Tweens

I am so frickin' not ready for this.

Today Josie and I went to Freddies and bought her four little teenie bras. She doesn't really have anything much to hold up yet, but not for long. And she does need that extra layer under her shirts now; she's noticeably, uh, pointy in the chestal area.

oy.

Ok, so my older kids (8 and 10) are getting to the age where they would like to have their own money. I agree. They want to buy things like nail polish, craft things, music, movies, posters, etc.--read more

Hello to all, I am new to this site. I am a SAHM of 2 kids and am in the process of adopting my 3rd child. I am 26 and have been married for 8 yrs. I homeschool and love it. --read more

OK, here's the deal. My DS10 is going into the 5th grade in the fall. We have not done any "sex ed" with him so to speak and I don't believe he is getting it at school.--read more

I'm well and truly into menopause. My cycle is fluctuating wildly, settling for a while at an odd but at least predictable 6 weeks and then swinging annoyingly into 3 weeks. I get weepy, anxious, depressed, frustrated, angry in turns for no obvious reasons.

And to add to my joy?

"Mom? Why do my nipples hurt?" says Josie. Hurt how? "I dunno, they just sorta hurt. And my chest is kinda lumpy." I'd already noticed her waist thinning a little and her hips rounding a bit. On closer inspection, it was pretty clear: Girl you'll be a woman soon. Her hair is getting oilier and she's starting to have meltdowns over little things. Based on my own age when I started, the ages of the other women in the family when they started, and her own recent changes, I give her two years tops to join us women.

I'm so not ready for this.

DD11.5 and I were coming home after she had music ensemble rehersal at school. The production is a musical-drama and the only detail that I have (yet) is that the entire production takes place in a bathtub. (?) --read more

Is there any way to turn away uninvited birthday party guests? --read more

...I had the happiest day of my life. My daughter Josie, who I waited and waited for and thought I would never get to have, was put into my arms, after a long, hard labor. She was the sweetest, smuggest little lump in the world.

She is still the sweetest and smuggest, but now is a tall willowy thing up to my shoulder. For her birthday she is getting an archery set and a field easel for "drawing from nature like Beatrixth Potter and Amy from Little Women, Mom," and a pretty cigar box full of art supplies from her little sister.

Best of all, though! She got a baby cousin! My sister gave birth this morning to a baby boy, 7 lbs 5 oz, 21" long. I am teasing my sister that we'll be calling him "BillyBob" (his "tummy name") when he's 35 because they can't decide on a name.

Happy Birthday, Josie! You are my favorite big girl in the whole world! Happy Birthday, BillyBob! You are my favorite unnamed baby boy in the whole world!

Oh, geeze! My girls have this amazing capacity for overwhelming my heart at unexpected times.

Yesterday we were at a nursing home acting as Santa's Helpers during thier family holiday event. There is a new Activities Director this year, and things were a little chaotic, but the girls (all of them) just jumped right in and did anything and everything that needed done! None of them held back, none of them whined or complained...and none of them expected anything in return, aside from a cookie and a cup of punch! I watched all these girls (ages 9-14) talk to, touch, and serve the residents...and my heart almost burst. --read more

Another good one from my DD9, who is totally into dragons, dragon lore, dragon-ology, etc:

Friday evening while DD14 had friends over for a "video party," DD9 kept herself busy in her room. sometime in the course of the evening, she hung a sign on her door. On it she has a picture of a fire-breathing dragon (complete with wings and fangs, of course!)--read more

I am thinking about having a treasure hunt for DD8's 9th birthday. I have already picked a spot where to bury the "treasure chest" but need ideas what to put in it.

DD8 will get to invite three friends. The girls will be about 8-9 years old. I plan to bury the can a couple of weeks before her birthday so the spot will not be so obvious (It's in our back yard). The can is round, 5"x6", and water and bug tight (I hope...).--read more

I am watching the ABC/ Disney version of A Wrinkle in Time. I was not expecting too much of the adaptation, but it is really great. I am going to buy the DVD when it comes out.

The Camazotz scenes --read more

How much does your parenting habits resemble those of your own parents? What do you do differently?

I've always thought we are a product of our raising, some go on to do exactly like our folks and other times treatment at home may cause one to go just the opposite direction.--read more

Last night, after reading my all time favorite book to DD8 ("A High Price to Pay" by Joy Berry), DD8 told me "I want to make some money! How can I earn some money?" Then she asked "Would you pay me for chores?"--read more

When I looked at my babies, my mind was always full of the "possibilities." Their endless and fascinating potential.

These days, and especially with my dd13, I more often get a glimpse of the reality...not the woman she MIGHT become...but the woman that she WILL become. I have to say that the realitiy of her is so much more amazing to me than the potential ever was. It seems that almost daily I have occasion to think, "Wow, what an amazing person you are," in response to something she says or does.--read more