About This Blog
Welcome to my blog. I'm Anne-Marie Nichols, a 40-something WAHM to Nathan, 6, and Lucie, 3. I've been married 12 years to their dad Paul, a scientist. When I'm not doing the mommy thing, I'm a freelance writer, and vice president of the board of directors for a Colorado public charter school. In my spare time I like to sleep, eat, read, and decorate cakes.
I created this online journal to share some entertaining and insightful stories from my own experiences as a writer, domestic engineer, and mom. I encourage you to share this blog with your friends, and hopefully it will spark some lively discussions on issues we can all relate to. Enjoy!
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Aug 28 2008
Monkey see monkey do
The neighbor children were outside, and Nathan and Lucie asked to go play. Since our four neighbor children are the nicest, most well behaved I have ever met, I knew there was nothing to worry about. The bigger kids watch over the younger ones. So I gave Nathan and Lucie permission to go outside, and to mind the big boys.
I went upstairs to my room, which overlooks the neighbor's and our driveways. While I worked on the computer, I kept the window open. This way I could keep an ear out for trouble and look down to see what the children were up to or to answer questions like, "Can we have a popsicle?" or "Mom, can you get the ball from across the street?"
Everything was fine until Nathan yelled out, "Mooooooom! Lucie's peeing on the front lawn." I looked out the window and saw Lucie on the lawn half naked with her shorts and pull-up off. Indeed, she was standing there peeing on my husband's finely manicured lawn. My first thought was, oh great, my daughter is going feral. Yippee, maybe I can drop her off at the zoo to be raised. Then I rushed downstairs and asked her why she was doing that. Lucie replied, "Well Nathan peed on the lawn!" Oh boy, now I had two feral kids on my hands.
I asked Nathan if that was true and he denied it. Realizing that he wouldn't admit to anything in front of the neighbor boys, I quickly herded both of my discipline problems inside.
As I got Lucie dressed, I told her we do not pee on the front lawn because 1) it's yucky, 2) we pee in the potty, 3) peeing outside is only o.k. when we go hiking or camping, and 4) daddy would be mad if you killed his lawn. Then I asked Nathan again if he peed on the lawn first. He denied it repeatedly.
Later that day, I revisited the "we use the potty not the front lawn" issue with Lucie. And again, she told me she used the front lawn because Nathan did. Knowing that a three-year-old wasn't likely to make up something like this on her own, I grilled Nathan again. "Oh yeah. I forgot. I did pee on the front lawn," he finally admitted. I sent him to his room and waited for his father to come home to discuss the incident and help me decide appropriate punishment.
Why is it that kids do the most embarrassing things on the front lawn right in front of the entire neighborhood? Now where did I put the number for the Denver Zoo?
Aug 27 2008
My letter to the editor
Usually, I'd write a letter to the editor. But it's my local, small town paper. If they run my comments, people will think what's printed is my official opinion as a charter school board member, and not as a parent in the community. It's happened before. I expressed my opinion about the school district on my personal blog, was outed on a local website's forum, and drew much criticism. (Some people think that I can't have a personal opinion about anything because I'm in a "position of power." Tell that to Mr. Bush and the politicians in Washington.) Some of the comments were incredibly mean and hateful which was a bit scary considering that those people live in my neighborhood.
But it really ticks me off when reporters write about "parents who work for a living." The story was about parents' reaction to the school district's eight late start days for teacher training. Parents with inflexible work schedules complained to them and the newspaper.
Many parents have flex time, but some will get fired for coming in late no matter what the cause. Some parents work for money, and some work at raising their kids, taking care of a sick relative, or volunteer in their community. Most parents fit into several of these circumstances, and few of us have a choice in the matter.
So Ms. Reporter, whether you work full or part-time, in or outside the home, for money or no pay -- ALL PARENTS WORK FOR A LIVING.
Aug 26 2008
Story time in the gulag
Nathan's punishment began the next day for lying and being a bad example for his sister. According to his monthly behavior chart, if he earned a bad sticker he was banished to his room for the day with no TV. Parole was earned by working on his reading and math, and doing as his mother and father asked.
For Nathan, being forced to stay in his room alone reading books, doing worksheets, and not watching TV was hell on earth. Luckily for him Lucie came to the rescue. She refused to stay away from him, even when I tried getting her to come in my room to watch a movie. When I got too busy with housework or writing, she'd sneak into his room. It was impossible to coral her, so I finally let her stay with Nathan only if he read to her.
They both got into his bed and read several books under the covers. I realized even though Nathan is reluctant to sit and read books by himself, he loves to show off by reading out loud. Plus, he's a terrific reader. After being out of school for over a month, his reading skills had actually improved. I just wish he'd read to his sister more often instead me forcing him to do so.
Hmmm, maybe I'll get Nathan to read Lucie a few bedtime stories from now on and give mama a break!
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