A Whole New World

It was well over one hundred degrees here today and the kids and I headed to the pool.  Of course, we didn't get there until noon and all the shady spots near the pool were taken, but there are some great trees that line the edges of the club, so we picked out a nice spot under a willow.  The problem:  we were easily 25 yards from the pools edge, my usual hang out when the kids are swimming.  I've always been so paranoid around that I won't leave the edge of the pool.  

Oh, the pool is lifeguarded.  And really, La Nina has been water safe for years.  But the Magster is more reluctant in the water, so I never felt good leaving her in the pool...even with lifeguards, even to just run to the bathroom.  

But this year, things are different.  The Magster took off during swim lessons and swam the length of the pool many, many times during the past two weeks.  And she swam it in multiple strokes:  the free style, the breast stroke as well as the back stroke.  Really, she's completely water safe.  Even I can't justify my own paranoia any longer.  

So, it came down to this:  both kids swim strong enough to save themselves.  The lifeguards (two of them) were there to handle anything catastrophic and enforce rules (did I ever tell you about La Nina's ability to perform flips into the pool?)..what was I worrying about?  So, I did it.  I sat in the shade, I read a magazine and relaxed.....when I wasn't so hot I was in the pool myself.  It was so odd.  Wonderful and delightful.  Suddenly, our pool membership is a lot more appealing.  Now, if they just served Lava Flows, I'd be in business.

CSA Madness

Earlier this year, I joined a CSA.  Unless you're from a crazy place like California you've probably never heard of one.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which still doesn't explain exactly what a CSA is either.  In a CSA, you pay a lump sum to a farmer at the beginning of a growing season and every week you receive a share of the farmers crop.  Most farmers set up trades with other farmers, so your share isn't 15 pounds of kale, but is more a mix of fruits and vegetables.   And our farmer wisely set up a trade with a local bakery, so we always get some fabulous baked good using the fruits and vegetables from the farm.  

The theory is this is a win-win.  The consumer gets access to high quality, locally grown, seasonally fresh produce.  The farmer knows his revenue early in the season and can better plan his crops.  The environment wins because locally grown produce is locally consumed and not transported across the country.

In my case, the farm is within five miles of my house, on Foothill Rd. for those familiar with the city where I live.  Every Wednesday I pick up a load of fresh produce.  The catch is I have no say in what kinds of fruits and vegetables I receive.  I get what I get and I don't pitch a fit--for the kids, this has been a bit of a learning. 

Since our season started the first week of June, I've received peaches, nectarines, pluots, lettuce, kale, swiss chard, cauliflower, onions, shallots, garlic, squash, mint, rosemary, thyme and other things I know I'm forgetting.  I have had to adjust to having my vegetables and not buying anything else.  I'm learning to cook some new things.

It's also come with some challenges:  so what to do with 2 lbs of pluots when both girls refuse to eat them?  (The answer: pluot tarts that are to die for.)   It's come with some victories:  the Magster actually ate swiss chard and liked it.  La Nina ate two nectarines, but that isn't shocking..she's a good fruit and veggie eater.  

From my perspective, it's been a win.  I'm enjoying the spontaneity of cooking with farm fresh ingredients.  And we're all getting spoiled.  The flavor of this food is really spectacular.  We're eating more fruits and veggies than ever earlier in the season than ever before.  And now, we're scoping out the egg CSA also offered by our farm.  A dozen fresh eggs a week for 10 weeks.  Hmmmm, I may be making the trip to the farm a second day a week.

Quote of the Day

The girls are in swim lessons now that school is out.  La Nina's class is basically just a conditioning class where the kids swim laps and work on their strokes.  The following conversation happened between La Nina and her teacher during a lap of the breast stroke.   Imagine the two of them shouting.  La Nina in the pool, her teacher on the edge next to her.

Teacher:  "Don't do the splits when you kick." 

La Nina: "But you said to open my legs"

Teacher:  "Well, yes, but don't do the splits."  

La Nina:  "But I can't help it. My legs just do that."  

Teacher:  "What?"  

Then the teacher's jaw just dropped.  Apparently, she'd never seen a child do the side ways splits with every kick of her feet.  The flexibility thing works for her in dance.  It's not so helpful in the water.

Never say Never

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PS I was quite proud of my other dancer today.  The Dad took the stage with La Nina during one of her dances in a very moving Daddy-Daughter dance to Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Dance with Cinderella".  Both dancers did a great job.  Hopefully, I won't have to be a stage mom to my big dancer too. 

Mad Librarian Holds Children Hostage

PTOWN, CA, USA-  A school librarian, worried children would not return overdue books before the end of the school year, took over 60 kids hostage at various times during the school day.  The librarian did this on the school's only field day, a day long party at their school.   Once she took custody of the children she called parents advising them their children would miss the entire day of fun, if they did not return the book or buy the book immediately.  

"I told the kids that they wouldn't get their report cards if their books hadn't been returned," said the librarian.  Apparently, when children laughed at this threat (and what self-respecting child wouldn't?), she took action.  

The librarian used a systematic approach to the kidnappings.  She gathered 10 children at a time and instructed them to call their parents.  When a child's parents either returned the book or showed up with a check, the child was released from jail...oops the writer means the "library", and another child was snatched from class by a fifth grade "helper".

One girl by the name of La Nina was held hostage for about 30 minutes before her teacher tracked down her mother in her sister's classroom.  Apparently, the mother couldn't hear her cell phone over the din of the kindergarten carnival where she was volunteering.  

The child was released as soon as her mother showed up, but her mother, who received no notice of this deadline for payment, was stunned by the school's aggressive action.  

"I knew the book was lost," said her mother.  "But no one ever told me the cost of the book and I had no idea how to resolve the issue.  Other moms told me I'd get a bill over the summer, so I didn't worry about it."  

In a cost saving effort, the librarian opted not to notify parents directly of the costs of books this year.  Rather, she advised the children and teachers who were supposed to tell parents.  When new procedure didn't yield any books, she took to kidnapping.  

"Well, teachers should have known I'd do something.  We have 60 books missing." 

As parents pointed out, why is it a teacher's job to notify us of the library's procedures?  Shouldn't a librarian, who's jobs were just saved when teacher's jobs were lost, do that?  Are we missing something here? 

All morning, parents dashed to the school with check books in hand, the librarian slowly collected her fines and released kids back to their field day.  It should be noted very few library books were recovered during this one day crusade.  One witness reported seeing 7 mothers in line all with check books as who has time to look for books during the last week of school?

Despite the fact their parent's were outraged, most children were unfazed by the librarian's actions.  One child named La Nina who lost a library book in March and did tell her mother that all library books were due June 1, said this.

"Well, Mom, it was cold at field day and our class wanted to stay inside and watch Nemo.  I don't like that movie, so I was happy in the library.  You didn't have to hurry."

  

Return Trip

I spent my weekend in Kansas City visiting with old friends, chatting about old times and hanging out.  It was great fun, quite relaxing.  I flew home yesterday and opened the door to pandemonium.  Seconds before my arrival, the Magster's first loose tooth took a major step toward falling out and was bleeding.  She was too excited to even notice I was home.  

When we finally calmed everyone down enough to get a look at the tooth, it fell out.  The Magster lost her first tooth a full eight months younger than her sister.  The tooth fairy will be busy at our house.  

End of an Era

I remember when I found out La Nina had afternoon kindergarten almost two years ago now, I was kind of disappointed.  It meant Maggie would have to switch pre-schools, I couldn't use any kind of traditional day care and our days would be cut in half, but the half missing was going to come from the middle.  It all felt so wrong.  

My neighbor told me I should be happy that she requested afternoon kindergarten.  She said it seemed longer.  During the 200 minutes the kids were in school, she could go to lunch with a friend and hit the grocery store.  Once we started Kindergarten, I realized my neighbor was right.  Afternoon kindergarten was great.  No rushing a kid out the door in the morning.  We could take long morning baths, be more lenient on bed times and arrange morning play dates.  Also, afternoon kindergarten is the hang out for stay home moms or moms like me who want to work on their own terms.  I fell into a pattern I liked and when it was Maggie's to start school last spring, I requested the afternoon class.

Today was my last day at home with an afternoon kindergartner.  I'm out of town the next couple of days and next week the Magster goes to school early.  So, today was it.  The last day of the life I never thought I'd like but came to love.  And as Maggie and I were eating our last early lunch together, I felt so sad.  There will be no more lunches at 11 where I beg her to eat something, anything and she refuses.  There will be no more car rides where I pretend I forgot how to get to school and she directs me from the back seat.  No more artistic surprises when I get out of the shower.  Next year, my baby is in school all day and to me, this change is much bigger than when kids start kindergarten.  

Yes, there is a large part of me doing a happy dance that I'll have 6 glorious hours of freedom everyday.   While I'm sad this era is ending, I'm also curious what the school era holds for me.  I can't imagine working more than a few hours a day, yet I sort of want to work.  I also would like to finish my darn book that has been side lined for awhile. Or at least decide if I want to finish it or start something different.  The possibilities are only limited by my ability to envision them.