Tonight really was a fabulous evening -- maybe because I haven't really seen Rachel in the last two days, and Drew is in Seattle so it's just Mommy and Rachel -- or because she was in a great mood.
On the way home from school Rachel reminded me of the time a woman ran into Daddy's car. "It was on Halloween," she said. Which is true, and I was absolutely astonished at her memory. Then we talked about how it's terrible to run red lights, that you could hurt someone, and get a ticket. I told her that Daddy would be very upset if I ran a red light and hurt someone.
"He'd be very upset," she agreed. "He'd put you in your room."
***
I was pulling out of the gas station when Rachel said, "When I grow up, I'll call you Lisa."
"No you won't," I said sternly. "You can't ever call me by my first name, even when you grow up."
"Why?"
"Because it's not respectful," I said.
"My children won't either," she said.
"Right," I answered. "Your children won't call you by your first name because I'll tell them they have to respect their mommy."
"Even after you're dead?" Rachel said.
"Yes," I replied. "Rachel, why are you so obsessed with death?"
Pause.
"What does death mean?" she asked.
***
When Rachel has asked me to tell her a story the past few weeks, it has usually been about her friend Tessa who has a birthday in the winter. So I made up a dramatic tale about it snowing on Tessa's birthday but everyone coming to her house anyway and playing in the snow and drinking hot chocolate next to a big fire.
Tonight Rachel said:
"Mommy, tell me a story about my birthday. But not with any scary parts. No storms, no snow...."
I cracked up.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Vegetable dilemma solved (at least for now)
I should have titled this post, "We are Idiots." Because, We, who should have known better, have been willingly giving Rachel a snack on the way home. It's always granola, so it's always nutritious, but OF COURSE SHE'S NOT HUNGRY FOR DINNER BECAUSE HER LITTLE TUMMY IS ALREADY FULL OF SO-CALLED NUTRITIOUS FOOD WHEN REALLY ALL SHE'S EATEN IS A SUGARY TREAT MASQUERADING AS SOMETHING GOOD FOR HER!
Now that I've finished flagellating myself..
Drew refused to provide Rachel with
a snack on Tuesday and Wednesday night, but he offered her carrots on the way home from school. She held on to them but refused to eat them. When she got home she was starving so she ate a good dinner both nights -- pasta, challah, string cheese and CARROTS. Drew bought a bag of pre-peeled baby carrots and sliced them up; for some reason it's easier for her to handle if she has just a couple of pieces on her plate -- and she ate them! Not exactly willingly, and Drew had to get on her case to follow through, but she did eat one carrot on Wednesday and one carrot on Thursday. He praised her lavishly.
"Mommy will be SO PROUD of me!" Rachel told him. And as soon as she told me Wednesday morning, I said, "I am SO PROUD of you!"
"How proud are you?" she said.
"THIS much!" I said, holding my hands out wide.
Tonight she said, "If I ate four carrots, how proud would you be?"
"I'd be so proud, my arms wouldn't even stretch that far," I answered.
"You'd fall down and bonk your head!" she exclaimed. "And then I'd give you an icee."
Tonight I admittedly pushed my luck a bit -- I cut up more than one carrot and put a whole pile of slices on a small plate. She looked dismayed and said, face quivering, "but when DADDY gives me a carrot, he just gives me one." So I made a big deal of sweeping about half the slices into my salad, acting like I was doing her a tremendous favor, and told her to eat the rest (which was still quite a sizable pile). She ate almost all of them, but when she said she couldn't eat any more, I gave her a break. I had made her hold off on the challah until she finished the carrots, and she didn't ask for dessert, so I just gave her a piece of challah and called it good.
"You know," I told Drew when he returned, calmed down, from the gym the other night, "this is just the first of many battles we'll have with her."
"I know," he replied. "That's why I want to let her know early that she won't always get her way."
Now that I've finished flagellating myself..
Drew refused to provide Rachel with
a snack on Tuesday and Wednesday night, but he offered her carrots on the way home from school. She held on to them but refused to eat them. When she got home she was starving so she ate a good dinner both nights -- pasta, challah, string cheese and CARROTS. Drew bought a bag of pre-peeled baby carrots and sliced them up; for some reason it's easier for her to handle if she has just a couple of pieces on her plate -- and she ate them! Not exactly willingly, and Drew had to get on her case to follow through, but she did eat one carrot on Wednesday and one carrot on Thursday. He praised her lavishly.
"Mommy will be SO PROUD of me!" Rachel told him. And as soon as she told me Wednesday morning, I said, "I am SO PROUD of you!"
"How proud are you?" she said.
"THIS much!" I said, holding my hands out wide.
Tonight she said, "If I ate four carrots, how proud would you be?"
"I'd be so proud, my arms wouldn't even stretch that far," I answered.
"You'd fall down and bonk your head!" she exclaimed. "And then I'd give you an icee."
Tonight I admittedly pushed my luck a bit -- I cut up more than one carrot and put a whole pile of slices on a small plate. She looked dismayed and said, face quivering, "but when DADDY gives me a carrot, he just gives me one." So I made a big deal of sweeping about half the slices into my salad, acting like I was doing her a tremendous favor, and told her to eat the rest (which was still quite a sizable pile). She ate almost all of them, but when she said she couldn't eat any more, I gave her a break. I had made her hold off on the challah until she finished the carrots, and she didn't ask for dessert, so I just gave her a piece of challah and called it good.
"You know," I told Drew when he returned, calmed down, from the gym the other night, "this is just the first of many battles we'll have with her."
"I know," he replied. "That's why I want to let her know early that she won't always get her way."
Monday, January 23, 2012
Spectacularly crappy evening
I had a rough day at work and looked forward to swimming tonight, except I got stuck in a stupid, senseless traffic jam right near the exit to our street and ended up getting at the gym too late for free swim. Also, I lost an earring (but found it later). Also am behind on the magazine I edit because of a work situation that occupied all my time today.
So I was in a crummy mood when I got home but kept my temper under control enough to appreciate Rachel singing, "Hi, Mommy!" in that cheerful voice of hers, and "thank you for making this soup, Mommy!" and quietly answered Drew's questions about my day. Both of us kept trying to get Rachel to eat more soup and meat (I had made beef barley soup with short ribs, one of our winter favorites and one that Rachel usually eats) but she whined and crawled under the table and cried about not wanting to eat dinner.
And then out of nowhere, it seemed, Drew got totally frustrated at Rachel refusing to eat vegetables. We have been after her to try some, using all the tired old parenting tactics -- You Won't Grow Big and Strong If You Don't Eat Your Vegetables (she doesn't believe us and, frankly, the evidence is in her favor because she's growing like a weed), You Can't Have Any Dessert If You Don't Eat Your Vegetables (she doesn't care) and All Your Friends Eat Their Vegetables, So You Should, Too (ditto).
So Drew announced that henceforth she wouldn't get a snack on the way home from preschool (she usually munches on granola because she's starving by the time we pick her up). And that she'd have to start eating vegetables. I tried to feed her some cucumbers and carrots from the soup, and she started gagging, and Drew got so upset that he swept her up in his arms and ordered her to stay in her room.
She sobbed for a while and then came out and said, snurfling (she has a bad cold), "I'm reading to eat my vegetables." More gagging on cucumbers and carrots, which made Drew even more angry. I told her quietly that she couldn't do this anymore, that she had to start eating her vegetables. I took her on my lap and she cried, "I'll tell my children that too," which almost made me laugh but I was careful to stay very serious.
She asked me to put her to sleep, even after I asked if she really wanted me to or if she was just mad at Daddy. "Daddy ALWAYS puts me to sleep," she said sadly, so I took her to her room and we rocked for a while in the glider, me encouraging her to take deep breaths to calm her crying. "Why are you crying?" I asked. "Because I'm afraid you won't love me!" she said, and I had to reassure her AGAIN that that's not true -- I'll always love her but she needs to listen to what Mommy and Daddy say.
I read her one book, we went quietly into the bathroom to wash and brush, then she put on a pair of pajamas and asked me to cuddle with her in bed. I told her that I had to go back into the kitchen to finish dinner. She was sad but seemed to understand.
When I got back into the kitchen Drew had already cleaned up and was ready to head to the gym. "I am TIRED of fighting over food," he said angrily. I can't blame him, really -- I didn't realize it had built up into such frustration. Have I been lax as a parent by not insisting that Rachel eat vegetables? One of the things I decided long ago was never to fight my kid over food; we live in America and I don't allow her to eat junk, so she won't starve. I figured that she'd come around to the idea of eating vegetables soon enough and that she'd get what she needed from other good food. Or will it take putting out a plate of carrots and cucumbers and peas, night after night after bloody night, and not offering her anything she loves, like challah or chicken or pasta, before she gets the message that we won't tolerate her not eating vegetables? And then grows up to hate them as a result?
To much to think of right now. I'm hoping, for her sake, that she listens to Drew when he serves her vegetables tomorrow night while I'm in class.
So I was in a crummy mood when I got home but kept my temper under control enough to appreciate Rachel singing, "Hi, Mommy!" in that cheerful voice of hers, and "thank you for making this soup, Mommy!" and quietly answered Drew's questions about my day. Both of us kept trying to get Rachel to eat more soup and meat (I had made beef barley soup with short ribs, one of our winter favorites and one that Rachel usually eats) but she whined and crawled under the table and cried about not wanting to eat dinner.
And then out of nowhere, it seemed, Drew got totally frustrated at Rachel refusing to eat vegetables. We have been after her to try some, using all the tired old parenting tactics -- You Won't Grow Big and Strong If You Don't Eat Your Vegetables (she doesn't believe us and, frankly, the evidence is in her favor because she's growing like a weed), You Can't Have Any Dessert If You Don't Eat Your Vegetables (she doesn't care) and All Your Friends Eat Their Vegetables, So You Should, Too (ditto).
So Drew announced that henceforth she wouldn't get a snack on the way home from preschool (she usually munches on granola because she's starving by the time we pick her up). And that she'd have to start eating vegetables. I tried to feed her some cucumbers and carrots from the soup, and she started gagging, and Drew got so upset that he swept her up in his arms and ordered her to stay in her room.
She sobbed for a while and then came out and said, snurfling (she has a bad cold), "I'm reading to eat my vegetables." More gagging on cucumbers and carrots, which made Drew even more angry. I told her quietly that she couldn't do this anymore, that she had to start eating her vegetables. I took her on my lap and she cried, "I'll tell my children that too," which almost made me laugh but I was careful to stay very serious.
She asked me to put her to sleep, even after I asked if she really wanted me to or if she was just mad at Daddy. "Daddy ALWAYS puts me to sleep," she said sadly, so I took her to her room and we rocked for a while in the glider, me encouraging her to take deep breaths to calm her crying. "Why are you crying?" I asked. "Because I'm afraid you won't love me!" she said, and I had to reassure her AGAIN that that's not true -- I'll always love her but she needs to listen to what Mommy and Daddy say.
I read her one book, we went quietly into the bathroom to wash and brush, then she put on a pair of pajamas and asked me to cuddle with her in bed. I told her that I had to go back into the kitchen to finish dinner. She was sad but seemed to understand.
When I got back into the kitchen Drew had already cleaned up and was ready to head to the gym. "I am TIRED of fighting over food," he said angrily. I can't blame him, really -- I didn't realize it had built up into such frustration. Have I been lax as a parent by not insisting that Rachel eat vegetables? One of the things I decided long ago was never to fight my kid over food; we live in America and I don't allow her to eat junk, so she won't starve. I figured that she'd come around to the idea of eating vegetables soon enough and that she'd get what she needed from other good food. Or will it take putting out a plate of carrots and cucumbers and peas, night after night after bloody night, and not offering her anything she loves, like challah or chicken or pasta, before she gets the message that we won't tolerate her not eating vegetables? And then grows up to hate them as a result?
To much to think of right now. I'm hoping, for her sake, that she listens to Drew when he serves her vegetables tomorrow night while I'm in class.
Rachel's obsession with death
..I was told today that 3- and 4-year-olds are fascinated with the concept of death, which is why I was more amused than concerned when Rachel said this to me this morning after I told her I planned to swim today:
"Maybe if you don't die in the middle of when I'm grown up and I have my own children, we could swim together in the same lane!"
I was so startled that I could only manage to sputter, "Capital idea, Rachel!"
A dear friend of mine, Deni, who has two grandsons, told me when her daughter was little, she told Deni that she really liked one of Deni's sweaters and wanted to know if she could have it when her mom died. And I told Deni she made me smile for the first time today.
"Maybe if you don't die in the middle of when I'm grown up and I have my own children, we could swim together in the same lane!"
I was so startled that I could only manage to sputter, "Capital idea, Rachel!"
A dear friend of mine, Deni, who has two grandsons, told me when her daughter was little, she told Deni that she really liked one of Deni's sweaters and wanted to know if she could have it when her mom died. And I told Deni she made me smile for the first time today.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Chavurah fun!
Today was our monthly meeting of the chavurah, the small group of families within Congregation Beth Israel who have kids around Rachel's age (I use that demarcation loosely -- the youngest kid is 5). I was feeling groggy and tired from taking NyQuil the night before and almost didn't go, but decided at the last minute to.
Rachel, of course, had a great time as soon as she found a 9 1/2 year old girl named Eva (the daughter of the hosts, who have two older boys) who very thoughtfully took Rachel under her wing and showed her all her stuffed animals. They were hanging out in her room when I peeked in after I'd helped myself to brunch food (I hadn't eaten breakfast) and they looked so cozy together! Both Drew and I thanked Eva profusely for keeping Rachel company, and we thanked her parents, too. "It can't be fun for Eva to hang out with a 3 1/2 year old," I said to Shelley, Eva's mom, who replied that Eva was probably glad she had a little girl to play with since most of the other parents in the chavurah all have boys.
"Can you come to OUR house?" Rachel asked Eva as we were leaving. "You can stay for three days!"
***
I was so tired when we got home that I tried to nap while Rachel napped. Unfortunately hers didn't last long, and I tried to persuade her to nap with me on the futon upstairs in the attic. She cuddled a little bit, then said, "Mommy, I'm going to bring you one of my stuffed animals for you to cuddle with." She trotted downstairs and returned with a puppy, which I actually did cuddle with until Rachel woke me up by asking me if I wanted some stamps on my hand. "Rachel, I'm trying to SLEEP," I said crossly, which I instantly regretted.
Then Drew came home from grocery shopping and I did some work on a freelance story and came downstairs when Rachel was in the bath. She asked for me to put her to sleep, but I had to tell her a Hello Kitty story. I made up a tale about Hello Kitty being worried that no one would come to her birthday party because her birthday was in the winter and there was snow on the ground and so the other friends wouldn't be able to drive to an indoor playground -- but then she woke up to the smell of chocolate cake and found that her mommy had rescheduled the party so everyone came to Hello Kitty's house and Hello Kitty got lots of presents, and they all went out and played in the snow, and then they all came inside and had hot chocolate and popcorn next to a big fire. And cake. And it was the best birthday party EVER.
"I'm worried it's going to SNOW on my birthday," Rachel fretted.
"Rachel, I promise you it won't snow," I said.
"But sometimes it snows in July," she said.
"Rachel, you are a very smart and clever girl," I said. "But you're wrong on this one. I promise it won't snow."
Then she started fretting that Halloween was really far away, and then she told me she wants to be a unicorn, with a pink mane of hair and a rainbow outfit. (I really hope that by October she has changed her mind to be a nice, easy-to-put-together princess. Or some kind of animal). Also: For her birthday she wants a rainbow cake with chocolate icing and pink and purple frosting.
"Frosting is the same as icing," I said. "So, you have to choose one or the other."
"Chocolate on the side and pink and purple on top," she said.
"Okay," I answered. "I'll have to work on the rainbow part, though."
"You can buy rainbow things," she explained. "Like rainbow-colored sugar!"
Like I said, I'll have to work on it.
Rachel, of course, had a great time as soon as she found a 9 1/2 year old girl named Eva (the daughter of the hosts, who have two older boys) who very thoughtfully took Rachel under her wing and showed her all her stuffed animals. They were hanging out in her room when I peeked in after I'd helped myself to brunch food (I hadn't eaten breakfast) and they looked so cozy together! Both Drew and I thanked Eva profusely for keeping Rachel company, and we thanked her parents, too. "It can't be fun for Eva to hang out with a 3 1/2 year old," I said to Shelley, Eva's mom, who replied that Eva was probably glad she had a little girl to play with since most of the other parents in the chavurah all have boys.
"Can you come to OUR house?" Rachel asked Eva as we were leaving. "You can stay for three days!"
***
I was so tired when we got home that I tried to nap while Rachel napped. Unfortunately hers didn't last long, and I tried to persuade her to nap with me on the futon upstairs in the attic. She cuddled a little bit, then said, "Mommy, I'm going to bring you one of my stuffed animals for you to cuddle with." She trotted downstairs and returned with a puppy, which I actually did cuddle with until Rachel woke me up by asking me if I wanted some stamps on my hand. "Rachel, I'm trying to SLEEP," I said crossly, which I instantly regretted.
Then Drew came home from grocery shopping and I did some work on a freelance story and came downstairs when Rachel was in the bath. She asked for me to put her to sleep, but I had to tell her a Hello Kitty story. I made up a tale about Hello Kitty being worried that no one would come to her birthday party because her birthday was in the winter and there was snow on the ground and so the other friends wouldn't be able to drive to an indoor playground -- but then she woke up to the smell of chocolate cake and found that her mommy had rescheduled the party so everyone came to Hello Kitty's house and Hello Kitty got lots of presents, and they all went out and played in the snow, and then they all came inside and had hot chocolate and popcorn next to a big fire. And cake. And it was the best birthday party EVER.
"I'm worried it's going to SNOW on my birthday," Rachel fretted.
"Rachel, I promise you it won't snow," I said.
"But sometimes it snows in July," she said.
"Rachel, you are a very smart and clever girl," I said. "But you're wrong on this one. I promise it won't snow."
Then she started fretting that Halloween was really far away, and then she told me she wants to be a unicorn, with a pink mane of hair and a rainbow outfit. (I really hope that by October she has changed her mind to be a nice, easy-to-put-together princess. Or some kind of animal). Also: For her birthday she wants a rainbow cake with chocolate icing and pink and purple frosting.
"Frosting is the same as icing," I said. "So, you have to choose one or the other."
"Chocolate on the side and pink and purple on top," she said.
"Okay," I answered. "I'll have to work on the rainbow part, though."
"You can buy rainbow things," she explained. "Like rainbow-colored sugar!"
Like I said, I'll have to work on it.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Rachel takes care of Mommy
As I said in my previous post, I've been sick. So much so that I actually left a little early on Friday and got home just before 6. Drew was home the whole week because the weather in Seattle was so bad that his editor ordered him not to drive up. So he graciously agreed to rent a movie for me, and I turned it on when I got home, huddled under a blanket and took some muscle relaxants (my shoulder was killing me) and ginger ale.
Drew told Rachel on the way home from preschool that Mommy wasn't feeling well, and she suggested that what I needed was "some relaxing music," so as soon as she got home she went to her bedroom, grabbed her Madeline music box and brought it upstairs.
Then she asked if we could watch a "My Little Pony" music that Drew, bless his heart, had bought her at a closeout sale at Blockbuster Video. Not something I would have done, because I'd rather her watch good Pixar-produced stuff...but it's too late, she is now hooked. Sigh.
I really didn't want to stop my movie, but she asked so sweetly and then followed it with, "it will cheer you up," so what could I say? Drew suggested we watch a little of it while he made dinner for Rachel (I didn't feel like eating) and then I'd finish my movie. "Sure," I said.
It was worth it. The movie was indeed insipid but there is nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- like curling up on a couch with a little girl in my arms watching a move. At one point, one of the characters started saying something and then he corrected himself with, "Nah, that's the one with the girl in the woods and the seven little guys," and I laughed.
"See, Mommy?" Rachel smiled. "I told you this would cheer you up!" And she was right.
Drew told Rachel on the way home from preschool that Mommy wasn't feeling well, and she suggested that what I needed was "some relaxing music," so as soon as she got home she went to her bedroom, grabbed her Madeline music box and brought it upstairs.
Then she asked if we could watch a "My Little Pony" music that Drew, bless his heart, had bought her at a closeout sale at Blockbuster Video. Not something I would have done, because I'd rather her watch good Pixar-produced stuff...but it's too late, she is now hooked. Sigh.
I really didn't want to stop my movie, but she asked so sweetly and then followed it with, "it will cheer you up," so what could I say? Drew suggested we watch a little of it while he made dinner for Rachel (I didn't feel like eating) and then I'd finish my movie. "Sure," I said.
It was worth it. The movie was indeed insipid but there is nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- like curling up on a couch with a little girl in my arms watching a move. At one point, one of the characters started saying something and then he corrected himself with, "Nah, that's the one with the girl in the woods and the seven little guys," and I laughed.
"See, Mommy?" Rachel smiled. "I told you this would cheer you up!" And she was right.
Friendly little girl
I've been sick (again) the last two days; my voice is almost gone, I'm tired and sniffly. In other words: Auditing a class at the business school, going to chorus rehearsals every week, freelancing on the side and, oh yeah, doing my job, is running me down. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it until May or so.
So instead of doing work on my freelance story, I spent much of the morning in bed, asleep. Drew took The Little Girl around on errands, and one of the places they went was Delphina's -- my go-to place for the breakfast scones I eat on weekends.
While Drew was at the counter, Rachel noticed a woman and a man sitting together on a bench in the bakery. Drew estimated the woman looked like she was in her late 20s.
"Oh, she looks so adorable!" the woman told Drew. Whereupon Rachel asked her, in order:
"What's YOUR name? Is that your husband? What's he eating?"
She also offered to share part of her food and some juice. The woman was clearly charmed, and as she left she looked at Rachel and sighed, "I want one!"
Drew quickly replied, "She's available for short-term rental."
***
Rachel was in the car and asked Drew today:
"If I do something bad, will you still love me?
"Of course, sweetie!" he said.
"Even if I drop something?"
"Of course!"
"Even if I SPILL something?"
"Of COURSE! Anger is temporary. But I will always love you."
(Drew said he wondered if she would commence to working herself up to 'if I commit mass murder, will you still love me?' but eventually she stopped.
So instead of doing work on my freelance story, I spent much of the morning in bed, asleep. Drew took The Little Girl around on errands, and one of the places they went was Delphina's -- my go-to place for the breakfast scones I eat on weekends.
While Drew was at the counter, Rachel noticed a woman and a man sitting together on a bench in the bakery. Drew estimated the woman looked like she was in her late 20s.
"Oh, she looks so adorable!" the woman told Drew. Whereupon Rachel asked her, in order:
"What's YOUR name? Is that your husband? What's he eating?"
She also offered to share part of her food and some juice. The woman was clearly charmed, and as she left she looked at Rachel and sighed, "I want one!"
Drew quickly replied, "She's available for short-term rental."
***
Rachel was in the car and asked Drew today:
"If I do something bad, will you still love me?
"Of course, sweetie!" he said.
"Even if I drop something?"
"Of course!"
"Even if I SPILL something?"
"Of COURSE! Anger is temporary. But I will always love you."
(Drew said he wondered if she would commence to working herself up to 'if I commit mass murder, will you still love me?' but eventually she stopped.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
More cute Rachel sayings
Two nights ago, while I was auditing a marketing class at Willamette's business school, Rachel said the following things to Drew:
While he was dishing up some chicken into her chicken soup:
"Daddy, that's a lot of chicken for a little girl."
And after Drew played part of the movie "Enchanted," about a cartoon princess (played by Amy Adams) who ends up on the streets of NYC as a live woman:
"This is a little grown-up for me. But I like it."
***
Today I took Rachel to her dentist appointment. She was SUPER -- put on the Tinkerbell sunglasses that the hygenist gave her and followed directions perfectly. The hygenist was very impressed at her teeth and said Drew and I take excellent care of them.
On the way over there (it's in Gresham, a 30-minute drive), Rachel had these things to say:
"Mommy, look! A flock of birds! They're flying to Mexico, where it's warm!" (um, where does she LEARN this stuff?)
We were talking about the cold weather and snow that happened Tuesday night. The next morning, Rachel told me, "Daddy shoveled the driveway and lifted your car up and put it in the garage and then he put on ice skates and skated up the driveway."
While he was dishing up some chicken into her chicken soup:
"Daddy, that's a lot of chicken for a little girl."
And after Drew played part of the movie "Enchanted," about a cartoon princess (played by Amy Adams) who ends up on the streets of NYC as a live woman:
"This is a little grown-up for me. But I like it."
***
Today I took Rachel to her dentist appointment. She was SUPER -- put on the Tinkerbell sunglasses that the hygenist gave her and followed directions perfectly. The hygenist was very impressed at her teeth and said Drew and I take excellent care of them.
On the way over there (it's in Gresham, a 30-minute drive), Rachel had these things to say:
"Mommy, look! A flock of birds! They're flying to Mexico, where it's warm!" (um, where does she LEARN this stuff?)
We were talking about the cold weather and snow that happened Tuesday night. The next morning, Rachel told me, "Daddy shoveled the driveway and lifted your car up and put it in the garage and then he put on ice skates and skated up the driveway."
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Snow!
"LOOK, MOMMY!" Rachel said Sunday as she grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen. Sure enough, it was snowing like the dickens, just like it was this morning. I hope Rachel is as enchanted by the white stuff as we are, since it comes so infrequently.
This morning she cautioned me about driving: "Be careful driving in the snow, Mommy. Your car will stick to the snow and you won't be able to move."
So noted, sweetie.
This morning she cautioned me about driving: "Be careful driving in the snow, Mommy. Your car will stick to the snow and you won't be able to move."
So noted, sweetie.
Mommy breaks the rules
We're entering the season of cold, cold weather, so I've been nagging poor Drew to build fires for us at night. Rachel has taken up the call and echoes Mommy's requests, and we promised her all weekend that Daddy would build a fire Sunday, so after she got home from her friend Tessa's birthday party Drew lit a fire.
I made beef barley soup but it wasn't ready in time for dinner, so Drew decided to get takeout. Rachel and I were plopped by the fire; I was making entries in my checkbook and paying some credit card bills, and we were all feeling too cozy to move, so I broke my own rule and WE HAD TAKEOUT SUSHI NEXT TO THE FIRE. In the LIVING ROOM, no less. Rachel had a plate of pasta, Drew lay on his stomach eating, and I sat on the couch and placed my food on our one end table.
"This is so relaxing," Rachel said at one point. It's true, rules are made to be broken!
I made beef barley soup but it wasn't ready in time for dinner, so Drew decided to get takeout. Rachel and I were plopped by the fire; I was making entries in my checkbook and paying some credit card bills, and we were all feeling too cozy to move, so I broke my own rule and WE HAD TAKEOUT SUSHI NEXT TO THE FIRE. In the LIVING ROOM, no less. Rachel had a plate of pasta, Drew lay on his stomach eating, and I sat on the couch and placed my food on our one end table.
"This is so relaxing," Rachel said at one point. It's true, rules are made to be broken!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Rachel aces swim lessons!
Haven't spent much time with The Little Girl today; Drew took her to dance class and swim lessons and out to lunch while I worked on what hopefully will be a paying freelance story from home. I'm heading to my friend Deni's house tonight for a Moonstruck-themed women's-only party and am bringing a homemade almond poppyseed bundt cake with a light almond-flavored glaze. For any of you drooling with envy, organize a party and I will gladly bring dessert!
This was Rachel's first day back at swim class after a three-month absence and apparently she aced it! We have had limited success in the past with getting in the water with her during lessons. I signed us up while Drew was gone and sometimes she loved them and other times she was whiny when she didn't get to play with a toy she wanted or I hurried her out of the pool too soon. Drew and I were kind of dreading this round, but we are absolutely determined that she know how to swim.
Well, apparently we needn't have worried, she was great! She got right in the water with other four kids (Drew thinks the small size of the class worked in her favor) and blew bubbles (this is the kid who didn't want to put any part of her face in the water last year)! She was a little reluctant to get on a group kickboard with everyone because it sagged in the middle, but she was perfectly okay when the instructor held her back while Rachel spread her body out in the water like a starfish. Yay!
I was also very pleased to hear that after Drew bought her a little bag of chocolate goldfish crackers, Rachel made a point of sharing them with Drew; a woman who sat on the bench next to them; and her dance teacher, Allison. She got very upset when she came home and thought that the goldfish cracker she'd saved for me was gone. I told her I wasn't hungry anyway, but Drew ended up finding it and she was so pleased to be able to give a little present to Mommy!
I told Drew that as soon as I pitch this story -- probably two weekends from now -- I will accompany them to dance and swim class just to watch Rachel in action. I'll be glad to take a short break from extracurricular writing on weekends because it's a lot of work.
This was Rachel's first day back at swim class after a three-month absence and apparently she aced it! We have had limited success in the past with getting in the water with her during lessons. I signed us up while Drew was gone and sometimes she loved them and other times she was whiny when she didn't get to play with a toy she wanted or I hurried her out of the pool too soon. Drew and I were kind of dreading this round, but we are absolutely determined that she know how to swim.
Well, apparently we needn't have worried, she was great! She got right in the water with other four kids (Drew thinks the small size of the class worked in her favor) and blew bubbles (this is the kid who didn't want to put any part of her face in the water last year)! She was a little reluctant to get on a group kickboard with everyone because it sagged in the middle, but she was perfectly okay when the instructor held her back while Rachel spread her body out in the water like a starfish. Yay!
I was also very pleased to hear that after Drew bought her a little bag of chocolate goldfish crackers, Rachel made a point of sharing them with Drew; a woman who sat on the bench next to them; and her dance teacher, Allison. She got very upset when she came home and thought that the goldfish cracker she'd saved for me was gone. I told her I wasn't hungry anyway, but Drew ended up finding it and she was so pleased to be able to give a little present to Mommy!
I told Drew that as soon as I pitch this story -- probably two weekends from now -- I will accompany them to dance and swim class just to watch Rachel in action. I'll be glad to take a short break from extracurricular writing on weekends because it's a lot of work.
Friday, January 13, 2012
I've been displaced
...as the person who says the Sabbath prayer and the blessing over the bread and wine (in my case, hard cider).
Tonight Rachel announced that SHE wanted to say the prayers aloud herself. "Don't say the prayers, Mommy," she instructed me. So she said the prayer recognizably, as well as the blessing over the motzi and wine, and I was so proud of her that I bent down and kissed her on the cheek and said, "I am so PROUD of you!"
The fact that we must, at her insistence, listen to a CD of Jewish songs every night probably has something to do with it. I can't wait until she's ready for Hebrew school!
***
This morning, on the way to preschool, Rachel said: "Mommy, you're a medium-sized girl. And Daddy is very big!"
***
Rachel has suddenly gotten very clingy at bedtime.
"Stay. Stay. Stay!" she urged tonight.
"Why do you want me to stay with you?" I asked.
"Because I want someone to cuddle with me all night!" she said.
"Well, who's going to cuddle with Daddy when he gets home?" I said.
"He can sleep by himself!" she said.
"I think he wants to cuddle with Mommy," I replied.
"Grandpa can cuddle with him!" she suggested.
"Sweetie, Grandpa lives in New York!" I exclaimed.
"He can take a train underground and come to our house!" she said.
I finally convinced her that Daddy doesn't like to cuddle with boys, he likes to cuddle with girls. And besides, Grandpa probably wouldn't want to cuddle with Daddy anyway. Right, Grandpa?
Tonight Rachel announced that SHE wanted to say the prayers aloud herself. "Don't say the prayers, Mommy," she instructed me. So she said the prayer recognizably, as well as the blessing over the motzi and wine, and I was so proud of her that I bent down and kissed her on the cheek and said, "I am so PROUD of you!"
The fact that we must, at her insistence, listen to a CD of Jewish songs every night probably has something to do with it. I can't wait until she's ready for Hebrew school!
***
This morning, on the way to preschool, Rachel said: "Mommy, you're a medium-sized girl. And Daddy is very big!"
***
Rachel has suddenly gotten very clingy at bedtime.
"Stay. Stay. Stay!" she urged tonight.
"Why do you want me to stay with you?" I asked.
"Because I want someone to cuddle with me all night!" she said.
"Well, who's going to cuddle with Daddy when he gets home?" I said.
"He can sleep by himself!" she said.
"I think he wants to cuddle with Mommy," I replied.
"Grandpa can cuddle with him!" she suggested.
"Sweetie, Grandpa lives in New York!" I exclaimed.
"He can take a train underground and come to our house!" she said.
I finally convinced her that Daddy doesn't like to cuddle with boys, he likes to cuddle with girls. And besides, Grandpa probably wouldn't want to cuddle with Daddy anyway. Right, Grandpa?
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wistful Mommy and Little Girl
Nothing I am aware of precipitated the following exchange in the car on the way home from preschool tonight:
Rachel: I really wish I had a little brother or sister.
Me: You mean, a real one? (I was thinking, as opposed to a doll?)
Rachel: Yes.
Me: Why, sweetie?
Rachel (sniffling ever so slightly): Because I want to be a good big sister!
I could have said so many things, but instead I thought a minute and said, "We've tried, sweetie. I don't know if I've ever told you." She was silent and then we talked about the present we were going to buy for her little friend Tessa, whose 4th birthday party is this weekend.
***
At Fred Meyer, where we bought Tessa a Hello Kitty bingo game, Rachel suddenly started crying. "I'm worried no one's going to give me presents for MY birthday," she said.
I hugged her a couple of times and then gave her a gentle lecture on how it's good to give gifts to friends, and that just because we were buying a gift for Tessa didn't mean that Rachel wouldn't get hers eventually. In other words: Life is not a zero-sum game. I figured the zero-sum game part was too complicated to explain and besides, I'm no longer sure of it myself.
***
I ended up buying Rachel a new coloring book and a Cinderella/Beauty and the Beast story and sticker book. She was enchanted with the stickers and offered to give me five of them.
"Five!" I exclaimed. "That's a lot. I must be really special. Or, you must really like me."
"You ARE special and I DO like you," she said cheerfully. Ah, she makes me feel so good!!
Rachel: I really wish I had a little brother or sister.
Me: You mean, a real one? (I was thinking, as opposed to a doll?)
Rachel: Yes.
Me: Why, sweetie?
Rachel (sniffling ever so slightly): Because I want to be a good big sister!
I could have said so many things, but instead I thought a minute and said, "We've tried, sweetie. I don't know if I've ever told you." She was silent and then we talked about the present we were going to buy for her little friend Tessa, whose 4th birthday party is this weekend.
***
At Fred Meyer, where we bought Tessa a Hello Kitty bingo game, Rachel suddenly started crying. "I'm worried no one's going to give me presents for MY birthday," she said.
I hugged her a couple of times and then gave her a gentle lecture on how it's good to give gifts to friends, and that just because we were buying a gift for Tessa didn't mean that Rachel wouldn't get hers eventually. In other words: Life is not a zero-sum game. I figured the zero-sum game part was too complicated to explain and besides, I'm no longer sure of it myself.
***
I ended up buying Rachel a new coloring book and a Cinderella/Beauty and the Beast story and sticker book. She was enchanted with the stickers and offered to give me five of them.
"Five!" I exclaimed. "That's a lot. I must be really special. Or, you must really like me."
"You ARE special and I DO like you," she said cheerfully. Ah, she makes me feel so good!!
Guest post from Drew
OK, so we were parking on the street outside the New Seasons
on Division Street (closest one on the way home from school), and Rachel, who
was munching granola in the back seat as is her wont, asked if she could stay in
the car.
I said "No, sweetie, I'm probably going to be in the store a little
while, and it's not a good idea to leave little people all alone in the
car."
"Why?" she asked. Before I could reply she added, "Will a bad
guy take me?"
"Oh, I don't know about that, sweetie, but I wouldn't want to
take that risk."
Then, as I was unbuckling her, she got her little worried look
and she said "I'm worried that we're going to be in the store for a long, long,
long time, and somebody's going to take our car."
I laughed at the idea she thought she could, and should, guard
our car (the New Seasons being in a fairly upscale part of town). Then I said,
"Well, first thing, we're not going to be in the store *that* long. And I've
been driving for a long time and nobody's ever taken my car. And besides, if a
bad guy wanted to take our car, he could take it and take you too, because you'd
be in the back seat!"
That seemed reasonable to her, so we went in and did our
marketing without incident. On the way back, I pointed to the car and said "Oh
my goodness, look at that! Our car is *still there*!"
Rachel bent over and laughed, I guess because she knew I was
teasing her gently.
The two sides of Rachel
This is from Drew last night (I was at chorus practice):
As Drew was giving Rachel a bath, she told him she was going to wash her rubber duckies.
Drew: Do you want a few minutes to wash the duckies while I take care of some stuff?
Rachel: Yeah.
Drew, after coming back: OK, time to get out.
Rachel: I'm going to hold onto my baby duck very closely because she's wet and scared.
***
Drew asked Rachel to make up a story about Princess Rachel finding a monster. Rachel said she and bunch of her friends went out to fight a really, really big monster. Then they went back to the palace to have a really big snack. The snack was chocolate princess bananas (the chocolate chips were in the shape of princesses) with strawberry juice.
Rachel: I ate, like, a million snacks.
Drew: How come?
Rachel: Well, because I did most of the fighting.
Drew: That makes sense, I guess. You did most of the work so you should get most of the treats.
Rachel: Yeah. The other kids didn't do very much, so they only got to eat two.
As Drew was giving Rachel a bath, she told him she was going to wash her rubber duckies.
Drew: Do you want a few minutes to wash the duckies while I take care of some stuff?
Rachel: Yeah.
Drew, after coming back: OK, time to get out.
Rachel: I'm going to hold onto my baby duck very closely because she's wet and scared.
***
Drew asked Rachel to make up a story about Princess Rachel finding a monster. Rachel said she and bunch of her friends went out to fight a really, really big monster. Then they went back to the palace to have a really big snack. The snack was chocolate princess bananas (the chocolate chips were in the shape of princesses) with strawberry juice.
Rachel: I ate, like, a million snacks.
Drew: How come?
Rachel: Well, because I did most of the fighting.
Drew: That makes sense, I guess. You did most of the work so you should get most of the treats.
Rachel: Yeah. The other kids didn't do very much, so they only got to eat two.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Civic duty
Portland Public Schools is considering a boundary change in our elementary school district. The boundary change line runs right down the middle of our street, so Drew and I discussed whether we should attend a public hearing tonight. I offered to go, which I figured I'd do after I swam (but never made it because I was at work until 6).
It was a very interesting meeting. I used to cover the Portland School Board, and it was odd seeing everyone again, including Superintendent Carole Smith. She rushed up to me after the meeting to give me a hug, and I made sure to show her a picture of Rachel. She exclaimed over how cute she is, and then she thanked me and my former colleague, Kim Melton, for our coverage of PPS. "You really dug into stuff," Carole said, and she said she appreciated that both of us could devote so much time to the beat. I got the feeling that she's frustrated with the current state of the Oregonian's education team, which looks like it's down to one reporter who also has to cover state education issues. It already seems like such a long time since I've worked there.
Mom and Dad, I also finally met Dawn Menken! She testified in favor of the proposed boundary change. We had a nice chat afterward, exchanged phone numbers and we hope to have her over for dinner sometime. She immediately knew who you were, than you were friends with her parents, etc. She sends her son to a magnet arts school because she believes that Alameda Elementary, the one near our house, is a little too pressure-filled academically. She also told us that it's wealthy and not very diverse (which we knew). One parent with kids there apparently works for Intel and so the kids all have great computers in their classrooms, plus they have a lot of other extras that less-fortunate schools don't have. But it's crowded, which the boundary change will hopefully lessen.
I also chatted with Robb Cowie, the school's chief spokesman, about middle schools vs. K-8s, magnet schools, talented and gifted programs, etc. He said he's amazed Rachel is almost ready for kindergarten; he remembered when she was born (the board members sent me a card and lovely gift, which of course I had to return. I appreciated the gesture, though). I told him I can't wait until kindergarten round-up next year, when we get to hear all about the schools out there for Rachel. We are guaranteed attendance at our local school; if we want an out-of-neighborhood magnet or K-8, we have to go through the lottery.
But we likely won't do that because we found out that...ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY will be Rachel's school!!! The school board is scheduled to formally vote on it in two weeks, which is why they held a public hearing tonight. What a relief! Here's how close we came to having to go to another school: the boundary line does, indeed, run right down our street. Kids who live on the east side of the street like us go to Alameda; kids on the west side don't. That means Rachel will get a great start at one of the best elementaries in the city that hopefully wont be as crowded as this year. (And, should we ever need to sell our house, the fact that it's in the Alameda boundary means we'll get a good price). Yay!!!
***
Cute Rachel saying today:
We were talking about Halloween, and I told her it was a long way off -- October.
"China is far-er than Halloween," she said. (For some reason she has an obsession with China. David and Anne, I'm not surprised if she gets that from you!!:))
It was a very interesting meeting. I used to cover the Portland School Board, and it was odd seeing everyone again, including Superintendent Carole Smith. She rushed up to me after the meeting to give me a hug, and I made sure to show her a picture of Rachel. She exclaimed over how cute she is, and then she thanked me and my former colleague, Kim Melton, for our coverage of PPS. "You really dug into stuff," Carole said, and she said she appreciated that both of us could devote so much time to the beat. I got the feeling that she's frustrated with the current state of the Oregonian's education team, which looks like it's down to one reporter who also has to cover state education issues. It already seems like such a long time since I've worked there.
Mom and Dad, I also finally met Dawn Menken! She testified in favor of the proposed boundary change. We had a nice chat afterward, exchanged phone numbers and we hope to have her over for dinner sometime. She immediately knew who you were, than you were friends with her parents, etc. She sends her son to a magnet arts school because she believes that Alameda Elementary, the one near our house, is a little too pressure-filled academically. She also told us that it's wealthy and not very diverse (which we knew). One parent with kids there apparently works for Intel and so the kids all have great computers in their classrooms, plus they have a lot of other extras that less-fortunate schools don't have. But it's crowded, which the boundary change will hopefully lessen.
I also chatted with Robb Cowie, the school's chief spokesman, about middle schools vs. K-8s, magnet schools, talented and gifted programs, etc. He said he's amazed Rachel is almost ready for kindergarten; he remembered when she was born (the board members sent me a card and lovely gift, which of course I had to return. I appreciated the gesture, though). I told him I can't wait until kindergarten round-up next year, when we get to hear all about the schools out there for Rachel. We are guaranteed attendance at our local school; if we want an out-of-neighborhood magnet or K-8, we have to go through the lottery.
But we likely won't do that because we found out that...ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY will be Rachel's school!!! The school board is scheduled to formally vote on it in two weeks, which is why they held a public hearing tonight. What a relief! Here's how close we came to having to go to another school: the boundary line does, indeed, run right down our street. Kids who live on the east side of the street like us go to Alameda; kids on the west side don't. That means Rachel will get a great start at one of the best elementaries in the city that hopefully wont be as crowded as this year. (And, should we ever need to sell our house, the fact that it's in the Alameda boundary means we'll get a good price). Yay!!!
***
Cute Rachel saying today:
We were talking about Halloween, and I told her it was a long way off -- October.
"China is far-er than Halloween," she said. (For some reason she has an obsession with China. David and Anne, I'm not surprised if she gets that from you!!:))
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Birthday party!
Rachel went to the birthday party of her friend Noah, who is turning 5. (Actually, Noah is the son of a friend of MINE, Sarah, with whom I worked at the Oregonian). The party was held at the Southwest Community Center and it was so well done -- the kids spent an hour in the gym, and then went to the party room. The gym was outfitted with a kid's trampoline, a slide, gym mats, scooters and tricycles. Rachel went in hesitantly but then grabbed a trike and was off...without a backward glance at Mommy. Luckily some of my former colleagues from the O were there, so it was a nice chance to catch up with everyone.
In the party room Rachel made a crown, ate string cheese and apples and had a piece of cake while I mostly sat on the sidelines and watched. One of the moms is giving a party for her daughter NEXT weekend, so that's yet another social obligation for Rachel.
I couldn't help thinking throughout the party that wouldn't it be interesting and cool if all the kids stayed friends through elementary, middle and high school, and they all just kept going to each others' birthday parties, although eventually we parents will just drop them off and leave, and really eventually we won't even go or even hear about the parties; we'll find out about them after the fact. Odd to think that if we stay in Portland, we really will have put down roots here (in October we'll have lived her 15 years! How did THAT happen??)
***
Tonight my friend Julie from chorus and her husband Peter brought over some dinner -- Julie wanted to test out some chicken pot pies she plans to serve her bridge club in a few weeks. So she brought the pot pies and some brussels sprouts, and I made salad and a chocolate chip cake. (Drew did a light cleaning of the house, which really needed it. He also built a fire, which made everything quite cozy. I hope we always have a fireplace wherever we live).
"I remember you!" Rachel exclaimed as she sat next to Julie on the couch. It's true, Julie came over several times when Rachel was a baby and also when she was a toddler. Julie was a big help to me in those first few months, bringing me food and encouraging me when I felt overwhelmed. I feel as if I can never pay her back, so every time she suggests getting together, I do, even if it's inconvenient.
Both Julie and Peter exclaimed over how adorable Rachel is (they have five grandchildren ages 4 and under, so they're excellent with small kids) and Julie wasn't hurt even when Rachel said some inappropriate things about the chicken in the pot pies -- "it tastes like garbage," she murmured at one point, and I later scolded her for saying that. I hope she listens, because I cringed when it came out of her mouth. She whined and fussed about eating dinner until both Drew and I told her firmly (even when she came over to my side and pouted and tried to cuddle) that she couldn't have dessert until she finished her dinner of a sandwich and at least one piece of chicken.
"It'll kill me," she said earnestly. That's becoming a habit of hers that we are trying to break immediately.
"No, it won't," we reassured her, and made sure to point out that, in fact, eating a piece of chicken didn't kill her and that she had been silly to say something so dramatic.
In the party room Rachel made a crown, ate string cheese and apples and had a piece of cake while I mostly sat on the sidelines and watched. One of the moms is giving a party for her daughter NEXT weekend, so that's yet another social obligation for Rachel.
I couldn't help thinking throughout the party that wouldn't it be interesting and cool if all the kids stayed friends through elementary, middle and high school, and they all just kept going to each others' birthday parties, although eventually we parents will just drop them off and leave, and really eventually we won't even go or even hear about the parties; we'll find out about them after the fact. Odd to think that if we stay in Portland, we really will have put down roots here (in October we'll have lived her 15 years! How did THAT happen??)
***
Tonight my friend Julie from chorus and her husband Peter brought over some dinner -- Julie wanted to test out some chicken pot pies she plans to serve her bridge club in a few weeks. So she brought the pot pies and some brussels sprouts, and I made salad and a chocolate chip cake. (Drew did a light cleaning of the house, which really needed it. He also built a fire, which made everything quite cozy. I hope we always have a fireplace wherever we live).
"I remember you!" Rachel exclaimed as she sat next to Julie on the couch. It's true, Julie came over several times when Rachel was a baby and also when she was a toddler. Julie was a big help to me in those first few months, bringing me food and encouraging me when I felt overwhelmed. I feel as if I can never pay her back, so every time she suggests getting together, I do, even if it's inconvenient.
Both Julie and Peter exclaimed over how adorable Rachel is (they have five grandchildren ages 4 and under, so they're excellent with small kids) and Julie wasn't hurt even when Rachel said some inappropriate things about the chicken in the pot pies -- "it tastes like garbage," she murmured at one point, and I later scolded her for saying that. I hope she listens, because I cringed when it came out of her mouth. She whined and fussed about eating dinner until both Drew and I told her firmly (even when she came over to my side and pouted and tried to cuddle) that she couldn't have dessert until she finished her dinner of a sandwich and at least one piece of chicken.
"It'll kill me," she said earnestly. That's becoming a habit of hers that we are trying to break immediately.
"No, it won't," we reassured her, and made sure to point out that, in fact, eating a piece of chicken didn't kill her and that she had been silly to say something so dramatic.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Be still, Drew's beating heart...
Tonight Rachel begged me to play "baseball" while Drew was out grocery shopping. "Baseball" involves her using an inflatable milk jug that Doug and Linda bequeathed to us as part of a tub of inflatable kids-size balls that they gave us a couple of years ago (there's a picture of Rachel in the bucket of balls on her 1st birthday. She looks totally delighted to be there, naturally). Right before she began, she stunned Drew (and me) by informing him that she wants a baseball mitt for her next birthday.
"Um...OK!" Drew said delightedly.
"Do you REALLY want a mitt?" I asked. "A real one?"
"Yeah," she said firmly.
I'd love to sign her up for tee-ball. She was in the room when she heard me telling this to Drew and said, "You have to be, like, 5! Or in 2nd grade!"
Her coordination and concentration are terrific. "Keep your eye on the ball, keep your eye on the ball," I kept saying tonight as I threw gentle pitches. And all of a sudden I was back on the tennis courts near Hackensack High, with Mom telling me, "Keep your eye on the ball!" Keep your eye on the ball!" (and then gently scolding me when I'd complete a shot and then pose prettily, saying, "This isn't ballet, Lisa.").
The older Rachel grows up, the more I hear Mom's and Dad's voices as I guide Rachel through daily life. That's one thing they never tell you happens when you become a parent.
***
This morning I let Drew sleep in while Rachel and I did some coloring before breakfast. Actually, Rachel was instructing me precisely what colors to use for Cinderella's hair, dress, and bow.
"What happens if I DON'T color her hair?" I teased Rachel at one point.
"You'll DIE," she said, quick as a wink. You'd better believe I got back to coloring....
***
Rachel's version of one of the verses from "Clementine":
When she colored
She colored Barbie
And she fell upon her tummy...
She stopped there and resumed the normal words, which are pretty disturbing.
"Um...OK!" Drew said delightedly.
"Do you REALLY want a mitt?" I asked. "A real one?"
"Yeah," she said firmly.
I'd love to sign her up for tee-ball. She was in the room when she heard me telling this to Drew and said, "You have to be, like, 5! Or in 2nd grade!"
Her coordination and concentration are terrific. "Keep your eye on the ball, keep your eye on the ball," I kept saying tonight as I threw gentle pitches. And all of a sudden I was back on the tennis courts near Hackensack High, with Mom telling me, "Keep your eye on the ball!" Keep your eye on the ball!" (and then gently scolding me when I'd complete a shot and then pose prettily, saying, "This isn't ballet, Lisa.").
The older Rachel grows up, the more I hear Mom's and Dad's voices as I guide Rachel through daily life. That's one thing they never tell you happens when you become a parent.
***
This morning I let Drew sleep in while Rachel and I did some coloring before breakfast. Actually, Rachel was instructing me precisely what colors to use for Cinderella's hair, dress, and bow.
"What happens if I DON'T color her hair?" I teased Rachel at one point.
"You'll DIE," she said, quick as a wink. You'd better believe I got back to coloring....
***
Rachel's version of one of the verses from "Clementine":
When she colored
She colored Barbie
And she fell upon her tummy...
She stopped there and resumed the normal words, which are pretty disturbing.
Friday, January 6, 2012
What Rachel says when we're cuddling
Rachel likes it when I cuddle her in bed, which she asks me to do for the two nights every week that I put her to sleep when Drew's in Seattle. It's our way of decompressing from our busy days, giggling, singing, talking. I hope this stage lasts a long, long, long time.
Tonight she stroked my cheeks with her little hands, pressed the edges of my mouth together so I had a hard time talking (I protested and did the same to her, and she started cracking up) and begged me to sing (I had sung my chorus's version of "Sonny Boy" in the glider beforehand, which is the most depressing song imaginable -- it's about a mother's longing for her son, who died as a child -- but Rachel called it "nice and relaxing"), so I sang "Summertime" to her and she sang "Clementine," to me.
Then she said, unexpectedly, "The other kids hit me."
"They do?" I said. "What do you do?
"I tell them, 'don't do that,' she said.
"And...?" I said.
"They still hit me," she said. She went on to talk about one friend of hers, Devin, who hit her. So Rachel yelled back at her, and Devin said nothing. I think they're still friends.
"Hit them back," I said. Probably not the best advice, but I've told Rachel many times to go to her teacher if she's hit. I think she does, but just in case...it's never too early for her to learn to defend herself.
Keep in mind that this was an hour after she said, at dinner, "I can sip and kiss at the same time. Watch me, Mommy," and she sipped her soup and kissed the spoon at the same time.
"Do you kiss some of the kids at school?" I said. She said she did.
"Who do you kiss?" I said.
"Like, everybody," she replied.
"I bet the other kids like that," I said.
"They try not to avoid me," she replied. I asked her again, to make sure she didn't mean that they actually try to avoid her, but she repeated herself the exact same way. So...I'm guessing she has more friends who love her than she realizes...?
Tonight she stroked my cheeks with her little hands, pressed the edges of my mouth together so I had a hard time talking (I protested and did the same to her, and she started cracking up) and begged me to sing (I had sung my chorus's version of "Sonny Boy" in the glider beforehand, which is the most depressing song imaginable -- it's about a mother's longing for her son, who died as a child -- but Rachel called it "nice and relaxing"), so I sang "Summertime" to her and she sang "Clementine," to me.
Then she said, unexpectedly, "The other kids hit me."
"They do?" I said. "What do you do?
"I tell them, 'don't do that,' she said.
"And...?" I said.
"They still hit me," she said. She went on to talk about one friend of hers, Devin, who hit her. So Rachel yelled back at her, and Devin said nothing. I think they're still friends.
"Hit them back," I said. Probably not the best advice, but I've told Rachel many times to go to her teacher if she's hit. I think she does, but just in case...it's never too early for her to learn to defend herself.
Keep in mind that this was an hour after she said, at dinner, "I can sip and kiss at the same time. Watch me, Mommy," and she sipped her soup and kissed the spoon at the same time.
"Do you kiss some of the kids at school?" I said. She said she did.
"Who do you kiss?" I said.
"Like, everybody," she replied.
"I bet the other kids like that," I said.
"They try not to avoid me," she replied. I asked her again, to make sure she didn't mean that they actually try to avoid her, but she repeated herself the exact same way. So...I'm guessing she has more friends who love her than she realizes...?
Worried Rachel
Rachel has been asking us a lot lately if, when she does something naughty (and her naughtiness is still in the mild stage, mind you...) we still love her. This morning when Drew was hurrying her to school, she started sniffling and whimpered, "I'm in trouble."
"No you're not, sweetie," he tried to reassure her. "I just want to make sure we get to school on time for dance class."
Tonight (Thursday night) at dinner (Drew was in Seattle; he'll be going up Thursday/Friday from now on because I am auditing a class at Willamette's business school on Tuesday nights, plus I have chorus on Wednesday, so Thursday/Friday are the only days Drew can head North) Rachel said unexpectedly, "I love you, Mommy! I'll love you forever."
I thanked her profusely. Then when I started getting impatient with her slowness sipping her soup, she got pouty and teary and said, "Do you love me forever and ever?"
"Of course I do, sweetie!" I said.
"Even when I disappoint you?" she answered.
Astonished, I replied, "Of course! I will always love you!"
I hope it sticks.
"No you're not, sweetie," he tried to reassure her. "I just want to make sure we get to school on time for dance class."
Tonight (Thursday night) at dinner (Drew was in Seattle; he'll be going up Thursday/Friday from now on because I am auditing a class at Willamette's business school on Tuesday nights, plus I have chorus on Wednesday, so Thursday/Friday are the only days Drew can head North) Rachel said unexpectedly, "I love you, Mommy! I'll love you forever."
I thanked her profusely. Then when I started getting impatient with her slowness sipping her soup, she got pouty and teary and said, "Do you love me forever and ever?"
"Of course I do, sweetie!" I said.
"Even when I disappoint you?" she answered.
Astonished, I replied, "Of course! I will always love you!"
I hope it sticks.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Rachel reads to Mommy and Daddy
Our poor fairy-tale book that Richard gave us not even a year ago is so tattered from all the reading we've done with it; the spine is spackled together with masking tape and I need to repair some accidental rips on some pages -- but who cares if Rachel loves it so?
Tonight she kept trying to get Drew to delay finishing his salad until he did Daddy Books, but he insisted on finishing it. So, SHE decided to read with US and dragged said fairy-tale book to the kitchen nook. Then she began to read "Cinderella" word for word!
It's easy to think at times like these that she's actually reading. She's not, of course; it's just from rote memory. But it's still pretty amazing to hear her childish voice warble the words and imitate the cruel stepsisters as they mock poor Cinderella. "I could listen to this for HOURS," Drew whispered at one point. "Isn't this what we've always wanted in a daughter?"
Tonight she kept trying to get Drew to delay finishing his salad until he did Daddy Books, but he insisted on finishing it. So, SHE decided to read with US and dragged said fairy-tale book to the kitchen nook. Then she began to read "Cinderella" word for word!
It's easy to think at times like these that she's actually reading. She's not, of course; it's just from rote memory. But it's still pretty amazing to hear her childish voice warble the words and imitate the cruel stepsisters as they mock poor Cinderella. "I could listen to this for HOURS," Drew whispered at one point. "Isn't this what we've always wanted in a daughter?"
New Year's weekend in Seattle
Hi folks, quick recap of the terrific weekend we spent with Uncle David, Auntie Anne and Grandma Jean:
--Rachel was quite a trouper after we told her that she had to sleep in a room upstairs and away from Mommy and Daddy, who were in the living room on a futon. "But I'll be so lonely if you guys aren't in my room!" Rachel whined, but we stood firm. Result: She slept for two nights on a cot, in a strange room, without all her stuffed animals and dolls (she had only Elizabeth, she of the yarn hair and reflective clothing, and the stuffed kitty that, when pressed, sounds eerily like a real one) and woke up at her usual time -- 8 or so -- figured out the layout of the house enough to walk downstairs and find us on the futon in the living room. We are SO PROUD AND IMPRESSED with her travel ability -- can't wait to take her on more adventures away from home!
--We were well-fed during our time there: candy cane cookies, Uncle David's homemade lamb and pizzas, great snack food. Rachel was her usual picky self but she did eat a lot of lamb after I told her she had to if she wanted dessert. I warmed it back up and she dove right in!
--Rachel, Anne and I soaked in their hot tub on Saturday evening for what seemed like hours but was probably only 30 minutes. "This is so nice and relaxing," Rachel kept saying in that grown-up way of hers. She even got close enough to the water to blow bubbles, and the few times she accidentally swallowed some water, she didn't cry or freak out; just coughed a lot and eventually tried it again. One of these days I'm going to surprise her with a trip to the soaking pool when Drew's in Seattle and then a late dinner at the so-so restaurant attached to it.
--There's a very cool and challenging play structure at a park near Anne and David's house, and on Sunday David, Drew, Rachel and I explored it. The most forbidding part involved climbing up a rope structure to the top of a slide, then sliding down. Rachel insisted Drew climb with her the first time. The second time, Drew watched from the ground with Uncle David. The third, fourth, fifth times she insisted on doing it herself, with Mommy cheering below and watching her emerge from the steep covered slide with a big grin on her face! So proud of her spirit. Drew said it best to David: "Rachel is fearless but not reckless." So true.
--We spent yesterday (Monday) in Washington, browsing a Blockbuster video sale in Redmond and then stopping at Pike Place Public Market to pick up dinner since I am tired of cooking (I've been making dinner/dessert combinations for a solid month now). Rachel was enchanted with the bronze statue of a pig just outside the market; it's named Rachel, for some reason, and she insisted on climbing on top of it and, after posing for pictures, hopped off and kissed its snout and then its side. When I asked her what her favorite part of the weekend was, she replied, "the pig!" We got home just in time for a quick dinner, a bath and bed. I suggested that she had so much to tell about the weekend that she could talk to her stuffed animals about it. Sure enough, her last words to Drew before he left her bedroom were, "I'm going to have a big conversation with all my stuffed animals."
--Rachel was quite a trouper after we told her that she had to sleep in a room upstairs and away from Mommy and Daddy, who were in the living room on a futon. "But I'll be so lonely if you guys aren't in my room!" Rachel whined, but we stood firm. Result: She slept for two nights on a cot, in a strange room, without all her stuffed animals and dolls (she had only Elizabeth, she of the yarn hair and reflective clothing, and the stuffed kitty that, when pressed, sounds eerily like a real one) and woke up at her usual time -- 8 or so -- figured out the layout of the house enough to walk downstairs and find us on the futon in the living room. We are SO PROUD AND IMPRESSED with her travel ability -- can't wait to take her on more adventures away from home!
--We were well-fed during our time there: candy cane cookies, Uncle David's homemade lamb and pizzas, great snack food. Rachel was her usual picky self but she did eat a lot of lamb after I told her she had to if she wanted dessert. I warmed it back up and she dove right in!
--Rachel, Anne and I soaked in their hot tub on Saturday evening for what seemed like hours but was probably only 30 minutes. "This is so nice and relaxing," Rachel kept saying in that grown-up way of hers. She even got close enough to the water to blow bubbles, and the few times she accidentally swallowed some water, she didn't cry or freak out; just coughed a lot and eventually tried it again. One of these days I'm going to surprise her with a trip to the soaking pool when Drew's in Seattle and then a late dinner at the so-so restaurant attached to it.
--There's a very cool and challenging play structure at a park near Anne and David's house, and on Sunday David, Drew, Rachel and I explored it. The most forbidding part involved climbing up a rope structure to the top of a slide, then sliding down. Rachel insisted Drew climb with her the first time. The second time, Drew watched from the ground with Uncle David. The third, fourth, fifth times she insisted on doing it herself, with Mommy cheering below and watching her emerge from the steep covered slide with a big grin on her face! So proud of her spirit. Drew said it best to David: "Rachel is fearless but not reckless." So true.
--We spent yesterday (Monday) in Washington, browsing a Blockbuster video sale in Redmond and then stopping at Pike Place Public Market to pick up dinner since I am tired of cooking (I've been making dinner/dessert combinations for a solid month now). Rachel was enchanted with the bronze statue of a pig just outside the market; it's named Rachel, for some reason, and she insisted on climbing on top of it and, after posing for pictures, hopped off and kissed its snout and then its side. When I asked her what her favorite part of the weekend was, she replied, "the pig!" We got home just in time for a quick dinner, a bath and bed. I suggested that she had so much to tell about the weekend that she could talk to her stuffed animals about it. Sure enough, her last words to Drew before he left her bedroom were, "I'm going to have a big conversation with all my stuffed animals."
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