Dear Mom where’s Alice?
A couple of weeks ago, we had taken our bath, brushed our teeth read a story, sang three songs and were just at the part of the evening where I turn out the light and Claire goes to sleep when she says, “Daddy, would you get Alice the Camel for me?” I sigh. Sometimes these little last minute requests are a precursor for a long evening of trying to get a little girl to go to sleep. It may lead to, can I have a drink of water?, can I sleep in your bed?, can I have something to eat?, is tomorrow going to be a snow day?, can I watch cartoons, the list goes on. However, Alice the Camel is after all, Alice the Camel. How sad it would be for a little girl to be crying in bed wondering where Alice is and Alice tucked away in a chair somewhere wondering where her little girl is? I am not sure which is worse. “Where is Alice?” I ask as I walk toward the door. “By the computer.” She gingerly answers. She does not start to get out of bed to help look. This is a good sign. If she starts to get out of bed it means we are not finished yet.
As I look around the office trying to find Alice, it occurs to me that I have not seen Alice in a couple days. The night before she fell asleep in my arms in front of the TV, it was a snow day, the night before that she fell asleep clutching Green Alligator. As I realize Alice is not in the office I head toward the living room. After the kitchen the bathroom, the master bedroom, the hallway, and another bathroom I find myself back in Claire’s room looking under blankets and sheets.
“I just looked there Daddy!” There is a touch of panic in her voice. It has been a while and she realizes I am about to stop looking. I reach for Ponca the Turtle. “Here, Ponca is feeling a little lonely right now, why don’t you sleep with Ponca?”
The look on her face, tells me this might have worked had I tried it a few minutes ago, but the gig is up, she knows Alice is missing and nothing else will do. “Where did you have her last?” I ask, but knowing full well, asking a 5 year old to remember where she set down her Camel is a little like asking her to do long division. Sure I would get an answer but would it really be anywhere near what I was looking for?
“I think we took her in the car!”
Alice does not normally get to leave the house. To avoid situations just like this. If we absolutely have to take someone we usually take Marvin the Shark. He is well traveled and has seen most of the US from Miami to Seattle. He has, in fact, wandered off a few times, but has always managed to find his way back home. He can be trusted past the door. But Alice is a kinder, gentler animal and would not feel comfortable wandering around in the big world. Perhaps she spent too much time tucked under the arm of a little girl to get a good enough taste of independence to cope with open spaces.
I thought back and could not remember taking Alice out of the house. Claire seemed pretty convinced. Two days before we had wandered home late in the afternoon and I had carried her sleeping body into the house, was Alice with her then? Did Alice drop in the yard on the way in? None of these options showed much hope but I went to the door and put on my boots.
Outside the snow in the yard was in big clumpy piles where we had played pretty hard when the snow first came down. Two snowmen still stood in the yard and you could see the tell tale signs of where we had gathered all the snow. I ventured into the wind and falling snow to check the car. There was no luck. As I headed back to the house I kicked all the piles of snow that could have hidden the body of a small stuffed camel, covered by the never ending snownami that had graced us this week. Every kick caught my breath a little bit. I was not excited about finding a wet frozen camel, though I suppose it would have been a good thing to finally know Alice’s fate.
I looked up to the door and could see the blinds pulled open as Claire looked out to follow me in my search. I had to keep looking. Finally sure there were no camels buried under the snow I stood in the yard staring at my little girl, still staring out the window. I could see her silhouette through the window and imagined the tears welled up in her eyes. Snow falling was lit only by the streetlight half a block away and shimmered as it fell to the ground. It would have been beautiful had I now been on a mission.
I guess I would have to start checking all the rooms of the house again. As I entered she was quick to ask, “Did you find Alice?” Tears were all the way down her cheeks, she already knew the answer. “Why don’t we go to bed honey, we will find Alice tomorrow.” Unfortunately, this was never going to be a satisfactory answer but I carried her up the stairs and laid her in bed. I kissed her on the cheek and assured her we would find Alice the Camel in the morning. She was crying as I walked out the door.
Meanwhile I set to looking again. Under the bed, over the bed, around the bed, I seemed to remember her crawling into bed the morning before last and maybe Alice had come with her. I had washed the sheets the day before yesterday and did not remember finding a camel in the bed. It occurred to me there was only one room in the house I did not check. Had Alice been hidden in the sheets when I put them in the laundry? Was Alice, even now, soaking wet in the bottom of the washing machine, beginning to smell a little of mildew? I went into the garage. As I started for the washer, there was Alice on the floor. I picked her up. She was dry. She did not smell freshly washed or dried. I suspect, Alice, realizing she was about to go in the wash, had avoided the disaster by squirming out of the sheets and settling on the floor. Camels do not seem to appreciate baths anymore than little girls. It was a close call.
I carried Alice back up stairs, silently scolding her for causing such a panic. Alice seemed altogether delighted to be out of the cold garage and off the floor, and pretty much ignored me. Claire stopped sniffling as I entered her room and as I parted her princess curtain to hand her Alice the Camel, she was already reaching for her. She tucked Alice under her arm. I sat there for a few minutes stroking her hair as the last of her sniffles went away and she settled into sleep with her Camel.
She fell asleep very quickly, as little girls are prone to do after a good cry.
I wonder if the make GPS devices for camels?
Love Mike
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Dear Mom I don’t really like it
Dear Mom I don’t really like it
When I was a kid you always had the two bite rule. No matter what we were having for dinner I always had to take at least two bites of everything. I hated it at the time, but when I was older and eating dinner at a girls house, it was pretty impressive to be able to take a little bit of everything without hesitation. Definitely got me on the good side of a parent or two.
Claire faces the two bite rule with equal disdain. And maybe more because I have a three bite rule. Two bites was just too easy. Three has always seemed like a better way to get a feel for if you like something. I know I never mentioned this when I was a kid, but really, what did you expect?
She does something I do not remember doing. Sometimes she likes it. Now I can remember finding something new and liking it, but I never remember admitting it. And I know I never asked for more. Claire, on the other hand, sometimes actually says, “May I have more please?”
It is always a great victory on my part, and I try not to gloat. Which is good, because sometimes the victory dance may be premature.
I have replaced rice with quinoa. Getting her to try it was not easy, but once she did she really enjoyed it. In fact I had to make more. She ate two bowls of it and showed no signs of stopping. Even after I made her eat her beef and broccoli she still wanted more quinoa.
However it was short lived. A week later, there she was, sitting at the table with a bowl of quinoa in front of her.
“I don’t like that daddy it will make my stomach ache.” She wrinkles her nose in the general direction of the bowl.
“But the last time I made you take three bites, you finished it and asked for more. In fact I had to make more because you had eaten it all.”
She paused for a moment.
“I did not really like it, I just ate it to make you feel good.”
I was laughing so hard it was difficult for me to say anything, but I managed one last bit of encouragement.
“Well, then why don’t you make me feel good again and take three bites of it before I eat the rest.”
She did not take more than the requisite three bites this time but I noticed she did manage to keep it down.
Maybe next time.
Love Mike
When I was a kid you always had the two bite rule. No matter what we were having for dinner I always had to take at least two bites of everything. I hated it at the time, but when I was older and eating dinner at a girls house, it was pretty impressive to be able to take a little bit of everything without hesitation. Definitely got me on the good side of a parent or two.
Claire faces the two bite rule with equal disdain. And maybe more because I have a three bite rule. Two bites was just too easy. Three has always seemed like a better way to get a feel for if you like something. I know I never mentioned this when I was a kid, but really, what did you expect?
She does something I do not remember doing. Sometimes she likes it. Now I can remember finding something new and liking it, but I never remember admitting it. And I know I never asked for more. Claire, on the other hand, sometimes actually says, “May I have more please?”
It is always a great victory on my part, and I try not to gloat. Which is good, because sometimes the victory dance may be premature.
I have replaced rice with quinoa. Getting her to try it was not easy, but once she did she really enjoyed it. In fact I had to make more. She ate two bowls of it and showed no signs of stopping. Even after I made her eat her beef and broccoli she still wanted more quinoa.
However it was short lived. A week later, there she was, sitting at the table with a bowl of quinoa in front of her.
“I don’t like that daddy it will make my stomach ache.” She wrinkles her nose in the general direction of the bowl.
“But the last time I made you take three bites, you finished it and asked for more. In fact I had to make more because you had eaten it all.”
She paused for a moment.
“I did not really like it, I just ate it to make you feel good.”
I was laughing so hard it was difficult for me to say anything, but I managed one last bit of encouragement.
“Well, then why don’t you make me feel good again and take three bites of it before I eat the rest.”
She did not take more than the requisite three bites this time but I noticed she did manage to keep it down.
Maybe next time.
Love Mike
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Dear Mom Exercise
Dear Mom Exercise
Everyone says “I need to exercise more.” I am no exception. When my daughter was born and I made the decision to be a full time stay at home dad, one of the things I decided to do was have a regular exercise regimen. I started and stopped many times over the next few years but nothing ever really stuck. I kept remembering the adage that if you can do something for 30 days it becomes a habit. Well so much for that adage, I tried that many times but it did not stick.
Then, about 6 months before my daughters 5th birthday a friend talked me into trying a program called “Couch to 5K.” There are many versions of it on the internet if you want to look it up. At first I was doubtful but it laid out a program to start easy then over about 12 weeks run three miles without stopping. It worked. 16 weeks later I was running three miles in thirty minutes. I would like to say that I was able to stop taking Advil after the first few weeks but it did end up putting me on a daily Advil dose that had the added benefit of reminding me to take my vitamins every day. So, really that was good too. As of this writing I run at least three miles at least 3 times a week.
I also have added in other exercise. I started a program to do 40 pushups without stopping and now do 40 push ups in my first set and up to 75 –100 total three times a week as a warm-up to my run. Then I added in sit-ups.
The first time I started sit-ups I had this idea I would do 100 situps. 10 sets of 10 one minute apart. I would then take off 5 seconds every 2 or 3 days till I was at 100. Problem was three days after I did my first 100 I sat on the sit-board and as I started to do the first sit-up I rolled off in excruciating pain. I had learned my lesson. I waited for my stomach muscles to heal, about two weeks, then started a softer regimen. I am up to my 100 sit-ups now and it causes no pain.
Now that I have met all my original goals I am contemplating more. Should I work up to 6 miles in 60 minutes? Work up to 100 pushups without stopping? I mostly consider the time investment. I believe I am on a healthy regimen that takes me about an hour to complete. If I invest more time I can get better results but I may be satisfied with just being healthier and the one hour investment. Time will tell, I suppose if I went up to 90 minutes it would not kill me but that is 30 more minutes I don’t have to do something else.
Everyone needs to find their own motivation to exercise. For me it was knowing it was good for me, knowing it would allow me to live longer and spend more time with my family, knowing it was setting a good example for my daughter, and realizing it was a physical manifestation of self-discpline.
In the case of regular exercise the road you take is not near as important as finding a way to your destination. And in this case make sure the scenic route does not take you too long.
Love Mike
Everyone says “I need to exercise more.” I am no exception. When my daughter was born and I made the decision to be a full time stay at home dad, one of the things I decided to do was have a regular exercise regimen. I started and stopped many times over the next few years but nothing ever really stuck. I kept remembering the adage that if you can do something for 30 days it becomes a habit. Well so much for that adage, I tried that many times but it did not stick.
Then, about 6 months before my daughters 5th birthday a friend talked me into trying a program called “Couch to 5K.” There are many versions of it on the internet if you want to look it up. At first I was doubtful but it laid out a program to start easy then over about 12 weeks run three miles without stopping. It worked. 16 weeks later I was running three miles in thirty minutes. I would like to say that I was able to stop taking Advil after the first few weeks but it did end up putting me on a daily Advil dose that had the added benefit of reminding me to take my vitamins every day. So, really that was good too. As of this writing I run at least three miles at least 3 times a week.
I also have added in other exercise. I started a program to do 40 pushups without stopping and now do 40 push ups in my first set and up to 75 –100 total three times a week as a warm-up to my run. Then I added in sit-ups.
The first time I started sit-ups I had this idea I would do 100 situps. 10 sets of 10 one minute apart. I would then take off 5 seconds every 2 or 3 days till I was at 100. Problem was three days after I did my first 100 I sat on the sit-board and as I started to do the first sit-up I rolled off in excruciating pain. I had learned my lesson. I waited for my stomach muscles to heal, about two weeks, then started a softer regimen. I am up to my 100 sit-ups now and it causes no pain.
Now that I have met all my original goals I am contemplating more. Should I work up to 6 miles in 60 minutes? Work up to 100 pushups without stopping? I mostly consider the time investment. I believe I am on a healthy regimen that takes me about an hour to complete. If I invest more time I can get better results but I may be satisfied with just being healthier and the one hour investment. Time will tell, I suppose if I went up to 90 minutes it would not kill me but that is 30 more minutes I don’t have to do something else.
Everyone needs to find their own motivation to exercise. For me it was knowing it was good for me, knowing it would allow me to live longer and spend more time with my family, knowing it was setting a good example for my daughter, and realizing it was a physical manifestation of self-discpline.
In the case of regular exercise the road you take is not near as important as finding a way to your destination. And in this case make sure the scenic route does not take you too long.
Love Mike
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