April 13th, 2009
1. the book Healing Stories for Challenging Behavior by Susan Perrow (Hawthorn Press). As a writer, a reader, and a mom, the idea of telling stories that engage my children’s imagination, vs. giving direction that engages their rational minds (which can just feel like it initiates a series of slamming doors) is quite inspiring. There are A LOT of stories in the book, but the book also talks you through creating stories for particular situations. It’s like formulating an Rx for a particular ailment, on the spot, or over a few days. She talks about “story medicine.” How stories can be actual medicine. I love the way that my kids relax against me when I read them bedtime stories. Their weight becomes like sleep weight–peaceful, planted where they are. Sometimes, I’ve ad-libbed a story in a situation that is rapidly spinning out of control–on a long car trip, or in the store. It catches their attention and gives me some leverage. They want it, too. They need me to provide a yummy place for them to go. That’s why they’re fussing and acting out. (Not because they’re horrid beasties…although it sometimes feels that way.) I can not wait to try out some of the stories…and to repeat them…some of them are retellings of tales I remember from childhood, like the Elves and the Shoemaker. Some are ones Perrow composed, some are collected from others. I look forward to having a well-exercised and wise story generator inside myself. You can get the book at steinerbooks.com, or hunt around for a second-hand source if you want to save a few bucks.
2. Hilary Meyerson’s essay “Endgame” in this spring’s Brain, Child magazine, and on their website, www.brainchildmag.com. It talks about what the real point is–of exposing your kids to things like violin, ice skating, gymnastics–and that real point has nothing to do with Carnegie Hall, or cutthroat competitiveness. It has to do with having fun for fun’s sake–something we all need to experience on a regular basis.
3. (Fair trade, sustainable) Shea Terra Organics…I love their Miombo Mango Shea Butter Dead Sea Salt Scrub, their Bourbon Vanilla Indigenous Shea Body Butter…both things that ready my winter skin for spring. Ay, crocodile. You know what I’m sayin’. So as I cavort around the tennis court, I can do so with glowing, revitalized limbs…all part of my goal to have fun for fun’s sake. (www.sheaterraorganics.com)
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July 18th, 2008
random top 3:
1. For the first time, my daughter Honoree read Nathaniel and me a bedtime story: P.D. Eastman’s “Are You My Mommy?” She read the whole thing, all sixty-odd pages (where was the editor for that one?) and by the middle of it, Mr. N. was out cold. Bonus!
My favorite quote: “You are not my mommy. You are a snort.” (Sometimes I definitely feel like a snort, but I’m glad so far that I haven’t been demoted.)
I really loved watching her do a brand new thing. She had so much freshly hatched, sweetly staunch authority, as she took on each page, each sentence, each word, and looked up to me at the end of many of those things to make sure she had gotten it. Within her serious focus, she reminded me of my dad, whose eyes (right down to the eyelids) she has.
2. A big mug of PG Tips tea first thing in the morning, with milk and amaretto agave nectar.
3. Barbara’s Shredded Oat Squares (such an awesome organic and less-sweet knockoff of Quaker Oat Squares, my high school senior year staple.) I’m kind of a texture hound, and I love the way they absorb milk in the bowl…getting softer on the outside as the core stays a bit firm and crunchy. Even the completely sodden ones squish rather pleasantly. Have you noticed that I geek out about squishy things yet?
* a Nathaniel quote–as the sole early riser in a house filled with sleepy bones joneses.
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July 16th, 2008
1. Udo’s Choice Wholesome Fast Food.
It’s a way for me to get my veggiephobe kids to eat kale and beets. It’s this grainy powder made from things like omega-rich seed cake, and powdered uber-healthy food items. We stick it into yogurt and smoothies. Best of all, it tastes like apple pie spice crumble (in a Moosewood kind of way). (www.florahealth.com)
2. This quote, just plucked from the air:
Nathaniel: “I wish your ear was so humungous that I could snuggle in it.”
3. My FitFlops
In the warmer months, I am a flip-flop hound. They’re on my feet if I am. Bliss Salon founder Marcia Kilgore invented a flip-flop that is built to stimulate different leg muscles, (all the way up through the booty!). Best I can figure it, they have a low wedge heel that has a sort of sinking squishy element, so that you’re lifting out of it a tad bit every time you take a step. I thought it was maybe a crock until I went to a really fabulously challenging Nia class. Afterwards, I really felt what was going on in the shoes, since my muscles were so weary/sensitive. That all wouldn’t be worth diddly if they weren’t so tremendously comfortable. Something about that sinking smoosh factor is really yummy, like walking on sand when you’ve been doing it so much that it isn’t incredibly difficult. The price ($50) initially gave me pause, but it’s basically a really cheap gym membership for your feet.
Now if they would only come out with an eco/green/fair trade pair…in the meantime, they will be my *slightly* guilty pleasure. (www.thefitflop.com)
Nathaniel is entreating me to play “croquet” with him, which in this case, takes the form of playing with wooden cars and trucks in a mini town formation. Speaking of random!
PS: Nathaniel is all better, it seems like it was food-related.
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