The Harsh Realities of Life - too much for a 5 year old

Maybe I have scarred Laci.  Sometimes I don't know how much "truth" to tell her.  Sometimes I forget she is only 5 years old.  

The other night she was listening to the radio at bedtime as she always does.  I went in to check on her and she was crying and terrified.  An Amber Alert was on the radio. I didn't hear the details so I simply explained that a child was lost and they put it on the radio so that everyone would look for her and protect her.  I didn't want to scare her more but reminded her that that is why she needs to be careful when playing outside.  

After she finally fell asleep, still scared, I looked at the details of the Amber Alert.  A little girl was taken by her mother who recently lost custody.  I didn't know how much to tell Laci.  What a horrible situation.  I know that a 5 year old can't understand why a little girl can't be with her mother.  

Charlie said that the next morning, Laci talked to him about the Amber Alert.  She knew the name, age and description of the little girl.  She had heard and listened to the entire Amber Alert.  

That night I read that they found the little girl in Louisville.  Police had found her and brought her home to her dad.  At bedtime, Laci asked if the little girl had been found.  I simply said "Yes".  I didn't know what to say when she asked "Who found her" and "Who took her".  I told the truth.  I explained that the police found her and it was her mother who had taken her.  I went on to explain that we do not know why the little girl's mother had to take her and we do not know why the little girl's mother was not allowed to have her.  We do not need to know.  That mother loved her little girl but there was a reason that we do not know that she was not allowed to have her right now.  I continued and reminded her that I loved her very much and will always take care of her and keep her safe.

A few minutes later, I went in there again and she was still upset.  She told me that she is scared that when she grows up and has a child, the police will take her child away.  My heart was breaking.  I goofed and told her too much.  I explained again that she is a very good, kind and loving person and she will be a very good, kind and loving mother and no one will ever take her child away from her.  "How do you know, Mom?"  "I know because I know you.  I love you very much and I know that you will love and care for your child as much as I love and care for you.  No one will ever take your children away."

I know that the conversations and harsh realities were too much for my 5 year old.   I know she is almost 6 and an "old soul" almost 6 year old but she is still a little girl. 

After Dinner Walks

We started a new routine this summer.  Charlie's schedule has been modified slightly and we started eating at home on Saturday nights.  On the nights that all four of us eat at home, we have started taking an after dinner walk.  It has been really nice.  On Friday nights we still do Taco Bell and after dinner usually go out for ice cream or to a park to play for some family time also.

On our dinner at home nights, during dinner we talk about what we want to do.  Last summer we played tennis several times but we haven't played tennis at all this summer.  There is a small pond full of blue gill and a few big cat fish that we sometimes walk to to feed the fish.  Our favorite walk this summer has been over the bridge to the adjoining neighborhood.  They built the path and bridge about 3 summers ago and we love it.  Once you get past the neighborhood, you had hidden back behind trees and a creek.  You forget you are so close to home.  The neighborhood has a park and basketball court also.  We usually walk the mile to the other park and sometimes a little further to their pond to feed the fish.  Laci takes her bike and Calvin gets pushed in his tricycle.  We usually play at the park for about half an hour (or until Laci has to go to the bathroom) and then turn around and walk home.  On the bridge we stop and look for animals.  We have seen turtles, deer and a heron.  Calvin even saw a kangaroo once!  :)  By the time we get home, it is time for bath, bedtime shows and bed.  We are all worn out.

I am looking forward to the fall walks with the leaves changing color and the crinkle of the leaves as you walk over them.  I am not sure what we will do in the winter when we won't be able to take as many family walks.  Laci loves card games.  Maybe we can teach Calvin a few games.  I hope we can continue the tradition of family time after family dinner.  

Katy Perry and Peyton Manning

It's probably safe to say that Laci may be the only child who confuses Katy Perry and Peyton Manning.  The only reason I can think of is because Perry and Peyton both start with P?  It took me a few months to realize that this is what she is doing but it finally clicked the other day.  She loves Fireworks by Katy Perry.

1.  In February, when I put make up on Laci for the first time for her dance recital, she looked in the mirror and said "I look just like Peyton Manning!"  Seemed odd at the time but now I think she meant Katy Perry.

2.  A few months ago, she mentioned Peyton Manning and I said "Do you know even know who Peyton Manning is?"  Her response "A famous singer?"  I think we have all heard his duet with Kenny Chesney (Whatever it takes) and can confirm he is not a singer.  :)  She meant Katy Perry.

3.  A few weeks ago, we went to see Smurfs 2.  As the credits were rolling, I realized that the voice of Smurfette was Katy Perry.  In the car, I told her that.  Her response:  "The football player?"  Goodness.... now she has confused it the other way.  

It is fun to have her know a little bit more about pop culture even if she gets most of it wrong.  Justin Bieber is still Justin Beaver.  :)

The Fault in Our Stars... A Review

I finished The Fault in Our Stars by John Green last night.  It was the latest book selection for my book club.  As I started reading the book, I remembered that one of the bloggers I read is a John Green fan and had written a review awhile back about this book.  At this point, I was about 75 pages into the book and could not get into the book at all.  I was not a fan.  I reread the review.  She talked about how good the language was in the book and listed several quotes.  I did not get it at all.  I chalked it up to her being an English teacher and me being an Engineer.  I love a good well written story - the language is usually over my head and when I read, I skip most words and only read the gist.

 

So at about 100 pages, I was still moving along.  I will tell you that before I started the book, I did not know that John Green is from Indy - where I live.  My favorite parts of the book became identifying local spots - the art sculptures at the Art Museum, Castleton Mall, Meridian Hills, the street locations.  Just yesterday, i was at the corner of 86th and Ditch and looked at the Speedway and thought, Ah, that is where Gus went to buy cigarettes....  I almost took a picture!

Then the characters went to Amsterdam.  And I got into it.  It finally became the book I couldn't put down.  I recently read The Dinner and Gone Girl and the thing that those two books had in common is that as I read further into the book, the more I hated the main characters.  In the beginning, the characters were very likable and at the end I despised them.  This was the opposite.  As the book rolled along, I became to like the characters more and more.  I could have done without Peter Van Hooten but I am sure there was a reason for that bizarre storyline and character.  

When the characters were in Amsterdam, I began to see the quotes.  I became to appreciate the language.  Some of the quotes were a bit over the top and pretty silly but some were poetic.  I was crying at the end.  My scale for a good book is how much I cry at the end.  I began to question and ponder a little bit more the life and death questions that these characters face - especially when you are facing death as a teenager and knowing that you will not have a long life.  I loved the end and the whole concept of big and little infinities.  Big and Little Infinities may be what I take away from this book.

 

This was my first John Green book and I am sure it won't be my last.  Especially now that I know he is a local boy.  In the past, when I find an author I like, I read all of his stuff and then find the pattern and tire of it (Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark, Toni Morrison, Chaim Potek, Nicholas Spark).  So I am ready for a new author.

My book club took August off and picked two books for the September meeting.  I now have 3 weeks to read "The Lost Girls".  I think it is a long one so I better get reading! 

Good Heavens Child - The terrible threes

We are in the midst of the dreaded "terrible threes".  Ugh. That boy is full of mischief.  He is starting to test us more and misbehave more.  When I picked him up yesterday, he was in time out for throwing a toy at a friend.  We had a long talk this morning about being nice to our friends and to not get into any time outs today.  We'll see how he does today.

 

But I will give him credit.  He does do what he is told occasionally.  The other day he was getting into trouble and I was holding him still on the love seat.  Laci said he had that "evil smile".  That smile that is full of mischief.  I told him if that he got off the couch, he better go straight into his room.  I was shocked when he wiggled off the couch and did in fact go to his room with his tail between his legs.  A few minutes later, he came back into my room with his pouty face and said "I'll be good."  And he was.  

 

A few weeks ago, we were at Charlie's family reunion and he was running around like a crazy 3 year old and getting in everyone's way.  I told him to get out of the way.  Sometimes I forget he listens to me.  A few minutes later, Laci and I started looked for him.  I panicked and looked outside.  He was outside in the corner of the entryway with a crowd of people around him.  I had forgotten I had told him to get away.  But he listened and he left.  Fortunately, people were looking for who he belonged to.  It was funny because the shirt he was wearing had a fake name tag on it and people didn't think he belonged to our reunion because he was wearing the wrong name tag!  I said, he belonged.  He's a Sprunger.  I thanked people for looking out for him and was reminded that mother's everywhere are always looking out for kids, even if they don't know them.

 

At the grocery last weekend, he ran away several times.  Laci is so funny because she used my phrases.  As we were walking around the store, she kept saying "Good heavens, child" - exactly the way I say it.  I had told him we could get new bubbles because we were out.  No bubbles for Calvin.  He started to behave so by the end of the shopping trip, he got a cookie.  Unfortunately, at the check out line, he ran away again.  Fortunately, Laci was fast enough to catch him before he got to the parking lot!  I wish I could have gotten that cookie back out of him! 

 

But he is a smooth kid too.  Wednesday night, he got into trouble and kept throwing a cup of water on Laci's friend.  I scolded him.  It's hard to scold him when he is wearing a Tinkerbell sundress.  This happened twice.  I picked him up and told him that I was disappointed because he was doing what he was told not to do.  He gave me a big hug and said "Does this hug make you happy?"  That boy knows exactly how to play me! 

Ramona Quimby and Judy Moody

I loved Ramona Quimby books when I was a kid.  The other day we were watching Judy Moody and the not so bummer summer.  It reminded me a lot of Ramona Quimby.  I love the imagination of those characters.  I think those characters are pretty accurate.  I remember myself at 10 or even older with that same imagination.  Whatever I would be doing, I could concoct a crazy backstory to go with it. 

Yesterday, we took a walk after dinner.  Actually, we have been trying to finish most nights after a family dinner with a walk.  It's really nice.  Last night, Laci had on her gymnastics leotard, purple shorts and boots.  I loved her look.  It was a Ramona Quimby look.  I have a feeling that Laci is going to have a Ramona Quimby life and childhood.  I love Laci's imagination and her fearless-ness.  She knows who she is and is okay with that.  I'm really glad for that.  

A Wedding - The Reception.... Time to Party!

I just realized that I never wrote the final part of my wedding recap.  The Reception.

I was really looking forward to the reception or "The Party" as I told the kids.  I knew we would have fun.  I promised dancing.  I promised cake.  I know now that going to receptions with kids is completely different.  Priorities are different.  Timing is different.  There is a lot of waiting around at receptions.  Receptions are still about the bride and groom, not the guest.  Without kids, waiting is no big deal.  Drinking, dancing and having fun. 

About 10 years ago, Charlie and I went to a wedding with a friend of ours.  He had plans to go out after the reception.  There was a lot of waiting around.  Our friend said "They better get this show on the road.  I have places to be."  To this day, that is one of our favorite lines.  Wedding receptions are not about the guests.  The bride and groom didn't care about our friends plans for later.  There were many times during this wedding reception that I wanted to say "They better get this show on the road.  I need to get my kids home!"  But after mocking our friend for so many years, I couldn't say the same thing.  :)

The reception started fine.  There was the waiting outside the dining room with drinks and hor derves.  Of course my kids didn't want any of it.  I always bring a bowl of cereal or snacks in the kids bag so we were covered.  The reception was at a golf course so they went outside for a bit.  Laci spilled her orange juice and I was hoping that would be the only catastrophe.  I was wrong.  I was in the lobby chatting with the bride's mother when I turned and the bag knocked over a glass frame on an easel!  I was mortified.  The worse part was that I couldn't even blame the kids.  It was my fault. 

By 7:30 we were finally in the dining room.  Fortunately, at our table was just the 4 of us and some good friends of ours.  They were wise to serve the kids first - fruit, chicken fingers and fries.  During the dinner, we were good to go.  But as we all know, there is a lot of waiting at receptions.  I promised the kids dancing and cake.  It was getting close to 9 and we had had neither.  "They better get this show on the road!"  The kids were getting antsy.  We were taking trips to the bathroom and hanging out in the lobby.  There were family pictures, toasts, bouquets to be throw.  This wedding was not about us and the bride and groom needs to enjoy every minute of it.  But by 9:30 after the special dances were done, it was finally time to get down and boogie.  Laci was ready.  Calvin was about to fall over he was so tired.  We only stayed for little longer but Laci got to dance a few dances.  I made Calvin dance - I had to hold him because he was too tired to stand.  And by 10:00 we were out of there.  Pajamas were put on in the car and the kids were asleep by the time we were out of the parking lot.  All in all, it was a great reception.  We had a wonderful time.  I am very happy for the bride and groom and wish them lots of happiness.