edamomie

An Exploration of Parenting by the Vowel

The Dogs are Barking April 22, 2013

Filed under: Independence,The Unknown — edamomie @ 11:17 am
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I: Independence (or lack of…) and U: The Unknown

Dreaming of Dogs: All About Brand Loyalty

Dreaming of Dogs: All About Brand Loyalty

My nine year-old daughter, Ava, has  been dreaming about dogs for a good year now. Off and on. From Yorkies to Pomeranians. Dinner-time quizzes and questionnaires, weekend bursts of chore-activity to show stellar responsibility and more.

 

After a recent trip to the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, she is slowly swaying me toward strongly considering getting a dog. Her interest level is so keen right at this moment. Her younger brother, seven year-old Calvin, is not quite as keen. He’s a bit lukewarm, in fact. Ideally, he’d have the same level of interest as her. Or I would, for that matter.

 

Pitbull Mix

Pitbull Mix

My husband grew up with dogs. I did not. I am definitely a tougher sell.  I think I’m being hit up now because the family thinks the sleepless nights of the toddler years are long forgotten. I’ve had a good solid four years of predictable nightly sleep patterns. Am I ready to be sleepless again?  …maybe let’s forgo puppy stage and get a fully grown dog then? It’s an option, but not one that Ava is too excited about.

 

Pleeeeease take me home!

Pleeeeease take me home!

For the sake of pursuing this dog-scenario, let’s say we all agree to get a puppy. How to find the right one for our family is the question. The humane society doled out sheets of info in helpful categories based on dog traits and characteristics: Toys, Spaniels, Retrievers, Property Guards, Pointers*, Sled Dogs, Herding Dogs, Scent Hounds, and Sight Hounds.

 

Then we hit up the library straight after our visit to check out “Everything Dogs,” “Dogs for Dummies, and my personal fave, “Weimaraners*.” Ava is also able to reference recently library books from school: “Yorkshire Terriers Are the Best!” (mid-March) and “Pomeranians Are the Best!” (mid-April) and multiple online sources.

 

I would say we’re an active family. Active in two senses: 1. we’re on the go (weekends at the grandparents; sports/eve activities, etc) 2. we’re physically active (running, biking, etc). So we need a dog that is fine being on their own for long stretches of time, but when we’re around, they’re eager to be very active and run fast! Leaning toward Pointer here with top as Weimaraner. But would our city lot allow for enough fenced-in outdoor space (which is a requirement for this breed)?

 

Just try and say no to me!

Just try and say no to me!

We do not need barking. This would rule out Ava’s front-runners in the Toy category including her beloved Yorkie. What about allergies? In this case, Labradoodles are the preferred choice for low-dander coats. However, they fall in the Retriever category which warns “Don’t expect unsupervised freedom in the house until after two years of age.” I’m beginning to believe it’s like finding a mate  – you definitely have your must-haves and the rest of the stuff, you need to overlook!

 

To dog-lovers out there: What’s your advice on breed, appropriate age for kids to have a dog, puppy vs dog, over-thinking, costs, training, etc? Need to be enlightened so we don’t end up barking up the wrong tree.

 

— all photos via Instagram and Instapics at instagram.com/jengilhoi

 

Puppies, Pantones and Piercings December 7, 2012

Filed under: Independence — edamomie @ 6:18 pm
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I: Independence

PBTeen Graphic Patch Quilt Purchased, Potentially Returned

PBTeen Graphic Patch Quilt Purchased, Potentially Returned

I’m not sure what switch was flipped at age nine and a half for my daughter, Ava, but it’s causing a newfound need to be more grown-up.  From nightly dinner conversations about getting a puppy to updating her room decor so she can lose the baby pink pantone, it’s constantly called to my attention that she growing up.

 

To agree to all of these requests — a new puppy, a new room, a new route home from school with a friend, and new and permanent bling in her ears — would most likely overwhelm our entire family. Over the past month, we’ve been working though everything with some careful compromising, added responsibility and sound reasoning.

 

Ava cleverly submits me to online survey-taking to determine the type of puppy I (nevermind her) would be most compatible with and works hard to sell me on the idea that she’d be the one taking puppy out for walks at 7:00a.m. in the winter. Once we revisit our schedule, turns out that yes, it would be me doing those early morning walks/runs. We table the puppy purchase for at least six months.

 

Next we turn our focus to redecorating her room. After seven and a half years of what we call watermelon decor, she insists she’s ready for something new. We scout out PotteryBarnTeen and find a few options (black is a necessity) before ordering the Graphic Patch Quilt and Sham as a starting point for the paint selection and decor. We cannot agree on paint selection, but we eventually agree that maybe it’s too soon to redecorate given all of the things we’d have to replace and buy. We could wait until she’s eleven and revisit it as we’ll probably only do the decor over once while she’s living at home. It’s kind of a relief, truthfully.

 

Thirdly, we discuss walking home after school with a friend to her friends’ house. She insists she’s totally ready for this. I, however, am not. Instead I offer to pick up her and her friend one day each week and bring them to our house so they can hang out. She’s kind of heartbroken over this and I would love to say yes. Maybe next year. Maybe when you have your own mobile phone.

 

Piercing Tech Alicia Measures and Marks with Purple Ink

Piercing Tech Alicia Measures and Marks with Purple Ink

The final quest is for ear-piercing. We create a reward system around this – practice your piano and clarinet frequently and without complaint and you may get your ears pierced. She is game for this and follows through for a month before the assessment date arrives. She gets a passing grade from her Dad and we immediately head for Claire’s the next day.

 

I question the training and skill sets of the piercing technicians at Claire’s, but I am mostly satisfied because of the girl’s optimistic and friendly attitude. She claims she’s a perfectionist and re-does the purple ink dot markings 15 times to ensure the correct and matching placement. When all is perfectly marked, we call on another tech so they can simultaneously perform the piercing. Ava seems a bit nervous, but doesn’t let on. Her seven year-old brother is pacing the store and continually asking if we can buy candy.

 

"I Just Got My Ears Pierced" and now I'm at Starbucks

“I Just Got My Ears Pierced” and now I’m at Starbucks

We settle on the mid-to-high price range earrings although all in their arsenal are hypoallergenic. I talk Ava down from a square cubic-zirconia looking studs to flatter, yet still shiny, daisy-shaped earrings. On the count of three, the techs fire their earring guns. Ava looks a bit flushed. The tech reviews the cleaning process and we walk out $55 later. We opt not to redeem the 50% off coupon for new earrings just yet as she has to keep the studs in for six weeks.

 

She shares the news with her family and fellow fourth-grade friends. She’s slightly worried about her Papa calling her a gypsy, which is what he called me in newly-pierced ears in sixth grade. The girls just say cool. In the next breath, all is well with the other denied and compromised requests for the moment. I’m safe until the next grown-up must-do/ must-have comes along.

 

Candy Plan November 5, 2012

Filed under: Eats,Independence — edamomie @ 5:39 pm
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E: Eats + I: Independence

Carving and Removal of Guts

Carving and Removal of Guts

Halloween ranks second only to Christmas as the holiday when most retail consumer dollars are spent. People buy costumes not only for kids, but grown-ups too; more decorations for parties and bucket loads of candy. Halloween costume stores pop up  in various locations and we stock up and shop early. For this family, I think our Halloween storage outweighs our Christmas storage. As follows is a Halloween recap on carving, costumes and candy handling.

 

Overly zealous in past years, we’ve had to restock on candy and be faced with carved pumpkins whose insides have turned to mush by Halloween if they haven’t already had their decoration chewed off by squirrels. This year, I bought pumpkins and candy ($14.98 value pack) five days before Halloween. The hidden bag is uncovered and ripped into the next morning at about 3:00a.m. by my 7-year-old son, Calvin, who had been obsessing about it. The carving takes place four days prior to Halloween and the Jack-o-Lanterns serve as a centerpiece days before moving outdoors on Halloween, in fine condition.

 

Witch and Gangsta

Witch and Gangsta

Weeks prior we had pulled out our Halloween bins of costumes past and tried to sell the kids on resurrecting all or portions of them for this Halloween. Tough sell. My son wanted to be a gangster and needed a whole new pin-stripped suit because the pink-stripped gangster outfit my 9-year-old daughter wore the year before would not suffice, of course. Even the cheap plastic gangster weapon – found in pieces – needed replacement. My daughter, Ava, was thinking witch. We found two respectable witch hats, six black cloaks and a black wig in the arsenal. We knew our options before heading to the Halloween store. Upon arrival, it was all too tempting to not stick with a costume re-run. Calvin got the gangster and Ava, due to indecision, ended up empty-handed on a new costume and committed to the witchy mix of options at home.

 

Halloween Grub

Halloween Grub

With Halloween on a Wednesday this year, the usual annual parties in the neighborhood occur on the Saturday prior. With minimal effort, I dress in black and add a witch hat to head to the first party with the kids. This annual party with a 2:00p.m. start time comes complete with a fog machine and elaborate Halloween fare from gummy worms in crushed Oreo crumbs to eyeballs conveyed via mini-powdered donuts topped with an M&M as the pupil, red gel lines for the veins. We last about two hours.

 

We regroup at home and try to have a substantial meal before the next party. There is little interest. Now I’m ready for costume two of the day – Elastagirl (recycled from five years prior). My husband, who has costumes set in May for the next Halloween, is suffering a set back. Apparently fabric spray for clothing is not all it’s cracked up to be. Cutting it close at 5:30, his Plan B emerges. We all take over one bathroom and finish applying hairspray, face painting and powdering. The witch turns into a mime of sorts simply because she wants her face white not green. We head to party #2 around 6:45p.m.

 

Haunted House on the Block

Haunted House on the Block

This annual party has another great spread of food – little tacos, artichoke dip and of course mummy dogs (formerly known as pigs in a blanket). Grown-ups gather around the outdoor fire pit and the kids run wild between the bouncy house, playhouse and basement. The kids are sneaking soda and snacks at all times so it’s pretty tough to monitor what they actually consume. We last til 8:15p.m., then it’s time to head out. After all, the adults need Halloween fun too!

 

With sister-in-law set to watch kids, we’re out the door by 9:00p.m. to an old-fashioned Halloween house party where we’re greeted by host Gene Simmons. We meet many bizarre characters that make the evening very entertaining. We’ve had our fill and are ready for a break from Halloween, at least until Wednesday the 31st.

 

As is tradition, I make some sort of casserole or hotdish. This year it’s Aunt Rose’s Easy Cheesy Lasagna. It’s ready to go in advance so we can be ready for the 6:00p.m. trick-or-treaters. They still catch us off-guard. We debate every year if we should go out in shifts so someone can be home to hand out candy. This year, we choose to all go out from 6:30-7:15p.m. Our neighborhood really goes all out so we don’t have to go far. We never miss the house on the block complete with staged outdoor lighting and Thriller on a loop. Ava takes her time and Calvin sprints between homes. It’s challenging to keep up with them and chat with neighbors too.

 

Candy Plan

Candy Plan

At home, we heat up the lasagna and have a fire in the fireplace. My husband also sets a major fire to one jack-o-lantern to creating a flaming pumpkin, which to me looks hazardous and threatening to potential visitors. Trick-or-treaters still come. We hand out candy til 8:30p.m., when we finally turn out the lights. The kids sort and organize their candy, eating as they go, especially the items like KitKats which are pretty popular this year. We try to bribe a few of their 60+ pieces of candy from them.

 

They kids are so worn out, they actually head to bed on their own. Ava doesn’t even take off the white face paint. Calvin puts the tooth he lost that day under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy who actually forgets to come that night. I reason with him on November 1 that too many kids lost their teeth yesterday, bobbing for apples and whatnot. The Tooth Fairy will come tonight.

 

It’s four days after Halloween now and we’ve just taken all of the decorations down. The candy still lingers. This year, rather than limit it to one or two pieces after dinner each night, I’m being much less restrictive. They can have access to it through Tuesday, then it’s gone. Otherwise, they drive me crazy obsessing about it all day and it lasts for 2-3 weeks, making the after-dinner candy treat a tough habit to break. So we have two more days to consume, then I’m getting rid of it. Their uncle offers to buy it for $5, but Ava pushes back, it’s worth much more than that. I’ll sell it to you for $20. I’m glad she negotiated. I’ll just put that money directly to their dental bill or next year’s costume purchase.

 

Breaking Board February 7, 2012

Filed under: Activities,Independence — edamomie @ 10:03 pm
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A: Activities

Precision Movements

Precision Movements

As adults, we’re expected to set and meet goals. You don’t just wake up with this innate sense of drive and the motivation to accomplish, nor is it handed to you when you graduate highschool. I have parent envy for those who begin teaching their children at an early age consistently how to set and meet goals.  I could do better.

 

Typically the goals in younger years are a duality of parents incenting kids to meet daily or frequent must-dos, while the kids are simply driven by the end reward. Example: Brush your teeth every day, kids, and you’ll get a reward, like a sticker, at the end of the week. I actually like this example because even though it’s end reward is nominal, the reward doesn’t come until the end of week. Mine goal/reward propositions tend to be a bit more immediate gratification-like, which can be effective but may also backfire when they start lobbying you for rewards for every little thing they are supposed to do without question.

 

My kids at 6 and 8 might have some catching up to do. I struggle with having to incent them to do daily tasks. I’d rather just say, “Fine don’t brush. It’s you and your placque-covered teeth at your next dentist visit.” I’ve tried to be creative – - selling them on the fact that the activity I’m pushing them to do is SO much fun whether it’s teeth-brushing or washing dishes. They are on to me. In hindsight, I can see where their association with the goal/reward process, no matter how counterintuitive enforcing it may seem, is a stepping stone for larger things.

 

Post Board Break Testing

Post Board Break Testing

All is not lost. As mentioned, we’re not into rewarding them for every little thing they do, but at ages 6 (Calvin) and 8 (Ava), my kids recently surprised me by what they had learned through their TaeKwonDo practice. They did daily lessons all summer as part of a day camp, then continued on, twice a week when school started.

 

 They’ve participated in a gamut of sports from team to individual, each with their valuable lessons.  The noticeable difference TaeKwonDo brought was a focused connection between mind and body – - the power behind a swift kick, the element of self defense, the importance of a repetitive, specific movement to achieve a result and the follow-up of moving on to the next belt level after a mastery of required skills is reached.

 

My husband and I recently joined their class for a special “Making the Yellow Belt” testing. The testing took place in sparring pairs, two per 25 minute testing session. They “hupped” (vocal call that signifies movement and order), roundhouse kicked and channeled some Danielson (from Karate Kid fame) for their tests. At the end of these precise movements with partners, they each went on to the ultimate – to break a board.  They had already broken a board – each a lighter weight one – for their first test. This board was heavier. They checked their alignment, did a few practice kicks and went for it. They each broke their board first try. (thus Breaking Board title with reference to Breaking Bad just because I like it)

 

 

The highlight for me is the follow-up after the physical portion which quizzes each child on some basics and prompts them to answer how they felt before testing – scared, nervous, anxious, doubtful – and after testing – proud, confident, satisfied. The instructor and owner of Classic TaeKwonDo Studios, Carolyn Boston, paralleled the practice to some daily situations kids could relate to and also encouraged them to channel the right attitude about applying themselves in all aspects of their lives to make things happen.

 

There are other types of practice that evoke this same sense of discipline, most certainly. What other sports and activities do your kids do? What are some meaningful ways to have them set goals with appropriate rewards?

 

Playtime’s Over January 3, 2012

Filed under: Independence — edamomie @ 10:07 pm
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I: Independence

Ticket to Ride... For Hours and Hours

Ticket to Ride... For Hours and Hours

Every time the holidays are upon us, a pang of anxiousness sets in. I swear I will find the perfect blend of relaxation, activity, productivity, festivity and refocusing. Add a husband and a few kids to this equation with no where to be and zero routine – - it can actually create stress.

 

Seriously, time off from hectic schedules is the last thing I want to complain about. So a bit of reflection on how our family fared over nearly two weeks off is as follows.

 

Relaxation: four movies in one day for the kids (not a proud parenting moment); yoga, running and reading for me.

 

Activity: games! Ticket to Ride, Europe ate up nearly 3 hours of our New Year’s Eve. We played two more times throughout the week before Tweety Bird on the iPod won out. We also roller skated with hundreds on the 31st – the challenge of avoiding collisons the main focus.  And some swimming and basketball.

 

New AG Family

New AG Family

Productivity: shopping. Lots of it. Ikea for desk chairs for kids that took a few hours of assembly. A visit from a measurer for new blinds. Mass purging and organization of files with some help from Ikea. For my 6-yr-old son, building Legos; for my 8-yr-old daughter, taking care of an additional, high maintenance American Girl.

 

Festivity: gatherings. Entertaining at our home, a visit to our extended family for two more celebrations. The usual continuous stream of food.

 

Refocus: The 2011 Love Hate List. We could all agree we hate our school’s early start time. We talked about some household improvements for 2012. Things got negative so the conversation ended quickly.

 

Threatening Elf on the ShelfOver the course of our break, our normal routine got seriously out of whack. I tried not to feel guilty about sleeping in and taking a daily nap. I realized how unproductive and listless children (and adults!) can become when left to their own devices. From all the gifts at the onset of break, I could hardly believe it to hear they were bored. I found them bickering with each other often. The magic of The Elf of the Shelf had all but worn away.

 

My son assembled numerous Lego contraptions, one of which I barely captured on film – the Dinocopter, and a few Lego monster transformers from the Lego HERO collection. My daughter welcomed Piper (a brunette American Girl doll) and Honey (a golden retriever also by American Girl) to the family, along with clothing, suitcases, sleeping bags and pet carriers for them. Judging from some informal polling and lines at both stores, Lego and American Girl were the tops on boys and girls’ Christmas Lists this year.

 

Lego Dino Transporter

Lego Dino Transporter

Tradition is, the kids always get a board game from us parents. This year, Ticket to Ride, Europe, was the choice. Even though for players ages 8 and up, I decided to get it anyway for them. It’s a strategic game with a lot of options and choices. It took much patience to learn and time to play, but it held their attention for hours.

 

Now, this week, parents are happily back to work. Kids are off for yet another week and having a blast at their grandparents. I am relieved to have a plan for the week: work and work out. We do better in our household with a bit of routine. We know this about ourselves. It’s tough to get into total guilt-free relaxation mode.

 

I’m always curious to hear how others handle a week or more time off at home. How do you fare?

 

Backdoor Exploring August 26, 2011

Filed under: Independence — edamomie @ 8:05 am
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I: Independence

Lutsen in the Summer

Lutsen in the Summer

I always file vacations under Independence. A time of outdoor exploration and inward reflection, planning and spontaneity. Upon returning from our North Shore Minnesota vacation, our family of four recapped it as a good choice all-around. We had considered Montana and Chicago as other destinations. Montana would amount to a lot of driving and with the state’s huge tourism budget, the lodges we looked at in late June for Glacier National Park were booked (You saw the bus ads and billboards, right?). We put that on the back-burner for next year. I was still holding out for Chicago, but in the end the lure of hiking and exploration won out.

 

We opted for a local vacation to the North Shore of Lake Superior – a four hour drive from the Twin Cities to Lutsen, where we stayed. The kids had never been so far as Duluth. I had only been up north that route once in the fall, once in June for Grandma’s Marathon and a few times for winter downhill skiing. My husband estimated maybe 30 visits that direction for him.

 

We set out on a Sunday morning for a Sunday  – Wednesday vacation. It was nice to have Friday and Saturday to prep as well as a short Thursday – Friday work week upon return. At many of the lodges up north, they offer mid-week deals like three nights for the price of two, kids eat free and good twilight rates for golf. We chose Eagle Ridge in Lutsen and I’ll admit, it took me a good while to accept that it wasn’t in its all-snow covered glory. The rooms were average, but the views were all green with a glimpse of the great lake.  The weather was beautiful, but chilly at times. Both kids had forgotten their sweatshirts somehow. We made due.

 

Sunday kicked off with 1:30 lunch at Two Harbors and a 4:00 check-in at Eagle Ridge Resort. We headed to Papa Charlie’s, the restaurant on site, around 6:30, but no one was hungry quite yet. By the time we worked up an appetite, it was nearly 9:00 and the Coho Cafe in Tofte, just seven miles south of Lutsen, was closing. We headed one more stop south on the route to the Bluefin Grille. Husband Chad was hesitant –  the place looked pretty fancy. I reminded him it was a Sunday night and that we were on vacation. They might have had a kids’ menu, but the late night happy hour menu looked interesting and shareable. Two bacon and cheddar and two bbq’d pork with coleslaw sliders, fried onion green beans, green salad and cheese empanadas later, everyone, except 6-yr-old Calvin who was sleeping, was satisfied. I think the tab came to $26. Super reasonable.

 

Grand Marais Lighthouse

Grand Marais Lighthouse

Monday morning, after coffee doused with creme to kill the unmistakable hotel water flavor (note, remember to bring in water always), we headed to Cascade River State Park for a hike on the Superior National Trail. We didn’t have a map, so relied on signage. I felt we could have been more prepared – had we not learned from previous hiking experiences that you need to plan? The views along the trail, high above the river whose water and foam is likened to a rootbeer float, lasted 15 minutes before we diverged away from the river to Lookout Mountain. We made it halfway to a significant vista to make it feel like the summit, popped a few gummi bears, and headed back. All total, 1.5 hours worth.

 

Rock Sculptural Elements

Rock Sculptural Elements

Another 20 minutes north and we arrived in Grand Marais, starving. We grabbed a few sandwiches to split and drove up the coast a bit more. This town was reminiscent of small town Alaska for me. We parked on the pier by the U.S. Coast Guard Station, skipped some rocks, built some rock structures and climbed the lighthouse steps. We spent a few hours there, then ventured into town to pay a visit to the Angry Trout. It was here my normally extatic son, ready to eat at a moment’s notice, was experiencing the first of high fever and exhaustion spikes. He pouted a bit and whined and we coined the term Trout Lip.

 

After a mandatory late aft nap, we headed back to the arcade within close walking distance at Papa Charlie’s for Ms PacMan, Arctic Cat, golf, darts and the like. Calvin assured me he was up for it. We stayed close to camp that eve, heading to the shared campfire area that hosted Eagle Ridge’s nightly gathering with complimentary stuff for s’mores. We met some nice folk there, perfected golden brown marshmallow roasting and toasted some hot dogs. A bubbly woman from Prior Lake, of grandmotherly age, gushed, “are you all here on Crowd Cut?” … “no we’re not here on the Crowd Cut,” admittedly they had never even heard of it.

 

By Tuesday, Calvin’s temp was really climbing and his patience with the outdoors was waning. While my husband and 8-yr-old daughter hiked,  I hung back so Calvin could take the mid-morning nap he so needed. We bypassed canoeing, golf and hiking and opted for the Gondola ride across the ski trails of Lutsen to the top of Moose Mountain and the Summit Chalet. We packed a lunch and left around 10:30. Tickets were a bit pricey, but we decided worth it. The views were spectacular and the thrill of the gondola was entertainment enough for the kids.

 

Ready Set Split

Ready Set Split

More napping for Calvin. He was not going to cut our vacation short! He was rested and well enough, once again, for Buck Hunter and Arctic Cat around 4:30. Kids could eat free with an adult entree purchase at Papa Charlies for our entire stay. We didn’t take advantage of this once due to kids menu burn-out at the end of summer. We ordered a lone app from Papa’s, otherwise ate our stash from Trader Joe’s we brought and three nice meals of all grown-up stuff and shared everything. Tonight, we hit the Coho Cafe in Tofte around 6:00 for pizza, ravioli and dessert, right from the dessert bar. Completely satisfying meal.

 

We checked out around 10:00am Wednesday and headed back with a few stops to see Split Rock Lighthouse, just newly listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks as of August 15, 2011, and a visit to Vitta Pizza, just opened mid-June this year, in downtown Duluth. Calvin was barely holding out – feverish and shivering for the last part of the drive. Without passing go (our home), we went straight to the pediatrician and got in a visit before closing time. No ear infection, pneumonia or strep, just a six-day virus. Fantastic!

 

Lesson learned: pre-vacation planning and resting are a necessity to make things go smoothly. Calvin’s fever might have set us back a bit from original plans, but we probably got more rest than we normally would on vacation, if you look on the bright side. As far as location, up north for Twin Citians is a good deal (see Minnesota Monthly August 2011 for statewide ideas). We agreed that trips to far-off destinations are one thing, but exploring what’s right outside your backdoor is a whole other enlightening idea.

 

Rodrick’s Loded Rules August 4, 2011

Filed under: Independence — edamomie @ 10:51 pm
Tags: , , ,

I: Independence (Coming of Middle-School Age)

Wimpy Kid Series

Wimpy Kid Series

We were on the wimpy kid bandwagon early on with books, but it wasn’t until recently that we discovered the one of the movies of the same name. We’ve got three of the books: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (the original; movie 1), The Last Straw and Rodrick Rules (movie 2). There’s also Dog Days and the Ugly Truth with Cabin Fever coming out in 102 days, 3 hours, 48 minutes and 04 seconds.
 

We got into the first Wimpy Kid in January. Greg Heffley, the wimpy kid himself, is a pretty average middle-schooler. Kinney, the mastermind behind the Wimpy Kid series, sets Greg up with a younger and older brother so there’s a lot of good content and commentary on sibling rivalry and its trials. My kids at 6 and 8 might be a little young for some of the situations the kid experiences, but when they get there, they might find comfort in knowing that awkwardness and embarrassment are just part of growing up. Maybe they’ll re-read the wimpy series with new perspective.

Reading Up on the Band

Reading Up on the Band


 

Right now, they’re reading. And this is good. While my soon-to-be third grader, Ava, is sleuthing with Nancy Drew and alternately siding with Ivy and Bean, my 6-yr-old son is more hard-pressed to sit still and read. He doesn’t like to trust even the sight words yet, relying on the sound out each letter method. He wants to get it right. So serious. That’s why these books have been good for him – I hear him laughing. Likely pleased with himself too. I’m hoping Greg’s antics  – like faking an injury for attention – don’t give him ideas. Then there’s some bad language used that I really don’t want to hear coming out of my kids’ mouths.
 

So if I don’t like to see bad language in writing, why might I allow it on screen? Well, they wore me down (it’s been out since late March). I was still a bit reluctant when we rented the movie – Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Turns out it was good enough to watch three times (it was a miserably hot weekend anyway). The Wimpy Kid is a fine young actor, but Rodrick really stole the show for me as the feared, older, tormenting teenager. He was relentless in pursuit of maxing out laziness and perfecting how to get out of his homework. Obviously, as the drummer in Loded Diper, he had no time for school.

Calvin Rules

Calvin Rules


 

My kids seem to eat this stuff up  – Wow, Rodrick and Jeff had a party while the parents were away? What were Rodrick’s top ten ways to be lazy? Rewind. In between each slacker idea on the list, Rodrick connects with the camera – think Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – twirls his drumstick and gives a convincing sell.
 

Greg follows Rodrick as he shows him the ropes, ganging up on unsuspecting people leaving a convenient store who discover a gel mold of reusable vomit. They also eat an insane amount of junk food and mess up so badly on the most simple tasks given to them by their parents, that the exasperated parents just do it themselves.
 

Post movie the kids mimic Rodrick’s list delivery, incorporating some of their new taekwondo moves. Ava says she thinks Rodrick is s-weet. Uh-oh. But I agree – he’s charming. Oh, also there’s a cool mom too – she lays on the Julia Louis-Dreyfus dance moves pretty thick (not cool: Mom Bucks). And, finally, the boys who have been at odds most of the movie become best buds. The kids and I have some conversation about why most siblings just are this way – - between states of blissful camaraderie, or fighting, door-slamming annoyance. I cue them in: It’s only the beginning of their story.

 

Staycation’s All I Ever Wanted March 24, 2011

Filed under: Independence — edamomie @ 10:50 pm
Tags: , , ,

I: Independence

What did all of you parents do on Spring Break? I talked with parents last week, polling them. Some were heading to warm winter destinations. Some just took the week of of work and stayed home with their kids and did lots of fun stuff in the cities. Some continued to work, but had some pretty complex play-date schedules planned. Others shipped the kids to the grandparents for the week while they worked. Yet others shipped kids and themselves in different directions (kids to small town MN and grown-ups to Mexico, for example).

 

Unless you are living it up with Shamu and the kids at SeaWorld, you might feel some guilt about doing anything less than spectacular during their week off. I’m here to say, don’t. There is so much running and scheduling in the average week that just the kids being off of school is a relaxation treat in and of itself. No running for the 7:00a.m. bus. No evenings trying to fit practice, homework, dinner and a bath into their schedule. There is something to be said for the luxury of the non-schedule. Also note, in the small town Minnesota of my youth I hadn’t heard of schools having a week-long spring break. Already a perk for my little city-going children.

 

No Shamu, no Disney fairy princesses… It’s okay, really. If I had taken time off work and stayed in the cities with them, our week would have included King Tut at the Science Museum, art camp or classes at Abrakadoodle or a visit to The Works, a hands-on, minds-on museum all about engineering, science and technology. And maybe a movie… although they did walk out of Rango earlier this week with their grandmother as my 7-yr-old could not bear the ending she anticipated.

 

So here’s what we did do for break. No regrets. The kids spent Monday with grandma on one side and have been with their grandparents on the other side since Tuesday. I’m picking them up tomorrow. Until that point in time. I’m on vacation, even if I’m working.

 

Staycation Day 1:  Parents: Rainy. Cold. Flat tire on the way home. Uninterrupted reading by the fire. Dinner conversation.
Kids: Three hours in the car. Pretending to be ducks and dogs. All I get out of the daily phone check-in is a wack-wack and woof.

 

Secret Entrance from Parkway to Pepitos

Secret Entrance from Parkway to Pepitos

Staycation Day 2: Parents:  Freezing rain. Sleet. Snow. Heavy snow. Popcorn and soda for the big-screen at the historic Parkway Theater at 48th and Chicago. The King’s Speech. Dinner conversation.
Kids: Special time with their great auntie. Now they are so far-gone on collective agreement that they’re watching their own movies. Upon check-in, Calvin is still pretending to be a dog, now with a name – Arthur. Ava is pretending to be an architect.

 

Staycation Day 3: Parents: Slushy. Sunny. Optimism abound. Haircolor and bizarre appointment that ends with me looking like a new superhero – Octawoman. Date night in Uptown with a boy I like.
Kids:  Haven’t quite found time to check-in yet today…. too busy listening to Belinda and I hear her saying vacation’s meant to be spent alone. Until tomorrow at least.

 

I Saguaro, We’ll Be Back March 11, 2011

Filed under: Independence — edamomie @ 6:39 pm
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Starting a Fire at Greasewood Flats: A Good Idea?

Starting a Fire at Greasewood Flats: A Good Idea?

I: Independence

A good vacation should transport you. This past week in Scottsdale, Arizona and surroundings, we wanted to feel transported to the Southwest and tap into our inner cowboys. While I’m not willing to camp out under the desert stars with the rattlers, we did our fair share of hiking and visits to Greasewood Flats, Rawhide and the Rusty Spur.

 

The differences between the Midwest and Southwest as rediscovered through a 5 and 7-yr-old were heightened and interesting again. I recalled many times my memories of 6 maybe 7 extended trips to the area from ages 7 – 15. From temperature to landscape and language to lifestyle, everyday things continued to keep the inquisition flowing. Not to mention the nagging question for me, why didn’t I go to ASU? The kids wondered about the faraway illusion that cactus needles are soft and the close-up reality of their prickliness. Could you actually eat the oranges and lemons on the trees in our VRBO home’s backyard? Where did they come from? (we get ours at the store) Why can’t we start a fire at a bar in Minnesota?

 

I'd Saguaro I've Been Here Before

I'd Saguaro I've Been Here Before

Our answers unfolded throughout the short 4-day stay. It started with a trip to Greasewood Flats. This southwestern hang-out came straight out of Radiator Springs of Cars movie fame. The winding unpaved dusty roads leading to the joint had separate dunes breaking out horse, biker and truck parking. You could actually gather your own firewood and start a fire near your outdoor picnic table. There was live music, spurs, spit and dust – authentic alright, and a tough crowd you wouldn’t think sympathetic to my chasing a madder than all-get-out sleep deprived son around the premises. We left early.

 

Next day. An hour-long hike around Piestewa Peak (formerly known as Squaw Peak). And at 3:00p.m. in the afternoon, the trails had a hot and dusty, lazy feel to them. We took the circumference trail and shied away from the summit (the next day, grown-ups realized this was a wise choice).

 

There were at least four different major cacti that this city girl could discern. The terrain was rocky in parts, but very manageable for kids, not much traveled and satisfied their desire to explore. I’m happy to report that the only critters seen were in our ZipLoc bag of animal crackers Calvin couldn’t live without for the duration.

 

Head 'em Out: Rawhide

Head 'em Out: Rawhide

We spent the next few days living it up by the pool, golfing and visits to Taliesin and MIM and on the last day we went to Rawhide. Similar to the devastation that only a Griswold has felt, we arrived at the boarded up, shut down Rawhide at 1:00 in the afternoon. Apparently, Ghosttown was being featured that aft. (They are open 5-9 nightly). Sadly, we trek it back to Scottsdale.

 

Un-urban Cowboy

Un-urban Cowboy

Scottsdale’s Old Town was a easy visit. Ava and Calvin chatted it up with the locals. We bought some special “rocks” – jaspar and the like. After the women and children shopped, we met up with the boys who wandered into the Rusty Spur Saloon. Surprisingly good Mexican food and a live guitarist taking requests. We heard our second request of the vacation for Seminole Winds live (a favorite of Papa’s) and called it a vacation at that.

 

We said goodbye to the petroglyphs that adorn the roadsides, the great saguaros and the mountain shaped like a camel’s back. I swear, we’ll be back.

 

Lofty Ambitions for a Week of Flying Solo November 20, 2010

Filed under: Independence — edamomie @ 3:21 pm
Tags: , ,

I:  Independence


When I learned my husband was going to be out of town around the world for one week, I initially went into panic mode. But I had handled this type of situation swimmingly before, I could do it again. An opportunity.

 

LG - A Smooth Operator

LG - A Smooth Operator

Saturday 13: It began with a list that even before he was gone I was working on. It started with appliances. It might date me to say how insanely excited the purchase of new appliances – washer, dryer, microwave and vacuum – made me, but just last night a co-worker confirmed that yes, it is indeed thrilling.  The adrenaline rush was heightened by the wild cherry red (to which my mom acknowledged with an ohhh, which meant she thought I would probably regret this color choice later) and the blizzard en route to the St. Paul Warners’ Stellian Warehouse for their Extreme Sale. All worth it as the anticipation of waiting for delivery all week has actually put a smile on my face everyday. That started on Saturday the 13th and set the tone for the week.

 

Monday 15: He left early Monday a.m. The kids had a talking-to about how I’m extra specially counting on them to do their part this week. The chore charts were taped up on the wall in anticipation of the extreme efficiency with which we were going to operate. I’m happy to report that the 6:59a.m. bus was made 4 of 5 days. It’s only a short block’s walk to the stop with my 7-yr-old while my 5-yr-old explores his independence for 2-3 minutes at home. When asked, he says he just laid on the couch during that time. I lock the door, of course.

My Haven - A 2' Raise

My Haven - A 2' Raise

 

Monday night, after fortuitously finding that USABaby had extended their weekend sale through Monday (due to the blizzard), it was finally the moment for Calvin’s bed frame and dresser purchase. Without realizing it, I am on a color theme. I select Chili Pepper Red, again an ohhh from my Mom (just wait til I save up for the tangerine night stand). Calvin wondered what was wrong with his bed on the floor. How would he organize his clothes? Custom orders are a 6-8 week wait, so in theory I will be smiling until January about that purchase. It’s only Monday night and just look how much (damage) we have done.

 

Tuesday 16: Tonight was a visit to my friend Steph’s house to meet her new baby and give the kids (her son is 4) a chance to play. She’s lived in St. Paul for 5 years and lamely, I had never been to her house. This also is an amazingly good feeling to have time out of discussions with a group of girls at a restaurant/bar to reconnect not only with her, but get to know her kids. I fed Baby Logan her bottle, to which she lost most of its contents. My kids, wide-eyed wondered how I would handle the messy situation. We talked about it later – how not to panic. Calvin noted that we wouldn’t want to imply that we didn’t like her baby.

 

Wednesday 17: Today was a social media seminar and the launch of this blog which kept me up til midnight.

Laziness Turns to Evil

Laziness Turns to Evil

 

Thursday 18: A trip to the dentist. We didn’t actually see the dentist, mind you. We were late so had to reschedule. We were not going to let this get us down (actually my son was overjoyed). Solution: Southdale. I got my much needed make-up while the kids tested lotions at Aveda. They got their xmas outfits (you know the usual deals you get 25% off and an additional deal the store clerk whispers that she’ll give you on top of that – the norm these days). And we topped everything off with Megamind. More on this later under “Y” for Yeses and Recommendations. I will say I found humor in the off pronunciations of words like Metrocity (Met TRA city; think monstrosity) and melancholy (Mel LAN choly), reminiscent of my Dad’s southmore for sophomore and IT ly for Italy.

 

Friday 19: Finally Friday. The annual awards celebration for work in the eve. Dual babysitters and arrangements. Uncle Pauly did the first shift and one of their regular babysitters showed up with her cousin for the later shift. Home at midnight and a quick check of my email yielded good news that helped me sleep soundly – the husband was going to be home a day early, for lunch on Saturday.

 

We did well with our independence. There is a sense of accomplishment. No illnesses, no regrets. Next time, I’m going with him. Check.

 

 
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