Spring Break

The kiddos are on Spring Break this week, and though Raymond and I are not on break, I do want to make this week special. Who says you have to travel to have a vacation??

I love these photos of Fletcher. He looks so much like his Daddy here!!

Be Out There Founding Mother

Did anyone notice the new badge on my blog?  I am now officially a part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Founding Mothers Advisory Board. Crazy, no? I mean, yes I have written on this blog about the importance of having a Green Hour every day. And yes, the NWF has used my writing here and  there, as well as some of my photos on their site in the past . . . .but me? Really?

Here is the press release about the group:

“The Be Out There movement is guided by a group of busy moms who engage with parents through their social media networks. Their authentic way of addressing the challenges and joys of parenthood makes them uniquely qualified to advise the National Wildlife Federation on Be Out There’s initiative.”

This is a pretty incredible group of women! Many are professional bloggers (is that the right term?) with throngs of followers. Some are homeschooling Moms with days so filled with nature and beauty it makes me want to cry to read their posts. But all of us are committed to the premise that it is good for our children to be outside, playing, unstructured (even, gasp! unsupervised?) interacting with nature and finding their place in the world.

So, anyway, check these blogs, get a little inspiration, and then get going.
Be Out There!

Jennifer James
Blog: http://www.mombloggersclub.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mombloggersclub

Liz Thompson
Blog: http://thisfullhouse.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thisfullhouse

Tracey Henry
Blog: http://subdivablog.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/subdiva

Rachel Matthews
Blog: http://asouthernfairytale.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sthrnfairytale

Kim Moldofsky
Blog: http://hormonecoloreddays.blogspot.com/2006/01/links-to-kims-published-writing.html
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kimmoldofsky

Amie Hurst Adams
Blog: http://www.mammaloves.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mammaloves

Asha Dornfest
Blog: http://www.parenthacks.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/parenthacks

Kristin Sundin Brandt
Blog: http://www.manicmommies.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kristinsb

Anna Fader
Blog:  http://mommypoppins.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mommypoppins

Veronique Christensen
Blog: http://www.littleelephants.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/veroniquec

Holly Ambrose
Blog: http://www.tropicofmom.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Tropic_of_Mom

Debi Pfitzenmaier
Blog: http://voices.mysanantonio.com/sabusykids
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MomonMars

Christine Koh
Blog: http://www.bostonmamas.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/bostonmamas

Cooper Munroe
Site: http://www.themotherhood.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/coopermunroe

http://www.twitter.com/themotherhood

Emily McKhann

Site: http://www.themotherhood.com

http://www.twitter.com/emilymckhann

http://www.twitter.com/themotherhood

Readeo

Have you heard about Readeo? I just discovered it today, and I’m curious . . . .

Readeo was founded in 2009 by CEO Coby Neuenschwander while living in Chicago with his son Oliver. Because of the distance between Oliver and his grandparents, they were having trouble establishing a meaningful relationship. Visits only happened a couple of times per year, phone calls were inadequate, and video chat alone didn’t hold Oliver’s attention. Reading together became the vehicle for establishing and strengthening the relationship between grandparent and grandchild.

I love the idea. I love the thought of my parents and in-laws being able to read with my children online. Love the thought of my kids being able to read with their cousins and share that experience across the miles. But I’m not convinced. I signed up for a “guest” membership which allows you to read the Book of the Month for free and to preview other titles in the library. There aren’t a ton of books in the library yet, but there is a good range in terms of age-appropriateness and diverse interests and they say they will be adding more titles every month. I haven’t asked anyone else to sign up yet to try a “face to face” interaction, and that may be the deal clincher with this.

My hesitation is two-fold. First, the fee is pretty steep, though right now they are offering a 59% discount off the yearly membership, dropping the price to $49.95. Not bad if it is used a lot . . . but a lot more expensive than the public library! Also, while I love the graphic that makes it look like actual pages turning, the pages seemed a little small on my laptop screen and the words were a bit tough to read. I want Fletcher to be able to show off his reading skills to his grandparents, but if he can’t see the words . . .

Has anyone out there given Readeo a try yet? I’d love to hear what you think!

Vitamin D anyone?

I heard an interesting story on NPR this morning about Vitamin D deficiency and it’s possible effects. (Vitamin D Fervor: Are We Overselling the Sunshine Vitamin?) I didn’t get to hear the whole story, so I looked it up online and then found my way to another story about Vitamin D (Who Needs More Sunshine? Maybe You.) written last summer.

The jury is still out, it seems, on just how much is enough, how much is too much, and what the best way to get it really is. But it seems a lot of us may not be getting enough Vitamin D. And I just have to wonder how much of this comes from our (relatively) new fear of the sun?

I’m sure this is a gross oversimplification. Maybe I am just trying to make myself feel better as a mother. We are getting closer and closer to summer, which means my children will be outside nearly naked all day while their peers are dressed in long sleeved “rash guards” and big hats and slathered head to toe in sun screen . . .

Bad Mommy. I should do more to protect my children from the sun. Maybe. Neither has ever had a sunburn (not really, not the kind I had all the time as a child) and we do wear sunscreen when we go to the beach . . .I mean, obviously I do not want my children to get skin cancer (or wrinkles) but do we really have to take it so far?

trouble

The Invisible Gorilla

Christopher Chabris spoke to our faculty conference at SCAD on Friday and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! Take a look at this video, follow the directions, and let me know your results! You might be surprised . . .

epiphanie!

I have the greatest sisters in the world! And not just because they surprised me with this amazing Epiphanie bag for my birthday . . . .

It is pretty stunning, no? And you would never guess that my camera (along with an extra lens, my sunglasses, wallet and cell phone) is snug and safe inside the beautiful, soft lavender lining. I’m totally in love.

Not 10 minutes after I opened the box I had my camera inside the bag and we were on our way downtown for dinner at Vinnie’s. While we were waiting for our table a couple walked up and said “Is that an Epiphanie bag?” Amazing! Even more amazing, they are visiting from California and are friends with Epiphanie creator Maile Wilson! They even took a photo of me with my lovely new Lola bag to send to Maile!

Can’t even tell you how excited I am to start toting this bag all over town . . . and in a few short weeks toting it across the ocean as we head for London and Rome!!!

art can change the world

Tonight the kids and I read Ballyhoo Bay, a really great little book that we happened to get in a box of Cheerios. Gotta love this free book in a cereal box thing – so much better than a cheap plastic toy! The story is really sweet, about an artist turned activist who saves a beach from being destroyed by a fancy condo development. When we finished the story we were talking about the importance of art and artists and how art can change the world. And Lola Gray looked at me and said “Artists like you, Mommy.”

My daughter called me an artist.

OK, yes, I have a Masters degree and I’m a college professor and I’ve exhibited my work all over the place . . . but this is the first time that my daughter has recognized me as something other than “Mommy.” And it felt nice.

My life with chickens: silly chicken

Silly Juliana seems bound and determined to hide eggs around the yard rather than just laying them conveniently in the nesting box. Today I startled her (and she startled me!) in a toy box in the playhouse.

Sure enough, a little while later I found this surprise . . .

Mean girls & Queen Bees in the under 5 crowd

Is it wrong of me to feel intense dislike for a 4 year old?

Probably.
But I can’t help it. Because this particular 4 year old girl seems to control my daughter’s mood from day to day, seems able to dictate the success or failure of a morning at preschool or an afternoon at ballet on a whim.

“V. said I could be her friend today!”
or
“V. wouldn’t let me play princess with her today.”
or
“V. was my friend this morning but at ballet she was Z’s friend.”

I mean honestly! These girls are 4 years old! One day Lola Gray thinks this child “is the meanest girl in the world” and the next day she thinks she hung the moon. And I haven’t a clue what to do about it.

I tell her that V. doesn’t get to decide who Lola plays with – Lola can play with anyone and everyone she wants to. I tell her that real friends never say “you can’t play.” And at the time it seems like she understands. “Isa is always my friend” she says. Great! Play with Isa, I say. But the very next day . . . .

I just want to scream at this child! I want to tell my daughter that this girl does not deserve to be her friend, that she is manipulative and mean and not worthy of Lola’s friendship!

Instead, I tell her that I hope she will never hurt another child’s feelings the way this girl hurts hers. I tell her to always be nice to her friends, that there is always room for everyone to play. But still, it breaks my heart . . .

I just never expected this in preschool! How on earth will we survive Junior High??