A Corner Table in My World

Summer sports and activities have always been a cinch in our family - swimming, rafting, hiking, biking, camping, etc... There's never been a shortage of things to do or new things to try during the summer.  But Winter - those long, cold months that (especially in Canada) can seem to stretch endlessly on, have consistently posed a problem. The kids enjoy tobogganing , especially at the farm, and sledding usually includes some minor fort and snowman building , but that only uses up a couple hours and while it can be fun Heli Dad and I only enjoy this type of cold day play for short bursts.  Not to mention that the kids inevitably argue over the best sleds, the best method of building a snow home, or the correct and best way to accessorize the snow people.  And those are just arguments that neither Heli Dad or I want to stick our (by then) freezing noses into. We've tried ice skating ... A couple times.  Princess liked it right off.  Gamer Boy eventually de...

So right now there are probably a dozen other things that I should be doing.   Not only that, but I had an entirely different post written that I intended to put up and then this morning I had a little snafu.   I don’t know what else to call it without making it seem way more important than it really is so snafu is what I settled on. I mentioned a while ago that I was having problems getting Baby on the ice at skating but that I was using the “wisdom” that I’d learned from my experiences with Boy to get through them, or around them, and not completely stress myself out.   Well apparently I spoke WAY too soon. The last couple of weeks I haven’t been able to get Baby to do anything.   And I do mean anything.   I can’t get her to skate, to do gymnastics, to listen at home, to keep her clothes on… nothing.   She’s started having temper tantrums more and more frequently, she’s always been the most strong-willed of the kids even if she’s usually more sub...

So skating started at the beginning of the month and while it’s been somewhat hit-and-miss so far for Baby, it’s been a huge success for the Boy, at least compared to last year.    I think he remembers that by the end of the season last year he really loved skating lessons and skating in general, so when lessons started this time around he was absolutely gung-ho to get going, get on the ice and get skating.   He’s doing great so far too.   Which when I think back to this time last year, is a huge load off my shoulders. At least until I turn my attention to Baby. She really wanted to skate this year.   After watching her big brother and sister doing all of their ‘stuff’ last season, she really just wanted to be a part of the action (resulting in her registration in both gymnastics and skating).   She was all for it when we were buying helmets and trying to find skates, trying on skates and getting ready for the season.   Then we got there ...

The Princess -           She started grade 2 this year and it didn’t seem to be all that interesting or note worthy of a first day.  She insisted that I walk her in, so that I could find her classroom and her locker for her, and then once she knew those basics it was “see ya later mom, get lost!”  And since day one (now 2 weeks past) she hasn’t wanted my interference or my assistance going in or coming out.  Except for that one day when the Mommy (yes, me!) forgot the schedule and didn’t show up to pick the Princess up from school and she received the stressed phone call from the school - “where the heck are you mom?”           Princess also started her gymnastics program again and again, I walked her in on the first day to make sure that she got to the right place to start.  It was almost embarrassing though, because honestly we get inside and then she turns to me and s...