I intended this 7 Quick Takes to be all about the kids, but first I have to share a piece of really exciting news…… ___1__ My novel, The Wine Widow, made the finalist round of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association’s inaugural contest, the Rising Star! All novels are a labor of love, but when you’re…
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The Un-Twinning of the Littles
It lingered so much longer than I expected. When Nicholas first left babyhood, he seemed like Julianna’s developmental twin. I expected it to last just a few months, but the twinning grew firmer and firmer. For over three years, they have kept pace with each other, Julianna managing to stay just far enough ahead in key…
Read MoreOperation: Dust Wars
There are days when a blogger has to rack her brains for something worth writing about. And then there are days when the kids write…er, act out…the material in real time. I love those days. Alex invited his bestie along for a field trip to the farm last week. They explored for a while… and…
Read MoreA Letter From The Tooth Fairy
I suppose I need to start with this Facebook status last week: One of my friends shared that she dealt with the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus with a letter. Shelley has graciously agreed to share it with us! Here goes: Shelley adds: The second envelope mentioned toward the end had a…
Read MoreKids Who Write Songs, NPM memories, and other QTs
___1___ Let’s start with a story about this boy: Alex loves to rewrite songs. And oh lordy, sometimes it’s hard for an occasional songwriter to listen to it! Last night in the car, he decided to rewrite Rudolph with shades of the Lego movie: “Big Mr. Buz-niss MA-AN, had a bi-ig crane ro-BOT!” “ALEX!” I…
Read MoreMichael and other Quick Takes
___1___ Michael’s newest word: “baby doll.” He also, abruptly and without prompting, switched from a singsong “Ma-ma!” to “mommeeee!” at bedtime one night last week. ___2___ Michael’s speech therapist thinks he has apraxia, which basically means he has trouble making the mouth muscles cooperate. And I can see that. He’s fully 30 months now and…
Read MoreHappiness Is… (a 7QT post)
I’ve been feeling particularly snarky lately, and although I realized it before it was pointed out to me, the fact that it got far enough that someone had to point it out to me gave me that “ew, guilty conscience” feeling. Who wants to listen to me gripe all the time? So today is about…
Read MoreThe Run-and-Hug Game
There comes a day in the life of every toddler when the great concept of “I want” butts up against the concepts “I have three siblings” and “I can scream really loudly.” On that day, life gets a whole lot less pleasant for the mommy of the house. Because it used to be that when…
Read More7 Quick takes In Pictures
___1___ ___2___ ___3___ ___4___ ___5___ ___6___ ____7___ And this one speaks for itself:
Read MoreBig Boys, crazy hair, and sex ed (a 7QT post)
___1___ We had a friend over for dinner last weekend, and as we were asking her about her studies and her plans for the future, Alex sat across from her shaking his head. “This is why I don’t want to grow up,” he said. “There’s too much work.” ___2___ This reminds me of what I…
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Kathleen M. Basi 