"I hope you don't mind that I put down in words... how wonderful life is while you're in the world"
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Taro Gomi Lovefest
"The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity" - Thomas Huxley
I know I've shamelessly swooned over the Gomi coloring books before here and here and here, but can you see why this 4 yr old boy and his mama love them? They truly speak to the heart of the child...
(there's one in all of us)
and engage the imagination. It's a lovefest over here, folks!
"Giving liberates the soul of the giver" - Maya Angelou
Short on words because I'm short on breath...been sick since Thursday. Winners, please email me with your shipping addy and I'll send these as soon as I'm vertical. wendy @ wendycook dot com
The winner of My First BOB Books Alphabet is...Gemma!
The winner of My First BOB Books Pre-Reading Skills is....Sibabe64!
Thank you for playing! A big thank you to the creators of BOB Books and to Scholastics for making this giveaway possible and allowing me to spread the love!!!
The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light was ever falling, and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves. - J.R.R. Tolkien
Overheard:
Friend: How was your trip to the beach, Satch?
Satch: It was GLORIOUS!
It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story - Native American proverb
I'm so very humbled to announce that I have been interviewed by the talented artist-curator-gallery owner, Susan Schwake-Larochelle. Thank you, Susan, for hearing our stories.
GIVEAWAY & Mom to Mom (s): Bobby Maslen & Lynn Maslen Kertell
"People should be free to find or make for themselves the kind of educational experience they want their child to have" - John Holt
Some time ago, Satch showed an interest in learning to read so I began researching ways to nurture that interest in a fun and natural way. I didn't want to use computer programs because I want to shield my 4 yr old son from the whole video game scene for as long as possible. I stumbled upon a set of BOB Books at our library book sale and gave them a whirl.
Satch LOVED the BOB Books and was extremely excited to have read a book all by himself!
I decided to talk to the creators of the series and was thrilled to learn that it was a Mother/Father/Daughter operation. I'm pleased to introduce Bobby and her daughter Lynn. And I'm equally pleased to offer a chance to win a set of Bob Books at the end of this post! Mom: Bobby Lynn Maslen (Author/Creator) Of: Lynn, David, Sylvia, Paul Where: Portland, Oregon URL:BOB Books
1. In what ways has becoming a mother changed you?
Becoming a mother lead more or less to becoming the author of Bob Books. After I became a mother, I became very interested in my children’s development and education. This lead me to becoming a teacher. I found I really loved teaching young children, which I did for 13 years.
2. What message would you like to share with other mothers?
Give out a lot of love, a lot of play. Be ready to respond to your children’s moods and their needs.
3. How do you orchestrate your passions as Mother, Author?
Being a mother enabled me to be an author because I learned what my children’s needs were, as well as the children I was teaching at school. Teaching beginning readers I found that they needed simplicity and consistency in learning the sounds, words and meanings in books, so that is what I put in the Bob Books.
4. What inspired you to create the Bob Books Series?
I could not find any books that had the characteristics I wanted in a beginning reader, so I wrote them myself.
5. What are some things that parents can do to help their children learn to read?
Read to them, starting at a very early age.
6. What moves you, grounds you, fills your well?
At this stage, my grandchildren fill my well. They light up my life.
Mom: Lynn Maslen Kertell (Author/Manager) (Daughter of Bob Books author/creator Bobby Maslen) Of: One daughter (age 9) Where: Washington State URL:Bob Books
1. In what ways has becoming a mother changed you?
Wow - there is not a 5 word answer for that question. Just like most Moms, I love my daughter more than I ever imagined possible. In fact, having a family has taught me about love in many ways. Between husband and daughter, I've learned not to be so selfish, to listen better, to give the benefit of the doubt. Also, they remind me to play and have fun.
We laugh a lot, we have tickle fights. Sometimes it seems like a lot of work, but then I look at this child we’re raising and I remember again how important this job is. Plus, I really like her as a human. She's caring, she's funny, she fills me with delight.
Although I did not realize it at the time, being a Mom made me a good fit for Bob Books, too. My daughter and I were in a K-2 co-op, so I was in the classroom with her every week for three years. I saw the mechanics of those early steps into reading. Plus, she ended up needing tutoring, and I learned even more as I watched and participated in her struggles with very early reading. As adults, we take reading for granted. It is amazing to see that transformational moment when a child first realizes that letters make words, and that they can figure how to do it themselves. Bob Books are so terrific at that! I have seen it over and over and it is still exciting.
2. What message would you like to share with other mothers?
Realize what a difference you make. Delight in what you’re doing.
3. How do you orchestrate your passions as Mother, Author?
Does that mean, how do I get everything done? It can be a struggle to find time. I do love working from home… my commute is 30 seconds. I try to work from 8am to 3pm, and reserve the rest for the family. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. My husband, neighbors and friends all help make it possible.
4. What inspired you to create the Bob Books Series?
I will answer this for my Mom. She taught 3-5 year olds for 13 years. She wanted books that introduced reading with simplicity and fun, but she could not find any. She started writing her own, right there in the classroom with the kids – in fact, the early Bob Books were hand made individually for the child she was working with at the time. The characters were based on dolls she bought at a craft fair and had in the classroom.
Once she has drawn her little books quite a few dozen times, she decided to save some work and copy them. They were used in the classroom in that format for several years before she spent a summer carefully crafting Set 1, which introduces the letters of the alphabet. Sets 2-5 followed over the next several years.
One reason Bob Books are so successful, is that they were field tested for all those years in a school setting.
5. What are some things that parents can do help their children learn to read?
Of course, read to them. Play alphabet games, rhyming games. Ask them what sounds letters make. Break words apart so they can hear each sound separately. Mmmmm – aaaaa – ttttt. Be aware that the sound the letter makes is as important as the name of the letter.
Limit TV and computer time. There are great learning games and shows available, but there is no substitute for your attention.
Also, relax! Play and fun support learning – and bring joy to you and your children.
6. What moves you, grounds you, fills your well?
My family, first and foremost. Plus, I enjoy connecting with people – adults and kids. We all have a story to tell, something that we are passionate about, that makes us interesting. I do get a kick out of what 3-year-olds find important. They remind me that our whole world is filled with wonder.
The lovely moms of BOB Books and the generous folks at Scholastics are allowing me to give away two BOB sets:
My First BOB Books Pre-Reading Skills
My First BOB Books Alphabet
Simply leave a comment by midnight September 27th and two winners will be picked via random generator and announced on Tuesday September 29th!
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous - Aristotle
Last year we met a wonderful stick bug who met a very unfortunate demise. Satch loved it so...and I loved the joy it brought him. I've been hoping that Satch would find another and because I am the luckiest person on earth, he found one in our garden yesterday! He named it Twiggy.
I am trying to find information on the care and feeding of stick bugs as I think Satch would enjoy having it winter with us. If there's anyone out in the blogosphere with such info, please contact us.
I should mention once again, that I'm not fond of insects. Truthfully, I have a bit of an aversion...especially to the large variety, moreover to the jumping/flying variety. However, I try not to let it show because I'm grateful for the happiness they bring my son.
We maintain cultures of several species of tropical stick insects here in the Insect Zoo. The adults mate and lay eggs throughout the year as they do in the tropics.
You have a species of temperate stick insect that you found in your garden in Virginia. These stick insects live in the tree canopies for the most part. There the adults feed on leaves, mate, and lay eggs on the leaves. When the leaves fall to the ground in the autumn, so fall the eggs. The eggs overwinter on the leaves. When day length and temperature increase in the spring, the eggs hatch. The hatchling stick insects climb to the tops of the trees to feed and grow. Once they reach the adult stage, the reproductive cycle begins again.
Your stick insect species has evolved to deal with a harsh winter by overwintering in the egg stage. The adults die with the first frosts as do adult mantids. You might be able to keep this individual adult alive for awhile feeding it lettuce and tree leaves such as oak. I doubt that this individual can last until next spring for release back into the wild. Your species has evolved to last one growing season at this temperate latitude.
If you’d like to telephone me, I can be reached at the number listed below.
Sincerely yours, Nathan Erwin Insect Zoo/Butterfly Pavilion Manager National Museum of Natural History
A day or so after I shot this photo of Monty eating his lunch, he flew the coop. Satch was quite upset. I told him that I was certain Monty must be somewhere in the yard because mantids usually stay put. One our way home from a lengthy walk, I spotted a huge mantis near the edge of a very busy intersection.
It's MONTY, mama, YOOK!
I scooped the creepy crawly into an empty bag and handed it to Satch. He held it so carefully while I pushed him home in the stroller and then released it in the garden.
Right before our vacation, I purchased a pack of those "Magic Grow Sea Animals Capsules" for bath time. I thought perhaps it would thwart some of the shampoo screaming that makes bathing Satch such a (ahem) joy. I thought the distraction would save our friends from having to suffer along with me.
And it did - which was a great relief!
However, I didn't anticipate the lesson in growth that was encapsulated in my 2 dollar investment.
Out of the 12 creatures, some of which were duplicates, wouldn't you know there was only ONE dang lobster! And as luck would have it, his best bud got the lobster. Well, you can imagine the drama that unfolded. My son obsessed about that little piece of green foam and didn't want to leave the house until his pal came back so he could plead his need. He was so fixated, in fact, that he wanted to trade her a whale and shark for that one lobster.
When we returned from sightseeing he immediately voiced his case. His offer was rejected and a valuable lesson availed itself. He was heartbroken, but I didn't want his pal's generous mommy to encourage her daughter to make the trade simply because my son was upset. He was entitled to his authentic feelings, but I didn't want to send the message that he who screams loudest and longest wins a prize because that doesn't serve anyone. I didn't want his friend to do something she didn't want to do. I wanted to allow the conflict to unfold naturally. I wanted my son to try to solve the problem creatively and he did - he offered a respectable trade - and the trade wasn't accepted. I told him that I thought it was a wonderful trade and that I was sorry it didn't work out. I also told him that his friend did not have to trade, and that a trade is a choice. I told him that we would stop at the store on the way home and get another pack.
He lamented about the lobster (in total) for 30 hours, seriously, we counted them. We asked him to (please) stop talking about the lobster and assured him we would buy more capsules. On our way home we stopped at the Safeway, as promised, and bought the LAST package of grow foam on the shelf. The moment we got home, we poured them into the bathroom sink and prayed to the God-of-cheap-kiddy-crapola to give us another lobster. Thankfully, Larry, emerged from his capsule and saved our sanity.
I realized that we purchased more capsules, not because we were tired of the lobster-monologue (though I did feel like my brain was about to explode into bits of colored foam), we bought more capsules because the lobster was important to him for some reason we may never fully understand. We bought them because we knew it would bring him joy.
I do believe our perceptions shape the world we experience. And the thing is, I don't want my son to grow up believing the old adage, "you can't have everything". I don't want him to believe we live in a world of scarcity (though we all know it exists). It's just that the focus on scarcity, I think, promotes doubt, fear, greed and jealousy. I wish for him to see his world as abundant, hopeful, creative and generous. I want this for him because my perception is that sometimes you CAN have everything - but you may have to be creative about it - you may have to work at it - you may have to wait for it - and sometimes it's understanding what your "everything" really is, what's truly important. And when you figure that out, you often discover that you already have it all.
We had a bit of a giggle yesterday over Larry when I jokingly said to Satch, "I can't believe you were so upset over a tiny piece of green sponge". He laughed then added, "I know it's junky, Mama, but I really love the lobster".
The Arts Festival on Saturday was spectacular! Upon entering, we were given a zebra print tote bag with a red recorder (flute) and stainless water bottle inside. The goody bag was sponsored by Target, as indicated by the branding which was not terribly obnoxious, but rather tasteful. It was just a logo (no name) that could easily be covered up if one wanted to.
All around the Kennedy Center - inside and outside, there was so much going on and so many talented artists that is was a visual feast. They were on stage, on the plaza, above on a tightrope, wandering the grounds - EVERYWHERE! Some of our faves were l'Arsenal. And in particular, an act in which an artist flipped, rolled and sort of became one with a giant Hula Hoop. It blew our minds!
There were nearly enough boxes to fill a city block...
and the kids went WILD building forts, windows, doorways and tunnels.
Later we had dinner with friends before the wee pals headed for a grassy hill. They chased each other, fell upon one another and had a grand time of it. It was the very definition of rough-and-tumble play. They roared loudly and saved each other from their respective beasts as little boy are wont to do. The littlest member of the merry band, a cherub faced yearling, roared with them wishing he too could join the wild rumpus. He settled in the arms of his mama pointing dimpled finger to sky and earth and every marvel within sight asking, "W'SAH?" The papa bears minded the cubs while the mamas caught up on the days that passed between then and now. Connecting, once again, over the seemingly ordinary, yet knowingly wondrous moments...the one where he began drawing people for the first time; the little one who just cut 4 teeth; the one who is now learning to read.
"I had a lovely day", he said before falling asleep.
Hand in hand, with fairy grace, Will we sing, and bless this place. ~William Shakespeare
Upon our return from the Ribbon Of Sand, we went to check on our fairy fort. We discovered that the fairy feast had been devoured and it appeared that a wild rumpus had taken place. Inside the fairy fort, Satch found two wings.
Mama, YOOK! Cicada wings!
Really? Hmmm...look closely, they look a bit different somehow. What are they?
Well...you found them in your fairy fort, right? FAIRY WINGS!!!
What a lovely gift!
Then he carefully cupped the delicate wings in his wee hands and carried them home where he placed them in the tiny treasure box that his aunt "Lola" gave him.
His treasures include: an army of Cicada shells, a handful of the tiniest acorns you've ever seen and a dried flower from our garden.
*Postscript: I honestly don't know how the "fairy wings" turned up in his fairy fort. I do know, however, that I have been noticing lots of Cicada wings on the ground and have been collecting them for future projects.
Winners please email me with your shipping addy (wendy @ wendy cook dot com )! Thank you to the aforementioned generous creators of coolness for allowing me to spread some joy...
"Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea. Joy to you and me!"
Location: NYC roots, now blooming in Northern Virginia, United States
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Mother, Artist, Biophiliac,Vegetarian, Joyologist, VA Master Naturalist, CCMA
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CONTACT: wendy(at)wendycook(dotcom)
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This is my JOURNAL. I come to this page to write about our days so that my son will have a diary of our life together. Perhaps you will find something useful here as you navigate the terrain of your own path. ...........................................
Topics are categorized by subject in the chapters section on my sidebar. Useful links are located in my sidebar also.
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"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty...
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition."
