And here's the after:
Now, opening my cabinets isn't nearly so hazardous.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Kitchen Decluttering
This week I worked on decluttering some of our kitchen cabinets. I recycled a lot of plastic containers and boxed up some dishes and miscellaneous junk to be sold at our yardsale. Here's the before shot:
And here's the after:
Now, opening my cabinets isn't nearly so hazardous.
And here's the after:
Now, opening my cabinets isn't nearly so hazardous.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Respectful Parenting
The kids and I have been craving more socializing lately, so we made plans with a friend to meet up at Lynch Park today. It turned into a big get-together, with two other homeschoolers we know and a new homeschooler joining us. The kids had a fantastic time (Colwyn told me, "It wasn't just great, it was awesome!") and I really enjoyed the adult conversation.
We ended up talking a lot about general parenting philosophies, with an emphasis on radical unschooling. A friend was having trouble with a family member who does RU and it's negatively affecting my friend's children when they're all together. I don't have a problem with radical unschooling in theory, though it's not something we do. I do notice, though, that a lot of RUers tend to be very ego-centric, to the point where they don't take other children's needs into consideration. That seems wrong to me.. if you believe that children have the right to do whatever whenever they want, that their needs and wants are paramount, then that has to include children other than your own.
I remember hearing a mom complaining about how she was at a park with her son, and her son wanted to sit at the bottom of the slide, not letting any other children use the slide. She got into a major altercation with another dad, whose children were waiting patiently to use the slide. This mom felt that her child had every right to sit there as long as he wanted, and couldn't seem to understand that the other children also have every right to use the slide as they want. How would this mom feel if the situation was reversed, and a child was preventing her son from going down the slide? From what I've seen, a lot of parents like this will ask the other child to give in to her child's whim. That's awfully one-sided.
Personally, I really identify with the unschooling philosophy when it comes to education. We're definitely not radical unschoolers, though. Our over-arcing parenting philosophy is to respect our children as people, just the way we do other adults. Our children's needs and wants are just as valid as ours - what I want should never automatically trump what my child wants. Rather, if there's a conflict, I try to use the same techniques I would use if it were an adult friend I was dealing with and not my child.
However, that's not to say that I don't guide and teach my children. I liken parenting to hosting a friend from another culture. I can love my friend unconditionally and still want to teach them the ropes for being a functioning member in our society. I wouldn't let someone drive on the wrong side of the road, nor commit a social taboo, just because I don't want to infringe on their autonomy. I also recognize that I have a lot more experience and knowledge than my children do, and I encourage them to defer to me when I see they're making poor choices based on a lack of knowledge or ability to see the big picture. The point is, I do it respectfully, explaining my reasoning in ways they can understand, so our judgement doesn't seem so arbitrary.
I hear parents say sometimes that they don't need to teach their children manners, sharing, etc, that the natural consequences (not having friends, not being treated well) will do the teaching for them. Personally, I think that's cruel. Why not explain to your children, kindly and lovingly, that behaving in certain ways will make life easier for them? And you know.. some kids just won't get it. I don't think my boys would make the connection at this age that they'll reap benefits from being polite. I'm not going to force my children to say thank you, shake hands, or hold the door open for people, but I do encourage it. And when the bank teller gives them a lollipop for being sweet, or when an elderly woman gushes about how they're such gentlemen for holding the door open, I point it out to them. And I also stand up for my child when a family member gets huffy that he doesn't want to give them a hug - my children have the right to make that decision for themselves.
We ended up talking a lot about general parenting philosophies, with an emphasis on radical unschooling. A friend was having trouble with a family member who does RU and it's negatively affecting my friend's children when they're all together. I don't have a problem with radical unschooling in theory, though it's not something we do. I do notice, though, that a lot of RUers tend to be very ego-centric, to the point where they don't take other children's needs into consideration. That seems wrong to me.. if you believe that children have the right to do whatever whenever they want, that their needs and wants are paramount, then that has to include children other than your own.
I remember hearing a mom complaining about how she was at a park with her son, and her son wanted to sit at the bottom of the slide, not letting any other children use the slide. She got into a major altercation with another dad, whose children were waiting patiently to use the slide. This mom felt that her child had every right to sit there as long as he wanted, and couldn't seem to understand that the other children also have every right to use the slide as they want. How would this mom feel if the situation was reversed, and a child was preventing her son from going down the slide? From what I've seen, a lot of parents like this will ask the other child to give in to her child's whim. That's awfully one-sided.
Personally, I really identify with the unschooling philosophy when it comes to education. We're definitely not radical unschoolers, though. Our over-arcing parenting philosophy is to respect our children as people, just the way we do other adults. Our children's needs and wants are just as valid as ours - what I want should never automatically trump what my child wants. Rather, if there's a conflict, I try to use the same techniques I would use if it were an adult friend I was dealing with and not my child.
However, that's not to say that I don't guide and teach my children. I liken parenting to hosting a friend from another culture. I can love my friend unconditionally and still want to teach them the ropes for being a functioning member in our society. I wouldn't let someone drive on the wrong side of the road, nor commit a social taboo, just because I don't want to infringe on their autonomy. I also recognize that I have a lot more experience and knowledge than my children do, and I encourage them to defer to me when I see they're making poor choices based on a lack of knowledge or ability to see the big picture. The point is, I do it respectfully, explaining my reasoning in ways they can understand, so our judgement doesn't seem so arbitrary.
I hear parents say sometimes that they don't need to teach their children manners, sharing, etc, that the natural consequences (not having friends, not being treated well) will do the teaching for them. Personally, I think that's cruel. Why not explain to your children, kindly and lovingly, that behaving in certain ways will make life easier for them? And you know.. some kids just won't get it. I don't think my boys would make the connection at this age that they'll reap benefits from being polite. I'm not going to force my children to say thank you, shake hands, or hold the door open for people, but I do encourage it. And when the bank teller gives them a lollipop for being sweet, or when an elderly woman gushes about how they're such gentlemen for holding the door open, I point it out to them. And I also stand up for my child when a family member gets huffy that he doesn't want to give them a hug - my children have the right to make that decision for themselves.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Delicious Dinner
Trader Joe's sells a Harvest Grains Blend, which is a mix of Israeli style couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans, and red quinoa. It's pretty healthy.. 170 calories per serving, with 1 gram of fat, 2 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of protein. I like to serve it cold with some tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a little olive oil. Tonight it was a side to some catfish that Doug made.
I'm trying to find time to exercise, but it's really difficult. I put my weights next to the changing table, thinking that I can do a set or two after diaper changes. What I'd really love is a treadmill in our room, but that's unlikely. First off, we have no room for it, but with any luck, that will be changing soon. The other problem is that I don't want to spend a fortune. I could try Craigslist, but I worry about getting a crappy one. Anyone have any tips on buying exercise equipment from Craigslist?
Buying a treadmill right now probably isn't a good idea, anyway. We're facing a foreclosure, and while we've hired a lawyer to fight it (the bank is being unreasonable since we can actually make the payments, it doesn't make any sense), there's no guarantee that we'll still be here in a month or six. Who knows how much space we'd have in an apartment. In the meantime, we're struggling to save up for first, last, and security.
I'm trying to find time to exercise, but it's really difficult. I put my weights next to the changing table, thinking that I can do a set or two after diaper changes. What I'd really love is a treadmill in our room, but that's unlikely. First off, we have no room for it, but with any luck, that will be changing soon. The other problem is that I don't want to spend a fortune. I could try Craigslist, but I worry about getting a crappy one. Anyone have any tips on buying exercise equipment from Craigslist?
Buying a treadmill right now probably isn't a good idea, anyway. We're facing a foreclosure, and while we've hired a lawyer to fight it (the bank is being unreasonable since we can actually make the payments, it doesn't make any sense), there's no guarantee that we'll still be here in a month or six. Who knows how much space we'd have in an apartment. In the meantime, we're struggling to save up for first, last, and security.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Goofy Girl's Car Trip
Fiona is newly 2 years old. She is a very silly girl. Totally adorable, charming, etc.. but a total goofball.
We decided to drive the hour to IKEA today. They were having a big sale, though nothing we bought was actually on sale (I know, I know). We got four sets of Trofast shelves for the kids toys and plan to totally clear out their playroom. Fiona had a great time in the store and was super well behaved. The big deal, though, was that I was really nervous about the drive.. our babies tend to scream nonstop in the car, and while Niall has been more tolerant thus far, I didn't have high hopes for this trip. Luckily, he did great and only needed us to pop his binky in a few times each way. Fiona, on the other hand.. she had me turning back to adjust her AC vent dozens of times, to stop her from chewing on her sandals, to brush off the bag of Cheerio snack mix she'd dumped on her lap, and to do the obligatory tickling.
Whew.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
And the Winner Is...
I'm pleased to announce that Kathy Emerick has won the reusable bowl cover! Congratulations.. my husband is very jealous, since I haven't made any for us to keep yet. ;) Please send me an email at ferrets @ quiddity . cc so I can send the cover along to you.
Seven Years Married, Fourteen Years Together
This weekend was our seventh anniversary. Our wedding was pretty simple, though it wasn't originally planned that way. My husband asked me to marry him when I was 16 and he was 18, though we agreed from the start that we would wait a while to get married. At first, we thought we would get married on a beach with a very casual wedding. Then when we actually started planning our wedding, six years later, we decided to have a Renaissance wedding, complete with the castle venue, costumes all around, and period food. When we got quotes from various vendors, though, we decided a big wedding was ridiculous. We'd already been living together for four years, owned our own condo, and wanted to start our family right after getting married. Having a big wedding would leave us with no money for baby gear.
So we went with a simple ceremony in our backyard, on July 3rd. While Doug and I recognize the need for our marriage to be legal, we don't feel that the government or any religious official should have to sanction our marriage. Our marriage is just between us, you know? Bringing clergy or a justice of the peace into it just felt weird. So, while we did make our marriage legal (we didn't share any of the details with our families), we had our own ceremony, conducted by ourselves, with our mothers doing a little bit, too. It was very sweet and just our style. Then we went out to Legal Seafoods with our immediate families to celebrate. The next day, we had a huge BBQ bash with all of our friends and family, catered by a great local restaurant, Woodman's of Essex. I'm so glad we did things the way we did.. it really fit with our personalities much better than a traditional wedding.
Yesterday, we took all the children out to Legal Sea Foods for lunch. They seated us in a booth right next to the function room, and the hostess overheard us telling the kids about our wedding. The meal was wonderful (we don't eat there often, and I had forgotten how truly delicious the food is), and just as we were leaving, our waiter came out with a plate of little desserts with a candle. Now, this is why I love Legal. Great food, and they were sweet enough to give us free dessert because it was our anniversary. Thumbs up to Legal Sea Foods!
So we went with a simple ceremony in our backyard, on July 3rd. While Doug and I recognize the need for our marriage to be legal, we don't feel that the government or any religious official should have to sanction our marriage. Our marriage is just between us, you know? Bringing clergy or a justice of the peace into it just felt weird. So, while we did make our marriage legal (we didn't share any of the details with our families), we had our own ceremony, conducted by ourselves, with our mothers doing a little bit, too. It was very sweet and just our style. Then we went out to Legal Seafoods with our immediate families to celebrate. The next day, we had a huge BBQ bash with all of our friends and family, catered by a great local restaurant, Woodman's of Essex. I'm so glad we did things the way we did.. it really fit with our personalities much better than a traditional wedding.
Yesterday, we took all the children out to Legal Sea Foods for lunch. They seated us in a booth right next to the function room, and the hostess overheard us telling the kids about our wedding. The meal was wonderful (we don't eat there often, and I had forgotten how truly delicious the food is), and just as we were leaving, our waiter came out with a plate of little desserts with a candle. Now, this is why I love Legal. Great food, and they were sweet enough to give us free dessert because it was our anniversary. Thumbs up to Legal Sea Foods!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Reusable Bowl Cover Tutorial & Giveaway
I finally got around to making the reusable pan cover I posted about earlier, but unfortunately, my camera batteries were dead so I didn't get to take any pictures. Tonight, however, I made a reusable bowl cover, and everything was in perfect working order. This is what I made:
You'll need:
fabric - fat quarters work nicely
nylon ripstop
elastic
coordinating thread
scissors, measuring tape, sewing machine, etc, etc.
Start by placing your bowl face down on your fabric. Measure out three inches in all directions, marking a large circle.
Cut out the circle, and repeat with the ripstop, using your fabric circle as a template.
Pin fabric and ripstop, right sides facing.
Sew along edges, using a 1/4" seam allowance. Leave an opening about three inches wide. Trim extra fabric.
Turn inside out. Fold the fabric and ripstop in at the opening. Press the seam and the fabric at the opening. Do not iron directly on the ripstop, and do not leave the iron long on any one spot - the ripstop will melt.
I wanted a nice little ruffle at the bottom, so I sewed a second circle. I just guestimated where to sew, this distance from the edge worked well for me:
Leave another three inches open, lined up with the first opening.
Sew a third circle, creating a channel for the elastic somewhere around 3/4" wide. Do not leave an opening, make this circle complete.
Thread your elastic through, testing how much you'll need on your bowl before you sew or tie the ends of the elastic. Sew the opening closed, and there you have it. A reusable replacement for all that tin foil and plastic wrap. You can wipe down the ripstop after each use, and if it gets really messy, throw it in the wash.
I plan on giving these to family members as Christmas gifts (after I make a few more for myself, of course), and maybe sell them on Etsy. In the meantime, if you leave a comment, you can get the reusable bowl cover pictured above for free! The winner will be picked and notified on Sunday, July 4th.
You'll need:
fabric - fat quarters work nicely
nylon ripstop
elastic
coordinating thread
scissors, measuring tape, sewing machine, etc, etc.
Start by placing your bowl face down on your fabric. Measure out three inches in all directions, marking a large circle.
Cut out the circle, and repeat with the ripstop, using your fabric circle as a template.
Pin fabric and ripstop, right sides facing.
Sew along edges, using a 1/4" seam allowance. Leave an opening about three inches wide. Trim extra fabric.
Turn inside out. Fold the fabric and ripstop in at the opening. Press the seam and the fabric at the opening. Do not iron directly on the ripstop, and do not leave the iron long on any one spot - the ripstop will melt.
I wanted a nice little ruffle at the bottom, so I sewed a second circle. I just guestimated where to sew, this distance from the edge worked well for me:
Leave another three inches open, lined up with the first opening.
Sew a third circle, creating a channel for the elastic somewhere around 3/4" wide. Do not leave an opening, make this circle complete.
Thread your elastic through, testing how much you'll need on your bowl before you sew or tie the ends of the elastic. Sew the opening closed, and there you have it. A reusable replacement for all that tin foil and plastic wrap. You can wipe down the ripstop after each use, and if it gets really messy, throw it in the wash.
I plan on giving these to family members as Christmas gifts (after I make a few more for myself, of course), and maybe sell them on Etsy. In the meantime, if you leave a comment, you can get the reusable bowl cover pictured above for free! The winner will be picked and notified on Sunday, July 4th.
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