Kids

Where Does The Time Go?

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

I cannot believe that April is coming to a close.  Time is moving so fast.  Too fast for someone who is in the middle of a research project that she somehow has to turn into a 15-25 page research report due two weeks from tomorrow.  That is only 14 days away and I am no where close to be ready to do that paper.  I am weeks away from being able to write that paper.  It is in this crunch time that I always ask myself “what the hell was I thinking.”  What made me think that getting my PhD while working multiple jobs and parenting 2 small kids was a good idea?  I know it’s a little late to be asking that question since I will be done soon.  I only have one more year of course work and then a semester for research.  But it’s just so overwhelming.  I feel like such an ass complaining about something that I choose to do. It isn’t like I have real problems.  My husband and I both have jobs.  I am going to be a Dr. soon and I have two of the best kids in the world.

Speaking of kids.  Noah. Oh that boy makes me laugh.  At the parks we frequently play at, there are tennis courts right next to the playground.  Noah has become fascinated obsessed with tennis and has been talking about wanting to play tennis.  I talked to my husband about signing him up for lessons (he didn’t even have a racket at the time nor had he attempted to play) and he laughed at me telling me tennis would be too hard for Noah. Noah is a bit of a perfectionist and a bit competitive.  He gets really frustrated if he can’t do something well.  This past weekend we were shopping for a new ball glove as t-ball starts next week and he says

“Mom and Daddy.  You know what?”

“What”

“I know how to play tennis.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.  I saw the guys at the park and all I need is a racket and a tennis ball.”

So, we bought him a tennis racket and balls.  We got home and he wanted to play.  So we broke open the ball and set him up in the living room and tossed the ball to him and he hit it back at me so hard I had to duck.  He has not stopped asking to play tennis since and we have been letting him.  He seems to have a real knack for it.  His hand and eye coordination is pretty good.  Better than mine.

We’ve been busy having a lot of fun (which is why I am so behind on my school work) but the kids are just too much fun to not spend time with.

All Things Fun

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

I am reminded nearly everyday how fast my kiddos are growing.  This past weekend we went to our neighborhood Easter egg hunt.  I am reminded of how the first year we went to an Easter egg hunt I had to follow him around and help him put eggs in his basket.  Last year he was much better but then I had to follow Zoë around and put eggs in her basket and shield her from the Easter Bunny.  This year was totally different.  Zoë stalked the Easter Bunny and when it was time to get eggs–both my kids were off like a shot and filled their baskets.  Zoë even help little kids put eggs into their baskets because hers was full.  It was an awesome day but also a little bittersweet.  They are growing so fast and I’m not really sure that I like that.  Is there a way to stop that?

Noah got a new bike for his birthday and he rode it almost a mile yesterday.  My little boy who just last fall got tired riding it a few blocks.  Now–he’s all energy and boy.

It really makes me realize these are such moments to cherish as they will need me less and less as time flies on whether I want it to or not.  This is part of parenting that I just not a big fan of.

A Tale Of Two Bullies And Growth

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

Who thought with a kid in private pre-school, I’d have to be dealing with bullies.  But in these tough economic times, Noah’s class has two.  Dad wants him to tell the bullies “no” when they hit/kick him and if they continue then he should hit them back.  I am not a fan of this and Noah even said to his dad, “But my teachers might see me.”  Clearly he understands that hitting/kicking someone is wrong. Because there are two teachers and 18-20 students, the teachers can’t see everything that happens.  And as the boys play rough much of the time, can you really tell from a distance or glance if they are engaging in consensual play or one is being mistreated.

Hubby is surprised I am not more concerned.  I don’t want my son to get hurt and bullied by some kid.  I’ll do what I need to to protect my child.  But those of us who have kids know that our kids don’t tell us anything.  Noah might tell me three days later that S or B hit him and it hurt.  I had a long talk with Noah today about how to handle it when kids are mean to him and try to hurt him–whether kicking, hitting, or pushing.  I told him to yell “No, Don’t hurt me.”  Thinking this will get one of the teachers attention and Noah doesn’t have to resort to the “eye for an eye” mentality.  He is too young to be learning that hitting back is sometimes necessary.  I don’t want him to learn that.  I want him to learn to walk away and not give the bully what he wants/needs.

So, here we are at a bit of an impasse.  Re-enrollment is coming up and I have every intention of re-enrolling Noah, but I know there are a couple of families that are considering not re-enrolling because their kids are being picked on repeatedly.  Noah is pretty outgoing and he’ll go and play with a few of the girls if the boys are playing in a way he doesn’t want to play.  He is starting to learn and I hear him tell B that he doesn’t want to play like that and isn’t going to play with him.  I like that he is figuring this out for himself.  But, I might be a little more apt to react if he was showing signs of distress and anxiousness.

Have your kids had to deal with bullies?  How is it handled at your kids school?  How have you handled it?

Her First Right of Passage

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

So, today I took Zoë to get her ears pierced today.  I have been wanting to do it for some time now and Bill and I agreed that I would wait until after her 2nd birthday.  I have been talking to her about it for a few weeks, getting her prepared.  I have to say that she really did awesome.  I, of course, would be lying if I said she didn’t cry but the tears only lasted a minute until she noticed something sparkly and shiny at the accessories store.  She has been doing really well with leaving them alone and letting me clean and twist them–I have only had to do it once today as we got them pierced this afternoon. But so far, so good.

And she looks adorable….

earrings 2

earrings

Here is a token Halloween photo–more details coming about Zoë’s first trick or treating experience and her birthday(those pics on my desktop and I’ll pull them off soon).

halloween