Just A Little Off Kilter....

This is going to sound ridiculous, but I used to find myself being envious of my cats. I would be leaving for work in the morning after having stayed up too late writing/watching late night TV and there they would be, cuddled on the bed, ready to take a luxurious, uninterrupted, hours-long nap. They have no job to worry about and no bills to pay. They never have to think: “Hmmmm, what am I going to make for dinner tonight?” Yes. Being a well cared for, domesticated, house cat seemed to have a lot of perks until I realized that much of my life would consist of sleeping and staying in-doors and that I would have to eat the same meal every day for the rest of my life. In fact, all my decisions would be made for me, and I would be vulnerable to my steward’s whim. Then, there’s the whole having to groom oneself and the pooping in a box and the shortened life span. All of a sudden, it’s not all apple-pie and sunshine in the life of a cat. Now that I have Lochlan, I often find myself thinkin...

I’m madly in love with the concept of raising creative children, of raising dreamers. Here’s what I’ve learned in my home that works for us to keep the hope and the dreaming going.... Space ~ Kids need room to explore and be and do. This could be inside or outside, their room or the family room. Anywhere that sshhh and too messy don’t apply. I'm excited about setting up "Lochlan's Space" when we move into our new home next month. Time ~ Kids need free time, as in unstructured, unplanned, unmonitored time. This is so hard to get some days as two working parents but it’s there if we zoom out and let them be sometimes. Tech/No Tech ~ Kids need access to the things that intrigue them. Some of what they want to create can be enhanced by cool things online. But they also need time in their own heads to explore and imagine and create. There’s a balance here of course but we do allow Lochlan to have the iPad on the weekends. “I can’t wait to see what you come up w...

What do you call a crying Camel? 
A humpback wail ☺

The other day I ran into someone I've met a handful of times. She is someone whose name I actually remember but I know her in only the strictest professional sense. We are polite. Cordial, even. But we are not chummy. So it makes perfect sense that the following took place. We say hello to each other. And then she extends her arm. Which I naturally take to mean she wants to hug me. I mean, sure I think it's weird. After all, we're polite. Cordial, even. But definitely not chummy. Certainly not huggers. Then I think, maybe she's resolved to give more hugs this year. Perhaps it was one of her 2017 New Year's Resolutions and time is running out to meet that goal...2018 will soon be here.  Not wanting to be the one who stands in the way of her fulfilling her New Year's Resolutions, I... Lean... In... I'm getting closer. It's almost time for our hug. And then I see her face. And so it occurs to me... She does not want to hug you! Abort! Abort! Do. Not. H...

Twenty nine days and counting until we move into our new home. I'm so freaking excited!

Seems like it’s hard being a three year old... His sock is on wrong. His lip tastes salty. His shirt has a tag on it. The car seat is weird. He’s hungry, but he doesn't want to eat food. Someone touched his knee. He’s not allowed in the oven. I picked out the wrong pants. The cat looked at him. The other cat didn’t look at him. His hair is heavy. He doesn’t want to get out of the car. He wants to get out of the car by himself. His sleeve is touching his thumb. He doesn’t understand how popsicles are made. The inside of his nose stinks. Chicken is gross. A balloon he got six months ago is missing. The gummi vitamin is too firm. YouTube kids is slow. He jumped off the couch and we weren’t watching. He’s not allowed to touch fire. A shoe should fit either foot. I asked him a question. I'm talking. He can’t lift a dump truck. The cat is in his way. The cat won’t let him touch its eyeball. The in...

Here are just a few of things that I've done in the past three years that I would not have done previously... Put peanut butter on a piece of toast while peeing. Brush someone’s teeth against their will. Blow on food while it’s in someone else’s mouth. Help someone else blow on food while it’s in someone else’s mouth. Eat food that’s fallen out of someone else’s mouth. Eat food you found on the floor. Chase someone at full speed through Home Depot. Eat more then a dozen snack size chocolate bars at 4 am while watching Paw Patrol...alone. Sing the Paw Patrol theme song to yourself while driving...alone. Bribe someone to poop with a Dora fruit flavored gummy vitamin. Eat food you found under the table. Eat candy you found in a shoe. Wipe somebody’s nose with your bare hand. Eat baby food. Give yourself a crotch bath with baby wipes.    Pretend you’re terrible at basketball using a toddler sized net. Finish someone else’s soggy cereal. Blame...