We finally made it to Dairy Queen to celebrate Soren's mathematical success. As we gorged ourselves on Blizzards, Dave bemoaned the loss of the DQ icon, Dennis the Menace. While my kids can sing most any Beatles tune, know Calvin and Hobbes intimately and love classic Muppet Show episodes (they think Rita Moreno is the tops!)-- they don't really know much about Dennis the Menace. I wish they would have kept him and his cohorts as the face of DQ. Now they have some idiotic characters, "Chilly, Blender and Grilla" running around trying to "save DQ-topia" and "unite the deeqs". (www.deeqs.com)
Oh cruel, cruel world....
I remember the days when we would consider going to DQ a great treat. In my hometown we had two locations-- neither was a Brazier. We'd walk up to the window and order our treasured dipped cone, dilly bar, or Mister Misty. It always made me think of the 50s for some reason-- Dennis, Margaret, Mr. Wilson were all kind of stuck in time-- and eating our ice cream either at the picnic bench or in the car was so "retro" in the 80s.
We'll keep the Dairy Queen tradition alive in our family. Summer is here and the time is right for ice cream.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Was I like this?
Katie is now 12 and has changed so much over the past year. Her 5th grade teacher saw her at the middle school last week while taking the prospective 6th graders from the elementary school on a tour of the building. She mentioned to me in an e-mail that Katie looked so grown up-- with her long hair and contact lenses. She is still the imaginative kid who will play creative games with her younger brother, but she is getting older and noticing more about the world around her.
The other day she complained about the fact that many girls around her age are focused on boys and clothes. She said, "Mom, I just don't care about that stuff. Is it okay that I don't want to wear make-up and lots of jewelry?" Inside I was cheering, but I calmly reply, "Of course it's okay. You need to be comfortable with who you are and what you want to do."
Katie and I watched the film version of "Little Women" (Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, et al) this past weekend. She was entranced and could really identify with the character of Jo. Just like Jo, she loves to write and be dramatic. She would think nothing of cutting off her locks for a good cause. (She's done Locks of Love three times so far...) After the movie she wanted to run upstairs and continue work on the book she's writing. She loves Shakespeare and is taking a drama class at our local civic theater on Saturdays. For heaven's sake, the kid writes amazing sonnets in her spare time! As I watch her grow and see how she relishes life I cannot but wonder: Was I like this at her age? (Mom, this is the perfect chance to respond and show me that you actually have read my blog....)
Granted, she does have the teenage anxious moments, but for the most part she seems comfortable in her own skin. I don't remember being so confident. I just hope that she continues to confide in me and to be brave enough to simply be Katie.
The other day she complained about the fact that many girls around her age are focused on boys and clothes. She said, "Mom, I just don't care about that stuff. Is it okay that I don't want to wear make-up and lots of jewelry?" Inside I was cheering, but I calmly reply, "Of course it's okay. You need to be comfortable with who you are and what you want to do."
Katie and I watched the film version of "Little Women" (Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, et al) this past weekend. She was entranced and could really identify with the character of Jo. Just like Jo, she loves to write and be dramatic. She would think nothing of cutting off her locks for a good cause. (She's done Locks of Love three times so far...) After the movie she wanted to run upstairs and continue work on the book she's writing. She loves Shakespeare and is taking a drama class at our local civic theater on Saturdays. For heaven's sake, the kid writes amazing sonnets in her spare time! As I watch her grow and see how she relishes life I cannot but wonder: Was I like this at her age? (Mom, this is the perfect chance to respond and show me that you actually have read my blog....)
Granted, she does have the teenage anxious moments, but for the most part she seems comfortable in her own skin. I don't remember being so confident. I just hope that she continues to confide in me and to be brave enough to simply be Katie.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Soren is in the midst of memorizing his multiplication tables. We had thought he was fine with this, but realized, after getting back a timed test, that he needed some practice. So, about a month ago I tried the "reward" tactic:
Me :"Hey Soren, when you master the times tables we can celebrate by going to Dairy Queen!"
Soren: "Can we go right now?"
Me: "No, you have to know these facts backwards and forwards first."
Soren: "Hmm... maybe later...."
Much of school comes easy for Soren, so when he was presented with a challenge, he got frustrated and started to rebel against our parental efforts. I made flashcards, we sang the "3 is the magic number" and other songs from Schoolhouse Rock, but he still didn't want to really learn the math.
One day as he was sitting at the piano, getting ready to practice, he turned and made the comment, "Mom, I guess I'm just like Mike Huckabee... 'I'm not a math guy, I'm more of a miracle guy.' " I was floored! I guess your kids really do tune in to the goings on of the wider world around them.
Naturally, this comment has been fodder for Dave's poli sci classes at Notre Dame. He asked me at least three times if that is really what Soren said.
Yep, that's my boy.
Oh, and by the way, he's learned his times tables. Dairy Queen here we come...
Me :"Hey Soren, when you master the times tables we can celebrate by going to Dairy Queen!"
Soren: "Can we go right now?"
Me: "No, you have to know these facts backwards and forwards first."
Soren: "Hmm... maybe later...."
Much of school comes easy for Soren, so when he was presented with a challenge, he got frustrated and started to rebel against our parental efforts. I made flashcards, we sang the "3 is the magic number" and other songs from Schoolhouse Rock, but he still didn't want to really learn the math.
One day as he was sitting at the piano, getting ready to practice, he turned and made the comment, "Mom, I guess I'm just like Mike Huckabee... 'I'm not a math guy, I'm more of a miracle guy.' " I was floored! I guess your kids really do tune in to the goings on of the wider world around them.
Naturally, this comment has been fodder for Dave's poli sci classes at Notre Dame. He asked me at least three times if that is really what Soren said.
Yep, that's my boy.
Oh, and by the way, he's learned his times tables. Dairy Queen here we come...
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