We were discussing how we can improve as a family and how to reduce contention in some of the critical times of day and had the following conversation:
Grant: Morning and evening are the most difficult times of day. Do any of you know why?
Lizzie: Because those are the only times we are all together?
Sigh…
Anna was talking about how much she wanted to be an actress (again) and how good at it she is. Awhile ago I told her if she wanted to be an actress she couldn’t be shy. So she totally eradicated shyness from her personality. In this particular discussion I told her that if she wanted to be an actress she needed to know how to make herself cry. She looked down for a few minutes then looked up with her best sad face: frowning mouth and smiling eyes. I told her her eyes were still smiling and that if she really wanted to look sad, or even cry she had to think of something REALLY sad. So, she looked down again and after about five minutes looked up at me with real sorrow and said in the most anguished voice, “God died.” I love that that is the saddest thing she could think of.
Awhile back we went into an old-fashioned apothecary shop in a pioneer village. In the shop were a bunch of jars with different herbs in them. I saw hemlock and said to my family, in my best teacher voice, “That is called Hemlock and it can kill you. In fact, that is what killed Socrates.” William in total shock asked, “That’s what kills soccer teams?!?”
This conversation was recorded in my notes on my phone but I failed to note who the conversation was with. I am guessing it was Sam but really it could’ve been anyone. Here it is:
Me commenting on child making food for themselves right before bed time: I thought you weren’t hungry tonight
Mystery child (probably Sam): I’m not, I just worked up another appetite.
I had to include this one because of the voracious appetites these kids have right now. I literally cannot keep enough food in the house for them. At least not enough of the right kinds of food! (Strangely, they aren’t ever interested in the 50 lb bucket of barley I have in the garage or the 10 lbs of quinoa I have in the pantry!) A couple of weeks ago I bought a 15 lb box of uncured all natural bacon, meaning to freeze it for future use. I told Sam to take out what he wanted to eat in the next couple of days. He got a gallon size Ziploc bag and filled it. Really, he FILLED it with bacon and ate it all within 48 hours. Lizzie is the same with ice cream. And both Anna and William will eat nachos until they pop.
This is such an exciting time to be a parent!
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