Archive for August, 2009
August 25th, 2009, 4:54 pm by Michelle Reese
With the latest H1N1 flu news from the Feds - as many as half of us could get sick this fall from the virus - my fellow parents and I have started a discussion: Will you get an H1N1 vaccine for your child?
My kids always get a seasonal flu vaccine, and so do I. My husband isn’t always so proactive, but he also doesn’t seem to get as sick. My son and I both have a history of respiratory illness. So as soon as the shot is available each year, I gather up the kids (and the stickers and lollipops) and head to a clinic.
This year, some clinics are starting next week. And with all the news and the push from health officials to get a seasonal flu shot, I believe it will be busy.
But I wonder how many parents will hesitate when the new H1N1 vaccine is available in October? My son’s health condition means he should be one of the first to get it.
Should I do it? Should I wait to see how the first round goes?
Both health experts I talked to today said “Go for it.”
One even told me that when it’s his children’s turn, they will be there for the H1N1 vaccine.
What are your thoughts?
E-mail me at mreese@evtrib.com.
Stay healthy!
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August 25th, 2009, 9:31 am by Michelle Reese
 Jasmine the Pug Sometimes my trials as a mom come from my dog, not my kids.
Last night was a brilliant example.
My husband and I crashed into bed late and I stuck my hand under my pillow, only to find a bone.
I gave it back to my nearly 9-year-old pug. She jumped off the bed and onto our laminate/wood floors.
Clickity, clickity, clickity…
We heard her nails hit the floor as she went to the loft to find a place to hide it again.
Clickity, clickity, clickity…
She left the loft and went to my son’s room.
Clickity, clickity, clickity…
She left the room and came back to our bedroom, then to the bathroom.
Clickity, clickity, clickity…
Nope, no good places there. She went back to the loft.
This went on for a good 10 minutes. My husband rolled over at one point and said, “Thanks. You couldn’t have just thrown it away?”
Me? I was laughing hysterically. I had tears running down my eyes. I could not control my snickers.
Clickity, clickity, clickity…
She went back to the bathroom. There, we heard her scratching at the TILE floor trying to “bury” it.
Finally, she jumped back in bed.
For two minutes.
Then she must have thought better of her “hiding” spot and got the bone.
Clickity, clickity, clickity…
It started again.
I was rolling by the end. So much for getting to sleep at a decent time.
Lesson learned? When it’s bedtime, don’t give the kid a toy.
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August 24th, 2009, 3:35 pm by Michelle Reese
Last week I had the chance - eh, hem - to talk to my son’s teachers, twice. Keep in mind, it was the second week of school. Last year, I had the same pleasure of getting that call, “Hi, Mrs. Reese. I wonder if I could talk to you about your son’s behavior in class today.”
EEK.
To top it off, my 7-year-old told me visited the principal. “He’s not mean (mad) at us,” he said.
His teacher confirmed this, that in fact the meeting with the principal was to remind my son of the school rules about talking in class (and not turning pencils into missles.)
EEK.
After the two teacher contacts, I thought it best to go in and sit down to chat with my son’s teachers.
I called to set up the meeting, where I learned he is having a diffult time staying focused in class. While I expressed concerned, she reassured me my son isn’t the only one. The first few weeks can be tough for the students - especially those in first grade who have - to regroup after summer break.
So this weekend, my husband and I reminded my son about not playing during class time and being good listener.
But I also took something she told me to heart. She suggested - and is doing this also - talking to my son about being a leader.
He is the oldest in his classroom. And he has four years of learning at this school under his belt. He should naturally be a leader.
But that’s not my son’s personality. He’s more of a go-with-the-flow type. I wasn’t sure about her suggestion until she told me it was working.
I got a nice note from her Friday about his improved work.
I’m hoping he’ll embrace a new role as a leader. He would be good at it, and I’m sorry I didn’t see that sooner.
Thank you to all teachers who offer insight even we, as parents, didn’t see.
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August 18th, 2009, 9:27 am by Michelle Reese
A good friend posted a link on Facebook to a story that just had me smiling last night. Some readers may remember the story of Christian and Stephanie Nielson, the young parents formerly of Mesa who were critically injured in a plane crash. The one-year-anniversary of that crash was on Sunday. On Saturday, this amazing mom climbed a mountain near her home in Utah. It was a goal she set as soon as she was moved from Arizona to her home state.
Her blog shares her story, photos and a link to the newspaper article from the Utah paper. Last year, I had the opportunity to interview Christian’s family several times and tried to keep up with the progress of Stephanie and Christian through them and friends. Reading her retelling of the story - several blog posts ago - is unbelieveable.
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August 13th, 2009, 3:25 pm by Michelle Reese
Just a few days into our school year and I am at a crossroad.
Because of my work schedule, my son is enrolled in afterschool care. He attended last school year and he LOVES it. It is a part of him. He is king of his own time there. Each day, he packs a little toy (usually a small Lego set) in his backpack to play with after the staff helps kids with homework. When it’s cooler, they play outside. While it’s hot and the kids are forced to stay indoors, the crew (some of the most nurturing people I know), bring out toys and games and books and encourage the youngsters to try a bit of everything.
I considered moving him to morning care this year (with no after care), just so we would have more time in the evenings. But it would be a rush in the afternoons to pick up both kids and be right at school when the bell rings. Besides, as my son’s afterschool teacher pointed out, my son is ALL ABOUT the afterschool program. (And last school year he had, let’s just say, a number of tardies in the morning).
So I did not make the switch.
But during the summer the kids started waking up earlier and earlier. Now, we seriously have at least 30 minutes and sometimes than that to just hang at home before I can drop him off at school. We have had fun, but the kids are get restless and bored. After breakfast, when we’re all packed up, they’re just ready to go! This morning - two minutes before we were finally walking out the door - my daughter asked if she could go on the computer.
I know it would cost a bit more, but I’m tempted to sign him up for both morning- and afterschool care. In the long run, it may SAVE me money.
How? Because of my schedule now - and my husband’s new duties as a volunteer football coach - no one is home to make dinner. Last week I brought home take-out twice. This week it’s just been once - but it’s only THURSDAY! And it can cost us $20 for take out for a family of four - each time. Adding morning care for a week is less than the cost of one take-out meal.
I figure, if I can get him there earlier and get out of work earlier, MAYBE we wouldn’t be eating out so much.
But the biggest perk of this plan could be that the kids would see daddy before he heads out the door to football practice, something we didn’t have on our radar when we were setting all this up. It’s been a dream of my husband’s to coach, so we wanted to make it happen.
I can’t wait till it really cools down in the evenings so we can all go to football practice!
Posted in: Blogroll • Michelle Reese • Being a mom • family time | Post a Comment »
August 11th, 2009, 3:29 pm by Michelle Reese
 ”I want to be a kid forever.”
“I want to be a grownup forever.”
Coming home from church on Sunday, something spurred these comments from my kids (I don’t remeber what!).
The first is from my 7-year-old son. He loves to play Legos, watch movies and challenge any friend to a Wii game.
The second came from my 4-year-old daughter. She loves to play dress up, says she’s going to be a “princess” when she grows up, and asks - no demands - lipstick and nail polish.
I laughed when I heard their comments, but I admit, they were not unexpected.
My son is a free thinker. He is very happy-go-lucky and go-with-the flow. I told his new teacher just as much in a letter, to be honest as somewhat of a warning.
My daughter, on the other hand, has to have everything in order. Her dress up clothes are in specific bins under her bed. She precisely picks out her outfit in the evening - then changes her mind in the morning.
Her friends are her whole world.
I hope I can scrapbook these comments and a bit about them sometime in the future - if only so they can look back and see what they thought life would be like for them.
I hope they both take on a bit of each other’s thinking: that my son would find there is value in hard work and hard play and that my daughter will find sometimes it’s fun to play a princess, even as a grown up.
I don’t schedule playtime. I try to let it happen. Sometimes that means - in our busy lives - that I pick up more of the load at home. They still have chores to do and we are active - with gymnastics right now and soccer coming in the fall - but I relish the moments when we come home at the end of the day, complete homework and just “be” before reading books and going to bed.
I’m looking forward to the cool evenings when all the neighborhood kids come out and join at the playground.
Lately, I’ve found myself trying to do whatever I can do to help them hold onto their childhood and make it as carefree as possible.
Posted in: Blogroll • Michelle Reese • Being a mom • Fun with the kids • home time | 1 Comment »
August 10th, 2009, 10:12 am by Michelle Reese
With ZERO hesitation, my son marched off to first grade today. Last night he packed his bag, picked out his outfit and went to sleep at a decent time.
But when we arrived this morning at the campus, I don’t know who was more excited: the kids or the principal. The principal is new to the school this year. I saw him as we drove up, waving at everyone.
Then he stopped at our car - my son had rolled down the window - and gave all of us a “high 5.”
I asked how the first day was going.
“It’s like Disneyland!” he said. Then off he went to welcome another family. Yea, I think it’s going to be a good year.
Posted in: Blogroll • Michelle Reese • School time | Post a Comment »
August 6th, 2009, 9:11 am by Michelle Reese
Hi folks… I got comments that the link I posted Wednesday for the computer give-away was not working. I fixed it. Please take a look at the blog again!
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August 5th, 2009, 3:09 pm by Michelle Reese
Parents: Just in time for school to start, Nova Mesa Computer Systems in Phoenix is giving away netbook computers.
To enter, children in grades one through 12 can submit a 150-200 word essay that answers the question: “How would you use a new Nova Mesa Computer Systems netbook bundle to help you do better in school during the new school year?”
Three netbook bundles will be given away. Essays must be submitted by Sept. 6. Winners will be announced Sept. 21. For information, see their Web site.
Essays will be judged on creativity, details on how the student will use the bundle and examples of ways the student will have fun with the technology. One submission per student. Official contest rules, regulations and restrictions are available online.
Posted in: Blogroll • Michelle Reese | 3 Comments »
August 5th, 2009, 1:39 pm by Michelle Reese
The Tribune has posted a story about the preteen- and teen-ritual, sleepovers, going out the door.
Every parent can - and should - make decisions on how to parent.
Here’s my thoughts: My son - then 6 - participated in his first sleepover birthday party about a year ago.
I met the boy’s mom in college, though we lost touch over the years. We “met again” when our boys were in preschool together four years ago. I also met her husband then.
Though the kids see each other daily at school, we moms only see each other every few weeks. Sad, I confess, since we live just down the street from one another. Busy lives and work keep the calendar booked.
When my friend asked about my son coming to the party, I checked with her about how many kids would be coming and what the plans were for the evening. I also talked to my husband and our son. He wanted to go, but we let him know we would come anytime if he wanted to come home. It’s a 3-minute drive.
My friend agreed that was a good plan.
There was a bit of a rough patch that night, when my son didn’t want to go to sleep at midnight, but overall he did fine.
My daughter was also invited to a sleepover party in the spring. She is 4.
I don’t know the parents. Our daughters are in school together and see each other daily, but I’d only met thems once or twice.
My daughter did not attend. I think 4 is a bit young to go to a friend’s overnight, though she does spend the night with grandparents a few times a year.
As the kids get older, I have to admit, I may worry more than I do now.
But if our kids still have the relationships with their closest friends now, and they’ve earned the trust, and if we still have the relationships with their parents - I would probably say yes.
Yes, I know, a lot of IFs, but isn’t that what parenting is about?
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