Mom Confessions #10

I hide in bathroom to check emails. No, I don’t have a Smartphone. I bring my laptop in and wobble it on my knees.

Mom Confessions #9

I sometimes take advantage of cleaning time while Eli is in his high chair. Surely he is old enough to be past the instruction on the tag that says “Never leave a child unattended…” I don’t go far, and I am still singing…

Book Recommendations by Eli

I love to read. Reading books is one of my most favourite activities. I can read by myself if i want, or I can get mom or dad to read to me. Or anyone else for that matter. I have some favourite books, of course (much to my mom’s chagrin). Sometimes she’ll agree to read them over and over, and other times she says “Oh, let’s pick a different one…” and tries to hide it on a higher shelf that I can’t reach. Silly mommy.
Anyways. One of my most favourite books right now is The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland. A-m-m-m-azing. The story is rhymy and funny and scary and I love the lion. But the best parts about the book are when the bear ROARS. Roar! Roar! ROARRRR! (He gnashed his teeth and stomped his feet and chased them out the door). I love turning to those two pages the most. I think mom has finally gotten used to it.

I have the large paperback version, and I’ve seen the board book too. I’m sure it is just as good. Daddy shared some of his Christmas itunes money and bought me the interactive app version for the ipad. The guy that reads it is from Australia and pronounces ZEBra just like daddy! You should check it out here.

(Because I love Nick Bland so much, we got the Very Hungry Bear and Very Itchy Bear book apps. We also got the French version of Some Dads! I’m so lucky!)

A Room for a Boy.

Once upon a time we had a “guest room” that really didn’t have much going for it. A bed, an ugly wicker chair, a dresser and a tv. We usually hid laundry that needed folding in there. That was about it. A couple of months ago, we finally decided to start converting it to a room for a boy. I’ll be posting the progress of the room (because it is still a progress) – but in the meantime – check out a sneak preview of some of my current favourite elements. (and aren’t instagram filters super-rad?)

Time Management & an apology.

I had planned to post more. A lot more. I have sticky notes of ideas and topics, and I even made a calendar to schedule the posts. I just never did. I even planned to write a piece about how well I’ve been managing my family-work-play-self. I was going to write about how I have much more purpose behind my reasons and more motivation to do things. The reality is, I’m not so good at it. I once did a connect the circle dot quiz in the Artist’s Way. Everything is supposed to be connected in a balanced circle. If something is off balance, it means that you might be devoting too much time for it – or not enough time.

I’m really good at spending time with my little family. I make sure that we snuggle until the very last moment that we have to get out of bed in the morning. And I’ve been getting home from work at a decent time each night and we play, play, play all night.

I’ve also been good at my job. I love my job. Being a teacher is definitely my passion (despite the politics & public opinion…) and I am happy to be a working maman. It’s been said that teachers who aren’t parents are better teachers, because they can devote more time to planning. I agree that I don’t plan nearly as much as I used to, but I would disagree that I am a worse teacher. If anything, I understand the parent perspective a bit better (well… most of them) and I think that makes me a better teacher. I work my butt off during my prep period, lunch and recess breaks to have more time with my family in the evenings.

Our house is not in shambles, but it is terribly dusty and crummy. I haven’t done any projects or painted chalkboards or put up pictures. The laundry and dishes and cooking and banking are done. But that’s no fun.

I’ve not been so good with keeping in touch with my friends via mail art or email or even facebook. I’ve been neglectful, and I don’t like it. I must do better.

I’ve also been terrible with my blogging self. and my painting self. and my drawing self. and my creating self. my artsy self. I am doing a lot of creating for my students – but none for me (and my friends and family). I must do better. I miss my self.

Although I have some super non-goals for 2013 posted here - my mega-mind goal is to spend more time with me. By myself. Sometimes.

I think I am going to start the Artist Way lessons all over again. And post more. (sorry Dwight & Amy!)

ps. It’s a snowday.  And naptime. That helps get my stuff together!

Mom Confessions #8

Most of our shopping trips consist of Eli being handed something to play with (ex. instrument, toy, can of soup) and then leaving it in the check out line. “Oh, that giant talking Buzz Lightyear has gone for a nap. Night, night Buzz!”

Read. Read. Read.

The biggest concern of parents of children in a French Immersion classroom is that they [the parents] don’t speak French and don’t think they’ll be able to help their child with homework. In an attempt to ease that concern and bridge a better connection between home and school, I send home monthly “tips” in my newsletters. I thought I’d share my October tips with the greybrucekids readers too!

FOSTER A LOVE OF READING!

Read with your children at least once a day (in ANY language) for at least 20 minutes. Have a family reading time – where everyone reads.

Continue reading aloud to your child even if they can read by themselves. Even if they are in grade 4 or 6 or 12.

Explore books together. Ask questions, explore character motivations and themes. Point out new vocabulary or ideas. Make connections to your lives.

Vary the text. Reading does not only have to be chapter books. It can also be with non-fiction texts such as science experiments, instruction manuals, magazines, cookbooks, comic books, movie/music/book/game reviews. menus, song lyrics, catalogues, blogs, food & product labels, brochures and newspapers. Try an audio book! Respect the genre your child chooses (even if you are scared of snakes or cannot stand princesses!)

Tell stories together orally. Talk about your family genealogy, or vacation memories. Record yourselves!

Set up a reading space in your home and make sure everyone uses it. Build a great home library. Keep reading materials in the bathroom, in the car, in bedrooms and near the tv!

Be a good reading role model. Let your children see what you are reading – share interesting things you’ve read about in books, magazines, online or in newspapers. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read and your reaction to reading has a huge influence on your child as a reader.

Visit bookstores and libraries. Get a library card, take advantage of programming and explore new authors and genres together.

Ask your child what he or she is reading, and encourage discussion.

Go places and do things together to build their background knowledge and vocabulary. This will give them a stronger basis for things they read.

Be knowledgable about your child’s progress. Find out what reading skills and strategies they are expected to have at each grade level. Talk to your child’s teacher.

Add some Writing!  Provide lots of writing materials (paper, pencils, pens, markers, staplers, hole punches, yarn…) Write grocery lists, thank-you cards, posters, family newsletters, make books….

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

I am thankful for

my family (near & far), my friends (old & new), my job/students (now & then), my health, my brain, our house and  yummy food.

I am also thankful for a whole bunch of random goodness like – thank-yous, grape flavoured things, crayola crayons, dancing like a maniac, long & thoughtful emails, mail art, grape nerds, burt’s bees hand lotion, great big sea, strawberry ice cream, internet quizzes, cloth diapers, anne shirley, Canada, typography, lyrics, broadway musicals, peanut butter on a spoon, movies that take place in schools, hand stands, baker’s twine, tivo, paint, Yahtzee, musical instruments, brown sugar, skipping ropes, orange pop, sharpie markers, popsicles,  retro television, funky stockings, surprises on my doorstep, babies, pinterest, cranberry coffee cake, hot apple cider, blankets to snuggle, sudoku, mixtapes and photoshop. xo

Kid Musak #3

And the third compilation of GREAT parent-friendly kiddo musak.

Shake it Loud – Meredith LeVande
Clean up song – Mr. Steve
One That I Love – Charlie Hope
My Darling Clementine – The Submarines
Brush Your Teeth – Raffi
Sweep the Floor – Sho, Mo & the Monkey Bunch
My Love – Petula Clark
Ten in the Bed – SLB
How Much is that Doggie? – Kimmy
Walk Outside – Dan Crow
Let’s Go Fly a Kite – Mary Poppins
Sitting on Top of the World – Grenadilla
Spider-man theme – Michael Buble
Shoo Lie Loo - Elizabeth Mitchell
Itsy Bitsy Spider – The Z Brothers
I Sing you a Song - Curtis King
The Rattlin’ Can – Key Wilds & Mr. Clarke
Return to Pooh Corner – Kenny Loggins
There was an Old Woman – SLB
Ba Ba Black Sheep – Caspar Babypants
You & Me – Frances England
One & One Makes Two – Johnny Cash
Oh Susanna - Lisa Loeb
Put a Little Love in your Heart – Renee & Jeremy

Want to hear a sample of the above list? Clicky here!

Click images below for Kiddo Musak Mix & Kiddo Musak Mix 2

 

Baby Art Attack

Since the moment Adele Enerson started creating mini art attacks with her sleeping daughter, I started saving them on my computer (this is before Pinterest, folks!) My cousin, a co-worker, an old roommate of mine and a friend all sent me a link to her blog saying “I can totally see you doing this when you have a baby!”

When Eli was just a few months old (and I hadn’t yet done any baby art attacks) I met a ultra-cool lady and her wee family. We became fast friends and I creeped her FB like a mad-woman. When I saw that she did baby art attacks with her little gal, I knew we’d be friends forever. I was also a little bummed that I didn’t do it first but it was the kick in the pants I needed to create my own. I told Aly about my creeping and Adele inspiration and she told me that she wouldn’t chat with me again until I had my first scene ready to go.

I managed to create 12 scenes (including some collaborative pieces) before Eli decided to no longer lay still. I kept a sketchbook of ideas for scenes. I would commit to one of the sketches and set up the backdrop on our bedroom or living room floor. Throughout the day I would add details to the scene. Scarves and towels worked wonders, but I managed to be a bit crafty with the other details including such items as envelopes, cloth diapers and tomatoes. I always included Fred Penner’s The Cat Came Back cassette tape in every scene. No reason for it really. I just wanted to be too school for cool.

Here our first scene picked apart for your viewing pleasure.

I made a Blurb book of these photos – each with a title (most of which are song lyrics). If you would like to see the full scene in better detail – check them out here or on FB.

End note: I think Adele’s newest doodle creations with her son are quite charming.

ps. If you get inspired to make your own – please let me know!