Month: July 2008

Classic text from Anastasia while driving home:

“Whit locked himself in the 3rd floor bathroom and I cannot get him out.”

And a picture of the two of them uncharacteristically smiling in each others’ presence. The other 99.5% of the time they are ripping each others’ eyes out and drawing blood however they can.
This picture strikes me because I think they look alike when usually they look so different. Whit’s eyes seem really blue in these photos – maybe his bunk bed brings out his blue eyes? Because they are OPEN all the time when he’s in it?

We went to the dentist today. As we arrived I was reprimanded for having a cup of coffee and had to stand in the hall outside the waiting room (I realize that that “had to” reflects my addiction, thank you). I felt ineffably proud of Grace as I watched her through a glass door – she sat by herself and looked through books for a good 10 minutes. The hygienist came out and called her name and I saw her look up, say “yes, that’s me” and then look at me through the glass door. I think she genuinely didn’t know if she was supposed to go in alone. Of course I ditched the coffee and went with her to the little room with the chair. This is her umpteenth dentist appointment but I am still awed by her trust, her cooperation, and her lack of anxiety in the chair.

It’s moments like these that reaffirm the importance of fostering a positive dental experience, one that instills not only trust but also a sense of comfort for both child and parent alike. For those seeking to enhance their smile, whether to address imperfections or boost confidence, options like composite bonding leeds offer a transformative solution. Whether you’re dissatisfied with your smile’s appearance or self-conscious about gaps between your teeth, composite bonding presents a versatile and minimally invasive option. By seamlessly repairing chips, discolorations, or irregularities, composite bonding provides a natural-looking result that can elevate your smile and restore your self-assurance.

This reaction made me think of how I am proudest of my children when they display self-reliance and independence. Watching them be brave swells my heart much bigger than watching them demonstrate skills or talents. This in turn makes me wonder if I’m sending a bad message – pushing them away too fast, too early. I can hear Hilary talking in my ear about the risks of over-emphasizing independence and autonomy. I acknowledge these risks and thought about this a lot this morning; I wonder if I am pushing my children out into the world too fast, expecting them to be too independent, celebrating too noisly their willingness to walk away from me. Is this so? How to walk the line between closeness and separation? I do believe, fundamentally, that an independent child is one secure that he/she is loved no matter what. But at the same time, I don’t want to raise children afraid to ask for what they need, and afraid of the interdependence that true intimacy entails. As usual, others can say things much more articulately than I can:

This is our human problem, one common to parents, sons and daughters, too – how to let go while holding tight, how to simultaneously cherish the closeness and intricacy of the bond while at the same time letting out the raveling string, the red yarn that ties our hearts. (Erdrich, The Blue Jay’s Dance)

Deep thoughts for a Tuesday morning.

Playlist from run today

Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
I Kissed a Girl – Katy Perry
Amie – Pure Prairie League
It’s Amazing – Jem
Private Dancer – Tina Turner
4 Minutes – Justin Timberlake & Madonna
The Heart of the Matter – India.Arie
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
Come on Over – Jessica Simpson
All I Wanna Do – Sugarland
Shanti/Ashtangi – Madonna
I’m Every Woman – Chaka Khan
Give It To Me – Timbaland
Slap & Tickle – Squeeze
Roll to Me – Del Amitri
Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

Am I the only one who totally digs Jessica Simpson’s reinvention as a country singer? I really have to say I like the girl in spite of it all. She may not be a brilliant intellect but she can laugh at herself and that’s worth a lot. Plus she endured a public breakup and the humiliation of her father’s continued faux pas. I like her.