City Mouse vs. Country Mouse

Almost everyday I go for a jog, pushing my daughter in her jogging stroller. We head toward the national forest about a half-mile down the road and usually take the low road along the river. It’s a bumpy ride and I brings snack and water for her to keep her content. We have created a routine of stopping at the turn-around point, to throw rocks in the river. She is usually dressed like a fairy since that is her normal garb around the house. So, I sit, rest for a moment, and watch my little fairy catapulting stones and listening for the sounds they make.

I consider what I am missing out on by living so rurally. Read more »

Dora the Explora Makes Me Want to Shoot Myself

I try to avoid movies or t.v. shows that are heavy with marketing and merchandising. My daughter likes to watch Winnie the Pooh, Yo Gabba Gabba and Bambi. Of course, these come with their own set of stuffed animals and clothing, but nothing comes close to the marketing of Disney’s Princesses and Nick’s Dora the Explorer.

My daughter’s friend, a boy, is really into Dora. I mention that he is a boy because Nickelodeon, for some reason, felt it necessary to have a boy, Diego, and girl, Dora, version of the same Latino adventurer character as if one gender could not empathize with another. Anyway, my daughter showed interest, so I went as far as to borrow a DVD of Dora from the library. Do I regret it! Read more »

Year 2- Birthday Music Mix

As with last year, this year I made another music mix CD as my daughter’s birthday party favors. I post the set list to give other people ideas for “kids” music. Most of the songs, are not for kids only, but some are. I try to pick music that parents will be willing to listen to repeatedly. Here is the play list, in order:

Say Hey (I love you) – Spearhead with Michael Franti Read more »

Effin’ Bad Language

My two-year-old repeats everything I say. She has an excellent vocabulary and speaks in full, and often remarkable, sentences. I do not refrain from using “big” words with her. My theory is that the more she hears them, the more she will become familiar with them. However, I do refrain from little words, those little four letter words. Read more »

Only Child

At a baby shower recently, some moms were sitting around discussing how exhausting infants and young toddlers are and how grateful they are to be “done.” They had two, a boy and a girl. When I also expressed that I was “done.” They were shocked and joked that I had to meet the status quo of at least two children. Though it was complimentary (I think) that they felt I “seemed like the type to have more,” they could not quite explain what that meant. Am I too maternal for just one? On the way home, I grew a little upset thinking about it. Read more »

Mama Mentor

You might not realize it, but chances are you have a mama mentor. It may be your mom, but (no offense, mom) most likely your mom’s methods are a little outdated, if she remembers child rearing at all in the first place. I am thinking more of a friend, or a sister, someone whose initiation into motherhood came before yours. This person has introduced you to all methods, products and philosophies that you hold dear in parenting. My mama mentor is my old roommate and dear friend, Leanne.

Leanne’s youngest daughter is about a year older than my daughter, so when I was pregnant, Leanne was eager to help me out. She introduced me to baby legs, cloth diapers, EC and Ina May Gaskin. Once I had my daughter, Leanne sent me books on parenting that she found helpful. Since she is a buddhist, a life philosophy I wholly admire, I knew that her methods and my own would jive.  Now that she has daughter #2, her time is more constricted, but I still look forward to learning from her whenever I can. Thanks, Leanne.

I Want (Blank) Now.

My daughter’s new favorite words a la 22 month old is, “I want (fill in the blank) now.” She doesn’t say it in an obnoxious manner as you may imagine those words would come out. Instead it is very matter of fact twinged with a bit of sweetness, which of course is greatly emphasized by her cute little face. Regardless, the fact is, she wants something. It is as if she has begun her initiation into consumerism, the constant need to have something. It starts young. Read more »

Donate Old Strollers to Homeless

While walking down Venice Beach in Los Angeles, I noticed a man dressed in the ragged attire of the homeless and, in front of him, I was shocked to see a baby stroller, much like my own, what I refer to as the SUV of strollers, the jogging stroller. Obviously, I was very upset to learn that he was homeless with a child, but as we passed him, there was no baby on board, but instead the stroller was filled with his belonging and a small dog was perched on top taking a nap. After this sighting, I saw several more around L.A., San Francisco and Portland, tres west coast.

I know I’ve been living out in the boonies for a long time, but when did homeless people trade in the old trusty  shopping cart for new fangled baby strollers? It doesn’t seem like they would hold as much, though they may ride better in today’s urban landscape. Isn’t there a poor mother out there that could put that stroller to better use?

A Scare for Mommy

I have been considering how much I have learned from my mistakes over the course of my lifetime. When I was a teenager, I learned to drive a  far distance from the car in front of me after crashing my dad’s Jeep while playing hooky from school. As an adult, I learned not to rush and to be aware after I knocked off a stock pot hanging from a rafter while putting away groceries and broke my nose. Yet, even with these lessons, I still understood that sometimes whether you survive or not is just a matter of luck. When I had a kid, that thought scared me so much, I tried to just push it out of my mind.

However, today, that realization came back and so did the fear. Read more »

Spring Photos

This is our home. Spring is the nicest time because things are just turning green and bulbs are blooming and yet, the weeds have not yet quite begun to take over. They will; trust me. The Santa Barbara River runs along our southern border and our land is super fertile. This year I have decided to not fret over the weeds too much, but to let them be. While trying to maintain this attitude, I have been writhing internally and having nightmares of being overtaken by thistle, clover and dandelions.

Ahhh, but then there are lilacs. And they make everything okay again. I had to water them like crazy and chant spells over them this year to get them to bloom. It was worth it. As you can see only the parts with the most sun exposure actually got flowers, but it is enough to fill my house with vases full.

And of course there are tulips. You put so much hope into these little suckers in the autumn and when they appear, it is like winter and all the hibernating and dormant activity and fun can bloom with them. They are like a kiss from spring, that is why they are called two lips (i have decided).

Speaking of hope, I have put so much planning and love into this year’s garden, I feel like I will wilt if it doesn’t succeed. This is my second year growing in this location and this year I am researching and keeping diligent notes, as well as, digging, tilling, mulching, watering and singing. I am direct sowing everything; hence, the row covers. I even have the sprinkler set up on a timer for when I am gone and the acequia is closed. All organic, of course. Wish me luck!