Multitasking Gone Awry

Changing sheets, laundry in the dryer, popcorn popping in the microwave. Son getting the 30 minutes of screen time he earned this morning by making his bed and putting his toys away. Phone rings, good friend in NY who had her second baby 7 weeks ago is calling. The first time in 7 weeks we actually manage to connect. Starting to catch up. Bed almost made. Smoke! Son so absorbed in Curious George, he doesn’t even notice. Ut oh, the popcorn! Still trying to carry on a conversation. So burnt it is dust. Jeez, the smell. Tears over burnt popcorn. Continuing conversation, new bag of popcorn in the oven. Curious George carries on, son telling me to stay low to the ground – because of the smoke – and putting soaking wet toilet paper around each of the doors – again because of the smoke. So glad he learned what to do in case of a fire at school. House full of smoke. Smoke detectors must not work. Still talking and making appropriate noises to show that I am listening. Turn the exhaust fan on in the kitchen. Bed is made. Asking friend abut child care. Popcorn out of the oven. Son happy. Finish the conversation. Crisis over. Go get the dry clothes out of the dryer.

Baby Borrowers -- Reality TV

While watching the first episode of “Baby Borrowers” – a reality tv show about teenagers trying on parenthood -- I had all sorts of things that I wanted to write about, most of them pretty negative: always blaming other people, not taking responsibility for one’s actions, and not being able to see beyond oneself that there are other people in the world. Ugh. But instead, I’ll attempt to take the positive route. Sean – he has this evil master plan to make his girlfriend realize that she is not ready to become a mom because he isn’t ready to be a dad. But instead, the baby falls for him and he for her. They turn out to be really quite sweet and natural together. His girlfriend, on the other hand, is jealous and angry that their baby only stops crying when she is with Sean, who is the inexperienced one. She has all the baby experience. Jordon and Sasha are the most successful so far. They are good with their baby and good with each other. Jordon relishes his role as father and “husband.” Telling Sasha to relax while he does the heavy lifting; Sasha happily relinquishing. They seem the most honest; they are scared before the baby comes; they are concerned that their baby is comfortable and ok, and they are concerned with each other. They take responsibility for the baby. Most importantly, they are able to put her needs first ahead of themselves and their needs. That’s what parenthood is all about.

"Mama You're Hot"

One afternoon, out of the blue while hanging out together, my 6 year old son said, "Mama, you're hot!" Sound of my jaw hitting the floor but trying not to let him see how shocked I am. "Does he really know what that means?" I ask myself. As nonchalantly as I can, I ask, "Where did you learn that?" "Hotel for Dogs" he says. "So what does that mean?" "Really, really, really, really beautiful." Oh, I see. "But actually, Grandmum is most hotter than you."

Quilt Assignment

In keeping with my anti-blog blog(which essentially means that I have a blog), I find myself with an assignment topic that I have never really been interested in -- quilts. Specifically the Obama quilts on display in the Cafritz gallery.On a certain level, I understand why quilts are so cool – colors, designs, cultural significance, details, family heritage and all sorts of great stuff all wrapped up in one creative package (that we talked about in class). I understand how intricate and time consuming they are. But quilts have never been my thing – perhaps because they are so intricate and time consuming that I would never have the patience to actually create one myself. But looking at the Obama exhibit, I like most of these. In fact, I can’t really pick a favorite. The ones I like best are colorful and intricate – a little bit crazy in some cases and some with complex thinking and symbolism. I’m drawn to the three quilts by Susan Shie – whoa, so much work, color and detail, but most of all the thinking behind the images and the words written on the quilts bring me into the rather primitive artwork. There are others I like – again with color design and tons of work to simply create the stitch work. My students select other quilts to write their blogs about. They seem go for the symbolic quilts that represent the importance of Obama being elected and his role in history, his significance and the hope he represents. (This post has been revised, but not because I was told to)

Tooth Fairy

A lost a tooth yesterday, but forgot it in his locker at school. So we wrote her a note telling her what had happened and asking her to please leave the money. A promised that he would leave the tooth for her the next night and drew a lovely picture, with lots of details and colors, of him in bed asleep and the Tooth Fairy by his bed. He carefully put the letter and picture under his pillow.

At about 11:00, I noticed that the light was on in his room. At first, I ignored it thinking he had turned on the light and gone back to sleep, but then I decided I had better check on him. The pillows were off his bed and the covers had been pulled to the floor. He was sitting cross-legged on his bedroom floor looking dejected and rubbing his eyes. I asked him what he was doing and what was the matter. He sadly replied, "She didn't come." Confused, I asked "who." He said, "the Tooth Fairy." I had completely forgotten she was supposed to come that night. I quickly explained that since I hadn't gone to bed yet, she couldn't come. That satisfied him so off he went back to bed. And the Tooth Fairy did come last night.

First Blog

I never thought I would blog – dismissing blogging as only for people with way too much time on their hands. And worse, full of uninformed opinions, rants and raves. I teach writing and reading; I want informed opinions, not rants and raves. I spend my days helping students do more than simply state an opinion, judge, rant and rave. To think critically and express logical well-informed opinions -- in my biased mind, that is the opposite of what most bloggers do. Blogging was also for people with not enough to do. I have no time for blogging. Full time professor who teaches writing (oh, the papers I grade) and full time single mom to a charming and somewhat wild 6 year old. Where’s the time to spend writing about stuff. And what makes me think anyone would be interested in reading what I might have to say? (Don’t people who blog have big egos because by blogging they assume people care what they say?) So the logical question – why is she blogging? I have to. For a class I’m teaching. My students are required to blog, so it seems only reasonable for me to join them. Who knows, maybe my negative ideas about blogging will change simply by giving it a chance and seeing where it takes me. (feedback from my colleague suggested I make this one paragraph – so this is a revised blog)