Archive for December, 2006

Personal Protective Equipment Advice for Parents of Young Children

Saturday, December 30th, 2006
Cincopa video hosting solution for your website. Another great product from Cincopa Send Files.

I’m not much into the helmet laws. In fact, I oppose them. (Great advice, eh?) Though, obviously, one ought to protect his head when engaging in death-defying stunts, id est, combat, mining, bee-keeping. But should a kid really need to be wearing his helmet when he’s learning to balance on his bike? I mean, really. Shouldn’t a parent be by his side, encouraging him to focus on what he’s doing and start slowly? A helmet is a hinderance in that situation. Might as well stick a goalie mask to him… along with a jock strap, a cup, and a pair of falconry gloves… JUST IN CASE! Naturally, every kid suffers bumps and bruises when he’s learning to mobalize himself. He’s got to learn to move and not bump into things. That’s what human beings do. They’re born not knowing. They adapt. They survive long enough to make more humans.

That said, a few evenings after Christmas, I went to let the dog and kids run around in the front yard. Ty wanted to ride his trike. Kyle sat on his scooter. So we went around the cul-de-sac (is there an English or American word for that?) and saw a kid, a little younger than Ty, riding his new Power Wheels truck. His dad was jogging around the dead-end street, trying to keep up with the child. The kid got distracted by us, and kept looking at us while the monster under him kept going forward. His dad, who was running after him but still 30 feet behind, yelled, “Watch where you’re going!” And I tried telling him that, too. But it was too late. The anticipation of his hitting the curb was unbearable. I was afraid that his head would bounce right onto the sidewalk, but he hung tightly to the monster’s handles. Only his butt went airborne, while his neck hit the front panel (he turned his face and held his head up so as not to let it hit). The dad shook his head in relief that his kid didn’t do a faceplant, and they went off toward the intersection – of all places.

Like I mentioned, I’m not one for helmets, but when engaging in death-defying stunts, please wear one. And if you’re going to let your three and a half year old kid ride faster than he can run, especially on a motorized vehicle that you are not conducting, please stick a goalie mask to him along with a jock strap, a cup, and a set of leathers. Who cares if he looks like Jason/Marlon Brando? He’ll at least grow up to give you grandchilren.

Posted in Mom Wisdom | No Comments »

Christmas

Wednesday, December 27th, 2006
Cincopa video hosting solution for your website. Another great product from Cincopa Send Files.

Christmas morning was delightful. I couldn’t sleep after waking up at 3am. I was too excited because I knew that Saint Nick had already made his way into our house and delivered great goodies for us.

Kyle woke up first. After falling asleep in his bed, he woke up in the middle of the night and made his way, routinely, to the couch. Dad told him that it was Christmas, so Kyle went to wake up Ty. That was really sweet. And Ty stepped out of his room, smiling that Santa Claus had brought him toys. They immediately started playing. Santa Claus had left the toys under the tree, ready to be played with, unwrapped, set up, and all that goodness.

We each got a whole bunch of stuff. I still haven’t learned what one can put into a stocking, so Dad got a stocking full of one The Home Depot card and a toothbrush. But his presents rocked: Ka-Bar, chess set, solar powered lights, and a multimeter. I got a Palm Pilot along with a very “Me” style carrying case. I got a new phone, too, but it wasn’t supposed to be a Christmas present… still, in the whole season of giving, I consider it to be one. Ty and Kyle both got Licoln Logs, an airplane, a pirate ship, Tinker Toys, vintage Hot Wheels cars in new carrying cases, and a small table with three chairs, just big enough to fit the three little people of this home. Taylor got some shoes and… well, that’s it. What does a baby get on her first Christmas – especially when she has all the toys in the world that she inherited from her older sibs?

Grandma came over in the morning and delivered toys for the boys, make-up and The Wizard of Oz for me, clothes and a phone for Taylor, and she had already sent her present to Dad earlier in the week, so he got to sit around and watch us open our presents.
Christmas morning was full of joy and happiness. Very peaceful. We went outside to play “airplane,” this time, with a real airplane, well, TOY airplane. I saw the one of the neighbor’s boys got some new clothes, and he was sportin’ it. I played with learned to use my Palm Pilot, and now I look and function like that Husband o’ Mine – in the organizational sense, of course.

We ate junk food for breakfast, lunch, snack, and I think dinner, too. Maybe we cooked real food. Not sure. But around late afternoon, we started getting on each other’s nerves again, particularly because NOBODY took a nap. In all, it was a relaxing, excellent day.

Once the newness of their toys fades, we’re going to start homeschooling at that table. Very smooth for coloring and racing cars.

Posted in Kyle, Taylor, Ty | No Comments »

A Meeting With Saint Nick

Saturday, December 23rd, 2006
Cincopa video hosting solution for your website. Another great product from Cincopa Send Files.

On Thursday, we decided to go see Santa Claus, who was making an appearance at the mall. But the circumstances (and the hour-long line) forced us to postpone our meeting with Mr. C., so we went tried again on Friday. We got there half and hour before he started seeing people. Even though we got there early, there were at least five families waiting to see him, too. But it wasn’t too bad.

As we walked into his abode, we saw him sitting on his chair, in front of the camera. Ty seemed a little afraid at first but warmed up to him quickly. Kyle and Taylor, on the other hand, were not Santa-Claus-ready, so we didn’t force them to sit on his lap when they started crying screaming. Only Ty took a picture with Santa, and we bought two copies. When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Ty looked blank. Santa asked again. And Ty, who is not accustomed to asking for things, told Santa, “I really like Christmas.” Santa chuckled. On our way out, he gave us three reindeer antlers to wear and let out a great “Ho! Ho! HO!” Ty thought that was amusing, judging from his grin and the widening of his eyes.

And we continued our Christmas shopping.

Note to Wives: If your husband wants something from The Home Depot, never hesitate to print the item from the online store. Saves time and deters frustration.

Posted in Ty | No Comments »

Kyle Walks on Water

Tuesday, December 12th, 2006
Cincopa video hosting solution for your website. Another great product from Cincopa Send Files.

He’s always ready to go to work. And he’s always asking to go to work… when he’s not pretending to be a Mater, screaming about the Ghostlight. But he doesn’t like diaper changes (He ought to learn to go in the toilet), and he won’t keep his hair in a ponytail.

Yesterday, while at the bank, he points to the floor. “Hi, Mommy!” He waves like mad. “Hi, Mommy, I see you.”
I laugh, “Hi, Kyle! I see you, too. Can you see my reflection? Do you see the lights from the ceiling being reflected?”
“Yea!” he giggles. “It’s like water.”
“Yes, water reflects light, too.”

Then he crouches, purses his lips toward the floor and begins to blow. “Look, it’s like this.” And he makes a waving motion with his wrists and and fingers.
“Are you imagining the ripples in the water?”

The folks at the bank think the kids are so cute and well-behaved. (o_O) But the boys didn’t get a lollipop yesterday because they started running in circles (although one of the bank people said that it was okay, that no one was around), helping themselves to the muffins, and especially because they didn’t sit and be quiet when I had asked them about 17 times. Kyle kept laughing even though I was on the verge of spanking people. Still, they behaved well for the first half-hour of standing in line. So I can’t possibly be THAT angry with them. :)

We walked to the post office, which didn’t take us too long since I made them both run (while I carried Taylor in the sling). I just walked fast. It reminds me of Harry Potter, when he has to run to stay beside Dumbledore, who, being tall, takes one step for every three of Harry’s steps. Ty likes holding the door for people, but people don’t seem to want to accept that. They hold the door open, and say, “You can go ahead.” But that bothers Ty, and I don’t know how to tell a gentleman that Ty is learning to be a gentleman. And walking away, Ty gets hot and bothered and forgets to say “thank you.”

We picked up our mail, and Ty wanted to run some more. He’s capable of long-distance. I think we ought to put him in cross country or marathons when he’s older. (One time, we we at the zoo and had to get to the car ASAP, so I carried Taylor, pushed Kyle in the stroller and let Ty run beside me. For almost a mile, he kept the pace, without whining or complaining, just concentrating on running.) Kyle, on the other hand, is like me: explosive energy will save my life, not that cardio/endurance crap. He was tired when we got to the post office. Didn’t want to run back to the car. So I carried him some of the way. After he got in a better mood and my arms were tired, he ran some more. I think his diaper may be hindering him. Next step: Go in the toilet. Ya can’t be a professional hockey player if yer wearin’ diapers.

Posted in Kyle, Routines | No Comments »