Tragic Sandwich

Tag: Wandering Scientist

  • Lifelong Learning

    Baguette has a significant language delay. We do a lot of interpretation.

    NighYouRah

    She works so hard at communicating. I’m so impressed with her, and how diligent and persistent she is with any number of tasks. These are traits that are going to serve her well no matter what she chooses to do with her life.

    These traits are invaluable with ABA. She makes no secret of the moments when she is bored, or frustrated. There are plenty of times when she resists completing a task or participating in an activity (to the point of banshee screams). But there are so many other times when she will Just. Keep. Trying.

    She does this with speech, and I want to encourage her. So I try really hard not to tell her that she’s saying something incorrectly. Instead, I say things like this:

      “Mommy doesn’t know that one yet.”

      “Mommy still has to learn that.”

      “Maybe you and I can figure that out together.”

    Because I want to let her know that communication is a two-way street, and the burden isn’t entirely hers. I want to let her know that I’m still learning, too. I want to show her that adults also struggle. I want to let her know that it’s possible to share tasks and work together.

    Ultimately, I want to help her make herself understood to others. But first, I have to show her that I understand her. I have to show her that I’m going to work hard with her. I have to show her that I think hearing her, listening to her are worthwhile, even if it’s not immediately easy for me.

    Oh, and Nigh You Ra? She requested it for days. I asked her ABA providers and her teacher and Bestie’s mom and a co-worker with a daughter slightly younger than Baguette. And then (as you can see above) I turned to Twitter–and I was not surprised at all when the answer came from Cloud, with an assist from one of her daughters:

  • Not Enough

    Donations at Eden Project

    Over at Wandering Scientist, Cloud has a post about dealing with a multitude of holiday food drives.

    I’m facing the same thing. My workplace has one. My alumni club has one. Baguette’s day care has one. Each of them benefited a local organization, which I also like.

    It’s easy enough to go through the pantry and select nonperishables that I don’t need or can’t remember why I bought (green enchilada sauce in mild, medium, and hot?). But then where do I take them?

    This year choosing a food drive was also easy. I drive to Baguette’s day care but not to work, so it’s easier for me to drop canned goods off at her center’s office than to manage them on the bus. And I didn’t go to my alumni club’s December event anyhow.

    The university I work at has a program for students with children; we gave Baguette’s infant carrier and stroller, Moby wrap, Boppy, and assorted other items to a grad student whose baby was born prematurely (she should be home by now, I think, and I’m so happy I was able to provide some supplies to help bring her home from the hospital).

    Earlier this year, we sent a friend stationed in Afghanistan a huge box of food, which she shared with the other soldiers at her base. Last month, I donated money and blood and a box of baby wipes and formula to various organizations helping with Hurricane Sandy.

    I wish I could send everything I have to New Jersey. It’s 3,000 miles away, but it’s local in my heart.

    Photo by HowardLake, via Flickr. (Creative Commons)

  • Liebster Award, Round 2

    Karen at Dinosaur Superhero Mommy has kindly nominated me for the Liebster Award.

    Now I have to admit that this award has been extended to me before. But it doesn’t look like I followed the rules, which say that I should:

    • Share 11 random facts about myself.
    • Nominate 11 other bloggers.
    • Answer 11 questions about myself.
    • Ask 11 questions of my nominees.

    Eleven facts:

    1) I only ate chicken twice while I was pregnant with Baguette, because it grossed me out.
    2) I don’t like carbonated drinks.
    3) My passport expired a few years ago, and I feel really weird about that because until then, I’d had a valid passport since I was 10.
    4) I was unsure about whether I wanted a dog until we adopted Wicket, and now I never want to be without one again.
    5) I have known Mr. Sandwich since college, but we didn’t start dating until 11 years after I graduated.
    6) Oregano gives me heartburn.
    7) My younger brother used to tell people we were twins. I would follow up with, “But he’s three years behind me in school.”
    8) I think there are places everyone should visit to get perspective. Those places include L.A.’s Skid Row, and Dachau.
    9) I would really like to write a book.
    10) I used to pretend to be a baseball fan so that I wouldn’t have to talk about football.
    11) I am tired of being asked to fix other people’s writing problems at the last minute. Bring me in earlier, or leave me alone.

    Eleven answers:

    1) What would you do first if you won a million dollars? So many thoughts. Well, I’d pay off our mortgage and my brother’s.
    2) What is your favorite room in your home? The living room. I love, love, love the paint color, and it’s where we keep the TV and toys. We do a lot of living in there.
    3) What did you want to be when you were a little kid? A lion.
    4) What is your favorite book to read to your child(ren) It doesn’t matter. We read what she wants us to read.
    5) What is your favorite color? Blue
    6) Which kid’s show do you wish was cancelled? We don’t have a lot of exposure yet, but it’s pretty easy for me to pick “Caillou.”
    7) What is your favorite holiday? Labor Day, because it’s the one that’s coming up next.
    8) What is the most expensive gift you have given someone? Probably the watch that my brother and I gave my dad for his 75th birthday, but I’m not sure.
    9) Are you a good dancer? Depends on the kind of dancing. Going to a club? No. Ballroom/swing? Okay. Ballet? Not bad when I was a kid, but 30 years later I’m probably not very good.
    10) How many kids did you think you would have as a child? Two.
    11) What do you look forward to most about fall? I live in L.A. We don’t do fall here.

    Eleven questions:

    1) What was your favorite after-school activity?
    2) What’s one fact or skill you remember learning from your favorite teacher?
    3) What’s the most valuable piece of criticism you’ve ever gotten?
    4) If you could only eat one vegetable for the rest of your life, what would it be?
    5) Who is your favorite fictional character?
    6) What color shoes are you wearing right now?
    7) What is your favorite vacation spot?
    8) What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to your hair?
    9) What time do you usually eat dinner?
    10) What’s the best moment of your day?
    11) What’s your favorite breakfast food?

    Eleven blogs:*

    Blogging with Mittens
    Katie is a Teacher
    Wandering Scientist

    *”Hey! That’s only three!” Very true. I’ve been working on this post for two days. It’s very long. I figured I’d give everyone a break.

  • 5 Things I Found While I Was Looking Around

    Five

    “Smell Like a Monster” on YouTube

    Thank you, Sesame Street! (And thank you, too, Wandering Scientist!)

    Chicken, Mozzarella, and Asparagus Pasta on The Coterie Blog

    Yum. Just, yum.

    23 Fun Summer Bucket List Activities for Families on Parenting Squad

    If August finds you running out of ideas for what to do with your kids, here are some more.

    Cats in Sinks

    You really shouldn’t need more explanation than that.

    Calm

    Perfect for the crazy days.

    Photo by super-structure, via Flickr.