The Mom Weekly Volume 45: June 11, 2024
Notes:
As I re-read this, I can vividly remember how this happened and how I felt all sweaty and irritable after getting the VHS player “just so” between the two front seats.
This wasn’t the exact one that we had, but it looks a lot like it. Do you remember it?
I also remember my “rule” about “halfway” which I remember even without the prompt of this. I still think this is a great idea, even with today’s proliferation of screens.
Here’s how it would work: we could only turn on a movie or other video once we had traveled “halfway” for that day. We would wait until halfway through a trip (or a day’s miles, on a longer trip), before putting on a video. Before then, we would read, listen to an audiobook or music for the first half of the trip, to help keep all of you occupied. Then, at halfway through the trip or more, we could put in a video or movie.
So much has changed in terms of screens and content since that time, but to me the important take-away is having some kind of technology rules in place that are relatively healthy for us. So, for instance, the similar thing would be to not use your phone (especially social media) within 30 minutes of waking up, or 30 minutes before bedtime. One rule I’ve instituted for myself is that I try not to use social media after dinner time. I find my willpower is shot by that time of the day, and even if I set a timer, large chunks of time will go by. That’s when I can play games (Wordle and similar, Connections, crosswords), because they are less “infinite scroll.”
Anyway, I’m glad that I don’t have to string up a VHS tape player between the seats of the minivan, and that we are all old enough to make our own rules for technology.
Remember how much I love you,
Mom
If at First You Don’t Fricassee… (May 2007)
One of the great joys of reading books out loud as a family is the shorthand that develops, or the references we can make to each other about the books that we read, or the experiences we seek based on books we read. The fairy houses made in our backyard after a recent reading (and for some, re-reading) of Elizabeth Orton Jones’ Twig, for instance.
One of the most hilarious of these happened the other day, when my oldest daughter quoted from Caddie Woodlawn, one of our favorite novels from one of our favorite authors, Carol Ryrie Brink. (Baby Island is the other favorite of this author. I have plans to lobby someone, anyone in the film industry to make a movie of Baby Island, but after watching the perfectly awful, and not at all true to the book, adaptation of Caddie Woodlawn from some years back, I hesitate…)
In the novel, Caddie’s little brother finds it difficult to memorize even his short little poem (“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again…”). His older brother taunts him with “If at first you don’t fricassee, fry, fry a hen” so much that he freezes at the actual performance and recites the “fry a hen” version instead of the original. The teacher is enraged, until Caddie and the guilty brother explain the situation, and all’s well that ends well.
Halfway through a long drive to visit my parents (alone with the children), I thought it an excellent time to rig up our portable DVD player to let the kids watch a movie. It was intensely frustrating to get the straps “just so” to make my little movie critics in the back reasonably happy with the set-up, and I have to admit I was doing it with more than the usual amount of “irritable monologue” (a phrase I saw sometime back by another mom and which I have adopted as my own to help me cut down on my own irritable monologue!!).
When it was all in place and movie was about to start, and I could begin driving again the long hours onward east, dear, dear oldest daughter said encouragingly, “See, Mom, you didn’t give up and you tried different things and you made it work!! Good for you!”
Pause while I smiled and realized it really does feel good when someone praises you in a specific way, and resolved to try to do even more of that. Then she said in her adorable 9-year-old voice, “If at first you don’t fricassee, fry, fry a hen!”
Giggles all around.
Interesting/notable:
Daring to Call God Mother–(free link)
I thought this was beautifully written. I haven’t loved everything the guest author of this piece has done (I think I unfollowed her on social media some time back), but I don’t have to agree with everything someone says to learn from them. Gosh, if people could understand that more.
The Most Surprising Thing About Deep Dish Pizza? It’s Not That Deep
Don’t Skimp on Swag—Permanent Equity
This was really fascinating—allowing employees to pick their own swag makes workplaces safer and better. I wonder how this could be applied to family life?
An action item: Re-read a classic kids book
Sometimes when I re-read kids books from years ago, I worry that a favorite one won’t hold up or “age well.” But what am I afraid of? If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. There are plenty of ones that “do” hold up.
Here are a few ideas:
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery (not really a kids book, but an easy and delightful read)
What are you doing this weekend?
So, now that it’s Tuesday, what are you planning for the weekend? I’m going to suggest trying to cover four “F”s to get ideas flowing:
*faith—when are you going to Mass?
*friends—what friends will you see or connect with?
*food—any fun recipes you plan to try, or restaurants you plan to visit?
*fun—anything interesting you are going to play, watch, or do this weekend? Now’s the time to think it through, and put it on the calendar (even informally).