Tag: Parenting

Honda Odyssey Sliding Door Issues

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We might be in the minority here of people who have been completely aggravated by this issue, but this summer we had an absolutely frustrating time with the sliding doors on the Honda Odyssey.  They continuously refused to open all the way, which made for many a maddening moment as we were trying to get our already-screaming toddler into his carseat.  And then, magically, once in awhile, the sliding door did open all the way.  And that was great, except sometimes it felt all the more frustrating because there seemed to be zero rhyme or reason to this absurdity.

After some failed Internet searches, my husband took to the manual and found this gem:

–If the back windows are rolled down more than a couple of inches (which ours apparently were most of the summer), then the sliding doors will not fully open!–

Something that seemed so incredibly maddening suddenly made sense.  It’s a safety issue.  And, hallelujah, we now know how to fix the problem!

 

And then, the opposite issue started popping up.  The flipping automatic door on one side would close almost completely, ALMOST–just enough to tease us–then would loudly beep in alarm, and re-open.  Obviously, if there was something in the way, then this very important feature makes sense.  But, when the area is cleared and we had wiped down door tracks and door sensors and done a whole lot of crossing our fingers, the fact that the door only closed on its own about 40% of the time became really, really annoying, really quickly.  (Can’t tell you how frustrating this little hiccup has been in our lives when it’s already such a struggle to get everyone settled in the first place.)

We have yet to find an “official” solution to this one, but what has worked almost flawlessly is to stand by the automatic sliding door as it’s closing, and right as it’s nearing the end of its little journey, we just sort of nudge/gently push the door into the closed position from the outside of the car.  Nothing fancy, but has made our outings much, much better.

(Just had to share in case anyone else is dealing with this.)

Switch Witch

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I didn’t know about Switch Witch until our daughter was born.  Switch Witch, like any Magical Visitor, is probably very different in each household who invites her, but basically she is a Halloween visitor who collects candy and replaces it with a small gift.

I’m not a fan of the ingredients in many name-brand candy bars, and we also try not to allow much sugar-y food in the first place.  For the first several years, we avoided the trick-or-treating thing altogether.  It helped that we lived in a very small town and that many of our friends held a similar opposition to candy.  Instead our daughter wore her costume on small outings or when visiting our neighbors in October.  We had a couple of very simple Halloween parties so the kids could have a chance to wear their costumes together.  But, somehow, every year, at least a few pieces of candy found their way into our home, and so Switch Witch has been visiting our house for a few years now.  This year, her visit will be especially helpful since we have had way more opportunities for trick-or-treating events.

As with all our other Magical Visitors, the visits started out simply, but with time it’s become a bit more.  If you’re considering inviting SW visit your home (which you can do at ANY point in your kid’s life–simply write to her), here is a little about our Switch Witch:

-Her name is Duff, which is a long story, but that’s what she’s been called for years.

-Her font looks like this, and she writes on cute Halloween paper.

-When switching out the candy, she has left things like small Lego cars (which she found at a yard sale and keeps on hand for this time of year), a small wooden toolset, and a toy wind-up car.

-She cleans up ALL our Halloween decorations on Halloween night and puts them in our closet, which is why she’s one of my favorite visitors!  This is so nice to have out of the way as we roll into November.

-Her background is this:
–Our Switch Witch lives just west of the moors in the Back of Beyond in a cozy, thatched cottage in the wood.
–She sleeps during the day, since she does most of her switching at night.
–Her spells are always good ones, like helping people fall in love or find things they’ve lost.
–She addresses the kids as “my dearies” or “my sweets.”

 

I’m sure Switch Witch Duff’s story will continue to grow, but this is our SW as of now.  I love that Switch Witch can either collect all the candy or just some of it.  Being opposed to the over-consumerist culture our society has created, I really try to remind Switch Witch to keep it simple and set that precedent.  Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween!

Bridget Jones’s Baby

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Bridget Jones’s Baby
by Helen Fielding

Unlike many of my other book posts on here, which are children’s books or young adult, this one is definitely rated R.  There’s language and adult topics, so just be forewarned.

Bridget Jones’s Baby follows the story of Bridget ending up pregnant at an “older,” although undisclosed, age.  The main trouble is that she doesn’t know who the father is.  If you’ve seen the movie version, the main difference is that Daniel Cleaver is one of the potential fathers in the book.

One of my favorite themes of this book is the line that keeps popping up from both Bridget and her mother, but which is probably felt all around–“This isn’t how it was supposed to be.”  I think one of the biggest lessons of motherhood, for me, is that we can’t plan how it’s going to turn out.  I try my best sometimes, I really do, but as I learned very early on in the journey, there’s no way to make it be what I planned, for better or worse.  And I really love that Bridget learns to embrace that.  She accepts the situation and keeps loving her baby and moving forward.  I love the hilarity of it all, but the scenes with Bridget and her dad are my favorites.

I’ve read the first two Bridget Jones books, and I was so upset at Mark’s death in the third (which takes place after this 4th one) that I couldn’t bring myself to read it.  After some poking around, I’m still a little unclear as to whether this book of Bridget Jones’s Baby was written before or after the movie.  During my research, I became side-tracked reading reviews, which I normally don’t let myself do, but the general consensus of this book seemed to be that people felt it was not up to par with the first three, nor with the movie version of it.  People brought up good points, and etc. etc.  But my personal take here is that these books are just fun.  And, I am not trying to downplay them at all by saying that.  I love the books AND, rare as it is for me to like movie versions, the movies too.  But I read and watch them as an escape and an opportunity to laugh out loud.  And that is what this one has been for me.  A quick, fun and funny read about the lovable and very human Bridget Jones.  So, if you’d like to examine the book and find faulty plot points or whatnot, don’t read it.  If you want a good laugh with your old friend Bridget, then I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Ruby Holler

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Ruby Holler (2002) by Sharon Creech

We’ve all read children’s stories of orphans being taken in and changing the lives of the sullen people around them, but here is a different, and probably more realistic, take.  Orphan twins, Dallas and Florida, are, as one might expect, a bit untrusting, very much hurt (though they might not admit it), and extremely prone to mischief.  They haven’t been dealt a great hand in life at their orphanage and haven’t learned about trust or love or respect from anyone except each other.  When an older couple takes them in temporarily, the reader witnesses the changes that take place for all of them, but especially the young teen orphans.

While I wouldn’t call this one of my favorite books, it was satisfying in a quiet sort of way.  To speak my truth, I didn’t always like the twins, but as the book progresses, you begin to understand why they are the way they are.  And when seen through Sairy’s eyes, you can see past the childish mistakes to the true nature of these kids.  In fact, several times throughout the book, I told my husband I’d like to be able to handle our child’s “mistakes,” “mischief,” “disasters” more like Sairy would.

 

Ch 43
“Maybe what you consider goofs aren’t what I consider goofs—it’s just stuff that happens.”  (Tiller)

Ch 45
“What’s a little rain?  What’s a little water?  What’s a little lostness?”  (Tiller)

Ch 15
“Do you think we were good parents?”

Sairy—“Of course we were, once we made our mistakes and got over worrying so much.  Sometimes I think we were just getting really good at it when all of a sudden those kids were grown up and gone.  Maybe that’s why it seems easier to me now, with Florida and Dallas.  I figure we know what to expect and we know how to love kids.”

 

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The Boy on the Porch

Birth Without Violence

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Birth Without Violence by Frederick Leboyer 1974, 2002

Originally written and translated in the 1970s, Birth Without Violence was a revolutionary book in its time advocating for gentler births.  With a beautiful mix of poetry and photographs, Leboyer opens the reader’s eyes to Baby’s experience during birth.  He speaks of the importance of dimmed lights, quiet voices, gentle handling, and soothing baths for this brand-new-to-the-world being.  While the circumstances of birth are sometimes beyond our control, Leboyer makes a beautiful case for doing our best to ensure a proper welcome for Baby.  “What more can be said?  Only one more thing.  Try.”

 

”Speak… the language of love…to a newborn!
Why, yes, of course!
How else do lovers communicate?
They don’t say anything, they simply touch.”
Part 3, 2

“If there is such a thing as a sanctified place, surely
it is the room the child is about to enter.”
Part 3,6