Wednesday 31 August 2011

Cherry Earrings

My friend Lisa taught me to look for cherries that are joined together at the top of their stems (cherry twins are surprisingly common). Hang them over the tops of your ears so one hangs down in front of your lobe, and one in back. Try to act nonchalant. When the kids notice, say "Oh, these are just my cherry earrings.  Do you want some?"
Or, if you have raspberries, offer your kid a snack, then put one on the end of each fingertip.  It's a treat, and a manicure in one!
And don't forget the old stand-by bananaphone.  Of course, our kids think phones look like a pack of cards, but they will humor you and talk to you on their banana anyway.

Do you have any silly food tricks?

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Laughing Baby

I remember learning in Developmental Psych that a baby's first real laugh usually comes out a moment of fear.  She thinks a bad thing is about to happen, then it doesn't.
You can test this out with a young baby (when she is in a receptive mood :) by holding her in in your arms so she is facing you, then quickly lowering your arms by six inches or so, coming to a sudden stop. Make a big surprised face, then smile. Do it again, if she didn't mind too much. It's kind of like telling her a joke. Some babies find this kind of thing hysterically funny.  Others, just hysterical.

Or you could just try ripping some paper.

My daughter's first big laughing session happened when a four year old boy was visiting. We would sometimes put her soother in her mouth upside down because it amused us to watch her rotate it back to it's proper position without moving a muscle in her face. Well, he had never seen anything so funny, and his laugh was so contagious that soon she caught on, too. We kept up the cycle of upside down soother, popping right-side up, he laughs, she laughs until her soother falls out, put it back in upside-down until we were all exhausted.

Baby laughs are good for whatever is bothering you. If you haven't seen these, they will lift your heart.

Why I Became a Parent - and a Blogger

It took me a while. I was 30 by the time my daughter made her grand appearance.  But I'd been thinking about it for a long time.
Maybe working as an Early Childhood Educator made me hesitate a little. I'd changed hundreds of diapers, and wiped many noses, and put kids down for innumerable naps. I was an expert in childhood diseases and developmental stages. I thought I knew a lot about raising (I do know I should say rearing, but it sounds so archaic!) children.

And then there came a little girl.  Her name was Claire, and it was her first day at Day Care. She was 6 months old, with very round cheeks (like mine), and very dark hair (also like mine). She was perfect.
Her Mother was understandably heartbroken at leaving her for the first time, and I promised to look after her.  And I fell in love.  I carried her around in a sling all day, close to my heart, and she seemed to find me comforting.  I made the cardinal error of allowing myself to breathe deeply of the fragrance of her hair.
And that was it for me.  My heart was converted from a teacher's to a Mother's in one day by one sweet bundle.

So I began to prepare myself, and my Husband, for parenthood.  I was a little frightened by the irrationally strong urge I felt to have children, and I thought a lot about why I wanted them.  I knew it wasn't about legacy or insurance for my old age, or anything like that.
One day I came across a book called "The Pleasure of Their Company".* It expressed the simple idea that the best reason to have kids is to enjoy them- to enjoy their company.  I thought about my own parents, and the fun they had with their kids, and about the best parents I knew, and one thing they seemed to have in common was the simple joy of being together as a family.

So we went ahead, and had a couple of kids to enjoy. Their scents were just as lovely, and their cheeks just as chubby as Claire's, and it was very easy to fall in love with them.  For 16 years (so far) we have been enjoying their company every day.  Yes, there is a lot of work in parenting, but there is an equal measure of joy. Our children turned out to be wonderful friends that we have been privileged to accompany through their early lives, celebrating each milestone, collecting the memories.

I hope you can have the same experience with your children, and that is why I am creating this blog.  I'll share some ideas we have had fun with, or cool thoughts from others, and provide resources and inspiration for your family.
You don't have to do anything special, though, to enjoy your kids. Just take a minute, sit with them, listen to them talk, join in with what they are doing.  And if you get a chance, breathe in their uniqueness. They are a gift to you, given to bring you joy.

* I remember very little about this book, except that it was very positive and encouraging about the relationship between parents and kids.  Have you read it?


Question of the Day: Tell me, if you became a parent by choice, why did you do it?