Archive | Thoughts
The Trumpet of the Swan
This one got past me as a kid. I am so glad I discovered it with my boys.
They all read Charlotte’s Web at school and liked it, but didn’t rave about it. All of us fell truly in love with E.B. White’s, The Trumpet of the Swan.
We read it out loud at bedtime.
It is the story of a swan named Louis. He is not perfect but he has a perfectly extraordinary life.
Love, purposefulness, determination, using your gifts– all portrayed in interesting situations. Louis finds the good in all he encounters.
I was afraid there was going to be some super sad, Mommy can’t read because she’s crying part, but it never came. The story left all of us with a great feeling. Kind of like, wow, if Louis can do it, so can I.
One of our favorites. I look forward to finding another book to read out loud that brings our family that kind of goodness.
Enjoy your weekend and Happy Mother’s Day!
A little something to read to my boys as they are falling asleep…
Tonight I want you to know it is possible to be your own best friend. In fact, I think everyone should be their own super best friend.
And how do you treat your best friend?
You are kind. You are honest. You let them go first. You make sure they get what they need.
Do the same things for yourself.
Be your own super best friend.
When you talk to yourself—say something nice.
Make sure you get what you need: Good sleep, healthy food, deep breaths.
And if you find a time when all your human friends let you down—it does happen—you already know your super best friend lives in your own body and in your own head and in your own soul.
Your super best friend is always ready to play.
You and your super best friend can count the stars, create a song, or bask in the sunlight.
There is super joy in being your own super best friend.
Now. Deep breath.
Close your eyes.
Be still and quiet and you will go to sleep.
I never would have thought…
Big Nate. I love you.
You have provided our family with information we never thought we would need.
Since my boys have discovered you we have discussed Kenny G, Barry Manilow, two-pees (toupees), study hall, casual laughs, baseball and the Three Stooges.
This morning Walt quizzed his dad from the Big Nate Boredom Buster book. Who was MVP of Super Bowl ex-v? (He guessed Walter Peyton, not correct.)
When was ZZ Top inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Missed it by 2 years. The only question he got right was what is 12×7. I just don’t know when we would have ever gotten around to discussing ZZ Top without you Big Nate.
Yes, Nate, I know you are a little irreverent, and detention is a word I hoped we would not have to deal with, but I love how much you value your friends, how you tolerate your father, and how you find a lot to laugh about in middle school. Oh, and your cartoons!
Last week Mack asked if I knew ree-oh speedwagon. Huh? Oh! REO Speedwagon! Sure. Let’s listen to “Keep on Lovin You”. Then we listened to “Take it on the Run.” I have not thought of those songs in a good ten years. Thankfully, now my children know REO Speedwagon and the meaning of an 80’s power ballad.
I am so grateful.
All these questions and flashbacks are good for a Mommy’s brain. It feels good to know all the words to, “I Write the Songs that Make the Whole World Sing.” Maybe my brain is still firing on some cylinders.
I pull out all my Mommy talent to follow the middle school banter read to me from Big Nate.
In cartoon frames.
While driving to soccer practice.
A good exercise in focus.
Keep those Big Nate books coming Lincoln Peirce. You are good for our whole family. And we love it!
Thought for the week
Artwork by Walt.
Simple words…
Last week was a bit crazy for me.
My little ebook, A Life of Great and Wonderful was created for me and my no so easy, ungraceful, difficult bedtime nights. It’s been sitting here quietly, while I worked up the courage to tell somebody about it.
Then I told my sister. She told Facebook. And everyone was so, so nice. My cousin’s wife Shelly was the first to buy it. With real money! Makes me tear up.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Feeling a little in awe of the power of Facebook (and wishing I was better at navigating social media). And grateful for such sweet wishes and congratulations and encouragement.
I feel so loved. Thank you a million times.
Becoming a “secure human”
In my mind reading blogs is like climbing a mountain or burrowing a hole. Some days I find myself dug down in a time waster. Other times I click on a “by the way, you might like this” and feel like I can see for miles, or at least think a little clearer because someone put into words what I think.
Happily I climbed up to read a post by Mike Posner, a songwriter who wrote Boyfriend, recorded by Justin Bieber and Sugar, by Maroon 5, both of which I have used in my Zumba class.
Mike talks about being famous, then not famous and what he learned. Wise words. I loved it. How he now uses “sturdy” adjectives to describe his life like: artist, human, writer, musician, poet and learner. Love that, learner instead of young, rich and famous.
It’s how I would like my boys to think of their life. To find the sturdy adjectives that describe their lives, and become “secure humans.”
And I may as well find some sturdy adjectives to describe myself too.
On our chalkboard this week…
Using my device for good. Every night.
Oh, bedtime.
Some nights it is such a struggle. Some nights I have to raise my voice and pull out my mean mommy routine to get teeth brushed and pj’s on and little ones into their beds. The stalling is just so exhausting.
Especially after a long mommy day.
A tired mommy is a frustrated mommy. Not the way I want to end the day with my children.
I want the day to end on a comforting thought, with values passed on and reminders that I love them no matter what. Thoughts and ideas that don’t make it in to the atmosphere of cleaning up the breakfast dishes, putting away clean clothes and studying for our timed times test.
That’s why I wrote, A Life of Great and Wonderful.
It’s a reminder for me.
If I have the words in front of me I have the tools to end the day in a gracious, comforting way that is soothing to my children and to me.
These are the messages I want pickling their sweet, wild minds when they are without me: in their camp bunk, or their barracks, or their dorm room.
I want to remind these sweet precious souls how much they mean to me, to our family, to our community and to the world.
If you would like your own digital copy to read to your children, click here.
Turn out the lights, dim down the screen on your phone or tablet, and soothe.
A new word for chores…
Think it will work?
Works for me.
Today, so far, my contribution to my family has been washing two loads of clothes, unloading the dishwasher, preparing 9 meals by 7:15am (5 breakfasts and 4 lunches), chauffeuring three boys to school and maybe a couple of other things I haven’t thought of that mommies do automatically.
Yes. It feels less like a job and more like a joy when I call it a CONTRIBUTION.
We will see if three little boys agree when I offer them a list of CONTRIBUTIONS they can make to our family and our home today after school.
Contributions like: emptying the trash cans, folding the towels, putting away clean clothes and setting the table.
I like it. Can’t wait to try it out! Everyone hates to do chores but most love to make a contribution.
The power of words.
Happy contributing! (Not sure if that’s a word.)