Yearbook night?

I just received the notice for Yearbook night at my three year old's nursery school. I figured this was some optional night where parents discuss "graduation" for the pre-k class. Turns out it's a night all the parents are supposed to show up WITH all of our child's artwork that we have been dutifully saving ALL YEAR. Apparently, we paste it into a scrapbook and make a year book for our child. Darling, huh? My idea of HELL. First of all, I do not have an artsy crafty bone in my body. We will be given construction paper and glue and are meant to put together a meaningful book of memories using our child's SAVED artwork (I felt I was doing such a good Mom job by posting the artwork on the fridge each week. Before then tossing it into the recycling) and our own set of calligraphy pens, holiday stickers and artistic sense. Are you kidding me? Clearly I missed the note in the beginning of the year, stating that we are supposed to SAVE the finger painting, christmas santas, and easter eggs sent home in our child's bag throughout the year. On top of this, we just moved, so I have one springtime chickadee under an umbrella that my three year old constructed with help. And a piece of aper with blue scribble on it that is her "art work". I certainly hope they will be serving wine at this event.

La Rentree

It's my second to last day of a four day quickie trip to Paris. Today is Sunday and walking "home" this evening, I saw all the folks returning from the week long holiday. Cars double parked, children and bags being unloaded and hustled into apartment buildings. The police are out in force, in competition to ticket as many illegally parked cars as possible. I am sooooo relieved not to be returning from a 10 hour drive from Italy, with tired, hungry kids, having to look for an impossible to find parking space on a Sunday evening, try to find something to feed overwrought children (because everything is closed)and then hustle them onto a crowded metro tomorrow morning to shuttle them to school. And I know THEY are happier too!

Breast Not Always best

Most Parisian mothers do not breast feed. Formula is preferred for its convenience and so mom can keep her boobs from sagging. This display is common inmost pharmacies.

Six year old sneak out

This morning Petite says "I want to do something and I know we aren't supposed to . if i have a sleepover" I asked "what?" "Sneak out" OMG my heart skipped a beat. My total fear is teenage sneak out running around somewhere at night. I'm thinking WHERE THE HELL did she get this idea? at 6? she still "sneaks" into our bed! So i ask where she got the idea "I don't know" I try another tactic, "what do you mean sneak out?" She replies, "like….out of bed" "OK…..where to?" im imagining six year old girls roaming the streets at night She takes a deep breath and says "ok i KNOW this isn't allowed BUT….sneak to get ice cream….out of the freezer" I had to bite my lip to stop from busting out laughing I gave her a hug "you're right. you're not supposed to sneak out of bed during sleepovers" (thank god she didn't mean sneak out of the house!)

California style

As much as I miss the vibe of Paris, California life seems to suit my kids. I miss living in a city that is literally eye candy. Beauty everywhere you turn, people bustling about, numerous social and cultural events at any given moment (not that I was attending any of those with two little monkeys clinging to me). This week both of my children have walked down to the beach with their schools. That blows my mind. Sure, a field trip to the Louevre sounds impressive. But which is more fun for the kids?

Calm yourself, Calm your kids

Calming your own stress REALLY affects your kids. I've known this for years, of course. But this week it has actually become a reality. I was invited to be part of a spiritual women's circle (almost all moms) and most of the focus was on paying attention to intuition, telling the voices in our heads to shut the f- up! and letting our "higher selves" guide us. All of this I've heard before. But something about sitting with this group of women, not meditating in silence, but sharing experiences in a guided, focused way was extremely calming. I was even more surprised to find that, five days later, the calming effect has remained. I've made a huge effort to use a very calm voice with my kids. Especially when they are stressed. The more they rev UP, the more I calm DOWN. I get calmer and quieter, as they rev up into hysteria. And it works! I have noticed a strong shift in their own ability to de-escalate. This morning, the car stalled, we were late to doctor appointment, I had to drive my husband to work, my six year old commented "Why is everyone in a rush? This is making me UNCOMFORTABLE!" as she started to rev up. BRAVA to her for articulating her feelings. I replied, "No we are not in a rush and you are right, I will caaaaaaalm down. Let's all calm down." I slowed down and she calmed down. It was amazing to see this effect in action!

Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks

Today we had Petite and Bebe's first real Thanksgiving (since we have been living in Europe for their lives up till now). They didn't quite get the whole historical precedence (Petite is mostly anxious that the Pilgrims' "President send them on a long journey and many people died"). Paternal grandma had us all go around the table and say what we are thankful for. Three year old Bebe says she is thankful for her sister (OK, my heart was truly melting). After dinner, when they should both be completely melting down from an exhausting day, Petite surprises me beyond belief. She goes into her room and CLEANS UP EVERYTHING (this has never ever happened before), organizing her toys and categorizing them and then proceeding to fold all of her little sister's clothes. This is the the kid who steps out of her clothes and usually just leaves them on the floor. After congratulating her and telling her how proud I am of this behavior, I ask what made her do this. She says "Thanksgiving is a holiday when we give thanks. So I cleaned up." Honestly, every time I think I have a little clue as to what makes my kids tick, they do something totally baffling and I am awestruck.