Category: madelynne

30 Blog Challenge · madelynne · school

Kindergarten Meltdown

Lindsey P. BrackettLeave a comment

I have made an important discovery this week.  Kindergarten causes meltdowns.

Now, at first I thought it was just me.  Well, just Madelynne.  But I have been discussing these, um, situations with other moms of new kindergarteners and we’ve figured it out.

They spend all day being so good that they just explode when they arrive home.  Now I know that I should be grateful that she behaves for her teacher and other adults, that she feels safe at home and knows we will love her no matter how bad the meltdown may be, but seriously?  I’d like to get to experience the politeness and sweetness that I know is somewhere in the middle of all that meldown.

I mean, after all, I did give her life, so I figure I’m entitled to the good child every once in a while.

and that completes #2 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge 😉

http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne · school

First Days of School

Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

It was a big first day for all of us.  Kindergarten, Pre-K, Bed Babies….oh, and Mommy got to meet almost 100 new faces, too.  And right now, I don’t remember any of their names.

I’m exhausted.  and my feet hurt.  and my head.  oh, and did I mention Amelia shared her cold?  So after five straight hours of “Welcome to 7th Grade!” speeches, my throat is killing me.  But this post isn’t supposed to be about me.  It’s supposed to be about my girls and their big milestones today.

Can we really be actual school parents now?  For big school?  I had more empathy this morning for the parents who are leary of dropping their child at middle school than I have ever had before.  Suddenly I realized she was outside the safe bubble world I had created and chosen for her and was part of the real world where there will be so many more influences we don’t want or like.  It’s scary.

But I didn’t cry.  I really didn’t.  I teared up.  I choked up.  I sniffled this morning while I got ready for my eighth first day of school as a teacher.  And I prepared myself to lose it when I dropped her off and she ran ahead saying,  “I know where my room is!” 

But I didn’t cry.  Because before I left she hugged me tight and said, “Don’t cry, Mama.  It’s going to be okay.” 

And you know what?  It really is.

amelia · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne · summer

Where Did Summer Go?

Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

It’s officially over.  According to the school calendar that is.  Summer….where did you go?

Oh, that’s right.  You went to Harbor Island where the girls got a quick beach fix and Amelia learned to hold her head up like a little turtle.

 You invited Hailey and Audrey to visit for a week at Saddle Ridge Ranch.

You taught Madelynne and Belle to swim and Amelia to roll.

 You celebrated Daddy’s big 3-0 and Amelia’s first cereal.

You got your Twilight fix with Eclipse and the big girls (but no pictures)!

You camped at the lake even though it was hot, hot, hot!

You celebrated a special anniversary with special friends and a special night of fancy dinner and the fancy Fox Theatre (but again, no pictures).

 You panned for gold and gems and bought Daddy a truck.

You stole the Munchkin scene in The Wizard of Oz for two weekends in a row.

And in between you found time to go to the dentist (not so fun), work out at Jazzercise enough to earn flip flops (pretty fun), tube the “mighty ‘Hooch” with Aunt Brooke (lots of fun), and play with your friends at the water park (the most fun).

And while all this was going on, you were letting my girls get bigger right before my eyes.  Now those pictures from early June show preschoolers with shorter hair and shorter legs.  This week they became school girls ready for Kindergarten and Pre-K, independent and a bit sassy, but still sweet and lovable.  They may have darker tans, longer hair, and more inches between their shorts and their knees than Daddy would like, but they’re still my little girls.

And I already can’t wait for next summer!

http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne

Random Acts of….-isms

Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

So I quite behind on my blog posting and this morning I am procrastinating my return to school.  For a few more moments I am going to pretend it’s still summer vacation and since I’ve been inspired by Jack, here’s some of the latest Madelynne-and-Annabelle-isms of our little world:

Madelynne: Mommy, I hope I don’t have a baby before I get married.
Me: Yeah, I definitely hope so too, Madelynne.  Now, tell me, why is it important to be married first?
Madelynne: Because babies are A LOT of work!

…and on the heels of that:
Madelynne:  When James Whitfield and I get married I am only going to have one baby, not three like you Mommy.
Me:  Well, why not?
Madelynne (in a tone of stating the obvious): I TOLD you that babies are a lot of work!

Well, clearly it has been impressed upon her this summer that babies are more than sweet little bundles of joy.  And she’s never even experienced middle of the night feedings!

…and at the Wizard of Oz:
Annabelle:  Mommy, is that witch really dead?
Me: Yes, Belle, Dorothy melted her.
Annabelle: But is she really, really dead?  Like, for real?
Me: Yes, the witch is not coming back.
Annabelle: But is she really dead?  The witch girl?
Me:  Mrs.  Kristy is not dead, Belle, but she is pretending to be the witch, so she is pretending to be dead.
Annabelle:  But the witch is dead for real?
Me: Yes.
Annabelle:  But why does she come back at the end with everybody?
…and I gave up.  Four year olds are very literal creatures.

Then on our way to girls night out Annabelle informs me, “Mommy, I am in love with Hailey Reed.” But then yesterday she told me she was “in love” with M&Ms so I don’t think she quite understands the concept….well, I don’t know.  I might be in love with M&Ms, too.

But the kicker of this week was when  I told Madelynne that she couldn’t have Coke to drink because it was bad for her.  She told me that I drank tea and it had caffeine, so what was the difference.  When I informed her that some things are okay “in moderation” she looked at me like I had three heads or something.  So I figured I better clarify and asked her if she knew what I meant.  The response?
“Yeah, Mommy, moderation is when something isn’t really healthy for you but tastes really good anyway.”

What a lesson in context clues!

amelia · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · madelynne

Random Acts of….Independence

Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

July 4th seems like the perfect time to reflect not only on the independence we are so blessed with as a nation, but the independence my children have recently begun to discover in themselves.

They are finally at an age where they can play outside together riding bikes, sidewalk chalking the driveway, watering Daddy’s flower beds….and mommy can be inside nursing or folding laundry or cooking dinner while watching out the windows. 

They can bathe themselves.  Now I’m not claiming they do a great job and they don’t understand the concept of using an amount of shampoo the size of a quarter, but at least they smell better when they get out.  And there are enough bubbles in the tub to clean the rest of the neighborhood kids, too.

You know, when it comes to independence, it’s really the little things that matter.