Bonne Nuit

It’s happened to everyone: you’re lying in bed and a list of things you need for the morning starts running through your head. Most of us just get up, quickly jot down the list, and go back to bed unencumbered by pesky and potentially panic-inducing details. When you’re only 11, however, you don’t necessarily think of making that list. Nor does the list of things come all at once. Cue: sleepless night for Mom.

Milo’s class organized a Cafe afternoon with their French teacher to put their current unit into practice. Each student was responsible for bringing in a food item, either juice or water or small baked goods, like one would find at a cafe. Then as a class they created a menu and common phrases they would need to serve customers. An invitation was sent to parents to attend their French Cafe after lunch. It was quite lovely: the desks were arranged in groups and set with table cloths and fake candles, students wore aprons and berets, dress shirts and ties, and French music (think Edith Piaf) played in the background. The night before all this, however, was not quite so quaint.

About 45 minutes after Milo went to bed he knocked on our door. “Mom, do you know where my tie is?” Yes, Milo, it should be in your closet. Go back to bed.

The second knock came about 30 minutes later. “Mom, I need my good shirt. Do you know where it is?” Yes, Milo, it’ll be in the closet with your tie. Now go to sleep!

The last straw – I mean, the third knock woke me at 11:30 pm. “Mom, did you make the muffins?” No, remember you said I could bring them in at lunch, so I’ll make them in the morning. “But, no! I need to bring them with me in the morning!”

So up I got, mixed up a double batch of banana oat muffins and set my alarm for 6:30 am to bake them. All while Milo slept soundly, his pesky list all safely jotted down in my head.

Happy Sweeping, 

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

An Einstein Moment?

I remember hearing a story about Albert Einstein being so absent-minded that his wife would have to wait for him when he walked home from work. She would watch him approach the house then, apparently, forget where he was going and turn around and head back to work. It is this type of story that gives us hope, as parents, that our children will not struggle forever.

Sometimes our children are brilliant beyond their years. Ask 11-year-old Milo about Quantum Physics and he’ll grab a few props to demonstrate time-bending. He can name all the US States and their capitals (and we’re Canadian!) and can rhyme off all sorts of stats like nobody’s business. But ask him to go put socks on, and you will wait a very long time only for him to return with a book. And bare feet.

The other day Milo went into the freezer for ice cubes. He took out the full tray and struggled to get the ice out. “Ugh! These are all frozen!” he groaned in frustration as he returned it to the freezer.

Happy Sweeping, 

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

March Break

Well, we survived March Break here at ContestHound. Because we are a home-run business, we had our three lovelies home with us for the entire week. We certainly didn’t get as much work done during the week as we normally would, but we’ve never really had too much problem keeping them entertained. Mostly because they’ve always been good at entertaining themselves.

So what did our kids do during their 10 long days? Besides our regular karate and mom-torturing kick boxing classes, there were visits with friends, a trip to the toy store, hours spent texting and face-timing, and the mandatory outside play that I enforced every day. Milo also spent three nights with a good friend at a cottage on Lake Huron, which was unquestionably the best part for him.

The best part for me, however, was Milo and Willa “camping out” in the living room for the first half of the week. Willa had a friend stay the night the first weekend of the break and, instead of putting the sleeping bags away (or perhaps to get out of that chore), she asked if she and Milo could have a sleepover too. I thought this was pretty sweet: I’ve always loved that these two play so well together (when they’re not fighting, of course) and I rarely object or interrupt when I witness it. I’m surprised and thankful that, at 11-1/2 and 10 years old, they’re still such good friends and include each other. Apparently Milo was thinking the same thing. "We should do this every night for March Break, Willa. ‘Cause when I’m 12, I probably won’t want to anymore."

Although I didn’t sense any disappointment or hurt feelings from Willa, I decided to camp out with her while Milo was away. Because, just as you hit an age to be too old for something, you will hit another age where you’re never too old for it!

Happy Sweeping,

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com

A Mother's Love with a Boxer's Glove

Our kids have been taking karate lessons for about three years and the younger two have just earned their blue belts. This means they are about a year and half from earning a Junior Black Belt. Milo has embraced each advancement with the same commitment he gives any sport. Willa, on the other hand, became increasingly nervous as she approached this new belt, despite her obvious talent for the martial arts.

The dojo where our kids practise offers mixed classes every day of the week, so one day you might be the highest belt in the class and the next you will be the lowest rank. In each class, the lower belts are encouraged to keep up with the highest belt level in that particular class. Now that they have reached blue belt, Milo and Willa will always be the lower ranked students and, therefore, will need to keep up with the junior black belts. They’re not expected to perform at that level, certainly, but the core drills are tougher and this is done deliberately, to gradually prepare the lower belts for the endurance training required for black belt. And this is where Willa’s anxiety ratchets up: she feels intimidated by the power and keen focus demonstrated by these older kids. And this, unfortunately, is where I get dragged in.

I have become more and more sedentary in my lifestyle over the last year or two and have the waistline to prove it. Not to mention the fact that I can’t seem to make it up to the office in the loft without become breathless. (That last flight of stairs is mercilessly/unnaturally/heartlessly steep!) I have been making honest but feeble efforts to be more healthy. But I am not a “go to the gym” person and have learned that I need to go with a friend if I’m going to get anything out a fitness class. I discovered this after I took a 10 week boot camp with a few friends and had a blast, but barely enjoyed my trial month in kick boxing class at the dojo. Oh, did I mention the dojo also offers kick boxing classes? Yes, not only does it offer kick boxing classes, but I sit listening to them while I wait for my kids in their karate classes. And, yes, I have been doing this for about three years. I have also known for half that time that parents of karate students can join kick boxing classes for half price.

Now, before you start filling my inbox with “what the heck have you been waiting for?!” emails, let it be known that last night I signed up for kick boxing – a six month commitment even! And I did it, in part, for Willa. When she was expressing her anxiety about her new classes being “too hard”, I asked if it would help if I were to do kick boxing while she was doing karate. That way we could face the challenge together. When her face lit up I knew I was sunk – I mean, sold. I was sold! Because we do things for our kids, that somehow end up being equally as beneficial for ourselves.

So yesterday as I was anxiously getting my gear together I told the kids they needed to bring something to keep them occupied for the half hour while they waited for my class to end. Milo grabbed his iPod and Willa told me, “Oh, I have something to keep me amused. I’m gonna watch you!”

As I sit here, neck muscles tight as a rod, abs whining and quads screaming, I think I may have gotten the fuzzy end of the lollipop on this deal.

Happy Sweeping, 

Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.com