Boredom Busters

Last Thursday was our last 1/2 day of school for my 1st grader and high-school-teacher husband.   Less than 2 hours into my daughter's summer, she and her brother were "bored, Mommy."   This was AFTER a picnic at Sonic for 50 cent corn dogs AND a trip to the library for new books, movies, and CDs.  So, realistically, it was about 15 minutes into being HOME for the beginning of summer.   I was attempting to load the dishwasher with breakfast dishes from earlier that morning, and they were both hanging on me, whining, crying, and fighting.   Seriously?

So...we laid some ground rules down about fighting.   Rule #1:  No fighting.  Rule #2:  Should you choose to ignore rule #1, you have two options.  Option A:  Work it out and continue to play together (or apart) peacefully.  Option B:  Tattle for intervention and spend 30 minutes each in their own rooms.  

Then, we needed some rules about "boredom."    My husband is starting grad school online this summer, so thea re won't be the usual someone-is-always-ready-to-play-with-me that we normally have during the summer.  Also, my kids are old enough to entertain themselves at time...and I am a strong believer that if I constantly cater to and entertain my children, their imagination suffers.  As does their ability to solve problems.   Etc.   So, in desperation, I created the "Boredom Buster Bucket.'

First thing I needed was a cheap container.  Enter Dollar Tree tabletop trash can, sans lid.  Add a catchy title, and voila!

Next, fill with lots of strips of paper with tasks printed on them.  

Some are fun, like "Set a timer for 15 minutes and read!"

 Some are not so fun, like "Grab a Clorox wipe and scrub the bathroom sink."

I set the can out on the counter, and the kids were inevitably intrigued.   Within minutes, they were "bored" again, so I explained how the bucket worked.  I told them that, if they were really and truly "bored" during the summer, they could ask me for a slip of paper.  At that time, I would let them draw one out of the bucket WITHOUT LOOKING.   They would be required to perform whichever task the slip represented.   I warned them that some might be fun, but others not so much, and then I went on with my day. 

While I continued to load the dishwasher, I listened while they "snuck" into the jar and read some of the slips of paper.  THANKFULLY, it worked out that every one they pulled out was a negative slip.  I heard my littler one say, "Sis, I think we'd better find something to do, and fast!"   I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. 

Later, my older one came and said, "Mommy, what exactly does it mean to be bored?"   I said, "It means you can't find anything to do."  She said, "Oh, because you've done everything and there's nothing new to do?"  Me, "Well, our friend Mrs. Angie says it means it's because YOU are boring."   She thought a moment, paused, and said, "Hmm...well, I'm pretty sure I'm not boring, so I guess I'll go do something again."  

While I am sure I will be tested on this before the summer is over, at the moment, my ears are peacefully enjoying the lack of "I'm Bored!" cries piercing the air.  Ahhhh...summmer....

Why I love the library! (Updated from the partial post)

This week marked the end of an "era" for me and my kiddos.  My son "graduated" the preschool morning story time session at our library.  I am pretty sure I was more affected by this than he was! For him, it just means that now he officially is one of the "big kids" in afternoon story time.  For me, it means that a regular part of my weekly life (and mom identity!) is gone forever! Every Tuesday morning at 10:30 for the past 7 years, we have happily made our way to our local library for childrens' storytime.   While there were inevitably scheduling issues occasionally, this was the one non-negotiable event on our schedule (besides worship, obviously!) each and every week.   Anytime possible, dr's appts, playdates, vacations, and other fun things were adjusted to make sure our library time was not interrupted.  Our childrens' library staff is absolutely incredible, and they help foster a love of books in my children that I could not possibly do alone.   The kids' section is front and center in our local branch, and it is so inviting to kids of all ages!  The books are loosely alphabetized, but there is no stress about making sure they are perfectly lined up in place.  Familiar stuffed characters line the shelves for kids to snuggle them while they read.  Puzzles are on every surface, even some that make noises...in the library!   While the kids are taught to be quiet in the library, they are not "shushed" when excitement from a story bursts forth.  They are encouraged to experience the books and library to the fullest extent.   All library staff learns their names upon their first or second visit, and they interact cheerfully with them on their level each time.

So...beyond all that (and in no particular order), why do I love the library?


1.  It is free.   Reading can be an expensive hobby if you purchase all the books you read.  We generally average 40 books per checkout session (a few less now that both are reading mostly chapter books).  There is no way my kids could read that much if we had to provide them all!

2.   It allows my kids to explore the whole world in a safe setting.   We have "traveled" to all kinds of lands during story time, some real and some imaginary!

3.    My children are encouraged to explore all their senses.   A weekly parade with small instruments begins each session, and it is with no small measure of pride that parents watch their children progress from being held in the parade to toddling around holding hands to finally marching independently (or even leading younger siblings!).

4.   The kids express themselves through crafts.   So many kids have no idea how to do arts and crafts anymore!  We, as parents, often tend to avoid the "mess" that comes from creativity.  Thus, our kids no longer creatively solve problems or create new ways of doing things.   They don't have a chance to express what they know and love and see.   At library, we give them that chance!

5.  My kids hear that books are cool from someone who "knows," unlike Mommy, who knows nothing!  :)

6.  We experience cultural and community things to which we otherwise would not be exposed.   (Fire Safety demos/driving fire trucks, learning to call 911, ballet, KinderMusik, fiddle players, Imagination Library plays, snakes, creek stomping, and the list goes on and on!)

7.  We meet kids we'd never meet in school.  Some from other schools or towns, some home-schoolers, etc.  We meet kids from all groups, types, abilities, etc.  We learn that, though all are different, we are also all the same.

8.  We see that even grown-ups like to read!

9.  We have a chance to read with and to others (including a therapy dog).

10.  We get to be in the newspaper (yes, it's a small town!).

11.  We got to participate in several local Imagination Library events.

12.  Mrs. Ashlee makes the kids feel sooooo special.

13.  It is a safe place to burn off steam on a rainy, snowy, or whiny day.

14.  It keeps them away from a screen!  

Though I could go on and on, this should be enough to convince you to take your little one to a local library program!   Do it today, or tomorrow, or whatever day YOURS meets! 

Gluten Free...is it for me?

A few weeks ago, I went for my annual physical required by my insurance.  Because I have an emergency inhaler for exercise-induced asthma, I am considered "high risk" with my insurance, and therefore have to jump through a bunch of hoops to keep my "partnership" premium rate.  (They don't care that I have blood sugar issues, am overweight, or have other issues....just that I take albuterol twice a year.  Don't get me started!  Ha!)

Anyway, I went to the dr. with a whole slew of symptoms that have gone on for years.   We keep investigating them, but to no avail.  This time I wasn't taking no for an answer, although, in my dr's defense, he's awesome.  Very thorough, very attentive, very personable, very helpful.  But, in the past, I have never been adamant, as I knew my weight was an underlying issue.  The elephant in the room, so to speak.  This time, I knew that I had lost enough weight and made enough healthy changes that my issues should have either resolved themselves or at least diminished if my weight was the cause.  They haven't.  It isn't. 

So, after a dozen or so blood tests came back within normal limits, we discussed eating gluten free for a month to 6 weeks to see if that could possibly be the culprit.   A friend of mine who is very involved in studying nutrition has been urging me for over a year to consider going wheat and gluten free, but I just didn't see the need or relevance.  Lately, however, I have read several things that made me at least consider it, so when my primary care physician recommended it, I was on board.   At this point, I am willing to try anything to get better.  I really don't WANT this to be the answer because I love some gluten things, but I do want an answer, so if this works, I am game. 

Is it working, you ask?

Well...

I have been on the plan for exactly 2 weeks today.  Since then, I have been sick every day with this virus/plague/whatever it is, so it's hard to know if the changes are due to gluten or due to my illness, but let me tell you what I HAVE noticed so far.

1.  My digestive issues are SOOOOO much better.   10 days with no digestive problems = bliss.
2.  My reflux is diminished considerably.  I even forgot my pill the other day and didn't notice.  That NEVER happens.
3.  My hair doesn't seem to be falling out as fast. 
4.  The plan isn't as hard as I expected.  It takes a little creativity and planning, but it is doable...unless you eat out!  I haven't quite figured that out yet, except for the old standby of salad.
5.  My leg hasn't swollen in 10 days.  Granted, I haven't exercised much in 10 days because of the "plague," but that usually doesn't matter.
6.  Energy level difference is difficult to pinpoint because I have been so sick, so stay tuned.
7.  No anxiety/panic in a week and a half, despite incredible stress from being sick.
8.  I have lost 3 lbs since starting, after being stalled for months.
9.  I am not hungry between meals.  

Now, I am aware that any/all of these could be coincidence or the "placebo" effect or the result of being so sick, so I am not ready to jump on this bandwagon completely.    However, the results from the first two weeks have been favorable enough that I am going to continue this for at least a few more weeks and see.   Stay tuned for more details.  Also, if you have suggestions about this eating plan, PLEASE share!   I am so new and uninformed that every day is a new research topic to figure this out!  I'd love to have more input and ideas.  

Yes, I am still here!

From my "blog" it probably appears that I have fallen off the face of the earth, but I'm still here!  So much has gone on lately that I don't really even know where to start, so I'll play catch-up first.

1.   WW is finally kicking in a little again.  Today I hit the 30 lb mark on my scale at home, but we'll see what it says at my meeting on Thursday!   You never know from day to day, but at least I've seen it!   At my last meeting I officially hit my lowest-ever adult weight.   I still have a ways to go, but that was a HUGE milestone, at least psychologically!

2.  Being sick stinks.   It's horrendous when kids and spouses are sick, and I always say that I'd rather it be me than them.  That is still true, but being almost completely out of commission for 10 days at the end of your 1st grader's school year (and your husband's school year!) is very very stinky!  I'm still not 100% sure what it is that knocked me out so hard, but 3 days of fever/body aches, razor blade sore throat, full-blown cold, and a trip to the ER for bronchitis-induced asthma attack have just about done me in this month!   Thankfully, I have the world's greatest husband, and he has babied me every step of the way and really helped me try to heal.  The poor guy raced me to the ER Friday morning with no questions asked-- he woke the kids up, had them dressed and ready in seconds, and zoomed to the hospital with no thought for himself or the stress it would cause in the day ahead.  When they couldn't get a sub for his class, he arranged for someone to come pick me and the kids up at the hospital (thanks, Mom!) and took good care of us all.  What a blessing he is to me! 

3.  Speaking of him being a blessing to me, today marks 12 years of matrimony for us!   Happy Anniversary, my love!  A DOZEN YEARS!  What an incredible time we have had so far, and I look forward to dozens more, Lord willing!  In some ways, it seems that there was never a time we were not together; and yet, it seems like only yesterday that he "took the plunge" and sent me a message online.   Side note:  The kids thought it super-cool that, for just this year, if you add their ages together it equals the number of years we've been married.  :)

4.  I am re-doing the order of my Bible class "syllabus..."  again.   We have been studying in "timeline" fashion at home, and the kids have REALLY benefited from it.  So, within the bounds of the curriculum our elders have established for my kindergarteners, we are going to re-order it again.  Plus, I have a few kiddos staying with me for another year (yay!  I don't have to give them up!!!), so I don't want it all to be EXACTLY the same.  Stay tuned...I promise to do a better job this summer posting lesson plans!   By the way, I am in search of a CHEAP digital camera I can leave in my classroom to better document our activities...

5.   "Mean girls" start young.  My sweet 7 year old is already facing some of the nasty girl stuff that goes on with females.   It makes me want to scream!  I hated it when I was in the middle of it, and I hate it now.  Mommies, we need to do a better job (myself included!!!!) of teaching our girls to be loving to others.  They have such fragile self-images at times, and it just takes a word or two from a "friend" to completely destroy their sense of self-worth at this age!  We need to work harder collectively to teach our girls that they are beautiful and special and wonderful in God's sight, no matter what Ms. Popular or Ms. Brain or Ms. Whatever tells them on any given day.   Even though the next day "she" may be their best friend again, today's words hurt.  Badly.   I work hard to boost my daughter's confidence in godly ways (we don't do the whole "oh, you're so pretty" garbage), but one day with other girls' influences can undo so much of what we strive to accomplish.  Mommies, help me help our girls and get the message out to love themselves as God loves them and to be kind to others even when it is hard!