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#SOL24-19 Independence

Published on March 19, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

Today, she made her own lunch.

Insisted on it.

Determined.

She is three years old.

Which simply means:

She wants and knows and must.

Everything.

Always.

She can do.

One slice of potato bread

On a grown up plate

She leaned over the big jar

Dug deep and scooped

Strawberry jam

Dropping a spoonful on the bread

Working like an artist

Spread the sweetness

With a butter knife

Drawing into the corners

Meeting each edge

Concentrating

Next, the cream cheese

A second knife from the drawer

(Nana’s eyes widen – it is sharp!)

She scratched and fiddled

Lips pursed

Leaning into the gooey spread

Wanting it on her bread

One index finger helping

Holding the bread in place

Never giving up

Big sigh of success

Two hands fold

The bread together

Eyes twinkle

Huge smile

She takes her first bite

Best. Sandwich. Ever.

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#SOL24-6 Misty

Published on March 6, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

Our morning playground routine was booted out by rain. This was a steady, welcoming, “let’s sit down and write” kind of rain, if it were any other day of the week. However, a babysitting day means we have to get our bodies moving.

I connected my phone to the wireless speaker and played Laurie Berkner’s “Moon Moon Moon.” I think Laurie Berkner’s singing voice may be my favorite for children’s songs, and this one song is my all-time favorite of hers. This ode moves from gentle lullaby into a jazzy dance refrain.

Just like that, Poppa, Nana, and Bird had an impromptu dance party.

After Laurie Berkner sang, we asked Bird what she’d like to hear, letting her be the DJ for the dancing. She loved this! With an older sister, I suspect she isn’t often making all the decisions. Her playlist was an unexpected (and uneven) melange of Disney princess with rock and roll, moving us in very silly ways. For example,

Disney’s “Let it Go” (floating around, with wide theatrical emotional princess arms)
Proclaimers’ “I Will Walk 500 Miles” (high knees, exaggerated steps)
Disney’s “Theme from Little Mermaid” (fish face required)
The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” (stiff arm sideways walking)
The Go-Go’s “My Lips are Sealed” (rock dancing, throw in some squats)

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (twirling slowly, theatrical arms) made my eyes mist, unexpectedly tapping into the memory of my son being captivated by this movie soundtrack; how I loved hearing him sing along. My goodness, time goes by much too quickly. Tale as old as time.

Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
         - "Beauty and the Beast," song written by Celine Dion and Peobo Bryson

Later, the downpour stopped and we went walking in a misty rain.I was mesmerized by the emerging growth all around.

There is tiny flowering on trees, perennials sticking their heads up out of the ground, and bulbs popping up everywhere. Joanne Toft’s slice from yesterday touched on this same joy, noting the spring splendor of tiny Winter Aconite emerging from the ground. She added excitedly “I have been wanting to draw and paint these little guys,” to which I totally relate. There I am with my camera, trying to capture the right angle and lighting, hoping to get a good image of these first baby changes.

Nature shifts in subtle yet breathtaking ways this time of year. This is how transformation begins.

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#SOL24-5 Crows

Published on March 5, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

Bird and I were savoring the warmth of this spring day from the sandbox. Her shoes and socks were strewn on the ground to the side. The sand was clammy and cold, and the three-year-old was fervently working on filling containers and then flipping the molds out. A variety of bugs had taken up residence in the sandbox, during the many months we had left it closed up. I used a play shovel to remove them gently, one by one, at her insistence. The gentle part was my requirement, and I tarried a moment with each shovelful so that she might see these small beings up close in a benign way. They mean her no harm, I repeated, they are just living their lives. Lucky them, finding our sandbox as a nice home away from the winter cold.

All of a sudden, we were greeted by loud and resounding bird chatter, with the most discernible voices being piercing caws from humble crows. Looking up, I witnessed swarms of crows – a murder, as it were – in the air above, wildly circling one another and the winter trees. My glance shifted high into the treetops, madly searching for the focus or goal of all this ruckus, and I saw the branches bustling and swaying, quite literally in motion. It was a scene from a Hitchcock movie, and I stood there transfixed. What in the world?

Here is one snapshot of the crows in the tree

Quick – Merlin app to the rescue, what am I hearing?

Rapid fire pulsating response from the wizard in fifteen brief seconds, highlighting over and over: Fish Crow and American Crow, with Tufted Titmouse, Song Sparrow, and American Robin sprinkled in, once or twice.

What is the difference between a Fish Crow and an American Crow? I need to read up on this; all the crows look very much the same, from this distance. It seemed to me that one large tree held about a dozen wiggling, busy crows, and a neighboring tree held another dozen or so, with other crows flying about, darting between the two trees. All the birds were calling out harshly, creating a huge commotion.

Were the American Crows in one tree and the Fish Crows in the other? Or were they all mixed up together? How do I tell them apart? Was this some sort of argument? Who offended whom? Or were they worried on behalf of someone else? Was someone’s nest being harmed and they were all there to support the injured party? Or ward off the interloper?

We went back to our sandbox play, not knowing any answers. Then, perhaps ten minutes later, all the crowing stopped. It was peaceful again. The trees were emptied now. Where did the crows go? How did I miss their departure?

Think of that adage – “nothing to crow about,” as in, being less than worthwhile. Hmm. I think this is rather condescending to crows. Today’s tumult was very unusual. I have no doubt that there was a real reason for their uproar. They were obviously seeking to be heard and understood, in fact, they were demanding to be.

Clearly, there WAS something to crow about. I just didn’t know what. How do I know it’s not meaningful?

crow full

fish crow 
American crow 
fuss crow 
fume crow
this way 
that way 
a real crow’s nest
crow over 
crow about
swoop crow
loud crow
this is the way
crow flies
definitely something 

though I know 
not what

A little chalk art found in my neighborhood park.

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B is for Bird

Published on January 30, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

On babysitting days, Tony’s always a real sport about driving across town to pick up our Bird and bring her back here for the day. He is more of an early riser than I am; I like to wake slowly – and write. This week, however, I was up early, itching to go. It had been three weeks since I laid eyes on my granddaughters, thanks to the timing of Covid-19 sweeping through both our households. I was thrilled to go, and catch a glimpse of her sister Frog before she left for school.

big hugs, big smiles, we’re together

My eyes watered at the hugs I received. I was half-wishing that Frog could play hooky from school for the day, but that seemed a naughty thing for this retired teacher to suggest. Bird and I watched from the window, waving goodbye, as her parents and sister left for the day.

grandchildren and grandparents: mutual adoration society

Bird wanted to ‘show me a few things’ at her house, so we lingered. First order of business, building a Magna-Tile castle for Elsa and Anna. ‘Elsa and Anna,’ oh my. How many years will this movie have such a hold on children? How many years will I have songs from Frozen running through my brain unexpectedly?

let it go!  let it go!

Next, we had to build a Magna-Tile highway. (Magna-Tiles are perhaps my favorite toy – whether home or preschool classroom. Such a clever tool!) This highway stretched from the new castle to Michigan (the girls’ dollhouse).

build and break, think again, redo

Michigan is home to many of Bird’s relatives on Mom’s side of the family. They had visited in early January, a long and memorable car ride for this three year old child. Building the Magna- Tile highway reminded Bird of the need for snacks. I’m sure she and her sister were simply plied with munchies all along the way, on that long trip. So, we searched the kitchen for something fun – ah, blueberry pop tarts! Sure, we can have a pop tart as we build together.

pop tarts and childhood together always

Then she noticed her playdough factory, and decided it was time to play there. I reminded her that Poppa was making her an egg breakfast at our house and that he was looking forward to seeing her. Hint, hint. “I need to pack my princess shoes!” Bird said. (Yes, she got the hint!)

princess dress, plastic heels, let’s go!

We double-checked the tote bag to make sure we had everything we needed for the day. While I look for things like extra clothes such as leggings and a long-sleeved shirt, Bird is tossing in treasured toys: a princess crown, princess gloves, those princess ‘heels’, and a doll or two. Lest you think she is a girly-girl, she finds her favorite toy car and pickup truck. Oh, and the entire large plastic playdough factory, because we have playdough at my house. (Thank goodness for large tote bags.) We also tossed the pop tarts into a food pouch for the drive. Finally, we were ready for the day.

car ride, any length, snacks needed

We had a full and joyous morning at my house, nothing out of the ordinary, just our usual ‘B’ list:

breakfast of eggs, toast, and grapes
baby dolls need regular diaper changes 
bright red playdough tea and cookies 
building a puzzle together is fun 
best solo activity is marker drawing 
bundle up warm for the playground 
balancing practice on curbs and flagstones
blast down the hill full speed 
busy with jeep driving and playscape climbing 
blustery wind suggests we head home
boundless energy zapped, stroller ride back
blueberries and yogurt for lunch
bevy of stories, time for nap
bountiful morning followed by quiet dreaming

Truth is – we all three take a nap!! I’m not a big napper most days – but they have become ‘de rigueur’ on babysitting days.

couch curled, sound asleep, midday bliss

This was just an ordinary babysitting day. This was a wonderful ordinary babysitting day!

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A Poem A Day

Published on January 9, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

Last week, I shared that my one little word for 2024 is ‘hold.’ Nine days into this new year, I am having fun writing one ‘summative’ poem a day, some aspect of the day that I want to hold onto – or that I am so preoccupied by, it has a hold on me. (I’d prefer all my ‘holds’ to be uplifting, but let’s be real – life isn’t that way.)

Basically, this is poetry as daily reflection. My poetry is weak/easy, mostly ‘free’ writing with no specific forms being used…I am not feeling especially proud of the writing itself. However, I am excited by how the writing settles me, allowing me to pause for a bit and review my day. It has been a nice intention for the new year – to stop and think about what I want to remember about each day.

I have lots of questions for myself, beyond whether I’ll be able to write a poem a day. I’m wondering if there will be patterns to what I’m writing about, if I’ll revisit the same topics over and over again. I wonder if my poetry writing will improve, especially if I try to write into new and different forms of poetry. I wonder if I’ll feel ‘called’ to edit, rewrite, or rethink certain poems.

For now, I’m just exploring. Here’s today’s poem – from babysitting three-year-old Bird, my granddaughter.

she tucks herself in now

she never wants me to tarry
at naptime
insists I leave
and she unwinds
readies for bed
all by herself

she is growing up too quickly

later
I slip in
to witness
her stir from her nap

she is snuggling
under a blanket 

and laying right next to her
its small head poking out
is a plush small giraffe
nestled under its own little blanket

so dear

did she sing
did she coo
did she hold
the giraffe
before its nap?

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Now and Then

Published on November 7, 2023

One of the most poetic aspects of autumn, I think, is how the concept of ‘past’ is on full display in nature. Just look at the trees! Here in Maryland, the beautiful fall colors are disappearing, rakes and leaf blowers are hard at work, and deciduous trees are becoming bare.

Transition.

Thinking about forever gone, thinking about burrowing, wondering what comes next.

Both granddaughters have fall birthdays. Unbelievably, Frog has turned five years old. Bird will turn three years old later this week.

How to slow time?

Ah, this is impossible.

So we delight in what we have.

Bird was here for a sleepover just last night, all by herself. We do this from time to time, when we are scheduled for two days in a row of babysitting. Truly, it saves both the grandparents and the parents a lot of hassle – no need to pack up and get children out the door early in the morning, no need to drive across the city to each other’s house twice in a day.

What a treat it is to have this one-on-one time.

Time felt limitless. No deadlines, no pressure, no must-do’s. Making blueberry pancakes. Let’s draw together. Oh, how about paints and glue? Baking sheets filled with playdough cookies. There was a moment where I was a playscape for her babydolls. Another, where Bird, Poppa, and I had a meandering walk to the playground. We sat on a curb and held vigil at a neighbor’s yard, where a tree was being trimmed and a loud chipper shredder drew Bird’s focus. We went for a short walk after dinner, in the dark, to find the moon.

In the early morning, she lingered in her bedroom (right next to ours) to play and chat with herself – something that rarely ever happens at her own home, when there’s a big sister to follow and adore.

Grandchildren – an oasis of bliss in a sad and painful world.

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Talking Points

Published on May 16, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

When we are out and about, here’s what I notice –

the bearded irises are still pretty even when lounging on the lawn,
the begonia blossoms into tiny angels, and
I'm so happy the peonies bloomed after the rains came through.

She offers me an entirely different take on the world. What does she notice?

She discovers it on cars.
It is also popular on the lawn’s edge.
She’s been appalled to find it lurking on the front steps.
Sometimes she stops in the middle of the street to bear witness.
As if this wasn’t enough, in recent days, it has begun appearing on the windows at the back of our house.

Have you guessed her obsession?

Animal droppings.
Especially - bird poop. Aviary guano. Foul of fowl.

This spring has dovetailed (ooh, there’s a pun!) with toilet-training and she is riveted. Yes, this is the number one topic of my darling grandchild. (I nicknamed her ‘Bird’ - so, I suppose I should have predicted this grimy interest.)

She has laser focus for every sighting. On our neighborhood walks, she gasps with alarm, needing to pause and inspect. She demands that every soiled area be cleaned up, immediately - and has been less than impressed when I refuse to do so, steering her away from the find.

The rule ‘out of sight, out of mind’ does not apply. Each of these moments is treasured in her mind, and shared as the primary gossip of the day.

What did you do, today, hon?
There was bird poop on the window!

Who knew the world could be full of such mystery and wonder?

I offer a simple poem, to remember this developmental stage of hers.

window washing

the gutters 
at back of house
are a favorite stop
for winged loiterers

heralding
foul of fowls
up, in, around

all to her delight
each discovery
so exciting

Nana! Gotta clean!

and so
spray and towel in hand
windows flipped open
I scour scrub rub  
sparkle shine
polishing away streaks

and she 
is right at my side
inspecting

Always a Full Day

Published on January 10, 2023

Helping hands – making muffins with Nana (check out how many barrettes she likes to wear, lol)

so much that needs doing 

from the moment 
she first wakes up 
and looks about the room 
she knows she knows she knows 
this will definitely be
a very full day
there’s just so much that needs doing
in this house

a bite or two of her breakfast 
and she is on the run
leave this here! she demands
no need to tidy behind her
there might be a free moment
to grab another bite 
there’s just so much that needs doing
in this house

she must have a to-do list
though it’s not written down
no sooner is one task completed 
she’s running to the next
never a moment to catch her breath
and she doesn’t miss a thing
there’s just so much that needs doing
in this house

walk the grounds, check things out
look closer at this and that
open cabinets, empty the shelves
wonder - do these fit inside?
wait, what is up there?
get the step stool, stretch and reach 
there’s just so much that needs doing
in this house

yes,
when you are two years old,
there’s just so much that needs doing
in this house

‘Tis the season

Published on December 20, 2022

She was bright and cheery when we arrived, eating the remnants of her breakfast and hungry for more. Bird loves to eat! We cooked a pot of oatmeal, and enjoyed this with her.

Less than an hour later, the two-year-old yawned. Once. Twice. Three times. This is very unusual. “Bird, are you tired, little one? You are not usually tired so early in the morning.” We had not gotten a report on how well she had slept the night before, in the rush of parents getting out the door for work and big sister heading to school.

A matter of minutes later, she started whining and fretting, and she sat very still, a sad little lump, not playing. What? Where did our happy little Bird go? I invited her to sit with me on the couch and read books, and she could hardly complete this easy climb, moaning with exhaustion. I noticed her eyes were watery. Ah, the tell. This little girl was getting sick.

We literally watched a virus consume our little Bird, and it was a bit like those paper towel commercials where you watch the crud be absorbed.

She curled up at the end of the couch away from me, not wanting to be held, but to be alone near us – honestly, like a wounded animal. One book later, she was back in bed for a nap – without protest. Oh my.

I was not at all surprised when she woke up hot with a fever.

(Come to think of it, there was another big clue. Bird insisted on wearing a pumpkin dress in the midst of this Christmas season – I should have realized that this was her way of telling me that something was wrong, hahaha.)

Since her big sister Frog started preschool this past August, we have had so many viruses pass through our family, one after another. The day that Bird got sick was Frog’s first day back after a two-day fever virus. My son jokes (? is this humor?) that Frog rarely makes it to school for every day of a five day week. The classroom seems to be passing the bugs back and forth, with so many children are getting sick.

As their caregivers, this sets us up for sickness, too – and I have been so pleased with my resilience. Have all my years of teaching preschool built up my immunity, allowing me to stay healthy in retirement?

Well, my resilience broke down with this latest bout of grandchildren sickness. Yep, I am now tired, achy, and congested. It is not COVID, just a gift from the grandkids. ‘Tis the season, yes? So it is!

Be well, everyone!

Happy Holidays!

It’s Tuesday and I’m participating in Slice of Life.
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating
this supportive community of teacher writers.

Doe a Deer

Published on October 18, 2022

As soon as Mom and big sister Frog leave for school, little Bird rushes to her sister’s bedroom and takes possession of Frog’s favorite stuffed animal, a toy deer. This toy is basically off-limits whenever her big sister is around, but ‘when the Frog’s away, the Bird will play.’ I’m impressed that Bird has created this routine, recognizing that school days are the best time to play with Frog’s dolls and toys.

I haven’t shared anything about the grandkids in quite some time, so I thought this would be a fun topic for today’s slice. Let me see if I can find a few fun photos, too (without sacrificing the children’s privacy).

Here, Poppa and the girls make biscuits together.

Frog started preschool in August, leaving Bird in the care of her grandparents. (Both sets of grandparents share childcare, on different days of the week). Two year old Bird is getting lots of focused and loving one-on-one attention, and in these few weeks, we are all noticing a language explosion. To date, Bird hasn’t been as verbal as Frog, speaking primarily in one word utterances and relying primarily on nonverbal pointing and grunting. I credit her older sister with this…I mean, if Frog is speaking for you, why do you have to speak at all? Bird comprehends everything we are saying; she simply doesn’t try to talk – silence has been the path of least resistance. Now, however, with Frog away all day, five days a week, using her own voice has come in very handy. Bird’s language is truly blossoming.

For Bird, her sister’s toy deer reigns supreme. She loves to carry it throughout the house while Frog is at school, letting it keep her company as she plays with other toys and activities. Most days, she won’t be separated from it. She even likes me to perch the deer nearby to ‘watch her’ when she eats her meals. (We have to keep deer clean/away from the food, yes?)

Here, a full menagerie joins us from a distance, to watch Bird eat lunch, lol.

In my very best Julie Andrews imitation, I started singing Doe a Deer as she carried that little toy around, and now we sing this all day long. I honestly think this one song has been the key to her stringing more than one word together, she loves this song so much. When I arrive in the morning, Bird now greets me with the words ‘doe a deer, Nana,’ and that’s my cue to start singing. Bird has learned every word of the song and sings along. She sings this to herself, too, and all of us are trying to capture a recording, but so far we have failed. Her singing is precious.

Our own house is in the midst of remodeling, so we come to Frog and Bird’s house to babysit rather than vice versa. It’s been eye-opening to see the children in their own world, becoming more familiar with their most favorite activities and where they like to spend their time. We have been having lots of fun together. Before Bird goes down for her midday nap, we always take time to put things back the way they were in Frog’s room, tidying the room to be welcoming for her when she comes home, and laying deer on Frog’s bed to greet her.

Bird has her own favorite lovey, a chipmunk. Here, she feeds him acorns.

When she gets home from school, Frog needs a little bit of time to herself in her room (“quiet alone time”) and then we all have good fun together. The current favorite activities are dance parties, playdough, playing outside, building with Legos, and coloring.

I’m so glad I know how to make homemade playdough!

That’s all for today, except to say – we are truly blessed by these little dears! (pun intended)