the OTHER mother

Autobiography, the Kid Way

Recently a friend asked me to help him help his daughter write an autobiography. As adults we have fairly set ideas about the format of a biography or autobiography. They are usually chronological and include set details such as birth, milestones, siblings, and so on.  Children, lacking familiarity with the format, often find other more interesting ways to tell about themselves.

For example, a child could tell her life story as a history of her teeth. From toothless baby to tooth fairy, to bobbing for apples (does anyone do that any more?) this might be a fun way to talk about one's life. By focusing the story on a particular slice of ones life, it might make for a more interesting story.

A book that could be used as a model is My Map Book by Sara Fanelli. Each page spread contains an unusual map.  This one (below) is labeled a map of my day, with the toothbrush at the left and the night sky on the right. Each strip contains an activity that make a typical day in the life.

At Writers in the Schools (WITS), the map of my heart is another popular model for creative writing that comes from Fanelli's map book.The young writer sketches a heart and fills it with all the things s/he cherishes most.Modeling the brainstorming phase is important.The child uses the sketch to write a story or poem.

If you try this idea at home, please let us know. Happy writing!

Home Is Where the Art Is

New house, blank walls. You know the story. So yesterday, while Marcia was completing a work project, Pearl, Carrie, and I whipped up an art project.

I read about this project here and was planning to do it on my own, but the grrrls were interested in helping. The white lines are made with painter's tape, and each field is a different color, so it really is easy enough for children.

I like the way they turned out. Pearl's comment = they look like they were painted by real artists! Carrie's comment = don't worry Baba, I'll finish them tomorrow while you're at work.

Meet the Secrets

The Secret Kitty Club has somehow exceeded its own lofty ambitions, and today Grrrlville welcomed not one but TWO new kittens. Meet Casper and Finn!

 

The brothers are very sweet. Everyone seems to agree except for Cody (the dog) who is still unsure.

Grrrlville on the Move

We moved. Correction: we moved!

I asked Marcia to make a list of what she likes about the new pad. Here's her list:

• the French doors in the master bedroom 
• the decks
• the red front door
• the sparkling pool
• the trampoline
• chandelier over the claw foot bathtub
• the glass doorknobs
• the windows over the farmhouse style porcelain sink
• the hardwood floors
• the little white porch swing
• quirky little nooks in the hallway
• gigantic pine tree that's shaped like a bonsai
• magnolia trees
• solar-powered gate opener
• flagstone path connecting the cabana to the main house
• that the house is painted a Menil shade of grey

Papa and Nana came to help us move. (Nana and Papa rule!) Here's Nana's list:

• the white porch swing in the front yard
• the beautiful landscaping a la better homes n gardens
• Marcia's little nook of an office--so adorable
• all on one level
• of course the pool!
• my little adorable cabana

I asked Pearl for her list but she was in dog mode and all her answers were in a foreign language, i.e. barking. I waited a day, and she made this list.

• the pool
• the big yard and the trampoline
• the "other" house
• I love that we don't have to walk Cody as much because of the yard.
• the good hiding spots!
• my bunk bed
• that we kept almost everything that was in our old house
• There's going to be lots of fun things going on there.
• I feel good about almost the whole thing.
• I like living close to a donut place.

Carrie says:

I like the bunk beds, and I like the trash can because it opens "like this."  [In the kitchen one of the cabinets pulls out and is a trash can. Top secret!]

 

This Is Me, Bald

I'm sure that Carrie (age 4) is not the only one out there who wonders, on occasion, "What would Baba look like if she were bald?" Motivated by generosity, no doubt, Carrie has provided us with this artistic rendering that answers the (above) question. Grrrls with crazy hair find this picture particularly hilarious, by the way. So now you know.

This is a picture of me when I was six, which is Pearl's age now. For some reason, it seems to me the photograph of a writer. In retrospect, of course.

The Secret Kitty Cat Club

There's been a lot of whispering in Grrrville lately, but it's not me--I swear it! The Secret Kitty Cat Club is so secret that I haven't even been invited.

As you may recall, our cat Moriah died in December. She was 20 years old, and I got her when I first moved to Houston. The day she died, Carrie had an idea: let's get Baba a kitten! 

Marcia explained to Carrie and Pearl that when someone loses a loved one, you let them grieve for a while. You give them time. And they've been patiently waiting. A birthday kitten, maybe that would be the best way?

Well, the plot to buy Baba a kitten has definitely thickened. Pearl seems even more excited than Carrie. The whispering has become almost deafening! And my next birthday, Sept. 22, is not so far away.

The Secret Kitty Cat Club has meetings, minutes, everything. I imagine there's even a gavel and Robert's Rules, although I can't say for sure. According to these notes--which I "borrowed" from the kitchen counter for an hour or so--the big event is in the offing. But until then, I know nothing! And neither do you, okay?

 

Crazy Hair by Pearl

This writing prompt really resonated with Pearl for some reason. Wonder why....

In my crazy hair there are dragons, dogs, and all kinds of things, people, birds, fish and there’s more, a tiger, a lion eating an antelope, bad monsters and good wizards staring at each other madly.  All kinds of whales swim in my hair and snakes, so many clams and sea horses and armadillos.  A pirate is looking for gold, cats and dogs, rabbits and hamsters, pigs and squirrels, the richest gold, chipmunks hiding nuts, toys, monkeys, peacocks, goo, shells, buildings, too, baboons.

But my crazy hair is impossible to fix!

by Pearl, age 6

If you'd like to try this at home--go ahead, you can do it--here's the book that got her started.

 

Pearl at Writing Camp 2010

Carrie at Writing Camp 2010

Kindergarten, Coming to a Close

This is Pearl at the Awards Ceremony in her class at Kindergarten. She was very serious about it, as you can tell. Pearl has had a wonderful year with an amazing teacher and friends. I just keep thinking: WOW. WOW. WOW.

Spring Flings Itself Into H-Town

These girls are springing into all sorts of new things.
  
 

Spring Break 2010

Greetings from Galveston Island. If there's one thing we've learned about parenting--and it's possibly the ONLY thing we've learned--it's this: there's an amazing chemistry between kids and beach. It's golden. 

Pearl Turns Six

Yes, SIX! Can you believe it?

 

This year the theme of her birthday party was dragons. We had a gigantic red dragon pinata with yellow spikes and orange wings. Almost her entire Kindergarten class came to celebrate. It's making me feel totally nostalgic, this birthday, so I though I'd share with you a few sweet memories from the days of yore.

Birth of Pearl (2004) with special recipe for smothered okra

Pearl's 3rd Birthday (2007)

Pearl's 5th Birthday (2009)

Kindergarten has been a great year for Pearl, so far. She loves it all!

Dreaming, Dreaming

Dreaming
Originally uploaded by Peter ツ

Not my dog, not my photo, but so awesome, yes? Have a Happy Valentine's Day, pals.

P.S. Valentine's Day is a double header here in Grrrlville. Marcia's birthday is the 14th so if you're friends with her on facebook, you can send her some love!

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Yes, pals, it's time to ring in a new year. Happy 2010! Click here to check out the Holiday Sound Poem 2009. [time = 1:23] Remember it's audio, not video, so you won't see any pictures.

You can also check out a few of our previous holiday missives:

2008 holiday poem

with bonus grrrlville impossible video

2007

2006

If you miss the blog and want to keep up with our comings and goings, add Marcia and me as your friends on facebook. Hope it's a wondrous year for you and yours.

Grrrlville