Being a Better Father When You're Not Even a Mother

With the little humans afoot, we have begun taking more consideration of how we can learn to be better parents.  Given that both of us have lady bodies and neither of us have actually birthed any children from said lady bodies, we have quite a task ahead of us.  As Auntie and Tia, we are attempting to fulfill the roles of Mother and Father.  We have found some traditional methods for learning these roles including talking with other parents and attending ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) classes.  Our favorite resources on how to be good fathers come from some other kinds of sources, listed below.  Here is what we have learned so far, mostly from the bassist, Flea:

1. Be there.  (Classic and yet so difficult, apparently.)
2. Actually care.
3. Really listen.
4. Teach them the good things you know about life.
5. Do the stuff with them that they like to do.
6. Stay calm even though little people rarely stay calm.
7. Admit when you do something wrong and apologize.
8. Reward the positives, discuss the negatives.
9. Tell the truth.
10. Avoid hypocrisy.  (Little humans can smell acts of hypocrisy.)

The Other F Word

Rad Dad

Go Swimming (or How the YWCA Saved Our Sanity) - Done

Hello Friends,

The YWCA may be one of the best inventions for people with little humans ever.  Did you know that swimming for an hour forces little humans to pass out instantly?  Also, they have this room where you can drop your kid off and then go sit in a hot tub.  What?  These gifts have actually encouraged me to swim quite a bit.  I have even started running even though I am not playing tag or breaking the law.  Strange.  With one mini triathlon completed and the second one scheduled, I am left wondering what all of this means, but I have grown to love it.  So, with a pair of ugly running shoes from a secondhand store and the tightest article of clothing I own, my racing swimsuit, we are off again.

Much love,

Nicole

Toddlers with Backpacks

Hello Friends,

If you know anyone with a toddler or preschooler or are owned by one yourself, encourage the little humans to carry their own backpacks.  This suggestion is made for two main reasons. 

1. I have recently come to the realization that there may be nothing cuter than a toddler with a backpack.

2. Don't do things for them that they can do themselves.  Little humans want to be independent and growns-ups should not thwart that desire by carrying more than they already have to.  Seriously people, put down that princess backpack.  God gave little humans shoulders for a reason.

Supporting evidence below.

Much love,

Nicole

Go on a Trip - Done

Hello Friends,

My list this year should really have said "Plan and execute an epic train adventure" because seriously, it was intense.  If you know any 2 to 7 year old tiny people, you will notice that trains have an impressive and magical ability to connect to children in a way that has been lost by growns-ups.  The Bigger Little Human's first word was "choo-choo" and the Little Human can already say "train."  Shit is magic, check it out.  Below is our itinerary and a few photos.  The Chicago Hostel is amazing; great rooms and fantastic crown pleasing breakfast.  The Earthship was miraculous.  Mesa Verde was beautiful and 10 times more impressive than in photos.  New Mexico reminded us much of Norte Chico, Chile.  Tasty food and gorgeous sunsets and sunrises.  This was our first time traveling with the Little Humans and it went exceptionally well.  Enjoy.

Train to Chicago
Stayed in HI Chicago Hostel - Cloud Gate
Train to New Mexico
Stayed in Earthship
Visited and Stayed at Mesa Verde in Colorado
Stayed in Albuquerque Hostel
Train to Chicago
Stayed in HI Chicago Hostel - Chicago Children's Museum
Train to St. Paul

Much love,

Nicole

Visit a Minnesota Destination - Done

Hello Friends,

Although I was hoping to visit the Jeffers Petroglyphs, we ended up staying a hostel near the Mississippi Headwaters and visited the tallest Paul Bunyan statue over winter break.  It was pretty great and pretty Minnesotan.  The Little Human now says "Hi Paul" to his photo on the wall in our living room.  Still can't say Auntie, but Paul gets his own greeting.  When's the last time Paul changed any diapers?  Anyway, enjoy the photos. (Note: Paul Bunyan is a myth and the Mississippi Headwaters are really every bit of water in that region and no one specific place even if a bunch of guys constructed a neat looking pile of rocks that get stolen by visitors and have to be replaced all the time from rocks that are not even from the area.  Both were highly photogenic.  The dinosaurs were, of course, Monica's doing.  Shockingly.) 

Much Love,

Nicole

Create a T-Shirt Design - Done

Hello Friends,

After beginning an illustration class, and not really digging the first assignment, I began reworking a t-shirt design that I had started in the fall.  It combines my fascination with bubbles and their power to calm toddlers with shape work.  I think I finally managed to get the bubble blower more accurate proportions.

Much love,

Nicole

Making Monday: Bunting

Handmade custom bunting to replace crepe paper.  Easy and reusable.

Ukulele

He is probably teaching us more than we are teaching him.

Sharing Water

Our nephew, like us, is very fascinated by water.  At 16 months, he still tries to jump into any water he sees.  It is always a beautiful interaction.  My favorite part is when he looks up at us with intensity and his eyes ask "Do you know how cool this is?".   

Making Monday: Paper Chains

Our crafty young people were very creative with a paper chain project making them into hats, scarves, and very silly earrings.  This group is all over the color wheel with their choices, which is great to see.

Crafty Kids

Our crafty rock stars hard at play.  Today, we should find out about a proposal we sent in.  Waiting for the outcome is usually the hardest part.

New Growth

Our nephew seems to be growing by the second.  His favorite things thus far: smoothies, string cheese, and toilets. 

Making Monday: Duck Tape Rings

In a somewhat silly turn of events, we had our Duck Tape class on the floor.  It was probably the best one yet.  The kids decided to make Duck Tape rings.  Quite clever, really.

Engagement: Field Trips

Infinite was lucky enough to attend a 1st grade field trip through work.  We went to the fire stations, library, and recreation center.  It was glorious.  These four boys could not look away from that giant fire hose.  It is the only time I have seen all of them engaged.  Lesson learned: fire hoses in every classroom?  Twas great regardless.

Tiny Tunnel

Our nephew loves tunnels.  Simply turn two, three, or four chair backs together and throw a blanket over the top.  Hours of entertainment for you and the little ones.

Making Monday: Freezer Paper Magic

 

1.  Take a piece of paper.  Draw a design.  We would suggest something not as complicated as our first one, shown here. 

2.  Trace your design in ink or colored pencil so you will be able to trace the design onto the freezer paper clearly.

3.  Cut a piece of freezer paper slightly larger than your design.  Trace the design onto the matte side of the freezer paper by placing your drawing underneath the freezer paper shiny side down.

4.  Tape the freezer paper to a cutting surface and use a crafting knife to cut out the parts of the design you would like to be inked.

5.  Choose a fabric item to affix the design to.
6.  Using an iron on medium-high heat attach the design, shiny side down, to the fabric.  Hold the iron even and flat to press down across the design a few times first so that none of the edges get folded over by the iron.  Then move the iron back and forth a few times to stick the design completely to the fabric.  We also found placing a piece of paper between the iron and design can help keep the corners from folding over.  This process does not take long at all.  Be sure to keep the iron moving and not burn the fabric.
7.  Attach another piece of freezer paper the size of the design on the other side of the fabric to avoid bleed through.  You can do this before or after you attach the design to the fabric.  We did it before the design because we had to turn the t-shirt inside out in order to attach the protective sheet to the inside.
8.  Use fabric paint to paint within the stencil using a brush by dabbing up and down or pulling the paint from the freezer paper to the fabric to avoid getting paint underneath the edges of the stencil.

9.  Wait for the paint to dry.  Add another coat or two if necessary.  Then peel off the freezer paper using a tweezers for any tough spots.  Peel off the back piece as well.

10.  Use a small brush or toothpick to touch up any problem spots.
11.  Heat set with an iron, wash, and use.

SNOW!

Yay snow! Hurray for big snow falls! Big smiles playing in the white snow with kids.

Expedition?

We are currently at Wolf Ridge with 80 fifth grade students, most of whom have never really experienced the outdoors.  Activities include canoeing, indoor climbing, renewable energy, high ropes course, and Ojibwe history.  We will let you know how this goes.

Making Monday: Fortress

Every year, around this time, we do something we don't usually do.  This year, we built a blanket fort in the dining room.

Making Monday: Watercolor Crayon

Draw with crayon on white piece of paper. Paint on top of drawing with watercolors. Impress 1st and 2nd grade students. Encourage them to create something given the same tools.