Category Archives: kidlets

All the Pretties

Posted on November 3, 2015 | 3 comments

Posted in #nablopomo, Caitlyn, kidlets, Patrice, Sue

Two of My Three Daughters

Posted on November 1, 2015 | 2 comments

I know you are not supposed to compare your kids to other peoples’ or each other. But it is hard not to.

Can I get an amen?!

I have three girls, ages 9, almost 8, and 5. My nine year old is uber responsible. My third one is still the clueless, cute 5 year old. My 7 year old. My dear 7 year old. She’s just on another planet. She is clueless on how to do many things her sister was doing at her age, she is struggling in areas Caitlyn sailed through without a pause. She is still working on learning to read and Dear Lord, you can just assume she is going to lose anything you put money into and keep anything that is righteous garbage.

I am not sure what to do. Now to be fair, she did decide last week to start doing the laundry (not including folding) without prompting and did a great job. I am hoping this continues into next week. I can forgive a lot for a kid who does the laundry.

In the meantime, I feel like I am always yelling at her. Always scolding her, always correcting her. I worry she will see the difference between her and her sisters when it comes to my fussing. I hate how frustrated it makes me feel. And how frustrated it must make her.

I have to bite my tongue often to stop myself from saying, “why can’t you be more like your sisters?” I know, no matter how tempting it is, I must refrain from ever saying that to her. Not only because it would not feed her spirit, but also because I don’t want to change her spirit. I don’t want to change her. I just want to know how to get through all the glorious fun chatter, dancing, singing, and merry making that is Sue in order to teach her skills and behaviors she needs to know.

So I will keep trudging along saying,

“I will not compare.”

2 Comments

Posted in #nablopomo, Caitlyn, kidlets, Sue

What Does Grace Look Like?

Posted on October 29, 2015 | 3 comments

This is what grace looks like:

Grace is 5 years ago this little bundle screaming her head off as we put her up to the slide (not down the slide), while her very sick mama battled postpartum depression, anxiety and psychosis in the background.

Grace is a mama still be here, homeschooling, her three beautiful daughters that 5 years ago today she tried to surrender them to her midwife during a psychotic break.

Grace, grace, Gods’ grace is this little girl, who was screaming on that slide 5 years ago while her mama battled for her mind, now wrapping her arms around her mama and telling her she’s the best mama ever.

3 Comments

Posted in baby 3, Bipolar Disorder, kidlets, memories, midwife, Patrice, Postpartum Depression

Strawberries!!!!

Posted on June 30, 2015 | Leave a comment

It was late in the season, but the girls and I went strawberry picking yesterday. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. We each got to pick one pint, ride the train, have a doughnut and cider, and play in the play area.

It was definitely worth the drive!

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Posted in kidlets, memories, Michigan Adventures

Larry, Larry, Larry

Posted on February 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

This week was dentist week. Beloved by two children, hated by the other.

Patrice loves it because you get a toy at the end. She chose this one little tiny stuffed animal. An alien with one eye.

Larry is missing (already).

Patrice is now running around the house singing his favorite song–“Larry, Larry, Larry. I wish you would come back to me. Larry, Larry, Larry.”

And Caitlyn is making missing posters of him.

“Larry, Larry, Larry. I wish you could come back to me. Larry, Larry, Larry.”

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Posted in kidlets, Patrice

Vroom Vroom

Posted on January 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

Today was the AWANA (Bible Club) annual Pinewood Derby. This is Sue’s third year and Caitlyn’s fourth. Each year they work with daddy to make a car. Next year we add Patrice. The girls had fun and were good sports.

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Posted in Bible, Caitlyn, kidlets, Patrice, Sue

Please Say Play Dough

Posted on January 10, 2015 | 2 comments

My house is a wreck. I am not kidding. There is a porcupine in my living room…

covered in popcorn.

I have a ton of energy right now. I worked out. I shoveled snow. Cleaned the snow, unloaded/loaded the dishwasher and even dusted a ton. And yet, if you came in my house, you might want to call the health department on me (kidding, don’t. Really. Don’t.)

I wanted to keep going this morning and then my 4 year old said, “can we make play dough?”

Yes, yes we can. The rest can wait.

Here is the recipe I love for play dough.

Now about that Porcupine. It’s a funny story. Really.

2 Comments

Posted in kidlets, parenting, Patrice

Giving the World

Posted on January 7, 2015 | Leave a comment

Hubby and I went to Disney World for our honeymoon just over 10 years ago. We covered Disney to our satisfaction.

He stated he was good for a lifetime.

Then Caitlyn.

We were still in the hospital when he looked at our little bundle and said, “I could go back to Disney [with her].”

And maybe some day we will. Maybe we won’t. It may be one of those things we have to give up to have me homeschooling our girls. And I know they will be fine if we never step foot in the Magic Kingdom.

Patrice came out today and asked “Can we go to Disney World for just one (pudgy finger and all) day?” My heart cracked. “Someday baby, hopefully someday.” And I started to feel bad for myself. And my girls.

Then my brain woke up a bit. I remembered our lesson from Bible today. We are studying Bangladesh right now. Bangladesh is considered the 196th poorest country (out of a list of 226) in the world. The people there aren’t looking for a trip to Disney or even a remodeled house–they are looking for a house and food and, you know, when they dream big, to go to the doctor when they need to. They are looking to fill their basic needs. As many of us are.

This isn’t one of those, wake up people and stop being so selfish, posts. It’s not. It’s just my thoughts today. Do I hope to take my girls to Disney some day? Absolutely. Sooner rather than later, I hope. I also hope to be able to help those whose needs are even greater than my own. Mine seem great, and in many ways are, but I want to give. I want to bless. I want to reach out. I want to support. So many people, so many places.

What is a Charitable project or organization that is near and dear to your heart?

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Posted in kidlets, Life Lessons, random thoughts

Rite Of Passage

Posted on December 27, 2014 | Leave a comment

Daddy had game night with the girls tonight. They played Candy Land, Princess Monopoly Jr, and so on and so forth.

I was on the treadmill for most of it, but joined in just in time to introduce SPOONS. We played several rounds open handed. It was fun. I got the first 4 of a kind and had a blast seeing how long it took anyone to notice a spoon was missing. It was a little challenging for Patrice, hard to know King, Queen, Jack when you are learning letters K, Q, J. But she hung in there.

And it was a rite of passage. A move with my girls toward the grown up games, the slow move away from the 7 versions of Memory we currently have.

I know there are still several years of Junior Versions in my future, but today, today was the beginning of a new era.