Untangling Tales

(Originally published on Xanga.)

During snuggle time last night Natasha kissed me, snuggled into my side and said, “Thank you for staying home with me.”

I still wonder if she understood what she was saying.

That was a thank-you about ten years earlier than I’d expected.

~~~

Added 1-24-07:

Jay has taught the girls to thank me for dinner. It is both adorable and gratifying to hear them thank me, especially in front of visitors. I am seeing the fruit of one thought-full, intentional teaching, and it’s rather inspiring for future work.

MoonlightI’d like to see Rabbits under the moon
Dancing in winter, dancing in June
Dancing around while twilight lingers
and blinky-eyed stars
look down through their fingers.

I’d like to see rabbits under the moon
but I always,
always
have to go to bed too soon.
~~

I can’t remember who wrote it, but it’s one of the girls’ favorites. They both say it with me as eagerly as they sing “Row row boat.”

I think little kids have a greatly under-utilized capacity to memorize. We do bible verses too, but for now we’re moving a little slowly, for two reasons.

At first it was because we never remembered at the right time to look-up new verses. We were limited to verses that we’d memorized ourselves that didn’t sound too archaic (other than as a performing seal, I see limited value in teaching a 2- and 3-year-old the KJV version of, The Lord’s Prayer, for example). We want re-learn them in a more modern translation so they may be understood sooner with less explanation.

(Is anyone going to jump me for that one?)

Anyway, the verses they currently “know” (like they know the poem) are Genesis 1:1 (Natasha’s current favorite), Proverbs 3:5-6 (both girls recite v. 6 on their own, with great satisfaction, though, if you didn’t know what Melody was saying it wouldn’t make sense), and Eph 4:32.

The second challenge is that, like all children, they like best what is familiar. The girls aren’t very interested in most new verses when we introduce them. For example, earlier this week, when I tried to introduce Luke 6:31, both girls tried to talk over me with the verses they already knew.

After a couple nights they sometimes say it with me, but they haven’t “owned” it yet. Plenty of time, of course. Only, the last couple nights Elisha has needed me at bedtime, so I’ve not been able to do stuff with the girls.

We’ve talked about using the iPod to record a bunch of verses and night-time songs so we can leave it playing for the girls after we (grown-ups) move on to our evening activities (usually writing, for me). I wonder how interested the girls will be it that stuff when it doesn’t come with a lap.

Current favorite songs are Bluebird (bluebird on my window), Swing low sweet chariot, Row row boat, and “Hushabye” (All the pretty little horses).

Currently Reading Inkheart By Cornelia Funke see related

When a kid is this young, I don’t think it’s presumptuous to use two- or three-days-in-a-row to identify a pattern. This kid’s been consistently waking up (and staying awake, which bugs me more) between 4/4:30a.m. and resisting all efforts to crash him in less than an hour.

Last night I kept him awake a bit longer (and he kept himself up much longer) and it seemed to work. He didn’t wake until after 6 (wanting to stay-up, I mean).

During the evening “filler,” I read while I nursed him (which is normal evening routine) but after he was done, he was interested in “conversing” for a while. Lots of eye-contact, the “talking” mouth, and expressive face. Very fun.

We discussed my novel (I’m over 10,000 words now– that’s some sort of milestone, right?) and the book I was reading (finished it last night, but it’s still listed today), while Jay and the girls were off at the playground.

(Originally at Family News)

I don’t know what’s up with me and lists. You’d think these sorts of things would discourage me…be depressing. Everything I can’t/don’t do… (I do all types of these).

But in a weird way they’re encouraging too. Putting them down helps me see what really real (I had to dig for the last two [list on the original post]– and really they aren’t as critical, I just thought the list needed padding) so I actually only have 3 things to figure out, whereas, when I started the list, I felt buried under a mountain of unknowns.

And then, especially with day-to-day not-dones, I look at the list and see how well we all can survive with so much left undone. It also gives me a tangible list to prioritize and work from.

For example, the dried noodles under Melody’s chair can be really annoying (and even painful) when I’m trying to do something in that area, but cleaning some dishes to cook dinner in is more important than vacuuming or picking up that area. And so is sitting to cuddle Melody while she watches “Wooma Weed!” She has a high cuddle need, but isn’t really good at asking for it before she melts down. Movies sometimes help fill that gap. So do certain books.

Food, clothes, and cuddling (not necessarily in that order) are, I’ve decided, the priorities in this house.

That, and I get nap-times to myself. In case you’re wondering, that’s when I write (or after bed-time, like now).

At this point I’m not planning to restart the storytelling group in the fall. We easily agreed to put it on-hold for the summer (there are very few members involved enough to “vote” anymore), and I expected we’d start again once school began, but now I think my focus has shifted.

I may have mentioned before (who remembers this?) that Jay wanted me to keep my GKP (Gordian Knot Productions) work limited to two things.

He said this earlier in the year (or late last year?) when I began expressing interest in pursuing some freelance writing projects. I didn’t feel ready to drop teaching or storytelling, so I chose not to pick up the new ball.

But now things are shifting again. I’ve been pulled back more and more to writing. It’s an aspect of my personality I’ve been aware of for a long time: the more time I spend on something, the more I love it/want to do it. (This does not, unfortunately, apply so much to the have-to-dos like housework.) (more…)

Currently Watching House, M.D. – Season One see related

Jay and I were talking again last night about how were alike, and different.

At the store yesterday, I was on-assignment to buy the first season of “House” with a 20%-off coupon. While I was there I ended up buying an additional 4 movies. There was a display of $7.50 DVDs and I just grabbed two I was interested in, then two I knew Jay would love.

Later I asked Jay if it bothered him I bought something extra (unessential, un-budgeted for) without checking in with him. He pointed out his (much more) expensive purchase a few seasons ago, that he knew I wouldn’t like and he did anyway. (He also liked that I picked out the two for him, so he wasn’t inclined to feel annoyed).

But what we each chose was what led to the discussion. He bought a snow machine helmet (though we don’t own a snow machine), and I bought movies.

He bought something for doing (especially with his brothers/family) and I bought stories.

I haven’t mentioned it here yet, but we bought a new guitar before Elisha was a week old. Jay had been doing this research, before E was born, on a brand called Rainsong, and was totally sold, since the material is supposed to be basically impervious to environmental changes (dryness, cold, etc). The guitar store within walking distance had the exact guitar we wanted (I don’t manage/fit full-bodied guitars well). So we tried it out and less than a week later we were bringing it home.

I’ve been using that new guitar almost daily now (yay for me), getting attached to the sound and used to the feel, but I don’t think I’ll ever like the smell .

One of the first things I fell-in-love with my first (the classical) guitar was the smell. It is a cedar/rosewood instrument, and every time I open the case the smell is so pleasant.

The graphite guitar smells almost petroleum but fortunately that’s just the case– the guitar doesn’t reek just sitting in the open air.

(And *whew* I remembered to check the sponges on the old two today– they were *d*r*y* Guitars still fine though).

I need to actually try to sell them. But I guess I have been justifiably busy…