Uncategorized

The Beginners were making Stone Soup today. We got exactly one day of notice that we had to have our child bring in a vegetable today. Grace had her heart set on a green pepper. This morning I scavenged in the fridge and found only this wrinkled, pathetic specimen. She would not take no for an answer, though, so I tried to ameliorate the sadness of the offering by also making her take this yellow pepper. Don’t know how the combination was received. I did see at least two of my fellow mothers this morning, though, rushing off to find a vegetable somewhere.

Ah. The little devil above is now growing a tail to match the horns he sprouted a few months ago. Seriously. He is simultaneously easier and more difficult than Gracie was at that age. I hate to succumb to and embrace cliches but the old adages about boys do seem true, at least in my house. Whit is physical, full of energy, and unmoved by authority. He is more interested in jumping and hitting and climbing than was Gracie at his age, and less interested in playing by the rules. Don’t get me wrong: Grace can be very naughty. But discipline is almost too effective with her, sending her into spasms of self loathing and noisy bawling. Whit simply doesn’t care. To him a timeout is an opportunity to torture us by screaming at the top of his lungs for 3 minutes.

His latest trick has been to take his diaper off in the middle of the night, pee his bed, and wake me up hollering about it. Now, the little man has been potty trained for about 2 months, but if he follows in his sister’s footsteps (and one has to assume their bladders are made from similar genetic material) he won’t be dry at night for another 2 years. I believe this just his latest ploy for attention and “wocking” (rocking in the rocking chair, mostly a joy because it’s a way to get Out Of The Crib in the middle of the night).
Oh ye of too much faith. No, he is not trying to demonstrate that he’s ready to be dry at night. Do the soaking wet sheets and stuffed animals not bear this out? He’s trying to get some attention in the middle of the night when, as far as I can tell, he wakes up and is bored. The same routine went on for several nights. I thought of just leaving him, but he is soaking wet, the only (small, flimsy) blanket he’ll accept in his crib with him is soaking wet, and our house is heated to a yankee 65 degrees. I worry he will freeze to death. Or, worse, keep me up all night yelling about being cold.
So my attention turned to how to keep him in his diaper. First I tried threats: if you take this off again, no TV tomorrow before bed. Did not work. No TV? Fine. I can play with my trucks. Then I tried a sleepsack, zipped up backwards as I learned long ago from Christina. Somehow he houdinied his way out of that. I considered duct tape but thought that unless I actually adhered the diaper TO his body he would probably find a way to slip it off. And the duct-tape-on-skin idea, while perhaps a last resort, did seem a little hard core.
I finally decided to explore some online solutions, hoping to find a product that could help solve this persistent problem. I stumbled upon a variety of innovative options that promised to be more effective than my current strategies. Among them, I discovered a range of high-quality diapers designed for active toddlers, which seemed like a promising solution. Additionally, I came across Womens Incontinence Pads, which, while primarily designed for adults, offered some interesting features like enhanced adhesive strips and extra secure fits that made me wonder if a similar concept could be adapted for toddlers. In the end, my best bet appeared to be investing in these specialized diapers, which boasted superior durability and locking mechanisms.
Aha! A brain wave. I took an old pair of fleece footie pajamas, size 2T. They are skin tight. I cut the feet off of them. I then put them on backwards and zipped them snugly up the back. Not the most flattering look, but it seems to be working. And he’s slept in them for 6 consecutive nights now. They could probably walk downstairs on their own and wake me up if they wanted to.
Anyway. The latest adventure in trying to sleep with two small children.

Voted for Obama. He’s my candidate. Yet I finally figured out what the nagging sense of unease I’ve had about him was. I read an email that Jen forwarded from Suzie in support of Obama. Notably, this is about the 10th email I’ve gotten in the past several days from people that I have never thought of as politically active. This goes right to the heart of Obama’s appeal, I think, and to what will take him all the way – his ability to move and mobilize people, to inspire ardent dedication and committed action.
Suzie references Rory Kennedy’s chiming in on the issue, here. I’ve been loath, I think, perhaps subconsciously, to let an opportunity – a real chance! – to elect a female President slip by. How can I actually vote against the female candidate? I am a woman, a mother, and a feminist. As Rory says, I ache to raise my daughter in a world that can elect a woman to the highest office in the land. And yet, somehow, I can’t bring myself to support Hillary. Many people that I respect are voting for her. She has a strong case for why she would be a terrific president. But, for me, it comes down to issues of personality and charisma; on this score I add my voice to the deafening choir. And on this dimension, for me, Obama triumphs. I remember vividly Schuyler – someone whose views I respect so completely – talking after the Democratic convention where Obama spoke. Her excitement about Obama was contagious, and she said, as I’m sure many people did after that speech: “that man will be president.”
It was a relief to acknowledge what the thing holding me back from wild enthusiasm about Obama has been. All I can do is fervently hope that in my lifetime there will be other strong female candidates for President. And I do hope that, and I do believe that. I suppose, ultimately, the best role model I can be for Grace is to demonstrate support for the person I believe to be the strongest candidate, regardless of their gender.
And that’s the road I’m taking.

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick

An excellent review of The Middle Place here.

Last night finished Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. A terrific read. Fictionalized biography of Frank Lloyd Wright, focused on his long love affair with Mamah Borthwick. Unbelievable ending which I did not know (it’s true). I read that instead of watching the Super Bowl last night.