So I bought the dream the whole damn hamburgs worth. You know the one, where you buy the house, have the dogs, have the new car, have debt to your ears and don't bother to save. I did it. I thought at the time that it meant I was a real American. I was finally an American. Growing up Mexican in American in the 80s meant alot of name calling and taunting from both sides. I was never enough of either so I picked one and went for it.
It's funny how you gain perspective after you have a child. It's not about me. It's about doing the best for Audrey. So that means paying off bills. First things first, we lost the house then we moved to Texas so I had to give up my wonderful job and just last night they repoed the car. I'm not upset. Audrey is healthy and happy. I have everything I need. God has blessed me. So I give. No more American dream now I just want to focus on Audrey. If that makes me unAmerican then screw it, we'll move to Africa and hang with the !Kung. I wonder how long it would take for me to learn that language?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
!Kung babies
Okay so DH and I were talking today about our parenting style and the job we are doing with Audrey. It was all prompted by a bad trip to the Dairy Queen after which both DH and Audrey got unintended wheat exposure. Audrey suffer alot for our lack of research. Lesson learned!
But anyways, but to !Kung babies. As part of this talk, DH reminded me of a time when we were back in high school, about 17 or so and he told me all about the way the !Kung people of Africa raised their children. He was very impressed that they would put their babies on their backs and go on about their day. I remember looking at him and saying that is crazy and I'll never do that! Famous last words since of course I'm all into babywearing. I toss Audrey on my back and move about my day.
I think the funny part is that I had shot the idea down without knowing anything about it. It makes me so glad that I was 30 before I had children. I was a stupid teenage and I don't think I would have been any better as a mom at in my 20s. Having lived a little and met so many people has allowed my world to expand and for me to research and get to see the best practices of baby/child rearing.
DH was saying today that he can totally see what that article the !Kung meant about babywearing and raising. I think part of the reason I laughed it off back in the day was his whole love of the idea of a baby that can face down a lion. That was his whole reason for wanting to raise a !Kung baby, so it can face down a lion! But I understand it know. Audrey is confident and happy. She is a little too fearless for my taste. She climbs on top of boxes and stands up. She climbs to the edge of the bed to peek over and manages to just hold on and not fall over. She crawls right into the middle of our dogs playing and expects them to part and they do! I honestly think she could face down a lion. It's kind of incredible.
Without meaning to I'm raising a !Kung baby. I'm raising a confident woman that can face down lions. I think DH was right, the !Kungs have it going on! Well played DH. I guess I finally have to put a mark in your "WAS RIGHT" column.
But anyways, but to !Kung babies. As part of this talk, DH reminded me of a time when we were back in high school, about 17 or so and he told me all about the way the !Kung people of Africa raised their children. He was very impressed that they would put their babies on their backs and go on about their day. I remember looking at him and saying that is crazy and I'll never do that! Famous last words since of course I'm all into babywearing. I toss Audrey on my back and move about my day.
I think the funny part is that I had shot the idea down without knowing anything about it. It makes me so glad that I was 30 before I had children. I was a stupid teenage and I don't think I would have been any better as a mom at in my 20s. Having lived a little and met so many people has allowed my world to expand and for me to research and get to see the best practices of baby/child rearing.
DH was saying today that he can totally see what that article the !Kung meant about babywearing and raising. I think part of the reason I laughed it off back in the day was his whole love of the idea of a baby that can face down a lion. That was his whole reason for wanting to raise a !Kung baby, so it can face down a lion! But I understand it know. Audrey is confident and happy. She is a little too fearless for my taste. She climbs on top of boxes and stands up. She climbs to the edge of the bed to peek over and manages to just hold on and not fall over. She crawls right into the middle of our dogs playing and expects them to part and they do! I honestly think she could face down a lion. It's kind of incredible.
Without meaning to I'm raising a !Kung baby. I'm raising a confident woman that can face down lions. I think DH was right, the !Kungs have it going on! Well played DH. I guess I finally have to put a mark in your "WAS RIGHT" column.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Big plans for a little baby
So Audrey is all of 9 months old but already people are asking about her birthday. What are you going to do? Where are you going to have her party?
I am unsure of how to handle this. She is going to be a year old. She doesn't really have friends so who do you invite? This lack of friends is beginning to be a problem for Audrey. She wants to interact with other kids. She wants to do this during mass, not exactly the best time. I took her to my aunt's house so she could play with my cousin's son. He was willing to play but he is about 5 months old and got tired of waiting for Audrey to get going. But at least she met someone new.
I want her to have friends. I don't want to hold her back from becoming the social butterfly she seems to want to be but how do I get her new friends when I don't have any here? Either I'm finding moms who stay at home and therefore have daytime playdates or it's women with no children. I really am at a loss. I know part of the reason I'm holding back on making/finding local friends is that I have one foot out of the door. The plan is to move to Austin in a couple of years so that Ray can work on his PhD. Once I decided to stop planning for the future I know I'll find people but I just don't want to. The last time I finally let my guard down and starting looking for friends, I found group of incredible woman (the Triad Tot Totters). They were wonderful and I could relate to them and we could hang but then as soon as I found them we moved to Texas. So I"m a little gunshy. I want friends, I hate being by myself all day but I'm making friends just to leave them. What is the best thing for Audrey? I know the answer is to get off my ass and find some friends so I guess that is my next task. Anyone in the deep East Texas area want to hang?
I am unsure of how to handle this. She is going to be a year old. She doesn't really have friends so who do you invite? This lack of friends is beginning to be a problem for Audrey. She wants to interact with other kids. She wants to do this during mass, not exactly the best time. I took her to my aunt's house so she could play with my cousin's son. He was willing to play but he is about 5 months old and got tired of waiting for Audrey to get going. But at least she met someone new.
I want her to have friends. I don't want to hold her back from becoming the social butterfly she seems to want to be but how do I get her new friends when I don't have any here? Either I'm finding moms who stay at home and therefore have daytime playdates or it's women with no children. I really am at a loss. I know part of the reason I'm holding back on making/finding local friends is that I have one foot out of the door. The plan is to move to Austin in a couple of years so that Ray can work on his PhD. Once I decided to stop planning for the future I know I'll find people but I just don't want to. The last time I finally let my guard down and starting looking for friends, I found group of incredible woman (the Triad Tot Totters). They were wonderful and I could relate to them and we could hang but then as soon as I found them we moved to Texas. So I"m a little gunshy. I want friends, I hate being by myself all day but I'm making friends just to leave them. What is the best thing for Audrey? I know the answer is to get off my ass and find some friends so I guess that is my next task. Anyone in the deep East Texas area want to hang?
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