The Three Year Old Hairstylist

Posted by Patience on June 26, 2009 at 12:07 AM

She begged me for these hair elastics in the store. I gave in wondering how they were ever going to work with little fine hair. Somehow, out of sheer will, we got every last one worked into her hair for the last 4 days straight. She called them her "pretties".

Hair has been on her mind a lot lately. She asked Josiah to hand her the travel art box scissors while we were driving the other day. All I heard was, "No Lucy, you can't cut your hair." One lecture explaining the joy of the salon later, I thought we had nipped that playing hairstylist thing in the bud. A few days later while coming home from picking cherries she asked the boys for some paper and scissors. I didn't think too much about it since the paper was involved and she was in deep love with the "pretties".

Yep, you got it, beside a chunk of hair missing on the top, she managed to actually layer the sides nicely. Hair was everywhere, all over the car. The three year old hairstylist couldn't resist. I would show you but she won't let me take her picture yet.

Tell me, I know you have to have a kid hair cutting story or a bad haircut story yourself. Lucy will listen, its all part of the job.

Summer Pickin'

Posted by Patience on June 23, 2009 at 7:34 AM in Family Activities, Summer Fun

Jack has been asking to pick cherries for over a year now. Cherries were perfect for him because it was a combination of his love of tree climbing and fruit. Picking is the one activity that proves to be lovely over and over again for our family.

We headed towards the mountains in Virginia to find the orchard.

Josiah made cherry origami on the way. Aren't they cute?

The trees were almost done but we found enough to make it fun.

Lucy always picks the flowers too.

Favorite quotes of the day:

Lucy- "This is love..." (comment about the mountains)

Jack- "You know, I'm thinking we should probably grow our own cherry tree because it would be better for the earth. Then we wouldn't have to come ALL the way out here and use our gas. Gas is bad for the earth you know...so don't spit out those seeds okay? we need them!"

What's happening over there? What are you guys doing this summer?

Highs And Lows

Posted by Patience on June 19, 2009 at 7:50 AM in Connecting with kids

Highs and Lows are a long standing tradition at our house. At the dinner table or right before bed we go around and everyone says what the best and worst part of their day was. Sometimes I'm surprised by their answers as to what they really loved or what was hard. It is a great little tool to get inside their heads for just a bit.

At our house it goes something like this:

Josiah's highs are usually connecting times.
Jack can hardly ever come up with a low.
Lucy just keeps listing everything she did. All day long.
Someone decides for Lyra.
We guess for Papa if he isn't there.

So tell me Superfriends, what are your highs and lows for the week? Do tell in the comment section.

Bored Already?

Posted by Patience on June 16, 2009 at 7:00 AM in Summer Fun

It is day two of summer. Are you going crazy yet? If you aren't, it is inevitable that at some point your kids will be bored and all up in your grill. Here are five tried and true activities to keep kids happy and get a few moments to yourself. Or maybe just make dinner.

1. Spray paint- I know, you are worried you are creating incredible future graffiti artists but you won't. I keep a couple cans of cheap bright paint around for very special occasions. Throw some newspaper, cardboard or an old sheet down in the back yard and let them at it. What to paint you ask?

Old cheap happy meal toys- check this out
Boxes to keep stuff in
Sculptures of recycled stuff- paper tubes, cereal boxes, egg cartons, etc.
Murals can be made on rolled kraft paper

I lay down the ground rules and let them do this pretty much unsupervised. The sheer excitement keeps everyone focused. I think it's something about the holding the big can and pressing down the nozzle at the same time.
If all of this makes you extremely nervous, or you are thinking I have completely lost my mind, substitute paint for silly string.

2. Water play- Grab an under the bed container and fill with an inch of water and cups. Use small paper cups and poke holes through the bottom. Throw a drop or two of food coloring in the bottom. Kids also love tiny plastic animals in the mix. Even older kids are still mesmerized by water play. Let kids get completely soaked, throw towels down. Feeling brave? Try shaving cream instead of water.

3. Clean something- Kids love to clean when there is way too much soap and even more water. Give toddlers a spray bottle and sponge. Let older kids wash the car.

4. Flip Video Fun- This awesome little video camera turns kids into instant film makers and artists. How to Lego videos, awesome skateboard tricks, intense Polly pocket dramas, stuffed animal comedies, all of it can be captured on these hand held wonders. The camera is surprisingly inexpensive and even easier to use.

5. Just Wanna Dance- When nothing else works, just stop. Throw on some music (Pandora rocks!), set the timer for 15 minutes, and shake, shake it! Sometimes a short burst of direct attention meets the need and allows everyone to move on to their own activities after. Surrender to connection works wonders and prevents bigger struggles later on.
Book breaks do the same trick if dancing just isn't your thing.

Do you have any tricks to keep kids busy at your place? What activities wow your crowd? Do tell in the comments.

Summer Craft #1: Penny Launcher

Posted by Patience on June 15, 2009 at 7:00 AM in Connecting with kids, Family Activities, Siblings, Summer Fun

Josiah has a knack for finding cool crafts from various places. The penny launcher has to be one of my boy's all time favorites and great for boredom blues. Here is what you'll need:

balloons
scissors
toilet or paper towel rolls
electrical tape or duct tape
pennies
a pen (Josiah insisted you need this to write your name on your launcher so you don't lose it)

Cut the balloon in two. Throw away the bottom half.

Place the top part of the cut balloon over one end of the paper towel roll.

Wrap the electrical tape around the tube to secure the balloon. Cover the entire roll.

Here's what it looks like when it is all finished.

Drop your penny in the bottom, pull back and let her fly!

Jack always likes to show me how much hot air he has after.

Pure launching joy!

Supersisters Weekend Roundup: Dad's Day

Posted by Patience on June 13, 2009 at 7:19 AM in Holidays, Supersister Weekend Roundup

Father's day is right around the corner and what better time to throw some link love in the manly direction. Here are some fatherly picks worth checking out:

Gifts
Wanna shock Dad with a super cool gift this Father's Day? How about this awesome shirt telling the truth to the world. A cold one in his hand should follow.

These got the Dad seal of approval from Jorge (who peeks over my internet shoulder) while I was shopping on etsy at our house.

Got a green dad? Check out this awesome repurposed gift. Fashion rules!

Blogs
I spent the better part of last night getting lost in Matt's world. Any parent feeling alone will be inspired by his resolve and love.

Dad Gone Mad is fresh, funny and will remind you to not take anything too seriously, especially yourself.

Video
Did I tell you about the time I interviewed my mom for a speech class in college? The assignment was to give a compelling arguement on why I deserved an A. I got the A. Kevin interviews his dad to take his youtube popularity to new levels.

Let the memories of your dad fill up the comment box. Send us your best links to anything and everything dad related too. For just one day, it is all about the guy who loves you no matter what.

True Confessions...

Posted by Patience on June 12, 2009 at 7:00 AM

Since we are admitting to swearing and other parenting taboos, can I have just a moment to vent? You can join me if you like.

Here is my current parenting pet peeve: It drives me absoutely nuts when my children sit on the floor and wrap their arms and legs around my leg. Where did this come from? Who taught them to do it? Is it a game I am unaware of?

How about the constant wardrobe changes of three year old fashion divas? More and even more laundry. Let's not even discuss leaving barely used towels on the floor.

These sort of activites send me straight to my guilty pleasures. See that cake above? I am dreaming about it today. What are my other guilty pleasures you ask?

Reality televsion- please don't tell anyone
Obsessively checking facebook
Large slices of pie or cake
Listening to extremely old cheesy love R&B music

Please feel free to confess both your parenting pet peeves and guilty pleasures in the comments below.

Catch The Bug

Posted by Patience on June 9, 2009 at 5:58 AM in Guest Blogger, Nature

Jack has a fear of certain bugs, like high pitched screams are reserved for such encounters. I asked him to crawl under the bed when I was cleaning the other day only to place him right in the path of a spider cricket. He was completely undone. I have to admit those little suckers are quite jumpy and unpredictable.

The experience made me think of my friend Jess. Science lover, friend to bugs, photographer extraordinaire, and she is a mom to three amazing boys. Jess and her crew actually hunt for bugs, all together, for fun. So I wrote this fellow supersister and asked if she would guest post to tell us how she cultivated this love of bugs, wee beasties and all living things. Welcome Jess!

Facebook status update, Sunday, June 7, 9:19am: "discovered the source of the backyard stench. An impromptu lesson on the life cycle of blowflies followed."

Gross, right? I'm beginning to think that perhaps we're not normal over here. My six-year-old and I got enthusiastic yesterday over frass. What is frass? Caterpillar poop. On the other side of the yard, my patio is torn up, partly because maple roots pushed the slate all around, but partly because we just plain couldn't control ourselves when we figured out that there were bugs underneath every piece - ant tunnels! Termites! Crickets! Bigger ants! And not too long ago, my 4-year-old kissed a cockroach. Not normal.

How did we end up this way? My best guess: a mix of ADD and the scientific method. We are constantly distracted by tiny turtles, tinier mushrooms, pill bugs, and caterpillars - then drawn in to investigate them and find out what they are and how they work. Of all the bits of nature we enjoy, bugs get center stage, perhaps because they let us get closer than larger animals, and do more (or at least do it faster) than plants, but also because, well, they are just so cool. Did you know that ladybugs develop from these freaky looking things? Or what a click beetle is? Have you ever seen a giant American millipede? Or an assassin bug? I love what we find and how it teaches us to notice more and ask better questions.

What if you're just not a fan of all creatures great and small, especially not some of the smallest and leggiest ones? No worries. Everybody is entitled to their own personal phobias and creepy-crawlies, and there's a whole world of vertebrates out there, not to mention plants and fungi. Or rocks! (But can I confess something? I hate touching bugs and have been known to shriek when surprised by a spider. So maybe see if you can push our own boundaries just a little, and see if your kids will follow suit.)

Are you ready to explore? Where to start?

1. Go wild. We're hearing a lot these days about how fundamental outdoor experience is to childhood. Don't fret if a camping trip isn't in the cards - the wilderness can be as close as the edge of the playground, or your own unweeded veggie garden.

2. Follow your bliss. Be willing to get sidetracked and go wherever your wandering attention leads you. You don't need a lesson plan. You don't even need to look for any particular thing. Just see what finds you, and share your discoveries with each other. Enthusiasm is catching.

3. Everybody starts somewhere. I only learned the word frass last year. You may not be a walking field guide - hey, I'm not a walking field guide. I share the knowledge I already have and to the rest, say "let's find out."

4. Details, baby, details. Take note of what you see and use your resources. What stands out about the critters you saw today? What were they doing? Where were they? You might want to keep a journal and a field guide; I use my camera and my skills as High Priestess of Google. Hmmm, black, yellow, and green caterpillar on parsley? Could it be a black swallowtail? And what was that orange stinky thing coming out of its head when I poked it? An osmeterium, you say?

5. Keep asking questions! What hypotheses can each member of your family come up with? How can you test them? What will you discover tomorrow?

What are you noticing, and where is it leading you?

Jess Lucia is a relentless idealist, perpetual dabbler, and slightly-crazed mother of three boys. She doesn't believe there's any such thing as "overthinking," loves learning new things, and sporadically shares parts of her journey on her blog, Spark. She's pretty sure nobody in her family has kissed a cockroach in at least a week.

all photos by Jess Lucia

Super Summer On A Budget

Posted by Patience on June 5, 2009 at 6:00 AM in Budget living, Connecting with kids, Family Activities

Pinching the pennies this summer? Wondering how you are going to make it through the summer with kids at home with no cash for camp or a vacation?

Here are a few ideas to make this summer fun on any budget:

1. Take a pool tour- Can't afford the local pool membership? Ask your friends if you might be able to join them as a guest or use their own pool. The trick is, ask a few friends. I know, it's total mooching but I bet your friends would be happy to relieve you from the heat wave that is summer. If this feels horribly presumptious, suggest a trade. Offer to trade for a meal delivered to their door or babysitting. Exchange pool time while picking up the mail, dog sitting/walking while they travel and wouldn't be using the pool anyway.

2. Invest in popsicles- Go straight to your local price club and buy mass amounts of Flav-or-ice or other kid favorite popsicles. Let your kids eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, well, maybe just for snacks. A lot of snacks. A little water, food coloring and sugar never hurt anyone right? These cheap treats will keep everyone happy and kids will say, "Remember the summer mom let us eat all those popsicles? That was awesome!".

3. Take advantage of the free stuff- Most movie theaters offer a free movie once a week before the regular shows. We pack away a tiny ziploc of candy, juice boxes and buy popcorn at the theater. Any bowlers in the family? Check out the cool program where kids can bowl free for the entire summer.
Most local parks and recreation centers have all kinds of great concerts and programming during the summer, look local.

4. Pick something- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, oh my! Picking fruit and vegetables can be fun and save your grocery bill. There is nothing like being on a farm, grove or patch and picking your food right from the ground, bush or vine. Pick-your-own is a great site to help you find a farm near you.

5. Commune it up- We're all in this together. Gather your friends and gaggle of kids and do the summer together. Create your own at home camp with art activities, slip-n-slide, and afternoon movie showings. Kids will tribe up and parents will delight in the shared company. Prepare a meal together to split and send home for dinner and the day is done. Many hands make light work. It is the village at it's best.

Do you have any ideas for enjoying a thrifty summer? Share them with us in the comments.

Am I Kate?

Posted by Patience on June 1, 2009 at 7:00 AM

So I'll admit it, I watched the 57,000 hour marathon leading up to the big Jon and Kate premiere. Well, not the entire marathon but you know how certain shows can become scarily addictive. Everyone wonders what it would be like to be a fly on the wall at your neighbor's house and this gives you a chance from the comfort of your couch. I was drawn to the show occasionally in the past but now, like the rest of the world, I'm totally sucked in.

I have always had a sort of uneasy feeling about Kate. She is strong, and bossy and sometimes ridiculously difficult. She kind of scares me. While watching her I think to myself, "Oh my God, that is me?! Is that what it looks like?". I know, down deep inside, that if a camera crew followed me into my kitchen during the last six months, there is a definite chance of catching quite a few "Jon and Kate" moments at my house.

A sort of compassion fills my heart and I wonder what it must really be like to have that many small children. How every ounce of you must be pushed to limits you didn't
even know were possible. I'm pretty sure the OCD and intense control freakery was part of Kate before she even began this whole journey, but I wonder if this is an extreme version of herself invited by the circumstances of her life. Or maybe not, but you must admit her strength and resolve are pretty incredible. Could you do what they have done? It was the couple's humanity that called to us in the first place, the belief that perfection is not the end all but rather being together the best way we know how is.

So throw in massive amounts of fame and money on top of an already insane and amazing situation and you get another family ruined by reality television. There is nothing to draw you back to where you started, a young family just trying to make it. Instead we watch the dismantling of it all and I find it so incredibly sad. I hope and pray that they can find their way back to the beginning when all they had were each other and so much more.

Okay, weigh in Super people. I know you have been dying to, even if you say you don't. Give it to me, what do you think about Jon and Kate plus 8?