June 1, 2008
Karsten's birthday party Part 3
Laser tag is good.
I got creamed by the 10 year old kids who could bounce their lasers off of mirrors to shoot me. Daddy Andy (aka Ghost Freak) won Second Place for the first round. For the second round the 10 year olds developed better strategy than GF. Tom Rossman, ex-Army Ranger scared me. He really knew how to sniper the little kids.
The conclusion: Better than aerobics! And I saw another mom friend and her entire family who'd read my blog post before coming. She said, "we're peaceful people but we like laser tag."
Me too!
Posted by jana at 3:53 PM | Comments (0)
May 31, 2008
Karsten's birthday party Part 2
Turns out Karsten's green(er) birthday party is morally questionable.
Karsten had gone to a laser tag party earlier in the year and decided that's what he wanted to do for his party too. Sounded good to me. I didn't have to host a bunch of 7 year olds destroying my house. I had never played laser tag but had been invited for team building exercises at work.
When my mom asked what laser tag is Andy described it as "shooting lasers at targets on each other." My mom looked a bit shocked.
Now one of the mom's has told me laser tag goes against everything they teach their children and they cannot participate in the laser tag but her kids can show up for the cake part.
Ohhhh no.
Will Karsten's party turn the kids into mass murders or desensitized human beings?
I'm torn between people over reacting but also appreciating the parents' concern. This could be our last laser tag trip. Or not. I'll see how the whole thing goes down tomorrow.
And for the record, I asked my British friend Mike yesterday about his thoughts and he said he was surprised that Andy and I would host a laser tag party for our seven year old. Any one else care to comment on the moral state of laser tag for American children?
Posted by jana at 11:47 AM | Comments (3)
March 4, 2008
Update on "interesting"
Britta just said, "everyone is boring."
I need to be careful of what I wish for.
Ok, I am updating my desire from wanting to raise opinionated kids to wanting to raise verbally articulate and humble kids. And knowing when to keep your opinion to yourself.
That's more like it.
Posted by jana at 9:08 AM | Comments (2)
March 3, 2008
Interesting
Having a 3 year old girl is like having a mirror to hold up to myself. The other day I asked Britta her opinion on something. Her reply, "I think it was interesting."
That's when I realized I say that. All the time. That's when I realized that I should reconsider how often I say that phrase. Saying something is interesting is saying nothing at all. It is a way to give a positive answer without committing to an opinion.
I don't want to raise an opinion-less girl. Often times I find myself deferring to other people's opinion when often times my opinion is just as valid, if at times even more so. I either lack confidence to state my opinion or don't want to create waves.
A few weeks ago at the Democratic Caucus my feisty 85-year old neighbor lady asked me who I was voting for. I said, "Hillary." She was so excited and said, "that's our girl!" During the 1 minute speeches she stepped right up. She said, "my husband had to leave because he hates when I give my opinion." Then she proceeded to give an impassioned speech about why everyone should select her candidate. I sat mute in the corner with Britta. After the caucus she came over and asked me why I didn't stand up and say anything.
I gave her the cop out answer that I had Britta with me and had to do damage control. But really I didn't feel like trying to convince anyone that I had the right answer when I think Obama is a great choice. Just not the choice I was making that day.
Anyway, to end this rambling, I am going to try to say "interesting" less and say something real more. I'll try and stand up to a podium and give 1 minute speeches when I have the chance.
And I'll hope I won't offend anyone or sound stupid. It is all going to be for Britta's sake!
Posted by jana at 5:32 PM | Comments (5)
February 4, 2008
Operation Fatten Up Britta
Britta is really skinny, and for good reason. She doesn't eat. For awhile I thought she was my "good eater" because Karsten won't try anything new. Britta will put spinach and broccoli in her mouth on occasion. She just won't eat more than a bite or two of anything, ever. When I look how thin she is it worries me.
Starting tonight I'm going to haul my laptop over to the dining table and right before she goes to bed I'm going to have her watch Cinderella and see how much food I can stuff in her concave belly. I'm also going to order some more pediasure milk. Wouldn't it be great if I could just hook her up to an IV at night?
Posted by jana at 3:36 PM | Comments (2)
November 15, 2007
The "Millennials" Are Coming, Morley Safer On The New Generation Of American Workers - CBS News
Here's an article that scares me to death as a parent. The "Millennials" Are Coming, Morley Safer On The New Generation Of American Workers - CBS News A little snippet:Today more than half of college seniors move home after graduation. It's a safety net, or safety diaper, that allows many kids to quickly opt out of a job they don't like. "There once was, if not shame, a little certain uneasiness about being seen to be living at home in your mid 20s, yes?" Safer asks Mary Crane. "Not only is there no shame with it, but this is thought to be a very smart, wise, economic decision," Crane says. "Well, that would suggest that they probably had pretty happy childhoods," Safer says. "And who couldn't be happy when you're growing up in a world where there's no failure?" Crane points out. And dear old mom isn’t just your landlord; she is your agent as well. "Career services departments are complaining about the parents who are coming to update their child's resume. And in fact, you go to employers, and they're starting to express concern now with the parents who will phone HR, saying, 'But my little Susie or little Johnny didn't get the performance evaluation that I think they deserve,'" Crane says.Not that I'm scared of my kids moving back home after college... I am sure it would be nice to have them back in the nest for a bit. I am scared of raising my kids in a society where there is no failure and where having to work hard isn't part of growing up. I'm not sure how I'm going to work on this with my family but I think it is time to start figuring some things out before I raise a kid like the ones mentioned in the article.
Blogged with Flock
Posted by jana at 12:43 PM | Comments (1)
July 17, 2007
Cute and Poppy Pants? Oh my!
This title is just a teaser for my latest High5Kids post.
Click to read if you are so intrigued.
Posted by jana at 1:02 PM | Comments (1)
June 29, 2007
In search of Edutainment
See my other blog to know what I'm talking about. Multivariate Calcus for Karsten? I wish I knew what that meant.
On another note, you know you work for a high tech company when one of your co-workers attends the new VP "meet and greet" wearing a Scooby Doo costume. Oh, and he wore the same outfit for an interview.
I really can't justify buying fancy clothes to wear to work, can I?
Posted by jana at 5:03 PM | Comments (1)
June 22, 2007
First post to yet another blog
Yes you read it here. I have another blog to maintain now. This one will remain my personal one but the other one is for products I want to blog about and to blog about another litttle pet project I've been working on. The pet project isn't ready for show yet but hopefully soon.
I made my first post over yonder at http://high5kids.blogspot.com/ if anyone wants to read about my triumph in declining hygene.
Posted by jana at 6:27 PM
May 9, 2007
Do you read any parenting blogs?
If so, can you tell me which blogs you read? My use of "parenting" is pretty broad. It could be a personal blog that emphasizes one family or something particular at iVillage, etc. I'm looking for some feeds so let me know!
Thanks blog readers.
Posted by jana at 9:29 AM | Comments (3)
November 11, 2006
Hurray, I'm not an elitist conservative afterall
Me, the elitist conservative. NOT. (Lame attempt at a Borat-insider joke).
As I was shuttling the kids to the skating party today I couldn't help but crank "Baby Got Back" by Sir-mix-a-lot and then "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye with my kids in the car. A subtle form of child abuse? Possible. I am one step away from forcing my kids to watching Borat.
(I do see a pattern forming of me forcing my kids to listen to bad 80s music at loud volumes. I am concerned. I realize that I usually listen to NPR except for the weekends when even though I claim Nordic/Lutheran roots I can't bring myself to listen to a Prairie Home Companion.)
All kidding aside, I am still considering a public school education for my kids. My biggest fear is not really the other Borat-watching kids but a school system driven by teaching kids to take the WASL test. One day I will make a longer post on my feelings on education. In the meantime the Borat posts seem to be getting the biggest spotlight on my blog.
And on another unrelated note, it is good to see one of my high school friends has entered the blogosphere. Welcome Cheryl. Once again we share publishing space together, this time the blogosphere, not The Helm.
Posted by jana at 5:42 PM | Comments (1)
November 5, 2006
Who knew, me the conservative
Becca and I just went to see the Borat movie and there I discovered my Inner Conservative. No, the tasteless movie didn't bother me one bit. I cackled with all of the other uncivilized Americans at the offensive jokes no problem. It was when the lights went on (Becca made me stay to watch the apology to the country of Kazakhstan) and I saw a five year old boy walk out of the theater.
This got me thinking, "do I really want my kids hanging out with other five year olds who watch Borat?" I'm even borderline with Sponge Bob. Cartoon Network is even off limits at our house. I've been planning on switching Karsten to the public school system next year but this whole Borat thing has got me thinking... there may be more kids in the public schools watching Borat than in the private schools. Does this make me an elitist not wanting my kids to hanging out with Borat watching kids? I'm concerned for everyone... most of all that I may be a conservative and elitist.
Posted by jana at 11:02 PM | Comments (10)
September 28, 2006
One thing I never realized
One thing I never realized about motherhood is how much paperwork there would be.
Posted by jana at 2:45 PM
May 12, 2006
Joe makes ParentHacks!
Super cool dad not to be seen carrying matronly diaper bag.
[via Parent Hacks]
Posted by jana at 9:39 AM | Comments (1)
April 30, 2006
Grandparents rule
Our house has been silent and immaculate this weekend, which can only mean: the kids were gone. Andy's parents are back in the area for the summer.
While normally I would think a silent and immaculate house would be eerie we were working too hard to notice. Andy thinks that since we are used to only working around the house in short, frantic bursts we did a surprising amount of work in one day. We were in 8 hours of spurt mode.
Towards the end of the day we realized we'd better take some time for some guilty pleasures. Me, retail therapy; Andy with his guitar. Then we headed up to the new restaurant in Burien, the Mark for probably one of the best meals I've ever had. The wait staff was brand new so they were still ironing out some kinks but the meal was incredible. I can't stop thinking about what I ate (probably because my gut is still aching from overeatting) so here is a blow by blow of what I ate and drank: rosemary rolls with herbed butter, the house salad, chipotle crab cakes, pork chops stuffed with cream cheese herbs and yams. Mud pie for dessert. 2003 E.B. Foote Syrah. About the Syrah, this is an amazing wine but the label really needs some rebranding.
Of course we couldn't help but remember that our last fancy meal out was in Amsterdam. The Burien taqueria date nights don't count as fancy although, damn, they're good too. I digress. Our last fancy night out was in Amsterdam. It was cold and we were riding our bikes along the canals with the moonlight reflecting off the water. I remember we stopped to kiss knowing this was a moment we'd want to remember.
Tonight we ended our night not with a bike ride along Puget Sound but a car ride down our street. We stopped off for a drink at some friend's house and then walked in to a full on jam session, an offshoot of a party we were invited to. Andy walked in and the drummer told him to grab a mic. Andy morphed into his old singing waiter circa 1990 self and was in heaven. I enjoyed my old role as groupie.
Thank you grandparents for giving us this break.
Posted by jana at 8:22 AM | Comments (3)
April 12, 2006
Mommyhood: Stage 3
The other day I came to the realization: I'm in stage 3 of Mommyhood.
Stage 1: Survival.
Ohmygod what hit me? Adjusting to no sleep, puke and diapers. All concentration is on keeping new baby alive.
Stage 2: Keeping it real
As long as I give this baby food and water he/she seems to be okay. Now I need to worry that s/he won't develop into monster child.
Stage 3: Referee
Repeat stage 1 & 2 as new child is added into the mix. Stage 3 is all about blowing the whistle on the fights. B will want her Dora coloring book which means now K must desperately have Dora book right now. Or K will say "MY mommy!" and lunge at me and not to miss out B will join in "NOO! MY Mommy!"
And on and on it goes, pretty much all day long. I'm wondering what Stage 4 will bring.
Posted by jana at 9:38 PM | Comments (1)
February 7, 2006
Buzz Lightyear, you have a mission
"Buzz Lightyear, this is Star Command. Do you read me?"
"Yes"
"You have a mission. To save the galaxy from the Evil Emperor Zurg you must write your name on your rocket." (The rocket is an empty box from Costco.)
"OK!"
It worked! Forget penguins, snowmen or bunnies, Karsten is motivated by space, rockets and a mission to save the galaxy. Karsten isn't usually that interested in doing his preschool work of coloring in the penguins with different colors or any project that requires sitting still and delicate dexterity. I know he can do the work if only it would interest him.
Recently I read an article on pbs.org called "Helping America's Boys" and it mentions changing curriculm to reflect the interest of boys, usually along the lines of robots, space, war, and general violence. Mix in some competition and there should be success. A similar article was in Newsweek, "The Trouble with Boys" outlines pretty much the same text as the PBS article.
I'll be testing out more of these theories, but so far writing letters in the alphabet to save a galaxy has been working.
Posted by jana at 9:23 PM | Comments (1)
January 24, 2006
Salmon Surprise
Just to set the tone: my son won't eat ice cream, cake (only frosting but not if it has sprinkles), or grapes. This is the level of fussiness I'm dealing with here people. But twice he ate salmon and didn't complain too much. He must have been really hungry.
So now that I'm back in suburbia I hit Costco for some salmon and I cooked it up last night. Karsten wouldn't even think about eating it. I thought fast, made him a quesadilla, didn't mention the fish and viola, I have a salmon eater. When he did notice the salmon I just gave him some ketchup to dip it in.
Night number 2, more salmon. This time I disguise in fish cakes. I wasn't sure how this was going to go down either. I chanced it and added basil, garlic, and onions and cooked up some homemade french fries with the skins on. A miracle! Salmon cakes were scarfed among my two non-eaters. I'm feeling such great accomplishment at this moment. Oh yeah, he wouldn't touch the french fries, not even when I tried to drown them in ketchup.
I'm constantly trying to think of meals that are gourmet enough for me to like but simple enough for the kids to like. I seem to add a recipe each month that is a hit. The biggie this month (besides the fish cakes) is pulled pork sandwiches, which get this, I can make in my crock pot. Just bought more bulk pork at Costco tonight. We might be getting sick of pulled pork pretty soon but for now, life is good.
On the way home from Costco I heard an interview with the CEO of Dream Dinners. The whole concept sounds good but I've never gotten around to trying it. In May they are having a Mother's Day special so the dads can go in and cook up 12 dinners for their wives. Andy, if you're reading this: THIS IS A BRILLIANT IDEA.
Posted by jana at 9:16 PM | Comments (1)
January 23, 2006
Wayfaring test
Not the easiest user interface. Too bad because I was really excited to create lots of maps.
Posted by jana at 8:29 PM | Comments (1)
August 28, 2005
Preparing my answer
I think all parents should get in on collaborating a bunch of pre-canned answers to life questions that all children eventually ask. Politicians have been doing this for ages, why haven't parents done the same? (Hey, maybe this could be an idea for a book for me to write....)
Here's a conversation I recently had with Karsten as we were walking back to my car after I worked out at my gym.
K: Mommy, did you excercise?
Me: Yes.
K: ...so you won't get a big tummy?
Me: Ha Ha. Yes.
K: ...so you won't get a big tummy and have another baby?
Me: Yes. Mommy won't be having any more babies. I'm done now that I have you and Britta.
K: Oh thank you Mommy. (and he gave me a big hug.)
Add this to the fact that he's been asking me about the purpose of certain southern body parts he has, I figure it is just a matter of time before I need to come up with some pre-canned answers regarding human reproduction.
My philosophy was to just tell him the truth. Why not? I was all set to go the scientific route with him until a friend told me she regreted her liberal attitude towards what her kid new about the facts of life once her daughter started sharing her knowledge with the neighbor kids. Turns out the other parents weren't so happy about sex education via a 5-year-old.
So if anyone has a preconceived speech already prepared, let me know.
Posted by jana at 12:22 PM
March 22, 2005
Single Parenting 101
I figured out how to survive single parenting. I had finally recovered from Andy's 9 day France trip when he suddenly went to Florida for 4 days.
Tip 1. Limit spouse's out of town time to 4 days. 4 days is almost manageable. 5 days, exhausting. 9 days... call in the therapists.
Tip 2. Caffeinate. I *accidentally* drank 3 cups of caffeinated beverages on the Saturday before he came home. Best thing that happened to me all week.
Tip 3. Make sure family and self are all in good health. This time no one was sick which was a big huge help.
Tip 4. Make sure no one is teething.
Tip 5. Invite grandparents over every single day. This is probably the most important tip.
Tip 6. Get your kids invited to other people's homes. Karsten went to the Robot movie with Spencer and I got a little mommy/Britta time. She napped and I cleaned the house.
Tip 7. Use any form of public daycare you can find. My gym offers a daycare so I got a little mommy time break. Yes, I did work out.
Posted by jana at 7:49 PM | TrackBack
February 19, 2005
Single moms don't blog
Revelation: Single moms don't blog. Single moms are lucky to be showered, fully rested and sane. I am happy to say Andy is back from 9 days in France.
To make my 9 days as a single mom worse, Britta cut tooth #3, I was a little sick and the babysitter I lined up so I could take the occasional nap cancelled at the last minute.
I think I would be a different kind of mom if I was doing this parenting thing alone. At one point during the week Karsten told me he wanted a better mommy. I wasn't very patient with less than 6 hours of interrupted sleep night after night.
I'm alive!!
Posted by jana at 4:57 PM | TrackBack
October 6, 2004
Mrs. Dad
"Women have options. Men have responsibilities." This is a quote I heard on some obscure Steve Martin movie while channel surfing last week. Funny, but the situation appears to be quite the opposite in my family. As Brenda said to me recently, having options is much more stressful. With options you feel guilt for whatever option you select. "I should have stayed at home" or "I shouldn't have let my career decline", etc.
My first week back at work has been great. I enjoy my co-workers, am interested in my projects and am excited to continue learning new skills. I don't feel nearly as much guilt knowing that Andy is at home with the kids. Before I was always worried about the kids not having enough family time at home. When I can call home and hear Karsten and Britta in the background I know they are getting quality dad time. I don't feel the pressure to run home as soon as the clock hits a certain minute on the hour. This must be what it feels like to be a dad, and let me tell you, it is a thousand times easier than being a mom. Now if only Andy can learn to cook something besides hot dogs...
Posted by jana at 3:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack