January 2011 Archives

I've restarted this blog and, in doing so, have been thinking a lot about what I want to do with it.  Do I want to focus only on one area?  Most of my Google Reader is filled with design blogs, so perhaps I should write one of my own?  Focus a little on some of my creative pursuits? 

After lots of careful consideration, though, I'm thinking that it will still probably be focused on these monkeys:


The McLochlin Monkeys

We're currently in the process of selling our house -- a very long, painful process, the details of which I'll save for another post -- so the idea of even trying to decorate anything or start any decorating projects is out of the question (though I'm itching to do something!)  I don't really craft enough to be able to document my day to day projects (more like once a month, if that.) 

But I do spend most of my days parenting and wrangling these 3 little monsters whom I love so dearly.  So that's what you'll be hearing about from me:  my experiences with raising three (3!) kids and our day to day adventures, all while trying to maintain a hold on myself and my interests.  (And maybe, once we eventually move, I'll also be able to document some new decorating adventures too!)
 

Well, the reports were true -- though I doubted -- and Atlanta did get a huge snowfall.  Huge, meaning, about 3-4 inches.  But still, that's huge for us.  We were wary when we heard the reports last week.  People freaked out so much that all the local grocery stores were out of milk, bread and eggs even before the weekend was over.  Last night 2 counties closed all schools today before we had even seen the first flake fall. 

But then it started snowing, and boy did it snow.  The ground was covered completely (no green in sight) after only 15 minutes.  Unfortunately, it stopped snowing after a few hours and instead began with freezing rain.  Atlanta is now covered in snow with a sheet of ice on top.  There are tons of reports of people being stranded on the highways, unable to get their cars up the exit ramps to get home. 

The kids had some fun playing in it this afternoon, but it's actually so cold that the snow won't pack at all.  No snowmen or even good snowballs for them.  School has already been canceled again for tomorrow, citing the dangers of driving in the ice right now. 

Which leads me to the original reason I had for writing this post:  talking about how school changes kids. 

Facebook and Twitter are buzzing right now with moms boo-hooing the fact that their kids will be home from school tomorrow again.  I used to be so puzzled by this way of thinking.  Before my kids ever started school, I would hear moms complaining about their kids being home from school for some reason and think to myself that it was odd anyone would feel that way.  I was home with my kids 24/7 and yet I was glad to have the time with them.  I was sure that once they started school I would miss all that time with them. 

And then my kids started school.  Maddie is now in 2nd grade and Josie is in kindergarten.  And now I view the whole "day out of school" in a different way.  But it's not because I suddenly became cold-hearted or appreciated my kids any less. 

No, it's because school changed my kids.

My kids are no longer the same types of kids they used to be when they were home with me all day.  Being in school every day with a set schedule and specific subjects and activities has changed the way they spend their free play time.  They used to keep busy for hours just playing with their Polly Pockets, barely even noticing that it was time for lunch or dinner.  They were content to just look at their toys and pick out something to play. 

I'm not saying that they still don't have great imaginations and make use of their play time, but... it's different.  They get bored more easily.  They sometimes even rely on me to pick out something for them to do.  Then they'll do it for a while until they bore of it and I'll see them wandering around again proclaiming they're bored. 

And I'm starting to understand a little more why those parents felt the way they did.  It is actually hard keeping a child occupied for so many hours of the day when that child is so used to a specific routine and tasks and meeting specific goals and accomplishing certain assignments. 

In other words, it's another chance for me to say, "I get it" and eat my previous words.   

Seriously? 

Has it really been 2 and half years since I last posted?  Sadly, it is believable.  Heck, I even let the domain name go in the meantime, ended up accidentally deleting my blog (though I had saved the entries) and completely forgot about blogging altogether.  So much has happened I don't even know where to start.  But not to worry, as I plan to get caught up quickly. 

It's funny to read back on my old posts and see the person I was back then.  Like I said, so much has happened since then.  And speaking of old posts, Movable Type sucks.  Sorry for the foul language, but although MT allowed me to export my old posts from my blog before I deleted it, it doesn't support their old format now when I try to import them back into the new blog.  Curses!  So I've slowly been just manually reposting all my old posts.  Time-consuming, yes, but it also gives me a chance to re-read them as I go (and laugh a little at myself.) 

Still not sure about the design, so that may change as well, but it's a new year and I'm both confident and excited about getting this blog rolling again.