tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60878415082604573282024-03-12T21:08:11.047-04:00my city lifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.comBlogger568125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-87025437488019391382014-07-12T17:51:00.004-04:002014-07-12T17:51:25.977-04:00pssst: new post up over at my app review pagecheck out the video we made for some apps:<br />
<a href="http://appilyafter.blogspot.com/2014/07/video-review-mr-potato-head-lego-trains.html">http://appilyafter.blogspot.com/2014/07/video-review-mr-potato-head-lego-trains.html</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-50103291561825945332013-10-19T15:08:00.001-04:002013-10-19T15:08:12.063-04:00Change is goodI have been thinking of leaving this blog. I don't write about city living any more because what we do in NYC no longer feels so unique and share worthy. And because increasingly our focus is further out on to Long Island. I would like to leave this blog intact, since there are good posts that still get page hits. I may export the app reviews to another blog. Maybe.<br />
<br />
Change is good. Usually. We shall see.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-25852018961092202942013-09-17T13:29:00.001-04:002013-09-17T13:29:53.199-04:00Pretty please? <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I am not sure why, but this year I have had trouble getting around to fundraising for the ALS walk in October. I did the walk last year, only a few months after losing my mom. So I figured this year would be just like the other years.<br><br>But I only signed up when the organizers sent an email that allowed me to sign up simply responding to the email.<br><br>And I haven't done anything else. Not even put in my own donation.<br><br>I honestly don't know what emotion is behind my reticence. But I am making this post...trying to do this thing despite my lack of motivation. Maybe I just need a little push. <br><br>So, if you have a few bucks to spare, please consider <a href='http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/alsa/General?px=2746476&pg=personal&fr_id=9203#.UjiPOsu9KK0' target='_blank'>donating to my ALS page</a>.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-163296512036577482013-08-31T18:27:00.001-04:002013-08-31T18:27:57.425-04:00On "Best" Friends and rejection <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Last weekend we went to the beach and within minutes Ranger had a small pack of friends, though the girl of the pack was the one Ranger faced his fear of the waves for. (Here he is trying to get the hang of turning from a wave.)</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LTUGW3FLjk4/UiJt6wXKWFI/AAAAAAAADJM/a0Y8wT2agEI/5A759B46-FC13-470B-B130-8BEA677ADF70.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>We had three and a half days of beach going and Ranger sought out every girl near his age and when he found none, sought out any kid that would play regardless of age or gender. He kept looking for at first little girl, but her family was leaving the day after we arrived. They had been in the hotel room next to us and he went out every morning looking for her. <br></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>This weekend we went to the playground and right away Ranger found some girls his age dancing. He wanted to be apart of their fun, and bless his heart he tried but he had a few things working against him. One, the girls were already good friends with each other. Two, he had never heard the music they were dancing to, and they were dancing very specific moves and sing with the music. He did try, and when their music source got a call, Ranger asked me to pull up his favorite song, the In the Jungle The Mighty Jungle song.<br><br>He sat on a step and with a very serious face held the phone up so they could hear the song. It's not exactly a dancing song. The next song was from Phineas and Ferb and the girls made an attempt at dancing but let's face it the genre of music I have on my phone for Ranger is a totally different type of genre the girls were used to. They listened through three songs and one music video (Nonagon) and Ranger took his job as DJ very seriously.<br><br>Suddenly they rushed away and proclaimed they were not allowing anyone else to play with the two of them. Ranger ran around to the other side, climbed up (I took my phone while he climbed) and tried again with the music.<br><br>He tried this twice before coming to me in tears. He wanted to be best friends with "dees two guys" (for him the gender words are interchangeable). <br><br>Oh, y'all, the look on his face when he was repeatedly turned away. He was, for his limited experience, heartbroken, and sought the comfort of my arms. <br><br>The girls had closed ranks because of a slightly older boy who was upsetting them. I would put money down that he is on the spectrum and has not yet been given the tools to know how to interact properly. He was threatening the girls with harm. He was genuinely upset when called a bad boy, and his caregiver (dad? Grandpa?- busy tending to a younger styling) just repeated that he needed to be a good boy.<br><br>So Ranger was in tears, dejected, while the two girls were trying to avoid the older boy, who was, like Ranger, following them around. The one girl's dad was there and he was doing a good job of keeping his daughter from saying mean things back and encouraging her to move to other areas. Perhaps another parent might lash out at the boy, who on first glance could be old enough to know better. <br><br>But instead I told the little girls that my little boy really wanted to play and just wasn't sure how to play. They seemed like hey might maybe be game. Then I looked the older boy in the eye, at his level, and told him in a firm voice with a neutral face that threatening to hurt people was not nice, that if he wanted to play he needed to stop saying those threats, or he could go sit on a bench and come back when he was ready to say nice things. He met my stare with a smile I have seen on many of the spectrum kids I taught. He was processing my request so I did not look away until he nodded. To give him credit he didn't say threatening things again. <br><br>The little girl had had enough, though, especially when her friend's mom came to take her home. Even Ranger's knock knock jokes could not bring her around, not as long as the other boy was there. And he wasn't going anywhere. <br><br>Ranger tried again to be friends on the swings, and was thwarted again by this other kid as well as the little girl's hesitance. When we called time to go Ranger did not want to go. He wanted to stay. Because in his mind he could still maybe be friends with this little girl.<br><br>Ranger is a hearty soul and hasn't really looked back on his heart hurts of earlier in the day. But as his mommy I will not soon forget the expression he wore and his tears. It was the first of many times, I'm sure, that he will experience rejection. It's a part of life to learn that not everyone will want to be your friend.<br><br>Have your kids experienced their first heart hurts? Rejection or teasing or other? </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-7102368773897503012013-08-30T09:47:00.001-04:002013-08-30T09:47:22.961-04:00App review: Mo on the Go <p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MttA0eFJacw/UiCiaMuvo7I/AAAAAAAADI0/uAHsXxAvzEA/F97D0C1B-BD7A-4B93-82A4-02B5FFAD5D26.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>We are huge Mo Willems fans so I was super excited to find this app. So far the game Pigeon's dream drive is our favorite, so it is the only one I have video of...for some reason (probably sleep deprivation) I can't figure out why my blogging app won't embed the video. If you don't want to click, basically you draw a bus route for the bus to pick up ducklings.<br><a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJlcpiopZ3E' target='_blank'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJlcpiopZ3E</a></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The monster maker game is our second favorite. You can do a random combination, or move each block until you get what you want. Then press the lightening button and watch what happens next! </p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q7EDxL-fh0E/UiCiZrTi78I/AAAAAAAADIs/9Nqbs7QjpLs/7AF0EC7B-4172-498A-864C-7AEBD94DE673.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The dance game is just a matter of picking three dances for elephant and three for piggie.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NMmKOVxB8hI/UiCiYbywg8I/AAAAAAAADIk/tGoQiBhl5YA/A9FC92EA-E246-4173-A015-5DE9FDD4243D.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Sticker pictures allow you to take a picture and then add your favorite Mo characters to the photo. <br><br>Squillems is a drawing game where you're given a starter doodle line to jump-start your creativity.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>My one and only complaint about this app is it switches from requiring landscape to portrait.it is a small complaint that is probably unique to me. Maybe I am lazy, maybe Ranger is lazy, but we tend to not want to flip the position so often.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>We highly recommend this app!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-23258742067120575222013-08-06T21:42:00.001-04:002013-08-06T21:42:47.747-04:00App review: doodlecast <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Hi!<br>Recently we have discovered several new apps that have me and Ranger super excited! Rather than make a wall of text with lists, I am going to try to do a review for each one.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QKC21fXP4xQ/UgGmFOZIxWI/AAAAAAAADH8/kNSH8m9dGxE/71F0C1D5-38CF-48D2-8806-7CA736E1E7B6.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The idea behind this app is that a blank screen (for drawing) is intimidating. With a simple prompt, children get a jump start. <br><br>My favorite part is the automatic voice record. Perhaps I am alone in finding my son's imagination entertaining, but capturing his little voice as we draw is the stuff that fills my heart.<br></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I saved one video to give you an idea of how cool this app is:<br><br><a href='http://youtu.be/Z-oKXf2aa1A' target='_blank'>http://youtu.be/Z-oKXf2aa1A</a><br>(Having some trouble embedding- please click. You can also find several other reviews by searing "Doodlecast")</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>If you are on pintrest- you can follow my app board to find other neat apps (or find other people's app board collections).<br><br>Ps: I did not receive any compensation for this post. As always, I just found something cool I want to share!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-53644910738156861102013-07-22T07:49:00.001-04:002013-07-22T07:49:26.807-04:00If you're going to San Fransico <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>After we moved to Forest Hills, we had a serendipitous meeting with a family in Starbucks. We didn't know it at the time, but we had just met our BFF (best friends family).<br><br>Two...almost three years of ups and downs, of lunches, milestones, playgrounds and even a Seder, and now they have an awesome opportunity on the west cost.<br><br>It is hard to be too sad that they are leaving when technology means we will always be able to text/email/Skype, plus this opportunity is so tailor made for them.<br><br>We will miss them being here but now get to start planning a trip to San Fran in the future.<br><br>Good luck to our BFF.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Zmk7odsQFBo/Ue0cQ__oYeI/AAAAAAAADHU/SJTTTe3JPiw/ACB23C29-6C51-412B-B19B-A372192CF8FC.jpg'></div></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-57617465899599503692013-07-17T12:48:00.000-04:002013-07-17T13:00:11.123-04:00Review: Donjoy knee brace <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I have a troublesome knee. It is a service connected wear and tear issue for which there is no fix. Most of the time this knee isn't a problem, but when I want to chase after the kiddos or do something like water aerobics, I am guaranteed to have pain. The pain got so strong after attending some water aerobics classes that I thought I might have torn a meniscus. The MRI came back with no tear (yay no surgery! Boo pain w no clear fix).<br><br>I really enjoy the water sports aerobics class I take, led by a former Army lady. But it was causing me pain. I decided to try a brace.<br><br>My searches both on line and peer to peer didn't have results for which brace is good for the pool. A good brace isn't so cheap that one can do a trail and error test! Finally I used the live chat feature on the Donjoy web site. The representative said any of their braces could be used in the pool, and recommended the <a href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BNEBHBS/ref=twister_B006IUSZLM' target='_blank'>reaction knee brace</a>.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I first got accustomed to the brace out of the pool. Then after a month took it to the aqua sports class. It worked beautifully. I still had a range of motion that allowed me to work out and I could feel the weight being distributed away from my knee/pain center.<br><br>Since I had a hard time finding a recommendation, I wanted to share mine.i wasn't compensated or anything- I just have fou d a food thing and wanted to share.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-72668492594075169272013-07-03T10:36:00.001-04:002013-07-03T10:36:28.087-04:00Zombie mom <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S7jMVI6VeaY/UdQ26ZziUAI/AAAAAAAADG8/AV4rGCEfJ-Y/2AE9215D-4E28-47B1-A663-D5CCCE6DCFE9.jpg'></div></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-81204301240646741692013-06-21T07:41:00.001-04:002013-06-21T07:41:06.413-04:00Fear vs defiance <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I knew Ranger would have trouble having his ears examined for a hearing test.<br><br>I prepped him about the headphones and the beeps, and promised - pinky promised that I would hold his hand if the doctor even touched his ears.<br><br>He was uncharacteristically quiet on the ride there, so I told him it was ok if he was afraid, but there are things in life we have to do at some point. I explained about why we needed the test and that the doctor <b>would not hurt</b> him.<br><br>Y'all, I have NEVER seen Ranger lose it like he did. Hysterical could not begin to describe his response the moment they held up the tool that rests in his ear. We showed him on his brother that it didn't hurt. We played place the point of the machine on your nose, chin, cheeks, but the moment we got to ears he was back to hysterical.<br><br>I am sad to say I was not at my best. I threatened, I guilted, I offered rewards and even took him to a nearby toy store and let him pick a toy as part of a deal. And then minutes later took it away and told him I would take the toy back to the store because he wouldn't cooperate. I pleaded and teased and hugged and finally, to no avail, held him against me in a hug while they tried to get a reading. He screamed and cried and struggled. He needed to be silent for 10 seconds and...well...that was not going to happen<br><br>We were able to get headphones on him for the beep test, but in order to know if there is a problem with his hearing causing his speech / articulation problems, he must have the full test. Especially since he did great hearing/responding to beeps on the right side but on the left didn't do well at all.<br><br>When it was clear this was not working, I paid our co pay and took the boys to their grandma's house. I was still very agitated, and cranky, and told Ranger I needed some space to cool down.<br><br>And he gave it to me. <br><br>And then we went to the pool with his grandma and we had a blast.<br><br>And my ire melted away and I could see that my little man had actually gone into a room knowing he would face something that terrified him. Not just made him a little afraid, but filled him with deep down terror. <br><br>And suddenly I wished I would have stopped insisting, wished I hadn't guilted or threatened. <br><br>Because he wasn't being disagreeable out of spite or defiance.<br><br>We still have to get this exam done. But maybe next time we can help him manage his fear. We are going to try to have his grandpa come along next time, since Ranger thinks he hung the moon.<br><br> If you have experience with this kind of thing, any ideas would be welcome</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-56775811176522571682013-06-13T18:42:00.001-04:002013-06-13T18:42:58.657-04:00When do you stop answering Why? <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I recently read a list of things you should always do with your kids- because there isn't already enough guilt for parents to feel. One item on the list really struck a nerve, possibly because it is my last one.<br><br>The gist of it was: Answer all the little "Why?" Questions now so they come to you with the big questions later.<br><br>It sounds lovely doesn't it? <br><br>Let's look at some recent conversations I have had with Ranger, written pretty much verbatim since we have the talks daily.<br><br>Him: mommy, when I grow smaller I will never never wear diapers.<br>Me: sweetheart, you grow older and bigger not smaller and younger<br>Him: Why?<br>Me: Because we have DNA inside of us that works like computer programming and it tells our bodies to grow bigger and older not smaller and younger.<br>Him: why?<br>Me: Because we can't be born big<br>Him: Why?<br>Me: Y'all come out big enough as it is- oh look a garbage truck! <br><br>Yay for naturally occurring distractions!<br><br>I really get annoyed quickly when he asks a patently obvious why, like "what are you doing and why" when he can see what I am doing:<br><br>Him: What are you doing?<br>Me: Driving<br>Him: Why?<br>Me: because that is how we get to school<br>Him: Why?<br>Me: Because it is too far to walk and too cumbersome to take transit.<br>Him: Why?<br><br>And then there are one ones that really get me- the "What are you doing/why?" Question combo when I am <b>doing something he has asked me to do</b>.<br>Him: What are you doing?<br>Me: Making you a snack<br>Him: Why?<br>Me: Because you asked me to<br>Him: Why?<br>Me: Why do you want the snack? I imagine you are hungry.<br>Him: Why?<br><br>So you can perhaps understand why I might have been laughing hysterically when I read that "answer all the little why questions" bit. <br><br>After a while I just throw in some non sequiturs like my dad used to do. "Because grass is green" "Because trees grow down"<br><br>Sometimes I use other people's authority "Because grandma and grandpa said so" "because President Obama said so"<br><br>And one day soon I am going to start with cultural references "Because 42" "Because these are not the droids you are looking for" or "because there can be only one"<br></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-40904712169287252832013-06-03T21:56:00.001-04:002013-06-03T21:56:26.934-04:00Silent <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>My writing voice has laryngitis. <br><br>I have half a dozen posts languishing in drafts. They all sound forced.<br><br>So, life is fine. Kids are fine. <br><br>Here's a picture of flowers.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PU4mVGsNYLQ/Ua1JSGxmLeI/AAAAAAAADF4/Gp24G-GpNnI/DB4607FE-7F06-4FF1-A689-84AD718870D6.jpg'></div></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-62506886403725618102013-04-30T19:36:00.000-04:002013-04-30T19:37:35.305-04:00The incredible invisible mr snail <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Some kids have invisible friends.<br><br>Ranger, he has an invisible pet snail.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>It all started when we stopped at the post office to turn in passport papers for LB (we hope to see Niagara from the Canadian side this summer). I happen to have noticed a group (Pack? Herd? School? Family?) of snails sunning on a wall on a prior trip and was eager to show them to Ranger.<br><br>He was as excited as any three year old could be.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x8DtMSFSMvM/UYBVmH8FA3I/AAAAAAAADBA/AxeFkauENjg/267DED6A-961D-42E4-95DB-18EB5CA93778.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>We noted that the snails were not a uniform color, and wondered how baby snails looked (fun fact, snails lay eggs!)</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A2ivl-0CIfY/UYBVvF1wbKI/AAAAAAAADBw/tUqpADJq34U/6974F6DF-7ACC-4DDC-ADB3-288129839671.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vBvP_XTkR0c/UYBVtH2seII/AAAAAAAADBg/hr1s_ucVFVQ/4B5FE19A-8106-47E4-A9BD-0EB9C2CC720B.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I helped him hold his hand still enough to get a snail to crawl up.<br><br>He gasped and said, "mommy this is SO awesome!"<br><br>Ding! Mommy points for me! Only eleventy billion more until I level up!</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rgH3KKYCX8I/UYBVuJ40AhI/AAAAAAAADBo/5GJVGqRgbmU/8438BBD4-4F76-4F4A-A25E-9ABE409C232C.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kvhGwJzmb8U/UYBVrPc3BGI/AAAAAAAADBQ/iJV9hFrwuts/2DACF2E1-2F70-4C0A-868C-8C04E85C497E.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>He was so taken with these snails that he did not want to go to the playground! While waiting for some snails to "wake up" Ranger found an empty snail shell. Since I was adamant he was not to take any snails home (away from their families! - even though I distinctly remember doing just that as a kid), he was excited I let him take the shell.<br><br>Afterward the shell was held as a prized treasure. And every now and then Ranger would announce that the snail was coming out. On the way home he told me the snail wanted ice cream with sprinkles, and could we go to the store to get mr snail some ice cream with sprinkles so mr snail would be happy?<br><br>Thankfully mr snail was able to "get some rest" and was available for "play" just before bed. We have a cheap plastic slide that is currently inside (usually on the balcony) and wouldn't you know mr snail wanted to ride with Ranger on the slide. When reminded that the shell was fragile, Ranger put the shell in its own spot on our door storage system.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7mCbTWeaWtk/UYBVsEJF_VI/AAAAAAAADBY/27IGKh_AHPI/004AE375-29FD-4886-BCAB-512529ACD8FB.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Even though leaving the doors open would allow a certain little brother access to the train table, Ranger insisted the doors be open so mr snail could watch all the fun.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aTKOXFMCjmI/UYBVn8QBRwI/AAAAAAAADBI/E5dKtcEeLIY/AF013173-6001-4D85-B581-F5D50F0D1E34.jpg'></div></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-19402590571852597552013-04-17T17:55:00.000-04:002013-04-17T17:56:44.351-04:00A surprise trip to Roosevelt Island and Tantrum math <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Today I surprised Ranger with a subway ride to Roosevelt Island to take the Tram.<br>He was super excited to ride the subway and did his happy feet dance when we arrived at the Tram waiting area.<br>He was one happy little boy!</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9DkRC22Sq5U/UW8ah_R1_9I/AAAAAAAADAE/2k36sbyukF4/C99C83E3-8A95-4107-B933-BBC2DC6A3D2D.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l_NMY3vr3IE/UW8ag2pYn2I/AAAAAAAAC_8/UKxfGRVTOyI/7709D9F9-B4C7-4EC6-8D30-2CB1DC03326F.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5BIWP5wryI4/UW8aky93AII/AAAAAAAADAc/B320-zQbBMc/8D61455C-1F1C-4223-8E61-51B9A7B1DDE5.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lALqrLeMXuk/UW8amUp_qsI/AAAAAAAADAs/KWbdMnOmdiQ/E3ECA152-E149-4CBA-8318-9724357302E8.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The moment he started doing the happy dance, I felt the chill of foreshadowing. <br><br>In denial I suppose, I still had hope. Maybe we could walk along the water, see some boats, and head home before the train got packed for rush hour traffic.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NjsqfO61gGM/UW8akGYgycI/AAAAAAAADAU/0uipeDsVj-8/88B855B1-A8A4-4526-92AC-2CAFD961858A.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EVpBRqDRHNY/UW8ai942-vI/AAAAAAAADAM/jMXxTpRsDw0/AD88671B-6E38-4F16-9453-4074588C0D72.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>(He was doing this for less than five minutes when some lady concern troll came over to tell me how dangerous it was to let him anywhere near the railing.)</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DI_-hKqres8/UW8aeZZDJpI/AAAAAAAAC_k/_nj2EzqABqM/7275DB18-AEA4-4023-AF83-CB444C737BE1.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>When we lived on Roosevelt Island - and I can't believe we've lived in NYC long enough to make that experience seem a long time ago- the park at the southern tip was not open. I was really wowed by what they've done.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ro_Su4UHFFY/UW8abaLHEcI/AAAAAAAAC_M/liDhiyiwNEs/2F90CFAA-DB80-494D-90DB-5A68D3835254.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yubRVGR5P5g/UW8acne_soI/AAAAAAAAC_U/zmJcfkNHp9s/A7FDAE0C-386B-4C91-9E2C-CAEF18021EF0.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jTaGQNAPnoU/UW8adJWVhVI/AAAAAAAAC_c/GE3UejOipZ8/C05AE761-2372-4CE6-AE57-5EF9114E1016.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Normally when I give a ten minute warning Ranger listens pretty well when it is time to go. Not today. <br><br>Lately I have had more trouble with departing certain locations.<br><br>When we went to the zoo, Ranger could not be convinced the rollercoster was not yet finished and threw a fit leaving. <br><br>Leaving his grandparent's house has involved bodily carrying him out and wrestling him into his car seat.<br><br></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>In both of those situations I could get him buckled into his carseat and be on our way. Because we took the subway, I had opted to carry LB in the baby carrier and use a backpack for a diaper bag- we were operating sans stroller.<br><br>Which means that I couldn't strap Ranger into a seat AND I couldn't carry him. Today I was the mom practically dragging a crying child down the sidewalk. I stopped walking when ever he would try the "dead weight" tactic, but otherwise kept a steady pace to the subway. Once on the F train he quieted to a fake whine cry that was low enough to not bother people. <br><br>While we were on our cool down "mommy I need a break from you!" at home I came to the realization that there is tantrum math:</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yXSISpTvMKY/UW8alRVqubI/AAAAAAAADAk/spkUYhHlpJo/B5E9DE1A-F56A-48C6-960A-8EFECBDEA115.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Which lead me to come up with the desire to go/extraction difficulty chart</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kGznVhvBDp4/UW8ae5ES3GI/AAAAAAAAC_s/_JWO5tcnXcE/8CA0F2CC-1068-44C2-AED3-97B9C59D8270.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>At this point I think the pictures are there to remind me why the hassle was worth it.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OcH88WuWdy0/UW8agEI1jnI/AAAAAAAAC_0/CLhZtREz8hY/D98366F5-8198-41F8-B286-65EFD1CC6196.jpg'></div></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-34866259758188698512013-04-15T21:01:00.001-04:002013-04-15T21:01:30.926-04:00Just Call Me Miss Ann Thrope <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Sometimes?<br><br>Sometimes I really dislike people.<br><br>You know what makes me want to pack up my life and move to the middle of no where?<br><br>What really gets my ire up is the people who look at what happened in Boston and immediately want to incite fear (They have a suspect and he is a FOREIGNER!- later proved wrong wrong wrong). The ignorance, the pompous egos, the inability to behave in civil society; the people who are trying to make this into some political stage. <br><br>Even a blogger I respected (past tense intentional) made this about the government spending its time taking away guns instead of protecting people from terrorist acts.<br><br>It boggles my mind. <br><br>Seriously? <br><br>Seriously you think an act of cowardice like this could be avoided if no one was talking about weapons? <br><br>Some people need to get their heads out of their tuckus. <br><br>You know what would be more helpful? If the people hired to figure out the tough stuff we face as a nation pulled on their big boy and girl panties, stopped acting like preteen drama queens, and actually did their jobs. And yes, that means compromises. That means trying to meet in the middle instead of trying to win political points. <br><br>There are times when I stumble suddenly into a reft in my world of at least semi sensible people, and find myself looking around wondering just how it is we live in a country full of such willful ignorance and unabashed hate. Usually this sudden view of insensibility comes when I read comments for <a href='http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/15/17764747-explosions-rock-finish-of-boston-marathon-2-killed-and-scores-injured' target='_blank'>articles on current events</a> or Facebook posts or YouTube videos or twitter or Reddit.<br><br> When this happens I suddenly feel like our country has no possible hope going forward progress wise- there are just too many of these walking, talking, typing bags of thoughtless sound bites. <br><br>My heart goes out to Boston. But now I have to tune it all out, because some stupidity always leaks through when you try to stay informed. <br><br>If you need me I will be over there playing Bejewled and words with friends or making my sons laugh.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-21069677933048857562013-04-05T21:33:00.001-04:002013-10-19T16:08:26.599-04:00App review: Toca Boca's Tailor<div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section" style="clear: both;">
Y'all, I haven't even let Ranger try this one yet. Not because he won't like it- the exact opposite! I have been having run with this app and haven't shared! This is so much better than paper dolls or sticker dolls or even those magnet dress up toys.<br /><br />My only complaint is that the options for gender neutral or boy accessories (shoes, for ex) are very limited.</div>
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RTyG5RlGA8I/UV97Yp6EAsI/AAAAAAAAC-8/-m3mMUvxELM/36CEF5AB-1796-4695-9BD3-FDE58948978B.jpg" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-64883089507677281082013-04-03T07:37:00.001-04:002013-04-03T21:32:50.360-04:00Kindergarten: who started the crazy? <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Recently I have been following a conversation in my neighborhood list serve that has occupied a good bit of my available thinking power.<br><br>The conversation centers around an <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/playtime_over_kindergartners_ItkfEkiosY3UOa8KpXwj8K" target="_blank">article written by the Post</a> about kindergarten standards.<br>The city has adopted the Common Core standards, which list some advanced skill sets required of kindergarten students.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_link_section'><div class="bloggerplus_image_section" align="left" style="clear:both;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-60vnPyGoLfY/UVwUcxMZ7jI/AAAAAAAAC-s/_biETEbgAD4/68E25A55-DAD8-4EE0-AB78-22FF6DA486F7.jpg"></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><a href="http://www.corestandards.org/Math" target="_blank">Link</a></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>One of the questions cited in the article is: "Miguel has two shelves. Miguel has six books . . . How many different ways can Miguel put books on the two shelves? Show and tell how you know."<br><br>The parents in my neighborhood have pointed out that there are several possibilities. The answer considered correct is 5. But as one parent pointed out, the question does not indicate that both shelves must be used, so 7 could be correct. Another parent chimed in with over 5K- something about fractorials.<br><br></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>At the end of the article a DOE spokesperson says<br><h4>"These are the types of activities and exercises that students need to work on to acquire the skills they need to be ready for middle school, high school, college and careers.”</h4></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><br>They want to make the argument that these standards for kindergarten will determine my son's career options? He is three right now. What if he isn't ready for kindergarten? He has a December birthday- it is possible he might need more time, and that may not even be an available option (I am going to come back to this in a bit).</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>It has been a long time since I took childhood development, but I question that the kindergarten students can do much more than memorize without true comprehension. Turns out my <a href='http://www.heyquitpushing.com/why-sooner-inst-better.html' target='_blank'>doubt is not unfounded</a>. Here is an excerpt from <a href='http://hepg.org/hel/article/479' target='_blank'>a study</a> I found. The bottom line is - focusing rigorously on academics in kindergarten is an idea that has crazy written all over it<br><br><h5>Marcy Guddemi, executive director of the Gesell Institute, says despite ramped-up expectations, including overtly academic work in kindergarten, study results reveal remarkable stability around ages at which most children reach cognitive milestones such as being able to count four pennies or draw a circle. For the study, 92 examiners conducted 40-minute one-on-one assessments with 1,287 children ages 3–6 at 56 public and private schools in 23 states.<br><br>“People think children are smarter and they are able to do these things earlier than they used to be able to—and they can’t,” says Guddemi. While all children in the study were asked to complete 19 tasks, results echoed previous Gesell findings showing, for example, that a square is in the 4 1/2-year-old repertoire, but a child cannot draw a triangle until 5 1/2. These developmental milestones, Guddemi says, relate directly to what can be expected of children in kindergarten.<br><br><br>Learning vs. Training<br>For teachers, the study provides some concrete guidance for understanding how child development meshes with student learning. For example, says Guddemi, children must be able to see and understand the oblique line in a triangle to recognize some letters in the alphabet. Until children can draw a triangle they cannot perceive angled lines in, say, the letter “K,” nor can they write it, or recognize it when printed in different fonts, she says.<br><br>Similarly, Gesell’s study results show 4-year-olds can count four pennies, making a one-to-one correspondence. But only half at age 4 1/2 respond “four” when asked how many they have all together. This skill, called “conserving” because they must hold the number in their heads, is needed to do addition. By 5 1/2, children can conserve 13 pennies and can count 20 pennies. But they cannot conserve 20 pennies until age 6. If they cannot conserve, says Guddemi, a child memorizes 2 + 3 = 5, but doesn’t realize that 3 + 2 = 5.<br><br>What’s tricky, says Guddemi, is that children can be trained to perform tasks (called “splinter skills”), such as writing names or counting. But just because “April” can pen her name doesn’t mean she can perceive letters with oblique angles. “You can train them, but the knowledge and understanding—the true learning—has not happened,” she says. “Our country has this hang up that if the child can perform, that they know.”<br><br>Guddemi worries that many kindergarteners are facing work inappropriate to their developmental abilities. For example, Gesell study results, compiled by the non-profit Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) in Denver, CO, show that children at age 4 1/2 know and recognize 12 letters (no letter is more popular than another). For a child on the younger side in kindergarten, Guddemi says, the mismatch is jarring: “Day One they are going to be hit with the [entire] alphabet.” Drilling students on the alphabet is a much different strategy for increasing literacy skills than exposing students to vocabulary-rich conversations, she says. (See “<a href='http://hepg.org/app;jsessionid=00736DBD73E7539C1F6C809B04C17CB0?component=%24HelArticleDetailBlock.%24PageEntityLink.link&page=main%2Fhel%2FHelArticleDetail&service=direct&session=T&sp=Smain%2Fhel%2FHelArticleDetail&sp=Sview&sp=192' target='_blank'>Small Kids, Big Words </a>,” Harvard Education Letter, May/June 2008.) <br><br>The perception that “more input is always better,” may be misguided, agrees David Daniel, psychology professor at James Madison University and managing editor of the journal Mind, Brain, and Education. “The four-year-old has a four-year-old brain and a six-year-old has a six-year-old brain. There are certain things connecting in a six-year-old brain that are still being worked on in the four-year-old brain,” he says. Serious academics in kindergarten? “They can be teaching it,” says Daniel, “but the question is: Is the child learning it?”<br></h5><br><br>This is not the only example of a study that has found increasing the requirements for kindergarten to be ineffectual. I am a regular reader of Free Range Kids which posted a blurb about the <a href='http://www.freerangekids.com/ban-chairs-not-tag/' target='_blank'>benefits of rough housing and free play:<br></a></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><h5><a href='http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=early+childhood+research+and+practice+marcon&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C33&as_vis=1' target='_blank'>Long-term studies by Dr. Rebecca Marcon</a> tracked kids in academic preschools versus play-based preschools. The kids in the academic programs did worse later in elementary school – both their grades and behavior.<br>****<br>Current brain research shows that roughhousing games increase brain power. All that goofing off and horsing around? It actually strengthens the frontal lobe – an area of the brain vital for impulse control, memory and later academic success. In fact, researchers credit rough play to better learning, flexibility, problem-solving, impulse control, memory, executive function, social and emotional skills, and creativity<br>****<br>...preparation for school looks nothing like school itself. Roughhousing can be just as important as reading to kids.</h5></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Locally there is another bit of academic cluelessness on the part of the powers in charge. New York City is <a href='http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/kindergarten-redshirting-gets-tougher-in-n-y-c-with-repercussions/?smid=fb-share' target='_blank'>enacting rules</a> that will make it harder to delay your child if he or she is not ready for Kindergarten. So, if Ranger is not ready to start with his year group, the process of getting a waiver to get him delayed entry seems to be quite challenging with slim chance of success. <br><br>Who started this craziness? </p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>While looking around for studies on this subject I ran across <a href='http://books.google.com/books?id=IMb0erZhgZUC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=Dr.+Rebecca+Marcon&source=bl&ots=TXZ9vnWJ93&sig=T1rPFWH_b_Bg_298ouYQDTkpeF4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LH1cUabvDaaQ0QGlwoHoCw&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Dr.%20Rebecca%20Marcon&f=false' target='_blank'>one example</a> where parents are the ones getting anxious. Education is success and the chance to be one step ahead is one many parents will jump at.<br><br>Parents want their children to succeed. No surprise there. In Manhattan there often are interviews and application packets that resemble college entrance applications FOR PRESCHOOL. If you have seen <a href='http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213832/' target='_self'>Nursery University</a>, the depiction of the process is unfortunately accurate. And if your child gets in- the price tag is hefty. Parents put themselves through this because space in good schools is limited and space in awesome schools is somewhere between limited and keep dreaming. And who doesn't want their child in the best possible program? We decided to enroll Ranger in a school (the Y) that is not the closest to us- in the morning the commute takes around 35 sometimes as much as 45 minutes. On the way home it is more like 20 minutes. And oh, by the way, I hate driving. But the program has been voted the best in the Queens county so I put aside my dislike for driving and he gets an awesome pre-pre-kindergarten education.<br><br>But would I push Ranger in to a situation he wasn't ready for? Not as long as I have a choice in the matter.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The federal government and the standardization tests educators are held to put pressure on every level of schooling and emphasizes that the key to success is education. I agree education leads to more opportunities for success. But the domino effect back into kindergarten is disheartening. I want my sons to enjoy school as much as possible. Making them anxious about learning concepts they are not necessarily biologically ready to learn in the first year of formal schooling isn't going to encourage them to be life long learners.<br></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I haven't found any articles where educators are thrilled about the increased rigor for kindergarteners. I have seen a few who relate the increased standards to increased literacy. This could be true for more reasons than increasing standards. For instance, most areas have pre-kindergarten classes readily available. Some areas have mandatory pre-kindergarten.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Is there another way? Some people might homeschool, but that's not a route I would take despite holding an education degree. Older students might have alternative options allowing them to progress at their own pace (which is sometimes faster than in a regular class where the teacher is trying to teach a subject to the least advanced learner). <a href='http://wouldashoulda.com/' target='_self'>One blogger</a> I follow has a son who is part time homeschooled and part time in an alternative program- a solution to her son's needs. Maybe we should be thinking outside of the test bubbles. <br><br>I don't know what the answer is, but in the last week when I have been Googling this topic, I have come across many articles about why it's bad, and have found almost no mention on why it is good to make kindergarten the new first grade. <br><br>Are we really setting up our children for success?</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Here is an article that does a decent job of presenting both the "pro" and the "con" side of making kindergarten the new first grade. <br><br><a href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/22/AR2007052201696.html' target='_self'>More Work, Less Play in Kindergarten By Daniel de Vise May 23, 2007<br></a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-3652112637551790102013-04-02T22:39:00.000-04:002013-04-02T22:40:07.241-04:00Today I was THAT MOM <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I was That Mom at the park today. You know, the mom totally ignoring her child's tantrum. <br><br>I took the boys to the Queens zoo and fed the goats (briefly) and walked around (briefly). But the ice cream truck parked right outside the zoo with its tingle tingle tingle melody a siren call for all children. <br><br>It was cold enough that I didn't mind leaving sooner than expected, even though we saw maybe two animals. It was Ranger's trip really- he has been cooped up at home with a general strain of crud that resulted in an ear infection. So we grabbed ice cream from the truck. Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised that Ranger ate something close to two bites; it was so cold his usual pick of ice creams (Sponge Bob) which usually starts to melt instantly was solid as a rock.<br><br>I certainly was not surprised, and had come prepared for Ranger wanting to ride the carousel and mini train. That was fun.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9l732k8v1Ls/UVuWhJ3vIXI/AAAAAAAAC-c/ZySg6bEeksk/D4CB3B76-6F19-4F62-A2BD-40FF6021518C.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OByvqdf1JJk/UVuWfPbOryI/AAAAAAAAC-E/CV1wC8RKQ8s/81599DCE-C23C-4FF6-A4F6-6A3864593DA0.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>What I didn't count on was the in progress rollercoster. For what ever reason, Ranger refused to believe it wasn't ready.<br><br>I imagine the puny little heap of metal that was the rollercoster being built looked huge to his mind. It is either extremely small or still sitting in a pile of segments. Given the tiny track circle for the train (our apartment is bigger than that circuit is), I would bet it's the former. But Ranger's concept of a rollercoster comes from his current favorite tv show, Phineas and Ferb. In the very first episode they build a rollercoster, and in a later episode (season two episode 37 I think) they repeat the project as a musical. So even when they are done putting in the coster, I have a feeling he will be disappointed.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LK5jBsDDFTA/UVuWgQN5fhI/AAAAAAAAC-U/bAJP3px3S0o/377A7AB1-4280-4F9D-933B-E7C4B9220365.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The walk to the car was excruciating. I have never see Ranger tantrum to this extent. I tried reason. I tried sitting and listening, holding him while he cried. I tried calling E so he could tell Ranger that I wasn't being mean- the ride wasn't ready. Finally I decided to continue walking.<br><br>First he tried screaming and crying so loudly I thought all of Queens could hear him.<br><br>Then he dashed in front of me to put the stroller breaks on and use his body weight to drag the stroller to a stop.<br><br>He tried hanging back on the ramp while I put his brother in the car. He was still crying and screaming; I got a few looks of "been there done that" from passers by. Ranger was pulling out his usual trump card by saying he had to pee. That almost always works!<br><br>Finally I picked him up and carried him the rest of the way to the car.<br><br>Putting him in the car seat was like trying to wrangle a tornado. My glasses got kicked off. He screamed and flailed and carried on.<br><br>Sometime on the way home (I turned the music up) he switched tactics by saying he forgot to say bye to all the animals.<br><br>He continued in this vein all the way to the building, where he tried to keep me from taking the stroller up the two steps.<br><br>And when we first got home his tirade continued until suddenly, as though a switch had been flipped, he was calm and wanted to play candy land.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0sHNowsTud8/UVuWf1Wf1_I/AAAAAAAAC-M/tBA2JhT4ldw/5E3B68CE-3358-497C-A806-0814511A5CE4.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I wasn't particularly angry at him. He is three. He has a cold and is not quite himself. <br>His brother LB slept through the while thing (city baby- could sleep through sirens). <br><br>I am a little annoyed that there is a rollercoster being put up out side the zoo. It's bad enough there is a carousel and mini train for him to beg to go on (and on and on and on). I am not sure I want to take him back without E being there to help. </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-22428277635860019222013-03-24T23:08:00.001-04:002013-03-24T23:08:59.931-04:00Spam spam spamity spam spam <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I turned word verification on. I don't get too many actual commenters but I get an increasing amount of spammers.<br><br>I debated letting these yahoos do their thing- Blogger does a decent job of filtering them and I find the horrible grammar entertaining. But sometimes they beat the filter and I don't want their links on my posts.<br><br>Hey, if you know any teachers who need examples of rotten writing, I have some great samples! I don't mind sharing their attempts when there are no active links.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>These two seem to be using the same starter script.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ESLmlnEoeRQ/UU-_v9xzHfI/AAAAAAAAC4E/auDgL_eM2OU/652B01C0-3302-4EA1-854C-AA195E425688.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-o3h4GGRb4aI/UU-_wwnrEII/AAAAAAAAC4M/IuXqYukUbss/7D756E22-192A-4DF2-B86C-2D3687F455A8.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>This one could almost be mistaken as not spam. </p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JkqRhfWHbZw/UU-_yIprtMI/AAAAAAAAC4k/5rFqDGkeQcc/BCEF7568-A994-4D09-BFD4-2B8B9F8180BD.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1PDm4RoR2u4/UU-_xzibX_I/AAAAAAAAC4c/Ox01qd5eR-g/E76E5149-C4F1-4E45-A99C-6B4FC7087E2D.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DV6bi1CY6D0/UU-_xCUgCII/AAAAAAAAC4U/HxnsTGPgGVo/6131B83C-339C-4387-8179-CAA4FD0A0120.jpg'></div></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-53317417548421273642013-03-22T07:15:00.001-04:002013-03-22T07:15:12.007-04:00Review: Scancafe <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I had every intention of scanning all of the photos I took possession of when my mom moved into a care facility. <br><br>And I even started.<br><br>But I found looking at the pictures too emotional. Seeing my mom's youth and my childhood, under the circumstances -especially after my mom was gone- was too much for me.<br><br>I remembered seeing a scan service through Snapfish (Scancafe) and I sent some of my photos, many already made electronic, as a test run. I found the process so easy that I sent a batch of 500 family photos.<br><br>I really like this service. I put the photos in a box - I didn't but I could have grouped them if I wanted. I printed out a shipping form and took the box to a UPS store. I got a tracking number and regular emails letting me know where in the process my photos were. Obviously it is not a fast process, but before long they sent an email notifying me that I could go to Snapfish and view my photos. A week or so later my originals came neatly packaged and with a CD inside.<br><br>This isn't the cheapest solution to making your photos electronic, but they have regular deals. I recently purchased another batch at nearly half off. In fact I overestimated how many pictures were left and am collecting photos from E's family to fill in the gap.<br><br>I still want to go back and label the pictures so that any notes that are on the back of the photos are captured, but that will take time and emotional energy. In the mean time the photos are there for family members to see.<br><br>PS<br>I wasn't compensated for this. I just wanted to share something that worked really well for me.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-84483336886295495022013-03-21T15:46:00.001-04:002013-03-21T15:48:41.530-04:00App review: Toontastic and Toontastic jr <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>A long time ago- maybe last year (which in the digital age IS a long time ago), I was looking for a way to tell our own made up stories with ease. Like a puppet show but digital. I tried a few of the apps available at the time and was just disappointed. The user interface was too complicated, the program buggy, or both. <br><br>Recently a friend who works with Launchpad clued me in to two apps, Toontastic and Toontastic jr. Toontastic is more for kids older than Ranger but the idea is the same. <br>There is also a free "lite" version you can try out before committing to the full access version.<br><br></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WjGTIWZh-Ak/UUtjrbAMTGI/AAAAAAAAC3s/d335iDl56vo/D25BF569-A91D-444E-B7D1-5F64CEF8EF95.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Toontastic divides stories into sections. You can add scenes if you want. Ranger is a little young to understand this - even the jr version with its beginning middle and end sections is a little out of range for him. He creates a mini story for each part.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XfwLhOqQjm8/UUtjoiEpF3I/AAAAAAAAC3U/4tFCwnRZ8KE/657DE8F8-0648-4FD8-A35A-FC28ABCDE1F6.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sLNWYm_4cBg/UUtjqoeugWI/AAAAAAAAC3k/bg3NJm2nyZ8/ADCBD300-13C6-4174-9C0C-F77622A0D778.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>You pick the setting. In the full access version you can draw your own! You can also use the camera to make your location the setting. I see many possibilities there!<br>The jr version has a slot wheel style wheel for the three settings. I found it a little annoying but Ranger didn't bat an eye at the user interface.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h0iZ2c8_Jd8/UUtjsaKnFAI/AAAAAAAAC30/Ct22_iFlXrg/2A59C343-E11A-45B6-A39C-54A2A90E312A.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The selection of characters is awesome. In the jr version the characters are preselected.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DhsyWH4dAyk/UUtjpsvtyRI/AAAAAAAAC3c/HZYDWhWGErk/5A734127-0B82-41C4-8155-22FFE84660DD.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Finally you can select the music for your scene.</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>This app gives you to ability to load the finished product to their site. You will get an email asking for permission to post the video. Once posted you can share share share!</p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><a href='http://toontube.launchpadtoys.com/205422' target='_blank'>click HERE to see our video!</a></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>One thing I have noticed is Ranger is fascinated by hearing himself playback. He spent a good portion of the day making stories up and watching the movies. <br><br>There are three versions of this app, Toontastic full access, Toontastic lite, and Toontastic jr. The full access is almost $13 and includes many features that we immediately were glad to have: more characters, settings, and fun stuff.<br><br>I totally recommend giving this app a try. <br><br><br>Ps. I wasn't compensated for this review. It was brought to my attention and I liked it enough to share.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-3536220600276941752013-03-10T23:02:00.000-04:002013-03-10T23:02:47.928-04:00Oh, how things change!I was breaking down some Fresh Direct boxes for recycling the other day when I remembered a time when I didn't take the boxes down the hall to recycling. To a time when I stashed all boxes that came into the house under the bed.<br />
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It was during our first year when we lived on Roosevelt Island. It was also before my hip surgery (which is only important here because pain changes one's state of mind). I was working as a teacher's assistant at a nearby school. We didn't have any flex in our budget. Everything about the city overwhelmed me- the noise, the size, the prices, everything.<br />
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I hated it.<br />
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Thus the boxes under the bed. I was convinced that we would decide to move at the first possible opportunity. Maybe to Texas where E is also on the lawyer bar. If fact, I seem to remember sending out an email saying just that. We're done here. Hate it. Move to Texas taking whatever work can be found.<br />
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Now, obviously we didn't leave the city. What changed? Well, two big things: one we got a diagnosis on my hip and a surgery done and once it was done I found myself enjoying things more. Two, we moved to the Upper West Side. Roosevelt Island was nice, but the UWS was awesome.<br />
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I think we stopped collecting broken down boxes under the bed after the move from Roosevelt Island to the UWS. It still took a while for me to stop wishing I lived somewhere else, but before I knew it I couldn't dream of leaving the NYC area.<br />
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We have just begun a VERY gradual looking process for the next size up place. And by place we aren't sure WHAT but we know where. Right here in Forest Hills, NYC.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-72709415262601524982013-02-12T17:53:00.001-05:002013-02-12T17:53:07.783-05:00If only hugs were always the answer <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I had closed the bathroom door ALL THE WAY. That of course was the ultimate insult to Ranger. <br><br>"But mommy, I crying!"<br><br>I tried to stay calm as I struggled to find and pull the tiny sliver of iPad screen out of my thumb. It was not particularly painful, but hard to get out. With both kids crying calm was a hard state to achieve.<br><br>"Please mommy make me happy, pretty pretty please!"<br><br>Ranger was the one who accidentally knocked the iPad from between me and the couch; he was shifting to watch a show and his foot tapped my iPad just so, and it fell just at the wrong angle. He knew immediately the thing broke, and I did later apologize for snapping at him. In my defense, I was scared he would cut himself in his attempts to reach for it. <br><br>So he was crying and couldn't understand that I was trying to remove a sliver of glass. From my thumb. Once I had the thing out and my hands washed, I opened the door and asked him if he could help me with a band aid. He was still crying and upset and repeating that he was crying and could I please make him happy.<br><br>Finally I sat on the rug and asked, "What could make you happy right now?"<br><br>He melted my heart when he sniffed and said, "A hug."</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-51947943857248577882013-01-31T20:46:00.001-05:002013-01-31T20:47:33.786-05:00Mind games <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The Oatmeal has a comic out that aptly describes how your brain <a href='http://theoatmeal.com/pl/brain/ideas' target='_blank'>torments you as you're about to fall asleep.</a><br></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K7Gl477cWjE/UQsebTrc7qI/AAAAAAAAC2w/g_dkvj70rXA/8B67ADD5-01C2-437A-92C9-BBC3441A82B6.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>My brain is a vengeful thing, I think. I get awesome ideas when I'm driving. But as I tell Ranger, there are only three things I can do when I am driving: drive, sing, and talk. </p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JzSoTI-LEKU/UQseatIHz2I/AAAAAAAAC2o/G3ZZ7H4Sv14/884BBB5A-CCC7-4029-970D-5C85861123DB.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I get great ideas for texts and twitter posts just as I am stepping into a crosswalk. And sometimes I am minding my own business when suddenly I MUST LOOK AT MY SOCIAL NETWORK. Almost as if a button is pressed when the walk sign lights up.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UAr5jhQBb1I/UQseZrjTQCI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/FOchmGBolLA/52708CE9-0A9F-4122-9691-11833F3D0D7E.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>And of course my brain is a flat out creative genius when my hair is full of shampoo.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u5NSbhRJ5S0/UQseaKmyGdI/AAAAAAAAC2g/bYQtUpmgwj8/A693389A-C06B-4864-BABA-BA09CB688D40.jpg'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The reason I say my brain is vengeful is of course the whole sleep deprivation thing. Possibly the caffeine thing, too. Thing is, when I do have time to sit down and write/draw/craft/create, that is when my brain is most petty. Because when I have the time, I can't remember what those awesome ideas were.<br><br><br>Where do your ideas ambush you? Cooking dinner? Bathing kids? Biking? </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087841508260457328.post-82489403176980420622013-01-30T18:14:00.001-05:002013-01-30T20:23:56.032-05:00Local awesomeness: review of Oliloli<div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section" style="clear: both;">
When we lived in Manhattan, there was place I took Ranger to for painting ceramics. I was sad to lose that activity when we moved, but now we have it again through a new local business, Oliloli. Usually they are closed on Monday, but they open when schools close, so Ranger and I had a mommy/son activity while E and the baby stayed home.<br /><br />Right away I felt welcomed into the airy and well lit store. (That is my red bag on the table).</div>
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Ranger picked out a dinosaur and I picked a small vase. One big difference between Oliloli and the store in Manhattan (Make Meaning) is Oliloli charges per piece but does not appear to have a charge for being there. If I recall the Manhattan prices correctly, the prices are about the same otherwise.</div>
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We had a nice time and I really want to take advantage of their punch card; I saw several things I would love to paint. Plus, I would love to try the glass fusion craft!<br /><br />Oliloli takes credit cards (I loved the iPad check out process!) and for two pieces of decent size, we spent around $35. We were there under an hour, and even this was more than my three year old's attention span. I let him play with my phone while I completed the projects. Also available to help younger artists stay occupied while others in their group craft is a large chalkboard wall, and plenty of crayons, paint, and paper.<br /><br />The only thing that might be annoying is there isn't a lot of transportation options to get there. You can take a bus (I know the Q23 stops nearby) or walk or drive. If you drive be aware you will need quarters and that you are limited to four quarters (one hour) at a time.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854261160601157270noreply@blogger.com3