Sunday afternoon I had reached my limits of maternal patience when it came to my picky eaters. Will won't even eat grape jelly on his pb&js anymore and Charlie has suddenly turned his nose up at them entirely. Mary is the only one who eats meat in any form, but only chicken and hotdogs. In any normal household she would be considered an incredibly picky eater. It requires a united front and an iron will to overcome the battle of wills that can change this stubborness, so it has always failed. Tim is easily swayed with emotion when it comes to the children and gives in before anything has been resolved. The last time I tried this method, so simply described in parenting books, Will started throwing up after eating nothing for 3 days. I gave up in defeat. But, I can't stand it any longer. The children need to learn to eat normal food and I need to give up life as a short-order cook.
So... after no dinner was served Sunday evening we began the next morning. A meal was served and if they refused there was nothing until the next meal except water. Only 1/4 cup of milk was served with food, unless they finished what was on their plate.
Breakfast: scrambled eggs
Will: ate nothing
Maggie: ate nothing
Charlie: ate nothing
Mary: ate 3 helpings
Lunch: ham sandwiches
Will: ate 1/4 of a sandwich
Maggie: ate nothing
Charlie: picked at the bread
Mary: ate her 1/2 sandwich and then ate an entire pb&j
Dinner: stewed chicken and rice
Will: ate nothing
Maggie: ate 5 grains of rice
Charlie: ate 2 spoonfuls of rice
Mary: ate nothing
Last night I was up every hour with a child throwing up (except for Mary) and a crying baby, who was woken up twice. In between I had nightmarish visions of starving Irish children during the Potato Famine, feeling a kinship with the mothers who had nothing to feed their children and watching them die of hunger one after another.
I blame myself that I didn't know what I was doing in teaching my children to eat a variety of foods when they were babies. With late coming teeth and no guidance from anyone except those blasted books, I have led them to this moment. Hopefully they will eat the oatmeal I put before them for breakfast and whatever we decide for lunch and dinner. I want this torture to be over as much as they do, so please eat children, please.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
frame of reference
After examining a $5 bill, Charlie pointed to the building on the back, "What this?"
"It's the Lincoln Memorial."
"Made out of Lincoln Logs?" a look of hopeful expectation on his face.
"Uhhh... (long pause, as my brain scrambles, "aha, a teaching moment and I could use our chart of Presidents, look up some photos of the site on the internet... oh, forget it, he is 3, he will learn this, but not today.")
"Yes, made of Lincoln Logs sweetie."
I have a feeling that next year when we move to DC and go see the monuments, there is going to be one little boy disappointed when he sees ol' Abe surrounded by granite.
"It's the Lincoln Memorial."
"Made out of Lincoln Logs?" a look of hopeful expectation on his face.
"Uhhh... (long pause, as my brain scrambles, "aha, a teaching moment and I could use our chart of Presidents, look up some photos of the site on the internet... oh, forget it, he is 3, he will learn this, but not today.")
"Yes, made of Lincoln Logs sweetie."
I have a feeling that next year when we move to DC and go see the monuments, there is going to be one little boy disappointed when he sees ol' Abe surrounded by granite.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
summer fun
Today we drove into town for Maine's National Boatbuilding Challenge. There were 9 teams of 2 professional woodworkers and a time limit of 5 hours to build a wooden dingy to match the boat plans. Afterwards there were relay races to prove (or disprove) the soundness of their craft. One team finished over an hour before everyone else, but the guys couldn't row for squat. One poor team forgot to bring oars and had to make some from their leftover lumber- they came in dead last. And the boat that had the whole crowd roaring with laughter and moaning with expectation barely made it back to the dock to save it from a sure and sudden sinking.
Will and Mary were in the children's rowing contest and he won 3rd place overall and received a wooden oar titled: Triple Load Award (for having 3 people in his boat) 1st place. Mary was upset that she wasn't allowed to row her own boat (she sat in Will's), and sulked until she blurted out, "I want to make my OWN boat!"
Talk to your Daddy about it babe, I can't nail two boards together.
I overhead some boys talking to their father on the beach, "Dad we only have 5 weeks left of summer vacation and we haven't done anything fun."
"Uhhh, you got to go skiing one time on the lake, uhhhh."
One of the reasons Tim and I sacrifice our time together in the summer is so the kids have enjoyable childhood memories in Maine. Their summers are filled with day trips and ice cream cones, shooting rockets, tractor rides, and days at the fair. We only have a short time to pack as much in as possible. I certainly hope that when we move up to Maine for good we don't become complacent and let summer pass us by with no time for fun and family togetherness.
Will and Mary were in the children's rowing contest and he won 3rd place overall and received a wooden oar titled: Triple Load Award (for having 3 people in his boat) 1st place. Mary was upset that she wasn't allowed to row her own boat (she sat in Will's), and sulked until she blurted out, "I want to make my OWN boat!"
Talk to your Daddy about it babe, I can't nail two boards together.
I overhead some boys talking to their father on the beach, "Dad we only have 5 weeks left of summer vacation and we haven't done anything fun."
"Uhhh, you got to go skiing one time on the lake, uhhhh."
One of the reasons Tim and I sacrifice our time together in the summer is so the kids have enjoyable childhood memories in Maine. Their summers are filled with day trips and ice cream cones, shooting rockets, tractor rides, and days at the fair. We only have a short time to pack as much in as possible. I certainly hope that when we move up to Maine for good we don't become complacent and let summer pass us by with no time for fun and family togetherness.
Friday, July 27, 2007
ice cream, anyone?
I was watching Will yesterday at the beach on our 4th swimming expedition this week and was startled to notice how skinny he is, I can actually count all his ribs and his knees look more than a little knobby. Worried, I called up a nurse friend and asked her to consult her growth chart and see what he should be weighing. She reassured me that he was on the thin side, 25th% for weight and 15th% for height, but nothing a few extra trips to the ice cream store won't cure. Luckily, going out for ice cream seems to be one of Maine's summer pastimes, there must be 5 ice cream stands within 15 minutes of home. Our favorite flavors from the downtown shop are oreo, peppermint, chocolate custard, and cinnamon gelato. Last evening I hit the jackpot, getting Charlie's 1/2 eaten cone as well as my own, but then I had to share with the baby. Yes, Will got 2 scoops, rather than the kiddy cone like everyone else.
He and Mary have been rather active this summer with bike trips to the pool, sailing lessons, camp hikes, and chopping down saplings in the woods. Mary eats more foods so I don't worry so much about her calorie intake. With my fears about malnutrition put to rest, he and I can be grateful that I don't work so he can be ferried about to all these activities and certainly not be concerned about potential childhood obesity.
MIDDLE CLASS WORKING MOTHERS FUEL OBESITY
...childhood obesity is soaring in middle-class families where mothers go out to work and spend less time at home. The risk is even higher for children cared for by a nanny or placed in other forms of childcare while their parents work, the study found. Children with childcare were 24 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese than children cared for by their mother or her partner.
...The new research shows, instead, that obesity increases in direct correlation with family income. And in higher-income homes, the longer the mother works each week, the greater the chances of her child being overweight. The report, published in the International Journal of Obesity, concludes that, "Long hours of maternal employment, rather than lack of money, may impede young children's access to healthy foods and physical activity."
London Telegraph, July 23
He and Mary have been rather active this summer with bike trips to the pool, sailing lessons, camp hikes, and chopping down saplings in the woods. Mary eats more foods so I don't worry so much about her calorie intake. With my fears about malnutrition put to rest, he and I can be grateful that I don't work so he can be ferried about to all these activities and certainly not be concerned about potential childhood obesity.
MIDDLE CLASS WORKING MOTHERS FUEL OBESITY
...childhood obesity is soaring in middle-class families where mothers go out to work and spend less time at home. The risk is even higher for children cared for by a nanny or placed in other forms of childcare while their parents work, the study found. Children with childcare were 24 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese than children cared for by their mother or her partner.
...The new research shows, instead, that obesity increases in direct correlation with family income. And in higher-income homes, the longer the mother works each week, the greater the chances of her child being overweight. The report, published in the International Journal of Obesity, concludes that, "Long hours of maternal employment, rather than lack of money, may impede young children's access to healthy foods and physical activity."
London Telegraph, July 23
summer reading
Sitting in a cool air conditioned library curled up with a good book is one of summer's great pleasures. Especially when it is 90 degrees outside and the kids are all sweaty and cranky. I took advantage of having two babysitters at my disposal today to get a morning run out of the way and then attempted to give blood this afternoon. After I was rejected for low iron counts, I escaped the heat by swinging over to the library to pick up a new stack of mysteries.
Last night I finished one by a new promising author Maggie Barbieri, entitled Murder 101. The main character is a 30-something professor who finds herself a murder suspect and strongly attracted to one of the NYPD detectives investigating. I admit that I actually cried at the end, not a typical response to a book for me. Her next book comes out in November, which I will certainly look for at the local library.
Last night I finished one by a new promising author Maggie Barbieri, entitled Murder 101. The main character is a 30-something professor who finds herself a murder suspect and strongly attracted to one of the NYPD detectives investigating. I admit that I actually cried at the end, not a typical response to a book for me. Her next book comes out in November, which I will certainly look for at the local library.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
a little too much wildlife
In one 24 hour period:
In the process of painting the outside trim I disturbed a nest of wasps living in the eaves of the house. After being stung once while on the ladder, I found out the hard way that leftover foam spray from last year is not effective. "This stuff doesn't seem to work," then dropping the can and sprinting for the door while hearing a chorus of "Run Mommy!" from the windows. After a trip to the hardware store for fresh spray and expanding foam I killed all the nasty creatures and plugged up their hole.
That night I awoke that night to a horrid odor wafting through the house and realized that our summer skunk visitor has returned. Last year I was puzzled at all the little divots in the yard were until I woke early to see a large skunk waddling through the backyard digging up grubs for his breakfast. Well, the interruption in my sleep gave me an opportunity to catch up on my blog reading, so I took advantage and returned to bed an hour or so later.
The raccoon was spotted by Will in the morning wading across the stream, likely with a snack gleaned from our compost pile. The kids have the chore of emptying the slop pail into the pile and rarely remember to throw a handful of wood chips over it to discourage the bugs. Last year we think a raccoon took off with the results of a banana bread experiment gone bad. We only discovered it because I accidentally left the bread machine paddle in the loaf and when I rummaged, okay dismantled, the entire 3 foot high compost pile in a panic to find it, it was completely gone. Since nothing can decompose in 3 days, we theorized that the essential metal piece was somewhere in the woods and had to be replaced. I learned from my costly error and now always take the paddle out right after removing the bread from the machine!
If we encounter this many wild creatures around our house in town (once we even spotted two deer grazing in the backyard), I can't imagine what we will see next summer when living on the farm. Our neighbors up there told us about a moose wandering out in our fields this spring, and a month ago I almost ran over a huge snapping turtle sunning itself it on our road. For a second I debated getting out and moving the "poor thing". Later I found out that these creatures are vicious on land and would have likely bitten my finger off.
In the process of painting the outside trim I disturbed a nest of wasps living in the eaves of the house. After being stung once while on the ladder, I found out the hard way that leftover foam spray from last year is not effective. "This stuff doesn't seem to work," then dropping the can and sprinting for the door while hearing a chorus of "Run Mommy!" from the windows. After a trip to the hardware store for fresh spray and expanding foam I killed all the nasty creatures and plugged up their hole.
That night I awoke that night to a horrid odor wafting through the house and realized that our summer skunk visitor has returned. Last year I was puzzled at all the little divots in the yard were until I woke early to see a large skunk waddling through the backyard digging up grubs for his breakfast. Well, the interruption in my sleep gave me an opportunity to catch up on my blog reading, so I took advantage and returned to bed an hour or so later.
The raccoon was spotted by Will in the morning wading across the stream, likely with a snack gleaned from our compost pile. The kids have the chore of emptying the slop pail into the pile and rarely remember to throw a handful of wood chips over it to discourage the bugs. Last year we think a raccoon took off with the results of a banana bread experiment gone bad. We only discovered it because I accidentally left the bread machine paddle in the loaf and when I rummaged, okay dismantled, the entire 3 foot high compost pile in a panic to find it, it was completely gone. Since nothing can decompose in 3 days, we theorized that the essential metal piece was somewhere in the woods and had to be replaced. I learned from my costly error and now always take the paddle out right after removing the bread from the machine!
If we encounter this many wild creatures around our house in town (once we even spotted two deer grazing in the backyard), I can't imagine what we will see next summer when living on the farm. Our neighbors up there told us about a moose wandering out in our fields this spring, and a month ago I almost ran over a huge snapping turtle sunning itself it on our road. For a second I debated getting out and moving the "poor thing". Later I found out that these creatures are vicious on land and would have likely bitten my finger off.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Sneakers, Intro
Tim's blog, Catholic Medical Weekly, is posting his short story, The Sneakers. We tried to get it published, looked into self-publishing ($10K), and then let it sit in the drawer for 6 months.
It is a really well written story involving love, Catholicism, and babies- all important topics, and here rolled into one. Check it out!
It is a really well written story involving love, Catholicism, and babies- all important topics, and here rolled into one. Check it out!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Happy Birthday Will!
Wow.
Has it really been 9 years since Tim and I began the parenting journey? I remember (not so originally) wondering why they were letting us walk out the hospital door with this tiny creature. I had never held a baby or changed a diaper, much less been totally responsible for another human life before.
Today at the pond I heard an older gentleman praise you, saying how well spoken you are, how polite and kind you are to your siblings. Perhaps I haven't done too badly in the last 9 years and I did manage to keep you clean and fed.
Will, you are a great kid. It sometimes seems you have a lot of responsibility heaped on your shoulders, but you make me proud. You have an infectious sense of fun, a generous heart, a helpful attitude, and a gift for all things mechanical. If you follow a path of attempting to do God's will, then the future is bright with possibilities.
May God look down on you and smile, my precious first-born little boy.
Has it really been 9 years since Tim and I began the parenting journey? I remember (not so originally) wondering why they were letting us walk out the hospital door with this tiny creature. I had never held a baby or changed a diaper, much less been totally responsible for another human life before.
Today at the pond I heard an older gentleman praise you, saying how well spoken you are, how polite and kind you are to your siblings. Perhaps I haven't done too badly in the last 9 years and I did manage to keep you clean and fed.
Will, you are a great kid. It sometimes seems you have a lot of responsibility heaped on your shoulders, but you make me proud. You have an infectious sense of fun, a generous heart, a helpful attitude, and a gift for all things mechanical. If you follow a path of attempting to do God's will, then the future is bright with possibilities.
May God look down on you and smile, my precious first-born little boy.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
footwear
I did it, I went and bought a pair of those ugly Croc shoes (I got red) everyone in Maine seems to be wearing. I feared they would make my size 9 feet look even bigger and the bright colors do make them resemble clown shoes, but...
I love them.
They can go to the beach, out to the compost pile in the rain, even to a friend's house so I can easily slip them off while still holding the baby so I don't track mud in her clean home.
But don't ever think you will see me wearing them at Mass- it would just be the height of tackiness.
edited to add: I did buy an off brand at the overstock store for only $7, but they look the same.
I love them.
They can go to the beach, out to the compost pile in the rain, even to a friend's house so I can easily slip them off while still holding the baby so I don't track mud in her clean home.
But don't ever think you will see me wearing them at Mass- it would just be the height of tackiness.
edited to add: I did buy an off brand at the overstock store for only $7, but they look the same.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
small town fun
There was a festival in town today complete with a parade, games, food, and music. The parade wasn't anything close to Macy's, in fact all it was were some old cars, lots of fire engines, but lots of candy thrown from trucks, and that is what makes a parade successful in our eyes. The children's area was filled with free games and the girls each got a pony ride. Will and Mary scored many prizes, including several which they picked out for their younger siblings. There were patriotic songs, a dunk-a-cop tank, which Will nailed on the first try, and $1 kiddy ice cream cones. The children had a fantastic time racing from one activity to another while baby Timmy fell asleep in my arms.
Cost: $6.
Memories: priceless.
Friday, July 20, 2007
made a new friend today
After a run and lunch I made the kids all put on their boots to drive up to the farm to check out progress on our building project. After seeing that indeed, we do now have a leach field and lots of piles of fill we drove up to the farm at the other end of the road.
The mom is my age and it is just amazing how much we have in common. Kiki homeschools her 4 kids, runs, loves to farm even though she grew up in suburbs, in fact, the similarities are so strong that I'm wondering if we might be twins separated at birth. We had a great time chatting over a cup of tea and while I know she will be a great farming resource, she is also a great person with whom I look forward to enjoying many years of friendship.
The mom is my age and it is just amazing how much we have in common. Kiki homeschools her 4 kids, runs, loves to farm even though she grew up in suburbs, in fact, the similarities are so strong that I'm wondering if we might be twins separated at birth. We had a great time chatting over a cup of tea and while I know she will be a great farming resource, she is also a great person with whom I look forward to enjoying many years of friendship.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
twisted logic
At the lunch table the other day:
Mary- "Does eating crusts really make your hair curly? (looking at her makes you immediately think Ramona Quimby stick straight brown hair)
Will- "Of course. I've seen lots of people with curly hair and they eat their crusts."
Mary- "Does eating crusts really make your hair curly? (looking at her makes you immediately think Ramona Quimby stick straight brown hair)
Will- "Of course. I've seen lots of people with curly hair and they eat their crusts."
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
up 3 pounds
If you run 4 miles every day it doesn't matter what you eat or drink, your weight tends to stay stable. But... if your babysitter goes to Canada for a week's vacation, then a Cocacola at lunch and a beer with dinner adds about 1 pound per day.
Luckily our babysitter extraordinaire returns Monday afternoon, 'cause I'm certainly not giving up my liquid sustenance.
Luckily our babysitter extraordinaire returns Monday afternoon, 'cause I'm certainly not giving up my liquid sustenance.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Catholic meme
Ages ago someone tagged me for a 5 favorite Catholic hymns meme and I did go through our parish's homemade hymnal, in which I found all the old favorites that even I tone-deaf girl extraordinaire, can sing. But as we were in the midst of moving the scrap of paper was packed away and just came to light. Let me know if perhaps some are your favorites too.
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Holy, Holy, Holy
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Almighty Father Strong to Save
The last is otherwise known as the Navy hymn, which sends me into great gushes of tears every time I hear it. They played it at my grandfather's funeral 3 years ago and very appropriately, since he retired from the US Navy after 35 years of service to our country.
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Holy, Holy, Holy
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Almighty Father Strong to Save
The last is otherwise known as the Navy hymn, which sends me into great gushes of tears every time I hear it. They played it at my grandfather's funeral 3 years ago and very appropriately, since he retired from the US Navy after 35 years of service to our country.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
My, your hands are full!
There are some mothers, like a friend here in Maine who just had her 4th baby, who make all this mothering business look like a piece of cake. Her children are polite, eat what is put in front of them, are good at Mass, and are several grade levels ahead of their peers. She is always calm and unflappable, she nurses in public with the greatest discretion, even with a newborn. She can potty train a toddler while holding a baby, with lunch in the oven for company and not even look ruffled.
And then there are the rest of us. 'Cause, I don't think I am the only overwhelmed mommy of many.
One look at our household and you see mothering a large group of small children as the hard work it really is. I do the same things my friend does, but I break into a sweat at just the prospect of having to perform two tasks simultaneously and end up spit stained and wrinkled everyday.
Take this morning (please), awaking at 6:30 I had to start right in with cleaning up the cat's litter box and bulimia mess, getting Charlie's milk, nursing the baby and changing his nappie, all without even the benefit of a cup of hot cocoa first. Then at breakfast I managed to overcook the girl's Ovaltine in the microwave and spilled it all down the front of the cabinets, on the floor, and filling a drawer full of utensils. Mass starts at 8:30 so there is little time for anything but breakfast, dressing, and bolting for the car, but I managed to get everything wiped up and in the dishwasher. Everything at Mass went along swimmingly except Timmy couldn't stop squirming in my arms reaching for milk, Cheerios and baby books to chew on. In exhaustion, I handed him to Mary, who was begging to hold him, only to have him fling his little chin on the pew and start spurting blood out of his mouth. Timmy started screaming, I hissed to Mary to hand my wipes, while Charlie wouldn't budge from his precious position on my lap. Amazing to me, a tourist couple that had been sitting behind us complimented me on the children's behavior. Standing in the parish hall watching them eat their much deserved doughnuts they looked like little angels but I was a disheveled mess.
Even though I feel constantly overwhelmed, it seems everywhere I went this week I heard wonderful comments like, "God bless you my dear," and "You have a beautiful family." God knew I needed it just to make it through the day.
And then there are the rest of us. 'Cause, I don't think I am the only overwhelmed mommy of many.
One look at our household and you see mothering a large group of small children as the hard work it really is. I do the same things my friend does, but I break into a sweat at just the prospect of having to perform two tasks simultaneously and end up spit stained and wrinkled everyday.
Take this morning (please), awaking at 6:30 I had to start right in with cleaning up the cat's litter box and bulimia mess, getting Charlie's milk, nursing the baby and changing his nappie, all without even the benefit of a cup of hot cocoa first. Then at breakfast I managed to overcook the girl's Ovaltine in the microwave and spilled it all down the front of the cabinets, on the floor, and filling a drawer full of utensils. Mass starts at 8:30 so there is little time for anything but breakfast, dressing, and bolting for the car, but I managed to get everything wiped up and in the dishwasher. Everything at Mass went along swimmingly except Timmy couldn't stop squirming in my arms reaching for milk, Cheerios and baby books to chew on. In exhaustion, I handed him to Mary, who was begging to hold him, only to have him fling his little chin on the pew and start spurting blood out of his mouth. Timmy started screaming, I hissed to Mary to hand my wipes, while Charlie wouldn't budge from his precious position on my lap. Amazing to me, a tourist couple that had been sitting behind us complimented me on the children's behavior. Standing in the parish hall watching them eat their much deserved doughnuts they looked like little angels but I was a disheveled mess.
Even though I feel constantly overwhelmed, it seems everywhere I went this week I heard wonderful comments like, "God bless you my dear," and "You have a beautiful family." God knew I needed it just to make it through the day.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
I can post pictures!
Though the computer's loading capability is slower than molasses in winter.
Here are some of the famous lupines in Maine. The road crews do not mow the edges where there are clumps so the seedpods have time to dry and scatter their seeds for next year. We like to read the lupine lady storybook, Miss Rumphius, about this time every year.
Here is a post about my newest quilting project, a king-size split 9 patch in blue and white, now with a photo.
Here is a post about our new 12 passenger van.
Here is a post showing our yellow and white kitchen painting project.
Here is a post showing the lovely blue paint on the kitchen table and benches. This was taken before the rain came and made the paint peel off the top. They are now all fixed and in the kitchen. Due to a little seridipidy we might have a tenant for the house this fall. So, I hit the hardware store again this morning and bought 2 more gallons of blue and green, time to start the bedrooms!
Friday, July 13, 2007
slo-mo horror
Is when you erroneously decide that the baby opening his mouth extra wide means he is eager for more mush, not that he is preparing for an enormous sneeze.
Another shower Mommy?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
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