7 Quick Takes

1. I think I may have found a solution to our schooling problem for next year. We'll call it "Auntie M School." My sister-in-law is presenting her Master's Thesis in the summer and will be taking the year off to apply for PhD's and be near us for one more year. The kids love her. I mean L-O-V-E her, and she is a great private tutor. They will be with her one morning a week doing something fun: art projects, poetry, nature walks, museum trips, whatever their little brains are interested in at the time. I still have Calvin on a wait list for a half-day Kindergarten, but I really think this is the best solution. It allows them to stay at their Chinese school two mornings a week, have bonding time with Auntie M, and do some fun activities that I don't always have energy to plan.

2. The most important part of the above solution is that it allows the boys to stay at Chinese school. I just did the math and realized that, if all goes as planned, we will be moving to China in 16 months! I cannot even begin to express the amount of stress that is building up in me as I think about it. I am excited to finally go, but knowing all that it takes to get from here to there is overwhelming.

3. One day at a time and a lot of chocolate, that is my solution. M&M's are my current choice. I don't think the writers of the "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand" line had toddlers in mind when they wrote that. Is Hobbes the only toddler who comes away from eating M&M's with color smeared all over his hands, face, and clothing? Am I doing something wrong (leaving out the fact that I am giving the kids sugar)?

4. Speaking of Hobbes, he is sick, again. So is the baby. You people up North will laugh, but I am so ready for Spring. The daffodils are starting to bloom, so it is on its way.

5. Speaking of chocolate. I obviously did not give that up for Lent. But the fast from Facebook and from excessive internet time has been good. Every time I find myself thinking of updating my Facebook status or checking in with my friends on Facebook or reading blogs, I turn to prayer instead. I may write a whole post on this, so I'll leave it at that for now.

6. All of this free time from the internet (laugh, laugh) is leaving me time to read actual books. I just started "Positive Discipline," which is a parenting classic, apparently. It is really good so far, or at least the writer makes her theory sound really good. I have no idea how it will work out in reality. But I am hoping it will help us to solve some of our discipline issues with Calvin and keep from making the same mistakes with Hobbes. Anyone out there have experience with this book? Tips?

7. I never thought I would be the sort to read lots of parenting books, but then Calvin turned three and life got complicated. Still, he is really amazing, and apparently, he and his brother are superheroes. At least, that is what they have been telling me all day. Their imaginations are really coming to life. They fly around our house or down the road on their bikes. They run really fast and fight the bad guys all day long. Ah, boys!

For more 7 Quick Takes, go to Jen's blog.