Tracking August

There are months where I start an R&R Update that I think, “What has happened the last four weeks? I have no idea.” And then I dump the contents of my camera into the computer and I am quickly reminded that the month was not a blur in the sense that impacts weren’t made, memories weren’t created, and obstacles weren’t achieved, no, quite the opposite. The “blur” is like a a tangled ball of yarn, a scattered puzzle or a small child; when given a little time and attention they will show beauty of something far greater.

I am learning in parenting that you can survive life by “just getting through the day” (and there are days that this is the best I can do), but if I want quality memories I have to allow space and opportunity. There is a parenting rule that I know my mother never revealed to me and maybe its because she didn’t even know she was adhering to it. It’s the rule that parents, grandparents, whoever you are that is tasked with the development of a child, that you are to create a sense of wonder and depth out of daily life, even the mundane cycle that often threatens our weeks. For example, Chris’ mom has this amazing power to make Christmas the kind you imagine when looking at Thomas Kinkaid picture or a Hallmark card. That wonderment and stability that everything and everyone is having a good time, even if it’s just for a moment. This isn’t to create an untruth but rather to highlight what is important: family, learning, and love. Of course, what you don’t see as a kid is the stressful, often expensive, and laborious tasks that come with creating those memory opportunities. But if you ask Grandma, she will tell you “Its worth it.”

So in my rookie attempts to master this parenting skill I had decided to enroll Ryder in a few summer book reading programs (they still count if we read together!). I still remember the feel of that huge Book-It badge that was pinned to my thin cotton shirt in grade school. How thrilled I was to go to Pizza Hut with other homeschoolers to received my very own personal pan pizza for reading five whole books! What I didn’t realize then, but surely do now is how much determination that required of my mother to make that event happen. She home schooled four kids, taught private lessons to (in my childhood opinion) about a 1,000 kids per week in her backyard studio. And yet, we made it, God willing, to Pizza Hut for many Book-It achievements. I wanted the same for Ryder this summer.

Virginia Beach Public Library had a 15-hour achievement form that we posted on the fridge and slowly marked away at its 20-minute boxes until we filled every blank space. Then last week we adventured to the Central Library. When everyone else was stocking up on water and batteries for the hurricane we knew our mission was essential to our survival – that proud badge moment. Sadly, what this rookie Momma didn’t know was that the summer program had ended two weeks prior. I think I was closer to tears than Ryder was. So instead we celebrated with a full bag of new library books and chicken nuggets.

Earlier in the month we did successfully finish the Barnes and Noble reading program and we also attended Regent University’s first ever story time in the campus library. It was about cooking. Ryder liked the noodles best and that his favorite girls were with him: Rory, Savannah, Grandma, and Oma.

Rory has been exercising her physical skills with gusto. This girl now flips, rolls, shimmies, and bounces with near ease. She is working her tummy time on the play mat so much that we often forget how much work that takes a new athlete such as herself; she is often conked-out right there on the mat. Poor baby. Rory continues to enjoy book time with Ryder and me that she will even sing/coo along when it’s a song book (somehow I managed to pick up half song books this last trip to the library. Let’s just say, Ryder hasn’t made fun of me yet, but I know its coming). Playing outside, however, is not as thrilling to her as it is to Ryder. But she doesn’t complain one bit when we go on family bike rides (I got a new bike from Chris for my birthday!). Our “Rory-girl”, as Ryder calls her, started solid foods a few weeks ago and eats like a champ. Who knows what next month will bring!

Until next time…

Recommend books from R&R:

Ajhar, Brian. Home on the Range. (must be sung with your best country accent. We don’t even dare attempt to just read it).

Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. (believe it or not, I hadn’t ever read this classic book. We prefer personalized sound effects “chomp. Chomp. CHOMP.”)