Betsy Bailey

Mutual adoration society

The above photo reminds me of a similar shot. HM is the newborn in this one, from about 10.5 years ago:

Newborn HM with "big" sister B

HM with her Jakers

Mom is amused by picture in a picture

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They're growing up – lately they like to compose their holiday greetings in Photoshop!

From B:

B-bday-card

From HM:

Hm-bday-card

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She stakes her claim.

If I Were in Charge of the World
by HM, age 10 (inspired by Judith Viorst)

If I were in charge of the world,
I'd cancel Mondays,
I'd cancel work,
And all those chores.

If I were in charge of the world,
There'd be everything but hot dogs,
No hot dog buns,
And a fee if you touched a hot dog.

If I were in charge of the world,
You wouldn't have to wake up for school,
School buses would be illegal,
And there would be no homework,
You wouldn't even have school.

If I were in charge of the world,
People wouldn't need cars, because of flying cars,
Money would be made everywhere,
And people wouldn't have to pay taxes.

And a person who sometimes forgot to take a bath,
Or sometimes forgot to do their math,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.

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Phew, and mama needed the break!

B got really burned out this year, but she's excited about the adventure of middle school this fall and proud that she made it through elementary school.

HM worked hard to meet her goals this semester and made honor roll!

And Mir got student of the month for her class! She is so proud, and I'm proud of her, especially after reading this narrative from her teacher that accompanied the honor:

Way to go! Mir is our May Student of the Month. Mir exhibits all the qualities of a model student. She is very helpful. She is always on eof the first students to follow the directions. Mir is a great listener, too. She is dependable and always wants to lend a helping hand. Also, Mir is kind. She shows others she cares with kind words and actions. Mir is a hard worker. She is very dedicated to doing her best. Mir is extremely involved in classroom activities and discussions. She is an amazing student. Congratulations!

So proud of all my girls!!

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Here are a couple sweet belly bonding snaps from our visit to Tuscon's Reid Park Zoo yesterday afternoon (more about that and pix in a separate post later).

Sibling secrets (29 weeks)

Big sister snuggles (29 weeks)

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HM has a gmail account. I'm cc'd on all correspondence she receives.

I just got this email yesterday evening:

———————

Hi Chio,

Thanks for taking a Tickle test!

Here's the sign in information you need to view your saved results.

———————

First off, I'm surprised the software I have on their PC doesn't block Tickle, but okay, so it didn't, must review that issue.

Anyway, she took Tickle's classic IQ test. Of COURSE, I logged in to see her results!

———————

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others.

Your Intellectual Type is Word Warrior. This means you have exceptional verbal skills. You can easily make sense of complex issues and take an unusually creative approach to solving problems. Your strengths also make you a visionary. Even without trying you're able to come up with lots of new and creative ideas. And that's just a small part of what we know about you from your test results.

———————

Whoa! HM is nine (almost 10). While I'm sure her IQ would measure higher on an appropriately administered test, I'm just surprised she had the patience to complete a tedious online IQ test – and then to do relatively well on top of that!

Finally seeing some payoff for that persistency trait that beleaguered us so much during her toddler tantrums.

I wonder what made her take an IQ test?? Will have to chat her up about this later (also make sure she's aware of problems with IQ as sole measure of intelligence, plus the fact that her results are bound to be inaccurate since the test was designed for adults.)

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"But McDonalds isn’t broken."

I couldn't pass up this opportunity for a mommy brag! HM and a classmate (4th graders) wrote this for their gifted class. They have to memorize and perform for the class… I thought they did a great job with the script!! Very impressed.

Earthquakes

by Derek and Hannah

———————————————————

HM: I finally finished my essay!

D: About what?

HM: Earthquakes!

D: Milkshakes?? Where?! (runs in circles)

HM: No! Earthquakes!

D: Oh! Earthquakes… what's that?

HM: Gee whiz. I thought it would be easy to tell you I finished my essay. Earthquakes are caused by plates moving.

D: I didn't know that dinner plates could move.

HM: It's NOT a dinner plate. It's melted rock.

D. Then why did you call it a plate?

HM: I dunno. Probably because it's a slab of the earth.

D: Go on about the things called milkshakes.

HM: More than 1000 earthquakes happen yearly.

D: Where do milkshakes usually occur?

HM: At McDonalds.

D: But McDonalds isn't broken.

HM: Oh! I think you mean quakes. Well, they usually occur along fault lines.

D: My uncle told me about those. The biggest one is in California.

HM: Well, you know something! Did you know that quakes cause volcanoes?

D: Big dinos? Ahh!!

HM: Vol-cane-o. Volcano.

D: Oh! Volcanoes…

HM: Did you finish your essay? Never mind. Did you know that foreshocks come before quakes hit!!

D: Door clocks? Never heard of 'em.

HM: Did you know that the epicenter is above the focus?

D: Epicenter. Focus? What're those?

HM: A focus is the spot in the earth where a quake occurs.  An epicenter is on the earth.

D: Well, I'm learning things I've never known about milkshakes.

HM: You mean earthquake?

D: No!! Milkshakes are chocolaty and yummy.

HM: That reminds me. Did you know that tsunamis are quakes under water?

D: Sue Money? Never heard of her.

HM: (Aside to audience) I wish he knew something!

D: Are milkshakes really violent?

HM: Only a few can be violent.

D: Soooo… If I stand in front of a milkshake will it kill me?

HM: You have to stand on it. (Folds arms) Weren't you listening?

D: (Does a little robot dance) No, but I've heard of techno-dinner plates.

HM: TECTONIC PLATES. Plates that don't fit together.

D: My uncle told me about those too! When the plates don't move slowly, milkshakes occur.

HM: You know two things. But, did you know that the area around the epicenter is the most dangerous?

D: No, I didn't. How do they measure milkshakes?

HM: Scientists use a Richter Scale, which mesaures the quake's size. The Merrah scale describes the quake.

Science teacher (Nick) enters the room.

N: What are you two still doing here?

HM: Talking about our reports and earthquakes.

D: Milkshakes.

N: Did you know that most earthquakes come with a warning? Also, when plates push together if forms cracks in the earth. (leaves)

D starts to leave.

HM: Where are you going?

D: To finish my report! (Read side report)

My friend and science teacher taught me about earthquakes. They usually happen after foreshocks, not door clocks. A thing called tsunamis, not Sue Money, occurs after an earthquake underwater.

HM: Want to hear mine? (Read side report)

Earthquakes are when two plates push together and form cracks in the earth. They usually occur around fault lines. The biggest one is in California.

The end.

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Pretty in pink

In counterpoint to my earlier story about HM's toddler tantrum hell, I thought I'd offer some insight into life with her at this particular moment. At almost-10, she is in the most adorable, charming phase right now. I want it to last forever! She just wants to follow me around everywhere, do whatever I'm doing – be just like me. She is proud of wearing glasses because I wear glasses. She is a massive bookworm ("like you, mom!") and the other day she came into the kitchen hefting one of her Harry Potter books and she said, "Mom, lately I'm just like you, always carrying a book with me wherever I go – I even hold it the same way you do!"

She asks a million questions about everything and watches me so attentively for my answers. Scott commented one day that she is just soaking in everything that is me. She's always been a mama's girl, but wow this is just a whole new level.

As mentioned previously, she hung back with me on the hike we took last weekend – worried about me. Patting my arm and looking out for me if I stumbled or slowed down. Very touching.

Later that evening, right at bedtime of course, she was completely wound up. Cackling and giggling with Mir hysterically (very forced) – just generally being obnoxious. We told them to cut it out a few times and were ignored. Finally I said, Look HM, I am TIRED. Really really tired. It is past everyone's bedtime and we've had a long, busy day. Remember when you were helping me so much on our hike today? Well, I need your help now. I need you to calm down so that M will also calm down so we can all go to sleep. She got very quiet, then she came over and snuggled next to me for a hug and kiss and said she would do better.

Holy cow – who is this kid??????

And after we had our big, big talk a couple weeks ago about the effort we expect from her in school – well, I just noticed she REALLY responded to that. It's very clear she is hot for my approval and doesn't want to let me down. <sniff>

The very next day after that talk I found some obnoxious things in my kitchen – she'd put playdough on the light bulb of a small table lamp (who knows when – I only noticed it becaus the light bulb needed to be replaced). And then in the pantry I discovered she'd taken a finger swipe out of a can of strawberry frosting. (Yes, no question about who did it.) I called her over very calmly and said it is dangerous to play with electrical items. You could start a house fire. Don't do it anymore.

She nodded.

Then I outlined precisely what she was allowed to eat out of the pantry and how absolutely everything else is off limits unless I give her explicit permission otherwise.

Again, she nodded.

We went about our business, but later she approached me and said:

"Mom, did you happen to notice my new anti-lying policy??"

!!!! Glory halleleujah!!!! She's right! Normally she would deny deny deny she had anything to do with those incidents. So you bet I praised her to the moon for this new policy LOL. And pointed out that LOOK, you 'fessed up and the sky didn't fall down.

What a breakthrough.

I told Scott, I don't know how long it will last with HM, but this beautiful, golden stage is a gift.

He said, It will probably last about a week.

Uh, I said, I'd like to think it's more than just a short lived phase, that it's at least in part the result of my efforts to nurture open communication, respect and a loving bond.

He said, Two weeks.

LOL. I fear he's probably right. But however long it lasts I'm going to bask in the glow of it.

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