Red Hot Fire Breathin’ Mama or “Not all those who wander are lost”

Today at school, as always I was on lunch duty and when Autumn came to the table she was crying. She said she wanted to dry her hands. She had just washed them for lunch but we were out of paper towels but they were now refilled. I told her to go [...]

Read Full Post »

Chasing the Sleep Beast

Why does bedtime have to be so painful? Why can’t we just snuggle down, read some stories, heck I’ll nurse this forty pound three-year-old if she wants. But NO! Instead, books get thrown, I get hit, kicked, kneed in the stomach. All with a mighty roar of screaming lung power. [...]

Read Full Post »

‘Cause We’re Freaks That Way

Last night my sister (aunt Missa) and I took Autumn to Ani Difranco at Marymoor Park. All eyes were on Autumn as much as they were on Ani, as she put all her break dance moves out on the grass for everyone to see. When our favorite tunes came on, she stopped, swayed [...]

Read Full Post »

Preschool Table Dancing

Our days at school together…

She’s wet from the water table – not pee (surprisingly enough!)

Read Full Post »

…and we’re singing along.

When it comes to music, I don’t play “kid” music for Autumn. No Barney. No Elmo. No Raffi. She is going to have to love or at least suffer through what I like. It seems to be turning out fine. She loves punk rock, riot girl music, classical, jazz, [...]

Read Full Post »

Omak – Revisited

I took my daughter, Autumn, to my hometown, Omak, Washington, this weekend. It was the annual stampede and suicide race (which we did not attend!) We did however visit family, swim in Omak Lake and go to the carnival.
I am quite ambivalent about Omak. In my mind growing up was painful and [...]

Read Full Post »

How to…

set a limit without squashing her spirit, being a nag, overreacting?
let her cry without feeling like a horrible parent, neglectful, or like she’s doing it to get a reaction.
be there with her every minute she needs me, give her space when she doesn’t need me and how to know the difference.

Read Full Post »

Mama Love

Read Full Post »

Great Expectations…

Today was beautiful. Today I felt proud of myself for doing mama things. I most often have a hard time doing mama stuff. I tend to conveniently forget birthday parties, ignore places like the children’s museum and stay home on weekends listening to music, writing and playing quietly with my daughter. [...]

Read Full Post »