Hey. Okay, I really dropped the ball because I ended up with a head cold and migraines and whatever other excuse I need. So, this prompt was tough for me too, Em. Not because I couldn't think of anything-I came up with all kinds of ideas. But I haven't written from a prompt in a long time and I had to just sit myself down and actually put the pen to paper. And I don't generally write in first person. Mission accomplished in promoting writing, but maybe not my best work. Anyway, here's what I came up with. My favorite fall memory, told in present tense.
Fall is in it's final hours, winter sneaking around in the shadows of the night leaving windows etched with reminders of it's impending arrival. The morning air is cool, and we are all bundled up against the frosty chill. I have dressed in layers knowing they will be shed one by one as the sun journeys briefly overhead and temperatures rise to melt the weak frost away.
No one says much as we wait in the quiet field. Fall mornings are always like this - calm, quiet, empty of the trills of songbirds or click of insects. Even the wind sighs with a longing for summer now gone. Completely opposite of spring mornings which are full of hope and bursting at the seams with the sounds of new life. A large part of me would like to follow nature and return to bed to hibernate.
My thoughts of fall are broken by the chugging of a small red tractor as it passes before us. Dad's whistling greets us, challenging me to smile and enjoy the day. I only burrow further into my coat and fall in behind the plow. It lifts the gladiola plants from the near-frozen earth. There are rows of them, and each variety must be removed by hand and prepared for the winter. The fading green tops will be chopped off of the bulb, which will then be placed in the correct box until next spring's planting.
I pull the plants from the ground, collecting them in the crook of my arm like a beauty pageant contestant until I can no longer lift them. I smile to myself at the thought. My sisters and I would definitely not win any pageants out here in the hard dirt. I look at each of them as I carry my armload to the chopper. Almost in unison they straighten and join me in my journey - an assortment of durable work coats in brown and red; worn, comfortable old runners and work gloves completing the ensemble. Dirt smudges red cheeks, steam from sweaty necks rising in the chill. Murmured conversation passes between us as we approach the chopper.
The chopper is fairly simple in design. I have often thought of it as the gladiola guillotine. After years of watching us break or cut the bulbs off the plants, my Grandpa has designed a machine that does it for us, speeding up the process and saving our hands to boot. We place the glad plant in a pile at Mom's feet. She picks them up one by one, placing them bulb up between two long, horizontal metal bars with a conveyor system which carries them to the blade at the other end. With one swift chop the bulb is severed from the plant, which falls to the earth. Another sister waits to catch the bulb in the correct box and keep the pile of dead plant tops cleared away.
I watch for a moment, then turn back to the field. After a few more trip the sun is already warm and I shed my coat. I close my eyes and turn my face toward its rays, pausing to feel the fresh breeze blow past carrying the rich smell of plowed earth. Someone makes a joke and suddenly everyone comes to life as though a switch has been flipped. Jackets are shed and the heaviness of winter melts away with them. We laugh and sing and race to carry away more plants than anyone else.
My grandpa comes to survey the work and check his machine, making sure the blade stays sharp. Grandma and my little brother wander over from the house. My brother swings a bucket and Grandma carries lemonade and cups. Work pauses and we all sprawl to the ground in a heap for a well-earned break.
I take a cookie from the bucket - chocolate chip, my Grandma's classic. Hers are almost white and perfectly round with dots of chocolate peeking through. They remind me of countless visits to a place where everyone accepts me for who I am. And there in that moment I realize I am surrounded by the people who love me most. These are the people who have made me who I am. I have learned from them how to work and how to have fun doing it. We have grown closer as a family working together. My foundation for my life has been built here in these fields. But I am growing older, and my days of working with my family will end soon as I set out on my own. I breathe the fresh air deeply and listen to the laughter. I close my eyes and wish that somehow I could stay in this moment forever.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
My Mom
Today is my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday, Mommy dearest! Dan has been telling me more and more lately that I am getting to be more like my mom all the time. I don't see it, because to me we are completely different people, but I suppose she did make me who I am and I learned everything from her. After all, I spent the first 18 years of my life with her at home with me teaching me everything she knows. So, in honor of my mother, this post is dedicated to her.
Things I love about my mom
1. The way she snorts when she laughs.
2. She can sew circles around anyone, and quilt to boot.
3. She is one of the most hard-working people I know. She has never been afraid to tackle a tough job and do it well.
4. She always thinks of her kids before herself.
5. She is so good at remembering something you said once in April that you might need, then getting it for Christmas.
6. Her ability with flowers. She loves to grow them and arrange them. Two things I cannot do.
7. She loves the smell of dirt. Sadly, so do I. I guess that comes from growing up in the wild outdoors.
8. She can drive big trucks as good as any man.
9. The way she pulls out a book before bed so she can fall asleep with it on her lap. I must say I have never seen her engrossed in actual reading, but she taught me to love books, enough to take them to bed with you!
10. Her willingness to help others and take care of her parents.
11. How she cries about everything and nothing.
12. The way she's so humble about all the work they've done it that yard. Enjoy the attention in the paper and be proud of what you've accomplished. It's a work of art from the heart. :)
13. The way she spoils Steve but doesn't even know it. It's so cute, but I get it. I'll probably be just the same with Madi.
My favorite memories of my mom (so far!)
1. Sneaking out to see Natty Gan. Alone time with 5 sisters was pretty sparse, so that meant a lot.
2. Watching her try to make every Christmas something special.
3. Girls camp....an empty field....the screaming game.
4. Laughing so hard she snorts.
5. Her apron catching on fire and her screaming, "Put me out, I'm on fire!" to which Dad proceeded to throw an entire pitcher of water on her.
6. A huge water fight in our old house and her look of panic when we realized Dad would be home any minute. Racing to clean it up.
7. Seeing her hold her new grand-babies.
8. Watching her teach her grandkids how to help out in the yard or bake in the kitchen or read them books.
9. Her phone call to me telling me her new car had just been rolled and decimated. I guess that elevated me from daughter to friend.
The things I'm most grateful she taught me:
1. How to work hard and not be afraid of it.
2. How to make do with what you have.
3. The gospel.
4. How to dream.
I love you mom. I hope you get some alone time soon, ha ha. Have fun celebrating in Waterton. I hope the next year brings you even more joy and happiness.
Things I love about my mom
1. The way she snorts when she laughs.
2. She can sew circles around anyone, and quilt to boot.
3. She is one of the most hard-working people I know. She has never been afraid to tackle a tough job and do it well.
4. She always thinks of her kids before herself.
5. She is so good at remembering something you said once in April that you might need, then getting it for Christmas.
6. Her ability with flowers. She loves to grow them and arrange them. Two things I cannot do.
7. She loves the smell of dirt. Sadly, so do I. I guess that comes from growing up in the wild outdoors.
8. She can drive big trucks as good as any man.
9. The way she pulls out a book before bed so she can fall asleep with it on her lap. I must say I have never seen her engrossed in actual reading, but she taught me to love books, enough to take them to bed with you!
10. Her willingness to help others and take care of her parents.
11. How she cries about everything and nothing.
12. The way she's so humble about all the work they've done it that yard. Enjoy the attention in the paper and be proud of what you've accomplished. It's a work of art from the heart. :)
13. The way she spoils Steve but doesn't even know it. It's so cute, but I get it. I'll probably be just the same with Madi.
My favorite memories of my mom (so far!)
1. Sneaking out to see Natty Gan. Alone time with 5 sisters was pretty sparse, so that meant a lot.
2. Watching her try to make every Christmas something special.
3. Girls camp....an empty field....the screaming game.
4. Laughing so hard she snorts.
5. Her apron catching on fire and her screaming, "Put me out, I'm on fire!" to which Dad proceeded to throw an entire pitcher of water on her.
6. A huge water fight in our old house and her look of panic when we realized Dad would be home any minute. Racing to clean it up.
7. Seeing her hold her new grand-babies.
8. Watching her teach her grandkids how to help out in the yard or bake in the kitchen or read them books.
9. Her phone call to me telling me her new car had just been rolled and decimated. I guess that elevated me from daughter to friend.
The things I'm most grateful she taught me:
1. How to work hard and not be afraid of it.
2. How to make do with what you have.
3. The gospel.
4. How to dream.
I love you mom. I hope you get some alone time soon, ha ha. Have fun celebrating in Waterton. I hope the next year brings you even more joy and happiness.
Make-It Monday
A new addition - I've decided to include recipes on Mondays that I've tried or gotten from others, or been recommended. Maybe I'll have themes, maybe not. Everyone needs some new ideas to jump start from!
This week the recipes are dedicated to that beautiful Autumn fruit (or is it a vegetable? It has seeds, so I believe that makes it a fruit) the PUMPKIN.
Leaves turning and weather crisping up always makes me want to buy cans of the stuff because we love it. So here a few goodies:
Harvest Loaf
1/2 c. butter
1c. sugar
2 eggs
2c. pumpking (one small can)
2c. flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1c. chocolate chips
Bake at 350 for 1 hour for a loaf, 20 mins for muffins or 10 mins for mini muffins.
We love this stuff. We make the mini muffins all year round. I never put in the nutmeg, but other people might like it. And, the small can of pumpkin is a little more than two cups, but I always use it all. It only makes it moister, but you may need to increase your cook time a little bit.
Pumpkin Pancakes with Buttermilk Syrup
* Hint: make the syrup first so it can rest
2c. flour
3 Tblsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. milk
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 egg
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tblsp vinegar
Mix wet, then dry and combine. Make pancakes with it. The recipe says 1/4 c. for each pancake.
Syrup:
1/2 c butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. buttermilk (or milk with a little vinegar or lemon juice added)
1 tsp. white corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
Heat butter, sugar, buttermilk and syrup in sauce pan. After sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Mixture will fizz to twice its height, so have a big enough pot. Let rest, stirring occasionally until fizz is mostly gone. Serve hot. Can be reheated later.
This syrup recipe came from my aunt Karen, and my mom said she puts it over pumpkin pancakes. Being in love with pumpkin, I thought that sounded great so I went to the internet for the pancake recipe. Aunt Karen, if yours is different, let me know so I can try it.
Pumpkin-Carrot Cake with Brown Icing Sugar
1 pkg carrot cake mix
1 c hot water
1 c canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1/4 c. oil
1 1/2 pkg cream cheese
1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar
2 c. thawed cool whip
Heat oven to 350. Grease 2 round pans. Remove carrot/raisin packet from cake mix pkg, mix with hot water and let stand 10 mins. Add cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, and oil. Beat til well blended. Pour into pans and bake 30-35 mins.
Cool cake 10 mins in pan. Remove from pans and cool completely.
Beat cream cheese and brown sugar together. Wisk in cool whip.
Stack cake in layers with cream cheese icing between. Cover cake with cream cheese icing.
This is a very moist cake that could be a replacement for pumpking pie at Thanksgiving. It tastes almost the same, but of course who could say no to cream cheese icing over pie crust? The kids and I made it yesterday and it was hit.
Good luck, and happy pumpkins!
This week the recipes are dedicated to that beautiful Autumn fruit (or is it a vegetable? It has seeds, so I believe that makes it a fruit) the PUMPKIN.
Harvest Loaf
1/2 c. butter
1c. sugar
2 eggs
2c. pumpking (one small can)
2c. flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1c. chocolate chips
Bake at 350 for 1 hour for a loaf, 20 mins for muffins or 10 mins for mini muffins.
We love this stuff. We make the mini muffins all year round. I never put in the nutmeg, but other people might like it. And, the small can of pumpkin is a little more than two cups, but I always use it all. It only makes it moister, but you may need to increase your cook time a little bit.
Pumpkin Pancakes with Buttermilk Syrup
* Hint: make the syrup first so it can rest
2c. flour
3 Tblsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. milk
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 egg
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tblsp vinegar
Mix wet, then dry and combine. Make pancakes with it. The recipe says 1/4 c. for each pancake.
Syrup:
1/2 c butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. buttermilk (or milk with a little vinegar or lemon juice added)
1 tsp. white corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
Heat butter, sugar, buttermilk and syrup in sauce pan. After sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Mixture will fizz to twice its height, so have a big enough pot. Let rest, stirring occasionally until fizz is mostly gone. Serve hot. Can be reheated later.
This syrup recipe came from my aunt Karen, and my mom said she puts it over pumpkin pancakes. Being in love with pumpkin, I thought that sounded great so I went to the internet for the pancake recipe. Aunt Karen, if yours is different, let me know so I can try it.
Pumpkin-Carrot Cake with Brown Icing Sugar
1 pkg carrot cake mix
1 c hot water
1 c canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1/4 c. oil
1 1/2 pkg cream cheese
1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar
2 c. thawed cool whip
Heat oven to 350. Grease 2 round pans. Remove carrot/raisin packet from cake mix pkg, mix with hot water and let stand 10 mins. Add cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, and oil. Beat til well blended. Pour into pans and bake 30-35 mins.
Cool cake 10 mins in pan. Remove from pans and cool completely.
Beat cream cheese and brown sugar together. Wisk in cool whip.
Stack cake in layers with cream cheese icing between. Cover cake with cream cheese icing.
This is a very moist cake that could be a replacement for pumpking pie at Thanksgiving. It tastes almost the same, but of course who could say no to cream cheese icing over pie crust? The kids and I made it yesterday and it was hit.
Good luck, and happy pumpkins!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Seven on Sunday
1. Dan was offered two extra shifts this weekend. Combined with class on Friday night and all day Saturday, it means we only saw him at church and for dinner, but we're glad for the extra financial boost!
2. I had a great birthday with my family. They took me for pizza, then gave me a huge potted belgian mum to dress up the patio. I'm always complaining about not having flowers. I love it.
3. Malcolm LOVES preschool, thank goodness.
4. The kids both got the teachers they wanted this year. I only hope they are everything they were expecting...
5. It's 9:30 and everyone's asleep. That's the second time this week. Maybe early darkness has its benefits after all.
6. We made it through the first week of school and were only late once.
7. It's my favorite week of the year - my parents anniversary, my birthday and my mom's birthday, which means it's pretty much a sure thing that I talk to my parents three times. Makes me feel like I'm still back home.
We had a good laugh this week explaining to the kids that when they get older they can honestly tell their kids that they had to walk to school and back up hill both ways. We live on a hill and the school is at the top of another hill. The walk is not that far, but someone complains every time about tired legs.
Today in sharing time I asked each of the children to come prepared to tell their favorite scripture story. Clayton decided he was telling about Coriantumr cutting Shiz's head off and Shiz sitting up, headless, before falling down to die. We wrote it out together and then he asked for the picture. When I explained that no one had captured that scene in art yet, he proceeded to draw his own on the back of his story so he could hold it up while he read. I must admit I was a little concerned that this might not be the kind of story I was really going for to help them understand how our love for the Savior grows as we read the scriptures. Imagine my surprise when all the kids were absolutely silent while he told the story, and how at the end they were totally agreeing with his statement that when we don't follow the commandments we lose the Spirit and are destroyed. I think we actually had more of a reverent feeling during that story than any of the ones they have all heard before. I guess I need to stop underestimating him and remember the truth of what he told me when I questioned the choice: "Well, it's in the Book of Mormon. I guess God wanted us to hear it." Touche.
I only wish I could post his picture. It was pretty good. Maybe they could add it to the Gospel Art Picture Kit...:)
2. I had a great birthday with my family. They took me for pizza, then gave me a huge potted belgian mum to dress up the patio. I'm always complaining about not having flowers. I love it.
3. Malcolm LOVES preschool, thank goodness.
4. The kids both got the teachers they wanted this year. I only hope they are everything they were expecting...
5. It's 9:30 and everyone's asleep. That's the second time this week. Maybe early darkness has its benefits after all.
6. We made it through the first week of school and were only late once.
7. It's my favorite week of the year - my parents anniversary, my birthday and my mom's birthday, which means it's pretty much a sure thing that I talk to my parents three times. Makes me feel like I'm still back home.
We had a good laugh this week explaining to the kids that when they get older they can honestly tell their kids that they had to walk to school and back up hill both ways. We live on a hill and the school is at the top of another hill. The walk is not that far, but someone complains every time about tired legs.
Today in sharing time I asked each of the children to come prepared to tell their favorite scripture story. Clayton decided he was telling about Coriantumr cutting Shiz's head off and Shiz sitting up, headless, before falling down to die. We wrote it out together and then he asked for the picture. When I explained that no one had captured that scene in art yet, he proceeded to draw his own on the back of his story so he could hold it up while he read. I must admit I was a little concerned that this might not be the kind of story I was really going for to help them understand how our love for the Savior grows as we read the scriptures. Imagine my surprise when all the kids were absolutely silent while he told the story, and how at the end they were totally agreeing with his statement that when we don't follow the commandments we lose the Spirit and are destroyed. I think we actually had more of a reverent feeling during that story than any of the ones they have all heard before. I guess I need to stop underestimating him and remember the truth of what he told me when I questioned the choice: "Well, it's in the Book of Mormon. I guess God wanted us to hear it." Touche.
I only wish I could post his picture. It was pretty good. Maybe they could add it to the Gospel Art Picture Kit...:)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Writer's Workshop Wednesday
I have realized one of the things I miss most from living in Southern Alberta is the writer's group that I used to attend. It was a chance to try new things, bounce ideas off other people and keep an open mind while listening to other people's works. I also found I was much more motivated to find the time to sit and write every day when I knew that every two weeks I needed to have something to share.
I thought I would put a prompt or starter on the blog one week, then post any received answers the next. You can either just post it in a comment (if you don't care who reads it) or you can email it to me at cooperj67@hotmail.com and I will read it and only post if you want, or I can always post it anonymously.
So, if there are any brave people out there who will participate with me, I have decided to use Wednesday as the day to revive this a bit online. Don't worry, there's no pressure to be an amazing author. But you never know, you might just find a bit of a writer hiding inside you. I will also post mine every other week.
Good luck, and have fun!
Writing Prompt #1
What is your favorite fall memory? How old were you when it happened? Relive that memory through writing about it as if you were right there recording it in real time. If you have a photo of yourself taken at the time, use it as a source for visual journaling.
I thought I would put a prompt or starter on the blog one week, then post any received answers the next. You can either just post it in a comment (if you don't care who reads it) or you can email it to me at cooperj67@hotmail.com and I will read it and only post if you want, or I can always post it anonymously.
So, if there are any brave people out there who will participate with me, I have decided to use Wednesday as the day to revive this a bit online. Don't worry, there's no pressure to be an amazing author. But you never know, you might just find a bit of a writer hiding inside you. I will also post mine every other week.
Good luck, and have fun!
Writing Prompt #1
What is your favorite fall memory? How old were you when it happened? Relive that memory through writing about it as if you were right there recording it in real time. If you have a photo of yourself taken at the time, use it as a source for visual journaling.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Seven on Sunday
Seven things I am thankful for this week:
1. Fall. I love this season. Maybe because it means birthdays for myself, Dan, my mom, my sister, and a lot of good friends. Mostly because the air is crisp but the sun is still warm and colors abound, especially in this part of the country.
2. The start of a new school year. It feels good to be back into a routine and it gives me motivation to set new goals and progress in my own life. I find this time of year much more inspirational than New Year's.
3. My new calendar. I love to take a blank month and start filling things in! Oh, and new dry-erase markers always add to the excitement. :)
4. Finding my zip file that I thought had been lost in the move in the pocket of a suitcase. Many hours of writing recovered, thank goodness!
5. A three dollar Darth Vader helmet, complete with sounds, that has kept the interest of my own and the neighborhood kids for days. Halloween is already planned. Pictures to follow.
6. Repairs on the van finished today so I don't have to trek to and from Malcolm's first day at preschool in the rain.
7. Neither Dan nor I have been sprayed by the skunk we have both seen in our yard - yet. Help! We think it is living under our neighbor's deck, but hopefully the complex can get someone in to take care of it before a child disturbs it and gets a smelly wake-up call.
And the funny for the week is dedicated to back-to-school for all. It pretty much sums up a whole summer with your kids at home...together...all day:
1. Fall. I love this season. Maybe because it means birthdays for myself, Dan, my mom, my sister, and a lot of good friends. Mostly because the air is crisp but the sun is still warm and colors abound, especially in this part of the country.
2. The start of a new school year. It feels good to be back into a routine and it gives me motivation to set new goals and progress in my own life. I find this time of year much more inspirational than New Year's.
3. My new calendar. I love to take a blank month and start filling things in! Oh, and new dry-erase markers always add to the excitement. :)
4. Finding my zip file that I thought had been lost in the move in the pocket of a suitcase. Many hours of writing recovered, thank goodness!
5. A three dollar Darth Vader helmet, complete with sounds, that has kept the interest of my own and the neighborhood kids for days. Halloween is already planned. Pictures to follow.
6. Repairs on the van finished today so I don't have to trek to and from Malcolm's first day at preschool in the rain.
7. Neither Dan nor I have been sprayed by the skunk we have both seen in our yard - yet. Help! We think it is living under our neighbor's deck, but hopefully the complex can get someone in to take care of it before a child disturbs it and gets a smelly wake-up call.
And the funny for the week is dedicated to back-to-school for all. It pretty much sums up a whole summer with your kids at home...together...all day:
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Arsenic Hour
Years ago I heard someone refer to the pre-dinner hour as "arsenic hour" because this is the time when everyone is the crankiest due to hunger and general irritability. It can become so trying that you might even want to swallow yourself some arsenic just to escape.
Over time, I have made my own revision to this. In my experience, bedtime is most definitely Arsenic Hour in our home. What should be a lovely, calm, bonding time is exactly the opposite - loud, crazy, and set to drive even the most loving of family members apart. The reasons for this are many. Since having Madison almost 9 years ago, I have been the primary bedtime heavy as Dan has worked or gone to school at night pretty much the entire 8 1/2 years. Sometimes I think I have got it nailed down, and then everything changes.
I used to put the three boys in the same room, since that is where all the beds are and Madison, being a girl, justifiably deserved her own sleeping space. Putting 3 boys to bed in the same bunkbed is akin to holding back the tide. Once that was obviously not working, we had two pairs: each older child with a younger child. The theory behind this was that, beginning with the youngest, I would gently take each child and help them get into bed and sleeping while believing firmly that the others could manage to remain quiet. It would be perfect. Yeah, right. I had to leave the bedroom so many times to calm everything down outside that there was no chance of sleeping occurring for anyone. Not to mention that if the younger children had a tough night, the whole thing is shot because the older kids felt they couldn't go into their own beds. This was, of course, very true.
Because we are short on space, for a while we were resorting to just finding a spot for everyone to be on their own - my room, their rooms, the couch. But then I got tired of having to wait for everyone to fall asleep before folding laundry, watching t.v. or simply going to bed. And then I had to move them all to their own rooms, and I'm not as strong as I used to be.
Currently, we have the two younger boys going to bed first in the bunkbed while the older two "read quietly" in the other room. My arsenic hour drags out a lot longer because it is necessary for me to stay with the younger kids until they are sleeping since they will continue to come out until they have dropped on the floor in exhaustion if I do not. This is all to the increasing crescendo of laughter and screaming in the background from the older kids in the other room, mixed in with broken-record requests for food, water, bathroom breaks. By the time I have the little ones out, I am so stressed out I usually just give the older ones what for and turn out the light, retreating with threats of what will happen to them if I see or hear them one more time before morning. Like I said, arsenic seems like a pretty convenient solution at this point.
But by morning it has all blown over and we have one, two, maybe all three boys who have made their way to our bed just to say good morning and snuggle under the covers, and I remember that it's not about silently and obediently making it to bed at exactly the allotted time. It's about your kids knowing that you are there to read stories, sing songs, kiss them goodnight and that you are ready to listen if the chance to speak quietly come along. Because along with the chaos, bedtime has also been the time when my kids open up about a variety of amazing things. We've discussed Jesus making stars, missing grandma and grandpa, friends who make us happy and friends who make us hurt, how long ago dinosaurs lived, what it would be like to live on the moon, and what we want to be when we grow up. I've heard prayers for everyone from Uncle Steve on his mission to pet worms and missing stuffies. And no amount of arsenic could ever replace an unprompted I love you from your seven year old son whom you were pretty sure forgot you have feelings too.
And the old adage is true - they are so beautiful...when they're asleep!
Over time, I have made my own revision to this. In my experience, bedtime is most definitely Arsenic Hour in our home. What should be a lovely, calm, bonding time is exactly the opposite - loud, crazy, and set to drive even the most loving of family members apart. The reasons for this are many. Since having Madison almost 9 years ago, I have been the primary bedtime heavy as Dan has worked or gone to school at night pretty much the entire 8 1/2 years. Sometimes I think I have got it nailed down, and then everything changes.
I used to put the three boys in the same room, since that is where all the beds are and Madison, being a girl, justifiably deserved her own sleeping space. Putting 3 boys to bed in the same bunkbed is akin to holding back the tide. Once that was obviously not working, we had two pairs: each older child with a younger child. The theory behind this was that, beginning with the youngest, I would gently take each child and help them get into bed and sleeping while believing firmly that the others could manage to remain quiet. It would be perfect. Yeah, right. I had to leave the bedroom so many times to calm everything down outside that there was no chance of sleeping occurring for anyone. Not to mention that if the younger children had a tough night, the whole thing is shot because the older kids felt they couldn't go into their own beds. This was, of course, very true.
Because we are short on space, for a while we were resorting to just finding a spot for everyone to be on their own - my room, their rooms, the couch. But then I got tired of having to wait for everyone to fall asleep before folding laundry, watching t.v. or simply going to bed. And then I had to move them all to their own rooms, and I'm not as strong as I used to be.
Currently, we have the two younger boys going to bed first in the bunkbed while the older two "read quietly" in the other room. My arsenic hour drags out a lot longer because it is necessary for me to stay with the younger kids until they are sleeping since they will continue to come out until they have dropped on the floor in exhaustion if I do not. This is all to the increasing crescendo of laughter and screaming in the background from the older kids in the other room, mixed in with broken-record requests for food, water, bathroom breaks. By the time I have the little ones out, I am so stressed out I usually just give the older ones what for and turn out the light, retreating with threats of what will happen to them if I see or hear them one more time before morning. Like I said, arsenic seems like a pretty convenient solution at this point.
But by morning it has all blown over and we have one, two, maybe all three boys who have made their way to our bed just to say good morning and snuggle under the covers, and I remember that it's not about silently and obediently making it to bed at exactly the allotted time. It's about your kids knowing that you are there to read stories, sing songs, kiss them goodnight and that you are ready to listen if the chance to speak quietly come along. Because along with the chaos, bedtime has also been the time when my kids open up about a variety of amazing things. We've discussed Jesus making stars, missing grandma and grandpa, friends who make us happy and friends who make us hurt, how long ago dinosaurs lived, what it would be like to live on the moon, and what we want to be when we grow up. I've heard prayers for everyone from Uncle Steve on his mission to pet worms and missing stuffies. And no amount of arsenic could ever replace an unprompted I love you from your seven year old son whom you were pretty sure forgot you have feelings too.
And the old adage is true - they are so beautiful...when they're asleep!
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