The Downside of Sheltering

I believe in using good, clean, positive language. "Shut up" is not even allowed in our house, and "hate" is saved for really special occasions. But maybe I should've eased up somewhere along the way. Today in the car afterschool, M was recounting her day and asked what a certain word that starts with a "j" meant. I told her "a really dumb jerk. Why do you ask?"

"Well, we were playing the ABC game and it was the first word I thought of. I said it and my teacher talked to me and she realized I didn't know what it meant or anything but I was embarrassed and I felt bad about it."

I assured her that it was an honest mistake (we still aren't sure where she's heard it. Shrek, maybe, or perhaps it's popped up in a book?) and I recounted a time when I was in middle school & repeated a phrase I'd heard my friends say. A teacher took me aside & asked if I knew what it meant. I guessed, "That you're really mad?" She filled me in & I don't think I've repeated it since (except in my head.)

I was oddly grateful to have had a similar experience to share with her, and at the same time, it left me wondering if I'm really doing the girls a favor by keeping such clean language around here? Just kidding. I think I'll stay the course. Because I really hate - excuse me, I mean - I really dislike rude language.

This is Maren speaking.

Hi

Mouth of Babes...

At dinner, E was sharing that the new neighbor kids had to go home b/c they were heading over to their dad's for a few days. She explained to me that their parents are divorced and that they don't even have to take their toothbrushes when they go over to their dad's b/c he already has everything they need. She then asked, "Why do moms & dads get divorced, anyway?"

I said, "Well, there are lots of reasons. Sometimes it's because they fight all the time and can't be nice to each other. Sometimes it's because one of them has an addiction to something like drugs or alcohol." She interrupted here and said, "Or, to, ummmm, wait a minute, what's that called? Ummm, it's like Chuck E. Cheese's...oh yeah, gambling!"

Why she connects CEC to gambling I have no idea, but since we've never been there (and I don't intend to start) I didn't clarify.

I continued, "Or sometimes it's because the mom or the dad goes out and gets a girlfriend or boyfriend, and you can't do that if you're married." M burst into laughter. When I asked what was so funny she said, "Daddy could NEVER get a girlfriend!" I said, "Oh, and do you think I could get a boyfriend?" "No way, Mom! You're too OLD!"

I tried to salvage the discussion by assuring them that they are forever stuck with two parents who have every intention of being together always, but I think I lost them...

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Seattle Center - December 09

As we were looking for some amusement over the holidays, we realized that if we bought an annual pass to the Pacific Science Center, our family would only have to go one and a half times to pay for it. Sold! Of course it's a bit of a commute, and there's parking to find, but we're adventurous like that. ;) We've been twice since December. Here is our first trip:

The dinos just make me laugh. I remember seeing them for the first time on our 8th grade trip to Seattle about 100 years ago, and I thought they were SO COOL. They've got some serious staying power, though, b/c our girls are just as enamored with them as I was back in the day.

P sat here w/the girls and said, "Hey, E, this is what the world is like for you, huh?!" It does create a little more empathy for the kid who can't keep her dangling feet still at dinner...

Love the Butterfly House!

P kept accusing me of acting like a tourist and taking way too many pictures,

but hey, you gotta admit, these are some pretty cool pics...

Documenting the Love

Children of mine, sometimes your mom is pretty dense. After all kinds of (strong) hints, I finally realized that when you ask if I've "blogged anything lately?" you're not just asking what's on this website, but essentially, if I love you enough to want to document and share our family's life with the people we love. Duh.

So, I am resolved to do some catching up - and more importantly - some keeping up! Let's start with Valentine's Day...

E and I had fun coming up with this outfit for the occasion (after I explained what it meant to be dressing for the occasion). She was a little disappointed that she seemed to be the only first grader in her class to dress thematically for the holiday, but she sure enjoyed the compliments!

(And yes, this is our front porch. Can you tell how much the girls love to tromp around outside? We're prepared for just about any outdoor adventure that involves water, mud, sticks, rocks, and/or shells...along w/a healthy dose of imagination!)

M chose to go a more subtle red w/sparkly heart route. As a cool 5th grader, can't say that I blame her. And look at that hair! I must've forgotten to tame it w/some product that morning. Remind you of anyone in the '80's or early '90's? ;)

Now this just cracks me up! I said, "How 'bout a kiss for the camera?!" thinking one of them would smack the other on the cheek...you gotta be careful what you ask for with these two!

Thrilled to be Average

If there's one thing I can point to as evidence of my good mothering, it's that my family has never eaten dinner around the television. Yes, I'll let the girls "picnic" there for lunch sometimes, but dinner? Out of the question.

As we were heading out to pick up our pizza tonight (c'mon, give me a break...I worked two whole days in a row, and besides, it's on sale) I said, "When we get home, let's get some soda out of the garage. And then I just want to sit down." E chimed in, "And watch tv?!" And I said, "Sure. Happy Friday."

The girls immediately started clapping, shrieking, and jumping up and down. M exclaimed, "Are you serious?! You mean you're telling me we're going to eat pizza and drink pop and watch tv just like an average American family?!?"

I laughed and laughed at that girl. And it felt almost as good as sitting down did...