It was a beautiful fall weekend — half of it spent without Andrew, who has been traveling a lot lately but is luckily staying put for a while. Friday morning my friend Elisha and I messed around with staging food and photographing it for a class she is taking. It was so much fun and felt like playing with a friend while our kids were in school. I think the pictures turned out really well, though there was so much I found myself wanting to do and not knowing how to do it. It may be time soon for me to take a photography class… but I keep putting it off as my writing has taken over my creative side lately and I honestly just don’t have the time. I do love having a creative outlet, through this blog mainly, and am so grateful for what doors it has opened up for me.
Friday night and Saturday were a struggle. The kids and I just couldn’t seem to find our rhythm and I lost count of how many physical fights I had to break up between them, separating them to different rooms and taking frequent breaks outside for fresh air and a hopeful reset. The fresh air helped, but as soon as we were back inside again, all hell broke loose. I was at my wit’s end and in tears, especially with Oliver, who was all button-pusher and no reasoning with. It is just like that sometimes.
When Andrew returned I was sure the kids would snap out of it, but alas, Sunday was a bit rough too. I guess I was just the slightest bit relieved that it wasn’t all me, ha!
We picked the last of the November strawberries, which were surely the sweetest of the whole season with the knowledge that they are gone, gone until next spring and summer. We are expecting freezing temperatures this week for several days in a row and there is no chance for them!
Emil picked up the camera and after I helped him turn it on, he took the above photo! Not bad, right?
Sunday afternoon was a relief. We met up with our neighbors and friends for a big last pick-up soccer game before the weather turns frigid. The sunset was beautiful (at 5:30) and it all ended up okay in the end. Sigh. We’ll find our groove eventually!
This echoes our last few days. It’s the full moon, I’m sure. Plus Hank had his birthday, the anticipation of which really amped up some irritating behaviors (telling everyone that he wants LEGOs, asking incessantly about gifts, etc). Thursday was our low (constant screeching between siblings! arguments! frustrations! ahh!) and similarly, the day was saved with really helpful, soul saving time with our neighbors. Thank goodness for take out Thai and impromptu dinner gatherings.
Incidentally, in talking over the stress with my neighbor, the idea of a Peace Corner came up. I had never heard of this, but information about them abounds (headed to the library soon). I haven’t done much reading, yet, but I made a spot for Hank to chill, and he has gravitated toward it every afternoon for the last couple days. Much relief.
Love the photo that Emil took.
Adah, I’m glad we weren’t the only ones struggling, but I’m sorry you had to go through it too!
I am intrigued by this peace corner idea. The trick is getting them to leave each other alone long enough to enjoy it! Happy Birthday to Hank!
We have many of these weekends. My little one, when tired, makes no good choices. When she’s in a screaming, arching, melting puddle on the floor, my husband and I look at each other and remind ourselves of this simple fact. It’s like her body seeks out the very thing she needs the most, and then proceeds to carry on with the precise opposite of that. We often yell, but if we can keep our wits about us, we remember that a book always brings her back into the world. We use them like some parents use a binky. 🙂
I was talking to a friend last night, and we were wondering just how much tension and pain and anxiety we (adults) are holding onto in this city right now. I think more than we might realize. There’s been an added layer of tension on everything since late summer, and I feel like I have to work a little harder (those outside deep breaths) to keep on an even keel at home.
Kristin, I feel it too. There is a tension, sadness, and anger under much of what this city has gone through, not only recently, but in the past 100 years. It’s hard to know what to say or do, but I feel it.
Our girls’ daycare used a peace corner as well – but it had a different name that I can’t recall – I’m thinking it was a calming center. In one room it was an old cast iron bathtub full of pillows where a child could sink in and chill out, unseen by the other kids, but still watched over by taller adults.
They also practiced the peace table idea of working through things with their friends when conflicts arose. It was a simple practice of each child getting to say how they felt about the situation, and the other child had to echo back what they were hearing before sharing their own thoughts and then they worked towards a solution that both could agree upon. The teachers facilitated it, but the peace table wasn’t over until a mutual resolution was agreed upon. I’ve heard tales of some epic peace tables!
I’m back to the sweet article about getting kids outside. Just an FYI that might make you smile, or maybe you already know this, but…monarch butterflies ONLY lay their eggs on milkweed leaves and that’s why there were so many in your “milkweed field”. Cool, huh??!!! Some master gardener ladies who I got to take hiking taught me that!!