Children like to hear/read the same thing over and over. Repetition helps them get all the details in and to really comprehend a story. Adults generally don't want to read the same story as many times ( Read more... )

Stand around listlessly in the library play space, surrounded by toys that are different than the ones you have at home ( Read more... )

I don't think I realized when I had my first child that someday I would have a tween. E. says the word wasn't invented yet (which is maybe possible as it seems to have been a 2000s word, though obviously a much earlier concept). And really, if "they" told you you would someday have a tween, you wouldn't get pregnant in the first place ( Read more... )

I just came home from vacation in VT with some friends and their children. And I hesitate to say it but I wish I had the other 6 children who ran with mine. I miss the fact that the kids often entertained each other, so that I could have an hour or 2 without them at all. I miss that the other parents hung out with me while we watched our ( Read more... )

Much as you might like to:
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We took B. (and M.) for a birthday trip, in place of party. The past few years, we've had some trouble with gathering friends for a party (summer vacations, etc), coming up with themes/activities/etc. The cost of doing a party was only slightly less than the 4 of us going away for an overnight to Boston. Friends got us in to the New England ( Read more... )

M: Come play with me.
Me: Can't right now, buddy. I have to spin the lettuce or it will go bad and no one wants that.
M.: The lettuce will be in time out. The lettuce should be good and not do it any more.

My daughter is 9 today ( Read more... )

Tonight, because E. and Auntie S. took the 2 older children to A Midsummer's Night Dream, I had both C.--age almost 5--and M.--age 3.5--to put to bed. And we managed. After Popsicles (all fruit, go figure, a more desirable treat than chocolate chip cookie brownies), and outdoor play, and a rousing rules-be-hanged game of Hi Ho Cherry-O, and some ( Read more... )