BABYGURL

Our family's babygurl is Winter. 

We only treated her like a babygirl when she was little. 

At about 9 years of age, maybe 10, she began to be a lifeline in our family. 

She is so accomplished, responsible and well, just plain gorgeous.  Winter has been Tuffy's little momma, she has been his anchor as I worked hard to manage the hockey team, and then navigate attending college. Neither Tuff nor I, nor her poppa could have done any of this without her!


Yesterday at 11am, Winter left with her high school for a 3 week long humanitarian trip to India. All of us are in culture shock. We miss her immensely. 

I must say that Winter had so much help pulling this trip all together. She worked all summer 2009 and made nearly a thousand dollars for her trip.  Family and friends helped too; Sara, Grandma Betty & Grandpa Steve, Uncle Jim & Aunt Pleasant, Dee, the Teeters and Pat. 


How can I begin to thank everyone for their love and support. 

Winter will learn so much, she will gain so much insight, she will be a different person because of this opportunity and experience.


I dropped her off and I just stood there, I didn't know what to do. I wanted to go with her, I wanted to talk with her! The only thing that I was able to do was hold onto Kathryn LeBaron whose boys go to Walden School of Liberal Arts and are going on the trip and walked in with Winter.

Next time though, I will definitely make her take her phone, at least a text that says, we are off and ok, that would have helped me let go better.


But now she is gone and the only thing I can do is wait, wait to hear from her, wait to read her comments and wait until she gets home. 


She has started her own blog, as this is the first of her BIG adventures, feel free to drop in and leave her a comment! The World with Winter.    Enjoy!

Abby Sunderland and her dream.....

Abby's Blog

It has been a dream of Abby Sunderland since she was 13 years old and began single-handing, to one day sail solo around the world. 

She is 16 years old and her blog contains the story of her attempt to become the world's youngest solo circumnavigator. Visit her  official website at Abby Sunderland and her blog at Abby's Blog.


She reminds me of our Winter, so cool headed, so responsible, so accomplished. I want to share Abby with you. Enjoy!

"BAD REPORT"

I made an enemy today, I am sure of it.

I was looking for some info on a totally unrelated topic and found this blog posting: 'Bad Report'.

A little boy comes home from school with a 'bad report' (see picture, I LOATHE all the frowny faces!!!)(names deleted)

For the life of me I could not fathom why a mom would take a picture of her kid's bad report and post it on the internet.

Poor kid! He probably felt awful already, he is obviously not enjoying school and he comes home and mom takes a picture of his 'Bad Report'.

Hmmmm imagine if my husband came home and I had a bad report and he took a picture of the messy house or the wrecked car or any other number of things that I am not doing well enough and imagine my shame if he posted them on the internet?

Here is what I posted to this mom's blog entry, I know it wasn't any of my business, but that brings up a good point; whose business is it when you post it on the internet?

I wrote, "Maybe he isn't interested in writing to the kid in Spain and most definitely not interested in 'basketball' spelling. Crap, I wouldn't be either! As an adult none of us like doing stupid stuff, why do schools expect our kids to be interested in stupid stuff...hey maybe not all 25-30 kids like all the same stuff at all the same time...maybe he just needs a break and would learn and grow at a great pace if he could focus on the really great things he enjoys....sorry, imho, that is how I see it..."

I have never believed in being disrespectful to a child, I just don't feel that it is the right, righteous, honorable or good thing to do. I try very hard and most times am successful at treating my kids that way I would want to be treated.

That is one reason why my kids are in a charter school. No frowny faces from my kids teachers! The Montessori concept of teaching children is respectful of the child. Montessori methods encourage learning in a child and foster a high level of self esteem.

I didn't wake up today to make an enemy, I don't want to make one, but I do know this....a child should be respected and most importantly, NEVER shamed.