Random Book Review

Thursday is our library/reading day. Our library is fairly small. (Small enough that I've memorized where most children's titles are located; they've been in the same spot on the same shelves for 7 years). Most of our library days occur in the summer. I may wander in during the school year, but not with my kids. So today, when I came across some fun new books for them, (and by new I mean not your standard Eric Carle, Margaret Wise Bown or Sandra Boynton) I squeeled for joy. It appears that their collection has expanded considerably since last summer. So, I thought I'd share a couple of my finds with you and inspire you to curl up with your kiddos for some sure-to-delight summer reading.

This first book will tickle any artist's fancy. It's called The Dot, and was written by Peter H. Reynolds. I loved it's empowering message for self doubting children. My daughter never drew typical houses and flowers and trees, or liked coloring books with boundaries, so I could really appreciate this sweet story of a girl who learns to embrace her simple talent:

In fact, I am now really excited to try this book (also by Peter Reynold's):

Not A Box, by Antoinette Portis is a full of ideas for imaginative play. A really cute story about a bunny who thinks outside the box. And its presentation is really fun (a brown cardboard-ish cover). My 5 year old asked if it was a recycled book! Lol!

Have any good, fresh suggestions? Feel free to leave them in your comments. :) As for the Mommy and Me CDs, a lot of those songs are being downloaded off the internet, and are therefore illegal to copy and "sell". I will see how many of them can be downloaded to Best Audio Codes or some other web host and play the mix on my blog for all to enjoy!

How did I get here?

4 kids under the age of 8. One of them behind me playing her own musical composition, for pete's sake. It's much like the routine drive home; sometimes you don't think much about it. Until you've arrived. And then it's "Wait! How did I get here?!"

I am having more and more of these moments. Time is cruel to mothers. It slips away unnoticed when you are immersed in the raising of little people. There are a lot of moments you wish would stand still. Like when Sasha falls asleep at the breast. Hands down the most sacred mommy moment for me.

Time may also seem to drag on forever. There are a lot of moments you wish to fast forward through. Like potty training. Hands down the most loathed mommy duty for me! Regardless of what kind of day you are having, one feeling is constant. And that is that maybe you could make better use of the time.

Summertime is the perfect opportunity for this. All the kids are home from school. There are fewer places to be and things to do. I've come up with some really great ways to spend time with your kids this summer. And I plan to share all of them with you! Hopefully you'll need some fresh ideas... I know I could always use a few more. The nerve of these kids not being satisfied with just an inflatable pool! ;) Sigh. They're growing up.

My first idea to share came to me today as my children and I were listening to The Sundays and dancing. They love music as much as I do. And they love to move. So we have been sampling songs for our very own "Mommy and me" mix CD. I'm really excited about this, because it is music I already love AND it is kid friendly. I don't know about you, but I hate having to screen the radio for my kids every time we get in the car. I end up flipping stations a good majority of the time. Or we just listen to the classical station. But it is nice to have variety. I imagine this will come in real handy for road trips as well.

If you like this idea, I have a few suggestions to get you started:

L-o-v-e, Nat King Cole
Papa Loves Mambo, Perry Como
Shiny Happy People/Stand, REM
Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World, Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole
Anywhere Is, Enya
Upside Down, Jack Johnson
Ants Marching/Every Day, Dave Matthews Band
Thunder, Nuttin But Stringz
Advice For the Young at Heart, Tears for Fears
Hands, Jewel

I think we'll also have fun designing a CD cover... more on that and other kid friendly art projects soon.

The princess. And her ever missing shoe.

How's this for random?

My little boy Jonah turned 5 this past Monday. See details and pictures of his lively cooking party at my other blog Creativity Cannot Be Stifled.

Another crazy summer begins on Monday. Stay tuned for lots and lots of coverage on our 3 month long routine of library days, learning days, cooking days, art days and outdoor/potty training days ;). Not to mention a trip to Lake Tahoe!

Thanks again to all participants for another fantastic Woman to Woman. I think it was a great success and a cathartic exercise for many of us. I personally appreciate all the encouraging words I received. Feel free, of course, to continue to add your posts and comments as you find time.

Woman to Woman: Celebrating me!

We (women) tend to focus so much on our weaknesses and often blow them out of proportion. But our strengths, the things we are good at, go unnoticed, especially by ourselves. I know there are times when I have feared that my confidence may come across as arrogance. It's taboo to assert your successes as a parent! And even in general, I think women are very careful about how much credit or attention they give to themselves. But we all certainly deserve praise and recognition. And so, right on the heels of Mother's Day, this "Woman to Woman" is an opportunity for us all to admit that we are amazing, and to share our strengths with one another.

I think that perhaps my most valid accomplishment as both a mom and a woman has been to stop the cycle of abuse that I grew up with. I spent many years as a young adult worried and doubtful that I could be a strong woman, a good wife and a confident mother. There is an undeniable possibility, and I think anyone who has ever been abused would agree, that you will fall into the pattern you know; that you will become the example you were given. So for me to rise above that nagging and relentless posssibility and be at a point in my life where I've accepted the awful things I've been through, but chosen to discard them and embrace only the positive, makes me very proud of who I've become.

As a mother, this pride is helping me to instill several important qualities in my children: compassion, emotional confidence, faith, positivity. And the ways in which I do this are by providing a warm environment in our home, one that allows them to be themselves; to love and feel freely. I let them know they are the light of my life just by the smile I give them when they walk into the room. I want them to see in my face the joy they add to my life. I want them to know that I am proud of even the little things that they do. And I put all my effort into all that I do - for them, for me, for my husband - showing them that 100% of your effort, in all that you do, is important and vital to a positive attitude.

I have not only consciously stopped a vicious cycle from continuing, but I've spoken out against it, by deciding early on that I will not be that poor girl, but that I will be an amazing woman and mother, taking only the good part with me, and embracing it as if it were all that existed. I have exemplified forgiveness for my children, a priceless gift. They do not now know the details of the awful things I have been through. But one day they will find out. They will read these words. And they will see me in a different light. They will see life in a different light. Their ability to forgive will be in place, as should their ability to always find "that good part".

Morning Glory and I hope that this particular topic will draw lots of participants, because as we can plainly see, there are many, many incredible and inspirational women out there that need to be celebrated! So please, add your name and link to your post. Leave me a comment and visit Morning Glory at Seeds From My Garden, as well.