writers. So now's your chance.

What should stay? What should go?

Next on the AW Chain is BCOM. Here's the complete chain of writers:
TaliaMana
Food for Thought

When did you know...?

Becoming a blogger

You wanna be what?

Why do we write?

Letters to a Young Poet

Vin Diesel Makes Unlikely Muse

Stop or Kindergarten Nanny Will Pacify

Reel-istically Funny

Indian Cinema at it's Craziest

Feedback Pretty Please

Ten Things You Didn't Know

No One Will Really Be Free

To Boldly Go

AW Chain Six

The AW Chain, The Sixth

AW Blogchain #6

A Walk Down the Hall of Fame

AW Blogchain #6

Sharing What's Important

What I'm Supposed To Be Doing

awchain

The many faces of a photo

2006-09-13T22:03:00.000-04:00

In case anyone was on pins and needles (eyeroll) hoping to see the original photograph for today's Wordless Wednesday, here it is.

It's interesting to see the many faces of a photo, isn't it?

Thank you for your many generous comments.

I defer any accolades to my much-loved Canon Digital Rebel XT. (And the excellent genes that skipped my generation).

PTT Spotlight post.

2006-09-13T12:20:00.000-04:00

My Pass the Torch Tuesday spotlight post this week is from Unexplored Territory. Meredith shares how a little girl in another family shows courage and thoughtfulness. Spotlight post winners get to display the Pass the Torch Tuesday award button, receive a front-page link from me all week, and they also receive the "Assets" magnet shown on my sidebar.

Be sure to check out everyone's posts this week, because once again, they're excellent.

Please scroll down for Wordless Wednesday and Works-for-me Wednesday posts.

My girl

2006-09-13T11:37:00.000-04:00

So which one is better? You'll never believe what the original looks like.

I also wrote a mega-meme post this week, entitled, "the Mother of all Meme Posts". Please add your link there as well. I'm curious to see how far Mr. Linky will go!

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here. Technorati Tag: Wordless Wednesday

Email Teachers

2006-09-13T07:40:00.000-04:00

I was a school guidance counselor for nine years, so I have the perspective of a parent and an educator. I know what it's like to manage a classroom full of children, and I know what it's like to deal with them after school as well.

I try to establish a system for communication with my kids' teachers early in the schoolyear. For me, there is absolutely no doubt the best way is email. At the beginning of the year, I ask for (or investigate to figure out) their email addresses. I send THEM an email, and ask them to respond, so both our addresses are in each others' email accounts.

My daughter's teacher also sends weekly notes home in her planner, which has been very successful so far. But sometimes I want to have a connection that circumvents my kids. Their perception of events is often different from that of the teachers, and that of mine, so communicating directly is very important. It also opens those lines of communication so that it's a very easy thing for teachers to zip off a note to you as well. The time and effort it takes to make a phone call, is far greater than an email message, which can be responded to at convenience.

And anyone who's ever visited a classroom knows that it's nearly impossible to have a useful conversation there.

I don't want to discover at November conferences that either of my kids are having trouble academically. I try to be proactive with my kids' education.

Works for me! UPDATE: Please share communication tips that have worked for you. This is the perfect time of year to start doing a great job of keeping contact with teachers.

For more awesome tips, visit Rocks in my Dryer.

WFMW - create a link in comments

2006-09-13T01:20:00.000-04:00

Overwhelmed with Joy has this same tip this week (but a different approach), so I added an extra one HERE. (Great minds run in the same channels, my mom always says;))

I've had several people thank me for and ask me about hyperlinking to my site in comments. When you try to visit the site of a commenter on a Blogger blog, the link on their name points to the profile, which may have numerous choices, at least one extra mouse-click, and potentially a dead link or a blog no longer in use (like, they switched to Typepad now). Ugh!!

But you can provide your link within the text of your comment by just converting it to HTML. Here are the directions for doing that when you are computerlingo-illiterate (like me).

1. Use your post editor to translate (in Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad, whatever.)
2. Type what you want the link to say.
3. Use the hyperlink button to include your site's address or permalink.
4. Go into the Edit HTML tab and copy / paste the whole code into a wordprocessing document.

Now you have the code you need to use in any comment.

Some platforms won't allow the HTML code, so I don't use it then (or figure it out later and leave a bunch of garboldygook), but it's always worked for me in Blogger and I think in certain platforms your "link" even helps with page rankings and such. Of course, someone way more technically smart would have to explain all that;)

Either way, it saves a lot of clicking for those who read your comments.

Works for me! Now YOU try! Hyperlink in my comments! (I included an example in comments.)

UPDATE: Apparently there may be some etiquette issues with leaving a signature link in comments. From what I've read, most bloggers don't mind, and appreciate skipping the Blogger profile this way. But be careful - some think it's spam. Agh. Rules. For me, please know I don't mind, as long as you're a real reader and it's a real comment. When I switch to Wordpress, your comment will be linked automatically, so it won't matter anyway.

Please visit my mega-meme post from Saturday - I combined six memes into the Mother of all Meme Posts.

For more awesome tips, visit Rocks in my Dryer.

Dirty Laundry - Pass the Torch Tuesday

2006-09-12T01:53:00.000-04:00

Banner by Bluebird Blogs If you need the code for your post, let me know.

Welcome to Pass the Torch Tuesday, where bloggers share simple and stupendous times kids make us proud. (You have all the way through Tuesday to add your links.) Guidelines are simple:

1. Write about catching a kid being good.
2. Link to here from your post.
3. Permalink your post from here.

Join us with a story or comment. And visit all the participating bloggers! Complete guidelines and former PTT links are HERE.

Dirty Laundry

Pass the Torch Tuesday is about simple and stupendous times we catch kids being good, and this week my example is clearly "simple", but worthy of celebration nonetheless.

Curtis is very disorganized and his bedroom would sink to total mayhem if it weren't for my regular harping. He's also a flutterhead, and I really don't think it's intentional. I can repeat the same direction to him three times and he'll be very willing to go do what I ask, but when he returns a minute later, he still hasn't done the thing. I'll ask him about it and he says, "Oh YEAH!" and runs off again to take care of it. (Mind you, I do the same thing - it takes me three trips up the stairs before I remember what I meant to get on the first trip.)

I was washing clothes and I asked him to go downstairs to get his dirty laundry. He obediently went right down the steps to do what I asked. Deena came in the door a couple minutes later and was bounding down the steps when I called out for her to bring up her clothes too.

Curtis was just coming up the steps. And do you know what he said?

"I got her's too, Mom."

and she said.

"Thanks, Curt."

I'm now basking in simple goodness.

What made you proud this week??

If you have a Pass the Torch story to share, please link to it here or leave a note in comments. And be sure to check out my "Mother of all memes post" . It's a bonus PTT story and I'd love to see how many meme permalinks I can collect there.

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

I Remember

2006-09-11T03:51:00.000-04:00

*Reposted Today. Scroll down for newer posts.*

I was enjoying a perfect walk on a perfect Wisconsin fall day. It must have been 65 degrees that morning as I pushed my then-two-year-old son in the stroller. We'd just left Deena at preschool and Curt was looking forward to us walking all the way to the high school to visit Daddy. I remember the warmth of the sun and the sweet breeze, thinking there wouldn't be many days like this left before colder weather took hold.

As we entered the high school, I immediately knew something was amiss. Classrooms of kids were hunched around TV monitors. The office staff crunched in the waiting area. When we strolled into the guidance resource room, we found a crowd of students and teachers as well. I saw the TV screen and got disjointed messages from the reporters on the network, and the viewers in the room.

Plane crash. New York. Terrible Accident. Airtraffic. Instruments.

Minutes after I entered the room, the second plane hit.

When the mind erroneously believes something strongly enough, it doesn't automatically switch to logical thinking. No matter how obvious the evidence.

Pentagon. Terrorists. Plan.

We all watched in silence, searching for understanding. I don't even know how long.

Then, too stunned to avert the eyes of my oblivious son, we witnessed the first tower disappear into a billow of death, which created a fog that would hover Manhattan for weeks, and our spirits for years.

Five years ago Monday, the world as we knew it shifted for a generation of Americans that had never known anything but safety...prosperity...peace.

I remember.

If you've written an "I Remember" story, please leave your permalink here. You can leave your story in comments as well. Find more September 11 memories at Rocks in My Dryer.

Technorati Tags: September 11

Catching up

2006-09-10T10:21:00.000-04:00

I apologize for my tremendous tardiness in visiting all your sites. I promise my comments on your blogs are still to come!

While I'm catching up, I encourage you to check out the Blogging Chicks carnival, which is 9-11 related today.

And Kailani's Carnival of Family Life is up at Snapshot. There is always an excellent assortment there as well.

Thanks again for reading. Your comments are valuable contributions to my posts, and I appreciate them so much!

The Mother of all Meme Posts

2006-09-08T16:49:00.000-04:00

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.
Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

This is a picture of my kids' kitchen cabinet . After grocery shopping last week, they decided to organize it. At first they argued about what was going to go where. I suggested they take turns or maybe each take a shelf. But the arguing continued, like I wasn't there. Finally, as I made the lasagna and left them to solve the issue on their own, they did.

I wish I had thought to take a photo before, but I didn't have anything to do with this brainstorm. Actually, "before" pictures of anything in my house might be more than my faithful readers can bear, anyway.

I did think to take the after pic because it occurred to me this story would make an excellent Pass the Torch Tuesday post. I caught them being good -- demonstrating responsibility and empowerment, and solving a problem. Then I realized it would be a great Tackle it Tuesday post, even though they tackled it rather than me. And OH! The Photo hunt theme this week is FOOD! Letting my kids work out their problems Works For Me. My Wordless Wednesday posts are never wordless anyway. And can you find THIRTEEN items of food in this pantry??

Just living my life one meme at a time...

UPDATE: If you're participating in any of these memes this week, please leave your permalink in Mr. Linky with an abbreviation (PH, Torch, Tackle, WW, WFMW, TT)

This week's Pass the Torch Tuesday Hub is here.
This week's Tackle it Tuesday hub is here.

Care to jump on a blogwagon?

2006-09-08T10:18:00.000-04:00

There are several excellent projects going on in the blogosphere and I'd like to point out just a few.

Today Shannon kicked off September 11th Memories at Rocks in My Dryer. My related post is here.

And while you're at it, consider submitting to the Carnival of Blogging Chicks, who have a 9-11 theme this week. Michele tells that all women are invited to participate!

You'll also notice a "Moms for Modesty" button on my sidebar. This is a lively discussion started by Everyday Mommy. I've enjoyed reading bloggers' perspectives on the issue, particularly Chilihead's series of well-written posts.

Some of you are following my family's efforts with Intent's 30 Days of Nothing. Whether or not you participate in the experiment, there are multiple ways to join in the discussion.

Some of you have commented on my Schoolyear's Resolutions and made a few of your own. The school year is still new in the Northern Hemisphere, so join in if you're interested.

And Kailani's Carnival of Family Life will be up on Monday. I'll be submitting a post this weekend.

Never a shortage of things to do around here, huh?

30 Days Update

2006-09-08T02:55:00.000-04:00

If you've been following my family's efforts at 30 Days of Nothing, you know it hasn't been without hurdles.

We've now moved beyond the conversations about the Third World (it seemed they'd gotten as much of the message as they were going to get for now) and have focused on throwaway spending. The first few days were a struggle because you'd think I was asking my children to give away their arms and legs. Now, barely a week into the 30 days, I'm discovering my own weaknesses as well, failing miserably in my efforts to go without.

In the sidebar, you can see the items we've chosen (or been forced) not to purchase. What the sidebar doesn't reveal is the Flash Drive I just had to buy, the birthday gift we still need because of a last-minute party invitation, and the Airtran tickets I'm bound to purchase tonight for our winter vacation, since they just went on sale. Oh, and I'm getting my hair cut. But these are all basic necessities. (right)

So in the spirit of the mission of this blog - which is to empower youth -- I've asked my kids to think of possible solutions to our trainwreck of an experiment. I'm also asking them to set financial goals (spend, save, give). We'll see what they come up with. Stay tuned.

And since "7 Days without pizza delivery" sounds a little lame, I think I'll keep the button while our family learns our lessons about materialism.

To our credit, we're already frugal in some ways, it's clearly difficult for a busy family to shut down spending for a month, and the kids' biggest complaint is caused by candy withdrawl. But our struggle is still a little embarrassing. And eye-opening.

To read more about those participating in 30 Days of Nothing, visit Intent. People are dealing with this issue in many different ways, some more successfully than I. Owlhaven's kids washed clothes in a bucket. And Susan is journaling 30 Days of Gratitude.

I'd love to hear your perspective on this.

UPDATE: Thank you Tonia and Susan for reminding me (in comments) that the process is more important than the product. I know this in general, and needed the reminder that it's true here as well.

More 30 Days posts:
Pre-30 Days
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2

For more participants in this project, visit Intent.
Technorati Tag: 30 Days of Nothing

Ticket Etiquette

2006-09-07T10:06:00.000-04:00

If you ever delay your speed reduction while entering a pop-out-of-nowhere town in Northern Wisconsin on your way home from vacation, then you may need to know a little ticket etiquette, especially if your nine-year-old daughter happens to be in the back seat.

When you notice the reduced speed limit sign, simultaneously with the black and white squad car, you should slowly / quickly reduce your speed to that approximate level, while acting very nonchalantly and praying you're not the reason said squad car is currently pulling into your lane, three vehicles behind.

As the cars in your rearview mirror pull over and said squad car's lights begin to flash, you will pull to the side of the road away from any intersections, but smack dab in the center of as much attention as possible, still with the glimmer of hope that it's the 92 minivan ahead of you he's after. When you realize the officer has stopped directly behind yours, you must explain to your daughter that you will be receiving a traffic ticket. When daughter asks why that would be happening, you explain that this happens to people who speed in front of squad cars.

When the officer finishes your background check and verifies that your decade of clean driving is not a mask for Jack-the-Ripper, he'll approach your driver's window and ask if you know why you've been stopped. You'll say, "Yes" and you won't mention anything about the slowerthanmolassesinSiberia pickup that's now passing your parked car, still at the 30 mph speed it had on the highway 2 miles back, when you passed it.

When the officer explains he must cite you for speeding, you get a really pained expression as you realize all prayers are not answered. Then you thank the officer for choosing to fine you the $160 municipal ticket, as it doesn't appear on your driving record. You ask if he takes VISA or Mastercard, since it would be ridiculous to drive eight hours round-trip to contest a citation for which you are entirely guilty.

Finally, as you drive away with pink ticket and pinker face, you resume singing the second chorus of Mississippi Girl, after calmly explaining to your daughter that if you do the crime, you pay the fine.

Just in case you ever need to know. Hypothetically

If you have other rules of etiquette, please share!

Submitted to September 18th edition of Carnival of Family Life.

Grandparent's Day

2006-09-07T01:44:00.000-04:00

Grandparent's Day is coming up on Sunday, September 10, so I asked my kids 13 reasons they love their Grandparents. This is a list for a total of two grandmothers and one grandfather. (By the way, I LOVE Denise's idea to share things we like about ourselves. But I had just done that last week.)
1. He takes me fishing.
2. She bakes great cookies.
3. She gives me clothes.
4. He lets me ride in his boat.
5. She lets me help at her work.
6. She's nice.
7. He made me an ice shack.
8. She's a great artist.
9. She plays UNO with me.
10. He bought me a Shimano 2000 reel.
11. She plays Yahtzee with me.
12. She listens to my stories.
13. They're all family.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Technorati Tags: Thursday Thirteen Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Fort of Many Colors

2006-09-05T19:05:00.000-04:00

Works-for-me Wednesday

Want your kids to be occupied -- without you entertaining them -- for a day? or a week?

No, I'm not suggesting you buy PlayStations for each bedroom. Nor am I referring to a weekend at Grandma's.

Rather, let them build forts! If you're willing to be a little flexible, you may be surprised by your children's collective creative ability to make something out of nothing.

This is a picture inside a fort my kids built on their own last week and they played in it for DAYS (seriously!) They even added a tent to the end for a while, so they had sort of a duplex. They just rummaged around in the garage and found patio chair cushions, bar stools, ladder, tarp and who knows what else.

This works in the house too, sometimes with the same materials, but sheets instead of tarps. Either method requires some willingness on your part to mow around the fort or stumble through the obstacle course in the basement, but for me, the DAYS OF PEACE made the effort worth it.

My advice? Let them build forts!

Works for me;)

Congratulations to Barbara for winning the Pass the Torch Award this week for her story on Mommy Life entitled, Good News on a Paper Route. Yesterday's other excellent PTT participant posts are HERE.

For more fantabulous tips, check out Rocks in my dryer.

Wierd Cloud

2006-09-05T18:55:00.000-04:00

(Scroll down for Pass the Torch Tuesday links)

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here. Technorati Tag: Wordless Wednesday

His sister, the cheerleader

2006-09-04T22:59:00.000-04:00

Banner by Bluebird Blogs If you need the code for your post, let me know.

Welcome to Pass the Torch Tuesday, where bloggers share simple and stupendous times kids make us proud. (You have all the way through Tuesday to add your links.) Guidelines are simple:

1. Write about catching a kid being good.
2. Link to here from your post.
3. Permalink your post from here.

Join us with a story or comment. And visit all the participating bloggers! Complete guidelines and former PTT links are HERE.

His sister, the cheerleader

With all the sibling banter that occurs in this household, I sometimes just hold my breath, waiting for an opportunity to catch anyone -- ANYONE -- being kind or respectful. And if my lungs are strong enough, I get my chance.

Curtis has become a great skier this summer (as good as a 7-year-old can be) and even though she's two years older than Curt, Deena isn't nearly as athletic. They're both incredibly competitive, and Curt's following right in his parents' footsteps of I'mneversatisfiedwithjustgood. So after mastering the "water spray", maneuvering waves, and crossing and jumping the wake, he felt the need to remove the training bar that connects the two skis. Then, at the ripe old age of 7 years 8 months he decided he'd like to drop a ski.

I was expecting to need to give Deena some generous strokes, for her solid performance on two skis, while he's out there hot-doggin' one handed while lifting his left foot. But instead, I found myself giving her a different kind of stroke.

She was his cheerleader.

As he'd carefully work the second ski off his foot, he'd stay up for just a split second before falling (again). She'd smile and clap so he could see it, as we'd circle the boat around again. And when he tried SIX TIMES in a row to pull up on a single ski, plowing gallons of water before crashing over and over again, (and never actually making it) she'd yell to him, "You almost got up!"

There are so many ways to be proud of your kids.

One participant will receive the Pass the Torch Award button and "ASSETS" magnet shown in the sidebar. If you have a current Pass the Torch Tuesday post, please leave your permalink in the box. If you're not participating, but you tell your readers about Pass the Torch Tuesday, please let me know in comments - I'll link to you here. Thanks! Mommy Life

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Questions and Comments

2006-09-03T09:12:00.000-04:00

How do I love them? Let me count the ways...

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your comments. In fact, I love them so much that I think I'll make them a regular feature. In the past week, I've been moved to laughter and tears by the comments you've all left for me. They're so good, I think I'll figure out a way to give them a place of honor. There's no way I can refer to all of them, but I can encourage you to all read them. I'll mention a few here.

I'll mention Pamela for her comment on this post about the naming of dinosaurs:

There was a 7 year old kid who wrote them down on a cave wall....and his
caveman mom was pretty impressed.. so she didn't wash it off. Good
thing!!! She was one of the original Pass The Torch Tuesday moms.

and Susan for her comment on this post:

"You wrote that so beautifully, Kelly. I was there with you, sharing the thoughts (and the fudge!)Mackinac Island is now on my evergrowing list of places to visit. And having a daughter is now on my list of "wonderfuls."

Actually, there were tons of excellent comments on that post.

Tricia asked if the rays of light on this photo were photoshopped at all. Answer -nope! All natural!

Tonya, asked what was the missing ingredient in our cookies for last week's Pass the Torch Tuesday. Answer - we still don't know, but we sure got a lot of guesses! -- too much butter (knitting maniac), too much liquid (heather), too much flour (samantha), extra large eggs (tc) or swapped baking power with baking soda (mamakaren, lindsey, cameo).

So anyway, thank you all for your thoughtful responses to my posts. I read and cherish every single one!

On the Road

2006-09-02T08:07:00.000-04:00

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.
Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

This is on the road to Lake Superior, along Hwy 13, taken the end of July.

See you next week for Pass the Torch Tuesday!

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Day One

2006-09-01T15:47:00.000-04:00

It's Day One of 30 Days of Nothing.

I know it's ridiculous to compare skipping a Dairy Queen stop to starving children in Africa. So I won't. For my family, this is a recalibration on spending, and an exercise in appreciation. Throughout the month, on my sidebar I'll track things we don't buy. I'll also give weekly updates.

Will we succeed? Probably not in the purest sense of the word. My husband needs work shoes and I didn't have a chance to get them in August. And it looks like we're hosting a Labor Day weekend gathering. So much for commitment.

But I'm focusing on choices and conversations. And every time we want something and are reminded we can't buy it this month, I hope we'll have a conversation. I seriously doubt if it will have a longterm significant impact on our spending, but I think this discussion it generates is important. My daughter blames "blogging" for all of this "discomfort", but I think her protests will subside.

I'd like to think we'll eat only rice one day, and my son has suggested a no-electronics day (no electricity seems too far-fetched for us). I'm listening to other ideas as they're offered. And I'm planting seeds about what we could do with whatever money we save throughout the month. This will have to be a family decision, so right now I don't know what it will be.

Here's a conversation I'll share.

On the way home from the post office today, this was our conversation in response to not stopping at Dairy Queen, A&W, or Alco, and why we paid at the pump for gas, rather than inside the store:

Kid: If they're in poor country, why don't they just go somewhere else?

Mom: Because they may not have a horse for transportation, or it may be too dangerous because their country may be at war.

Kid: They should buy a gun.

Mom: Some are too poor.

Kid: Oh.

Kid: I don't think I would want to be alive if I had to live there.

Mom: We're very lucky...

A faint light bulb glimmers.

More 30 Days posts:
Pre-30 Days
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2

For more participants in this project, visit Intent.
Technorati Tag: 30 Days of Nothing

101st Post -- Schoolyear's Resolutions

2006-08-31T13:31:00.000-04:00

I'd been planning it for a week. I'd weighed my thoughts, brainstormed with my keyboard, and changed my direction 50 times. My 100th post would be well written, inspirational and a call to action for my readers.

Except that my calculation was off. The 100th post I planned to write on Saturday snuck in on Thursday, with a lot less finess than I'd meant, and a topic that was a little more prehistoric than usual. I looked on my Blogger dashboard and saw "100 posts". Oh for crying outloud. Whoops!

Anyhoo, as I enjoy the last few days of my kids at home, experiencing more peace than I'd expected, despite stumbling over the basement obstacle course and mowing around their fort-of many-colors, I consider the coming months of schoolday solitude and ponder...

...Schoolyear's Resolutions.

Like many parents, our family's life revolves around the school calendar, rather than the Roman one, so I'm making schoolyear's resolutions - goals I'm setting for myself as we enter this new chapter. I read the book, The Hurried Woman Syndrome, and felt that much of it was an Ah-ha moment for me. So my goals will focus upon stress reduction.

Of course, my best personal resolution would be to stop trying to be the valedictorian of everything (thanks Dooce, for this phrase), and be happy with a B+ average in life. But that would require a personality change and more therapy than I have time for.

So instead, these are my resolutions:

1. Attitude
Appreciate the phenominally fantastic, yet everyday events that I'm blessed to experience. Spend one-on-one time with my husband and each child, every week -- even if it's just coffee, or just a bike ride, or just a trip to the grocery store.

2. Simplicity
Remember my family's priorities. Be satisfied with myself and accept my imperfections, even if I'm trying to improve them. Focus on writing assignments and professional engagements that bring me joy. Volunteer for short-term school commitments, rather than overwhelming ones. Smile more. Spend less.

3. Health
Exercise at least a half-hour, at least 3 days per week. Start to count calories, and reduce the bad ones.

I know I'm not the only one that makes goals at the beginning of the schoolyear. Just today, I commented on a Thursday Thirteen post like this (and if I find her site again, I'll link to it!) If you'd like to start some schoolyear's resolutions of your own, I'd love to hear them. You can leave them in comments, or if anyone's interested, I'll put up a Mr. Linky.

(This is a part of the Crazy Hip Blog Mamas writing collaboration project.)

Heard in my World

2006-08-31T09:46:00.000-04:00

From my seven-year-old (since they're extinct):

"How do we know what the dinosaurs' names were?"

Anyone care to answer this for him?

Maybe T-Rex left a comment on the prehistoric BoingBoing just before the meteor struck...

Role modeling

2006-08-31T01:47:00.000-04:00

My friend, Susan, introduced a powerful concept that is good to reflect about and celebrate: Role modeling for our kids. Here are 13 things I model pretty regularly, and hope will brush off on my children.

I could have just as easily described 13 things I royally screw up on, but that's for a different post;)

13 ways I role model for my kids

1. I put my immediate family first.
2. I'm aware of most of my shortcomings.
3. I apologize for them when they rear their ugly heads.
4. I usually use manners with my kids (and usually, but less frequently use them with my husband.)
5. I appreciate and teach about culture.
6. I communicate my belief that education is important.
7. I read about things that interest me, though not as often as I'd like.
8. I work hard.
9. I say "I love you" outloud to my husband and my kids.
10. I like to learn about people from different parts of the world.
11. I go to my kids' extra-curricular events.
12. I'm careful about spending.
13. I periodically reevaluate me life and consider changes I should make to be a better person.

What do you role model for others?

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Technorati Tags: Thursday Thirteen Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Not many of these days left...

2006-08-30T01:56:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

Congratulations to Carolyn at My Prairie Rose for winning the Pass the Torch Award this week for this post. HERE are links to yesterday's other PTT participant posts.

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here. Technorati Tag: Wordless Wednesday

30 Days of Nothing

2006-08-30T01:05:00.000-04:00

I'm hesitant to call this a Works-for-me Wednesday, because I'm not sure if in the end, it will "work".

Mary, at Owlhaven, pointed me toward a project by Intent, called 30 Days of Nothing. Here's an excerpt from her description of the project:

"For 30 days, my family will buy nothing except our basic necessities. No clothes or books. No movies, no trips to the ice cream parlor. No paper, or pictures, or magazines. No fancy hair gel or take-and-bake pizza. Lattes? Nope. Nothing except what it takes to live. During that month, I will journal our experiences, and blog my thoughts about poverty and hunger and our response to those issues. I'd like to try and identify with some of the "least" (economically) of the world. We will try and live without electricity for a day; eat only rice for a day. Perhaps the family will sleep together in one room for a night - on the floor; or walk six miles one day - the distance some African women walk daily to get clean water.

The goal of this month-long fast is to break the grip of materialism in our hearts and minds. We want to live in gratitude, not discontent; and we want to live with awareness of the great responsibility our affluence has laid on our shoulders."

I've talked about this with my husband. I've brainstormed with my son. And I've argued with my daughter. None of us WANTS to do this. But I feel we must -- partly because of the resistance I'm witnessing.

This shouldn't be that big of a deal. It's one month. We keep all the stuff we already have. Mostly, we're boycotting throw-away spending, like the 69-cent Skittles my kids buy at the grocery store. But the conversations we've had so far have revealed our wicked entrenchment in this materialistic world. And maybe our fear of commitment. You'd think I was asking my eldest to live in a cardboard box (which gives me an idea, actually.)

So at this point, what's working for me is to engage in the discussion, even when it becomes heated. I'm answering a lot of "why" questions and opening our eyes to a world that's so remote to us, it can't be understood. I'm keeping our options open to alter the project throughout the month, empowering my kids to suggest ways to "survive" it, trying hard not to be judgemental about our spoiled selves, and letting go of the shopping reins in these last few days before September 1st. I'm hoping that during the month, some kind of light bulb goes on for someone and an ah-ha moment replaces the resentment and eye-rolling I'm getting right now.

And I'm believing that, like I wrote yesterday on Pass the Torch Tuesday, process is more important than product. If we fail miserably at cutting out the materialism, but succeed in having conversations about important and otherwise ignored subjects, then we'll have succeeded after all.

Risks that may result in failures, but that help to discover truths, are worth taking.

Care to join me?

Carnival of the Vanities is up at Lil Duck Duck. After you're through WFM Wednesday-ing, there are great posts there to keep you busy the rest of the day;)

More 30 Days posts:
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2

For more participants in this project, visit Intent.
Technorati Tag: 30 Days of Nothing

Pass the Torch Tuesday - It's the PROCESS, not the product

2006-08-29T01:35:00.000-04:00

Banner by Bluebird Blogs If you need the code for your post, let me know.

Welcome to Pass the Torch Tuesday, where bloggers share simple and stupendous times kids make us proud. Guidelines are simple:

1. Write about catching a kid being good.
2. Link to here from your post.
3. Permalink your post from here.

Join us with a story or comment. Complete guidelines and former PTT links are HERE.

It's the Process, not the Product

What's wrong with this picture?

My husband (who I know secretly reads this blog, since he now offers content ideas) had the foresight to suggest I take this shot before our family massacred the flattened, gooey, yet mysteriously tasty treats. Anyway, what does this have to do with PTT Tuesday, you may ask?

My kids love to bake chocolate chip cookies, and have done so often enough that I can now leave them to their own devices. This sometimes results in sibling squabbling about "who gets to do what", but I tell them to work it out, or put the batter away.

This time, they found a solution, much to my relief, but as you can see, somethin's missin' in this melty batch of mush.

In this household, the process is far more important than the product.

The bakers aren't sure which ingredient they forgot. Please write your guesses in comments.

One participant will receive the Pass the Torch Award button and this "ASSETS" magnet.

I'm a huge promotor of the research-based Developmental Asset Approach, which helps adults look at what's right with kids, rather than what's wrong with them.

If you give a shoutout to Pass the Torch Tuesday (tell your readers about it), please let me know - I'll link to you here. Thanks!

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Technologically Speaking

2006-08-27T18:52:00.000-04:00

Just a few technical items:

First, if you tried to access my blog yesterday and got a bunch of mumbo jumbo, it's because you happened to click here right when I performed a blog backup. Lindsey wrote a great post about backing-up everything, and she motivated me to get started!

I used the directions given in Blogger and it was simple, though the "delete your whole template" part was a bit nerveracking. I copy/pasted my template into a Word document and replaced it with their ten little lines of script. After going through the process and saving the file, I rebooted my saved template and "Voila!" Worked just like they said it would. It took about 20 minutes, only because, as usual, publishing time is slow. But the rest was very quick. SO BACK UP YOUR BLOG.

Secondly, several of you have asked me about the photography here, and it is mine - all of it (save for a periodic guest appearance by Deena's shots.) I use a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, an 8 megapixel beast that I've come to adore. My current photo gizmo choices are HP Image Zone for image adjustment, Image Shack for slideshows and Photobucket for video.

Third, I've decided to switch to Wordpress and will be working on the changeover in the next few weeks. If you have any words of advice, please share them! I'll have my own domain and host, so I think this will eliminate some issues. I'll keep you posted as I get closer to the switch.

Important: I'm looking for specific advice about aspects of this site you like, which you think should be different, and what has worked for you in Wordpress. PLEASE COMMENT - I'd like to hear from you before I get too far into the process.

Finally, if you're telling your readers (giving a shoutout) about Pass the Torch Tuesday, thank you! Please let me know and I'll link to you tomorrow.

Thanks!

Carnivals!

2006-08-27T11:08:00.000-04:00

Carnivals! I'm participating in three this week, with the post, Wish For You.

Michelle's Carnival of the Blogging Chicks is already up. My favorites are: Back up Everything, She Covereth, From the Heart

Kailani's Carnival of Family Life will be up at Everything Under the Moon Sunday night. Of note: Letting go of Perfection and Love Is...

And the Carnival of the Vanities, which is hosted by Lil Duck Duck this week, will be up on Wednesday.

Come and read with me! I'll share my cotton candy;)

Mackinac Bridge

2006-08-26T01:16:00.000-04:00

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.
Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

See you next week for Pass the Torch Tuesday!

Receiving Message 46 of 302

2006-08-25T00:03:00.000-04:00

Today marks the official end of a fantastic trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan and Sault St. Marie, Ontario. I will share lots more about this excellent trip with my daughter in the coming days. In the meantime I have much catchup work to do, including the management of 302 email messages in my main inbox. I've enjoyed reading every one of your comments and intend to return the favor very soon! But if I claim comment bankrupcy, please forgive me. I'm bound to rebound.

This week I randomly selected a winner from the excellent Pass the Torch Tuesday contributors. Congratulations to Kailani, who receives the Pass the Torch Award Banner this week for her daughter's darling note to the new baby-to-be.

Other excellent contributors were Meredith (the power of siblings), Faerie Rebecca (cleaning without whining), Christine (her right-hand-12-year-old daughter), and Susan (children's answers to questions about mothers). Be sure to check them out!

13 Truths about Mackinac Island

2006-08-24T14:23:00.000-04:00

13 Truths about Mackinac Island

1. It's pronounced MackinAW, not MackinACK.
2. Vehicles are not allowed, although I did see an ambulance retrieving a young bicyclist that crashed.
3. The road encircling the island is a Michigan State Highway. But motored vehicles are not allowed.
4. Fulltime workers are hired to clean up horse manure.
5. It is not possible for me to get sick on fudge. If it were possible, I would definitely have gotten sick.
6. It's swimming in history - military, French, Native American, Irish, you name it.
7. Few people live there year-round; last year's graduating high school class was nine students.
8. A motor, of any sort, is rarely heard. I witnessed exactly one lawnmower during our 3 day visit.
9. I awoke to the steady clippity clop of one horse's hooves. Nothing else.
10. A nine-year-old can bike 15 miles in a day.
11. The best lunches are picnics of odds and ends saved from the day before and the grocery store.
12. The best dining tables are outdoors, next to crystal blue waters and sunshine.
13. The best company is a daughter.

I'll be back later with stories from our trip. See you for next week's Pass the Torch Tuesday!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Technorati Tags: Thursday Thirteen Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Do you know what hail clouds mean?

2006-08-22T23:27:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

PACK UP THE TENT!

Scroll down for yesterday's Pass the Torch Tuesday participant posts. They're excellent! And I'm posting from outside the state (and country) this week, so I'll be slow on commenting, but I promise to get to you eventually!

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here. Technorati Tag: Wordless Wednesday

Simply Good - Pass the Torch Tuesday

2006-08-21T23:10:00.000-04:00

Special thanks to Susie at Bluebird Blogs for the banner!
If you need the code for your post, let me know.

WELCOME to Pass the Torch Tuesday, where bloggers share simple and stupendous times they've caught kids being good. I hope you'll join us with a story, a comment, or to read everyone else's! Guidelines and former Tuesday links are HERE.

Simply Good

Sometimes I think kids just know what you need.
After two weeks of a tense household, with children who forgot how to play with each other, I was faced with several days of writing deadlines, huge Empowering Youth orders and trip planning. I was very concerned about how I would accomplish everything, while serving as referee as well.

But for whatever reason - coincidence, understanding, or Divine intervention - they played house for two solid days. In fact, I had to periodically stop them from playing so that we could have lunch or run errands. They just got along, like they did before the two weeks of "I don't like you very much."

I guess if our kids are never naughty, we don't appreciate it as much when they're good.

How have you caught a kid being good? or smart? or responsible? Join us for Pass the Torch Tuesday! Link to your post or leave a comment! Click here for guidelines. Need some inspiration? Check out last week's participants.

One random participant will receive the Pass the Torch Award button (see sidebar.)

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Fill 'er up - with school supplies

2006-08-21T15:57:00.000-04:00

In some communities in our area, the poverty rate approaches 50%, and even school-supplies shopping can be a financial challenge for some families. So for the last couple of years, when we fill our school lists, we also buy in bulk any items that are a fantastic deal. Then we donate those to the school for kids that need them. It reframes our typical back-to-school shopping madness mindset.

This year, we probably didn't spend more than $20, but look at what we gave? Believe it or not, the backpacks, and ten packages of pens and pencils cost a total of $2 from Menards (after rebates.) We filled up the rest of the space with standard list items like notebooks, crayons, markers, glue sticks, pencils and pens - whichever products were the best deal when we shopped.

So if you've yet to shop for your kids' school supplies, consider filling up your cart with the sale items, or those with rebates. Someone's bound to need them.

Knitting Maniac had a funny post last week about the joys of school supplies shopping, and I can relate to everything she said! Be sure to go check it out. It also made me think about an activity we've done for a couple years now, that reframes my typical back-to-school shopping mindset.

For a bazillion other excellent ideas, check out Shannon's WFMW Hub.

Carnival of Family Life - Wiener Whiner

2006-08-20T09:16:00.000-04:00

Here's my submission to the Carnival of Family Life this week and guess what? I won Kailani's random drawing!! Cool huh? The rest of the submissions are at Princess and the Pea.

When I saw the "Wienermobile" at our village fair, I asked the kids if they wanted to sing the jingle. Most of us grew up hearing the Oscar Mayer wiener song, but I guess the next generation hasn't. Here is my seven-year-old son doing his very best to read the song lyrics while singing the jingle. Be sure to turn up your sound!

CLICK HERE FOR WIENER WHINER

For his efforts, Mom splurged on carnival rides - just as soon as she composed her giggling.
See you for Pass the Torch Tuesday!
Oscar Mayer wiener jingle

Hold the Mustard, Please

2006-08-19T17:44:00.000-04:00

I submitted this re-post from earlier this spring to the Carnival of Travel this weekend. A version of this story was printed in Budget Travel.

And join me in Kailani's Carnival of Family Life. All the submission details can be found in her sidebar. Doncha wanna know what I submitted? You'll have to go over there and see on Monday! By the way, her list of "How you know blogging's taking over your life" is a stitch.

I'll be away for a couple of days, but back Monday evening to begin accepting submissions for Pass the Torch Tuesday! I'm sure we'll have new additions THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON TUESDAY, so check back often. See you then!

Hold the Mustard, Please

Last summer, my then eight-year-old daughter came with me to Maryland on a week-long journey along the Chesapeake Bay. Though she’s not a fan of crustaceans, she accompanied me to sample blue crab at a restaurant in St. Michaels.

Expecting a mountain of claws with drawn butter, we were shocked when our waitress arrived with whole crabs -- legs, shells, guts, eyes and all. Deena wielded her mallet as she wasn’t convinced her crab was even dead. In fact, it resembled Sebastian on The Little Mermaid.

Lucky for us, our waitress expertly demonstrated proper crab picking, thankfully removing the entrails (locals call it the “mustard”), piling the smelly mess on the disposable tablecloth and revealing the tasty crabmeat inside.

Eyes pinched shut, Deena tried a morsel, then gently asked me, “Do you think we could go out for chicken tonight?”

Here's the article as it appeared in Budget Travel:

Heard in my World

2006-08-18T13:05:00.000-04:00

19 minutes into a 90-minute drive to Grandma's:

"Eeeewww, what's that smell? Mom did you run over a skunk?"

"No, that's turkey poop."

"Oh, man, that smells. Maybe it's cow poop."

"No, that's turkey poop."

"Mom, are you sure you didn't run over a skunk?"

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

37 minutes into a 90-minute drive to Grandma's:

"I did NOT!"

"You did too!"

"I did NOT!"

"You did too!"

"I did NOT!"

"You did too!"
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

62 minutes into a 90-minute drive to Grandma's:

"How long until school starts?

"18 days, 20 hours and 46 minutes."

"Approximately."

13 Inspiring Kids

2006-08-16T21:04:00.000-04:00

I've been introduced to many inspiring kids lately, mostly because of Pass the Torch Tuesday, which is an exercise in catching kids being good. But these kids are being AWESOME.

The first 8 of this week's 13 are from this Tuesday's excellent posts. Please tell me how on earth I'm supposed to choose a winner?

Forget it - they all get the award. Congratulations!!

Thirteen perfect examples of what's right about young people -- please check them out!

1. Karate Kid at Drama Queen's Mama made me cry with pride.

2. Sally, at Susan's blog stands up for herself.

3. Mommy Needsa Mai Tai shows how seven-year-old Chad demonstrates above-and-beyond responsibility.

4. Door Man steps up to the plate, just like a pro at Unexplored Territory.

5. And then Hoss will make you cry again at If Momma Ain't Happy.

6. WAYA's five-year-old Tyler teaches us how to stay safe in a world that sometimes isn't.

7. Tired But Happy's son knows all about generosity and giving.

8. Rebecca's daughter, Mara, demonstrates compassion and caring for others.

9. Looking for Hope celebrates her older child taking the younger siblings under her wing.

10. Deena understands more than I think.

11. A preschool Tim surprised his mom about his reading skills.

12. Previous winners: Tyler, The Queen, and Wystful1's son inspired us last week.

13. A talented 10-year-old just launched her own blog. She draws and writes, and she's quite good!. Please visit her at The Smilly Family.

See you for next week's Pass the Torch Tuesday! And let me know if you think I should do the vote again next time. I was thinking it would be easier to just select winners, but it's not! I could do a random thing as well. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Technorati Tags: Thursday Thirteen Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Works for Me Wednesday -- Staying Sane in the Summer

2006-08-16T08:49:00.000-04:00

I've been an avid lurker on Shannon's Works for Me Wednesday for weeks now. It is an awesome meme with excellent participants and I always get great reminders and tips from the people posting.

But lately, the closest I can get is "Evading-the-Asylum" Wednesday, so I usually choose to go wordless (scroll down).

Today, it will be 87 degrees, which usually means humid as well. We're all just limping along here hoping to not have any sibling blowouts between now and the day they go back to school.

Our solution? Look at my header.

Water.

Any kind, any way, any how. Water.

Our favorite keep-the-sanity water activity is dock-jumping, but at different times in our lives, we've been known to stay sane in the summer by pool-wading, water-sliding, water balloon-throwing, sprinkler-running, hose-spraying -- even bucket-dumping.

I know it's a simple thing, but it works for me!

I was quoted in All You this month, about what I love about August:

"On the most sweltering summer day, when the sun is at its peak, I will hear my kids fly out the door, rumble down the lakeshore two steps at a time,

then boom, boom, boom, airborne off the dock...

SPLASH!!!!"

Looking for my Wordless Wednesday? It's HERE. Pass the Torch Tuesday participants? HERE And for more WFMW - go HERE.

Mussel Man

2006-08-15T23:21:00.000-04:00

My daring boy trying a bit of seafood on Tybee Island, Georgia. Think he ate it??

Scroll down for Pass the Torch Tuesday participant posts. They're excellent this week!

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here. Technorati Tag: Wordless Wednesday

Geography Lesson

2006-08-14T17:04:00.000-04:00

Special thanks to Susie at Bluebird Blogs for the banner!
If you need the code for your post, let me know.

Here is round two of Pass the Torch Tuesday. I hope you'll join us with a story, a comment, or to read everyone else's! Guidelines are here. Last week's excellent meme participants are here. Congratulations to Mommy Needsa Mai Tai for winning the button last week!

Geography Lesson

I'm planning a girl's trip with my daughter. Last summer we went to the Chesapeake Bay and it was fantastic. But this year, she's chosen Mackinac Island in Northern Michigan.

I knew approximately where the island was located and really didn't think much more about it. I reserved lodging, talked to Deena about what we might do while we're there, visited websites and sent for brochures.

But I didn't get a map.

Deena was studying a Wisconsin map to figure out the best way to get there. She's the navigator while we drive, so she needs to have a basic route figure out. But the map only included part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I told her, "It's just past the edge of the page, so we'll just continue on this road a bit and we'll be there."

She really wanted to see the whole route, and I couldn't find the atlas. So she dug out an old hard-cover topographical map from the 1970's and started turning the pages. A couple minutes later, I heard her from the other room.

"So we're going to see Lake Huron?" she asked.

"No, we'll be on Lake Michigan," I responded, hardly paying attention.

But she was convinced, so she showed me the map. "See, Mackinac Island is on Lake Huron."

I've traveled to all fifty states and at least 14 countries. I'm a master player at "Carmen Sandiego." I've probably BEEN to Mackinac Island, though I don't remember it (much to my mother's chagrine.)

And I didn't know that Mackinac Island was on Lake Huron.

So I guess we'll be visiting two Great Lakes, rather than one. And we'll be driving at least an extra two hours to get there. Good thing she's thorough!

We decided on this location a year ago, long before the bombers decided the bridge would be a great target. We'll proceed with caution, and then we'll have another social studies lesson - the one about bombs and terrorists.

How have you caught a kid being good? or smart? or responsible? Join us for Pass the Torch Tuesday! One participant each week will receive the Pass the Torch Award button (see sidebar.) Link to your post or leave a comment! Click here for guidelines.

Thanks to Bloggy Gossip for the shoutout. Have you seen what they're doing over there? And once you've visited all our Pass the Torch Tuesday participants, be sure to check out 5 Minutes for Mom's Tackle it Tuesday!

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Photo Project

2006-08-14T08:23:00.000-04:00

They're doing a fun project at 5 Minutes for Mom, asking readers to post photos of their babies and list what worked or didn't work in the photo.

Well, she isn't a baby anymore, but this shot is from last year's "girls only" trip with my daughter. She's navigating a 120-year-old skipjack, believe it or not. To read more, my Chesapeake Family feature article is HERE.

Here are a few things that I learned from this photo:

1. Get funky with angles.
2. Watch what's behind the subject. Had I been even with her, the handrail would have made a busy background.
3. Don't be afraid of the candid. Saying "cheese" isn't always the best option.
4. Be careful about the sun's location. I could have probably used a little flash on this photo, even though it's broad daylight. It may have brightened her face a bit.
5. If you think you'll ever have a shot at a cover (which I did with the photos I took that day), invest in more megapixels before going on the trip.

If you're joining in on the fun, please leave a comment here, and I'll add your link. Then visit 5 Minutes for Mom to find more picture posts.

Jodi, Mommy@Home, Lil Duck Duck, Lessons from the Scrapbook Page, Five Time Mommy, The Pink Diary, Looking for Hope, All Natural Mommies, Mommy Colored Glasses, Eagle's Wings

See you tomorrow for this week's Pass the Torch Tuesday!

P.S. I'm also using this list post to participate in Darren's Problogger group writing project. His site is an excellent resource -- I encourage you to check it out.

Technorati Tags: photography writing project kids

By Popular Demand...

2006-08-13T23:39:00.000-04:00

I've decided to combine the contest with the meme.

Each week, one post from the Pass the Torch Tuesday participants will receive the "Pass the Torch Award". That person will receive the sidebar button to proudly display on his or her blog.

The selected post from last week's inaugural Pass the Torch Tuesday is Mommy Needsa Mai Tai, for her story entitled, "Mama's Sick Day". Congratulations!

Be sure to peruse last week's meme and read the stories and comments. They were great!

I hope you'll join us this Tuesday for the fun and great stories. HERE ARE GUIDELINES.

Also, the Carnival of Family Life is up at Tired but Happy. Please go read the excellent posts!

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

12 Reasons I Love You

2006-08-13T09:38:00.000-04:00

My husband and I are celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary today, and we were surprised by some wonderful gifts from our children. Our son gave us 100 minutes of back massages or hair brushing, PLUS 10 "free" errands, and my daughter gave us candy and this excellent card: "12 Reasons Why I Love You":

1. You love me.
2. You care about my education.
3. You care for me.
4. You want me to have a fun life.
5. You believe in me.
6. You trust me.
7. You trust me. (Must have been an important one!)
8. You want to do what's best for me.
9. You encourage me to do even better.
10. You let me grow.
11. You respect me.
12. You respect me for if I did my best, not for right or wrong.

I couldn't possibly write anything that would define this blog any better than this list. What memorable anniversary gifts have you received from your children?

I'll see you on Pass the Torch Tuesday! I hope you'll join us!
NOTE: By popular demand, one participant at each Pass the Torch Tuesday will receive the PASS THE TORCH AWARD! The winner will have the opportunity to proudly display the award button.

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch anniversary

Blog Building

2006-08-12T13:59:00.000-04:00
I need advice.

I've done some research on what works in the blogosphere and the gizmos I'd like to use on this blog. I participated in Problogger's group writing project and gained all kinds of insight there as well. I've read about why people love Wordpress and Typepad and why many are sometimes frustrated with Blogger.

I love my design by Susie at Bluebird Blogs. Love it love it love it! But now I'm finding myself restricted by what Blogger can't do.

Like the following:

1. Catagorize automatically, rather than my clumsy manual method that's already a month behind.

2. Email my commenters without being an FBI agent. I love to comment on your blogs, and would continue to do so, but sometimes I'd like to email you as well. It drives me crazy -- 17 clicks and pages later -- to find out there is no email address.

3. Use tools like "most recent commenters" in my sidebar.

4. For the life of me figure out how the heck to trackback (on my blog or someone else's). This of course, my platform has the capability to do, but it's operator does not;)

I'd love your input. I'm leaning toward Wordpress or Typepad, but could you tell me why or why not I should choose either one? By the way, the platform has to be WYSIWYG because my geek score is embarrassingly low. (Although I've become quite proficient with cut and paste;))

Thanks for your help!

Tell me your picks and I'll tally you here:

Wordpress: The Pink Diary , Artist By Nature
Typepad: Don't Try this at Home
Making it work with Blogger: Of Making Many Books

Wordpress Typepad blogging

Heard in my World

2006-08-11T15:21:00.000-04:00
On cleaning the house - "Are we having company, or what?"

(NO! Well YES, but I'd also like to know there's still carpeting underneath all that stuff on your floor.)

On why he didn't ski last year - "because Dad pushed me out of the BOAT and I part-way got WATER up my nose."

On not finding any garage sales - "We need to go to the 'suburbs'"

Um... the ones outside our village of 1,000?

and

On cupboard organization - "Why are there four open bags of marshmallows?"

Heard the Gossip?

2006-08-11T09:25:00.000-04:00
Pass the Torch is the talk of the blogosphere! (Well, kind of;))

Reading for Pleasure

2006-08-11T01:10:00.000-04:00
I've read some excellent posts about books lately. First, Mary at Owlhaven challenged her readers to tell the best books for kids.

Then Shannon, at Rocks in My Dryer, did a similar thing today, but it's a meme and lots of folks joined in.

We're approaching the end of summer. I think it's only fitting that I join in too. Maybe the kids can finish just a couple more?

Reading for Pleasure is one of the 40 Developmental Assets, so getting children to read for fun is a huge step toward raising successful kids.

My nine-year-old daughter's read all of these twice, so I know they must be good;)

All-things-Potter (magic and all)

Cornelia Funke's Thief Lord, Dragon Rider and Inkheart

The Magician's Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia)

The Secret Garden

The Babysitter's Club Series

How about you? What do your kids love to read?

If you're posting about this, let me know. I'll add you here: Kids, Cats & Books, Don't Try this At Home, Susan Stephenson, Bloggin Outloud (classics for teenagers), Wired Wisdom, Road Less Traveled, Stranded in the Mountains

reading parenting siblings family empowerment responsibility

Making the World A Better Place

2006-08-10T10:54:00.000-04:00
The AW Chain is in it's fourth round now and Laurie at Peregrinas , who always has excellent, informative posts, has tagged me with an outstanding topic:

"What do you do to make the world a better place?"

If you've ever read my blog, surely you know my answer: I raise my kids the best way I can.

I figure my imprint on them is the most significant, ongoing impact I can make in the world, and I hope, with all my parenting imperfections, that the good outweighs the bad once the tallies are made.

In a broader sense, of course, I hope that my focus on youth empowerment and Developmental Assets makes a difference as well. Seeing young people as contributing members of society isn't necessarily a mainstream way of thinking. My hope is that by describing empowered, responsible kids, I will help others to recognize and celebrate those qualities in other youth.

For instance, Australian writer (and AW colleague), Gillian Pollack told me about an outstanding example of youth empowerment she's witnessed. Teams of youth in Louisiana have helped to improve literacy in their communities. It's a powerful example of what young people can accomplish when they're recognized as useful. I'm hoping that Pass the Torch Tuesday will continue to generate stories like this one, as well as those about parents witnessing great things in their children.

Peggy at The Road Less Traveled is next in the chain. Please visit her, and all the AW Chain participants. We'd all love to read your comments on this series of posts. CLICK HERE for the complete list of participants. I'll update it with permalinks once the chain is completed.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR THURSDAY THIRTEEN)

awchain travel empowerment responsibility

Time for school, kiddos!

2006-08-10T01:53:00.000-04:00

In three weeks, school will start again.

Although I try to focus on the positive, and I relish the time I spend with my family, I find myself content in the fact that my loving, beautiful, empowered, responsible and NOISY children will soon be elsewhere during the day.

My Thursday Thirteen this week explains why it’s so.

Because:

1. Evening is the best time to ski anyway.

2. My son keeps beating me at yahtzee.

3. We’ve already done nearly everything on our “summer stuff” list -- twice.

4. All my emails have 20 typos because I send them prematurely -- in-between, “She scratched me” and “Can we go to Dairy Queen?”

5. The phrase, “I’m bored,” will soon drive me to eat an entire gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

6. The only well-“rounded” lunch we’ve had in the past weeks is circle-shaped frozen pizzas.

7. My book proposal is buried under a bushel of junkmail and threatens to leave me for another author.

8. Those grade-level enrichment books didn’t get finished (started?) this summer – so they can’t go to college yet.

9. I’ll enjoy them getting on the bus in the morning.

10. …and off in the afternoon.

11. The summer months have already given me enough blog fodder to last until May.

12. I shouted, “YES, sister!” when I read Crazy Hip Blog Mamas's interview with Chilihead. She described one of her greatest challenges as a mom:

“… not completely losing it when my kids are going into round eleventy million of petty arguments about who gets the grape spoon.”

13. I lost my earplugs.

See you for next week's Pass the Torch Tuesday! For more posts about back-to-school, visit the Work At Home Moms page.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Technorati Tags: Thursday Thirteen Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Driftwood Climber

2006-08-09T01:29:00.000-04:00

See you for next week's Pass the Torch Tuesday!
And check out my blogtopsites rank this week! ----------->

You can find more Wordless Wednesday posts at 5 Minutes for Mom

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here. Technorati Tag: Wordless Wednesday

And the winner is....

2006-08-08T16:36:00.000-04:00

Drumroll please....

Congratulations to WAYA who earned the most votes in the Pass the Torch contest for her post about Mommy's Proudest Moment.

Unexplored Territory and Wystful1 came in second and third places, respectively. The top three vote-getters will each have the opportunity to display the Pass the Torch Award button on their sites.

Thank you also to Gillian Pollack, Susan Stephenson, Looking for Hope and Mommy Needs a Mai Tai, for participating in the contest and submitting such great examples of youth empowerment and responsibility. So many bloggers came out to announce the contest and vote for their favorite stories -- thank you all for your help!

Please watch for future contests and I hope to see you all participate in Pass the Torch Tuesday in the future. You obviously know what to look for!

A HUGE thank you to Susie at Bluebird Blogs for the excellent award and contest buttons!

Technorati Tags: empowerment Pass the Torch Developmental Assets responsibility

Pass the Torch Tuesday – Inaugural Edition!

2006-08-08T01:05:00.000-04:00

Gasket Rescuers

I’m often accused, by giggling children, of needing a memory upgrade. And I’m reluctantly sure that they’re right.

I think it was 500 degrees in the car after we unloaded all ten boxes of our donated items at the resale shop. “Hurry, hurry! Let’s get the air on!” I said.

I reached for the ignition and my heart skipped a beat.

No keys.

I jumped up, searched the seat and dug through my purse, all the while realizing that my human gasket was about to blow.

“I just drove here five minutes ago!” my mind raced. Seriously, how can a person lose her keys like that?

Then both my kids, ages seven and nine, got out of the car and started searching with me. They looked in the front seat, back seat, and on the floor. They crouched down to look on the pavement. Curt even popped the trunk. Then Deena ran into the shop to dig through the boxes we’d just unloaded.

I never asked them to help. They just did. They could have continued with their silly sibling conversation, or whined about how hot it was. But instead, they recognized what I needed – what we needed -- and they cared enough to step up to the plate.

I know it seems simple, but most remarkable things are.

It turns out that neither of them found the keys – I did. In the most ridiculously obvious and stupidly overlooked spot (the camera bag on the seat NEXT to my purse.) But they made my day -- and saved my gasket from certain demolition.

Car started, air conditioner blasting, I turned to them and said, “Thank you.”

“No problem, Mom.”

How have you caught a kid being good? I’d love to hear from you!

(Thanks to Lyn at Bloggin' Outloud for the shoutout!)

Join us each week for Pass the Torch Tuesday! One participant each week will receive the Pass the Torch Award button (see sidebar.) Link to your post or leave a comment! Click here for guidelines.

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Tuesday Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Blogosphere Buzz

2006-08-07T00:21:00.000-04:00
Besides the excellent Pass the Torch contest entries (GO VOTE!!), there are other great things going on in the blogosphere this week.

The Crazy Hip BLog-Mamas are telling us to "show the love" with Pajama Mama's Good Bloggin Days , a positive commenting project.

Kailani's hosting another outstanding Carnival of Family Life, which I MUST submit to next time.

And because I'm a nut for all-things-empowerment, I'm going to share with you a post by Mr Sherr, who is excited about his new position for this school year. He'll be empowering youth through the visual arts! Go congratulate him on his new position.

TOMORROW will be the inaugural edition of "Pass the Torch Tuesday" and I'll invite you to join me in posting about how you caught a kid being GOOD! Meme details, my story, and MR LINKY will be here tomorrow. See you then!

BUT FIRST, GO VOTE!

Technorati Tags: Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

VOTE!

2006-08-06T20:26:00.000-04:00
(VOTING IS CLOSED - please CLICK HERE for results.)

We've received excellent submissions for the Pass the Torch Contest. Now it's your turn, as readers, to select the one you believe best illustrates youth showing their true colors as empowered and responsible young people.

Please visit each site and after reading these brief stories, select in the poll below which post you liked the most.

Mommy's Proudest Moment -- a proud mother witnessing her son caring for his youngest brother.

Asteroid Team -- kids joining forces to help out with Hurricane Katrina victims.

Holding the Book -- a child taking his turn to read, surprising his mom with his new skill.

Celebrating Manhood -- a mother's tribute to her hero son.

San Francisco - Here We Come -- an older sibling showing patience and care with younger family members.

A Servant's Heart -- a daughter who gently lays to rest a befriended squirrel.

Mommy's Sick Day -- children bringing soup to their mommy, who's sick in bed.

Polling will close Tuesday night, so please spread the word and get out the vote! The author who receives the most votes will have the opportunity to proudly display the Pass the Torch Award button below.

Thanks to Lil Duck Duck and Crazy Hip Blog Mamas for announcing our poll!

Note: Please join us for Pass the Torch Tuesday! Click here for guidelines.

A HUGE thank you to Susie at Bluebird Blogs for the excellent award and contest buttons!

Technorati Tags: empowerment Pass the Torch Developmental Assets responsibility

Personal Power

2006-08-04T09:31:00.000-04:00
"Dad, I want to try to ski today," says the seven-year-old who's never skied.

"Me too," says the nine-year-old who did once last summer, but started on shore with the loving and physical support of our friend Bridget.

"But Mom has to be in the boat with me. You'll have to get up on your own," says Dad.

"We can do it."

So we load the boat, with skis that look longer than our kids are tall. At the quietest spot on the lake, each takes a turn.

The chilly lake entry.

The frustrated whine that those darn skis have minds of their own.

The repeated circle of the boat after losing the rope. And the splashing wake that follows.

The gentle rise of the skis that means they're finally pointing up and the rope's tight.

"GO!" says Mom.

The growl of the motor. Plowing water for an eternal split second. Then falling.

"STOP!" says Mom.

Again with all the rigamoral of a novice skier.

Then finally, with the grace of a loon, the surprise of a Price is Right contestant, and smiles as broad as Montana, they ski.

Mom cries.

Success, after frustration and failure, breeds personal power.

Please remember to email me your Pass the Torch Award posts by Sunday. I look forward to reading them all! For more ideas about posts that illustrate youth empowerment and responsibility, please read all my posts from this week. I've also linked to those who have entered the contest so far. I look forward to reading more of your entries!

Technorati Tag: Pass the Torch empowerment skiing
Personal Power
Developmental Assets

2006-08-03T23:16:00.000-04:00
I was very pleased to learn that my Thursday Thirteen Post this week was selected as a featured blog of the week at the Thursday Thirteen hub!

I consider it an honor and I appreciate all the thoughtful comments that I received from those reading my post.

Thank you all!!

(P.S. Please remember to visit http://kellycurtis.blogspot.com/2006/07/pass-torch-award.html to submit your Pass the Torch contest entry!)

Thirteen Clues about Responsibility and Empowerment

2006-08-02T15:56:00.000-04:00

In an imperfect life spotted with arguments, messy rooms and periodic bad days, I’m blessed with glimpses of empowered, responsible kids. I hope these 13 snippets will inspire you to find those examples in your own children.

(P.S. Perhaps this will give you some ideas for the Pass the Torch Contest! Complete details at the Pass the Torch AWARD HUB: http://kellycurtis.blogspot.com/2006/07/pass-torch-award.html.)

Sometimes…:

1. He offers to make me breakfast.
2. She opens the door for the lady with an armload of groceries.
3. He donates hard-earned coins to charity.
4. She uses manners with the waitress, and orders her own food.
5. He surprises me, by cleaning his room the first time I remind him.
6. She feeds the cat without being asked (except by the cat;))
7. They accept a life-jumbling move because they know it will be better for the family.
8. They solve the never-ending and high-tension problem of “which game to play.”
9. She’s thoughtful about disturbing news stories describing hunger or war.
10. He befriends the new kid.
11. She stands up against a bully on the playground.
12. He accepts consequences for screwing up.
13. She forgives me for screwing up

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Technorati Tags: Thursday Thirteen Pass the Torch Developmental Assets

Wordless Wednesday - Pass the Torch Theme

2006-08-01T22:14:00.000-04:00
Blogger's being temperamental, so for this Wordless Wednesday, I'm just going to introduce you to my new design! Check out the banner. That ought to count for something;) Thanks to Susie at Bluebird Blogs for the awesome design.

Remember to enter a current or archived post in our Pass the Torch contest. Just tell us about a responsible, empowered kid in your life -- someone that makes you think the future of our world is in good hands! All the details are HERE.

You have until Sunday to enter - please tell your readers about it! If you want the sticker below for your announcement post, please email me and I'll send you the code.

Get your Wordless Wednesday code here.

Wordless WednesdayWisconsin Pass the Torch

Budding Photographer

2006-08-01T09:29:00.000-04:00
Some of you've already read about my new toy. The Canon Digital Rebel XT is a dream, so the old Sony gathers dust these days.

Until Deena discovered it.

Now, just like me, she drags it along in her hippack, her purse, her bike and the boat (EEEK). She takes pictures of everything that moves -- or doesn't. She experiments with settings and figures out features I never used. I just clicked through the saved pictures and was like, "Where did these come from?" She's documenting the life that happens on the other side of the house.

At first, I was very protective of the camera. I gave the bill-payer's speech about how "this camera cost $400 when we bought it. It's fragile and not a toy."

Okay, today that camera would fetch about $5 on eBay. But still. She gets it. She's responsible with it. And she's found features I never used during the three years it was my sole source of scrapbook fodder.

She plans to bring it along on our trip to Mackinac Island this month. It will be just Deena and I - the picture-takers. And there will be no boys to rush us through the perfect sunset, the dilapidated barn, or the puppies on the corner.

We may wear out the brakes that week.

Here's a portrait she took of my brother and nephew. I think she has a photographer's eye. Don't you?

Remember to enter a post in our Pass the Torch contestat the Pass the Torch AWARD HUB. You have until Sunday to enter - please tell your readers about it! If you want the sticker below for your announcement post, please email me and I'll send you the code.

Technorati Tag: Pass the Torch
empowerment parenting family responsibility

Get the Pass the Torch Award Code

2006-07-31T09:09:00.000-04:00
I'll post the submissions for the Pass the Torch Award Here.

Submissions:
Mommy's Proudest Moment
Asteroid Team
Holding the Book
Celebrating Manhood
San Francisco - Here We Come
A Servant's Heart

Once we have all the entries, I'll ask readers to choose the best story, so if you'd like to display the button to direct your readers here, let me know and I'll email you the code: ptt AT empowering-youth DOT com

Thanks for linking to the contest! Lil Duck Duck Crazy Hip Blog Mamas 5 Minutes for Mom
Technorati Tag: Pass the Torch

Pass the Torch Award

2006-07-30T22:35:00.000-04:00
So - what do you think of the new design? I, personally, am thrilled. If you'll leave your comments here, I'll be happy to pass them on to Susie at Bluebird Blogs. She's a genius in my book - and a friendly one at that.

For those of you who don't recognize the airborne dock-jumper, it's my seven-year-old son. He and his sister get a lot of press on this blog.

To celebrate my new site, I'm happy to announce the Pass the Torch Award.

The general premise on Pass the Torch is: "If we believe youth are our future, we're procrastinating."

UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER!

I'd love to read your posts about hopeful, empowered, responsible young people. Whether they're four or fourteen, young people have a lot more to offer to the world than we sometimes give them credit.

You've witnessed this in kids. There are all kinds of examples out there - the 10-year-old that raises $1,000 in a Relay-for-Life, the Junior Girl Scout that assists in the Brownie Troop, or the soccer nut that helps out at tournaments. But if you'd like more simple inspiration, try a few of my archived posts:

Budding Photographer
Sneak Reading
My Son, the Human Google Search
Blue Streak, Mom and Me
Independence Day Tent-Owners

Your post should illustrate empowered, responsible, youth (ages 0-20) that demonstrate the fact the future of our world is in good hands. What makes you think they could be the leaders of tomorrow --and in some cases, today!

1. Enter by emailing me the link to your current or archived post by midnight on Sunday, August 6. ptt(at)empowering-youth(dot)com

2. Please link to this post on your blog. If you'd like a Pass the Torch "sticker" for your post, just email me at ptt(at)empowering-youth(dot)com and I'll send you the code.

3. If possible, use the Technorati Tag "Pass the Torch"

4. I'll be listing all the entries next week and asking readers to vote. So send your readers over here to support you! The selected post will receive this banner for your site.

5. Submissions will be posted at the submissions hub.

And I hope you'll all join us for Pass the Torch Tuesday!

Technorati Tag: Pass the Torch

My Son, the Human Google Search

2006-07-28T09:09:00.000-04:00

Perhaps it's his super snorkel-vision. Maybe it's because his mind isn't cluttered with insignificant drivel like what it was Mom asked him to do THREE SECONDS AGO.

I don't know where he got his gift, but the boy is a human Google Search. No matter what I've misplaced, I've learned to plug it into the search engine and he'll find it. My keys, my sunglasses, my favorite pen that grows legs and hides on me every-other day.

"I know where it is!" he proclaims, and runs off to retrieve it.

I've come to rely on this handy tool quite a lot, and it's required me to forgive him for the shoes he loses on a daily basis.

What does Google do when it can't find something? Maybe it asks Jeeves.

empowerment parenting family responsibility Google

Thirteen ways to show family support

2006-07-26T11:15:00.000-04:00
Thirteen ways to show family support (Asset #1) to your kids
1. Attend every soccer game, even though the team stinks and hasn't scored a goal in a month.
2. Take photographs at piano recitals and band concerts that last longer than your butt does.
3. Insist upon good night kisses even when they tell you they don't want them anymore.
4. Hug often and long.
5. Say "I love you" again after your seven-year-old says, "You already TOLD me that six times today, Mom."
6. Ask them how their day was - every day.
7. Shut up. Listen to them.
8. Eat dinner together.
9. Help them solve their problems - without becoming the solution.
10. Be there.
11. Include them in family decisions. Understand their points of view.
12. Accept them for who they are, even when you are certain they're aliens from another galaxy - or they're exhibiting all your own least favorite personal qualities.
13. Turn off the computer.
Please leave a comment - how do you show family support?
Related posts: Recipe for an ideal parent, Lawn Boy
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!View More Thursday Thirteen Participants or Here too!

Thursday Thirteen Developmental Assets

Our six-mile bike trip

2006-07-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

Come on, you want to play, don't you? Get your Wordless Wednesday code here.

Wordless WednesdayWisconsin biking

Wordpress and Typepad and Blogger, oh my!

2006-07-25T10:32:00.000-04:00
Problogger is sponsoring a group writing project to discuss what bloggers would do differently if they could start all over.

I've discovered many things I wish I knew six months ago, and I'd love to hear your opinions as well. I'm in the process of a redesign on Pass the Torch, so I'm looking for advice on this site, as well as your thoughts about "If I had to start my blog over again."

For my part, I wish a crystal ball had told me:
1. Hello! This is going to be a popular blog, so choose a decent title to begin with.
2. There are other options than blogger.
3. Put the products you're promoting in a different section than everything else.

Other advice:
Lil Duck Duck is glad she used wordpress and got her own domain name, but wishes she'd started categories right away. She also told me about oh-so-awesome Flooble, which creates the code for the collapsable blogroll links. Hurray!!! and thanks!
Kailani wishes she'd known there were other options than blogger when she'd started.
Stefan likes WordPress. Annalaura uses Blogger and WordPress. Jon Symon sells instructional videos to get bloggers started.

If you join the group writing project and I'll link to your post.

UPDATE - Thanks for listing me as one of your top entries:
52 Reviews, Mindglob, Kristonia Ink, Peter T. Davis, Blogging Blog

Stretching the "Role-Model Muscles"

2006-07-24T10:04:00.000-04:00
Summer is a great time for older youth to stretch their role-model muscles. I've promised to introduce you to some of the Developmental Assets, so here is one: Positive Peer Influence.

Search Institute's definition of Positive Peer Influence is "Young person's best friends model responsible behavior," but for younger children, the responsible behavior can be modeled by cousins, siblings and play dates. I find that my kids love to step up when their cousins come to visit. The past two weekends have been a flurry of family gatherings and we don't even need to ask for Curt to show Danny how to fish, or for Deena to play with Hayley in the sand -- they just do it.

In this process, the level of everyone's behavior improves. The younger kids know what is expected. And the older kids have a job -- a fact that always seems to bring out the best in them.

I just read a great post at Midnight Writings. She offers a list of simple, cheap and awesome things to do with your kids this summer. It's an asset-rich list.

Please leave a comment! And if you have a positive peer influence-related post (current or past), please leave the permalink in comments and I'll add you here.

empowerment developmental assets role model responsibility

Travel Carnival of Bloggers

2006-07-21T22:08:00.000-04:00
I contributed to the Travel Carnival and the posts are up at Trip Hub. Please check them out! There are great anecdotes and valuable information from the participating bloggers.

I especially like Chookooloonks post. I SO want to go to Trinidad!!

Asset-Rich Youth

2006-07-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

This week I facilitated a developmental asset training for a "Student to Student" peer helping group in New Richmond, Wisconsin. If you're unfamiliar with the 40 Assets, Search Institute identified 40 qualities that help youth grow up happy, healthy and resilient. These assets help us to look at what's right about youth, rather than what's wrong with them. I'll introduce individual assets periodically in future posts, but the eight categories are:

Support, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations, Constructive Use of Time, Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies, Positive Identity

The New Richmond STS-ers are already quite well-versed on the assets -- they even teach the assets to freshman students during homerooms -- but the refresher is good, even for veterans. We discussed risky-behaviors and which assets might help youth to stay away from them, we played the Hidden Treasure of Assets boardgame, and they organized the freshman activities they'd facilitate throughout the year.

But for me, the best part of these trainings is the charge I get every time I witness the unending stream of creative, positive leadership. And it's coming from teenagers.

It's the kind of thing that gives you hope for the world.

empowerment developmental assets peer helping responsibility

Thirteen Reasons We LOVE Grandma's Visits

2006-07-19T23:37:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Reasons We LOVE Grandma's Visits
1. She brings a carload of food, when my frig inventory consists of ketchup and expired cottage cheese.
2. She teaches the kids to make deviled eggs and potato salad and strawberry shortcake.
3. She gets them to peel potatoes and taste vinegar (hehehehe).
4. She brings an ICE CREAM MAKER and does the deed.
5. She completely entertains Curt and Deena while I run errands by myself!
6. My errands last for at least two hours.
7. She brings goodies galore, so we're always wondering what's in the next bag.
8. She hobbles all the way down to the lakeshore so we can all enjoy a boat ride.
9. She doesn't tell us to slow down when hubby guns the motor and starts whipping the kids in the tube.
10. She insists on a hello hug and a good-bye hug, even if they both happen on the good-bye.
11. She makes the kids happy and amiable for a WHOLE DAY.
12. She gives my dog desperately-needed attention.
13. And she comes back.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Please leave comments! I want to hear from you!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen berry picking mosquitoes mosquitoes

Who needs a swimsuit anyway?

2006-07-18T20:43:00.000-04:00

To give you perspective, here's the rear view of a similar jump:

Do you have a Wordless Wednesday post? Leave your link in my comments and I'll add you here: Lil' Duck Duck Yellow Rose's Garden Celebrating Life and Family
How they Remind Me Wordless Wednesday Wisconsin summer kids

Kidpower

2006-07-18T09:16:00.000-04:00
This past weekend my kids invited friends over. It was very hot and humid, so we spent a lot of time in the water. I mentioned last week that our boat is iffy on the restart -- we're waiting for a part to arrive, which will hopefully remedy the situation. But who can leave a speedboat on shore when the tube is just begging to be ridden by four squirrely kids?

We tubed. And we stopped to switch riders. And we got stranded in the middle of the lake.

Big surprise.

So the kids all jumped in and started pushing the boat under "kidpower." They even passed about 4 houses (still 20 to go) before they climbed back in so we could try the tempermental motor again. They were relieved to hear it start. Our kidpower was running out.

empowerment parenting family responsibility

Wiener Whiner

2006-07-15T23:25:00.000-04:00
When I saw the "Wienermobile" at our village fair, I asked the kids if they wanted to sing the jingle. Most of us grew up hearing the Oscar Mayer wiener song, but I guess the next generation hasn't. Here is my seven-year-old son doing his very best to read the song lyrics while singing the jingle. Be sure to turn up your sound!

CLICK HERE FOR WIENER WHINER

For his efforts, Mom splurged on carnival rides - just as soon as she composed her giggling.

Oscar Mayer wiener jingle

Clothes Bake

2006-07-14T14:33:00.000-04:00

It's ninety degrees out and we don't have an air conditioner. So I am NOT going to use the dryer. But there's that nagging dirty clothes problem. Our solution? An old-fashioned "clothes bake" on the deck. The kids wisely moved our underwear to a more discreet location.

Seems to work swimmingly, but I suppose we could invest in a clothesline.

Naaaa.

heat summer laundry

Thirteen Things about Berry Picking

2006-07-13T09:44:00.000-04:00

The berries are ripe in Wisconsin!! I've been taking my kids berry picking for the past several July's, so I have a unique take on the activity.

Thirteen things about berry picking with kids:
1. The sweetest berries are really red.
2. Or really black.
3. Don't bother with a bucket.
4. The prepared picker douses the kids with mosquito repellent first.
5. The unprepared picker leashes her child so that the mosquitoes don't fly away with him.
6. If you're out for a walk and see the bike, but no kid, check in the bushes.
7. Watch for weeds that itch, sting or swallow your children.
8. Wash well after picking, just in case you didn't notice the three-leafed demon that brushed against all your legs.
9. Long sleeves and long pants are helpful, though they might be unrealistic on 90-degree days.
10. Berries are only ripe on 90-degree days.
11. In the off chance that you return home with some of the sweet morsels, they can be added to almost anything to make it more palatable.
12. Raspberry artichokes may or may not be palatable.
13. When you think they're all picked out -- but your kids are still shoving them in by the handful -- squat. You'll get a whole new perspective.

The best berries are UNDER the leaves.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
TNChick Pink Chihuahua Princess Incoherent-ish Lil Duck Duck
Exceedingly Mundane

Thursday Thirteen berry picking mosquitoes mosquitoes

Mom's New Toy

2006-07-12T08:22:00.000-04:00
Mad Scientist Matt tagged me in the AW Chain, with a post about the need for balance when driving racing cars, and how that sense of balance is missing in racing video games. From reading his blog, Matt sounds like a genius with anything related to engines. I think he would be a great help to our family, since we are having multiple technical problems.

For instance, it is the best boating month of the year (maybe century?) and our Jetski is sitting in the mechanic's yard awaiting a new motor. Of course, sense of balance is important with personal water craft as well -- something apparently I don't have. Our other boat isn't much healthier. It seems to leave us stranded in the middle of the lake half the time we take it out.

And we're pretty low-tech in the video arena as well. Curt loves digital games, but he left his Gameboy in Georgia this spring. Our TV doesn't work either. We're too busy to re-install the ugly antenna, and too cheap to pay for a dish.

But the most frustrating technical glitch happened a couple months ago, when an editor wanted my photo of Deena driving a skipjack for the cover of a magazine. She asked for the largest version of the photo, which I promptly sent. But her designer said my 3-megapixel Sony's photos would only decently enlarge to a 4x6. UGH!

So I splurged on a Canon Digital Rebel XT. Its high-definition 8-megapixels eat my Sony for a midnight snack.

Mom has a new toy.

The Road Less Traveled is next in the AW Chain. I can't wait to read it!

Here's the entire chain. If you have some time, please read through and comment!
Forbidden Snowflake

Fireflies in the Cloud

Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

Pass the Torch
The Road Less Traveled

Jennifer Sando

Peregrinas

Flying Shoes

Southern Expressions

Organized Chaos

Kappa no He

Tiffany's Smorgasbord

Even in a Little Thing

Liv's Life

Everything Indian

awchain photography family boat

Recipe for the Ideal Parent

2006-07-11T11:49:00.000-04:00
Jennifer tagged me after writing a recipe for “the ideal bloke.” It’s quite good! Now it’s my turn to do so, but I’ve modified the game a bit.

If I had the task of creating the ideal parent, these would be eight essential ingredients:

1. The patience of a calico waiting for a chipmunk to emerge from its hole.
2. Endless, undivided attention, even while the lasagna burns and the phone rings.
3. The fortitude to let the phone ring.
4. The desire to race your kids off the end of the dock, so you’re not the rotten egg.
5. Cool-headed diplomacy and consistency in the roles of referee, coach and cheerleader.
6. The willingness to teach knitting to a nine-year-old and learn fishing from a seven-year-old.
7. The stamina to listen to ridiculous stories one-after-the-other, until you think your head might explode.
8. A forgiving nature that pardons yourself for only accomplishing one of the previous qualities per day.

Now I’m tagging Lil Duck Duck, My Life in the Kidzoo, Midnight Writings, and Peregrinas. They may write about the ideal bloke, or the ideal parent. Go find out!

meme parenting family patience

The Fruits of Empowerment

2006-07-10T11:22:00.000-04:00
Sometimes I think our days of household peace and harmony have disappeared entirely.

Gone are the sweet siblings that played Barbies and Matchbox cars together, taking turns for hours, and existing in the same 12x12 room.

And the racket has kept pace with their growing bodies. How did my kids get so loud? Other parents of children who have experience this stage assure me that noise increases very naturally with the size of their mouths. I guess my ears need to adjust.

I grew up as an only child (translation -- "quiet house"). So while while the Annoyer and the Boss go at it, I may as well drag a squeaking shopping cart across a chalkboard while a pomeranian yips in my ear.

I try not to get between them or "solve" their problems, choosing instead to give them a few tools and force them to work it out together (um, somewhere else?) But I still get the nagging feeling that I'm messing up somehow, and not doing my job as a parent.

Until I see just a glimpse of diplomacy.

After enduring a morning-long grump-fest because one wanted to do a "show" with the neighbor kids and the other didn't, I looked into the neighbor's front yard and witnessed the fruits of empowerment. The four were playing catch. Apparently, the deal was that the boys would do the show, if the girls would play ball first.

The show was excellent.

Thinks by Me has some thoughts on keeping summertime harmony. Check her out.

empowerment parenting family responsibility

Dooce's Leta is growing up

2006-07-09T12:24:00.000-04:00
I admit I indulge in a little Dooce once in a while and Friday's post squished my heart. She talks about her two-year-old daughter walking off to join neighborhood friends on her own for the first time. This empowering moment has even more significance than usual, because as a baby, they weren't sure Leta's legs would work properly.

"A couple weeks ago you and I were standing outside talking to the neighbors during that enchanted part of the day when the sun is setting and kids are running around trying to pack in as much of life as they can before they are forced to go to bed. Every kid on the block was outside chasing one another, laughing, and swinging from the trees. You stood close to me, your arms wrapped around my leg, and watched the surrounding excitement as if it were a traveling circus. Suddenly a neighbor’s sprinklers went off and that circus converged like a black hole onto that wet yard. You gasped, let go of my leg, and waddled off with the others to feel the spray on your arms and face. The ten seconds that it took you to walk over and play in the water just about knocked me over with their significance: you were walking on your own to be with other children."

The whole post is darling, and hilarious, though sprinkled with mild profanity (this time).

Sweet Leta's growing up.

empowerment parenting Dooce family empowerment responsibility

Budding Nutritionist

2006-07-07T09:56:00.000-04:00
A few nights ago we had spaghetti for dinner. My kids love noodles, but aren't big fans of the sauce. I told Curt he needed to put some meat sauce on his plate because protein is important.

Then he promptly picked up the parmesan cheese shaker and read the nutrition label to me.

"I can get 2 grams right here."

Darn kids. It would be a lot easier if they didn't know so much.

If you just want a great giggle today, download the laughing baby at Rocks in My Drier.

empowerment responsibility

AW Chains

2006-07-06T10:00:00.000-04:00
AW Chain #4

Peregrinas

Pass the Torch

The Road Less Travelled

Fireflies in the Cloud

Even in a Little Thing

The Secret Government Eggo Project

Curiouser and Curiouser

At Home, Writing

Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

I, Misanthrope - The Dairy of a Dyslexic Writer

Beyond the Great Chimney Production Log

Flying Shoes

Everything Indian

The Hal Spacejock Series

Organized Chaos

Of Chapters and Reels

Just a Small town girl

Midnight Muse

Kappa no He