Great insights on blame by Bonnie Harris...
http://www.bonnieharris.com/column.html
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
poem in your pocket
I've been informed that today, April 14th, is "poem in your pocket" day. The idea is to print up a poem and put it in your pocket, then take it out at intervals and read it - or read it to someone you're with.
I didn't actually print anything out. I've had the flu, and wasn't planning on venturing out today - so I knew that (unless the mouse that visited our kitchen a few weeks back returned) I wouldn't have anyone to share the poem with. But I did celebrate poetry in my own way, by visiting the website of a childhood friend of mine, Amanda Rogers, who is a great poet. And I don't use the word 'great' in the way you would if someone asked how you were. I use the word 'great' because Amanda's talent is enormous. The power and precision of her words is sometimes overwhelming, and I'm grateful to be exposed to her work.
To check out her poetry visit:
http://gatherparadise.blogspot.com
I didn't actually print anything out. I've had the flu, and wasn't planning on venturing out today - so I knew that (unless the mouse that visited our kitchen a few weeks back returned) I wouldn't have anyone to share the poem with. But I did celebrate poetry in my own way, by visiting the website of a childhood friend of mine, Amanda Rogers, who is a great poet. And I don't use the word 'great' in the way you would if someone asked how you were. I use the word 'great' because Amanda's talent is enormous. The power and precision of her words is sometimes overwhelming, and I'm grateful to be exposed to her work.
To check out her poetry visit:
http://gatherparadise.blogspot.com
update
I just received word that Charlotte has been discharged from the hospital. (Huge sigh of relief. Now to get her home...)
good kids
I recently read the following article, which made some interesting points about the merits of raising your children to be good people rather than raising them to be happy.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/teaching-children-to-do-good/
But I don't think these things are mutually exclusive. I think you can nurture confidence in your child while at the same time teaching kindness. Although this article argues otherwise, I believe that our children's self esteem is vitally important. It's just that we need to teach them to have esteem for others as well. As I've said before, your kid should know that they're the center of the universe... and they need to know that everyone else is, too.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/teaching-children-to-do-good/
But I don't think these things are mutually exclusive. I think you can nurture confidence in your child while at the same time teaching kindness. Although this article argues otherwise, I believe that our children's self esteem is vitally important. It's just that we need to teach them to have esteem for others as well. As I've said before, your kid should know that they're the center of the universe... and they need to know that everyone else is, too.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
worried sick
Today I found out that my youngest daughter has been admitted to the hospital (in Ethiopia) for pneumonia. She's only 10 months old, and has had numerous respiratory problems already...
There are few things more threatening than not being able to help your child - even if you've only known that child for a short time. I spent the next several hours trying to find out what was really going on, and what (if anything) we could do. The splitting headache that followed was understandable - predictable, even. But when I started noticing swollen glands and that my ears were aching I began to wonder... And when the muscle aches and chills hit I finally decided to take my temperature.
Throughout the afternoon and evening Jemma was my nurse - fetching juice - which she proudly poured and carried herself - and heating pads, and even singing me to sleep. (Well, she was convinced I was asleep, anyway.) And Scott came home early and did all of the parenting bedtime duties on his own (including dinner, bath, and putting to bed.) I was pretty impressed with both of them.
Right now my temperature is just under 102. I took some Tylenol, so we'll see if that helps any. I guess this is what the expression 'worried sick' means...
There are few things more threatening than not being able to help your child - even if you've only known that child for a short time. I spent the next several hours trying to find out what was really going on, and what (if anything) we could do. The splitting headache that followed was understandable - predictable, even. But when I started noticing swollen glands and that my ears were aching I began to wonder... And when the muscle aches and chills hit I finally decided to take my temperature.
Throughout the afternoon and evening Jemma was my nurse - fetching juice - which she proudly poured and carried herself - and heating pads, and even singing me to sleep. (Well, she was convinced I was asleep, anyway.) And Scott came home early and did all of the parenting bedtime duties on his own (including dinner, bath, and putting to bed.) I was pretty impressed with both of them.
Right now my temperature is just under 102. I took some Tylenol, so we'll see if that helps any. I guess this is what the expression 'worried sick' means...
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
wacky remedies
When I was younger I had a planter's wart on the bottom of my foot and wanted to get rid of it. I heard about a remedy that sounded downright bizarre, but decided to try it nonetheless. (I'm renowned for my gullibility. In fact, my husband often refers to me as a 'guppy' because I always take the bait - believing practically anything anyone tells me.)
The remedy was to peel a potato under the light of a full moon, and to bury the potato skin in the ground. That's it. The wart was supposed to be gone a short time after that - I don't remember exactly how long... a week, perhaps. At any rate, I did it, not expecting much in terms of results - because it was hard to imagine - even for me- that this could possibly work... Turns out it did, though. No idea how or why. But there it is.
So I thought I'd post a few other home remedies that are supposed to work quite well. (However, if you're going to try them, use common sense... Don't try to fix anything yourself that needs a doctor's attention.)
Earache - Crush garlic in warm (not hot) olive oil. Using a cotton ball gently drip a few drops of the mixture into your ear. I've tried this and it's very helpful. Makes you smell like you're making a salad in your ear... but, hey, if it helps with the pain who cares?
Burns - Lavender oil. Apply directly to (mild) burns. It immediately takes the sting out.
Scars - Vitamin E.
Dandruff - Rinse with apple cider vinegar. (Never tried this, but heard it works well - just don't get it in your eyes because it will sting.)
Motion sickness - Eat olives. (Never tried this one either, but the tannin in olives helps eliminate the saliva that triggers nausea.. so it makes sense.)
Nausea - Chamomile tea or Ginger.
Sore throat - Salt water gargle.
Eczema - Oatmeal ground into a paste.
Bad breath - Parsley or yogurt.
Warts - Duct tape. Seriously.
Full circle back to warts... I had a wart on my arm and this actually worked. Cover just the area with the wart with duct tape. (Don't cover the surrounding skin, just the wart.) Leave it covered for 3 weeks. (You can put fresh tape on if it starts getting grungy or comes off in the shower. Just cover it immediately again. The idea is to stop any air from getting to the wart - you're basically suffocating it.)
The remedy was to peel a potato under the light of a full moon, and to bury the potato skin in the ground. That's it. The wart was supposed to be gone a short time after that - I don't remember exactly how long... a week, perhaps. At any rate, I did it, not expecting much in terms of results - because it was hard to imagine - even for me- that this could possibly work... Turns out it did, though. No idea how or why. But there it is.
So I thought I'd post a few other home remedies that are supposed to work quite well. (However, if you're going to try them, use common sense... Don't try to fix anything yourself that needs a doctor's attention.)
Earache - Crush garlic in warm (not hot) olive oil. Using a cotton ball gently drip a few drops of the mixture into your ear. I've tried this and it's very helpful. Makes you smell like you're making a salad in your ear... but, hey, if it helps with the pain who cares?
Burns - Lavender oil. Apply directly to (mild) burns. It immediately takes the sting out.
Scars - Vitamin E.
Dandruff - Rinse with apple cider vinegar. (Never tried this, but heard it works well - just don't get it in your eyes because it will sting.)
Motion sickness - Eat olives. (Never tried this one either, but the tannin in olives helps eliminate the saliva that triggers nausea.. so it makes sense.)
Nausea - Chamomile tea or Ginger.
Sore throat - Salt water gargle.
Eczema - Oatmeal ground into a paste.
Bad breath - Parsley or yogurt.
Warts - Duct tape. Seriously.
Full circle back to warts... I had a wart on my arm and this actually worked. Cover just the area with the wart with duct tape. (Don't cover the surrounding skin, just the wart.) Leave it covered for 3 weeks. (You can put fresh tape on if it starts getting grungy or comes off in the shower. Just cover it immediately again. The idea is to stop any air from getting to the wart - you're basically suffocating it.)
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
the first of april
It's April fools day, and Jemma thoroughly enjoyed pulling pranks and then yelling, "April Fools!!!" at the top of her lungs. I don't know which she found more fun, making stuff up to trick people, or being allowed to shout all day.
I was especially amused by her calling out, "Goodbye, Walter!" to our doorman (whose name is Nicky) as she was leaving the building, and 'mistakenly' wearing her karate outfit to ballet class (with her ballet costume underneath).
My suggestion to tell her dad that the internet was down (so he wouldn't get to watch the first Red Sox game of the season) was summarily dismissed. I guess she knows what makes a good April fools joke better than I do...
I was especially amused by her calling out, "Goodbye, Walter!" to our doorman (whose name is Nicky) as she was leaving the building, and 'mistakenly' wearing her karate outfit to ballet class (with her ballet costume underneath).
My suggestion to tell her dad that the internet was down (so he wouldn't get to watch the first Red Sox game of the season) was summarily dismissed. I guess she knows what makes a good April fools joke better than I do...
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