Our first organized team-sport season ended.

Three- and four-year-old soccer.   Otherwise known as a pack of preschoolers chasing a ball, without regard to which direction they’re headed.

For 6 practices and games, there was at least one poor child (usually mine) crying at some point or another.   The first few weeks for Miss M, it was almost torturous (for her AND us).  She would barely move out on that field, and she’d stand there in her pigtails and soccer uniform and cry.  It was always a different reason.  “My tongue hurts” or “my cousin tackled me” or “My nose is running” or “I’m cold” or “I don’t know how to kick the ball” or “I can’t run as fast as the other kids.”

Now some parents might coddle their little ones, take them home early, or at least let them sit on the sidelines for a while.   There were certainly many of those kind who didn’t show up after the first couple of games, not wanting to bother with 3-year-old drama. 

And then there were the other parents, forcing the preschoolers out for more torture.

Yep.  That was me.   But really, it wasn’t demanding and mean like it sounds.    Really!

Little Miss M had so much fun the last two or three games.  You know why?  Because we made her go every week and get out there and play.  She is shy, hesitant, cautious, and slow to warm up to new situations.  And with 10 other screaming kids, and multiple parents and grandparents as spectators yelling “Kick the ball!  Run!  No — the OTHER way!” it was too much commotion for her.   She got over that hesitancy by the end and even looked as if she were actually enjoying herself.  She even kicked the ball a few times during the game!

I’m not sure that she’ll play again — we’ll see if she wants to in the fall.  But by forcing (or shall I say gently guiding) her — yes, even at 3 1/2 years old — to try new situations, she’ll build her self-confidence and learn how to better adapt to unfamiliar activities.    All we kept telling her was that as long as she tried her best we’d be very proud — she didn’t need to be the fastest runner or score any goals.   And you know what?  She wasn’t, and she didn’t.   But by the end, she tried, she had fun, and she’s so proud of her certificate and her team picture.

And so are we.

I have a friend who posted on Facebook about some upcoming crazy celebration days for this week.    Let’s see . . .  Twilight Zone Day on May 11, Kite and Limerick Day on Tuesday, and Dance Like a Chicken Day on Thursday.  Let the fun begin!  But another celebration worth mentioning is going on all week . . . it’s National Children’s Book Week!

You loyal readers know that, as a Barefoot Books stallholder, this is right up my alley!   So I thought I’d post a few fun ways to get your kids involved in reading.

Of course, Barefoot has such high-quality, fantastic books for kids.  But check out the activity page site here for downloadable, printable .pdf pages for your kids to color.  The sheets correspond to some of our popular favorites, like Portside Pirates, Whole World, or Thesaurus Rex.   The activity sheet for We All Went on Safari even helps to teach kids to count to ten in Swahili!  They’re a lot of fun, and a great way to tie in some other concepts like colors, synonyms, counting, and even tracing and drawing while reading one of the books, too!

For more activity sheet fun, and some great stories for kids, click on over to my Barefoot Books website!   And check out your local library or bookstore for some activities surrounding National Children’s Book Week.

Happy Reading!

We took a field trip recently.  A class of 3-year-olds at a local nature center, with different rooms that correspond to caves, lakes/rivers, and grasslands.  Lots of insects, snakes, amphibians, slithery-slimy creatures that’s just right for the preschool set!

But not for some of the moms.

You see, I have this major irrational tiny little fear of spiders. 

I’ve gotten much better about the small ones.  I even kill some myself (without screaming!), if found trespassing in my humble abode.  It’s the large ones I can’t handle.   Yes, underneath my calm, rational (ha!) exterior, I DO have a crazy phobia.  Arachnophobia.

I blame it on my mother (Thanks, Mom — I know you’ll read this!) who scared me with the Little Miss Muffet horror story.   And remember the Brady Bunch episode in Hawaii?  You know what I mean . . . terrifying!  And this fear is why I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch the Harry Potter movies, either!  I LOVED the books, but even reading a few small parts with the spiders, I had to read those areas really quickly to speed right through.

But I digress.    Back to the field trip.

I was so proud of my little Miss M, who had no problems holding the slithery snake, picking up bugs, and getting her hands into all the good hands-on learning activities. 

But then . . . there was the spider part.

I actually had to look away, and not make a scene.  I quietly told the teacher of my fear, so she didn’t think I was crazy to have to stand up and walk to the back of the room.  And I stole a quick glance at Miss M . . . she was TOUCHING, or dare I say PETTING a hairy leg of this creature!   YIKES!

I’m getting a little bit anxious just thinking about it right now, and hoping I won’t have nightmares.  I’m also thinking how I could have made this anecdote much more descriptive, but I’m too afraid!

One of the other moms took pictures, and I have yet to receive them.  I won’t bother reminding her, either!

The good thing — and I’m really trying hard — is that I don’t think Miss M is aware of my arachnophobia.  I really don’t want her to be, either.  And as much as it physically pained me to watch this display of insect-love, I was proud of her.  And slightly proud of myself for not passing along this irrational fear to her and making a big deal of it.  

Yet. 

I mean, I can only fake it so much.  But perhaps my willingness for my girls to be exposed to many things and not have their OWN irrational fears will slowly diminish my own.  I mean, really — I used to cry in college if someone even mentioned what one friend calls “the S word.”  I can even say it now.   SPIDERS.     See?!  Look at me!!  I’m almost cured, for God’s sake! 

In the meantime, though, I’ll leave the spider-love where it belongs . . . anywhere but near me.

Barefoot is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders between now and Tuesday, March 31st.

Not familiar with Barefoot Books?  Click here for a little introduction. 

Need a new baby gift?  A unique present for a child’s birthday?  Or maybe something to keep the kids occupied during their spring break?  Order this weekend and save on your shipping costs!

Two of my favorite books are on sale now:  The Gigantic Turnip (paperback) for only $5.99, and The Fairie’s Gift (hardcover) for $14.99.  By perusing my website, you can see other great titles on sale for March.

Check out the new spring releases — The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales, and two new lift-the-flap board books:  Walk With Me, and Talk With Me.

Please feel free to contact me for any product suggestions!  I LOVE to talk about quality books (and CDs, puppets and puzzles) for kids!  Barefoot has also compiled some gift sets and gift collections that provide great ideas as well.

Have fun shopping, and HAPPY READING!

Thanks!

I’m not complaining,

Really, I’m not.  

Not exactly.

My husband will often do the grocery shopping.  Not more often than I, but he’ll certainly be willing to tackle our supercenter on a Sunday afternoon (yikes!) or head to our corner gourmet marketplace.  Of course, I make out the list for him, and he still calls multiple times while he’s out, which sometimes makes me wonder why I just don’t go myself and get some time alone anyway! 

But this past Sunday he went to BOTH stores, because he thought the deli meat would be better coming from the local privately-owned gourmet International marketplace.   No problem.    The first time he called he said there were great specials at the superstore, and did I need Pop-Tarts?  No.  Pop-Tarts are a sort of once-in-a-while treat I buy, usually when I’m at the store hungry.   But certainly not a staple or necessity, and definitely not needed in 4 or 5 boxes, which is what he had to buy to receive the “great” deal.    And . . . Pop-Tarts were not on the list, were they?

After a few additional phone calls, he returned, laden with the big plastic bags (I know, I know — the horrors!  We haven’t exactly moved to a “green” household just yet!  yikes!), and I began to unload the groceries.

My husband, who is NOT a dessert lover, came home with FOUR — count them — FOUR different treats/desserts.  Entenmann’s chocolate chip cookies, Little Debbie oatmeal cream pies, mini canolis from the marketplace, and a massive chocolate frosted fudge brownie from the marketplace.    When I looked quizzically at him, he said they were “treats for his girls,” meaning the little girls. 

Um, our girls are 3 and 1.  They don’t eat this kind of junk!  He was also quick to point out that the treats were for the kids, because I always tell him NOT to bring home some sort of goodie or dessert from a restaurant or bakery.  It’s something his dad does for his mom, which is very sweet and thoughtful, yes.  But it’s not for me.  I’ll get my own, and to be honest — I’ll just eat it and feel sick.   So buying me calorie-laden sweet goodies doesn’t really work for me.   (Ice cream, though?  That’s a different story!)  

(although I have to admit that I was secretly pleased about the Entenmann’s cookies, and yours truly has eaten most of the box, with a few little ones given to Miss M).

OK, so too many desserts.  No problem, right?

Oh, but there’s more.

Mister Man, who would be out of town for most of the week, purchases a pound of salami, a pound of turkey, and a little bit of bologna.  Now, Miss M will eat some of the salami and turkey, but that’s about it.  In fact, she would probably eat the bologna, too, but it disgusts me so I don’t want to give it to her!   And then he doesn’t take his lunch Monday, and after I MAKE his lunch for Tuesday, he forgets it in the fridge.   So now I have enough lunchmeat to feed the whole block, and hardly anyone to eat it!

And then, the piece de resistance . . .

Incredulously, I unload a large jar of creamed herring, and a large jar of pickled beets.  *gulp*   What?   I just shake my head, and tell him I’d LOVE to see him actually finish the whole thing.  He has good intentions (as this isn’t the first time creamed herring has been in the fridge), and eats a little immediately, and then lets it languish in the refrigerator, while I have to look at it every day (and, I swear, smell it, although I know I really can’t.  It’s just the idea that it’s in there that bothers me!)

Hmmm . . . a tiny 8 oz. jar of cherry juice concentrate.  For $5.99?!?!   Oops — he said.  He hadn’t known the price.  I asked what we were to do with this?  I don’t remember his reply, but it didn’t exactly go with the label, that indicated to add it over ice cream or to pancake batter.   This better be some good stuff.

Of course, I know the REAL reason he wants to go out to the store.  It gives him a good excuse to stop by the wine shop nearby, and come home with more wine!  He says that, since I’m pregnant and can’t share in the libations, he’s drinking for two.   Thoughtful.

Again, I’m not really complaining here, because there are men who do nothing to help around the house and wouldn’t be caught dead in a grocery store trying to find the Yo Baby organic yogurt!    But I’m just perplexed as to the how and why of his grocery contents.

Oh, and those Pop-Tarts?   Yep . . . he came home with TWO boxes!

Hear ye!  Hear ye!  I now announce to the blogging world that in only 17 short weeks I’ll be a mother of three!

That’s right, folks.  For three months I’ll have three kids under four!  Yikes!!  We are so thrilled and excited, and know that we’ll have our hands full for a while.  But we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

One thing I know I’ll miss, though, in those early infant days, is the chance to read.  Really, until the baby is sleeping through the night, it’s hard to stay up and sneak in an extra chapter of a book, when you never know how long that little bundle of joy will be out like a light!  For my firstborn, it was only 11 short weeks before she was consistently sleeping through the night.   The second?  Eleven months.  *gulp*  Let’s hope Baby #3 is as cooperative with his/her sleep as Miss M was!

So now I feel like I’m racing (or reading) against time to soak up some good literature, some new novels, some brain candy quick-reads.  Anything!  Because I LOVE to read!   And with the exception of reading/deciphering the backs of Tylenol bottles by the faint glow of the nightlight, or paging through google searches for good nursing tips, I know that my reading will be put on the back burner for a while once Baby makes its arrival. 

So I’m once again participating in 5 Minutes for Books What’s On My Nightstand? carnival.

I’ve been reading quite a bit lately.  Finished all four books of the Twilight series (see my original post here), and recently read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  I’ll finish On Beauty tonight, by Zadie Smith — an interesting read, although somewhat pretentious.  I was intrigued by the characters, but didn’t actually like any of them as people.  The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch took me about 2 hours tops to read cover to cover, but it’s one I could peruse over and over.  What a compelling story and a courageous man!

So what’s next on my nightstand?

• The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory.  I’ve been loving her historical fiction!  The Other Boleyn Girl was fantastic, and then The Boleyn Inheritance and The Queen’s Fool were also intriguing.  I couldn’t put them down!
• The Time Traveler’s Wife
• Wicked by Gregory Maguire.  I’ve been wanting to read it for a while, especially after seeing the phenomenal musical!  So my good friend Jen sent me home with this (along with Time Traveller’s Wife and On Beauty) after I spent the weekend at her place in Chicago.  Thanks, Jen!
• Wally Lamb’s The Hour I First Believed is on hold for me at the library — I wish people would hurry up and read it already!

It’s been a while since I picked up my favorite novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, so I should probably re-read that one soon, and I’d like to tackle Jane Austen’s novels.  I’ve read three of them and was enamored with her writing, and the fact that she could convey such emotion, love, sexual frustration and yearning within the confines of the society in which she was writing.  Fabulous! 

So there you have it.  A fairly heady task, considering all the other things we moms have going on — kids, husband, work, Facebook, American Idol . . . you know, the important things.   But I’ll do what I can, and enjoy the reading while I have the very limited time.

So . . . what’s on your nightstand?