Douwe and I were wandering around my mom's house looking to see if she was home an afternoon last week. I happened upon a bookshelf full of children's books that I had read when I was young, and borrowed Emily of New Moon. A few days ago I was back over for the other two novels which follow Emily's adventures. L.M. Montgomery is most famous for being the creator of Anne Shirley of Green Gables fame, and as much as I love Anne, I might love Emily even more. I could not put down any of the three books this week, and now I need to re-read them more slowly to think more about just why I love this author so much. Briefly here's a start to my thoughts: I admire her ability to get into the character of a child and help us see from a child's clear eye how outrageous and silly it is when adults use scorn, fear-based religion, and control tactics to try keeping kids in line. I read some biographical information on this author this past week and I am intrigued at how much she may be retelling her own life story through the characters and adventures of orphaned Anne and Emily. It amazes me how much this woman is able to be subversive in her reverse gifting: the self-confidence, maturity, enthusiasm, and self-awareness belongs to children more than to adults in her novels. But she is still a "romantic" author, so the twists and turns to plot, and happy resolutions of various conflicts reveal a humorous and empathetic author who believes that everyone will eventually get love figured out. I'm so glad I had Anne and Emily, and ultimately, L.M. Montgomery around during my own pre-teen days!
And her descriptions of Prince Edward Island? I just have to visit this place yet. I am going to Canada tomorrow, but alas it is much further west than P.E.I . . Manitoba!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Book recommendation
I bought and read a book by Debbie Blue this spring after hearing her speak at the Festival of Faith and Writing. It is a collection of sermons and I am so thrilled that someone is out there writing and announcing with this anti-abstract perspective which, as far as I know reality, is RIGHT ON!
I have been gradually finding my own voice as I write various reflections upon my own encounters with daily life and the gospel story, and discovering Debbie's voice and approach is a pleasure and an inspiration to me.
Sensual Orthodoxy is the name of the book and I highly recommend it. Here's a link to the publisher's site: http://cathedralhillpress.com/book.php?id=1
I have been gradually finding my own voice as I write various reflections upon my own encounters with daily life and the gospel story, and discovering Debbie's voice and approach is a pleasure and an inspiration to me.
Sensual Orthodoxy is the name of the book and I highly recommend it. Here's a link to the publisher's site: http://cathedralhillpress.com/book.php?id=1
Friday, July 16, 2010
Fun in Michigan
I took two two-day trips to Michigan in the past week, one to Grand Rapids with Jeff to celebrate a wedding and and upcoming wedding. Friday night we celebrated with relatives and Saturday night we celebrated with college friends.
The other trip was to Holland with Douwe to spend a some time with my family while they were vacationing for the week near the marina. We were there only about 27 hours, but we swam at the beach and the pool, watched a sunset, and even enjoyed a sailboat ride.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Big Boy Bed
The other day I was flipping channels and saw a conversation on a reality show about adjusting to a new dog in the house. A dog trainer was telling the family to make sure the dog is not allowed in bed with "Mom" because then it will not obey "Mom" thinking it has equal status in the house. A family friend was there and said, "Yeah, he's right, it's like kids, you never want to let them start sleeping with you b/c they'll never leave."
That snippet of conversation was interesting to me because in the last month Douwe has made a transition to his own bed and bedroom after almost three years of exclusively sharing our bed. I can't say for sure (I was asleep) but I think that he has never slept all the way through the night more than a few times in his life, but that becomes a non-issue because I have never really been fully awakened in the night by him. Nighttime nursing/comforting/parenting can be done while sleeping. It has been one of the easiest times and ways to be an available mom!
We have had his cute toddler bed ready for almost a year and we've been talking it up for when he was ready and pointing out any peers(real or television/book characters) who are situated in a big kid bed. One day in June I rearranged his room a bit and set some bedside tables up and a little lamp and books by his bed and he thought it looked so cozy. He asked a few times to be tucked in there, and then he just started sleeping there. He'll sleep without waking up now on most of the nights, and occasionally he'll wake up once and call for me, so now for the first time in his life, I am waking up for a child at nighttime. I'll go in and reassure him that he can come and snuggle in my bed when he sees daylight, and I'm glad that he can learn to be alone for long durations at an age when he can think to himself
"Mom and Dad are not visible, but they are very close in the next room, and daylight will soon come, so I can be ok alone in the dark."
When I went for the co-sleeping option from the beginning, it felt like a bit of a risk, b/c I didn't know what would eventually happen during the transition to his own bed someday. A kid won't beg and cry for a benefit they never knew they could receive in the first place! But I'm glad to see that Douwe, with our encouragement and respect for his readiness, has made that step toward independence on his own, so that going to sleep is not a fear-connected time, but a time for him to recognize that he is becoming such a big boy and can be proud of his new achievement. I'm happy to know now from experience that it is possible to co-sleep for mutual convenience during the early years when a baby physically needs nighttime comfort or feeding and Mom needs lots of rest, but then nudge them just a little more out of the inner sanctums of the family nest when they are old enough to handle nighttime independence without distressing crying spells, or escape attempts, or attachment to a security object to substitute for the Mommy who isn't available when it is dark.
I have always really enjoyed co-sleeping, but it is nice to see the cute bedroom and little bed being put to more use, and I have to admit it is nice to sprawl out a little more as I sleep on my side of the bed!
That snippet of conversation was interesting to me because in the last month Douwe has made a transition to his own bed and bedroom after almost three years of exclusively sharing our bed. I can't say for sure (I was asleep) but I think that he has never slept all the way through the night more than a few times in his life, but that becomes a non-issue because I have never really been fully awakened in the night by him. Nighttime nursing/comforting/parenting can be done while sleeping. It has been one of the easiest times and ways to be an available mom!
We have had his cute toddler bed ready for almost a year and we've been talking it up for when he was ready and pointing out any peers(real or television/book characters) who are situated in a big kid bed. One day in June I rearranged his room a bit and set some bedside tables up and a little lamp and books by his bed and he thought it looked so cozy. He asked a few times to be tucked in there, and then he just started sleeping there. He'll sleep without waking up now on most of the nights, and occasionally he'll wake up once and call for me, so now for the first time in his life, I am waking up for a child at nighttime. I'll go in and reassure him that he can come and snuggle in my bed when he sees daylight, and I'm glad that he can learn to be alone for long durations at an age when he can think to himself
"Mom and Dad are not visible, but they are very close in the next room, and daylight will soon come, so I can be ok alone in the dark."
When I went for the co-sleeping option from the beginning, it felt like a bit of a risk, b/c I didn't know what would eventually happen during the transition to his own bed someday. A kid won't beg and cry for a benefit they never knew they could receive in the first place! But I'm glad to see that Douwe, with our encouragement and respect for his readiness, has made that step toward independence on his own, so that going to sleep is not a fear-connected time, but a time for him to recognize that he is becoming such a big boy and can be proud of his new achievement. I'm happy to know now from experience that it is possible to co-sleep for mutual convenience during the early years when a baby physically needs nighttime comfort or feeding and Mom needs lots of rest, but then nudge them just a little more out of the inner sanctums of the family nest when they are old enough to handle nighttime independence without distressing crying spells, or escape attempts, or attachment to a security object to substitute for the Mommy who isn't available when it is dark.
I have always really enjoyed co-sleeping, but it is nice to see the cute bedroom and little bed being put to more use, and I have to admit it is nice to sprawl out a little more as I sleep on my side of the bed!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Fourth of July weekend
We had a nice trip down state to visit my sister Emily at her new home in Peru Indiana. She lives close to a beautiful recreational area called Mississenewa Lake, so we spent Monday with Emily and Alison's family at the beach and picnic grounds there. We hope to go back this fall to do some camping and further exploration of the bike trails.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Zoo
Grandpa and Grandma Groen invited Douwe and also Steve for a day at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Yes the animals are fun to see, but the children have many other diversions that are not actually animals . . .gift shops, ice cream carts, carousels . . .
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