Other summer things to do

There's only a month left before Daniel starts kindergarten, and there's so much I want to do before then! For example:

Camp out: We have a tent (and an air mattress) and I want to sleep out under the stars with my kid. It's one thing this dry weather is good for - star gazing. He wants to stay up late, I want him to notice the big picture. Win-win, especially since I plan on setting up the tent in the back yard.

Make a scrapbook: I've taken a ton of pictures this summer. I plan on having my Creative Memories consultant pin me to the dining room table until I get all the photos in an album. But I also want to give Daniel a disposable camera and make him a small album so he can have his own memory book from our summer. Get a jum start on those "What I did on my summer vacation" essays. If the photos are all right there, the kids can just flip through and write what they see.

Ladybug Day at the library: We are so lucky to have a library system that encourages our kids to become readers. By drawing them into the library with storytelling times and rabbits, bugs, snakes, birds and so on, our librarians make the books accessible as well. So July 19, I'll be taking Daniel to Ladybug Day.

Practice kindergarten skills: already I've noticed a degeneration in his chicken scratch - I mean handwriting. So every night, while I cook dinner, he practices writing his name, address and phone number. It gets him used to the idea of homework and will (hopefully) whip that penmanship back into legible format!

What are you doing with the kids this summer? What do you wish you had time to do?

--Misty

Summer slipping away

Wow, this summer is moving fast. I can't believe we're near the halfway mark and haven't had a daycare crisis yet. Faith has been staying busy with Vacation Bible School and is scheduled for a third week at Avalanche Ranch. She would have made it four, but two of our favorite churches are holding VBS the same week. The first week of vacation, she attended drama camp. Yesterday, it was horse camp where she learned two ways to ride, swam and had great fun with her cousin. Like Misty, we're planning to camp out. We promised Faith when she was finishing kindergarten that she could invite some friends over for a sleepover in the backyard. We'd better get busy. Time is wasting away. Thanks to Angela's post, we'll have to add the Home Depot workshops to our list.

- Liz

Thanks, Angela!

A friend passed this along to me this morning, and so I pass it along to you.

Free Kids Workshop, 9 a.m-12 p.m. on Saturday, July 7 at all The Home
Depot stores - Create a Memory Box. With summer getting into full swing,
kids are starting to make great summer vacation memories. The Home Depot
Kids Workshop will help them create their own summer vacation memory box
to keep valuable memorabilia such as seashells, postcards and photos.
Kids can savor summer experiences all year with this great keepsake. The
Home Depot will provide the complimentary memory boxes, tools, and
expertise to build the boxes, along with kid-sized The Home Depot
aprons. The clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday,
July 7, 2007. At all The Home Depot locations. Free of charge. An
award-winning program that The Home Depot stores have offered since
1997, Kids Workshops are free, how-to clinics designed for children aged
5 -12, available monthly at all The Home Depot stores. Children,
accompanied by an adult, use their skills to create objects that can be
used in and around their homes or their communities.

Free Kids Workshop, 9 a.m-12 p.m. on Saturday, August 4 at all The Home
Depot stores - Decorate An Art Caddy For Back To School. After a long
summer, kids will be gearing up to go back to school and The Home Depot
Kids Workshop can help them decorate a one-of-a-kind art caddy to take
with them. A creative art caddy is the perfect accessory for keeping
crayons, scissors and other art tools handy while still looking neat and
organized at home or at school. The Home Depot will provide the
complimentary art caddies, tools, and expertise to decorate the caddies,
along with kid-sized The Home Depot aprons. The clinic will take place
from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2007. At all The Home
Depot locations. Free of charge. An award-winning program that The Home
Depot stores have offered since 1997, Kids Workshops are free, how-to
clinics designed for children aged 5 -12, available monthly at all The
Home Depot stores. Children, accompanied by an adult, use their skills
to create objects that can be used in and around their homes or their
communities.

Free Do-It-Herself Workshop, 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, August 6 at all The
Home Depot stores - Open the Door to an Organized Closet. Extra closet
space is rare in most homes. Closets are typically stuffed with
clothing, books, mementos and countless household items and getting
control of closet clutter may seem overwhelming. Women across the
country will gather at local The Home Depot stores for the latest
Do-It-Herself clinic and learn how to organize their closet space for
maximum results. 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Monday, August 6, 2007. At all The Home Depot
locations. Free of charge. Participants are encouraged to register for
The Home Depot Do-It-Herself Workshop clinics at
www.homedepotclinics.com.

Free Clinic, 10 a.m. every Saturday in August at all The Home Depot
stores - Wireless Networking and Innovative Solutions for Your Home
Free Clinic, 11 a.m. every Saturday, Sept. - Jan. at all The Home Depot
stores - Tiling Floors and Walls

That's gratitude for you

I've been having car trouble lately. Lots of car trouble. Like, you've probably seen me pushing my vehicle out of an intersection and then kicking the crap out of it as it sits on the side of the road.
It's usually true that we never appreciate the things we have until they are gone. Fortunately, I can say that isn't true of the PEOPLE we know. There isn't a day I'm not grateful for my husband's support, my son's precociousness, my mother's advice, and my father's listening ear. Not to mention the friends always willing to go for a margarita and listen to me either praise or rant about the abovementioned! But I never really appreciated the smooth way my car got me from point A to point B until the road wasn't so smooth anymore.
Which leads me to today's survey. I have a theory that teenagers who are given their first cars don't appreciate them the way teens who have to buy their first cars do. Now I know the cycle: a young person can't get a job until he or she has transportation. But how do you get to and from a job unless you have transportation?!? So it's easier to buy a used car for your kid and make them cover insurance, gas, etc. And maybe that works for some kids. I have a long history with home businesses simply because I didn't have wheels for so long. But I bought my first car, and it lasted me to my first marriage. I'd still have it if the engine hadn't kept falling out - while I was driving! My neighbor, on the other hand, was given her first car, and she drove it to the ground.
So what do you think moms? Did you give your teen their first car? If you did, did he or she take good care of it?
Inquiring minds want to know - it's not like I'm going anywhere.
--Misty

Double trouble for Nancy Grace

The news wires are abuzz now that TV's legal diva Nancy Grace is expecting twins. Don't get me wrong, I'm elated for her. As a woman who struggled for years as a single career woman wanting a family, and then waiting years for a child after I married, I know what it's like to long for a baby. Judging by some of the news items I've read this afternoon, Ms. Grace is not saying whether she used fertility treatments, but she wants women to know there is hope. While she will have her hands full juggling babies and anchoring her show, the "double-trouble" I'm referring to in the headline does not refer to the twins. I'm sure she'll have plenty of help. Rather, I believe she will bombarded from all directions because of her celebrity status. Already the blogosphere has gone wild with unkind depictions of the Macon native, who has always been downright neighborly when she comes home. Her flamboyancy sets her up as a flaming target professionally, but that shouldn't give anyone the right to be so "dis Grace full" about her pregnancy. In the world of criminal justice journalism, the stories are horrific. Already, Nancy wears her heart on her sleeve and is fairly loose with her emotions. I can only imagine how motherhood will increase the fire in her belly for child victims and hone her verbal darts toward predators. Hell really hath no fury like a Mother Grace scorned.

- Liz Fabian

From Babble.com

I found a new Web site I'm liking a lot - For moms on the edge. Found this under the "columns" section.

"In this week's personal essay, "Dr. Mom: the truth about the 'mommy track'," Tara Bishop, M.D., eloquently discusses her decision to stay at home with her children in spite of degrees from M.I.T. and Cornell. Tara is the worst nightmare of suddenly-everywhere writers like Leslie Bennetts, whose new book, The Feminine Mistake, criticizes educated women for opting out of the workplace. Of course, the choice not as simple as pundits like Bennetts make it sound. Dr. Bishop writes in her Babble essay:

We are the generation that took pride in the fact that we could break the glass ceiling or devote our lives to our children; society would accept anything. But it won't. It's very difficult to work overnights when you're breastfeeding. There's always pressure to work more. So we have to give up something. And if you're an educated woman, that usually means neglecting your kids or your career, and feeling guilty either way.

The reader feedback on that piece indicates that one of the hardest things we're all doing is figuring out how to balance work and home. We can't be with our kids full-time and doing whatever else we love full-time, too. So how much of either do we sacrifice? According to this week's Babble poll, as of this writing, 81% of us are working and relying on some combination of stay-at-home spouse (9%), at-home or part-time schedule (22%) and professional help (50%).

So, why are 19% of us staying home with the kids? And why do the rest of us sometimes envy them? Babble sent Helaine Olen to interview Pamela Stone, the author of Opting Out? Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home. Stone is one of the few authors asking women why they made the choices they have rather than attacking them We can't be with our kids full-time and doing whatever else we love full-time, too. So how much of either do we sacrifice?for either working too much or too little. Her conclusion: the lack of flexible work options is making it impossible, or at least extremely difficult, for women to have it all. Stone told Babble:

Bankers used to have what were called banker's hours, because they were good hours. Well, a banker's hours are horrible hours now. All these professions are going into a speed-up at the same time that you have more women with family responsibilities. So there is this head-on collision of these two trends."

--Misty

Unlocking the mystery of Nancy Drew

We snuck off to a matinee of "Nancy Drew" this afternoon. After reading some parent comments on the movie's Web site, I decided Faith would be old enough to catch the action. Plus discovering yet another literary character on film might be a catalyst to start reading the series in coming years. I vaguely remember reading a "Nancy Drew" mystery or two, so it should be fun to revisit the books. Although Faith went straight to her swim lesson after the theater, she's already started asking questions about the plot. The reviews I read did say there were some scary elements, but I found nothing creepily frightening. In her blessed innocence, Faith always has a problem with violence - and that's a good thing. "What is he doing to her?" and "Why is he doing it?" were two of her questions. I found the film precious and entertainingly charming. There were only two other people in the theater. Even Faith commented that more people should see the movie. Emma Roberts plays the role well and you can certainly see she's inherited her aunt's beauty and flair for clothes. It will be interesting to watch her grow to be her own "Pretty Woman." She seems destined to play her Aunt Julia's daughter someday as there is quite a resemblance. The costume designer must have had a field day dressing her. I really love the look of Nancy's 50s/60s thing. Plus, some of the outrageous California fashions are a hoot. Check out Barbara Barbara of Barbara Barbara Realty. I'm off to see if I can squeeze into my penny loafers.

- Liz

Guest Blogger

Choosing a name is so difficult. I want one that sounds good with the last name and rolls off the tongue. My significant other (SO) has said that he wants something that has meaning to him. Unfortunately Leonard DaVinci is one of those people who has meaning. After telling him a definite NO, something to the effect of I would move to Alaska to have our son before I let him put that name on the birth certificate (although my mom was more clever with her "over my dead body"), we have started with family names. Now my family has pretty common names and I don't think that I want to name my second son after anyone. I love my family, don't get me wrong, I just don't want to be reminded by name of any of them.

I tried going through some online sites where they give you the "meaning" of the name and thought I had some nice ones picked out. But apparantly, internet sites are not worthy of our son's name.

At least we have agreed on a "theme" for the room, albeit an expensive one. We want something simple and not really a theme. The only thing that comes close is Pottery Barn, yikes! Thank goodness for ebay!

--Angela

More classes

Oh, also on the list of offerings from CGTC are "Internet Safety for Parents" July 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for $49 and "Health &Safety: the prevention of injuries" July 31-Aug. 9 for $30. Call 757-3445 for more info.
M

Classes I wish EVERYONE would take

I got a fax from Central Georgia Technical College the other day and right there, between "Grow your Business" and " Microsoft Word 1" was "Social Development: Character and Manners" for $10. While it's a sad commentary that such a class is necessary, I wish I could run out and sign up every person between the ages of 10 and 30.
And before you get all offended, think about it. When I say "Emily Post," more than half of you say "who?" Miss Manners was part of MY mother's generation, and her mother's before that. We live in a society where answering your cell phone at the dinner table is accepted. Our young people don't know how to dress for formal occasions, or what a formal occasion IS, if attire I've seen at weddings and funerals is any indication. "Business casual" has further put a dent in our manner memory. Try it some time - you'll find you DO behave differntly in dress shoes than in sneakers, and I can only imagine the difference between wearing a tie and a t-shirt.
Part of me is glad I can speak my mind in front of my boss, invite him over for poker night and offer him a beer. But part of my longs for the time when we accorded our elders the respect they have earned, and strangers the respect of keeping our private business private.
--Misty

I'm no girl

This enrty has little to do with being a mom, and yet everything to do with being a grown woman.
By this time in our lives, we moms have learned a lot. We run a home, some of us work, and we juggle doctors, dentists, school activities and everything else to keep our lives running. So why is it that mechanics automatically assume we're dumb as rocks when it comes to our cars?
I don't know about you, but when I was 10, my dad bought an old clunker for like, $50, and he dragged me under it through the engine restoration. Don't know what he sold it for, but that was my first (but not last) encounter with a timing belt. When I was 17 and bought my first car, I was smart enough to ask for the repair records and actually read them before I took it to a mechanic the first time. So when he came out with a list of $1,200 in repairs (including a new timing belt and water pump), I could intelligently say, "no, it's had this, this, this and that. But go ahead with this, this and that." That mechanic quickly reassessed the girl in front of him and we had a good working relationship through my second vehicle, as well.
But I took my car to Dr. Transmission on Russell Parkway last week. I had gotten a transmission error code on a diagnostic and my husband bought a new celuanoid. We took it to the shop to have it put in because it was a bigger job than we had time for at home. "Yep," said the mechanic. "And on this transmission we always replace the ETC, too." So we let him do the job.
Of course, when we got the car back and the problem wasn't fixed, his story changed. "Well, I told you you had a problem with the engine misfiring," he drawled. "Y'all knew this job wouldn't fix the drivability problem."
What?!?! Believe me, I had no such conversation. And don't look at me like I just forgot, or misunderstood. I may be a woman, but I'm no girl.
--Misty

Curb her enthusiasm

When I was pregnant, Patience was not a baby name I considered. Now I know there was a good reason for that. This weekend, Faith was borderline obnoxious over a number of things. First, I'd told her she could borrow some of my new lip color for a wedding. She wanted to put it on before breakfast! I told her to wait until she was dressed, so she wanted to put on her dress four hours before the wedding. Finally, I told her not to ask me about it again. Two more times later, I decided to withhold the coveted lipstick to teach her patience. Then, before my husband could fully open his eyes Sunday, she wanted him to open his presents (they weren't even wrapped yet). He told her he'd open them after church. Then came the hints. I made the mistake of telling her I bought Matt a crochet set as one of her presents. She's always wanted a set, she said. Before I could get back from a special breakfast run, there was no need to wrap the present. She had hinted her way to revelation and the secret was out. Then began the never-ending pestering about when we would play. After church it was way too hot, so we decided after supper. By the time we finished eating, time was running out. There was not enough time to measure the course, and Matt wanted to play according to the rules. She struck out again. But there was another thing she could badger us about - dessert. Would Daddy share the Tiramisu? When are we going to have it? She waited somewhat patiently until Daddy was ready after dinner digested a bit, but there was room for more questions. Can I have a piece of the chocolate on the end? Yes. When we ate, she wanted to know if she could finish the rest. "No. The cake is Daddy's. It's his day." When she convinced him to give her a piece of the chocolate off his plate, I had to put my foot down. While her enthusiasm is cute, it can wear on you. She has to learn the world does not revolve around her.
- Liz Fabian

Guest Blogger: Father's Day

Awww, isn't that cute? Or is it?
By J. Randolph Murray rmurray@macontel.com

For some reason, little kids seem to like me. Standing in line at the grocery store, waiting for seating at a restaurant, milling around wherever ... our eyes meet and bingo — mutual goofiness breaks out. I grin at the baby, the baby laughs, waggles little fingers or begins babbling happily. Peek-a-boo games break out spontaneously, to the embarassment of adult companions. I usually don't have to say anything, it's just something in the look, in the smile, I guess. Or maybe we're just on the same mental level. Recently one of my co-workers brought her 15-month-old grandbaby in to show her off. All the ladies in the office clustered around, cooing and ooohing and aahing at the little darling, who accepted the adulation rather aloofly, like the little princess she appeared to be. From across the room I looked over the gaggle of moms and caught the baby's eye. The little darling promptly wriggled out of grandma's arms and toddled her way through the crowd, little arms outstretched, directly into my embrace. And I had never laid eyes on little Nazhia before that moment. True story. I have witnesses. So now, hopefully having established my babyloving credentials, let me impart some unsolicited advice — delivered with love — to parents of the diaper set on this Father's Day weekend: Even people who just loooove your precious little ones do not enjoy hearing them screech, wail, cry and whine in public places. Like in church. (That's why most have nurseries. Consider using them.) Or in movie theaters. (If you can't get a baby-sitter and you're rolling the dice that your little one will sleep silently through "Ocean's Thirteen," just be willing to recognize when you've lost your gamble and fold quietly and quickly.) Especially in restaurants. (The finer the dining, the less tolerance for whining. Of course, for "family restaurant" buffets and any place that purposely misspells the words "country" or "cooking" with a "k" instead of a "c," you and junior are pretty much given a free pass.) No matter where your baby is interacting with the public, I would suggest a two-shrieks-and-you're-out rule. (Take it from an old pro: Once they turn on the siren, it's going to go a while before it winds down. Be kind to others and remove the noisemaker from the premises, please.) After all, it's never too early to begin training your child by example, particularly in employing the Golden Rule. Have a happy and considerate Father's Day.

J. Randolph Murray is the editor of the Houston Peach. He can be reached at 923-3109 extension 300 or by e-mail at rmurray@macontel.com

"Left" out

Now that we've gotten the parenting basics down - potty training, eating, walking, dressing, etc. - I wanted to branch out with more in-depth skills. Faith and I will be working on sewing this summer. We went to the fabric store, chose a pattern, material and trim. The sewing project will begin soon when we have enough time together. I bought her a flower press, which she painted yesterday and will begin choosing flowers this weekend. To fill in the gaps, she presented me with a little crochet kit she received as a gift. The plastic form that is supposed to make it easier was so cumbersome, I gave up and decided it would be easier to teach her with a hook - the way I learned. One BIG problem, Faith is primarily left-handed. I use my right hand. We encountered this dilemma as she was learning to tie her shoes. Thank God her teacher was left-handed. Can anyone help? My right hand doesn't know what her left hand is doing!
- Liz Fabian

Thomas the Tank Engine recall!

Pass the word to your friends - A number of red and yellow Thomas the Tank Engine wooden toys are being recalled for lead paint. You can find details and the full list at www.cpsc.gov
Daniel will be dismayed because we just bought him the #5 James and it's the first one on the list.
--Misty

Really no longer curious about George

Regulars of Middle Georgia Moms know I'm a "Curious George" fan. It's one of the programs I really don't mind watching with Faith. When I first started watching, I told you how much I liked the format of the show. Well, I took Faith to a free summer movie last week that really satisfied my curiosity about George, where he came from and why the man with the yellow hat was always wearing a yellow hat. The television show flashbacks show him as a child in yellow, but in the movie the man starts out in street clothes as a rather nervous museum curator. Slick salesmen talk him into a yellow safari outfit for his trip to Africa (where he finds George). Another TV question I had - What in the world did the man do that afforded him the luxury of a city apartment, a house in the country and a yellow convertible? Plus, in the movie, the yellow man has a girlfriend. Can you believe it? The television program led me to believe he had way too much decorating sense to be heterosexual. Unless the wealthy museum owner left him a fortune, I still don't see where the money's coming from. Time to go to the H.A. Rey book to be sure. Sounds like a summer reading project and some good, clean monkey business.
-Liz Fabian

Guest blogger

As an expectant mom and mother of a seven-year-old, I have been asked by my mother about all sorts of labor and delivery questions, like I must be an expert. A co-worker of my mother's just had her first child this past weekend. My mom called me every day last week to update me on her condition and to ask me questions. "She's having pains but the doctors say she's not in labor. What does that mean?" "She went in and she's dilated 2 cm and she's 50 percent thinned out. When is she going into labor?" I told her to call my sister-in-law, since she just had a baby two months ago.
Although I am expecting, it by no means makes me an expert on matters of babies, labor, morning sickness nor anything else. I can't predict any better than doctors when I will go into labor, how many hours I'll be in labor and when I call for the epidural. This is all up to baby and how long he decides to be in the womb. Unless I end up going past my due date, which is October 9, which I highly doubt, and the doctors induce me, then I won't have any idea until my little son decides its time, when this miraculous event happens.
I guess it's the way of women to want to know when its all going to happen. My mom happens to work in a daycare filled with many female teachers and many moms coming to pick up their kids. The curiosity is inevitable. I'm sure as soon as I sent her the first ultrasound pictures she was hanging them on the bulletin boards and showing them all around. But grandmas can't be beat for helping! She's already stocking the nursery up with diapers and clothes.
So as much as she drives me nuts about my pregnancy, I know she is just as curious as I am what is going on with my body and can't wait for the birth of her third grandchild.

--Angela

Looking for a swim class?

Advice from ParentCenter.com:

In addition to boosting your child's self-confidence and providing a great form of fun and exercise, learning to swim is a vital survival skill. A good program teaches much more than how to get across the pool — it teaches your child how to be safe in and around water, whether it's at a pool, lake, beach, or water park. That's why it's so important to do a little research before enrolling in a swim program. It's important to understand, too, that kids don't learn to swim in just a few lessons — it takes lots of time and plenty of practice.
If your child hasn't been around water much or is extremely fearful of water, it's a good idea to sign up for a parent-and-child swim class first, or at least take a few recreational dips together in the shallow end of your local pool.

Ia good idea to observe a class before signing up (any reputable swim center will welcome you to do this). If you can't sit in on the class, at least speak to the program supervisor, asking her to describe the focus of the program and the class activities. Some things you'll want to know:

• Class level placement: Find out how children are placed in the various class levels (there should be a "skill set" associated with advancement into each new level) and exactly what will be expected of your child in the level you're planning to enroll him in. Children should be grouped with others in their age range and skill level.

• Class size: If your child has special needs, has trouble learning in groups, or is especially anxious around water, think about signing him up for private (one on one) or semiprivate (one on two or three) lessons. In general, though, it's a good idea to have your child at least try group lessons. Not only are private lessons expensive, but your child will miss out on the valuable social skills (working with others, taking turns) that group classes provide.

• Staffing: In a group class, there should be at least one instructor for every six preschool-aged children or eight grade-school-aged children, or one for every ten parent-child sets. There should also be a lifeguard on duty at all times.

• Teacher credentials: Ask how the instructors were trained and what certifications they hold. The YMCA, for instance, requires that instructors have a current YMCA lifeguard or YMCA aquatic safety assistant certification as well as a specialized YMCA instructor certification for the age group they're teaching. Other programs may require that teachers be American Red Cross-certified water safety instructors.

• Class organization: Kids learn best when they know what to expect, so each class should have a consistent schedule that strikes a balance between skill time and play time. The class should follow a logical progression of swimming skills (for example, children should master breath-holding before they're asked to dunk their heads underwater).

• Instruction style: The teacher should clearly demonstrate what she's asking the kids to do and explain why she's doing it that way. She needs to know what children are capable of at various ages but allow each child to master new skills at his own rate. If the kids seem unhappy, frustrated, or unable to do what they're being asked to, that's a huge red flag.

• Downtime vs. swim time: Notice how much time each child has to wait for a turn with the instructor. Even in group classes, there should be more "doing" than waiting. While the teacher is spending individual instruction time with one child, the others should be busily (and safely) practicing the skills they've just learned.

• Behavior management: Take note of how well behavior is maintained — the kids shouldn't be splashing or dunking each other or running around the pool.

Once you've found a good class that you think your child will enjoy, you may be taken aback to find him crying and clinging to you when it comes time to hop in the pool. Understand that tears and anxiety are pretty common at the beginning of swim lessons. What's important is how quickly your child gets over it — or doesn't. (Another child may have told him that there are snakes in the water as a joke, for instance, or he may be terrified of getting water in his eyes — a common fear that a pair of swim goggles will quickly remedy.) If your child's fear hasn't abated or if he hasn't acclimated to the water after a few sessions in the pool, consider private lessons or a low-pressure parent-and-child water-play class instead.

--Misty

just tall enough

Daniel had a big fifth birthday. We spent a week at Grandma's in Virginia, dropping in a local parks, a pirate ship, and spending the big day itself at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I waited to take him to the theme park until he was tall enough to ride most of the big rides. Of course, the big coasters are out of the question, but I had a good time riding those. And there was plenty for Daniel to do.
"I like the teacups the best," he decided at the end of the day, after turns on the Katapult, balloons, flying machine, Land of the Dragons, and bumper cars. And he slept great that night.
--Misty

Bat girl rides again

With a hot pink "Hello Kitty" cap on her head and new Nikes on her feet, my daughter made tracks through the glistening dew on the lush green grass of Luther Williams Field. Across dirt once trod upon by Pete Rose and the Brave brothers Jones, Faith Fabian got her first lesson in baseball. "Mommy, my hat's broken, she said trying to hand over the hat with a new pink mitt on her hand. An adjustment later and she was up against the fence over which balls sail on those humid summer nights. They've likely taken out a few mosquitoes on the way. Her new baseball has fuchsia stitching. She likes that in a baseball. I watched as the coach trained them to yell "Yee ahh," while stretching out their arms in a giant "T" as they went to catch fly balls. Through the Gaudet All-Star Baseball Camp, she learned to squat behind home plate and rise to throw the balls back to the pitcher, just as Jim Gaudet did in stadiums across the nation. In the infield, she tried to scoop up grounders and direct them toward the baseman. And with a swing of her pony tail, her bat whipped around straight and level. "How did it go?" we asked her later. "I like to bat," she said. "That's what I want to do." When my husband explained how the game works, that each team takes a turn at bat, she said, "Oh, I don't want to do that." Maybe we should try golf.
Liz Fabian

at grandma's

Daniel is having big fun at grandma's this week. Vacations are great - take a week out and just do whatever you want. Yesterday, it was all shopping and playing, today we've been to a great park up here in Virginia. Imagine Commercial Circle, filled with playground equipment and landscaped by the Master Gardeners. Awesome.
--Misty

My friend, "flickers"

School has been out for a week and I bet parents are already looking for inventive ways to entertain their children. I just found a news release on the fax machine about Regal Cinema's Free Family Film Festival. Beginning June 5th, the theater on Tom Hill Sr. Blvd. in north Macon will be showing family films each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. The line-up for the first week includes "Curious George" and "Ice Age 2." Each day one "G" rated film is paired with a "PG" film which gives older children another option. While some of the flicks have been around a while, there are some newer films such as "Charlotte's Web" and "Over the Hedge." Kids meals are available, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. My experience in recent years is that the daycare centers have discovered the festival, too, so it's a good idea to arrive earlier than later. But this year, the films are offered for three days a week instead of two last year so there should be more room. Too bad for me that I'm working mornings this year, or I'd be there! Maybe I can arrange some play dates at the movies for Faith. I'll see if I can talk Daddy into taking her to "Curious George" tomorrow.
- Liz Fabian

summer hot spots

I always pick up the Georgia Family magazine at the gym. Usually, there are pretty good articles and I can make my way through an issue in two sessions on the bike. But June's issue left me wanting.
"Georgia Getaways" the headline read. "Delightful Day trips." Oh, goody. Chris and I had been thinking about taking Daniel to the beach, maybe for an overnight trip so we could spend time together NOT in a car. But the magazine offered only Cumberland Island resort in its list. And I don't know about you, but Cumberland Island is NOT in my price range.
So I Googled Tybee Island camping. This is more like what we are talking about. $30 to $45 a night for a campsite, pool and shower facilities, three blocks from the beach and a little store for those "oops, I should have brought..." moments. So we'll be off to River's End campground one weekend soon, and remember, you heard about it here, not in a magazine!
--Misty