Saturday, February 24, 2007
...So Ready for Spring
This is what is left of all that snow from the last 8 weeks since Christmas. Finally!
It was such a nice day, Mary and I had a chance to play some kickball.
Thought I'd share these photos I took of some hyacinths we have growing in a pot inside the house. Actually, Jack is the one with the green thumb. Or at least greener than mine. He and Mary got these hyacinth bulbs as a project and every morning, Mary reminds her Daddy that the plants need watering.
It was such a nice day, Mary and I had a chance to play some kickball.
Thought I'd share these photos I took of some hyacinths we have growing in a pot inside the house. Actually, Jack is the one with the green thumb. Or at least greener than mine. He and Mary got these hyacinth bulbs as a project and every morning, Mary reminds her Daddy that the plants need watering.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Play that _______ Music
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I had been doing my workouts with DDR (Dance Dance Revolution video game and pad) on our Playstation. (Mary almost always accompanies me down in the basement.) As with anything, the more you do it, the better you get. The games come with a Training Mode where you can play the same song over and over so you can get good at the steps.
One song that I was trying to master was "Play That Funky Music". Must have played it six or seven times.
Mary must have liked the song. She was humming it as we went upstairs when I was done with my workout. Then, she started singing....
"Mary, what did you say?"
"Oh, I was just singing that song, Mommy.
Play that f*?@!ing music, my boy. Play that f*?#ing music right."
I immediately sat her down and very delicately told her, "it's play that FUNKY music. Sing it after me, Play that Funky Music." I did not bother correcting the other lyrics.
Oh, I hope she never just breaks out with this song in school. Her friends and her teachers will get quite an earful.
One song that I was trying to master was "Play That Funky Music". Must have played it six or seven times.
Mary must have liked the song. She was humming it as we went upstairs when I was done with my workout. Then, she started singing....
"Mary, what did you say?"
"Oh, I was just singing that song, Mommy.
Play that f*?@!ing music, my boy. Play that f*?#ing music right."
I immediately sat her down and very delicately told her, "it's play that FUNKY music. Sing it after me, Play that Funky Music." I did not bother correcting the other lyrics.
Oh, I hope she never just breaks out with this song in school. Her friends and her teachers will get quite an earful.
Friday, February 16, 2007
It's All About Fun
I have to confess, when it comes to parenting, I'm a slow learner.
It took me a while to figure out that Mary Esther likes to make a game out of everything, from eating to bathing, getting dressed, watching TV, bedtime... When she refuses to do things or run away when I call her or parrots what I say--- she's playing a game! She likes to have fun. Can't really blame her or impose my will on her- believe me, I've tried and all I got are more gray hair and permanent creases on my forehead.
These last few days, I finally figured out- hey, why not make it a game that we both would enjoy???!!? First time it dawned on me was when I was getting Mary to take off her clothers and step into the shower. I was pulling at her shirt and she was keeping her arms down, making it extremely difficult for me to pull the shirt over her head. This time rather than get upset with her and threaten her with a lost privilege (no TV after the shower, etc...), I said, "Let's see how many pie
ces of clothing will we be taking off- 5? 10?" and She said, "No, two." And I replied, "Let's find out." And we counted out the clothes as she took them off. (It was three pieces.) So I was able to get her clothes off but now she would not get into the shower stall and was jumping up and down away from me. So I said, "hey let's see how many jumps you can do before you get into the shower." (For me, it sounded like such a lame game but she went for it.) She jumped about 20 times and went right into the shower. Of course, I was effusive with the praise--- "Hey 20 jumps! That was a lot! Great job!"
So, now everytime it seems like she is defying me or not doing what I want, I turn it to a game for both of us. Now we are both having fun.
It took me a while to figure out that Mary Esther likes to make a game out of everything, from eating to bathing, getting dressed, watching TV, bedtime... When she refuses to do things or run away when I call her or parrots what I say--- she's playing a game! She likes to have fun. Can't really blame her or impose my will on her- believe me, I've tried and all I got are more gray hair and permanent creases on my forehead.
These last few days, I finally figured out- hey, why not make it a game that we both would enjoy???!!? First time it dawned on me was when I was getting Mary to take off her clothers and step into the shower. I was pulling at her shirt and she was keeping her arms down, making it extremely difficult for me to pull the shirt over her head. This time rather than get upset with her and threaten her with a lost privilege (no TV after the shower, etc...), I said, "Let's see how many pie
ces of clothing will we be taking off- 5? 10?" and She said, "No, two." And I replied, "Let's find out." And we counted out the clothes as she took them off. (It was three pieces.) So I was able to get her clothes off but now she would not get into the shower stall and was jumping up and down away from me. So I said, "hey let's see how many jumps you can do before you get into the shower." (For me, it sounded like such a lame game but she went for it.) She jumped about 20 times and went right into the shower. Of course, I was effusive with the praise--- "Hey 20 jumps! That was a lot! Great job!"
So, now everytime it seems like she is defying me or not doing what I want, I turn it to a game for both of us. Now we are both having fun.
Labels: Parenting
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Sing Me a Lullaby
Mary and I were indulging on our favorite evening activity- coloring- when I thought of teaching her a few more Tagalog words. There were a bunch of flowers on the pages we were coloring so bulaklak (tagalpg for flower) seemed like a good word of the day.
Then, for some perverse reason, I started singing that song "Bulaklak"- I think it was sung by Dulce?-- she (or whoever) sings it beautifully but I didn't. I was singing the way my sisters and I did when we were making fun of the song. I knew Mary would not like it.
"Bulaklak, ang bango ng bulaklal...."
Mary asked me to stop singins - "Mom, you're annoying me. That song is annoying!"
But I wanted her to be exposed to more Tagalog words so I started to sing a different song. This time it was APO's ballad "Pag-ibig".
As I was singing, Mary started making these mewling sounds and laying her head down and I thought she did not like this song either.
But she says it was making her sleepy.
Why not? I used to sing her this same song when she was a baby while rocking her to sleep. She remembers!
Then, for some perverse reason, I started singing that song "Bulaklak"- I think it was sung by Dulce?-- she (or whoever) sings it beautifully but I didn't. I was singing the way my sisters and I did when we were making fun of the song. I knew Mary would not like it.
"Bulaklak, ang bango ng bulaklal...."
Mary asked me to stop singins - "Mom, you're annoying me. That song is annoying!"
But I wanted her to be exposed to more Tagalog words so I started to sing a different song. This time it was APO's ballad "Pag-ibig".
As I was singing, Mary started making these mewling sounds and laying her head down and I thought she did not like this song either.
But she says it was making her sleepy.
Why not? I used to sing her this same song when she was a baby while rocking her to sleep. She remembers!
