This interesting article was sent to me the other day and I thought it was quite educational for those who seem to be less 'tolerant'.
Here goes:
Written by Adam Brickley
Monday, 31 March 2008
Twentieth Century-FoxThe other day, I had the chance to see the new movie “Horton Hears a Who.” It won’t win any Oscars, but it wasn’t bad. And, despite being unnerved by the extreme concentration of toddlers in the theater, I can genuinely say I enjoyed the humor and plot, which is saying something for a guy who lists “Hotel Rwanda” as his favorite movie.
That said, there is a small, sinister element in “Horton” which needs to be addressed. If you’ve seen the flick, you will recall that Horton is the jungle’s schoolteacher, and that the villain is an overbearing kangaroo who has very strict ideas about jungle behavior. She never lets her joey play with the other jungle kids and is so upset by Horton’s claim that there is a city on a speck of dust that she hires a hit-vulture to neutralize Horton and the clover on which Whoville’s speck is sitting.
Personally, I’m not sure my joey would be allowed to play with the jungle kids either (they struck me as really bad influences), but that’s beside the point. What really bothered me was that one of first major lines out of the kangaroo’s mouth was “ ... and that’s why our joey is pouch-schooled!”
As a homeschool graduate, I was furious. I can take a joke, but I think that “Horton” was way over the line. Here’s why: The line about “pouch schooling” was one of the first things the audience heard from the character, and it was not explained at all. Basically, it was as if the mere mention of homeschooling was used as a justification for the character’s evil nature.
Apparently, the audience was supposed to assume that all homeshoolers are oppressive, closed-minded wackos. If you think I’m overreacting, consider this: How do you think it would go over if similar statements were made about your subculture? Would it have been a harmless joke if the kangaroo had made a quip about being a Muslim, Jew or Catholic? Yet, if the joke is about homeschoolers, am I supposed to think it’s funny? My parents certainly weren’t brooding, malicious villains, and neither are 99 percent of homeschool families.
If my parents had not pulled me out of school in 4th grade, I can almost guarantee you that I would not be in college today. The public school system failed me so thoroughly that they had me simultaneously enrolled in both special-ed classes and the “gifted and talented” program (which I’m assuming made me the school’s smartest stupid kid).
For some reason, society seems to think that my parents (who had the good sense to get me out of that hell hole) are child-abusing morons! Yes, I realize that it was just one line, but it represents a line of thinking I’ve been hearing repeatedly for years. As proof, I would cite another relatively recent movie, the 2004 teen comedy “Mean Girls."
Lindsay Lohan starred as a former homeschooler trying to cope with public school. Her character was shown as socially inept (her parents had been naturalists in Africa), and the film’s opening monologue explained how she wasn’t “weird like other homeschoolers." This speech was accompanied by scenes of such “weird homeschoolers," including one kid who said God gave man rifles to shoot dinosaurs and homosexuals. That isn’t comedy; it's bigotry.
I’ve met hundreds of homeschoolers in my time, and I have yet to meet anyone as ignorant or stupid as these silver-screen stereotypes. The vast majority are just like public school kids, though perhaps slightly better educated. Still, the general perception seems to be that we are wacked-out freaks who can’t make eye-contact.
If someone lives their life differently than you do, you should try to understand them rather than laugh at them. We live in a society where “tolerance” is all the rage, but apparently it only applies to certain trendy demographics. Meanwhile, the same people preaching “tolerance” seem more than willing to mock groups that don’t conform to their worldview, such as homeschoolers. Maybe this is to much to ask, but shouldn’t I be entitled to some tolerance, too?
Here’s the moral of my story: We need to stop stereotyping certain groups and treat all people with equal respect. You hear that line a lot these days in regard to Muslims or homosexuals, but it should be a universal value. There are tons of homeschoolers on today’s college campuses. You probably don’t notice them because they don’t look like the freaks you hear about, but they’re there. And if you happen to meet one, it might be a decent idea to respond with intelligent conversation rather than jokes about being a socially repressed shut-in. The same goes for members of other not-so-trendy groups, like Evangelical Christians.
Maybe it’s a bit self-indulgent of me to write an entire column on one line in “Horton Hears a Who.” I’m not so much angered by hearing a stereotype; that happens all the time. But it really gets under my skin that such ignorance turned up in a story that’s supposed to be about accepting people.
“Horton Hears a Who” was a great book, and I think Dr. Suess probably rolled over in his grave when the “pouch-schooling” line was written. I’m not going to encourage a boycott of the film or anything like that. Actually, I would encourage you to go see it. But instead of focusing on the psychosis of the pouch-schooling kangaroo, listen to the lovable elephant and remember that “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
http://www.thecampusword.com/content/view/2771/593
Twinville Trekker's Stamping Adventures
Showing posts with label Topsy Turvy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Topsy Turvy. Show all posts
April 07, 2008
February 02, 2008
January 29, 2008
Maelstrom!!
Over the past 3 days we've enjoyed a nice warm front, albeit brief. But it was quickly followed by wintry blasts of wind gusting up to 60mph! And that was followed by a snow storm that also included the same blasting wind.
For more pictures of this snowstorm on the ranch, click here: *Laughing Orca Ranch*
Blowing snow at the barn.
The rock wall at the back of our house. The snow was blown in so tight it resembles chinking in a log house or grout in a tile floor.
For more pictures of this snowstorm on the ranch, click here: *Laughing Orca Ranch*
Blowing snow at the barn.
The rock wall at the back of our house. The snow was blown in so tight it resembles chinking in a log house or grout in a tile floor.
January 18, 2008
January 01, 2008
Unique and Special
I truly believe that animals (and people) come into our lives for a reason. It happens all the time in my own life.
Case in fact, when we adopted our cat, Oreo, we had not been actively looking for a new cat, but it had been over 10 years since my first cat, Bugsy had died of old age.
And my heart must have been ready because when I first saw that little tuxedo kitty, almost an exact replica of my beloved Bugsy, we immmediately contacted the people giving him away on Freecycle and picked him up the same day!
And he has been a huge part of our family ever since. We love him dearly.
Something similar happened when we adopted our second kitty Javelina, too.
We were preparing to go pet/house sit for some friends in Arizona for the second time last year when for some reason, I decided to sign on the local San Pedro County Freecycle before we left. Immediately I noticed a post offering a female Manx kitten.
Ironically, we had been wishing for one ("The Secret") ever since we visited my best friend in Texas, who has had a beautiful female Manx cat for many years since adopting it while working in Singapore.
And I had also been discussing the idea of finding Jenna her own affectionate kitty to call her own, because she adores kitties, but Oreo wasn't meeting that desire because he is more aloof and independant, and only affectionate when he wants to be.
So, when we finally arrived in Arizona and contacted the people who had the Manx kitten...we were elated to find out that she was still available, and went straight away to pick her up. We fell instantly in love, but Jenna and her kitten bonded instantly and are still inseperable.
They have a very unique and close relationship and they both adore each other. But Javelina can be such an odd kitty, too. She plays like a dog sometimes, and sometimes like a big cat. Yet always she is the most affectionate, patient, and loving cat, especially towards her Jenna.
We know Javelina came into Jenna's life for a very special reason, and she is adding such a special element to our daughter's life, too.
Javelina always sleeps with Jenna, and they curl up together very cozy.
Javelina will fetch balls and she likes to nibble dog bisquits, too.
Our beautiful kitty.
Case in fact, when we adopted our cat, Oreo, we had not been actively looking for a new cat, but it had been over 10 years since my first cat, Bugsy had died of old age.
And my heart must have been ready because when I first saw that little tuxedo kitty, almost an exact replica of my beloved Bugsy, we immmediately contacted the people giving him away on Freecycle and picked him up the same day!
And he has been a huge part of our family ever since. We love him dearly.
Something similar happened when we adopted our second kitty Javelina, too.
We were preparing to go pet/house sit for some friends in Arizona for the second time last year when for some reason, I decided to sign on the local San Pedro County Freecycle before we left. Immediately I noticed a post offering a female Manx kitten.
Ironically, we had been wishing for one ("The Secret") ever since we visited my best friend in Texas, who has had a beautiful female Manx cat for many years since adopting it while working in Singapore.
And I had also been discussing the idea of finding Jenna her own affectionate kitty to call her own, because she adores kitties, but Oreo wasn't meeting that desire because he is more aloof and independant, and only affectionate when he wants to be.
So, when we finally arrived in Arizona and contacted the people who had the Manx kitten...we were elated to find out that she was still available, and went straight away to pick her up. We fell instantly in love, but Jenna and her kitten bonded instantly and are still inseperable.
They have a very unique and close relationship and they both adore each other. But Javelina can be such an odd kitty, too. She plays like a dog sometimes, and sometimes like a big cat. Yet always she is the most affectionate, patient, and loving cat, especially towards her Jenna.
We know Javelina came into Jenna's life for a very special reason, and she is adding such a special element to our daughter's life, too.
Javelina always sleeps with Jenna, and they curl up together very cozy.
Javelina will fetch balls and she likes to nibble dog bisquits, too.
Our beautiful kitty.
December 31, 2007
Monster Homeschool Family
A friend sent this to me and it made me giggle. It's full of some truths and many misconceptions of homeschooling families. Enjoy it 'tongue-in-cheek'.
Funny Homeschool Video Link
Funny Homeschool Video Link
December 15, 2007
Our Snow Ball Battle!
Don't ya just love Jib Jab! You can play in the snow and get pummeled by snowballs.....without even going outside! hehe
Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab
December 14, 2007
Chocolate Marshmallows
Recently I bought a bag of chocolate marshmallows at Target. I thought they'd be fun to use to make S'Mores, but instead the kids are finding that chocolate marshmallows are just plain fun to snack on.
What is interesting about the following picture is that Jenna insists on cutting up her marshmallows with her kid's kitchen knife and fork BEFORE eating them. She is very precise and neat about the entire process.
While, ever since my boys were toddlers, they've chosen to grab a marshmallow and pop the entire thing in their mouth to eat.
And it reminded me of the time when Jeremiah was only 3 years old and he had popped that marshmallow in his mouth, and almost choked to death. The Heimlich really does work.
I'm grateful that Jenna prefers to cut up her marshmallow in small bites before eating.
What is interesting about the following picture is that Jenna insists on cutting up her marshmallows with her kid's kitchen knife and fork BEFORE eating them. She is very precise and neat about the entire process.
While, ever since my boys were toddlers, they've chosen to grab a marshmallow and pop the entire thing in their mouth to eat.
And it reminded me of the time when Jeremiah was only 3 years old and he had popped that marshmallow in his mouth, and almost choked to death. The Heimlich really does work.
I'm grateful that Jenna prefers to cut up her marshmallow in small bites before eating.
November 23, 2007
Miss Magoo
The boys were given a pair of silly glasses for Halloween, from their triplet friends, who all went as Harry Potter. Jenna discovered them the other day and snuck up on me and made me laugh right out loud. What a silly girl I have! She is such a joy and a blessing.
Here's our "Miss Magoo"
Here's our "Miss Magoo"
November 19, 2007
Snowy Thanksgiving??
Looks like a Winter Advisory has been placed for the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico toward the end of the week and into Thanksgiving.
Funny story to share about snow, actually. While at Lowes the other day, John purchased a couple show shovels, just in case.
We've been told that New Mexico was expecting a dry winter (as compared to last winter's several snow blizzards), but we now live in the mountains, so we know that we can get snow anytime during the winter, even if Albuquerque doesn't.
So, anyway, this man at Lowe's sees the snow shovels and laughs loudly at John and Jeremiah while they are waiting to pay for them in line. He says, "Don't think you're gonna need those around here!"
John answered, "We will on our ranch in the mountains at 7,000 feet". The guy kind of looked stricken and surprised, not knowing what to say.
Later while packing the stuff into the truck, they saw the same man getting into his car, and happened to notice his California license plate.
Clueless.......
(Anyway, here is our local Weather Advisory)
"Much colder temperatures to invade New Mexico mid and late week...
... Wintry preciptation likely over the long Holiday weekend...
A storm system entering the Pacific northwest this afternoon will dive southeast toward Colorado Tuesday night into Wednesday... brushing northeast New Mexico with just a little snow.
A second more powerful storm will form over the Pacific northwest Wednesday
and head toward New Mexico on Friday. This second disturbance could bring substantial precipitation to much of northern and central New Mexico.
All snow is expected in the mountains... while a mix of rain and snow in the valleys and eastern plains on Thanksgiving and Friday should turn to all snow by Friday night and Saturday.
***The potential exists for significant snow accumulations... especially
in the mountains.***
The surface cold front associated with the first storm system will plow south and west over the state Tuesday night and Wednesday... while a reinforcing shot of chilly air arrives late in the week.
Funny story to share about snow, actually. While at Lowes the other day, John purchased a couple show shovels, just in case.
We've been told that New Mexico was expecting a dry winter (as compared to last winter's several snow blizzards), but we now live in the mountains, so we know that we can get snow anytime during the winter, even if Albuquerque doesn't.
So, anyway, this man at Lowe's sees the snow shovels and laughs loudly at John and Jeremiah while they are waiting to pay for them in line. He says, "Don't think you're gonna need those around here!"
John answered, "We will on our ranch in the mountains at 7,000 feet". The guy kind of looked stricken and surprised, not knowing what to say.
Later while packing the stuff into the truck, they saw the same man getting into his car, and happened to notice his California license plate.
Clueless.......
(Anyway, here is our local Weather Advisory)
"Much colder temperatures to invade New Mexico mid and late week...
... Wintry preciptation likely over the long Holiday weekend...
A storm system entering the Pacific northwest this afternoon will dive southeast toward Colorado Tuesday night into Wednesday... brushing northeast New Mexico with just a little snow.
A second more powerful storm will form over the Pacific northwest Wednesday
and head toward New Mexico on Friday. This second disturbance could bring substantial precipitation to much of northern and central New Mexico.
All snow is expected in the mountains... while a mix of rain and snow in the valleys and eastern plains on Thanksgiving and Friday should turn to all snow by Friday night and Saturday.
***The potential exists for significant snow accumulations... especially
in the mountains.***
The surface cold front associated with the first storm system will plow south and west over the state Tuesday night and Wednesday... while a reinforcing shot of chilly air arrives late in the week.
Non-humorous cartoons
Sometimes cartoons are not meant to be funny. Sometimes they are created to tell a story. To spread the word. A friend of mine shared these cartoons, and touched a cord in me that I've felt for a very long time. It's absolutely confirming that other people realize the hypocrisy of public school and society's relationship with young people.
(Click on the cartoons below to enlarge them)
For more cartoons like those above, check out:
Child Advocate.org
And here are some more of my 'favorite' cartoons from that same site:
(Click on the titles below)
Serving the Corporate Establishment
Medicated Childhood
"Just Say No"
3 Heads
(Click on the cartoons below to enlarge them)
For more cartoons like those above, check out:
Child Advocate.org
And here are some more of my 'favorite' cartoons from that same site:
(Click on the titles below)
Serving the Corporate Establishment
Medicated Childhood
"Just Say No"
3 Heads
September 21, 2007
Court and Witnesses on the Stand
The main lobby of the Sandoval County Judicial Complex(photo borrowed from Gerald Martin Bldr website)
We are finally through with all of our settlement cases and tied everything up with Jackson & Jeremiah's Conservatorship Assignment Appt today with the judge and our attorney and the court appointed Minor's representative, at the Sandoval County Courthouse.
It has taken such a long time (over 2 1/2 yrs) and after dealing with the defendant's attorneys and their potshots and extreme efforts at trying to get away with not paying our medical and legal bills, we have all been on edge and just wanting to close this awful chapter of our lives.
And now it is!
We were all a little bit nervous going into the courtroom, but it was a closed session and it took less than 10 minutes for it all to be over. The judge was awesome at trying to make us feel at ease and was very friendly with the boys, even commenting that his own son was named Jackson and then inviting them up to sit down in the witness chairs and be sworn-in. He even turned the video screens on so they could watch themselves being on the stand!
They both thought it was very cool and got a kick out of calling the judge "Your Honor" and repying "Yes Sir". I was SO proud of them! And really impressed with the judge for being so generous and accomodating, too.
Unfortunately, I left my camera at home, because I couldn't imagine that the court room experience would be anything worth documenting. Bummer, too.
Because we actually had fun!
We are finally through with all of our settlement cases and tied everything up with Jackson & Jeremiah's Conservatorship Assignment Appt today with the judge and our attorney and the court appointed Minor's representative, at the Sandoval County Courthouse.
It has taken such a long time (over 2 1/2 yrs) and after dealing with the defendant's attorneys and their potshots and extreme efforts at trying to get away with not paying our medical and legal bills, we have all been on edge and just wanting to close this awful chapter of our lives.
And now it is!
We were all a little bit nervous going into the courtroom, but it was a closed session and it took less than 10 minutes for it all to be over. The judge was awesome at trying to make us feel at ease and was very friendly with the boys, even commenting that his own son was named Jackson and then inviting them up to sit down in the witness chairs and be sworn-in. He even turned the video screens on so they could watch themselves being on the stand!
They both thought it was very cool and got a kick out of calling the judge "Your Honor" and repying "Yes Sir". I was SO proud of them! And really impressed with the judge for being so generous and accomodating, too.
Unfortunately, I left my camera at home, because I couldn't imagine that the court room experience would be anything worth documenting. Bummer, too.
Because we actually had fun!
September 08, 2007
Behind on the Blog.......
Sorry to my family and friends. I've been trying really hard to keep up with the Blog.
I know you guys are wanting to see what we do each week and see all the fun pics of the kids, but we are also up to our hair follicles with daily activities, including, but not limited to:
Baseball practice and games, band practices, P.E classes, museums, zoo, botanic garden visits, letterboxing, camping, packing, moving, purchasing, touring local places, playing, reading, exploring, cooking, cleaning, dealing with new house changes (insurance, water, electric etc) and old house preparations for sale (repairs, carpet/tile replacement, etc)...and on and on and on!!
Plus I've been sick with a debilitating head cold for the past couple of days and sitting in front of the 'puter gives me a terrible headache. So I've been avoiding it like the kiss of death!
John has been taking tons of photos, as have I, and I will try to get them out of the folders and posted in the next few days.
(Hi Dad!! It was great talking to to you on the phone the other day. Looking forward to seeing your 5th wheel pull up in our driveway in the mountains! Thanks to you and Mom for the birthday card and money, too.)
I know you guys are wanting to see what we do each week and see all the fun pics of the kids, but we are also up to our hair follicles with daily activities, including, but not limited to:
Baseball practice and games, band practices, P.E classes, museums, zoo, botanic garden visits, letterboxing, camping, packing, moving, purchasing, touring local places, playing, reading, exploring, cooking, cleaning, dealing with new house changes (insurance, water, electric etc) and old house preparations for sale (repairs, carpet/tile replacement, etc)...and on and on and on!!
Plus I've been sick with a debilitating head cold for the past couple of days and sitting in front of the 'puter gives me a terrible headache. So I've been avoiding it like the kiss of death!
John has been taking tons of photos, as have I, and I will try to get them out of the folders and posted in the next few days.
(Hi Dad!! It was great talking to to you on the phone the other day. Looking forward to seeing your 5th wheel pull up in our driveway in the mountains! Thanks to you and Mom for the birthday card and money, too.)
September 04, 2007
Oh no!! Walmart is here!!!
This is why we're moving......
This picture was taken from the Walgreens in our neighborhood subdivision.
Yes, the mountain views from our neighborhood north of Albuquerque are absolutely gorgeous and some of the best in the area, but when we built our house in Rio Rancho 12 years ago, all that we had as neighbors besides a handful of houses, was a Dairy Farm.
Yes, some people thought we were nuts for building a house near a cow farm, what with the infrequent cow-type odors that would waft over our neighborhood on the rare occasion.
Back then we loved the rural feeling of having a farm with all the open grassland, unobstructed views, almost zero traffic and lots of peace and quiet.
Well, all that has changed since back then. A huge casino and resort was built on the nearby Santa Ana Indian land, a grocery store, movie rental shops, Walgreens, Dr's offices, even a Starbucks, and lots of lots of houses upon houses have all went up all around us and behind us.
Lots of Ticky Tacky tract houses everywhere we look. Lots of views of other houses and their rooftops, a gradual loss of the beautiful dark skies that New Mexico has always prided itself on.
We've had enough. We love our house, even though it is a Ticky Tacky tract house and we love our breathtaking views, but when weighed against all of the other negatives, this is not the lifestyle we want for our family.
We need wide-open spaces, views that go on forever, without houses, buildings, traffic and noise and light pollution destroying our joy. We want chickens and horses, some dogs, maybe some goats and a llama or two...out in the country.
And you know what?
I'd rather have the smell of a Dairy Farm occasionally wafting over my house with the sight of those pretty black and white bovines grazing the wide open spaces, then a humongous, crowded, dirty, noisy, crime-magnet Walmart store as our neighbor.
August 29, 2007
TwinHula Guys! Aloha!
Our funny, fun friends Carissa and Tom shared their JibJab videos and got us laughing so hard we just about wet our pants!!
Jax and Jem begged to make a silly video starring them, so here it is!!
Jax and Jem begged to make a silly video starring them, so here it is!!
August 25, 2007
Baseball, Lacrosse, Pool/Birthday Party, House....
Besides all of the regular busy-ness of our lives that prevent me from regularly logging into this Blog, we've been extra busy this week with Jackson & Jeremiah's baseball games and practices. They have a game on Saturday, followed by a pool/birthday party at their friend's house in Rio Rancho.
And John is coaching lacrosse at UNM on Saturday afternoon. And then we are hoping to get ourselves packed up and head north to go camping with our friends, Karen and Sharon and their families.
We've got to be back Sunday night, so we can attend our new houses' inspection in the East Mountains. We are praying that it's an uneventful inspection, after the nightmare of the previous home we placed an offer on, too!
But we are all a little bit bummed to be missing the Golden Letterboxing Gathering in Golden, CO this weekend. We were so looking forward to camping and letterboxing with fellow letterboxers in Colorado.
The next close-enough letterboxing gathering is being held in Santa Fe in October and called the "Spooktacular"! We are excited about participating, along with our friend's Karen and Al and their kids.
And John is coaching lacrosse at UNM on Saturday afternoon. And then we are hoping to get ourselves packed up and head north to go camping with our friends, Karen and Sharon and their families.
We've got to be back Sunday night, so we can attend our new houses' inspection in the East Mountains. We are praying that it's an uneventful inspection, after the nightmare of the previous home we placed an offer on, too!
But we are all a little bit bummed to be missing the Golden Letterboxing Gathering in Golden, CO this weekend. We were so looking forward to camping and letterboxing with fellow letterboxers in Colorado.
The next close-enough letterboxing gathering is being held in Santa Fe in October and called the "Spooktacular"! We are excited about participating, along with our friend's Karen and Al and their kids.
August 17, 2007
Guinea Pigula! BWAHAHA!
Our guinea pigs love eating fresh garden veggies, especially ripe and juicy tomatoes!
The kids and I got a kick out of the piggies' chins after they started munching these 'maters today. It reminded us of the book "Bunnicula".
Looks like we've got our own little dracula pigs now! hehe
S'Mores dug right into his mater. Look at those cute piggy lips!!
S'Mores is John's favorite piggy. He's such a chubby, funny, cuddly boy!
Nacho munching his own meter. Yummy!
The kids and I got a kick out of the piggies' chins after they started munching these 'maters today. It reminded us of the book "Bunnicula".
Looks like we've got our own little dracula pigs now! hehe
S'Mores dug right into his mater. Look at those cute piggy lips!!
S'Mores is John's favorite piggy. He's such a chubby, funny, cuddly boy!
Nacho munching his own meter. Yummy!
Sandia Smog
When we first moved to New Mexico over 14 years ago, it was truly a beautiful, unique and uncrowded place. But with all the influx of folks moving in from the West over the past few years, and the rows and rows of ticky tacky houses going up all over the city, the traffic and air pollution is rearing it's nasty head.
On hot summer days now, the Sandias look alot like the front range of Denver...covered in smog and haze.
It's sad how this happens. People move into a place because they love it and it's environment, low cost of living, etc. But then they turn it into the place they just escaped from....full of smog, traffic, high prices, light pollution, and congestion of houses, people and vehicles.
It breaks my heart to look out my window and see my beloved Sandias looking more like a smogged up California mountain range. sigh......
On hot summer days now, the Sandias look alot like the front range of Denver...covered in smog and haze.
It's sad how this happens. People move into a place because they love it and it's environment, low cost of living, etc. But then they turn it into the place they just escaped from....full of smog, traffic, high prices, light pollution, and congestion of houses, people and vehicles.
It breaks my heart to look out my window and see my beloved Sandias looking more like a smogged up California mountain range. sigh......
August 05, 2007
!!Crazy Train!! "More-Than-One Ponderings"
Sometimes having more than one child feels like were traveling on an out-of-control train...preparing for a super crash. Sometimes, we parents are so busy meeting all of the requests and needs of our trio that the scenery just whizzes right on by as we travel at warp speed along this jet-fast period of time in our children's lives where, if we blink, we just might miss some absolutely amazing, never-to-be-repeated, awesome moment.
It can be such a juggling act with 3 kidlets, to make sure that everyone has some one-on-one uninterrupted time with each parent, especially when, as a parent, you can see that they are really needing that time with you.
It's often so easy to feel torn and stretched in so many ways when 3 terrific kids and a loving spouse are wanting your undivided attention.
We have simplified our lives so extremely that it gets easier to do this all the time. But one thing that is always more challenging for John and I is that we were raised without any siblings, as 'only-children', if you will. And sometimes we both still find ourselves overwhelmed with all the high levels of joy-filled noise and activity that surrounds three very active and happy children.
We feel like we are on the "Crazy Train".
Yep, it's a little out-of-control. Yep, it's crazy-fast!
But, man it is one hell of an exciting, thrilling, joyous, hysterically funny, whole-life-learning train ride!!!
And we NEVER want to get off this train!
August 02, 2007
Everything in it's Place =More Creativity
For a number of years, we've been storing the massive number of Legos that Jackson and Jeremiah own, in large, plain plastic bins. This has made for many frustrated moments when one of the boys were trying to locate a specific piece to complete a Lego project...and then finally just giving up.
While we were in Utah, we stopped off at IKEA and found some awesome storage boxes that Jackson & Jeremiah felt would be perfect Lego storage. They were right!
We bought 16 of these terrific plastic boxes with removable/moveable dividers.
Yesterday I spent most of the day digging through one of their large, deep bins for thousands of tiny Legos, and placing them in their new storage boxes.
Jackson & Jeremiah could not be any happier! They keep hugging me and telling me how much they appreciate me doing this for them, and how much more they enjoy building with their Legos now. I did it with love for my boys because I know how long they've been frustrated with their Lego storage. I'm just so pleased that they really do like the way it all turned out.
Some pics of some of the storage boxes.
Already lots of great Lego projects strewn about on the coffee table.
Some new projects created today! (Doesn't Jackson look like Frodo Baggins??!!)
Jeremiah's Tropic House.
While we were in Utah, we stopped off at IKEA and found some awesome storage boxes that Jackson & Jeremiah felt would be perfect Lego storage. They were right!
We bought 16 of these terrific plastic boxes with removable/moveable dividers.
Yesterday I spent most of the day digging through one of their large, deep bins for thousands of tiny Legos, and placing them in their new storage boxes.
Jackson & Jeremiah could not be any happier! They keep hugging me and telling me how much they appreciate me doing this for them, and how much more they enjoy building with their Legos now. I did it with love for my boys because I know how long they've been frustrated with their Lego storage. I'm just so pleased that they really do like the way it all turned out.
Some pics of some of the storage boxes.
Already lots of great Lego projects strewn about on the coffee table.
Some new projects created today! (Doesn't Jackson look like Frodo Baggins??!!)
Jeremiah's Tropic House.
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