Ode to a Smart Mama

When I first had my baby, my mom told me to talk to him and read to him from the start . . . all the time. She told a story about how she took me to a doctor at 18 months and I didn't make a sound while they drew my blood to check it because she had told me the whole way there and for days in advance what was going to happen. She testifies that I was so calm about the whole process because it was familiar by the time it happened. I knew what to expect so I wasn't afraid. Recently, when a friend commented on how much the kiddo understands, I realized, "Hey, it worked!" So this is my new message to new moms: talk to your kids all the time. Even if you feel like you are sick of talking to yourself (since that's what it feels like); even if you hate your own voice, talk to your kids.

What do you talk about? Well, one thing that helped me when I was a new mom is reading. I read children's books to him sometimes, but I was reading books to myself all the time. Our home teacher told us at one point that while his wife was reading, she often just read whatever she was reading to herself aloud to her baby (who was only a day older than our kiddo). Of course, this was only during the day since I wanted to settle him down in the evening and at night, but I did start reading aloud whatever I was reading a lot of the time. The idea is just to inundate the munchkin with language. Also, talk about body parts and the process of cooking an egg or how you fold laundry or what you're buying at the grocery store or what you see while going on a walk, really anything you have done, are doing, will do, have seen, are seeing, will see. Life has an abundance of things to notice, and talking to a child about all the new things for them to see helps us adults notice it too.

I'm not saying I'm an expert. I only have one child and he is not even a year and a half, but from my observations of kids they understand a lot more than adults realize a lot of times, and kids who are spoken to early and often understand even more. Just passing on the wisdom I got from a pretty smart cookie, namely my mom.

Here's some language for you, Mom: "Orange"
(Note: the kiddo turned the page too fast, but they had just been on the orange page.)

Hello, January

Poor December only got one measly little post. I wasn't completely lazy, however. In fact, I was packing and traveling and visiting and returning and unpacking and playing. I also was posting, actually, just not here. I have taken on an alter ego. You can see my darker, more self-absorbed more feathery side here: www.geefunnyfarm.blogspot.com. (You may be wondering, "Is it possible to have a more self-absorbed side when every post in this thing is about you, your family, and you?" Actually, I think I can say yes.) This alter ego blogging is in behalf of my mom's new business GEE Funny Farm. The business is in the birthing process, but when it's up and running, it's going to be wicked cool. I mean, how many places do you know of where you can go and to see a wallaby, llamas, horses, a miniature horse, parrots, a miniature donkey, and more?

This is a glimpse of the utter coolness of the Funny Farm.

Anyway, we had a fantastic Christmas. We loved seeing our families, in particular. We did not, as it turns out, fall deeply back in love with Wisconsin cold. In fact, we felt a little frosty towards it. My teenage self shudders at my wimpiness; my adult self is actually not all that concerned with approval, as it turns out. It was cold. Period. Our families were awesome, though. The kiddo was showered with attention. If he weren't so cool, he would be spoiled for life. Fortunately, he actually hasn't seemed too obsessed with keeping it up at home. Phew.

Above: Dad's side spoiling the munchkin.
Below: My side spoiling the munchkin.

After the family time, we spent one day with Daniel and Michelle in Michigan. They were so nice to us and tolerant of how we shifted their normal routine by arriving at 1:30 am and getting up to go at 5:30 am the next morning. We played games and caught up and just had such a nice time for the day we were there. And we were so happy to meet their newest addition and see their first addition who is speaking in complete sentences and even says, "I fell and broke down and cried." What two and a half-year-old says, "I broke down"? I love it!

After three weeks away, we were really, really glad to get home to our own space. Our little apartment seemed absolutely charming when we came back to it. Also, we made it back in time to celebrate birthdays with our friends Kathleen and Rachel. So that was an added bonus to our return. Now, Patrick's had his first day of the second semester and he has a better idea of what he needs to do to be successful. It's fun listening to him organize his time, especially since his plans include a walk with me everday. We went on a nice walk in CW (Colonial Williamsburg) today and it was so relaxing, I'm thrilled at the idea of keeping it up for an entire semester . . . and maybe longer. Life, my friends, is pretty stinkin' grand.

Me and my darn good lookin' husband before we went shmoozing law firms on the hunt for a summer internship.