Crazy
Swamped
Run Down
Run
Sane
Above Water
Running Away
Running Toward...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
More than one week
I let the blog go more than one week from an entry, which I have tried not to do.
5 Things That Make Me Smile
1. My children laughing
2. My husband's face
3. Listening to my son read to me
4. Hearing "I love you"
5. Discovering something new
5 Things That Make Me Smile
1. My children laughing
2. My husband's face
3. Listening to my son read to me
4. Hearing "I love you"
5. Discovering something new
Monday, March 9, 2009
If penguins come from other penguins...
then what about those penguins?
B1 casually asked me this one morning when I was rushing off to work. Knowing my audience - a 5 1/2 year old, and an analytic one at that - I tried to be clear, accurate and honest.
Well, sweetie that is an excellent, very intelligent question, I begin...
I went into some details about 1) evolution, science and talked about birds adapting; 2) creation, religion and talked about a spirit greater than any one of us.
I am very interested in hearing from other moms (those scientifically, spiritually inclined or both) about similar queries and how they have handled it. It begs larger questions about what we are teaching children about our world and their place in it. To what extent are we reinforcing our own position about that world and perhaps limiting the ways in which they can engage with it.
What a shame if in our attempts to do our best at parenting we close off possibility for them (i.e. God created everything [period] or There is no spiritual force that influences nature [period]). Shouldn't childhood be about exploration and discovery. In retrospect, I wish I wasn't so anxious with proceeding with my answer, and had spent some time asking him about his.
In the end (of that conversation at least), he was satisfied that I explained two main answers to the question and suggested that it is possible to believe in both!
Calling all moms: How do you handle the BIG questions in ways that encourage your children to keep asking the little ones?
B1 casually asked me this one morning when I was rushing off to work. Knowing my audience - a 5 1/2 year old, and an analytic one at that - I tried to be clear, accurate and honest.
Well, sweetie that is an excellent, very intelligent question, I begin...
I went into some details about 1) evolution, science and talked about birds adapting; 2) creation, religion and talked about a spirit greater than any one of us.
I am very interested in hearing from other moms (those scientifically, spiritually inclined or both) about similar queries and how they have handled it. It begs larger questions about what we are teaching children about our world and their place in it. To what extent are we reinforcing our own position about that world and perhaps limiting the ways in which they can engage with it.
What a shame if in our attempts to do our best at parenting we close off possibility for them (i.e. God created everything [period] or There is no spiritual force that influences nature [period]). Shouldn't childhood be about exploration and discovery. In retrospect, I wish I wasn't so anxious with proceeding with my answer, and had spent some time asking him about his.
In the end (of that conversation at least), he was satisfied that I explained two main answers to the question and suggested that it is possible to believe in both!
Calling all moms: How do you handle the BIG questions in ways that encourage your children to keep asking the little ones?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Simultaneous
Simultaneous-
thoughts, emotions, questions
Am I where I'm supposed to be?
Simultaneous-
expectations, needs, contexts
Each making demands of me
Simultaneous-
responsibilities, tasks, roles
Exerting pressure - sucking life,
some I refuse to even see
Simultaneous-
responsibilities, tasks, roles
Providing presence - giving life,
some I cannot even see
Simultaneous- a fiction?
mind
body
spirit
How can I be all three?
thoughts, emotions, questions
Am I where I'm supposed to be?
Simultaneous-
expectations, needs, contexts
Each making demands of me
Simultaneous-
responsibilities, tasks, roles
Exerting pressure - sucking life,
some I refuse to even see
Simultaneous-
responsibilities, tasks, roles
Providing presence - giving life,
some I cannot even see
Simultaneous- a fiction?
mind
body
spirit
How can I be all three?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Mother/Work
Ever find yourself crossing that proverbial bridge before you arrive at the river? I have been accepted to two academic conferences in May. In both instances I have the opportunity to discuss the raw maternal moments of the last several months. I am thrilled as an academic and as Mama, PhD, but this presents challenges to me simply as a Mom. That is to suggest that my being away from home and family for the better part of two different weeks raises the question, "Who will care for my children while I am away?" [DOAD, of course]
Actually, being an academic himself he too is planning on being away in May. As life would have it there will be overlap and conflict in our travel plans. Playing neurotic, organizing, determined NOT to let this become an issue upon realizing this rendering of events Mom, I attempted (desperately?) to "fix" things. Dramatically reaching out to colleagues, to friends, to conference organizers (?!)... etc.
DOAD, even being the most understanding and accessible father that he is took a much different approach: "We'll work it out." One reading would have this as a much more rational and realistic response to this situation. Another (maternally inclined one) would point to the differential experience of parenting. Mothers mother. Fathers father. To what extent is the minutia of details and concerns I seem to fret with simply my own insecurities or rather how much of this comes from the mama mandate meets the ideal worker syndrome crashes against the demands of the academy? Perhaps, it is a little of all of that.
Actually, being an academic himself he too is planning on being away in May. As life would have it there will be overlap and conflict in our travel plans. Playing neurotic, organizing, determined NOT to let this become an issue upon realizing this rendering of events Mom, I attempted (desperately?) to "fix" things. Dramatically reaching out to colleagues, to friends, to conference organizers (?!)... etc.
DOAD, even being the most understanding and accessible father that he is took a much different approach: "We'll work it out." One reading would have this as a much more rational and realistic response to this situation. Another (maternally inclined one) would point to the differential experience of parenting. Mothers mother. Fathers father. To what extent is the minutia of details and concerns I seem to fret with simply my own insecurities or rather how much of this comes from the mama mandate meets the ideal worker syndrome crashes against the demands of the academy? Perhaps, it is a little of all of that.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Can I ask you something?
I said to B1 tonight while we were cuddling before bed, "Can I ask you something?" He said, "Mom, you can ask me anything." I continued, "If you could change anything about me, what would it be?" He said, "NOTHING!" I said, "It's ok to tell me something... maybe there's something I could do better as your Mom."
"Well, next time we have kiwis, you could give me some more. I really like them!"
Smile.
"Well, next time we have kiwis, you could give me some more. I really like them!"
Smile.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Life and Family: Family Life
My Life
So messy and untidy
Not neatly divided,
as my Mothers' appeared to be
Separate spheres?
Work [and] Family
Family, then Work
Totalizing, enveloping each of them
Reconcile - reconciling?
The overlap,
no separation
I'd lie if I called it integration
Domestic Life. Academic Life
My Life
My Life
This poem I post in honour of Family Day, an Alberta holiday to celebrate families. Today we are going to see a play called Apples and Oranges... more to come on this later!
So messy and untidy
Not neatly divided,
as my Mothers' appeared to be
Separate spheres?
Work [and] Family
Family, then Work
Totalizing, enveloping each of them
Reconcile - reconciling?
The overlap,
no separation
I'd lie if I called it integration
Domestic Life. Academic Life
My Life
My Life
This poem I post in honour of Family Day, an Alberta holiday to celebrate families. Today we are going to see a play called Apples and Oranges... more to come on this later!
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