Trading out the kids on this snowy day
When my daughter asked if a friend could spend the night, I was in disbelief.
There was a snowstorm coming. Her friend could be stuck at our house for a couple of days. Surely her parents wouldn’t agree to this.
Maybe in a moment of weakness we were all won over. What’s another child when you already have three. We had plenty of food, and she’d blend right in.
Then, my oldest daughter found out. Her friend had invited her to spend the night, too. She probably had thought I wouldn’t agree, but if I was letting her sister have a sleepover, she thought she should, too … even if it was at someone else’s house.
I wasn’t thrilled about it. I had thought our family would be together during the snow. Some of the best family moments are when you are surviving a storm. It’s back to basics. Snuggling in blankets, drinking hot cocoa, playing games.
But, I kissed and hugged her and her dad drove her into the snowy night.
Come Tuesday morning, with snow still falling, drifts almost as tall as my 5-year-old son, I thought about how everything was OK. I’m sure both of my daughters – one here and the other at another family’s house – were enjoying this winter weather with a friend.
When my son looked out the window for the first time that morning, he excitedly said, “Snow, snow.” That was priceless.
But by noon when his energy had kicked in and he was banging on the girls’ bedroom doors because he wanted attention, I was pleased with our arrangement. At least we didn’t have a sleepy teen-ager yelling at him to be quiet.
–Linda Lynn
Lady Gaga Halloween costume? I better get busy
It’s mid-October, and I haven’t started making Halloween costumes.
Should I panic?
My niece Heather has known at least since summer that her three little girls were going to be the Power Puff girls.
We were discussing the other day which holiday was our favorite – Christmas or Halloween. Of course, I’m always going to lean toward Christmas, but there’s something mysterious, though dark, that ignites giggly fun within me.
I only dressed up once when I was a child. My aunt Lois took my sister and me trick-or-treating in Wayne, OK, one night. I’d never been trick-or-treating, and I didn’t have a costume, so we created a hobo outfit from my dad’s clothes. All it was was an oversized shirt with rolled-up sleeves.
Even then, I was cautious about accepting candy or homemade goodies from strangers. But my dad had no problem eating the popcorn balls we brought home. I’m sure he knew everyone in our small town, so he didn’t hesitate to sample some homemade sweets.
Now, though, I sift through every piece of candy that is brought into our house. If a wrapper looks even a little bit askew, I trash it. 
Three kids and numerous Halloweens later, we have dressed our little goblins as a scarecrow, ”sweet pea,” Super girl, dalmatian puppy, leopard, witch, gypsy, Jessie the yodeling cowgirl, spiderman, zombie cheerleader, Cinderella and more.
I’m not sure what my 5-year-old son will be this year. Probably a superhero or baseball player.
But both my daughters have mentioned Lady Gaga.
I told my youngest daughter, “Just don’t wear meat.”
–Linda Lynn
Homework … for me?
With orthodontist appointments, parent/teacher meetings, open houses, band practices, school schedules, doctors appointments, birthday parties, flute lessons and homework assignments (for me! from the teachers) … you know school has started.
I don’t remember my parents being as harried with my school activities.
The first few days of school, and even before school started, all three of my children came home with homework assignments for me and my husband.
“Please describe in a million words or less your child.”
What?
“Please create a collage, write a poem or tell a story about your child”
Me? I thought I was finally done with schoolwork when I graduated college.
I guess I understand why the teachers want to know more about my children. Our school district has thousands of students, so getting to know them on a more personal level can help enhance communication.
But I didn’t like the nervous feeling that rushed back when I was told I had homework!
–Linda Lynn
My son missed the bus – but not because he wasn’t ready
I feel like I dropped the ball this morning.
I knew things wouldn’t go smoothly, but I was trusting.
Lesson learned. Don’t assume.
Today was to be my 5-year-old son’s first day to ride a school bus to school.
He is attending an extended school year program during the summer to give him an extra boost. Children with varying circumstances participate in this program. My son qualifies to attend because he has Down Syndrome.
Leading up to this day, I had been hesitant, but teachers and school administrators had said he would love riding a school bus. It would help us out, too, since the school system would provide transportation to and from the daycare he attends, something the schools won’t do during the regular school year due to school boundaries.
A few days ago, the bus driver called our house and talked to my husband, letting him know what time the bus would pick our son up. … It didn’t occur to my husband that they wouldn’t know where to pick him up.
So, this afternoon when my husband called and said, “Guess who showed up at the house,” I immediately answered, “The bus.” He was befuddled that I would know.
But I did, because I knew something would go wrong. It was one of those gut feelings you have, but I had talked myself into thinking I was just stressing and worrying too much.
Then my son’s daycare teacher called, telling me the bus hadn’t shown up and that she had already called the bus barn.
That’s when I felt like I had ”dropped the ball.” I should have known I needed to take more steps to make sure everything was right.
But, then his daycare teacher said one more thing: “What’s important is that we know where he is and that he is safe.”
I agreed, “That’s No. 1.”
So, despite my beating myself up about what I should have done, and despite the mixup on where the bus arrived, and despite the unsuccessful communication … He was safe.
-Linda Lynn
SpongeBob birthday party was FUN ….. Was it overboard?
Don’t want to overload you on birthdays … But we partied with SpongeBob last week for Cade’s 5th birthday.
I fretted over how to have everything “just right” – SpongeBob cake, pineapple decoration, SpongeBob balloon, yellow utensils, SpongeBob napkins & tablecloth, “Crabby patties” (mini hamburgers) … my family would have enjoyed the visiting time without any frills.
A few hours before the party, I realized I had gone a little overboard. 
Birthday parties can be so stressful if you take them too seriously.
I don’t remember EVER having a kid birthday with friends when I was growing up. Although, I did attend two: One was a sleepover (I had to sleep with the light on), and the other had the most magnificent cake: a doll cake draped in green and white icing. All the little girls took turns passing the cake around and taking a bite from the hem of the dress. … Can you say GERMS?
When my oldest daughter turned 5, I joined the birthday parade. It was that “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. And, I continued this insanity when my second daughter turned 5. Here is a sampling of the birthday parties we’ve had:
- At home with treasure hunt, silly string and cake … fairly inexpensive
- Sleepover (with 12 girls!) … exhausting …. juice and drinks spilled all over carpet, door knob broken off of bathroom door, fights among girls, crying birthday girl.
- Mall shopping … this would have been fairly inexpensive, but I had the bright idea of giving each child $10 … and then they needed more … and then they were hungry.
- Gymnastics … a little pricey, but it was “handled” by the instructors, and we had a cake and gift room, so this was a hit.
- Neighborhood park … who would have thought all 30 of the daycare classmates would have attended? Overall, a great success, but the number of presents were obscene. Looking back, we should have donated or said no presents. But my daughter was in heaven. There was an expense to reserve the pavilion, but it was such a beautiful day that all the kids had a great time. (We did this twice. The second time, hardly anyone showed, so you never know. That’s why RSVPs are so important to parents!)
- Overnight stay at a downtown hotel (Do you really want to take out a second mortgage on your home for a party?) This was a big hit with the girls … TV all night, dogpile on the couch and chairs for sleeping, swimming pool, water taxi ride through Bricktown. All of this would have been perfect, except for the chin injury in the hotel exercise room. Note to parents: Don’t let three 11-year-olds get on a treadmill, even if they say they’ll be fine.)
Looking back, our parties weren’t much different from other parties my kids’ friends had. And I’m glad my kids enjoyed the fun and time with friends and family.
But I still remember the simply iced white cake decorated with animal crackers that my mom made for me. The gift also was very modest. No ponies or jumping castles or skating rink or hotel rooms.
And I loved every birthday.
– Linda Lynn
Be on alert for RSV illness – Virus can affect little children and adults
When my son’s daycare posted a note that two children had been diagnosed with RSV, I wasn’t concerned about him catching the illness.
I had always thought the virus was only an illness babies contracted, not children as old as my 4-year-old.
In reality, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) can affect babies through adults. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), RSV is a “respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages.” Healthy people can recover within one to two weeks, but some babies, young children and even adults can have more severe reactions to the virus.
When my youngest daughter had RSV as a baby, we were lucky she didn’t have to be hospitalized, but I remember sitting and holding her, counting how many breaths she was taking per minute. Her pediatrician had told me it would be dangerous for her to take more than 60 breaths a minute. So, I sat in the rocking chair, staring at her, focusing on every breath and counting …. 50 … 55 … 60 …. 50. It was nerve-racking.
My 4-year-old’s symptoms started Sunday: Crying, loss of appetite, 101-degree temperature, extreme sinus drainage. Today, his temperature has decreased, and though he is not his usual rowdy self, he is feeling better.
For more information about symptoms and treatment, go to the CDC Web site.
–Linda Lynn
Momma, am I gonna be a hobo?
We’re in hard economic times in case you haven’t heard.
My husband and I talk openly in our house about our finances, and, so, little ears are always listening. Our discussions are generally that our bills need to be paid or that we’re paying out more than we’re bringing in, at least some months.
We’re not destitute, and we haven’t gotten down to “our last $5,” a story my mom used to tell us kids.
Both my parents lived during the depression, so they had plenty of stories to tell. And, although they lived comfortably when I was a child, they were never ones to spend hard-earned money on needless luxuries. Up until my teen years, I thought we were about to go broke, since they always talked about not knowing if they were going to have enough money to get by. My mom would clip coupons and shop three different grocery stores in town just to get the best deals. They rarely bought new clothes. They made a garden. They didn’t recycle, because they would reuse containers and bags, instead.
They were smart. I mistook it for being nearly poor.
So, when my 11-year-old daughter hears my husband and I talk about money, she has a unique way of processing the situation. She has declared we are never to go out to eat again. (We did last night.) And, instead of spending money on school-sponsored trips (for her sister), we should save that money.
And, sometimes, when she’s been thinking just a little too much, she pops out the question: “Momma, are we going to be hobos?” or “Momma, am I going to be a hobo?”
I envision an older man in tattered clothes hopping in a railcar to travel across the country or maybe an “Andy Griffith” episode about a hobo who talked Opie and his pals into being like Robin Hood and robbing from the rich to give to the poor (in this case, the hobo).
Still, my daughter hasn’t totally rejected the possibilities of such an occupation. Sometimes, when she’s worrying about school or is stressed by something kids stress about, she’ll get to thinking about a life of no responsibilities and declares, “I wish I were a hobo!”
– Linda Lynn
Winter chill? Snow what … try making snow ice cream
Snow cream
Setting aside concerns for salmonella from raw eggs and pollution that might be captured in each falling snowflake, we made snow ice cream today.
It didn’t take long.
Beat 2 eggs, add 2 tsp. of vanilla, 1/2 cup of sugar and a little milk, and you have a sweet little concoction to add to the light and fluffy stuff that is resting several inches deep on your windshield. This was my sister-in-law Sandy’s recipe for snow ice cream. (She has to share this with me every time it snows, because I forget.)
After spooning up a bowlful, I placed the snow in individual cups and then poured just enough liquid fun to make the snow stick together in the consistency of ice cream. Yum!
The kids tried it, and one review was good. My 4-year-old scrunched his face and didn’t think it could take the place of a Braum’s yogurt “twist.” And my 15-year-old said it was nasty. But my husband and youngest daughter liked it.
This treat is one my husband and I remember having as children. Recipes might have differed, but it was something we looked forward to when it snowed. Whether true or not, you were always supposed to wait until the second snow. (This was our second snow. 
)
Bad weather days can quickly become good family fun when you make a little, simple effort.
– Linda Lynn
llynn@opubco.com
A mother lost
When tragedy hits a family, you can’t help sometimes compare the situation to your own family.
Especially when it is the death of a mother who leaves young children behind.
Shock is the initial feeling I felt when I heard my friend Karen Baker had died Sunday. She and I had been co- assistant leaders for our daughters’ Girl Scout troop, and then co-leaders.
Our children had attended the same daycare and then the same schools. Her children were similar in age to two of my children.
Karen was always smiling, laughing … You always felt good around her.
How saddening was my second thought. Her children. Her husband. Why?
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, my first reaction was fear, but it was quickly followed by a deep, sinking feeling that I might not be around for my children, then ages 1 and almost 5.
Karen’s children are middle school and high school ages, still very young. They still needed their mother.
My heart breaks for this family. And it also renews the worries.
Whether you’re a mother or father, you always want to be there for your children.
– Linda Lynn
“I’ve had my limit!” Can school please start now?
School starts back next Tuesday for my kids.
Anyone else ready for their children to get back into school?
I wouldn’t have expected to be so happy about this. But our house has seemed even more chaotic than usual. I’m not sure that it’s actually that the kids are out of school. I think the strain is partially caused by the stress of preparing to go to school.
Beyond the usual requirements of getting school supplies and some added clothing items to round out their wardrobes, we also are dealing with three information day sessions we need to attend, band meetings, band camp, doctors’ appointments, daycare enrollment, transportation issues with busing my young son to and from daycare, freshman orientation, both daughters’ worries that they won’t have friends in their classes, orthodontist and dentist appointments, approaching birthday party planning, passports for an overseas band trip …
And did I mention the frenzy of cash flowing out of our pockets to pay for many *incidental* things?
Last night, as my daughter asked me a question repeatedly after I had answered twice, I started to count to 50 … not 10, but 50.
At first, I thought, “What is happening to our family?” For several days we had all been snapping at each other, voices were being raised. Everyone, except maybe for the youngest member of our family, was ready to get away from each other.
Then, it occurred to me that maybe the stresses, anticipation, extra this and that were taking their toll.
So, yes, I think we’re ready to start school.
Then, we can deal with sleep issues, homework, ballgames, teacher conferences, lunches, juggling schedules and mealtimes …..
– Linda Lynn
