Earth Babies Blog

Archive for November, 2009

For full article visit Jozikids Blog

In deciding when they get to stay home I think each parent differs. I am relatively relaxed about it in that I do let them miss an occasional day of school. When would I let them skip? The obvious is if they feel ill, less obvious would be when something fun or interesting is happening or on those days when they really, really don’t want to go (which is not often) – they are after all only in preschool at this stage and I see no reason to already make school going a forced chore rather than a fun choice. I will admit that some days I insist they go to school as I know once they are there they have fun. It is just the drop and release that is an issue (I hate days like that). We will re-evaluate this approach when formal schooling starts but I think I will still be occasionally flexible on this. I have never regarded a perfect attendance record as being the ultimate. I see little value in it as I don’t think it shapes the child as a more responsible individual and children can also learn valuable lessons out of the school setting.

Change Meaning and Definition

(v. t.) A passing from one phase to another; as, a change of the moon.
(v. t.) To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the countenance.
(v. i.) To be altered; to undergo variation; as, men sometimes change for the better.
(v. t.) Any variation or alteration; a passing from one state or form to another; as, a change of countenance; a change of habits or principles.

How do you handle change, does it throw you, excite you, simply take it in your stride?

I don’t do well with change. My gut reaction to any change is to fight it with everything i have till I can fight no more and then i will accept and move on – makes no sense why not just skip the fight part!?

Change makes me feel unhappy and unsettled (even if the change is in fact a good one). Some people find my reaction to change specifically positive change difficult to understand (aversion to negative change is kind of acceptable) – but merely the fact that because something around me has changed means that I HAVE to change how i do or relate to things and this is what is unsettling. I did not ask for the change, hardly ever expect the change and yet with no warning, request or support I am meant to accept it and go with it.

I think I am getting better about change though as I have in the past few years had quite a bit of practice.

My little family is again on the brink of change – we will be moving sometime in the new year. The glitch is I don’t know where too – we are still waiting to see where hub will work next and the chances of it being here are minimal. Despite not knowing where the change will take us I am a little excited about it.

But I have come to realise that though this kind of change does not upset me like it used to other change still knocks me spinning. A friend of mine has in the last months gone through many changes in her immediate circumstances and the roll-over of these changes though I have tried my best to be supportive have thrown me and I have realised I have been fighting them trying to keep things as they were because it is what I know and feel safest with rather than simply accepting and moving along with them. They are not bad changes simply things that were to me unexpected and different. I had let the years of knowing her create a little box and the idea of that box changing form threw me – I and others I think need to let go, forget, accept and love.

I lLike these quotes and tips (if you follow the link to next page) on dealing with change and stress – think I need to remind myself of these.

“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.”
Lin Yutang

(got this by email a long time ago)

Drooling: How teething babies wash their chins.

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

Family planning: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster

Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn’t appreciate the strained carrots.

Full name: What you call your child when you’re mad at him.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they’re sure you’re not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Impregnable: A woman whose memory of labour is still vivid.

Independent: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

Look out: What it’s too late for your child to do by the time you scream it.

Prenatal: When your life was still somewhat your own.

Prepared childbirth: A contradiction in terms.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

Show off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Sterilize: What you do to your first baby’s pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby’s pacifier by blowing on it.

Storeroom: The distance required between the supermarket aisles so that children in shopping carts can’t quite reach anything.

Temper tantrums: What you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

Top bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

Two-minute warning: When the baby’s face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

Verbal: Able to whine in words

Whodunit: None of the kids that live in your house.

Whoops: An exclamation that translates roughly into “get a sponge.”