Tag: child

  • He Won’t Eat Goldfish Crackers?

    He Won’t Eat Goldfish Crackers?

    For my first two children, I had a rule that starting at age 3, they needed to try a bite of each item on their plates. However, it is clear that Noah feels that food is the one thing he can control and that most of it is gross. Upon the advice of his pediatrician, I have given…

  • Little Wandering Daughter

    Little Wandering Daughter

    As I drove out tonight, I looked up and saw the full moon in the sky. I took a moment to acknowledge my place underneath it. As I started driving again, I drove down the street past other cars, and we were like ants scurrying along on our busy way, oblivious beneath the moon. And…

  • Like Putty in My…Hair

    Like Putty in My…Hair

    I drifted awake this morning, trying to decide if I should get up and hustle us to church or not. One of my kids loves going to church and asks if we can go more often whenever we’ve skipped. Another of my kids hates church, and I have to overcome a lot of unhappiness to…

  • “Me Time”

    “Me Time”

    People are always saying how important it is to take time for yourself. “Me time.” You read this in magazines, and people announce that you need this when you look frazzled. It’s not just something that would be nice, but it’s something that’s necessary for health. Just Google it and you’ll find at least half…

  • Unsolved Mysteries

    Unsolved Mysteries

    My house would be a great setting for a mystery show or book. It’s full of problems, crime scenes, suspects, and evidence. What we seem to be lacking is the Encylopedia Brown, DCS Foyle, or Jessica Fletcher. Here’s a list of heretofore unsolved mysteries: 1) Why the refrigerator smells. 2) Where all the shoes have gone. ALL the…

  • Gamblin’ Man

    Gamblin’ Man

    On Wednesday, Noah had his first soccer practice. He’s not quite four, so my expectations were not high. When the other kids were four, if memory serves, I basically watched their whole teams spontaneously, simultaneously fall down over and over, throughout the entire game, every game. There was very little ball kicking, and quite a…

  • Nap

    Nap

    Small body, he lies beside me in my bed He snuggles his doggie into my neck And I’m not sure If he’s entrusting me with it Or if he’s entrusting it with me   His soft belly rises and falls He complains a little bit Just for show But we are both happy to be…

  • Three! Three? Three!

    Three! Three? Three!

    At the most recent Writers Who Wine gathering, one woman said, “Oh, I just LOVE three year olds! That’s the best age!” Wrinkling her nose, another woman asserted, “No. It’s the worst age. Three year olds are just awful!” Before I had kids, I would have agreed with woman one. After I’d had one and…

  • No-No

    No-No

    I call my youngest son No-no. His name is Noah, so it’s short for Noah. But at this age, not quite three, it’s also no coincidence, really. No-no (also goes by No-ee) is really a very sweet baby. I say this about him at an age in which I would already have been calling my…

  • Scientific Chart of Literacy Stages

    Scientific Chart of Literacy Stages

    An exciting thing is happening: my nearly five year old is learning to write! This is the second time I’ve had the privilege of watching the process unfold, and so you might call me a bit of a literacy “expert.” Thus I have developed standards to determine what stage of literacy your child is currently…