So tonight, I was in CVS picking up a few things and this mother walked in with her daughter that appeared to be about Katherine's age (7, maybe even a bit younger). I was browsing through the Easter section (killing time before my 7:00 meeting) and the mother walked in, left her kid in the aisle, and went all the way over to the other side of the store to drop off a prescription. The line over at the drop off counter must have been long because she was gone for a good 5 minutes. Just long enough for some psycho to take her kid and run. I was kind of horrified actually, and even gave the woman a dirty look when she came back (just because I felt like being catty and all that) but I was thinking to myself (and I don't know maybe I am over protective) that I wouldn't even leave my 10 year old daughter alone in a store for that long. What was even more annoying was that she was busy gabbing away on her cell phone asking if so and so had just sent her an obscene text message. I'm like, "Dude, you have a kid! And you are in public talking about obscene text messages while you leave your daughter alone in the store? What the hell kind of a parent are you?" To each his own I guess but really, am I crazy? Or is she?
Anyway, as I was going up to the counter to pay for my things I noticed one of those turn style rack thingies that had gift cards to about a million different stores (Home Depot, Old Navy, Blockbuster etc). I started thinking about how convenient that was (not actually having to go to the store itself to get the giftcard) but it strikes me as kind of counterproductive too. If I go to CVS to get my Dad a Home Depot gift card that means I haven't actually entered Home Depot. I'm thinking if I was a marketing person, I would want people to come to my store to get the gift card, see the product we have to offer, and perhaps, purchase some additional items as well. Make sense?
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Heroes...
...was intense last night, huh? Wow. That show rates right up there with LOST in my book. I am obsessed.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Julia: Early Literacy Skills Emerge
I have been meaning to update you all on Julia's "academic" progress and how impressed I am with how well she is doing in this area.
She has recognized all of her colors (red orange yellow green blue purple black brown and pink) for quite sometime. I bought multi colored blocks not too long ago, as well as color cards and had her sort by color (which at first she just did by recognizing that two blue blocks were the same, not neccesarily that they were blue) and labeled each block or color card as we went ("Julia, pass me the blue block"). She eventuallly just caught on and started naming the colors herself. She even uses colors on a regular basis now, when describing something to me(For example outside in the snow today she said, "Mom, I got the purple bucket").
The color cards that I bought were also sahpe cards. After reviewing and mastering her colors, I decided to start working on shapre recognition. She now recognizes squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, diamonds and, occasionally octagons. At first, she would only recognize the shapes on the cards and not other objects out in the "real world." Now though, like with the colors, she uses shapes in her everyday descriptions of things("Look at the circle, Mama" when pointing to the hoola hoop).
Perhaps the most impressive of all? She recognizes all of her letters. Not only can she label a letter (by asking her "What's letter is this Julia?") but she can find them mixed into words in books or in the form of her puzzle pieces spread out about the room ("Julia, where is the "A"?). I will probably start working on letter sounds with her soon.
She is also beginning to recognize different sensations and labeling them correctly ("This is cold", "This is yucky" This is wet" "This is warm"). I have some ideas of different things that I can do to encourage her in this regard which I will probably start working on with her sometime soon.
She has been making huge strides with her language development too. She has been able to make choices correctly which, although still needs a little improving is drastically improved from when she didn't even understand what the concept of a choice was. Last time at playgroup, when it came time to choose a song card, she jumped right up willingly and actually verbalized her choice of the bug song. She has also (though not consistently been able to choose between foods and toys. Her overall communication skills improve on a daily basis. For example, yesterday while out in the snow,after being warned that we would be going in the house soon, she said, "I don't want to. I want to play with my snow." Her 4-6 word sentences are the norm for her now, and, as the above example illustrates, has been using two sentences strung together on many occasions.
She has recognized all of her colors (red orange yellow green blue purple black brown and pink) for quite sometime. I bought multi colored blocks not too long ago, as well as color cards and had her sort by color (which at first she just did by recognizing that two blue blocks were the same, not neccesarily that they were blue) and labeled each block or color card as we went ("Julia, pass me the blue block"). She eventuallly just caught on and started naming the colors herself. She even uses colors on a regular basis now, when describing something to me(For example outside in the snow today she said, "Mom, I got the purple bucket").
The color cards that I bought were also sahpe cards. After reviewing and mastering her colors, I decided to start working on shapre recognition. She now recognizes squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, diamonds and, occasionally octagons. At first, she would only recognize the shapes on the cards and not other objects out in the "real world." Now though, like with the colors, she uses shapes in her everyday descriptions of things("Look at the circle, Mama" when pointing to the hoola hoop).
Perhaps the most impressive of all? She recognizes all of her letters. Not only can she label a letter (by asking her "What's letter is this Julia?") but she can find them mixed into words in books or in the form of her puzzle pieces spread out about the room ("Julia, where is the "A"?). I will probably start working on letter sounds with her soon.
She is also beginning to recognize different sensations and labeling them correctly ("This is cold", "This is yucky" This is wet" "This is warm"). I have some ideas of different things that I can do to encourage her in this regard which I will probably start working on with her sometime soon.
She has been making huge strides with her language development too. She has been able to make choices correctly which, although still needs a little improving is drastically improved from when she didn't even understand what the concept of a choice was. Last time at playgroup, when it came time to choose a song card, she jumped right up willingly and actually verbalized her choice of the bug song. She has also (though not consistently been able to choose between foods and toys. Her overall communication skills improve on a daily basis. For example, yesterday while out in the snow,after being warned that we would be going in the house soon, she said, "I don't want to. I want to play with my snow." Her 4-6 word sentences are the norm for her now, and, as the above example illustrates, has been using two sentences strung together on many occasions.
Julia in the Snow
We have about 4 inches of snow on the ground so I decided to take Julia out to play. Last year, she HATED the snow and was done after about 2 minutes. At the time, she had just learned to walk, which meant she was unsteady anyway, and walking in "fuill snow gear" is a difficult task in and of itself. What a difference this year. This time, she cried when I told her it was time to go in! She was still very cautious walking but, she managed to go up and down the small hill in the backyard, which is something that in the past, she has had difficulty doing, even without the snow as an added obstacle. She played standing up only and wouldn't even sit in the sled with me (or by herself) which I think may have been a sensory thing (perhaps she thought she would get wet or cold if she sat, depsite being covered head to toe in water/cold proof gear). Either way though, she had a blast and, I somehow managed to get an adorable closeup picture of her!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Weekend
It's not over yet but I figured what the heck? I know what we are doing later so I am just going to do the review now.
The rally for lia sophia in CT was amazing! It was really inspiring to hear the stories of success! I have so much information that I feel I can incorporate in to my own business and a new found confidnece level that, admittedly, just wasn't there before. Aside from the awesome ideas I left with for boosting my own business, I had such a good time with my "lia ladies" that it would have been worth going just for that! We really do have such a nice mix of personalities.
After we got back to Middleboro last night (about 9:00 or so) I scooted over to Plymouth for a 30th birthday party. I had originally thought I would just head home but Ryun had called , saying everyone was asking for me so of course, I had to make an appearance. I am glad I did. Missing a party with my friends from the "hood" would just be a tragedy. Seriously, they are such a fun, amazing group.
We are heading over to the 'rents house tonight for dinner. Mom is cooking a boiled smoked shoulder dinner...yummy!
The Amazing race All Stars and the Oscar's are on tonight so I will probably plan on parking in front of the tv for the night!
The rally for lia sophia in CT was amazing! It was really inspiring to hear the stories of success! I have so much information that I feel I can incorporate in to my own business and a new found confidnece level that, admittedly, just wasn't there before. Aside from the awesome ideas I left with for boosting my own business, I had such a good time with my "lia ladies" that it would have been worth going just for that! We really do have such a nice mix of personalities.
After we got back to Middleboro last night (about 9:00 or so) I scooted over to Plymouth for a 30th birthday party. I had originally thought I would just head home but Ryun had called , saying everyone was asking for me so of course, I had to make an appearance. I am glad I did. Missing a party with my friends from the "hood" would just be a tragedy. Seriously, they are such a fun, amazing group.
We are heading over to the 'rents house tonight for dinner. Mom is cooking a boiled smoked shoulder dinner...yummy!
The Amazing race All Stars and the Oscar's are on tonight so I will probably plan on parking in front of the tv for the night!
Friday, February 23, 2007
On My Mind...
...Emily's Special Education Meeting, scheduled for March 1st. For some reason, as schooled as I feel on the whole situation I am starting to feel really nervous about this. What do you do when you suddenly feel uninformed and fearful of sounding like an idiot? Why you read and research the hell out of special education meetings and what they entail, hoping that it will help.
...lia sophia and self doubt regarding why I ever decided to do it in the first place. I love the jewelry and I love the money but who was I kidding? Scheduling shows is HARD and not having any puts a huge damper on the confidence. I am attending a day long training event tomorrow in Connecticut. I am hoping I find some inspiration...or something.
...Mardi Gras. Not the "real" one...the one the PTA sponsors every year. I have a lot to do and a relatively short amount of time to do it. Ugh...
...That's it. I think. There's probably more but yeah, for now, that's it.
...lia sophia and self doubt regarding why I ever decided to do it in the first place. I love the jewelry and I love the money but who was I kidding? Scheduling shows is HARD and not having any puts a huge damper on the confidence. I am attending a day long training event tomorrow in Connecticut. I am hoping I find some inspiration...or something.
...Mardi Gras. Not the "real" one...the one the PTA sponsors every year. I have a lot to do and a relatively short amount of time to do it. Ugh...
...That's it. I think. There's probably more but yeah, for now, that's it.
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