Lee has already shown hers colors as a saver. I will always remember flying somewhere with her when she was really young. We gave her some candy for the flight, and she parceled it out so that it lasted the entire flight. It showed incredible impulse control for someone her age.
The kids get an allowance for doing their chores (emptying the dishwasher, changing the cats' water, taking out the chicken scraps and compost, setting and clearing the table, and sorting and folding the laundry). Every week they get $2, $1 of which goes into a "savings account" (a spreadsheet we have which gives exorbitant interest rates), $.25 of which goes into a "charity account" (which they give away at the end of each year), and $.75 of which they receive as spending money.
Lee spends her money (which she supplements with dog walking and other jobs around the neighborhood) going to the Green Grocer with Lila or buying Japanese erasers. Yesterday she and Lila rode their bikes to Ava Marie's for ice cream. But generally, she's not a big spender.
As a matter of fact, when Bridges gave her $.75 this week, she asked to put it into her savings account.
"I'm saving for my pick-up truck," she said.
I knew she was planning on buying a pick-up truck when she gets older so she can go camping with Lila, but I had no idea she was already saving for it!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
The Fairy Who Entered the Dishwasher
Well, Clara finally lost her first tooth. It was a long time coming, and she's definitely been a bit slower then others in this area. Luckily, it was a no drama event (and we haven't had one of those before).
"Mom, my tooth came out!"
No tears or hysterics despite a bit of blood.
I put the tooth for safekeeping on a plate on the counter so that she wouldn't lose it. Only, about an hour later when I cleaned up after lunch I put the plate in the dishwasher and ran the dishwasher. Gone was the first tooth. It was one of those really proud mom moments.
Now there were tears. No hysterics, but lots of tears.
Well, Clara wrote her tooth fairy a note explaining the situation, and Lee also wrote a note vouching for her. Luckily, her fairy, Mystery, was quite understanding. Not only that, but she is so small she was able to find the tooth inside the dishwasher! Luckily for Clara her mom thought ahead and left it open overnight.
Whew!
"Mom, my tooth came out!"
No tears or hysterics despite a bit of blood.
I put the tooth for safekeeping on a plate on the counter so that she wouldn't lose it. Only, about an hour later when I cleaned up after lunch I put the plate in the dishwasher and ran the dishwasher. Gone was the first tooth. It was one of those really proud mom moments.
Now there were tears. No hysterics, but lots of tears.
Well, Clara wrote her tooth fairy a note explaining the situation, and Lee also wrote a note vouching for her. Luckily, her fairy, Mystery, was quite understanding. Not only that, but she is so small she was able to find the tooth inside the dishwasher! Luckily for Clara her mom thought ahead and left it open overnight.
Whew!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Versa Board
I bought a used Versa Board this summer, figuring the kids would love to play on it and they could duel between the green sit-atop kayak and the Versa Board.
It's been a big hit, and Lee has especially taken to it. She loves to go out and paddle around, and says she much prefers standing to sitting.
It's been a big hit, and Lee has especially taken to it. She loves to go out and paddle around, and says she much prefers standing to sitting.
Sense of Smell
It's pretty clear that babies have a very refined sense of smell. But this seems to linger on into childhood. I don't know when it fades, but I know I cannot smell like my kids can.
They can identify which household an article of clothing belongs to by smell. Clara tells me that my side of the bed and Bridges' side of the bed smell differently. They react incredibly strongly to negative smells, to the point of gagging at an unpleasant smell like vomit or rotten food.
Today Clara had picked five different kinds of sunflowers and she told me that each one smelled different from the others. Darned if I could tell.
They can identify which household an article of clothing belongs to by smell. Clara tells me that my side of the bed and Bridges' side of the bed smell differently. They react incredibly strongly to negative smells, to the point of gagging at an unpleasant smell like vomit or rotten food.
Today Clara had picked five different kinds of sunflowers and she told me that each one smelled different from the others. Darned if I could tell.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Introvert / Extrovert
It has been apparent to me for a while that Lee is an introvert while Clara is an extrovert. Sometimes, however, this is driven home loud and clear, like today when I picked them up from the Harris Center Camp. The camp was from 9 am-3 pm, so it was a rather long day. Lee had been before; Clara had not. Lee is older; Clara younger. If anyone should have been tired when I showed up, you'd think it would have been Clara.
But Clara comes out to greet me, jumping and dancing, talking a mile a minute, and all jazzed up. Lee is somber, and looks a bit shell-shocked. When I ask her what's wrong (because she's so obviously non-talkative), she says "I'm just tired, Mom." She's quiet on the ride home, and instead of playing with Lila afterwards (which normally trumps all else), she comes inside and spends an hour having a snack and reading. Clara, on the other hand, throws her stuff inside the door and runs outside to play with Griffin.
An hour later, Lee is recharged and back to herself. Clara is still going strong, but I know she'll fall asleep in two minutes when she goes to bed tonight.
How can they be so different?
But Clara comes out to greet me, jumping and dancing, talking a mile a minute, and all jazzed up. Lee is somber, and looks a bit shell-shocked. When I ask her what's wrong (because she's so obviously non-talkative), she says "I'm just tired, Mom." She's quiet on the ride home, and instead of playing with Lila afterwards (which normally trumps all else), she comes inside and spends an hour having a snack and reading. Clara, on the other hand, throws her stuff inside the door and runs outside to play with Griffin.
An hour later, Lee is recharged and back to herself. Clara is still going strong, but I know she'll fall asleep in two minutes when she goes to bed tonight.
How can they be so different?
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
A Sprained Ankle as Vector for the Plague
Clara sprained her ankle the other day. She was running down the cow path (or the Bovine Trail, as Kim fancily refers to it) and fell. It seemed somewhat serious, so Bridges carried her all the way home, and Lynne (our local retired pediatrician) checked it out. Just a sprain, but we had to be cautious in case of a fracture on the growth plate, and we should keep her off it the rest of the day. Yeah, right.
It happened to be the day of Patricia's memorial service, which was followed by a big picnic at the neighborhood. Lots of kids running around, and no chance of keeping Clara off that ankle. Of course, when she was happily running on it several hours later we just assumed she was fine and let it go.
But Lee, whom we've often called Calamity Jane because of her propensity to flock to even the most minor disaster and blow it all out of proportion, couldn't give up on the idea of the sprained ankle. She kept chastising Clara, telling her not to walk on it. By the next morning, Clara had gotten pretty fed up with this, and ran to us, screaming "Lee says I shouldn't walk on my ankle because I'm going to grow funny or get the plague!"
We just laughed.
It happened to be the day of Patricia's memorial service, which was followed by a big picnic at the neighborhood. Lots of kids running around, and no chance of keeping Clara off that ankle. Of course, when she was happily running on it several hours later we just assumed she was fine and let it go.
But Lee, whom we've often called Calamity Jane because of her propensity to flock to even the most minor disaster and blow it all out of proportion, couldn't give up on the idea of the sprained ankle. She kept chastising Clara, telling her not to walk on it. By the next morning, Clara had gotten pretty fed up with this, and ran to us, screaming "Lee says I shouldn't walk on my ankle because I'm going to grow funny or get the plague!"
We just laughed.
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