Emil, the Booger

Family, by lauren, August 5, 2014, 3 Replies

DSC_0008

I mean the term affectionately, of course. He’s been a real booger, especially during nap or bedtime. It’s certainly no secret that we’ve had crap luck when it comes to sleep with our kids. Not one of them slept through the night consistently before the age of two, and Emil’s going on three, and well, it’s complicated.DSC_0004

Standard nap or bedtime shenanigans include 5 or 6 outfit changes (we had to remove the dresser from his room again because of this — back to jail cell mode), 10 – 20 escape attempts, numerous requests for drinks of water, hugs, kisses, or questions (recently to remind him of the word “hamster,” which he needs to know but keeps forgetting — “What’s dis animal?”), followed by the inevitable crying that it’s a “boo-tiful day! Not time to s-yeep!” And good lord the red jammies. ALWAYS with the red jammies!

Sigh. DSC_0005Emil, the booger.

Weekend Shenanigans

Family, by lauren, August 4, 2014, 3 Replies

DSC_0027DSC_0021DSC_0001DSC_0006

This weekend was full of everything summer: sun hats and endless tomato sandwiches still warm from the garden sunshine, a long morning spent choosing lilies from our favorite Botanical Garden for our own garden next summer (I could not stifle out-loud laughter as Emil confidently chose the smallest, most unassuming variety and I read the name: “Totally Awesome” — because yes, Emil, you are small and totally awesome). It was a weekend of long walks and barefoot hours at the playground, pick-up soccer games in the park and late baths filled with filthy boys, a wonderful weekend indeed. DSC_0007

I am in the middle of a single-parent stint while Andrew is out of town, but he will be back in a couple of days and all will be complete again! Things are a little less routine whenever he goes out of town; I take the kids out to eat and let them eat crap just so I can sit still for a moment (I admit), they go to bed a little too late and get a little more rambunctious around the house before I step in to quiet it all down…DSC_0014DSC_0016DSC_0022DSC_0026DSC_0031DSC_0034DSC_0035

I have been trying my hand at letting the older two work things out when they disagree and it starts to get ugly, allowing arguments to escalate but stepping in if it goes too far and starts to get physical. It works about half the time, ha! But I do feel really proud of them when they are able to negotiate rules or discover how to right a situation they have perceived to be unfair without needing an adult to step in. I’ll be honest, punches were thrown, but the discussions that followed were really good.

On Sunday morning I watched similar push and pull happen at the playground and stepped in just in time to discuss in hushed tones yet another disagreement that was heading down a physical path. All three boys were barefoot and shirtless as they stood in front of me, Milo under extreme distress because Oliver wouldn’t cooperate. I noticed a young grandmother nearby and felt her eyes on us the whole time. Sometimes I feel the judgment coming on in advance, but this time was pleasantly surprised when she said to me afterward, “You are a really wonderful mom.” It nearly brought tears to my eyes, the timing of it — coming off three days of intensity with the kids on my own and not so much sleep at night, and trying to stay in the moment with them and trying with all my might to be calm and wise and a teacher to them in the face of chaos and noise. And it made me realize that maybe I don’t say things like that enough to other parents. Those little bits of encouragement lift us up and even though I tend to try to give strangers space and be polite and respect privacy, there is something really great about lifting up a stranger in that way. DSC_0049DSC_0050

And those who aren’t strangers, too. To tell the neighborhood dads who run like the devil with your kids during a neighborhood soccer game, “Thank you.” And then to put down the camera and get out there and sweat and run in your bare feet until your face is red and you can’t catch your breath, and you’re tripping over your own feet then falling down backwards in the itchy grass laughing your ass off. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!DSC_0055DSC_0070DSC_0098

Enjoy this Monday, and know that even when it’s sometimes really hard to do this parenting gig, there’s probably someone watching you and thinking that you are doing an amazing job.

Montessori-Inspired

Garden, by lauren, July 31, 2014, 4 Replies

DSC_0010

Talking about where food comes from and seeing where food comes from are two very different things, especially when it comes to young children. I can’t reiterate this point enough, but thought this story was the perfect example.

Over the past two years, Oliver has helped me many times in the kitchen. His expertise is guacamole but he also just magically appears whenever I am baking something. We often talk about where the ingredients came from — butter from cow’s milk, eggs from chickens. But recently, after having the privilege of taking care of someone else’s chickens for a week (and regularly collecting their eggs to eat), Oliver made the connection. The next time we were baking in the kitchen, he picked up an egg as if seeing it for the first time, then said to me, “This egg is from a chicken.” Honestly, it took that whole experience of caring for chickens for him to put two and two together. Such a cool moment as a mama to see that lightbulb moment happen.

And here at our house, planting a seed and checking on a seedling’s progress over several weeks, watching it grow and then push something large and purple out of the soil until a nice round beet is practically balanced on top of the soil ripe for the picking is an enjoyable, interesting process for a kid. It’s like magic! And then the best part, the tugging and pulling until pop! out it comes!DSC_0002DSC_0008

Oliver is usually our beet harvester (and kale harvester), but Emil was lucky to pluck these from the ground while Oliver was out of the house for a few hours. And then, of course, he had to scrub all the dirt off and help peel them for the delicious recipe we shared yesterday.
DSC_0024DSC_0033

DSC_0035It sure is great having little helpers who are as enthusiastic about veggies as I am!

And on another note, I don’t think I ever shared that all three boys got into the Montessori school we where hoping for! They will be starting in late August and we are all giddy with excitement, especially after spending a really nice evening chatting with other families on the school grounds, exploring the nooks and crannies of the land they will play on and the chickens they will care for. There is also, of course, a pretty amazing garden they will tend. It feels surreal in the best way. Though the decision to change schools was a really tough one, we felt some pieces of the puzzle falling into place so perfectly; sometimes you just feel when you fit somewhere, like you are supposed to be there. It’s a very good feeling to be entirely excited about our boys’ upcoming education, one that brings a lot of peace and clarity.

Dress That Mama

Style, by lauren, July 30, 2014, 8 Replies

IMG_0005

Another take on the long white skirt… pair it with a tied up denim shirt and clogs and a long braid, and I feel really pulled together in a classic way. Good for running errands in the chilly summer mornings and grabbing a coffee with friends! IMG_0013

IMG_0018Just loving the moderate climate in St. Louis this summer… I just couldn’t ask for more pleasant weather! Hope it’s nice wherever you are.