Hi all! Just a quick post to remind you all that Blog Out Loud is tonight. This is a first for me. I'm so excited to be a part of this event and reading alongside some great Ottawa-area bloggers.
Check out the fantastic write-up on Cartoon-Coloured Glasses. Sheer comedy gold, it says! I'm so flattered. Can I put that on a resume?
If you're looking to say hello, I'll be the one with the blue-stained hands. Probably shouldn't have done an activity with food colouring yesterday.
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
The Art Process
I have a sneaking suspicion that my older son may not currently be the biggest fan of doing art.
In addition to these (surprisingly tactful, for a three-year-old) responses, I was once invited to finish a project for him. "You can do the rest, Mama." Can I? Great. I was hoping you'd get out of the way and let me have at that googly-eyed toilet paper roll bunny.
I learned long ago that he doesn't like "messy" stuff like apparently all toddlers do. No problem; I don't want our kitchen to smell like shaving cream anyways. But it seems these days that art in general isn't his thing.
It's fine. He doesn't have to like art. He's a smart, curious kid, but just not about that right now.
I would, however, like to stop making a lot of work for myself for no reason. (I touched on this in my Pintimidating post last year).
See what I mean in this visual of the art process, in terms of time and effort:
It's all those fabulous preschooler blogs I subscribe to! I get all inspired to channel my teacher self and let my kids create and develop skills through exploring new materials (and maybe try them out myself).
I used to teach Kindergarten. Shouldn't I be good at this?
I know!... it's the peer pressure. A kid will do an activity if others are also doing the same thing. Kind of like why your toddler will merrily eat peppers at daycare.
I could showcase an album of my "Pinterest Preschooler Art Activity Fails", only they'd mostly look like unused materials and white paper with a crayon line on it. And maybe a kid in the background dancing around pretending the two halves of a plastic Easter egg are his eyes.
So a friend and I came up with the idea of alternating hosting playdates with her three-year-old and preparing an art or sensory activity. Her hit-and-miss experiences are similar to mine, so we figure we can make half the effort and hopefully at least one of the boys will enjoy the activity, so it won't be a total loss.
This week I prepared templates for an activity I found online; Wet Chalk Tape Resist Easter Eggs. Looks great for a preschooler, and what nice results they got!
Aaaaand it bombed, and royally. Both of our kids had a sing-songy "Alll done!" after about two chalk lines.
It's probably for the best because the tape I used (the only kind I had) tore the paper, even though it came off fine on my test egg. I might've felt bad if they'd spent more than 15 seconds on the activity.
(I never claimed to be good at art. Drawing, yes, art, no. Even my art teacher in high school said my style was all the same and too "cartoony").
So anyway, I think we've concluded our kids are more into science-based activities these days. Good. Next nice day, Mentos and Diet Coke geysers out in the driveway. No prep!
________________
P.S.: If you're in the Ottawa area, come see me and some fantastic fellow bloggers read at the Blog Out Loud event, which is part of the Ottawa International Writers' Festival. Blog Out Loud is being held at 6:30pm on April 29 at 120 Lisgar St. It's free and promises to be a great time. (I might even wear "no pants " for the occasion!) Hope to see you there.
P.P.S.: You can now follow CCG on Twitter!
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In addition to these (surprisingly tactful, for a three-year-old) responses, I was once invited to finish a project for him. "You can do the rest, Mama." Can I? Great. I was hoping you'd get out of the way and let me have at that googly-eyed toilet paper roll bunny.
I learned long ago that he doesn't like "messy" stuff like apparently all toddlers do. No problem; I don't want our kitchen to smell like shaving cream anyways. But it seems these days that art in general isn't his thing.
It's fine. He doesn't have to like art. He's a smart, curious kid, but just not about that right now.
See what I mean in this visual of the art process, in terms of time and effort:
It's all those fabulous preschooler blogs I subscribe to! I get all inspired to channel my teacher self and let my kids create and develop skills through exploring new materials (and maybe try them out myself).
I used to teach Kindergarten. Shouldn't I be good at this?
I know!... it's the peer pressure. A kid will do an activity if others are also doing the same thing. Kind of like why your toddler will merrily eat peppers at daycare.
I could showcase an album of my "Pinterest Preschooler Art Activity Fails", only they'd mostly look like unused materials and white paper with a crayon line on it. And maybe a kid in the background dancing around pretending the two halves of a plastic Easter egg are his eyes.
So a friend and I came up with the idea of alternating hosting playdates with her three-year-old and preparing an art or sensory activity. Her hit-and-miss experiences are similar to mine, so we figure we can make half the effort and hopefully at least one of the boys will enjoy the activity, so it won't be a total loss.
This week I prepared templates for an activity I found online; Wet Chalk Tape Resist Easter Eggs. Looks great for a preschooler, and what nice results they got!
Aaaaand it bombed, and royally. Both of our kids had a sing-songy "Alll done!" after about two chalk lines.
It's probably for the best because the tape I used (the only kind I had) tore the paper, even though it came off fine on my test egg. I might've felt bad if they'd spent more than 15 seconds on the activity.
(I never claimed to be good at art. Drawing, yes, art, no. Even my art teacher in high school said my style was all the same and too "cartoony").
So anyway, I think we've concluded our kids are more into science-based activities these days. Good. Next nice day, Mentos and Diet Coke geysers out in the driveway. No prep!
________________
P.S.: If you're in the Ottawa area, come see me and some fantastic fellow bloggers read at the Blog Out Loud event, which is part of the Ottawa International Writers' Festival. Blog Out Loud is being held at 6:30pm on April 29 at 120 Lisgar St. It's free and promises to be a great time. (I might even wear "no pants " for the occasion!) Hope to see you there.
P.P.S.: You can now follow CCG on Twitter!
Saturday, April 05, 2014
A Few Minutes to Myself?
It must be that the boys aren't used to seeing their mother lying down.
Somehow, though, the sight of me trying to relax is interpreted as an invitation to bombard me with kid attention.
Maybe I look all lonely with my magazine and look like I could use some company in the form of having my eye poked or a head-cracking cuddle. Maybe I look bored, like I'm wishing someone would come along and arrange an extensive collection of blocks on me. Maybe I look too serene, like I need an energy boost via being rolled on and bounced on like a horsey.
What I don't get is how Hubs sitting at the table, drinking coffee and reading hockey blogs on the laptop counts as "busy" but what I'm doing isn't. I think he got to them somehow. Sitting there, looking all contented and smug...
My mom tells me all that attention is due to the fact that they love their mom so much. That must be it. I'll keep that in mind the next time my attempt at a ten-minute stretch on the couch is interrupted by a loving toddler butt in the face.
Somehow, though, the sight of me trying to relax is interpreted as an invitation to bombard me with kid attention.
Maybe I look all lonely with my magazine and look like I could use some company in the form of having my eye poked or a head-cracking cuddle. Maybe I look bored, like I'm wishing someone would come along and arrange an extensive collection of blocks on me. Maybe I look too serene, like I need an energy boost via being rolled on and bounced on like a horsey.
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My mom tells me all that attention is due to the fact that they love their mom so much. That must be it. I'll keep that in mind the next time my attempt at a ten-minute stretch on the couch is interrupted by a loving toddler butt in the face.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Technology Buffs
Don't let your kid play with your technology, even if you know they aren't old enough to know how it really works.
While Skyping with my parents, Little Bro managed to bat-bat-scratch the laptop keys and flip the screen orientation sideways. It took my computer scientist husband a while to figure out how to fix it (it's Ctrl+Alt+up arrow). I'm glad we solved it, because I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to lie down to use the computer. Kind of frustrating when you feel you're pretty good with computers and yet you've been had by a 1-year-old.
Then last summer, we were headed on a mini-road trip to a neighbouring town. I prepared to set the GPS, and this happened:
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We discovered that Big Bro had set our preferences to "shortest route" instead of "fastest route", so we were on a course down the most remote gravel roads ever. It felt like some kind of horror movie. (The scariest part would've been hungry kids and our not having packed anything to eat for what was supposed to be a half-hour drive. Desperate parent caught pilfering from cornfield in middle of nowhere...)
How did he make all those changes? Some of them, I wasn't even aware one could do. Big Bro's fiddling managed to set it so the GPS moos every time you pass a beauty salon. It's like it's giving me a hint or something.
They can mess up your stuff, but they do it with flair. It's amazing what one can accomplish from just some random button-poking. I've seen friends' toddlers post to Facebook-- or so I assume, unless my friend felt like sharing a capital D with all of us that one time.
I also know there are toddlers who are already proficient with iPads and the like. Big Bro at least knows how to find and play the "Car Game" on my phone. In my day, it was a Fisher-Price record player. (Do I sound like an old lady? Well, it feels that way sometimes...)
Our family has never been one of those "have the latest gadget" people, so I'm not always up on what there is out there. But I know that, soon enough, the kids will be able to manage our technology and do these things, and more-- on purpose this time-- so I guess I'd better try to keep up. At least for now I can try to get the GPS to stop mooing at me.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Just Like His (Little) Brother
When people see our two little boys together, they often remark, "Oh, Little Bro is going to look up to his big brother. He's going to want to do everything his big brother does!"
Indeed. I imagine at some point that will be the case. Such a sweet image.
For now, however, it seems to be the other way around.
When you're pushing three years old, anything your little brother touches turns to gold, as far as you're concerned. If Little Bro climbs into a bucket, well then, that's the exact bucket Big Bro NEEDS to climb into RIGHT NOW. If Little Bro is humming into a kazoo, well then, sorry dude, Big Bro was about to start kazooing. And play with that whisk *grab* and those nesting cups *grab* and that shape sorter *yoink!*
Fear not, little siblings everywhere. If you are burdened with a treat or a toy or an opportunity, you can count on your big sibling to swoop in and relieve you of it. They will finish your cheese and lift all the peek-a-boo flaps on your books. You're welcome.
Seriously, if you want your kid to eat something, give it to his or her little sibling.
Hopefully, though, you will have a sweet big sibling like Little Bro does, who kindly offers you a replacement; "Here, Baby," says the affectionate voice, "you can play with this [bulb-less turkey baster]" (while I pilfer the ride-on Lightning McQueen).
This at least goes on until the little sibling doesn't show interest anymore. Then the toy gets biffed. Little Bro has decided to go see Mama for a hug instead, but what a coincidence, Big Bro just finished playing this minute and was about to go for a hug too!
Then there's the baby equipment that's oh-so-appealing all over again to an older sibling. I'm just glad we've disassembled a lot of it; otherwise, I figure we'd need to call the fire department to remove a kid from the exersaucer. This includes other kids who come over to play. I guess there's something irresistible about doing things like dangling from a Jolly Jumper by the armpits, even if you sag to the floor.
Finally, it must look way cool to be a little 1-year-old, because they get to do stuff like run banana through their hair, chuck their bowl onto the floor and dump out buckets willy-nilly. Yahoo, good times, let's all join in!
... Oh, no you don't; that's not what's supposed to happen-- it's supposed to be the other way around! The little brother is supposed to aspire to be a "big boy" like his brother!
But then, if the "little boys" seem to be having all the fun, who'd want to be a big boy?
Indeed. I imagine at some point that will be the case. Such a sweet image.
For now, however, it seems to be the other way around.
When you're pushing three years old, anything your little brother touches turns to gold, as far as you're concerned. If Little Bro climbs into a bucket, well then, that's the exact bucket Big Bro NEEDS to climb into RIGHT NOW. If Little Bro is humming into a kazoo, well then, sorry dude, Big Bro was about to start kazooing. And play with that whisk *grab* and those nesting cups *grab* and that shape sorter *yoink!*
Fear not, little siblings everywhere. If you are burdened with a treat or a toy or an opportunity, you can count on your big sibling to swoop in and relieve you of it. They will finish your cheese and lift all the peek-a-boo flaps on your books. You're welcome.
Seriously, if you want your kid to eat something, give it to his or her little sibling.
Hopefully, though, you will have a sweet big sibling like Little Bro does, who kindly offers you a replacement; "Here, Baby," says the affectionate voice, "you can play with this [bulb-less turkey baster]" (while I pilfer the ride-on Lightning McQueen).
This at least goes on until the little sibling doesn't show interest anymore. Then the toy gets biffed. Little Bro has decided to go see Mama for a hug instead, but what a coincidence, Big Bro just finished playing this minute and was about to go for a hug too!
Then there's the baby equipment that's oh-so-appealing all over again to an older sibling. I'm just glad we've disassembled a lot of it; otherwise, I figure we'd need to call the fire department to remove a kid from the exersaucer. This includes other kids who come over to play. I guess there's something irresistible about doing things like dangling from a Jolly Jumper by the armpits, even if you sag to the floor.
Finally, it must look way cool to be a little 1-year-old, because they get to do stuff like run banana through their hair, chuck their bowl onto the floor and dump out buckets willy-nilly. Yahoo, good times, let's all join in!
... Oh, no you don't; that's not what's supposed to happen-- it's supposed to be the other way around! The little brother is supposed to aspire to be a "big boy" like his brother!
But then, if the "little boys" seem to be having all the fun, who'd want to be a big boy?
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014
The Endless Snot-Filled Winter
WILL THIS WINTER EVER END??!
I can tell it's been a rough winter. If I didn't know it myself, Facebook would've tipped me off. My newsfeed generally consists of:
a) screenshots of the weather network to show how "nope, nope, nope" cold it is out there
b) updates about friends' kids' illnesses. Antibiotics! Another trip to the ER! More puking!
With all the rashes and ear infections and flus flying around, I think I was able to keep all of two social engagements with the kids the whole month of January. In our case, I'm not sure if it was many colds, or one big long one, but there were runny noses and crabbiness aplenty. Poor little tykes.
Of course, one would think we could take advantage of these cold, sick days indoors by wrapping up in a blanket together on the couch all cozy-like and reading our favourite books. And we do, for about 15 minutes. Then the rest of the day looks more like this:
(Big Bro likes to wear his sledding helmet around the house. May as well, since at this rate we won't get out to do any sledding)
Of course, I got sick too. Quelle surprise, considering I've got kids barking and sneezing directly on my eyeballs. No amount of handwashing's going to help with that. Thankfully, I have a very considerate son who saw my suffering and attempted to make me feel better. He came to me with the Neti Pot and offered me some tea. Ew. No thanks. Appreciate the sentiment though.
Anyway. I don't have much else to say on the subject. I just needed to have a bit of a rant, because it's only January and it's already been the longest, coldest, shackwackiest winter of all time.
I can tell it's been a rough winter. If I didn't know it myself, Facebook would've tipped me off. My newsfeed generally consists of:
a) screenshots of the weather network to show how "nope, nope, nope" cold it is out there
b) updates about friends' kids' illnesses. Antibiotics! Another trip to the ER! More puking!
With all the rashes and ear infections and flus flying around, I think I was able to keep all of two social engagements with the kids the whole month of January. In our case, I'm not sure if it was many colds, or one big long one, but there were runny noses and crabbiness aplenty. Poor little tykes.
Of course, one would think we could take advantage of these cold, sick days indoors by wrapping up in a blanket together on the couch all cozy-like and reading our favourite books. And we do, for about 15 minutes. Then the rest of the day looks more like this:
(Big Bro likes to wear his sledding helmet around the house. May as well, since at this rate we won't get out to do any sledding)
Of course, I got sick too. Quelle surprise, considering I've got kids barking and sneezing directly on my eyeballs. No amount of handwashing's going to help with that. Thankfully, I have a very considerate son who saw my suffering and attempted to make me feel better. He came to me with the Neti Pot and offered me some tea. Ew. No thanks. Appreciate the sentiment though.
Anyway. I don't have much else to say on the subject. I just needed to have a bit of a rant, because it's only January and it's already been the longest, coldest, shackwackiest winter of all time.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Getting Back into Kid Mode
Not long ago, someone posted a meme on Facebook with a picture of an awesome couch cushion fort, with the caption "Building Forts: Admit it-you miss doing it". It made me think of how, when you have kids, you can get back into doing all these cool kid things, all while maintaining some sort of dignity, because you're doing it for them, after all.
Christmas recently passed, and it was the first Christmas in which Big Bro "got" it; the whole Santa, presents, countdown to Christmas morning thing. I just may have been more excited than him, but the whole season had a renewed energy to it, and it reminded me of how cool it is to have kids in your life. You can get back to "kid mode", in case you lost it along the way.
For instance, how fun is it to go to the local heritage village museum where they have miniature ride-on steam trains, and be able to walk right up and ask for a ride? I might've lined up for a ride if I was kidless (as I'm sure many do already), but I unfortunately learned to be embarrassed doing goofy stuff in public once I hit Junior High, so I know I'd be laughing nervously and playing it up so that everyone knew I was being IRONIC by being excited about riding a little train.
Now, though, I have a young son-- HE loves trains! Well! Must put my needs aside and take the little lad for a train ride. But of course I'll need to accompany him. Yes, I know, how noble of me. And, while we're at it, let's treat the dear to a second lap around the track soDad can have a turn he can really soak in the experience.
We were in Kingston over the summer at a hotel with a water slide. Big Bro is still too small for them just yet, so I felt a little embarrassed going alone while he stayed and watched in the little pool. A little embarrassed, I said; not enough to not go several times. But I'll feel so much less like I need to avoid eye contact with the teenage lifeguard once I'm accompanying the kids.
Then there's the local enormous play gym we frequent. 3 storeys of padded climbing and sliding mayhem. It's not for everyone, I admit (even me, I avoid it like the plague on ped. days). In one area, though, there's a slide so long, you can't see the bottom from the top. Accompanying Big Bro on his sliding adventures, I ended up crashing into him as he waited for me at the bottom. Good thing it was just him. I can see the headlines now: "WOMAN IN MID-THIRTIES PLOWS INTO INNOCENT CHILDREN WHILE SLIDING"... but wait! I'm a parent! I was just accompanying my kid! The "weeeee" was for his benefit!
Go-karts. Reading in a circus tent in the living room with a flashlight. Tobogganing. Couch cushion forts! And then there are the kids' cool new Christmas presents that we got to try out. I've caught Hubs a few times enthusiastically in the zone making a block tower with Big Bro... only Big Bro was long gone.
Not all kid stuff is fun to us adults, of course-- but the stuff that is, we can now do it with heads held high, because we're doing it for the kids. Or at least that's what it looks like, which is good enough for me.
Christmas recently passed, and it was the first Christmas in which Big Bro "got" it; the whole Santa, presents, countdown to Christmas morning thing. I just may have been more excited than him, but the whole season had a renewed energy to it, and it reminded me of how cool it is to have kids in your life. You can get back to "kid mode", in case you lost it along the way.
For instance, how fun is it to go to the local heritage village museum where they have miniature ride-on steam trains, and be able to walk right up and ask for a ride? I might've lined up for a ride if I was kidless (as I'm sure many do already), but I unfortunately learned to be embarrassed doing goofy stuff in public once I hit Junior High, so I know I'd be laughing nervously and playing it up so that everyone knew I was being IRONIC by being excited about riding a little train.
Now, though, I have a young son-- HE loves trains! Well! Must put my needs aside and take the little lad for a train ride. But of course I'll need to accompany him. Yes, I know, how noble of me. And, while we're at it, let's treat the dear to a second lap around the track so
We were in Kingston over the summer at a hotel with a water slide. Big Bro is still too small for them just yet, so I felt a little embarrassed going alone while he stayed and watched in the little pool. A little embarrassed, I said; not enough to not go several times. But I'll feel so much less like I need to avoid eye contact with the teenage lifeguard once I'm accompanying the kids.
Then there's the local enormous play gym we frequent. 3 storeys of padded climbing and sliding mayhem. It's not for everyone, I admit (even me, I avoid it like the plague on ped. days). In one area, though, there's a slide so long, you can't see the bottom from the top. Accompanying Big Bro on his sliding adventures, I ended up crashing into him as he waited for me at the bottom. Good thing it was just him. I can see the headlines now: "WOMAN IN MID-THIRTIES PLOWS INTO INNOCENT CHILDREN WHILE SLIDING"... but wait! I'm a parent! I was just accompanying my kid! The "weeeee" was for his benefit!
Go-karts. Reading in a circus tent in the living room with a flashlight. Tobogganing. Couch cushion forts! And then there are the kids' cool new Christmas presents that we got to try out. I've caught Hubs a few times enthusiastically in the zone making a block tower with Big Bro... only Big Bro was long gone.
Not all kid stuff is fun to us adults, of course-- but the stuff that is, we can now do it with heads held high, because we're doing it for the kids. Or at least that's what it looks like, which is good enough for me.
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