Talking about 2013 with the boys today make me start thinking about all the stuff that I accomplished during the year. The year itself has been a bit of a blur so I was actually a little surprised when I realized the highlights. In no particular order.
1) Completed my first ever athletic type competition when I did the bike portion of a sprint triathlon relay. I finished. Fast enough for my time to be recorded and I wasn't absolutely last. I would never in a million years have thought I could do that but it was a fundraising thing that was important to me and so I gave it a shot. In 2014 I am doing TWO pieces of the relay. Bike and running and now I KNOW I CAN DO IT! That is a totally awesome feeling.
2) Got IRS approval on a 501(c)(3) application for a charity that is near and dear to my heart. I had no idea what I was doing, and I was terrified that I would somehow screw things up beyond repair, but I did it!
3) Took my family to Ethiopia to visit people precious to our hearts and to just "be" in Ethiopia. Something I needed to do and nothing was going to stop me but the scope of the trip was a little scary. And priceless. Beyond words.
4) Actually crossed several things off of my homeowners to-do list. Course added a bunch more but I still call it a victory.
5) Said goodbye to my beloved host daughter and friend, Roxann. The goodbye was not a highlight because we miss her desperately just for her wonderful self, but it was a relief to know that I can actually run this house by myself given the need. We are not tidy and perfect but we did not crash and burn. And we know for sure that we will see Roxann again.
6) Started dating again which was a really big deal for me. I am not very organized about it and it's definitely much, much WEIRDER out there than it was 20 years ago, but still. Yeah me.
7) Watched my guys become even more amazing. Johnathan embraced some adventures. Big deal for for him. Atinafu learned to read and tie his shoes. And at four years old, he held my hand and did some pretty brave and powerful stuff. They each had their first trip to a beach on the Pacific Ocean and agreed that was really cool. And both of them got kicked out of my room to sleep in their own. Mostly. Another big step.
8) Bought ANOTHER car. Hopefully the last for the next decade. I figure 12 months without a car being totaled is a really good sign.
9) And more and more and more...
Overall, this was a year of change, of risk, of adventure, of growing and definitely one where I found a boatload more confidence and strength. I got a little more graceful about some stuff and a little less tolerant of other things. The loss of tolerance is probably more obvious to the general public than the increase in grace but oh well. Anyway, it wasn't all delightful but it was all worthwhile.
Here's to 2013. Bring on 2014.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Bring An Open Heart
Another FB post made me stop to reflect a bit and the result is this. Everyone who has the luxury of travel, and who is interested in an experience, should travel to Ethiopia. The reason I say this has to do with the aforementioned FB post which happened to be about the airport in Ethiopia's capital city.
Of all the airports in the world, the one that has made the best impression on me is the airport in Addis Ababa. It's not fancy but it's comfortable enough. Definitely busy. A bit chaotic inside. The parking lot is beyond insane given that it is not big to begin with and basically serves as the "arrival lounge" since you can't get into the airport building without holding a plane ticket. It's functionally clean - cleaner in many aspects than some airports in the U.S. although there probably won't be toilet paper in the bathrooms. It's reasonably efficient, especially given that it's an international airport with all that implies. I mean the amount of checked luggage being processed is a thing all unto itself. It has good last minute shopping opportunities, although at the point of departure I am usually broke. Great place for people watching. The worst I can say is that there is is one cafe where for some reason it's impossible to get your bill in a timely fashion. And yet, I've eaten there three times.
But all that aside, there is a level of courtesy that I encountered with the employees of the Addis Ababa Airport that is based on both common sense and kindness. For example:
- The visa processing agent who went along a very long line and pulled out everyone carrying a sleeping or crying child on their shoulder and expedited them at a different table.
- The porter who helped with our lost luggage and GOT.IT.DONE. Who told Atinafu in an moment of fussiness to "Sit" in polite but no uncertain terms. (And he sat, to the exhausted amazement myself and Roxann.) Who insisted on carrying 50 pound Johnathan at a moment when I was perilously near tears. He said to Johnathan "I will carry you" in that same courteous but no nonsense voice. Johnathan looked at him, looked at me, and promptly snuggled into this stranger's neck and went with it. 10 days later,as we were leaving, that same man popped out of the crowd in the parking lot to give Johnathan a hug and ask him how his trip had been.
- The janitor who, when asked where we could buy a card to load up my cell phone with minutes, promptly offered his own cell so we could call the people who were waiting for us in the parking lot.
- The wrapping service in the airport where for a small amount of money you can have that big item that you really wanted to bring home with you basically shrink wrapped quickly and expertly. No fuss/no muss.
Now I'm not stupid. With the exception of the visa agent, all of the above people made some money for providing a service. People have to make a living. Ethiopia can be a hard place to do that. And the combination of my white skin and obvious accent make me easily identifiable as an American. The chances of me being a profitable "customer" are probably better than decent. But the way that each individual provided service was so gracious and kind, that the fact that there was clearly Birr or Dollars involved seemed like an afterthought.
So that's what I have experienced in Ethiopia. As a tourist, the process of moving about from place to place, sightseeing, etc., is at a practical level all founded on the money. That is just a fact. Tourism is an industry, after all. In fact, it's my industry so I should know. But every place I have traveled in Ethiopia, I have been impressed with the fact that tourism is presented with an attitude of "Please, let me show you/let me help you". Kind people have run several blocks away to get bubbly water for my sick child. All the Amharic I know, I have learned in the back of a battered blue taxi cab. I had fun learning it and I remember it all. Many, many strangers in various restaurants and cafes have done what they can to entice my finicky children to eat. With a couple of tiny exceptions, no person I have encountered in Ethiopia has made me feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. And no one that I have met was not proud to show me their bit of Ethiopia.
That isn't to say that your attitude as a tourist doesn't makes a difference. I have seen some extremely rude tourists in Ethiopia, as in everywhere else in the world. I have seen people treat guest house hosts like servants. I've seen people be loud and demanding and entitled. I think that you reap what you sow. While touring a church complex in Axum, I was told very regretfully by the guide that there was parts of the grounds and one church building where women could not enter. Did I want to see the church? Sure. But... instead, while my father went and toured the church, I wrapped my scarf a little tighter around my head and went and sat on a boulder with a group of Axumite women who were there for a religious ceremony related to Lent. We exchanged shy smiles and head nods, shoulder shrugs indicating "gosh, it's a beautiful day", etc. We listened to the chants coming from the church. It was lovely and peaceful and a moment that had meaning to me. And then... we proceeded to watch a group of female American tourists, in shorts and tank tops no less, fuss loudly and harass their guide about the gender restriction and generally make asses of themselves. It was so embarrassing. Really, I blushed for them. From their guides frosty body language I am guessing that their tour was close to over and that if they took anything away from their experience that day, it was basically the same stuff they could have found in a guide book.
Ethiopia is a beautiful country. So much to see, so much history and culture and so many contrasting dynamics. But above all, a place where you can bring an open heart and a sincere interest and receive kindness and courtesy and true hospitality.
Friday, November 1, 2013
November 1 and Turkey Day approaches. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s all about sharing time with people we love. There are no other distractions, like presents or egg hunts. Just family and whatever friends land at our table. (Well, my dad's table. Not mine, for reasons that will soon be obvious.) November also makes me remember one very particular Thanksgiving dinner.
Way back when, I spent my junior year of University in Dijon, France, in a French language program for foreign students with lots and lots of people from all over the world. With the holiday approaching, my American compatriots and I decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner party for our friends to share our traditions. It was a great idea but the reality was slightly more complicated. We were all 19, 20, 21. Not one of us knew how to cook. This was before cell phones and internet. Reference materials were limited and there was no phoning home to mom for advice. Overall we did not clearly think this plan through before inviting a bunch of people to dinner.
Nevertheless, the menu was created & dishes assigned. I got pumpkin pies because I had made one once, from canned pumpkin pie product and frozen pie shells. There was some mixing involved, but overall it was pretty simple and I thought easy-peasy.
The following is the chain of events as I recall them.
•Go to grocery store and find frozen pie crusts but search for canned Libby’s Pumpkin Pie mix to no avail.
•Ask store employee for help but discover that I do not know the word for pumpkin and am not THAT good at charades.
•Search French/English dictionary for the word for pumpkin. Find a word that means roughly “gourd”. No dice, but one very amused employee suggests that “gourds” might be found in the weekly outdoor market.
•Stop to ponder the thought that I am in way, way, way over my head and am going to have to make the pie. As in make it from scratch. Totally from scratch.
•Deep breath. This should be interesting. (A smarter girl would have suggested a different desert at this moment.)
•Scour the market, interrogate numerous elderly market vendors. Find one green, roundish gourd thingy that has been cut in half to display orange interior.
•Sniff the gourd, decide that this is as good as it gets and make purchase along with a bunch of spices that smelled sort of right.
•Return to dorm to figure out how to reduce my gourd down to pumpkin pie filling. My tools: one knife, one bowl, one pot and a hot plate burner in the communal kitchen with one heat setting and a button that had to be pushed every 5 minutes to keep it on.
•(Let’s just skip the next four hours and say that it was not pretty.)
•Gather pie crust and resultant gourd filling. Get on the bus to the house where the pie will be cooked.
•Walk into chaos caused by the fact that, as it turns out, French turkeys are small. They are small because French ovens are small. There are two turkeys. One turkey has been squashed into the oven. It is cube shaped. The second waits to follow. Total cooking time line destroyed. My pie has been bumped.
•Gather group around the table to stare at pie components, completely nonplussed by turn of events.
•American with available oven identified on the other end of town. Two bus rides later, involving MANY stares and whispers from local commuters, the pie is in the oven.
•Struck by thought that I have no idea how long it needs to cook.
•Realize that it does not matter anyway. It has 30 minutes to cook and then it’s back on the bus to return to the party house before the guests arrive. The pie will have to finish, if need be, when the oven is free. (Those reading who know anything about food safety are now shuddering. I accept that.)
•Two pies eventually make it back into an oven and bake. And bake and bake. Or rather don’t bake. At least not into anything pumpkin pie like.
•People of various nationalities bravely scoop up pumpkin sludge and say things like “Yummy!” and “Wow!” and “May I have the recipe, please”. In French. Proving that the ability to "BS" for the sake of politeness is global.
•A fellow hostess hands me a glass of wine and says "Oh well. No one is dead and no one is bleeding. No biggie." And then hands me another glass of wine.
•Return in the morning to help clean up house. Find a table full of women eating the pumpkin pie that sat slowly cooking with the oven pilot light all night and is beautiful. And delicious.
All in all, it was a Thanksgiving adventure. I learned some things. 1) I am stubborn. 2) I am somewhat creative. Not necessarily in an efficient manner, but if it needs to be done, I can get it done. 3) Really, it's not a crisis if not one is dead and no one is bleeding. I have totally embraced that philosophy. Sometimes to the great annoyance of those around me. 4) Finally, and most important, I have great friends and people are kind.
Wishing everyone memorable adventures as we more into the holiday season.
Way back when, I spent my junior year of University in Dijon, France, in a French language program for foreign students with lots and lots of people from all over the world. With the holiday approaching, my American compatriots and I decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner party for our friends to share our traditions. It was a great idea but the reality was slightly more complicated. We were all 19, 20, 21. Not one of us knew how to cook. This was before cell phones and internet. Reference materials were limited and there was no phoning home to mom for advice. Overall we did not clearly think this plan through before inviting a bunch of people to dinner.
Nevertheless, the menu was created & dishes assigned. I got pumpkin pies because I had made one once, from canned pumpkin pie product and frozen pie shells. There was some mixing involved, but overall it was pretty simple and I thought easy-peasy.
The following is the chain of events as I recall them.
•Go to grocery store and find frozen pie crusts but search for canned Libby’s Pumpkin Pie mix to no avail.
•Ask store employee for help but discover that I do not know the word for pumpkin and am not THAT good at charades.
•Search French/English dictionary for the word for pumpkin. Find a word that means roughly “gourd”. No dice, but one very amused employee suggests that “gourds” might be found in the weekly outdoor market.
•Stop to ponder the thought that I am in way, way, way over my head and am going to have to make the pie. As in make it from scratch. Totally from scratch.
•Deep breath. This should be interesting. (A smarter girl would have suggested a different desert at this moment.)
•Scour the market, interrogate numerous elderly market vendors. Find one green, roundish gourd thingy that has been cut in half to display orange interior.
•Sniff the gourd, decide that this is as good as it gets and make purchase along with a bunch of spices that smelled sort of right.
•Return to dorm to figure out how to reduce my gourd down to pumpkin pie filling. My tools: one knife, one bowl, one pot and a hot plate burner in the communal kitchen with one heat setting and a button that had to be pushed every 5 minutes to keep it on.
•(Let’s just skip the next four hours and say that it was not pretty.)
•Gather pie crust and resultant gourd filling. Get on the bus to the house where the pie will be cooked.
•Walk into chaos caused by the fact that, as it turns out, French turkeys are small. They are small because French ovens are small. There are two turkeys. One turkey has been squashed into the oven. It is cube shaped. The second waits to follow. Total cooking time line destroyed. My pie has been bumped.
•Gather group around the table to stare at pie components, completely nonplussed by turn of events.
•American with available oven identified on the other end of town. Two bus rides later, involving MANY stares and whispers from local commuters, the pie is in the oven.
•Struck by thought that I have no idea how long it needs to cook.
•Realize that it does not matter anyway. It has 30 minutes to cook and then it’s back on the bus to return to the party house before the guests arrive. The pie will have to finish, if need be, when the oven is free. (Those reading who know anything about food safety are now shuddering. I accept that.)
•Two pies eventually make it back into an oven and bake. And bake and bake. Or rather don’t bake. At least not into anything pumpkin pie like.
•People of various nationalities bravely scoop up pumpkin sludge and say things like “Yummy!” and “Wow!” and “May I have the recipe, please”. In French. Proving that the ability to "BS" for the sake of politeness is global.
•A fellow hostess hands me a glass of wine and says "Oh well. No one is dead and no one is bleeding. No biggie." And then hands me another glass of wine.
•Return in the morning to help clean up house. Find a table full of women eating the pumpkin pie that sat slowly cooking with the oven pilot light all night and is beautiful. And delicious.
All in all, it was a Thanksgiving adventure. I learned some things. 1) I am stubborn. 2) I am somewhat creative. Not necessarily in an efficient manner, but if it needs to be done, I can get it done. 3) Really, it's not a crisis if not one is dead and no one is bleeding. I have totally embraced that philosophy. Sometimes to the great annoyance of those around me. 4) Finally, and most important, I have great friends and people are kind.
Wishing everyone memorable adventures as we more into the holiday season.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Hearts in a Tree
Tonight at dinner Johnathan told me he had something that he wanted to tell me at bedtime. Something private. I could tell from his cute little freckled face that he was bursting to tell. Now! The subsequent conversation went like this.
Mom: Hmmm... ok, you can tell me at bedtime. Whatever.
Johnathan: (Giggle) Richie* told me something today! Something you won't believe! (Giggle, giggle)
Mom: Really??? What???
Johnathan: He was at the park and they had those binoculars and he put 50 cents in and looked and he saw.... (Giggle).... I'll tell you the rest later.
Roxann poking her head in from the other room: What is this I'm hearing? Saw what?
Johnathan: I can't tell in front of Ati. It was too shocking! I'll tell mom in the other room.
We depart for the living room and Johnathan proceeds to tell me that Richie was peeking through the binoculars and saw Bobbie* and Susie* by the lake. And low and behold Bobbie KISSED Susie!!!!
Mom: What???
Johnathan: I know, right!?! Can you believe it? (Giggle, giggle, giggle)
I am returned to the dining room and Johnathan hauls Roxann of to share the juicy gossip. I hear "whisper, whisper, whisper" and then "NO! WHAT? EWWWW!!!!"
But wait, there's more. Bobbie is reportedly going to carve a heart in a tree with the lovebirds initials!
I asked Johnathan if this is giving him any ideas about kissing a girl.
His response. "What? Are you crazy??? No!"
*Names have been changed to preserve privacy. And because I don't want any calls from Bobby or Susie's mothers.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Exciting, Ultra-Glamorous, Not-To-Be-Missed 2012 Underwear Drive for AHOPE
Announcing the “Exciting, Ultra-Glamorous, Not-To-Be-Missed 2012 Underwear Drive for AHOPE!!!”
Some of you already know this, but I'm really excited to say that I will be traveling to Ethiopia in early May to participate in some development work. Part of my travel goal is to use a lot of my luggage allowance to carry over 400-600 pair of new underwear for the kids residing in the AHOPE children’s homes. AHOPE is an amazing organization providing care for children who have been orphaned, with a particular emphasis on caring for children who are HIV+, either in the AHOPE children’s homes or through outreach programs. I could go on and on all day about AHOPE and the work that they do but in the interest of time, I'll just cut to the chase.
AHOPE relies on donations in order to do their work. $$$ donations but also donations of various physical supplies, much of which gets carried over in people’s luggage. Example? Let’s see… oh yeah, underwear! Thus the previously mentioned EUGNTBM Underwear Drive of 2012. My goal is a little rough in terms of numbers because I won’t really know how much unmentionables weigh until they start piling up but I'm hoping that I will be able to present a freakin' huge number of pairs of underwear.
So there you have it; an opportunity of a lifetime to contribute to the universal human need to cover you butt. There is need for a range of sizes for children from toddler to young adults. I've asked a lot of questions, done some calculations and created my underwear spreadsheets. (Anyone who knows me, knows that much of my life involves a spreadsheet. And anyone who wishes to chuckle at my % of goal achieved calculation - feel free.) The list below represents the sizes and number of pairs of undies that are left to collect. I'll update the numbers as the undies start piling up. It looks like a lot, but undies come in multi packs so it's not a ominous as it seems. Sensible styles probably best. I.e. briefs, boxer briefs, etc. Quality that will hold up in the long term preferred. And please, no previously worn underwear, even if they are in the best condition.
If anyone wants to contribute, please send me a message. As I said, AHOPE is an amazing organization and any help with this project would be much appreciated.
Boys
Goal by Size
Boys XS-- 24
Boys S-- 38
Boys M-- 38
Boys L-- 38
Boys XL-- 64
Mens S-- 63
Mens M-- 43
Total-- 308
Original Goal 380
Percentage of Goal Achieved 17%
Girls
Goal by Size
Girls 4 -- 30
Girls 6 -- 30
Girls 8 -- 10
Girls 10-- 40
Girls 12-- 40
Girls 14-- 60
Womens Small-- 50
Womens Medium-- 50
Total -- 180
Original Goal 200
Percentage of Goal Achieved 10%
Some of you already know this, but I'm really excited to say that I will be traveling to Ethiopia in early May to participate in some development work. Part of my travel goal is to use a lot of my luggage allowance to carry over 400-600 pair of new underwear for the kids residing in the AHOPE children’s homes. AHOPE is an amazing organization providing care for children who have been orphaned, with a particular emphasis on caring for children who are HIV+, either in the AHOPE children’s homes or through outreach programs. I could go on and on all day about AHOPE and the work that they do but in the interest of time, I'll just cut to the chase.
AHOPE relies on donations in order to do their work. $$$ donations but also donations of various physical supplies, much of which gets carried over in people’s luggage. Example? Let’s see… oh yeah, underwear! Thus the previously mentioned EUGNTBM Underwear Drive of 2012. My goal is a little rough in terms of numbers because I won’t really know how much unmentionables weigh until they start piling up but I'm hoping that I will be able to present a freakin' huge number of pairs of underwear.
So there you have it; an opportunity of a lifetime to contribute to the universal human need to cover you butt. There is need for a range of sizes for children from toddler to young adults. I've asked a lot of questions, done some calculations and created my underwear spreadsheets. (Anyone who knows me, knows that much of my life involves a spreadsheet. And anyone who wishes to chuckle at my % of goal achieved calculation - feel free.) The list below represents the sizes and number of pairs of undies that are left to collect. I'll update the numbers as the undies start piling up. It looks like a lot, but undies come in multi packs so it's not a ominous as it seems. Sensible styles probably best. I.e. briefs, boxer briefs, etc. Quality that will hold up in the long term preferred. And please, no previously worn underwear, even if they are in the best condition.
If anyone wants to contribute, please send me a message. As I said, AHOPE is an amazing organization and any help with this project would be much appreciated.
Boys
Goal by Size
Boys XS-- 24
Boys S-- 38
Boys M-- 38
Boys L-- 38
Boys XL-- 64
Mens S-- 63
Mens M-- 43
Total-- 308
Original Goal 380
Percentage of Goal Achieved 17%
Girls
Goal by Size
Girls 4 -- 30
Girls 6 -- 30
Girls 8 -- 10
Girls 10-- 40
Girls 12-- 40
Girls 14-- 60
Womens Small-- 50
Womens Medium-- 50
Total -- 180
Original Goal 200
Percentage of Goal Achieved 10%
Thursday, November 10, 2011
You Reap What You Sow
It's hard to shock me. I mean really hard. I think for whatever reason I have always been able to look at things straight on for what they are and I have sort of always known that the good, the bad and the ugly all exist in this world, all mixed up together. And it's messy. End of the day, I suppose I don't see the point in being shocked. I'm not sure where I get that from. Doesn't really matter, I guess.
But this week, I'm flat out shocked by the horrible turn of events coming out of Penn State. It's obviously just starting and after the initial jolt, I'm not going to be shocked when it gets worse. Much worse. Because there's no way it's not going in the direction of worse.
Obviously I'm shocked by the evil actions perpetrated against children. There really just aren't any words...
But beyond that, I am shocked by where some people are focusing their anger and outrage. To be blunt, I can’t believe that there are people standing up to protest the firing of Joe Paterno based solely on what he contributed to Penn State football. I’m sorry, but that kind of reasoning does not fly in this household. I mean, if someone said that we should let him stay a few more months because he’s “this close” to a cure for cancer, I would be at least willing to dialogue on the concept of “conditional good”. To be fair, I’ll say that it wouldn’t be a lengthy discussion, because I'm not a big fan of "conditional good", but I’d listen to an opinion.
But try to engage me with the idea that anything related to football can offset the fact that someone didn’t go all out to protect children from a predator? Ummm… yeah... that ain’t happening. Even if someone wasn’t sure, even if there was doubt, (and based on Paterno’s own statements, it doesn’t seem to me that there was any doubt), there was an unequivocal, moral responsibility to report TO THE AUTHORITIES and let those authorities and the legal system make the determination.
The adults in this situation, including Joe Paterno failed. They had a choice to take definitive action to protect children and they failed. That failure gave a monster almost 9 more years of freedom to commit evil. Paterno isn’t the first to fall. I would highly doubt that he’s going to be the last. But he brought this on himself. There are some failures where you pay the price. Period.
Side comment to the students who are causing all the chaos and fuss over this firing - Grow up. Joe Paterno is not a victim. His firing was not “unconscionable” as I heard one student claim. There were many “unconscionable” acts that took place in this situation. That wasn’t one of them. Joe Paterno was in a position of great authority. That means he was also in a position of great responsibility and he looked the other way when that responsibility called. Hopefully at some point the nation will see you all out there raising your voices on behalf of the true victims of this horror.
But this week, I'm flat out shocked by the horrible turn of events coming out of Penn State. It's obviously just starting and after the initial jolt, I'm not going to be shocked when it gets worse. Much worse. Because there's no way it's not going in the direction of worse.
Obviously I'm shocked by the evil actions perpetrated against children. There really just aren't any words...
But beyond that, I am shocked by where some people are focusing their anger and outrage. To be blunt, I can’t believe that there are people standing up to protest the firing of Joe Paterno based solely on what he contributed to Penn State football. I’m sorry, but that kind of reasoning does not fly in this household. I mean, if someone said that we should let him stay a few more months because he’s “this close” to a cure for cancer, I would be at least willing to dialogue on the concept of “conditional good”. To be fair, I’ll say that it wouldn’t be a lengthy discussion, because I'm not a big fan of "conditional good", but I’d listen to an opinion.
But try to engage me with the idea that anything related to football can offset the fact that someone didn’t go all out to protect children from a predator? Ummm… yeah... that ain’t happening. Even if someone wasn’t sure, even if there was doubt, (and based on Paterno’s own statements, it doesn’t seem to me that there was any doubt), there was an unequivocal, moral responsibility to report TO THE AUTHORITIES and let those authorities and the legal system make the determination.
The adults in this situation, including Joe Paterno failed. They had a choice to take definitive action to protect children and they failed. That failure gave a monster almost 9 more years of freedom to commit evil. Paterno isn’t the first to fall. I would highly doubt that he’s going to be the last. But he brought this on himself. There are some failures where you pay the price. Period.
Side comment to the students who are causing all the chaos and fuss over this firing - Grow up. Joe Paterno is not a victim. His firing was not “unconscionable” as I heard one student claim. There were many “unconscionable” acts that took place in this situation. That wasn’t one of them. Joe Paterno was in a position of great authority. That means he was also in a position of great responsibility and he looked the other way when that responsibility called. Hopefully at some point the nation will see you all out there raising your voices on behalf of the true victims of this horror.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Mudula Water Project - It's More Than Just Clean Water
Convenient access to clean water means more than you would think.
· It means better health eliminating senseless deaths, especially of children 5 and under.
· It means better productivity because people are consistently healthy enough to work. Illness due to contaminated water during critical times of the farming cycle can seriously impact an entire family’s food resources.
· It means women and girls do not waste hours per day hauling water needed for immediate survival when they could be doing activities that contribute to improving long term quality of life. Things like caring for their family, running businesses, and most importantly in the big picture, going to school.
· In addition to saving time, access to nearby, clean water saves those same women and girls a huge number of calories each and every day. Many women in rural Ethiopia eat a very nutritional diet but the calories can’t offset those lost hauling water for hours per day. It’s a caloric waste and results in women growing to be too small for their age, which contributes to infant and mother mortality and injury during childbirth. Save those calories and when a girl grows, goes to school, is able to earn a living and THEN gets married and starts her family, her body is much better prepared for the process of childbirth.
As my friend Meghan blogs, “Mudula Mamas”, three mothers of children born in Mudula, Ethiopia, have come together from different states to compete as one relay team in the Toyota US Open Triathlon and Janus Charity Challenge. These 3 friends are fundraising for “Mudula Water,” a large water project that will bring potable water to over 10,000 people in this rural village of southern Ethiopia.
Please give them your financial support before time runs out! https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=469401&supID=331974821
Help these women race for water. Help these women race for life.
To learn more about Mudula Water: www.mudulawater.org .
Meghan is personally donating $1 for every person who ‘like’s the Mudula Water page on Facebook. Click on the Mudula Water link above and then click "Like". The donation runs through Friday, September 30. You can do something right now – find that page. If you want to double your dollar donation without getting out of your chair or opening your wallet, like http://www.facebook.com/hopebytwelve page Facebook. The founder of Hope by twelve has announced the same challenge.
Take Meghan up on her offer. Please.
It's so much more that just clean water.
· It means better health eliminating senseless deaths, especially of children 5 and under.
· It means better productivity because people are consistently healthy enough to work. Illness due to contaminated water during critical times of the farming cycle can seriously impact an entire family’s food resources.
· It means women and girls do not waste hours per day hauling water needed for immediate survival when they could be doing activities that contribute to improving long term quality of life. Things like caring for their family, running businesses, and most importantly in the big picture, going to school.
· In addition to saving time, access to nearby, clean water saves those same women and girls a huge number of calories each and every day. Many women in rural Ethiopia eat a very nutritional diet but the calories can’t offset those lost hauling water for hours per day. It’s a caloric waste and results in women growing to be too small for their age, which contributes to infant and mother mortality and injury during childbirth. Save those calories and when a girl grows, goes to school, is able to earn a living and THEN gets married and starts her family, her body is much better prepared for the process of childbirth.
As my friend Meghan blogs, “Mudula Mamas”, three mothers of children born in Mudula, Ethiopia, have come together from different states to compete as one relay team in the Toyota US Open Triathlon and Janus Charity Challenge. These 3 friends are fundraising for “Mudula Water,” a large water project that will bring potable water to over 10,000 people in this rural village of southern Ethiopia.
Please give them your financial support before time runs out! https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=469401&supID=331974821
Help these women race for water. Help these women race for life.
To learn more about Mudula Water: www.mudulawater.org .
Meghan is personally donating $1 for every person who ‘like’s the Mudula Water page on Facebook. Click on the Mudula Water link above and then click "Like". The donation runs through Friday, September 30. You can do something right now – find that page. If you want to double your dollar donation without getting out of your chair or opening your wallet, like http://www.facebook.com/hopebytwelve page Facebook. The founder of Hope by twelve has announced the same challenge.
Take Meghan up on her offer. Please.
It's so much more that just clean water.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A Personal Challenge From One Mother On Behalf Of Other Mothers
This is a personal challenge/request to my FB friends to raise awareness of "Philip Wiseley's Janus Charity Challenge" in support of Doctor's Without Borders therapeutic feeding programs. Monies raised will fund the nutritional food supplements needed help severely malnourished babies and children. Every $30 raised is enough to literally bring a starving child back from the brink. I always say that while that sounds dramatic, it is the literal truth.
My friend Meghan and her cohorts have been the drivers behind this challenge for the past four years. Every year they find an athlete to run/swim/bike a triathlon in the Janus Challenge. It's especially important because the athletes who raise the most money qualify for "bonus" donations for their charity from Janus Funds that could amount to thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars translates to many, many children having a chance at life that they would not otherwise have and to many, many mothers not having to suffer the experience of losing a child to a slow and truly awful death.
My friend Meghan and her cohorts have been the drivers behind this challenge for the past four years. Every year they find an athlete to run/swim/bike a triathlon in the Janus Challenge. It's especially important because the athletes who raise the most money qualify for "bonus" donations for their charity from Janus Funds that could amount to thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars translates to many, many children having a chance at life that they would not otherwise have and to many, many mothers not having to suffer the experience of losing a child to a slow and truly awful death.
Doctors W/O Borders maintains therapeutic feeding centers in the area where Atinafu was born. I've heard from people who live in this area. The situation is very bad and gets worse the further south one goes. Much worse. I can't even start...
Needless to say, this is pretty personal to me. So I'm raising a personal challenge to my friends and family. For every person who makes a donation of $10 or more, I will donate an additional $10. All you have to do is click on the link below and put my name somewhere in the "message" field for your donation. Or post on this thread. Or message me. Or whatever. Just find a way to tell me. Your donation amount can be totally anonymous. I will be grateful for any and all support. My cap in this offer is $500. That's 50 donors. I'm not sure I even know 50 people so if you want to share this challenge with your brother's wife's hairdresser's cousin Fred, go for it, as long as I can identify that a donation was made because of this challenge. I would especially love for my non adoptive parent friends to get involved since I know that my AP friends are already deeply involved and seriously stretching themselves to find ways to impact the current crisis. But regardless, I'm hoping people will find a way to make me hit the $500. My VISA card will thank you!
The deadline for my offer is Wednesday, August 24th, by the end of the day.
So there it is. My challenge to you. Thank you for taking the time to read.
Morgen
P.S. I totally stole this from another friend of mine. Shannon, thank you for the idea!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Drumming In The Park At Dusk
Tomorrow is Johnathan's last day of Kindergarten.
Johnathan goes to a school with a system that groups 3 years of classes together at one time. For example, two years of Pre-K and K in the same room, grades 1-3 in the same room, etc. It's a great model. The younger children learn from the older the children and the big kids teach the little ones. I believe it's empowering for the children and it gives them a different and more accepting perspective regarding a diverse peer group with a diverse level of abilities. In short, I like it.
This system also means that Johnathan has had the same teacher for three year. His beloved Ms. Mary.
Ms. Mary, who embraces all the amazing potential in every child and does her best to get out of the way of that potential so as not to stifle it. Who manages to allow each child to explore what interests them the most while at the same time guiding them to learn what needs to be learned, i.e reading and math.
Ms. Mary, who uses a list of virtues as teaching tools to the point that the children are truly able to recognize and appreciate virtues in themselves and in each other. It's interesting to be lectured by your child on the topic of moderation and awesome to hear him speak sincerely about what is special in another person.
Ms. Mary, who while being the personification of gentleness and warmth, is not someone to test with inappropriate behavior. (I will totally confess to once invoking the name of Ms. Mary during a fit of frustration over behavior at home. As in, "Johnathan, do you want me to call Ms. Mary?" I know, bad... but oh my gosh, so effective.)
Ms. Mary, who gives her students the gift of music and the gift of poetry. One of my favorite things from the past few years is how Johnathan will just start singing songs about anything and everything. Sometimes in Spanish. My second favorite song was a rap song about the layers of the earth. Inner core, outer core, mantel and crust. With gestures for each layer. The full body gesture for the viscous mantel still cracks me up. But my all time favorite is a lullaby about pretty little horses that Johnathan sang to soothe his little brother on one particularly fussy evening.
Tonight was Ms. Mary's end of the year evening family picnic in park. Time for all of the families of children in her classroom to get together, visit, watch our children play and celebrate what they have accomplished over the past ten months. At a certain point, the children gathered to share things they learned a few weeks ago about drumming from a professional Cuban drummer who came to visit the classroom. Some of the kids drummed on drums they made from plastic buckets or trash cans or whatever. Most sang. And all celebrated the gifts they have been given by Ms. Mary.
So I am anticipating tomorrow, the last day of Johnathan's Kindergarten year, with a little bit of sadness. Because I know that while he is moving on to exciting stuff in the lower elementary classroom and that I am sure that he will flourish with his new teacher, he is also leaving behind a very magical time in his childhood.
My deepest thanks to Ms. Mary for all that she has given to Johnathan. I know that 30 years from now, he will be using the virtues in diplomatic conflict resolution and singing songs about anything and everything.
And... I am deeply happy to know that 3 months from now, I will be escorting Atinafu to the Pre-K gate to be introduced to the wonderful world of Ms. Mary. Little does he know at this moment the amazing things in store for him in the next three years.
Johnathan goes to a school with a system that groups 3 years of classes together at one time. For example, two years of Pre-K and K in the same room, grades 1-3 in the same room, etc. It's a great model. The younger children learn from the older the children and the big kids teach the little ones. I believe it's empowering for the children and it gives them a different and more accepting perspective regarding a diverse peer group with a diverse level of abilities. In short, I like it.
This system also means that Johnathan has had the same teacher for three year. His beloved Ms. Mary.
Ms. Mary, who embraces all the amazing potential in every child and does her best to get out of the way of that potential so as not to stifle it. Who manages to allow each child to explore what interests them the most while at the same time guiding them to learn what needs to be learned, i.e reading and math.
Ms. Mary, who uses a list of virtues as teaching tools to the point that the children are truly able to recognize and appreciate virtues in themselves and in each other. It's interesting to be lectured by your child on the topic of moderation and awesome to hear him speak sincerely about what is special in another person.
Ms. Mary, who while being the personification of gentleness and warmth, is not someone to test with inappropriate behavior. (I will totally confess to once invoking the name of Ms. Mary during a fit of frustration over behavior at home. As in, "Johnathan, do you want me to call Ms. Mary?" I know, bad... but oh my gosh, so effective.)
Ms. Mary, who gives her students the gift of music and the gift of poetry. One of my favorite things from the past few years is how Johnathan will just start singing songs about anything and everything. Sometimes in Spanish. My second favorite song was a rap song about the layers of the earth. Inner core, outer core, mantel and crust. With gestures for each layer. The full body gesture for the viscous mantel still cracks me up. But my all time favorite is a lullaby about pretty little horses that Johnathan sang to soothe his little brother on one particularly fussy evening.
Tonight was Ms. Mary's end of the year evening family picnic in park. Time for all of the families of children in her classroom to get together, visit, watch our children play and celebrate what they have accomplished over the past ten months. At a certain point, the children gathered to share things they learned a few weeks ago about drumming from a professional Cuban drummer who came to visit the classroom. Some of the kids drummed on drums they made from plastic buckets or trash cans or whatever. Most sang. And all celebrated the gifts they have been given by Ms. Mary.
So I am anticipating tomorrow, the last day of Johnathan's Kindergarten year, with a little bit of sadness. Because I know that while he is moving on to exciting stuff in the lower elementary classroom and that I am sure that he will flourish with his new teacher, he is also leaving behind a very magical time in his childhood.
My deepest thanks to Ms. Mary for all that she has given to Johnathan. I know that 30 years from now, he will be using the virtues in diplomatic conflict resolution and singing songs about anything and everything.
And... I am deeply happy to know that 3 months from now, I will be escorting Atinafu to the Pre-K gate to be introduced to the wonderful world of Ms. Mary. Little does he know at this moment the amazing things in store for him in the next three years.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Special day...
Today's trip to the playground should have been nothing special, other than just dedicated time for the three of us be together with no distractions or need for any multitasking from mom. That kind of time can be hard to find which would make today special enough regardless of anything else.
Today surprised me.
Johnathan started by climbing up to the platform in order to slide down the pole. I assisted with the slide down the first two times, but then it was clear that he could do it so I stepped back. My little boy has always been what we shall call "risk averse" and hates, hates, hates doing new things by himself so my stepping back for him to fly solo was a big deal. It always is.
Emotional drama ensued, as expected. I held firm that he could slide down the pole by himself, or not slide down the pole if he preferred, but either way it was his choice and I wasn't helping him do something that I knew he could do. That prompted the negotiation process to commence. Johnathan is an extremely effective negotiator. Final agreement was that I would stand in the general proximity of the pole so that if he fell I could leap to catch him. That led to a discussion about the definition of "general proximity". End result, I stood about 6 feet from the pole and looked attentive, like I was ready to dive forward if necessary, while he proceeded to..... totally astonish himself by sliding down the pole. The way he lit up with pride was so awesome!
Then of course he had to do it a bunch more times.
I was bursting with pride myself thinking of all the times in the past he has chosen not to do something rather than try it himself.
Meanwhile, Atinafu was working on climbing skills on the jungle gym. It was a weird jungle gym with wobbly bars and chains and he's wearing his new leg brace so it was a pretty challenging thing for him to tackle. I was cheering him on, offering a little guidance and a safety net in case he fell but basically making him do it himself. As he was figuring out a particularly difficult part, I heard him whispering to himself "I'm doing a good job. I can do it." And he did and lit up with pride just as bright as his brother's as he got to the top.
Then of course he had to do it a bunch more times.
I was a happy that we had the playground to ourselves because I may have gotten little teary thinking of the baby who, when he was placed in my arms a little more than two years ago, had little useful function on the left side of his body.
As we were heading home, Johnathan on his bike, Ati on his trike and me trailing along, I realized that today is the also the day that, two years ago, I landed with Atinafu at Tucson International Airport and we made our way home to Johnathan. And became a family of three.
A very special day.
Today surprised me.
Johnathan started by climbing up to the platform in order to slide down the pole. I assisted with the slide down the first two times, but then it was clear that he could do it so I stepped back. My little boy has always been what we shall call "risk averse" and hates, hates, hates doing new things by himself so my stepping back for him to fly solo was a big deal. It always is.
Emotional drama ensued, as expected. I held firm that he could slide down the pole by himself, or not slide down the pole if he preferred, but either way it was his choice and I wasn't helping him do something that I knew he could do. That prompted the negotiation process to commence. Johnathan is an extremely effective negotiator. Final agreement was that I would stand in the general proximity of the pole so that if he fell I could leap to catch him. That led to a discussion about the definition of "general proximity". End result, I stood about 6 feet from the pole and looked attentive, like I was ready to dive forward if necessary, while he proceeded to..... totally astonish himself by sliding down the pole. The way he lit up with pride was so awesome!
Then of course he had to do it a bunch more times.
I was bursting with pride myself thinking of all the times in the past he has chosen not to do something rather than try it himself.
Meanwhile, Atinafu was working on climbing skills on the jungle gym. It was a weird jungle gym with wobbly bars and chains and he's wearing his new leg brace so it was a pretty challenging thing for him to tackle. I was cheering him on, offering a little guidance and a safety net in case he fell but basically making him do it himself. As he was figuring out a particularly difficult part, I heard him whispering to himself "I'm doing a good job. I can do it." And he did and lit up with pride just as bright as his brother's as he got to the top.
Then of course he had to do it a bunch more times.
I was a happy that we had the playground to ourselves because I may have gotten little teary thinking of the baby who, when he was placed in my arms a little more than two years ago, had little useful function on the left side of his body.
As we were heading home, Johnathan on his bike, Ati on his trike and me trailing along, I realized that today is the also the day that, two years ago, I landed with Atinafu at Tucson International Airport and we made our way home to Johnathan. And became a family of three.
A very special day.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Overheard in our house today -"On behalf of the Crocodiles, The United Nations protests recent actions by Horsie. Sactions will be imposed..." and... "The international community of Frogs is outraged!". Representing Horsie, Johnathan refused to be intimidated by international pressure. Peace talks were proposed and firmly rejected. Horsie was eventually exiled to an island barn where peace reigned by virtue of Horsie being the island's only inhabitant.
Playtime with an Au Pair who's long term goal is to be a human rights lawyer can be a little different.
Playtime with an Au Pair who's long term goal is to be a human rights lawyer can be a little different.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Coffee Ceremony at Hossana
Those who have been to Hossana will get the emotion evoked by this photograph.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Pay It Forward
A few years ago, I attended a wedding that the officiating minister referred to as having been "a long time coming". At first the congregation was a little taken aback by that comment because the adorable couple had had one of those "on again, off again" relationships over a span of seven years and I think that many of us were thinking "wow, dude... that's blunt". But then he went on to elaborate that these two people were standing there as a result of the love, devotion and committment of their parents, their grandparents, and all those that had come before them. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief...
Over the past few days, I've had been involved in several unrelated conversations that have given me reason to think about how lucky I am in the many blessing that I have in my life. I am reasonably healthy, well educated, financially secure, (or at least as secure as any regular person is in this day and during this economy), and graced with two amazing little boys of which I am probably most undeserving. I've worked hard to get to this stage in my life. I have. But there are also so many people, so many circumstances, so many examples of "luck of the draw", that have allowed me to reach this place in life that really have nothing to do with me or my own efforts. I did not get where I am on all by myself and I do not owe the what I have in life entirely to myself. I reap the benefits daily of the society I was born into and the blessings of the loving family who raised me. I am lucky beyond all measure.
One of the conversations that got me rolling on this thought process came through a discuss with a few other adoptive mother about our children and some emotions related to how they came to us. The specifics of the conversation are personal, private and fairly intense, but what I distilled from my own thought processes has to do with feelings of responsibility. The feeling of needing to embrace some kind of way to "pay it forward".
The Wikipedia commentary on "Pay it Forward" states: The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. In contract law, typically there are two parties but there is the concept of third party beneficiaries. Pay it forward merely applies this contract law concept so that third party beneficiary be a stranger to the creditor (or obligee). More specifically, the creditor (obligee) offers the debtor (obligor) the option of "paying" the debt forward by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. Debt and payments can be monetary or by good deeds.
I need to "pay it forward". It's not just about my little boy, it's about my whole life. I'm taking baby steps. We'll see how far I get. But imagine what the world could accomplish if we were all trying to "pay it forward."
Over the past few days, I've had been involved in several unrelated conversations that have given me reason to think about how lucky I am in the many blessing that I have in my life. I am reasonably healthy, well educated, financially secure, (or at least as secure as any regular person is in this day and during this economy), and graced with two amazing little boys of which I am probably most undeserving. I've worked hard to get to this stage in my life. I have. But there are also so many people, so many circumstances, so many examples of "luck of the draw", that have allowed me to reach this place in life that really have nothing to do with me or my own efforts. I did not get where I am on all by myself and I do not owe the what I have in life entirely to myself. I reap the benefits daily of the society I was born into and the blessings of the loving family who raised me. I am lucky beyond all measure.
One of the conversations that got me rolling on this thought process came through a discuss with a few other adoptive mother about our children and some emotions related to how they came to us. The specifics of the conversation are personal, private and fairly intense, but what I distilled from my own thought processes has to do with feelings of responsibility. The feeling of needing to embrace some kind of way to "pay it forward".
The Wikipedia commentary on "Pay it Forward" states: The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. In contract law, typically there are two parties but there is the concept of third party beneficiaries. Pay it forward merely applies this contract law concept so that third party beneficiary be a stranger to the creditor (or obligee). More specifically, the creditor (obligee) offers the debtor (obligor) the option of "paying" the debt forward by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. Debt and payments can be monetary or by good deeds.
I need to "pay it forward". It's not just about my little boy, it's about my whole life. I'm taking baby steps. We'll see how far I get. But imagine what the world could accomplish if we were all trying to "pay it forward."
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Totally random...
-Really fun filled visit to the Renaissance Fair in Mesa, Arizona last weekend with Chris, my best friend since 4th grade. I've been trying to get her to come visit for several years and I believe the RF ended up being the enticement that she could not resist. The original plan had been to rent costumes when we got to the fairgrounds, however the required deposit on each costume was $350 and apparently the Discover Card was not around 500 years ago so that was a no-go. I told her if she comes again next year, I will make us costumes.
The fair is populated with actors who randomly engage the crowd in various activities. Chris was a MAGNET for these people. Among other things, we ended up as "minions" of Lord Victor who was trying to unseat the Lord Mayor through some sort of complex political intrigue that may or may not have involved broccoli. Secret messages were delivered, skulking was required. And by "we", I mean Chris, because no one was interested in me. I was totally along for the ride. I decided that next year Chris will be Lady Christina and I shall be Patsy, Lady Christina's faithful servant. (10 points to those of you who get the reference.) All in all it was a very successful day.
-Atinafu had his first "gymnastics" class yesterday. Parents of veteran attendees followed their little ones around the circuits cheering budding young gymnasts. Those of us with newbies participated in an exercise similar to herding cats.
-Johnathan picked up from Theodore of the 'Munks, that saying you had a nightmare greatly increases your chances of getting to sleep in the big bed. Unfortunately for him, he had not yet calculated the proper amount of time that one needs to stay in bed before the concept of having had a nightmare becomes plausible. Pitching a nightmare to mommy after 1 minute and 27 seconds for some perplexing reason does not produce the desired reaction. Tonight I asked with great interest for him to tell me about the nightmare. He was completely non-plussed for about 30 seconds and then launched into quite a creative little story that was very entertaining and not the least bit scary. End result? A kiss on the head and a gentle nudge back to his bedroom. I'm curious as to how he will adjust the strategy tomorrow night.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
December 2
One year ago today, I received a phone call that made me the luckiest mama in the world.
Two weeks earlier, after waiting for an adoption referral for almost 1 year, rumors had come out that Ethiopia was closing it's doors to single women. These rumors had surfaced before but this time they felt more substantial, more real, more scary. On the forum, single mother clients from other agencies were posting that THEIR agency was stating the absolutely, positively, single women could no longer adopt, no exceptions. My agency was silent. Repeated emails from those singles in process received responses of "inquiries are being made/discussions are being held".
Response from the forum was unbelievable. Knowing that officials in Ethiopia read our forum, other single mothers who had gone before posted photos and stories about their families in support of those who would hopefully come after. Two parent families steadfastly supported us with thoughts and prayers of hope and support. And we supported and comforted each other, telling each other that it would be all right.
Until, on December 2, 2008, I received an email announcing that I could register for a conference call on December 5 to hear an update on the program as it related to single moms. I emailed my social worker with one question... "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Not really expecting a response, but needing to ask anyway.
Three hours later, my social worker called. She made some vague statements about the situation while I sat in my chair with my stomach sinking and my eyes welling, trying to be positive and polite, because really none of this was her fault, but thinking that this was it, she was calling to tell me that it was over - game end. When all of a sudden she said, "so based on that, I'm actually calling you with a referral - do you have time to talk?"
Fast forward fifteen minutes later I am looking with shock and awe at an email photo of my beautiful baby boy.
Fast forward four months later, almost to the day and I'm landing in Dulles airport with a smelly, exhausted but oh, so brave little guy.
Fast forward one year later and I've just tucked my little one into his crib after bath, bottle and happy bedtime cuddles.
As a friend just emailed me.... Happy referraliversary. Happy forever more. Happy December 2, baby.
Monday, November 9, 2009
When I was seven months pregnant, I had a chocolate craving one night and the only thing chocolate in the house was this weird pancake mix. (It's important to this story to know that I don't cook... seriously don't cook.) So I follow the instructions, mix up the batter and put a pancake in the pan and am standing there watching it when all of a sudden, it occurred to me that I didn't know how you tell when to flip the pancake. Onset of panic attack. I mean, I didn't know when to flip the flippin' pancake for Pete's sake, so how was I going to feed a child for 18 years?!?! I told my husband that I couldn't do this, that I'd changed my mind and we should get another cat instead. He's looking at me like "what is your problem" and I just kept repeating "the pancake, the pancake". Took me about 3 days to get over the pancake trauma. The ironic part is that pancakes are now the only thing my 4 year old will eat so I make pancakes every morning and some mornings I still get the shivers when it comes to flipping.
ETA: I wrote this post on another forum a while back and was thinking about it tonight. I guess the thing that I've learned over the past 4.5 years is that as a mom, you can not know something and still find a way to make it all work. I STILL can't tell when to flip the pancake and have many, many, many burned pancakes to show for it, but my little boy is healthy, happy, and totally fine despite my many shortcoming.
AND.... Krusteaz now makes pre-made microwavable pancake. One minute, 55 seconds and you are all set. No flipping required.
ETA: I wrote this post on another forum a while back and was thinking about it tonight. I guess the thing that I've learned over the past 4.5 years is that as a mom, you can not know something and still find a way to make it all work. I STILL can't tell when to flip the pancake and have many, many, many burned pancakes to show for it, but my little boy is healthy, happy, and totally fine despite my many shortcoming.
AND.... Krusteaz now makes pre-made microwavable pancake. One minute, 55 seconds and you are all set. No flipping required.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Atinafu's first hair cut today at Al's. I believe it was Al himself who did the cut. Al is an artist. No doubt about it. I watched him cut the hair of the gentleman before us and Al was focused hair by hair on perfection.
We got Atinafu in the chair and he did ok for the first 3 or 4 minute. The the screaming started. We finally had to stop because he got himself so worked up. End result, we got maybe 3/4 of a hair cut and I think it just about killed Al to leave it a bit unfished but there it is. Even unfinished it's cute as heck.
Uncle J commented on Facebook.
He looks AWESOME!!! I'm sooo glad you took him to Al's. The family tradition continues. Be sure to tell Atinaufu that his Uncle Jason loved going to Al's while he was in college. I need to get Myles and Mitchell down to Al's as well. Good job mom!!! Give both boys my love.Uncle J
My response
Thanks! I can totally see us in four or five years going to Al's and Atinafu making me sit in the chairs up front while he goes to the back to sit with the big guys. You need to bring Myles and Mitchell down to Tucson and we can have a group field trip to Al's. Hugs and love to everyone!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Mom Conundrum Number 1
Johnathan asked me today if his ear was big. My first thought was that someone had told him he has big ears. Now, Johnathan's ears are sweet and kissable but they are not, if truth be told, modest in size. Still, I was indignant that my child had been subject to a big-ear comment and I was all set to assure him that his ears are the perfect size for him when I actually looked at the ear in question and HOLY COW! It was twice the size as normal. Best I can guess is that he was bitten by something and had a reaction with associated swelling.
Let me say that I hate this kind of mom stuff. I feel totally inadequate trying to decide if this was a "no big deal", a "wait and see" or "needs immediate care before he goes into allergic shock" situation. I was stuck between giving him some Benadryl and waiting to see if that took down the swelling or taking him to Urgent Care. I finally tried Urgent Care but after waiting for an hour and watching the waiting room fill up with people with issues that were clearly worse than ours and watching the triage process, it was obvious that we were going to be there for at least 4 hours. The ear looked slightly less red and he wasn't wheezing so I hummed and hawed and home we went for a dose of Benadryl and monitoring. Ear observation is made more complicated by the fact that he's passed out from the medication and sleeping on the ear that needs watching. Hopefully things will look better in the morning.
Let me say that I hate this kind of mom stuff. I feel totally inadequate trying to decide if this was a "no big deal", a "wait and see" or "needs immediate care before he goes into allergic shock" situation. I was stuck between giving him some Benadryl and waiting to see if that took down the swelling or taking him to Urgent Care. I finally tried Urgent Care but after waiting for an hour and watching the waiting room fill up with people with issues that were clearly worse than ours and watching the triage process, it was obvious that we were going to be there for at least 4 hours. The ear looked slightly less red and he wasn't wheezing so I hummed and hawed and home we went for a dose of Benadryl and monitoring. Ear observation is made more complicated by the fact that he's passed out from the medication and sleeping on the ear that needs watching. Hopefully things will look better in the morning.
I am a "Meaner"
I've just been informed by Johnathan that I am the meanest mom EVER! I think that's quite an accomplishment. All those mean mom's throughout history - multiple Borgias and the mom from Mommy Dearest, etc, and I have topped them all. All because a shower must be taken and hair must be washed this afternoon prior to dinner at grandpa's. :)
But hold the phones, maybe I'm not quite the meanest ever. Several fellow moms indicate that they too have been given the coveted title. Rae did not allow her son to eat that 5th popsicle and Lisa reports that she makes her children actually put their dirty clothes IN the laundry basket. Lisa additional claim is that she has several children naming her "meanest mom" and that number of votes does impact the outcome of the race.
I informed Johnathan that I was embracing being a mean mom and was going to work diligently in perfecting my meaness. He was slightly disconcerted by this concept and allowed that perhaps I was a "nice" mom after all.
But hold the phones, maybe I'm not quite the meanest ever. Several fellow moms indicate that they too have been given the coveted title. Rae did not allow her son to eat that 5th popsicle and Lisa reports that she makes her children actually put their dirty clothes IN the laundry basket. Lisa additional claim is that she has several children naming her "meanest mom" and that number of votes does impact the outcome of the race.
I informed Johnathan that I was embracing being a mean mom and was going to work diligently in perfecting my meaness. He was slightly disconcerted by this concept and allowed that perhaps I was a "nice" mom after all.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
He's crawling!!!
Atinafu is officially crawling! This is so huge for us. Our PT, Charlene, thought that he might skip crawling and I am soooo happy that he didn't. The weight bearing and shifting on his left side will really help strengthen the arm/shoulder/elbow/hand and once he's walking it will be harder to get him to put that much effort into working that arm. He started out with a sort of "limp" to the crawl but it's getting more and more fluid. He's also choosing to crawl on all fours rather than the commando scoot he was using before. Go, go, go baby!
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