Amos had his 2 month check-up on February 11th. He weighed in at 11lbs 2oz and has grown 5 inches since birth. Man, they grow fast!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Oh Amos
So, I realized that we haven't posted, or even taken, many pictures of Amos. One reason could be, and I hate to say it, but maybe you really do take less pictures of your second child, but I think the primary reason is that pictures do NOT do this little guy justice. He is so stinkin' cute, but his dad and I have a hard time capturing it. Here are a few attempts to capture his cuteness from the past several weeks:
Amos had his 2 month check-up on February 11th. He weighed in at 11lbs 2oz and has grown 5 inches since birth. Man, they grow fast!
Amos had his 2 month check-up on February 11th. He weighed in at 11lbs 2oz and has grown 5 inches since birth. Man, they grow fast!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
be MINE
When Montana woke up yesterday morning (Valentine's Day), Aaron greeted her with a "Happy Valentine's Day, Montana!" Her reply?
"Thanks. I love myself."
Wow! Okay, I wasn't expecting that one. But if that one statement wasn't a prediction for the rest of the day, I don't know what was. She spent the entire day asking for candy. And when I brought out the paper/stickers/scissors to make valentines for her classmates and neighbors, she proceeded to make a beautiful valentine...for herself.
I was going crazy. I wanted to wring her beautiful little neck. Am I raising a self-absorbed, bratty child? I mean, having a good self-esteem is a good thing and I want it for my children especially as teenagers and young adults, but come on, she's three!
I called my mother and freaked out a bit. Maybe Aaron and I weren't demonstrating how to give and how to prefer other people? Were we not teaching her the importance of love and how to give it away? My mom's response?
Kate, she's three! (That was what I said, but mom was coming at it from a bit of a different perspective - the grace filled side.)
Okay, I will have a bit of grace this Valentine's Day...but next year...I am NOT making all of the valentines by myself.
"Thanks. I love myself."
Wow! Okay, I wasn't expecting that one. But if that one statement wasn't a prediction for the rest of the day, I don't know what was. She spent the entire day asking for candy. And when I brought out the paper/stickers/scissors to make valentines for her classmates and neighbors, she proceeded to make a beautiful valentine...for herself.
I was going crazy. I wanted to wring her beautiful little neck. Am I raising a self-absorbed, bratty child? I mean, having a good self-esteem is a good thing and I want it for my children especially as teenagers and young adults, but come on, she's three!
I called my mother and freaked out a bit. Maybe Aaron and I weren't demonstrating how to give and how to prefer other people? Were we not teaching her the importance of love and how to give it away? My mom's response?
Kate, she's three! (That was what I said, but mom was coming at it from a bit of a different perspective - the grace filled side.)
Okay, I will have a bit of grace this Valentine's Day...but next year...I am NOT making all of the valentines by myself.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Learning to Speak
I've always struggled with my voice as a woman, perhaps it's why I dedicated my master's thesis in part to studying women and voice. Authors and researchers such as Carol Gilligan and Mary Pipher, along with my thesis supervisor inspired me to look more closely at my womanhood and my voice. In my readings, I learned that young girls learn to "silence" their voice for the sake of relationship. They would rather live in harmony than speak what is on their heart or mind. At first glance, of course, harmony doesn't seem problematic, especially if you are a woman reading this, but it's what is sacrificed that is problematic. That is, sense of self, feelings and beliefs. We see this "silencing" generally begin around adolescence...
But the other day I caught myself silencing my 3 year old daughter's voice.
On Saturday a little boy was chasing Montana. She ran by me and said, "mom, he is going to rip my coat." I gently replied in a teasing voice with something to the effect of, "Oh, Montana, he's not going to rip your coat. You better get used to boys chasing you. Deal with it."
Then the little boy's dad said, "Montana, if you don't want him to chase you, just ask him to stop. He'll stop."
It wasn't until later that afternoon I realized how powerful that small comment truly was. Yes, Montana, if you don't like something that is happening, by all means, please ask them to stop. It's so simple, so understated, and why wasn't this my response to my daughter?
I want to protect her and defend her, so of course I should be teaching her at this age to ask for a boy to stop chasing her when she doesn't like it. If she is encouraged to use her voice at this age, how much easier will it be for her when she is older and in situations that will require her to use her voice. As a woman in my thirties, I am still struggling and learning how to speak up and not "just deal with it." I long for my daughter to know her voice and not be afraid to speak, and here I am silencing it for her. I am reminded, however, that it's not just my words that can silence, but also my example. I am challenged and inspired to practice using my voice so that my daughter can see it in action.
But can I also say how grateful I am for this subtle, yet powerful shift that occurred on Saturday? And that she is 3 and not 13 or 30?
But the other day I caught myself silencing my 3 year old daughter's voice.
On Saturday a little boy was chasing Montana. She ran by me and said, "mom, he is going to rip my coat." I gently replied in a teasing voice with something to the effect of, "Oh, Montana, he's not going to rip your coat. You better get used to boys chasing you. Deal with it."
Then the little boy's dad said, "Montana, if you don't want him to chase you, just ask him to stop. He'll stop."
It wasn't until later that afternoon I realized how powerful that small comment truly was. Yes, Montana, if you don't like something that is happening, by all means, please ask them to stop. It's so simple, so understated, and why wasn't this my response to my daughter?
I want to protect her and defend her, so of course I should be teaching her at this age to ask for a boy to stop chasing her when she doesn't like it. If she is encouraged to use her voice at this age, how much easier will it be for her when she is older and in situations that will require her to use her voice. As a woman in my thirties, I am still struggling and learning how to speak up and not "just deal with it." I long for my daughter to know her voice and not be afraid to speak, and here I am silencing it for her. I am reminded, however, that it's not just my words that can silence, but also my example. I am challenged and inspired to practice using my voice so that my daughter can see it in action.
But can I also say how grateful I am for this subtle, yet powerful shift that occurred on Saturday? And that she is 3 and not 13 or 30?
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