Have you ever noticed that you get through the weekend rather unscathed ready to get back to the weekday routine only to have another Monday disaster strike?
Why always a Monday?! My last messy Monday, if you recall, involved a small flood of paint, this time it was water.
The day started off well. My daughter woke on the right side of the bed ready for some homeschooling. She excitedly brought down all her Shimmer & Shine Teenie Genies to use for a math exercise. I tossed in a load of laundry and my mom was tossing leftovers in a pot to simmer for dinner.
All was well with the world. Monday was moving along swimmingly...ha. That’s when the zen was disrupted by my mother asking, “what’s that sound?” I went to the laundry room and was greeted with a geyser of water squirting out of the wall! WHAT?! You've got to be kidding me! I turned off the washer and tried to grab anything to stop the flow of water all over the mud room. I ran to the garage to grab some old towels and there was a vole making its way across the garage. Okay. Whatever. No time to stop. Mom and I proceeded to clean up the mess (with the help of the cat of course) and tried to figure out the problem. We found that the hose had come out of the drain pipe, so when the washer began to drain, the water erupted from the hose. Thankfully it was an easy fix. I reinserted the hose and voila, all was well once again! Mom went to fetch something and asked if I would try to stir the leftovers she threw in the pot. Now you have to know that for some reason everything in the garage fridge, where we keep our leftovers, freezes everything during the winter and so the leftover rice in the pot was frozen. Why let it defrost when you can just break it up with a spoon, right? Well, because breaking it up with a spoon makes the rice explode all over the stove, that’s why. Another mess to clean. In the midst of all this chaos I started to sweat. And that's when I realized I forgot to put deodorant on this morning! Ugh. And during all this, my daughter sat in the “schoolroom,” lining up her genies in rows of five and making up songs about the seasons for them to sing. Awe.
But don’t think that our messy Monday has ended there. Got the paint out to paint an accent wall in the family room and realized that they didn’t give us the doohickey that fits in the middle hole of the paint can so it can pour nicely.
I sense the potential for another mess. Will keep you posted.
Even with all this going on, we found some time to enjoy a few wintry reads! Score!
Happy Monday, friends!
-Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 3 and 1) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
Hang tight, parents, we’re halfway there! The word halfway though is very subjective. Could be a good thing and you’re reaching an end point or a bad thing and you’ve left something behind, but either way, you can’t go back and yell, “do over!”
It was in the summer with all this virus mess that I realized that homeschooling was going to be the best option for both my daughter and myself, though not without some stress. Mine, not hers. I tell myself that it’s only kindergarten but know that one always needs a strong foundation to build upon and so these early years do matter, so back to stressing. Then I read a blog from a homeschooling mom who said that if she had to do it all over again, she would relax more, read a ton of books and slow down, basically stopping to smell the roses as the saying goes. Slow down and see the value in the small things not missing opportunities that might pass by. And that’s just what I’ve done. I’ve slowed down and look for the everyday teachable moments that might be turned into extended learning opportunities and the end result has been a happier child filled with curiosity and imagination, excited to learn.
I can’t redo the first half of her “school year,” but I’m not sure that I would want to because making the changes that I have has shown me just how unimaginative and limiting sitting in front of a computer screen and filling out worksheets can be and that learning doesn’t have to be just during the hours of 8:00 to 3:00. I haven’t given up all computer work and still offer worksheets and wipe clean boards but I’ve been reading books throughout the day and have found that learning can also take place when you least expect it. For example:
These are just a few of the things that I’ve been doing with my daughter that shows me how her curious mind fuels her thirst for knowledge and how excited she gets to find the answers, and as we say that we are lifelong learners, I too have been learning new things when we do our searches. Don’t ever be afraid to tell your children that you don’t know something. It shows them that learning is a life long process and that we all can learn something new, as well as how to go about finding an answer to their question.
“Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.”
Happy learning!
-Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 3 and 1) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
And I mean ballet all day, every day.
I truly don’t think that my daughter is going to be a prima ballerina one day, but the joy that ballet brings to her life right now is indescribable. She pirouettes throughout the house, in the yard, at the store, whenever the mood strikes her and will invariably ask to wear some sort of ballet outfit at some point in the day. We change a lot. We recently found The Ballet Brigade on YouTube and visit my sister just so that she can watch the newest episodes of On Pointe on Disney+. I think our Leap! and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms DVDs are wearing out, though one plus is that she was introduced to Andrea Bocelli, who sings Fall On Me with his son at the end of the movie and now loves dancing to his mellow tenor tones. But what truly tops it all right now are books. Ballet books to be exact.
Until my daughter started asking for more books with ballet themes, I didn’t realize how many were out there. Fiction, non-fiction, sticker, coloring, you name it and they are there and many now reside in our home. Of course, my passion for books fans the flames and I’m a sucker for a well-illustrated rhyming tome such as the Miss Lina’s Ballerinas book series by Grace Maccarone. And what child can embrace ballet and not know of that famous mouse from across the pond, Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird? If you’re a fan of You’ve Got Mail (can’t even count how many times I’ve watched it), you should be aware of Ballet Shoes, one of the shoe books by Noel Streatfeild, which just had a revival reprinting, as a matter of fact.
As an Usborne Books & More Independent Consultant, I am thrilled that they have ballet themed titles because I absolutely adore their books. Not just the quality of the books themselves, but the illustrations and stories as well. UBAM offers ballet stories, a musical book and, of course, a few sticker books (one of UBAM’s specialties). Can’t go wrong with Usborne and Kane Miller books, so if you need to find a consultant, look no further! ? You can see UBAM's selection of ballet themed titles on our new Ballet Books list.
A few other ballet books we think deserve a moment in the spotlight...
B is for Ballet: A Dance Alphabet by John Robert Allman.
Presented by the American Ballet Theatre, this new, slightly oversized picture book provides ballet enthusiasts of all ages with a wealth of information through rhyming text and eye-catching illustrations. While I occasionally find myself stumbling through the rhymes because of certain ballet terms and names (gotta work on my French and Russian pronunciations), the book is still such a joy to read aloud and learn from. Included in the back are lists of terminology, famous ballets, choreographers and dancers.
Boys Dance! by John Robert Allman
Ballet isn't just about ballerinas in pretty pink tutus and pointe shoes. Ballet is for boys too. After all, what would a ballet be without its men? Can you really have Cinderella without the Prince? Who would awaken Princess Aurora without Prince Désiré?! Thankfully the American Ballet Theatre knows the value of boys who love to dance and have created this delightful story just for them. Through lively, rhyming text, this story highlights the dedication, hard work, and strength it takes to be dancer. At the end, you'll find interviews with male dancers of the American Ballet Theatre that offer a firsthand look at what it's like to be a boy who loves ballet.
Bunheads by Misty Copeland
Copeland is featured in the movie The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, a favorite film in our household, so when I saw that this book was written by the famous ballerina, I knew we had to read it ourselves. My daughter was captivated by the story, with its detailed descriptions of the ballet, Coppelia, as well as the supportive friendships amongst the young dancers in the story. If you do not have access to a copy of Bunheads, you can actually hear Misty Copeland herself read it on YouTube thanks to PBS.
Ella Bella Ballerina series by James Mayhew
Young Ella Bella attends Madame Rosa's ballet class at the old theatre, a magical place where anything can happen. When Ella Bella opens Madame Rosa's enchanted music box, she finds herself whisked off into the stories of famous ballets: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Swan Lake, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Nutcracker and The Magic Toyshop. Each title in this series more charming than the last, with whimsical illustrations that perfectly capture the beauty of each ballet.
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
A mutual love of dance has the power to inspire and encourage lasting friendships, but even the best friendships take a bit of work. This wordless book from the extremely talented Molly Idle is not specifically about ballet, although the dance that Flora and her new flamingo friend engage in, after some practice, is certainly as graceful and elegant as the best pas de deux.
Swine Lake by James Marshall
Swine Lake...get it? A down-on-his-luck, hungry Big Bad Wolf happens to acquire tickets to the Boarshoi Ballet's performance of Swine Lake. Sitting in his private theatre box, the wolf makes plans to dine on the performers, but as he watches the pigs prance across the stage, he finds himself completely captivated with the ballet. The wit and humor in this story are incomparable and appealing to readers of all ages, and the vocabulary is absolutely superb, but what else would you except from such a duo as James Marshall and Maurice Sendak?
Tallulah's Tutu by Marilyn Singer
Tallulah just knows she will be a great ballerina, if only she had a tutu! She attends her first ballet class and learns the basic positions and does very well. At the end of class she is sure she will finally get a tutu, but sadly, her hopes are dashed when all she receives is praise and a hug from her teacher. This does not go over well with our friend Tallulah. Now, many parents will say they dislike this book because of Tallulah's rather bratty reaction to not receiving the tutu she so longs for, but I find that her reaction, like those of other characters such as Fancy Nancy, provides a teachable moment and, in the end, Tallulah does learn the value of patience and that the rewards are that much sweeter when you put in the hard work to earn them.
For more ballet books, check out our new list and don’t forget to search your local library and bookstore.
**A quick note: many ballet books may seem beyond your little one, what with their unique vocabulary, but remember, a child’s listening comprehension far exceeds their reading comprehension in their early years, so spend some snuggle time with your dancer by reading to them.**
I’m so glad that my daughter’s been able to get back to actual in-person ballet classes and her ballet wardrobe continues to grow as well, thanks to her grandmother who even found ballet underwear! Who knew? Though she’s only five, I feel that it’s important to indulge a child’s passions when you can for every experience not only adds to their wealth of background knowledge, but also adds to the wonderful well-rounded adult that they will eventually become. I’m just glad that she chose quiet ballet and not tap. Sorry tap parents.
“Life without ballet would be pointeless.”
Dance On!
-Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 3 and 1) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
Today marks the start of a new week, at the beginning of a new year, which means getting off to a fresh start working toward goals, completing chores and all that jazz. But for us this has been one of the Mondayest Mondays in the history of Mondays.
Our plan was a simple one. Get back to business, specifically school business, after the holiday break and take care of a few household chores. Great. No problem. We got this! Everything was off to a fine start. My daughter was fully engaged, reading our morning message on the board all by herself, being 100% attentive during storytime and making no fuss about working in her workbook. It was a homeschooler’s dream morning. So, I thought I would attend to a couple quick chores of my own while she was getting her work done. My plan? Touch up a few spots of chipped paint around the house from taking down holiday decorations. Nothing strenuous. Shouldn’t take too long. Oh…how wrong I was. Life is just full of little surprises. The gallon of paint had been sitting down in the basement since its last use, so I picked it up to give it a good shake to make sure the paint was nicely mixed up. Turns out I shook it a bit too well, when the lid opened up and a river of paint began to flow out onto the dining table. At my exclamation of surprise, my daughter came running in to see what had happened and thankfully jumped into action when I said I needed paper towels, STAT! In the process of cleaning up the mess we managed to create an even bigger mess as paint magically appeared on every surface we neared, including ourselves. (Thankfully I was still in the middle of laundry.) Each time I turned around I swear there was another smear of paint…on the edge of the table, the chairs, the counter, the handle of the dishwasher, the kitchen towels…you name it, there was a drop of paint on it…EXCEPT the floor. Miraculously, the rug was spared. Things can only get better from here, right? HA! Sure. While getting dinner ready, the bacon stuck to the non-stick pan. Bacon! In a non-stick pan! STUCK?! Is that even possible??? I assure you it is entirely possible, it happens and it’s messy.
All these little bumps in our day made me think of the classic story, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst and the wise words at the end of the story:
It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
My mom says some days are like that.
Well, when that thought popped into my mind, I of course had to pull out our copy of the book to share with my daughter, which sparked an impromptu storytime of books about having a not-so-good day.
Moral of this long story?
Sometimes your day may not go quite as you had hoped or expected it to. Messes happen, but they can be cleaned up. Days like these make for some great stories to laugh about later and they can lead to some spectacular reading inspiration too.
Anywho…happy Monday, friends. We wish you a very happy Monday ?
-Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 3 and 1) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
A new year invariably means new year resolutions. We all make them because…well, that’s the thing you do at the beginning of a fresh year, right? But how many of us stick to our resolutions? I would guess most of us can keep the momentum and enthusiasm going for maybe the first month after the ball drops. And then it’s just downhill from there.
If there is one thing that 2020 taught us, it’s that life is completely and totally unpredictable and the only constant we can reply upon with absolute certainty is change. No matter what else goes on, something is bound to change…especially when we least expect it. And as parents we know all too well that the unexpected is lurking around the corner, just waiting for us to let our guard down long enough for it to sneak up behind us and yell, “BOO!” As parents, we never know when something will be the last time because our children are growing and maturing at such an alarming rate, we can’t really keep up. One minute you’re helping tie their shoes, then you blink and they’re driving off to college. There is one thing, however, that you can do for and with your child no matter how old they are and that’s read.
Read aloud to you child.
Listen to your child read aloud to you. Read the books that your child loves. Share your own reading life. Discuss what you’re reading.
Books have the power to bring people together, particularly a parent and child. Through books, lasting bonds are created, nurtured and memories are made. So, I challenge you now to resolve to make 2021 the year of the book. I’ll help you get started:
I resolve...
Read One Dad's Reading Resolutions for the New Year from Brightly.
Happy reading all year long!
-Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 3 and 1) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children. |
AuthorWe are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children. Archives
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