It's funny how one tiny blog can start such big conversations. I posted about video games a few months ago and that little blip on the computer screen started something. It started a small movement, of sorts, to get out and do more. There have been questions, though, about what to do.
So, it the spirit of living a video-game-free lifestyle, I will start posting my own practical guide to keeping kids creative, active, and entertained. This is not an end-all guide on how to have fun with your children. Heavens, no!
You are the only expert on how to raise your children. I do not claim to be a parenting guru! I am however, the best, most knowledgeable, and insightful expert when it comes to raising my children, Bailey and Zack. So, this is just how I do things. This is not necessarily how you should do things. But maybe, just maybe, it will give you some ideas.
Be watching for my next post. I promise to post details of our fun, messy, outdoorsy, artsy, educational, busy days. But, also keep in mind that I am always on the hunt for new ideas. So, please play along by adding your own fun activities in the comment section! Let's keep the conversation going!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Just a Voice
He was just a voice on the radio - a nice voice, but still just a voice. He was famous in his corner of the world. Girls were dreamy-eyed when you mentioned his name. He had a following, but I was not part of that following. To me, he was just a voice.
My best friend, though, she was part of his following. She spoke of him almost daily. "He is so great," she would say, "You should listen more!" So I listened. He was funny. He was clever. He had a nice voice. I didn't see what all the fuss was about.
Until this day, my birthday, 20 years ago. This was the day my world would turn upside down.
My friend arranged a live, "on-air" birthday wish from her favorite morning show hosts. My phone rang at 6:30 that morning and I groggily answered.
"Is this Melissa?"
I recognized the echo-y voice from somewhere.
"Yes?"
"Hi this is Kris and Rod from the morning show!'
"OK."
"Your friend, Grace, called and told us today is your birthday!"
Who were this people and why were they so happy at this hour?
"OK."
Laughter on the other end of the line. Stupid radio people.
"Well, we just wanted to call and wish you a happy birthday! Is there anything we can play for you this morning?"
"No."
More laughter.
"So, tell me, Melissa, were up and listening this morning?
I think they know the answer to that one.
"No."
Belly laughs on the other end.
"Well, tune in when you wake up OK? Maybe in another hour or two? Happy Birthday, Melissa!"
"OK."
"That was great! That was classic!"
That was annoying. I went back to sleep.
My friend recorded the entire conversation on a little black cassette tape and played it at my birthday party. I was still a little annoyed by the whole thing.
He wasn't annoyed by me though. He claims that phone call was the beginning. He claims that after that crazy conversation, he knew he had to meet me.
My friend introduced us a few weeks later. We were both able to put a face with the voice over the airwaves and it was love at first sight. He became much more than just a voice and I knew I had met the love of my life.
20 years later, I can still say, that annoying, early morning, FCC-rule-breaking phone call from those loud radio guys is the best birthday gift I have ever received.
I love you, "Chris Carmichael."
My best friend, though, she was part of his following. She spoke of him almost daily. "He is so great," she would say, "You should listen more!" So I listened. He was funny. He was clever. He had a nice voice. I didn't see what all the fuss was about.
Until this day, my birthday, 20 years ago. This was the day my world would turn upside down.
My friend arranged a live, "on-air" birthday wish from her favorite morning show hosts. My phone rang at 6:30 that morning and I groggily answered.
"Is this Melissa?"
I recognized the echo-y voice from somewhere.
"Yes?"
"Hi this is Kris and Rod from the morning show!'
"OK."
"Your friend, Grace, called and told us today is your birthday!"
Who were this people and why were they so happy at this hour?
"OK."
Laughter on the other end of the line. Stupid radio people.
"Well, we just wanted to call and wish you a happy birthday! Is there anything we can play for you this morning?"
"No."
More laughter.
"So, tell me, Melissa, were up and listening this morning?
I think they know the answer to that one.
"No."
Belly laughs on the other end.
"Well, tune in when you wake up OK? Maybe in another hour or two? Happy Birthday, Melissa!"
"OK."
"That was great! That was classic!"
That was annoying. I went back to sleep.
My friend recorded the entire conversation on a little black cassette tape and played it at my birthday party. I was still a little annoyed by the whole thing.
He wasn't annoyed by me though. He claims that phone call was the beginning. He claims that after that crazy conversation, he knew he had to meet me.
My friend introduced us a few weeks later. We were both able to put a face with the voice over the airwaves and it was love at first sight. He became much more than just a voice and I knew I had met the love of my life.
20 years later, I can still say, that annoying, early morning, FCC-rule-breaking phone call from those loud radio guys is the best birthday gift I have ever received.
I love you, "Chris Carmichael."
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Gratitude List
Have you read Jesus Calling? We have the original and the children's version. I get up early and read before the kids scramble out of bed, then I share each day's reading with Bailey and Zack over breakfast. It is a great way to set our day in motion.
A few mornings ago, I read this:
purple salvia transplanted from my grandmother's garden
A few mornings ago, I read this:
"I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving."
I have not been able to escape from this statement. I am a very busy mom. I am always running, always planning, always striving. I am always doing something, but very rarely is that something taking the time to be thankful. Yet, this is what He desires.
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-8
I make lists - lots and lots of lists. I make grocery lists, to-do lists, reading lists, lists of creative ideas, lists of school projects to try, lists of new recipes, lists of music to buy. When I have run out of things to put on my lists, I make lists for everyone in our family. I like to make lists.
Today, I am starting a new list; My Gratitude List.
cornflakes with bananas and Jesus Calling
holding my husband's hand
the mocking bird that sings outside my window, even before sunrise (there has to be a lesson in that somewhere)
brushing Bailey's long, black hair
purple salvia transplanted from my grandmother's garden
bike rides around the neighborhood on a pretty, pink bicycle
blank canvases
my neighbor's cat, Tom, who stops by for a daily visit
teaching my children at home
before and after photos (yes, the remodeling is slow, but so worth it)
mud on Zacky's bare feet
daily phone calls from Mom and Dad
egg drop soup
private jokes
yellow columbines that I didn't think would grow
yellow columbines that I didn't think would grow
Thursday, April 19, 2012
April 19, 1995
It was a Wednesday morning. I was newly married and living in a little 2 bedroom apartment in Southwest Amarillo. I was getting ready to go to a science class at WTAMU in Canyon. I turned on the TV to watch Good Morning America while I ate a quick bite of breakfast and there it was.
A bomb had exploded in Oklahoma City.
I skipped the science class.
Fear gripped my heart and for days I was glued to the TV. I was in shock. The pictures were the most frightening thing I had ever seen and the children. . . . . . My heart broke for the children.
The photo of the little girl wearing yellow socks, being carried by the fireman changed my life. I was haunted by that image for years.
My nephew, Ben, wore little yellow socks. He was three years old. He saw the image of this sweet baby on TV and asked, "Where is the mommy?" He knew she needed her mommy.
In the days that followed, family members were interviewed and we found out the baby's name was Bailey. I loved that baby. I loved all of those babies who were snatched away that Wednesday morning. I wanted to do something. I seriously considered jumping in my little red car and driving the short drive to OKC. Why? I don't know. I don't know what I thought I could do. I just wanted to do something.
Years passed, but I didn't forget Bailey. When we first began our adoption journey, we traveled to Tulsa for a meeting with our adoption agency. On the way home, we stopped at the OKC memorial and I found Bailey's chair. I couldn't stop the tears. I still felt the overwhelming desire to do something.
I did the only thing I knew to do.
Two years later, my sweet daughter traveled from Korea to Texas to be my little girl . . . .
and I named her Bailey.
A bomb had exploded in Oklahoma City.
I skipped the science class.
Fear gripped my heart and for days I was glued to the TV. I was in shock. The pictures were the most frightening thing I had ever seen and the children. . . . . . My heart broke for the children.
The photo of the little girl wearing yellow socks, being carried by the fireman changed my life. I was haunted by that image for years.
My nephew, Ben, wore little yellow socks. He was three years old. He saw the image of this sweet baby on TV and asked, "Where is the mommy?" He knew she needed her mommy.
In the days that followed, family members were interviewed and we found out the baby's name was Bailey. I loved that baby. I loved all of those babies who were snatched away that Wednesday morning. I wanted to do something. I seriously considered jumping in my little red car and driving the short drive to OKC. Why? I don't know. I don't know what I thought I could do. I just wanted to do something.
Years passed, but I didn't forget Bailey. When we first began our adoption journey, we traveled to Tulsa for a meeting with our adoption agency. On the way home, we stopped at the OKC memorial and I found Bailey's chair. I couldn't stop the tears. I still felt the overwhelming desire to do something.
I did the only thing I knew to do.
Two years later, my sweet daughter traveled from Korea to Texas to be my little girl . . . .
and I named her Bailey.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Natural Playground Part II:I Didn't Know Kids Still Climbed Trees
A while back, a lady walked by and saw our children sitting in a tree. She stopped and watched them play for a short bit. "I didn't know kids still climbed trees", she said.
There is a new "disorder". I don't like all of the labels we smack on children, but this one is interesting. It is called "Nature Deficit Disorder"
Richard Louv first introduced this new disorder in his book, "Last Child in the Woods". He says,"Nature Deficit Disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses."
He also writes, "Not too many years ago, a child's experience was limited by how far he or she could ride a bicycle or by the physical boundaries that parents set. Today ... the real boundaries of a child's life are set more by the number of available cable channels and videotapes, by the simulated reality of videogames, by the number of megabytes of memory in the home computer. Now kids can go anywhere, as long as they stay inside the electronic bubble."
You already know how I feel about children being exposed to too much technology, so I won't get on my soapbox about that again. Being a nature lover, I could go on and on about the joys of being outdoors and the importance of children having unstructured playtime outside.
As I wrote a few days ago, we are working to create a natural playground in our backyard. It is a project that has taken on a life of it's own and I can't wait until it is finished!
Our backyard is being transformed. What once was a land of plastic and metal is becoming a natural play space for our family. There are still plenty of man-made toys, but we are trying to incorporate more natural elements.
The swing set is gone. I had nothing against that wonderful play structure, but it was getting dangerous, rusty, and was taking up too much space. There was no room for a trampoline, so we decided to go another direction.
We now have a butterfly garden, or at least a raised bed full of tiny seedlings, ready to grow into plants that attract butterflies. There is a new raised bed for vegatables and a rock garden.
The sandbox went the way of the swing set. Why? Well, because, as Zack says, "You can't dig up worms in a sandbox. What I really want is dirt." He now has a beautiful, raised, "Dirt Box"; a designated spot for him to dig a hole to China.
We found a beautiful log that is being used as a balance beam and a huge tub of water for floating, splashing, and filling cups to take over the the "Dirt/Mud Box".
The treehouse is still a favorite with it's pulley bucket. It is getting a new rock wall and birdfeeders to hang from the side.
Our backyard is far from perfect and far from finished, but we are enjoying it. As Zack says, "I wish we had done this years ago."
There is a new "disorder". I don't like all of the labels we smack on children, but this one is interesting. It is called "Nature Deficit Disorder"
Richard Louv first introduced this new disorder in his book, "Last Child in the Woods". He says,"Nature Deficit Disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses."
He also writes, "Not too many years ago, a child's experience was limited by how far he or she could ride a bicycle or by the physical boundaries that parents set. Today ... the real boundaries of a child's life are set more by the number of available cable channels and videotapes, by the simulated reality of videogames, by the number of megabytes of memory in the home computer. Now kids can go anywhere, as long as they stay inside the electronic bubble."
You already know how I feel about children being exposed to too much technology, so I won't get on my soapbox about that again. Being a nature lover, I could go on and on about the joys of being outdoors and the importance of children having unstructured playtime outside.
As I wrote a few days ago, we are working to create a natural playground in our backyard. It is a project that has taken on a life of it's own and I can't wait until it is finished!
Our backyard is being transformed. What once was a land of plastic and metal is becoming a natural play space for our family. There are still plenty of man-made toys, but we are trying to incorporate more natural elements.
The swing set is gone. I had nothing against that wonderful play structure, but it was getting dangerous, rusty, and was taking up too much space. There was no room for a trampoline, so we decided to go another direction.
We now have a butterfly garden, or at least a raised bed full of tiny seedlings, ready to grow into plants that attract butterflies. There is a new raised bed for vegatables and a rock garden.
The sandbox went the way of the swing set. Why? Well, because, as Zack says, "You can't dig up worms in a sandbox. What I really want is dirt." He now has a beautiful, raised, "Dirt Box"; a designated spot for him to dig a hole to China.
We found a beautiful log that is being used as a balance beam and a huge tub of water for floating, splashing, and filling cups to take over the the "Dirt/Mud Box".
The treehouse is still a favorite with it's pulley bucket. It is getting a new rock wall and birdfeeders to hang from the side.
Our backyard is far from perfect and far from finished, but we are enjoying it. As Zack says, "I wish we had done this years ago."
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Thursday Ramblings
I love teaching violin lessons. I love hearing sweet, squeeky sounds coming from tiny violins and I love hearing beautiful classical pieces flowing freely from the larger instruments. I love sharing the joy of music with young musicians. It is a gift.
I only teach 3 evenings a week. Yet, those 3 make for very long days. There is the job of homeschooling in the mornings and then I am off to the string studio. I return hours later, tired and hungry. Sometimes Kris has dinner waiting, sometimes I cook a simple meal. Then, I fall into bed with strians of suzuki pieces running through my brain. There are times I have dreamt of "Twinkles" and I have to laugh.
While I love teaching violin lessons, it is nice to take a break now and then. My "now and thens" happen to fall on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These are the days I am "Twinkle-free" and I can just relax with my family.
Today we finshed school before lunch. That gave us the entire afternoon together to just stay home and play. And play we did. We spent time outside, enjoying this warm, windy day. Then we went inside for some art time.
We started by planning our projects, then decided to eat a snack before the "messy" began. We couldn't decide on a snack, so we made kool-aid popsicles. While they were freezing, we started making mosiac paper weights, but what to do with the left over clay? Sculptures of course! Should we paint them? Maybe. Oh, wait, let's paint pictures instead! The sculptures need to dry, anyway. So, out came the water colors and beautiful, thick white paper. Oh, the popsicles - are they ready? Maybe, but it's too close to dinner time, so they will have to wait for dessert.
It's been a fun day and tomorrow I will make my way back to the string studio and teach a Bach minuet to some sweet little violinists.
I love my life.
I only teach 3 evenings a week. Yet, those 3 make for very long days. There is the job of homeschooling in the mornings and then I am off to the string studio. I return hours later, tired and hungry. Sometimes Kris has dinner waiting, sometimes I cook a simple meal. Then, I fall into bed with strians of suzuki pieces running through my brain. There are times I have dreamt of "Twinkles" and I have to laugh.
While I love teaching violin lessons, it is nice to take a break now and then. My "now and thens" happen to fall on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These are the days I am "Twinkle-free" and I can just relax with my family.
Today we finshed school before lunch. That gave us the entire afternoon together to just stay home and play. And play we did. We spent time outside, enjoying this warm, windy day. Then we went inside for some art time.
We started by planning our projects, then decided to eat a snack before the "messy" began. We couldn't decide on a snack, so we made kool-aid popsicles. While they were freezing, we started making mosiac paper weights, but what to do with the left over clay? Sculptures of course! Should we paint them? Maybe. Oh, wait, let's paint pictures instead! The sculptures need to dry, anyway. So, out came the water colors and beautiful, thick white paper. Oh, the popsicles - are they ready? Maybe, but it's too close to dinner time, so they will have to wait for dessert.
It's been a fun day and tomorrow I will make my way back to the string studio and teach a Bach minuet to some sweet little violinists.
I love my life.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Natural Playground Part I
The kids have outgrown the swingset.
It's funny how a little thing like a growth spurt can start such a mammoth chain of reaction. Something as simple as a growth spurt has changed my way of thinking and has taken over every waking moment.
My poor husband has the patience of a saint. He just smiles and nods when I tell him about my latest project.
The kids grew too big for the swingset. Oh, they still played on it, but it was getting dangerous and I was afraid they were going to tip it over. "So, let get a trampoline!" I said. But, yikes, our backyard is tiny! There is no room for a trampoline.
I sat the kids down and said, "What do you want to do with the backyard?" Ideas started flying and the next thing I know, we have a list a mile long of things they want to do in the backyard.
I started researching and discovered a wonderful new trend called "natural playgrounds". To my amazement, the kids were already on the road to creating a natural playground in our backyard. We put our heads together and came up with a plan.
Our homeschool curriculum took a backseat yesterday as we enjoyed a day of planning and working in the yard. Our natural playground is far from being finished, but it is well on it's way!
Today, however, we have to get caught up on math and history. I will post more details tomorrow!
It's funny how a little thing like a growth spurt can start such a mammoth chain of reaction. Something as simple as a growth spurt has changed my way of thinking and has taken over every waking moment.
My poor husband has the patience of a saint. He just smiles and nods when I tell him about my latest project.
The kids grew too big for the swingset. Oh, they still played on it, but it was getting dangerous and I was afraid they were going to tip it over. "So, let get a trampoline!" I said. But, yikes, our backyard is tiny! There is no room for a trampoline.
I sat the kids down and said, "What do you want to do with the backyard?" Ideas started flying and the next thing I know, we have a list a mile long of things they want to do in the backyard.
I started researching and discovered a wonderful new trend called "natural playgrounds". To my amazement, the kids were already on the road to creating a natural playground in our backyard. We put our heads together and came up with a plan.
Our homeschool curriculum took a backseat yesterday as we enjoyed a day of planning and working in the yard. Our natural playground is far from being finished, but it is well on it's way!
Today, however, we have to get caught up on math and history. I will post more details tomorrow!
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