Shots

At La Nina's six-year visit last week, I was reminded that I failed to get her final vaccine for the chicken pox completed last year.  Of course, I blamed it on the Dad, but really, I think I blocked it from my mind, because taking La Nina to get shots is so very painful for me.

After promising her a trip shoe shopping, we headed off to Kaiser yesterday morning.  She fretted about the shot the entire way to the clinic and as I was dragging her from the van she asked me a great question:  Why do shots hurt?  

I don't really know why some shots hurt worse than others, but I've noticed a difference too.  So we agreed before her shot she should ask the nurse.  When they called her name, she marched into the office and boldly asked:  "Why do shots hurt?"  

The nurse, who experienced a very memorable shot episode with La Nina, stepped back and said, "Well, look who's grown up and asking questions!"  Then she proceeded to explain shots to La Nina.  (For the record, it's the medicine entering your tissue that hurts, not the needle.)  

Of course, the explanation didn't help much when La Nina was face to face with a needle.  La Nina carried on, but between the nurse and I we managed to get her vaccinated.  Afterwards, she sat up and said in front of the nurse, "Mom, I think I get two sets of new shoes for that shot.  The medicine hurt really bad, not the needle."  

The nurse gave me an odd look.  And I explained that I bribe La Nina with shoes.  The nurse laughed and told La Nina she was a smart girl to ask for shoes over stickers, lollipops or Barbies.  La Nina smiled and nodded in agreement.  

Goin' on Safari

This weekend, we took a glorious drive to Santa Rosa and visited an out of the way place, called Safari West.  This 400-acre, privately-owned wild animal preserve is home to countless species of hooved mammals, birds and other non-predatory animals that hail from Africa.  

It's like a zoo, but without cages separating you from the animals.   We saw a ostrich close enough to count his teeth, a zebra scratching his bottom on an oak tree on a few feet from us and a giraffe that leaned into our jeep, just to take a look around.  

The bright orange and blue feathers in the aviary captured the Magster's attention, and the tortoise impressed La Nina with its slow, but steady gate.  (He almost stepped on her foot.)   There were a few cheetahs in an enclosure well-away from the "game" animals and even a few fierce looking porcupines.   

While we made our visit a day trip, there are tent cabins available for rent for folks interested in making a weekend of their stay.  For about $65 per person, we ate a fabulous lunch outdoors, then hopped into a 1950's dodge munitions vehicle for a two-hour tour of the preserve.   It was well-worth the price of admission.  Because there is so little information out there about this place, we had no idea what to expect, but found Safari West to be a hidden gem in the Bay Area.  

A few tips:  

*  Due to the length of the tour, reservations are a must.   

*  Go easy on the water before you load onto the jeep.  There are no bathrooms in the preserve, only trees. And before stopping, the guides need to find trees without animals hiding nearby.  It can mean a bit of a wait.  

*  There are no signs helping you find your way to the preserve.  Just follow the directions on their web site and you'll find the place.  

*  Our kids were good ages to do this (they're six and four), the jeep ride may be tough on kids much younger.

For more information:   Visit Safari West.  

What in the world....

Do you know what tomorrow is?  If you don't, I can make some safe assumptions about you.  I bet you don't have school age kids and/or you are over 45 years of age. (Of course, you may live South of the equator too--as this day falls during the fall for you.) Tomorrow is Earth Day in the Northern Hemisphere.  A day dedicated to caring for Mother Earth. 

Founded in 1970, Earth Day is supposed to be about Earth Activism.  In other words, on Earth Day we're supposed to be rallying for environmental reform and policy changes.  Yet, it's become a holiday about doing something for the environment, in whatever form you think that action should take.  According to the official web site, it is the largest secular holiday in the world, is recognized in 175 countries and is  celebrated by more than half a billion people.  

In the past, I've had a vague awareness of Earth Day, but this year is different.  Why?  Because I have a child in public school.  Thanks to Earth Day, La Nina informs me every banana peel I toss in the trash should be used for composting.  (Like I want rotting vegetables in my kitchen!)  Thanks to Earth Day, I've had to borrow clothes from a neighbor so I can send La Nina to school in "something recycled".  (The skirt I made for La Nina out of aluminum diet coke cans proved too heavy to wear.)  And thanks to Earth Day, I'll be walking La Nina to school...which would be just fine if I didn't also have to walk the Magster both directions and listen to her tell me she's bored, sweaty and tired for thirty minutes. 

On top of all of it, on Friday, La Nina brought home a ten-page glossy "guide" she received from some environmental group, telling her all about how she can save the rain forests in Costa Rica by selling T-shirts.  Aren't those slick brochures bad for the environment too? Trust me, mine is going straight to the land fill.  I just don't need a tee shirt with giant tigers crawling across it.  

Am I the only person on Earth who thinks this whole celebration is politically motivated and that my six year old is being brain-washed by an ultra liberal education system?  I'm pretty sure I'd be stoned for even asking this question at school. But really, won't we do more for the Earth, if we all just agree to drive our cars a few miles less tomorrow, pick up five pieces of trash or turn off all of our lights an hour early?  May be I'm off base, but it seems like we'll have a lot more impact if we worry about messes in our neighborhoods rather than trying to save rain forests in Central America with glossy brochures and tee shirts.  But what do I know?

Chores and Allowances

When La Nina turned six in March, we decided it was time to start allowances.  The problem was the girls really didn't have any chores.  Oh sure, they picked up her toys from time to time,  put away their backpacks when the mood struck, but nothing was really set in stone.  And I am opposed to giving kids money for looking cute.

After much research and a little discussion, the Dad and I decided that each girl would begin receiving a weekly allowance and would be assigned some chores.  They needed to make their beds, set and clear their dishes from the table and feed the dog.  Seemed easy enough, except that it ended up inequitable.  See, La Nina conned the Magster into doing all the work, but always showed up on Fridays (payday) with her hand extended.  And because the Magster is younger, she was getting less money.

A friend of mine and I were yakking about allowances the other day and she had a similar problem so she devised a brilliant method for leveling the playing field.  Each child is assigned specific tasks that are listed on a weekly grid.  Whenever a chore is complete, the kids gets an "X" on the grid.  On Friday, count the "x"s and we pay a quarter a chore completed.   Each kid is rewarded based on effort, I don't have to complain if they don't complete the chore and they are responsible for their earnings...completely responsible.  

To keep things fair, La Nina has more chores than the Magster--she's older and should have the opportunity to earn more.  We've also added a sharing clause:  if either child helps the other then both kids are paid to promote team work. 

The result:  In five days, beds are made, my dishwasher is emptied every morning,  the table is set and cleared, backpacks are put away and while the girls have chosen not to do every chore, it's okay.   They'll learn if they want the big bucks, it takes some effort.  Incidentally, with fewer chores, at this point in the week, Maggie's earning the same money as big sis.  That may really rub her sister wrong on Friday, but such is life.  

When Momma's away...

I spent the weekend in word-nerd heaven.  I was at a local writing festival completely focused on my book project.  While two days talking about plot and scenes equate to heaven for me, for the Dad and the girls it meant an entire weekend without motherly supervision.  The details of their weekend are still a little vague, but here's what went down..near as I can tell:  

Baths:  Didn't happen.

Meals:  Happened but were dominated by meat by-products...bacon, hotdogs, sausages and processed cheeses.  I don't believe anything fresh or green was included.

Snacks:  I found a pile of cracked peanut shells in the back yard.  Either a elephant paid us a visit or the girls snacked in the yard on roasted nuts.

Hair:  Not brushed.

Teeth:  Ditto.

Hands and Nails:  Filthy.

Television:  Well, both girls now understand the value of a double play, chant "Let's go Giants" and express surprise that Memphis is in the finals.  Think they watched some sports? 

Frankly, I could care less.  I came home to happy kids and a relatively decent house.  That's all I hoped for.  I had a wonderful time reengaging with my manuscript and for some reason, the Dad is already asleep on the couch.