The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 7

[mommy2emmersNmo]

something like that -

maybe we could all come up with some stupid stunt to do on tv that CBS would pay us a lot of money for

Hey - I know - I will agree to ride IASW for a week straight!!!!!!

now there is a concept for a whole special -

DDA stupid WDW stunts!!!!

I love IASW, when I was in 1st grade we did a musical/play, small groups doing a native dance to a particular country. I can still remember being in my kimono up on stage.

Molly fell in love with this ride back in November. She stood up in the boat wide eyed each and everytime we rode it. We did get stuck on it 4 times, for at least 10-20 minutes each time. I have no idea what happened but it made Molly's trip.

 

[itdjbw]

John went to a tent sale today for used books. He just pulled out 25 awesome books for the kids for $33! Lots of fun Disney ones too. He's such a good daddy, and how funny he did it (on his own) on the day we're talking about reading!

 

[Glynis]

I've always had a love for reading. When I was a child, my mother used to tell me to get my nose out of that book and go outside and get some fresh air - so I took the book with me! When my mother died, my father was in his early eighties and was alone. I got him into reading (he had never just sat and read for pleasure before - my mother didn't like it when he read, because he wasn't paying any attention to her). Anyway, some of the books that he really liked were the Anne of Green Gables series, the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Sidney Sheldon and Danielle Steel!! Can you tell that I chose his books? He did go and get his first library card at the age of 82, but he wasn't too sure what to choose, and said that I had been doing good, so to keep on choosing for him. Anyway, I would stop by after work and make his dinner and tidy up a bit, and then we'd visit while he ate, and it was nice to chat about the books (kind of a role reversal in a way).

Good for you, June!!! You're never too old to develop a love of reading. I think I inherited it from my Dad! He's always got his nose in a book. I love discussing books I've read with him! He's got great insights!

We don't have a library in our town, and the closest one is 10 miles away. The bad thing is that if you aren't a resident of that town, it costs 70 dollars for a one year library card. Yikes! DH works in Salt Lake and they have a county wide system. You can check out books from any library in the county. So, we forked out 85 bucks for 2 library cards, and spend one day each week at a Salt Lake library! So far it's worked really well for us! It's money well spent as there are over 2 dozen libraries to choose from in Salt Lake County. The library is my friend!

 

[Glynis]

John went to a tent sale today for used books. He just pulled out 25 awesome books for the kids for $33! Lots of fun Disney ones too. He's such a good daddy, and how funny he did it (on his own) on the day we're talking about reading!

He's really got a psychic connection to you! That's so cool! Way to go, John!!!

 

[legalslave]

Good Night All! I'm not going to bed, but the board is so slow tonight it's driving me nuts. It's worse than dial up. When I come to the end of a page, it takes forever to load the new one. I finally caught up, so I'm going to stop frustrating myself and call it a day.

 

[mommy2emmersNmo]

That's it in a nutshell. There are people that will watch it so it will good ratings. The TV stations don't really care what they air as long as they get ratings and don't get fined.

What about the Bird Flu movie, I think it is ABC? I will not watch that, I worry about enough stuff already.

 

[itdjbw]

We soak ours in water in the husk for several hours and then throw it on the grill. When it is done, we drench it in butter! Yummy!!!!!

Will try them that way.
In SA we had people coming around to the houses, you would hear them coming down the street calling 'Mielies.........Mielies' which is corn on the cob, they were huge and freshly picked that morning and so yummy.
We would put them on the braai (BBQ)

 

[Glynis]

Luckily for me and mostly Tarryn she had a most wonderful teacher in 3rd grade, she was new to the school (both Tarryn and the teacher) and they just hit it off on open house, she came to Tarryn's dance recital, moved to Boston and still keeps in touch with Tarryn and me by email, she moved to FL last week and we are meeting up the weekend of the 19th when we are in Weston. Tarryn had one bad incident that year, sadly to say racially motivated but we explained to her how things are and she has put it behind her!!!
I believe that doing gymnastics since she was 4 has helped, it gives the girls great confidence, teaches them there body is important and a lot of the teachers of the little kids are the older girls that are still competing and it keeps them away from the 'bad' influences as they spend so much time in the gym. Tarryn has wanted to stop so many times but I have wanted her to stick with it. She also does Jazz but I don't think that has the same good, positive, respectful influence body wise but she loves it. Both build a lot of self esteem.

I've been thinking about getting Katie into gymnastics. Do you think that at almost 9 she's too old? Our options are really limited here in our little town. If I sign her up for gymnastics, I'll be signing up for driving her to class 20 miles away twice a week. What do you think?

I could also sign her up for soccer which starts in August. That might be just as good. Any advice? Anyone done either?

 

[Tammi67]

I've been thinking about getting Katie into gymnastics. Do you think that at almost 9 she's too old? Our options are really limited here in our little town. If I sign her up for gymnastics, I'll be signing up for driving her to class 20 miles away twice a week. What do you think?

I could also sign her up for soccer which starts in August. That might be just as good. Any advice? Anyone done either?

Nicholas has done soccer for about 2.5 years now and Alyssa has been going to gymnastics since she was not quite 2. We started in the mommy and me class and when she was almost 3 she started tots. Last week she tried out for their developmental team (non competitive) that works their way to competitive, as they age. What are her or your aspirations? The reason I introduced Alyssa to gymnastics, aside from getting out of the house, was because if she is ever going to want to try out for cheerleading or a dance team in high school, have this background will be beneficial. Now she wants to do ballet too, and I am try to work it into our schedules. I'm not pushing her and if she ever comes and says she doesn't want to do it anymore, I won't force her. I've tried to open both of my kids up to various activities to see what the excel at and what their interests are. Who knows if we have a gymnast or athlete growing up under our noses??

Nicholas loves soccer and has done well with it. I put him in a week long camp last summer, which gave him a lot of individualized coaching. The biggest difference between the 2 sports I think is that one is a team concept and the other is individual. What would she gain the most from and/or excel at? Which would she rather do?

After going back and reading throught this, I'm sure I was no help. Sorry.

 

[mommy2emmersNmo]

I just got back from the school carnival. I spent some time talking with Katie's teacher about this. She told me that in her experience, 3rd grade is where it really starts with girls. She says that boys get angry with one another, and they physically fight and get over it. Girls are different. They brood, and stew and think about really mean things to say to hurt. For some reason, girls seem to know that verbal assaulting hurts for longer than physical violence. She's seen it happen every year. Luckily, she has a zero tolerance for this kind of bullying, and every time she sees it, that person is sent to the principal's office. He is also wonderful, and has let everyone know that bullying of any kind is inappropriate! In our school, it's 3 trips to the principal and you are out!!!

Unfortunately for Katie, this other girl is in our neighborhood, so confines her bullying to before and after school, when there are not grown ups around. I just found out about it, and have started walking to the bus stop with the kids, and just letting Katie know that I will be there for her forever!

As a mother, it's the hardest thing in the world to see your child going through this, when all they want is to be everyone's friend. Katie just can't understand why this girl is calling her names. I just told her she needs to let it roll off her back, and then she can come home and cry to me.

We have a girl down the street from us that is in Emma's class and they don't pal around together in school but when they are home, this girl is always at our door, sometimes walking right in the house. Anyway, yesterday the girl starts banging on our door and screaming "Anyone home come out come Emma" So this goes on and on for about 5 minutes. She then gets mad that no one is answering her. I was not up for opening the door, still in my pjs and not fully awake. Anyway, she then starts calling Emma names. So I break down and open the door and nicely give her a piece of my mind. She is just about the rudest child I have met and rolls her eyes and walks off. She is all of 6. If Emma had heard her calling her names she would have been devastated as she easily gets her feelings hurt. It is so hard to explain nicely why I would prefer she not play with the girl. I know I am going to have a hard time with the whole self-image/esteem thing in regards to Emma and I am dreading it as I remember very vividly being teased as a child.

Thank you all for the suggestions to deal with these issues as they pop up.

 

[itdjbw]

I've been thinking about getting Katie into gymnastics. Do you think that at almost 9 she's too old? Our options are really limited here in our little town. If I sign her up for gymnastics, I'll be signing up for driving her to class 20 miles away twice a week. What do you think?

I could also sign her up for soccer which starts in August. That might be just as good. Any advice? Anyone done either?

I once read an article about Gymnastics and wish I had a copy......soccer is a team sport only, where gymnastics is team and individual which gives them pride in being a part of the team but also that self respect and pride doing individual things, by no means is Tarryn competitive and as soon as I ask if she wants private lessons she says no (she is not at all competitive in this or anything else) but I can see how her convidence has improved every year. She started off scared of doing everything and has grown each and every year, it teaches the kids to respect there bodies and also respect for others.
It is a shlepp for us, her classes are about 10 miles away at 6.30pm but we have to cross the river which alone can take an hour but my veiw is it is well worth it. This is all my opinion and by no means do I think soccer is not also a great sport

 

[my3princes]

Hello everyone! I wish I had the time to read through the 100's or is it 1000's of posts I have missed, but I just don't have the time right now. I hope you are all doing well - I include you all in my daily prayers and ask for the Lord's blessing on each of your lives. Even though I may not know each of you're particular needs right now, I know the good Lord does! Just a quick update on why I have "dropped off" - I have lived on our family farm all of my life. My parents, my sister and her family, and my grandmother all live on the farm property as well (each in their own homes). Well, due to some health complications with my dad and his severe diabetes, he has had to make the heart-breaking decision to sell the family farm . As if this isn't diffult enough to deal with, it also means we are all losing our homes. We just finished moving my sister to a town 25 miles from here (I am used to her being next door - so this feels like thousands of miles!). My grandmother will be moving to Florida on the 25th (that IS thousands of miles!). My parents are building a new home (only a mile away). And we are well... soon to be homeless. But I have complete faith and trust in the Lord that he will see us through and provide for our needs. Sometimes it's just so hard to "let go, and let God", you know? I want the answers NOW, and it's hard to wait for His timing and His will. So, as you might imagine, our lives have been turned upside down. It is all happening so fast, and so unexpectedly. I am just trying to take a day at a time, and especially to get through this year's homeschooling (I am hoping to finish on Friday! ) Please keep our family in your prayers and I will try to update and catch up with you all as I can! THANK YOU for letting me get that all out!
Miss You Guys!
Shana

Shana I'm sure that you are right and everything will work out in due time, unfortunately the not knowing can be so stressful. We are here for you, keep up posted.

Deb

 

[mommy2emmersNmo]

I've always had a love for reading. When I was a child, my mother used to tell me to get my nose out of that book and go outside and get some fresh air - so I took the book with me! When my mother died, my father was in his early eighties and was alone. I got him into reading (he had never just sat and read for pleasure before - my mother didn't like it when he read, because he wasn't paying any attention to her). Anyway, some of the books that he really liked were the Anne of Green Gables series, the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Sidney Sheldon and Danielle Steel!! Can you tell that I chose his books? He did go and get his first library card at the age of 82, but he wasn't too sure what to choose, and said that I had been doing good, so to keep on choosing for him. Anyway, I would stop by after work and make his dinner and tidy up a bit, and then we'd visit while he ate, and it was nice to chat about the books (kind of a role reversal in a way).

What a great story!!

 

[marcij]

DDA Family -- you so rock! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and PD sent Andrew's way. Andrew had another good game. He was the only one that hit the ball, although they threw him out at first. He walked once, and had no errors on defense. They lost 9 - 5, but overall it was a huge success and another step forward in his self-confidence.

I asked him what he'd like to say to you all. It seems like he has been listening to me. My advice to him before each game is to try his hardest and to have a good time. This is what he said to say:

"Thank you for supporting me. We lost, but we tried our best."

It's not an eloquent speech, but for a child with an expressive disorder, I think it's pretty perfect!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for thinking of him and sending good thoughts for an esteem-building game.

 

[babytrees]

What about the Bird Flu movie, I think it is ABC? I will not watch that, I worry about enough stuff already.

Ahhh!! Sweeps time...all the blood, gore, oddities that you can handle.

 

[Glynis]

Nicholas has done soccer for about 2.5 years now and Alyssa has been going to gymnastics since she was not quite 2. We started in the mommy and me class and when she was almost 3 she started tots. Last week she tried out for their developmental team (non competitive) that works their way to competitive, as they age. What are her or your aspirations? The reason I introduced Alyssa to gymnastics, aside from getting out of the house, was because if she is ever going to want to try out for cheerleading or a dance team in high school, have this background will be beneficial. Now she wants to do ballet too, and I am try to work it into our schedules. I'm not pushing her and if she ever comes and says she doesn't want to do it anymore, I won't force her. I've tried to open both of my kids up to various activities to see what the excel at and what their interests are. Who knows if we have a gymnast or athlete growing up under our noses??

Nicholas loves soccer and has done well with it. I put him in a week long camp last summer, which gave him a lot of individualized coaching. The biggest difference between the 2 sports I think is that one is a team concept and the other is individual. What would she gain the most from and/or excel at? Which would she rather do?

After going back and reading throught this, I'm sure I was no help. Sorry.

Actually, you've helped quite a lot. Reading through your post, it came to me that Katie really needs to develop a team player attitude. She is really individually oriented, and I think if she had to learn to cooperate with others to achieve a goal, that would be a good thing! Thanks for helping me think of this.

 

[itdjbw]

Nicholas has done soccer for about 2.5 years now and Alyssa has been going to gymnastics since she was not quite 2. We started in the mommy and me class and when she was almost 3 she started tots. Last week she tried out for their developmental team (non competitive) that works their way to competitive, as they age. What are her or your aspirations? The reason I introduced Alyssa to gymnastics, aside from getting out of the house, was because if she is ever going to want to try out for cheerleading or a dance team in high school, have this background will be beneficial. Now she wants to do ballet too, and I am try to work it into our schedules. I'm not pushing her and if she ever comes and says she doesn't want to do it anymore, I won't force her. I've tried to open both of my kids up to various activities to see what the excel at and what their interests are. Who knows if we have a gymnast or athlete growing up under our noses??

Nicholas loves soccer and has done well with it. I put him in a week long camp last summer, which gave him a lot of individualized coaching. The biggest difference between the 2 sports I think is that one is a team concept and the other is individual. What would she gain the most from and/or excel at? Which would she rather do?

After going back and reading throught this, I'm sure I was no help. Sorry.

Tarryn started ballet at 3 and every lesson would watch the girls doing gymnastics and wanted to do it, I put her in that and then she wanted to go back to ballet and I said no as I didn't want her doing a different thing every year, a couple of years later she did ballet/tap class and gym as I wanted her to stick with something, Adam started the boys gymnastics when he was 3 so they went every Saturday which gave me an hour to read etc.
She has been doing jazz for the last 3 years along with gymnastics and enjoying them both, both give her great excercise and body tone, I think as they get older they become more seditary and the sport helps.

We have dress rehearsal for jazz tomorrow night, the show Saturday night and the gym Jamborree on Sunday along with all the other end of year things going on!!!

 

[Glynis]

I once read an article about Gymnastics and wish I had a copy......soccer is a team sport only, where gymnastics is team and individual which gives them pride in being a part of the team but also that self respect and pride doing individual things, by no means is Tarryn competitive and as soon as I ask if she wants private lessons she says no (she is not at all competitive in this or anything else) but I can see how her convidence has improved every year. She started off scared of doing everything and has grown each and every year, it teaches the kids to respect there bodies and also respect for others.
It is a shlepp for us, her classes are about 10 miles away at 6.30pm but we have to cross the river which alone can take an hour but my veiw is it is well worth it. This is all my opinion and by no means do I think soccer is not also a great sport

do you think that at 9 Katie is "too old" to learn gymnastics?

 

[Tammi67]

DDA Family -- you so rock! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and PD sent Andrew's way. Andrew had another good game. He was the only one that hit the ball, although they threw him out at first. He walked once, and had no errors on defense. They lost 9 - 5, but overall it was a huge success and another step forward in his self-confidence.

I asked him what he'd like to say to you all. It seems like he has been listening to me. My advice to him before each game is to try his hardest and to have a good time. This is what he said to say:

"Thank you for supporting me. We lost, but we tried our best."

It's not an eloquent speech, but for a child with an expressive disorder, I think it's pretty perfect!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for thinking of him and sending good thoughts for an esteem-building game.

Way to go Andrew! I'm proud of you! As long as you did your best, that is a win in my book.

 

[babytrees]

DDA Family -- you so rock! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and PD sent Andrew's way. Andrew had another good game. He was the only one that hit the ball, although they threw him out at first. He walked once, and had no errors on defense. They lost 9 - 5, but overall it was a huge success and another step forward in his self-confidence.

I asked him what he'd like to say to you all. It seems like he has been listening to me. My advice to him before each game is to try his hardest and to have a good time. This is what he said to say:

"Thank you for supporting me. We lost, but we tried our best."

It's not an eloquent speech, but for a child with an expressive disorder, I think it's pretty perfect!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for thinking of him and sending good thoughts for an esteem-building game.

How could you say that's not eloquent? Had me in tears.

Tell him all his DDA aunties and uncles wish him luck every game!!