The Karate Kids

Emma and Sofia started karate this month. They both seem to like it. Sofia is enthusiastic and loved by all but, as usual, is having some focusing problems. Although she often refused to dance in dance class, sometimes she dances around the karate room. Emma seems to be pretty good. She smiles throughout class and appears to be learning quickly.

The most interesting thing about the karate classes is the teacher. He happens to have taught at my high school when I was attending but he is probably most famous for an appearance on a little reality show called Survivor. Does anyone remember Bruce Kanegai from Survivor: Panama?

The Power of Children to Motivate

Well, I spent the morning goofing off a bit at work trying to research tire chains! My daughter Emma and I are scheduled to go to Big Bear for a camping trip this weekend. We will stay in some cabins as part of this Adventure Guide activity. I have been pretty excited about playing in the snow with Emma. However, I also have been looking forward to carpooling with a friend and her daughter, partly because they are such fun to be with, and partly because she is a frequent visitor to Big Bear and agreed to drive.

I have a fairly big fear of driving in the snow. This stems from living in Northern Mississippi for several years and too many incidents of being in my car as it slid down a big hill into other cars and sliding on the ice patches on the roads with some spectacular near misses. I would be happy never to drive in snow or ice conditions ever again. Alas, my friend has been sick all week and still is not sure whether she will be going. So there is a good chance I will have to drive to Big Bear if I want to go this weekend with my daughter!

Now if this were just me, I am sure I would have cancelled in a heartbeat, even though I am cheap and I had to prepay!! However, as I research tire chains today, i know i just can not disappoint my daughter who is so very excited about camping with her friends and playing the the snow. Never underestimate the power of your love for your children to motivate you to do things you really would rather not do!

A Trip to Faeryland

Well we went on a trip to faeryland today. The girls and i joined my daughter's Adventure Guide tribe and went on A Faery Hunt. It was held in one of our local parks and I have to admit it was a bit corny but it was a lot of fun for us all, from kids to adults. The actors were very engaging and enthusiastic. We spent a few hours in a beautiful park outside. It was definitely a fun reminder of how important it is to believe in magic and do something that has no purpose but to experience joy and a good time!

Frances and Elsie led us on the faery hunt. You might remember the story about Frances Griffith and Elsie Wright -- the girls who took the pictures of the Beck Faeries in Cottingley, England. Our path through the forest led us to meet many faeries and the faery queen, as well as a troll, a gnome, and even a love interest for the faery queen.

The Up Side of Being a Mom

I feel the need today to brag a bit on my beautiful children. My girls are 6 and 3. I am undoubtedly biased, but they are beautiful. Both have independent minds of their own which can drive me crazy from time to time.

My oldest is about to lose her very first tooth. She is so excited about that. She is sure she knows everything. She is in the middle of 1st grade and her reading is amazing. I know it must be very hard work to be a teacher and I have NEVER wanted to be a teacher. I can not imagine how they have so much patience. But at times now, i can see it must be so exciting to start with a child in kindergarten who really is unable to read and have them become avid readers and to know that you were the one who accomplished that amazing change! She loves to read right now and I hope she always enjoys it. I have always wanted my children to love to read as much as me, but have secretly feared my fate will be to have kids who don't enjoy reading!

My youngest is so smart and active, but we still are having a big problem with the potty training. Too many trials and tribulations to go into, but we have dealt with negative reinforcement from daycare providers, the same daycare kicking her out for having too many accidents, and now some disinterest in toileting when it is easier to go in a pull up. I waffle between letting her do whatever and keeping her in pull-ups until she shows interest again or putting those panties back on and trying to move forward. Depends on which day you catch me. I try to be consistent, but even at day-care they feel the need to put her in a pull-up if she has too many accidents in the day, so it feels pointless sometimes to keep her in panties at home and be cleaning up pee and poop all day!

On a more positive note, she is always smiling and seems to be a sponge able to copy anything her older sister says or does! (one quote from yesterday, "Stop it mom, I'm serious!!!") She loves to dance and currently appears to have more energy than control. She has also been a bit brainwashed by having an older sister who is a very girly girl. We love the princesses and especially Cinderella and doing anything her big sister does.