That Of Which We Shall Not Speak

In starting and maintaining this blog, I've always desired to make it a look at parenting (and parenting in general) and a celebration of children, Rachel in particular. But I've always hoped that it would someday be something she (and other siblings? no, not an announcement) would be able to look at without declaring eternal hatred for me and running to their rooms and slamming their doors.

So some issues we've steered clear of. But I gotta say, there's something no one really warned us about and I'd love for it to stop. There've only been several major incidents, but two of them have been in the past few months. And only today's was really Rachel's doing. We put her down for a nap today without pants, wondering if she's been too warm lately and that's why she's not been napping.

Well, with ready access, when the time came, the enterprisingy little girl, instead of calling out for help, attempted to change her own diaper. With less than the best results. As always, things could have been far worse. But it's this kind of thing that no one remembers to warn you about or in any way stress the gravity of. Not other parents, not grandparents, not people at the hospital or in the pediatric office. And that is just how messy life can be.

Charlie Brown Has Been Taken!

Rachel just asked to see Charlie Brown. We have the Christmas DVD, but it's packed away now. We had also TIVO'd some of the holiday specials, but they're not on the recorder anymore.

Me: "We don't have any of the videos here."
R: "But he's on TV."
Me: "Well, the holidays are over, so he's not on there anymore."
R: "What?! Someone took Charlie Brown away?"

Who's Laughing Now?

It's all fun and games until all of them are crying at the same time.

(She's) Too Smart for my Own Good

Rachel and I were leaving the parking lot of Fred Meyer when I said "Shoot!" She asked what was wrong, and I told her I forgot to get apples and that I needed them for a dish I was going to make tomorrow night. I told her I'd just have to make something else.

A minute or two later, we were driving through the Safeway parking lot and she said "Let's go in there!" I said "I would, but I don't think we need anything from Safeway." Miss Smarty Pants comes back with us "Maybe we need apples from Safeway!"

I got such a good laugh out of that. I couldn't believe she'd put that together.

It's Not a Toy

Rachel was being pesky the other day while I was at the computer. So I handed her an iTunes giftcard and said "Here. Here's a toy. Go play with it."

She responded, "It's not a toy. It's music."

Kid never ceases to amaze me.

Alyssa Lies

My little girl met a new friend,
just the other day,
on the playground at school
between the tires and the swings

But she came home with tear-filled eyes,
and she said to me "Daddy, Alyssa lies"

Well I just brushed it off at first,
'cause I didn't know how much my little girl had been hurt
or the things she had seen.
I wasn't ready when I said "You can tell me"

and she said...

"Alyssa lies to the classroom,
Alyssa lies everyday at school,
Alyssa lies to the teachers
as she tries to cover every bruise"

My little girl laid her head down that night to go to sleep.
As I stepped out the room, I heard her say a prayer so soft and sweet
"God bless my mom and my Dad
and my new friend, Alyssa
*oh*I know she needs you bad

Because Alyssa lies to the classroom,
Alyssa lies everyday at school,
Alyssa lies to the teachers
as she tries to cover every bruise"

(bridge)

I had the worst night of sleep in years
as I tried to think of a way to calm her fears
*I knew exactly what I had to do*
but when we got to school on Monday I heard the news

My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad
the lump in my throat grew bigger
with every question that she asked.
Until I felt the tears run down my face
and I told her that Alyssa wouldn't be at school today

'Cause she doesn't lie in the classroom
she doesn't lie anymore at school
Alyssa lies with Jesus
because there's nothin' anyone would do

Tears filled my eyes when my little girl asked me why
Alyssa lies
oh* Daddy, oh daddy tell me why
Alyssa lies

© Jason Michael Carroll

Sick

Little Rachel's been sick today, telling Lori that her throat hurts "on the inside."

At around 5 pm Rachel disappeared. Lori went looking for her and discovered that she had crawled into our bed, gotten under the covers and gone to sleep.

She woke up shortly after I arrived home from work. She wanted to stay close to one of us at all times. She wanted to lean against us but didn't want us touching her. I admit that I did tickle her and she did genuinely laugh. She did ask me to stop rather quickly.

She took a long bath and seemed to feel better after that. She went to sleep very quickly afterwards, but has whimpered from time to time in her sleep.

Poor little sweet baby.

More Dancing!

ENGADGET.COM -- W. Virginia expands the Dance, Dance Revolution party spreading across the state. After a successful pilot program they're now installing the systems in all of the public schools. Has apparently helped keep kids from gaining weight -- and get this -- all the craziness and fun of the game has led to more outgoing and socialable kids. I really love this story because of the unusual benefits that have been realized. I've thought about buying a gaming system and this game for the weight loss aspects, but it's cool how it's also helped kids socially when they can goof off together. More...