part 1 part 2

We also hoped to purchase some inexpensive kites which we had done six years ago, but there were no kite vendors out today. Instead, there were people hawking fake Olympic souvenirs everywhere you turned. I went ahead and bought a ski cap with the Olympic logo for 10 yuan and no sooner did I buy it than we walked past a vendor who offered us... more

part 1

Since we knew the younger kids wouldn't be able to walk very fast, Jeff headed out with them and Alyssa while Taylor and I ran over to the other store. We also ducked into a music store to buy a few Chinese CD's and DVD's since it would be our last opportunity to find them inexpensively. Why we weren't thinking "taxi" by this point escapes me, but we just assumed it would be a short jaunt.

Taylor and I started walking... more

January 13, 2007

We woke up today to our last day in Beijing, as well as our last day in China. Part of my heart is sad, but part of me is also relieved to be heading home. Familiar foods and my own bed are starting to sound pretty good after two weeks here.

One of the reasons we decided to stay in this area of Beijing was because we would be within walking distance of the Forbidden City. At least that is what we thought.

Simon, our guide, wanted to pick us up by noon... more

I wrote here last week about our square-foot gardening endeavor, and wanted to update you on how things are going.

I apologize for being in-absentia for most of last week, but just as the rain that has recently fallen here from the skies over the past few days, we have had some storms brewing in our home as well.

The big, green, jealousy monster has reared its ugly head so bad this week that I wanted to either... more

The salespeople had a good time helping the boys skate and were curious, wondering about our family dynamics and how we ended up with two Chinese boys.

When we agreed to buy the shoes was when the bartering began. The prices they quoted were beyond ridiculously high, and I wondered how many people actually give in and pay a much higher amount than they should. I told them repeatedly that my friend had purchased Heelys just last month for 10 U.S. dollars and they told me no way.... more

January 12, 2007

Before we left Beijing, we wanted to do some bargain shopping, so Jeff, Caleb, Ben and I headed out this evening to a market that used to be an open air market but has converted to stalls inside a multilevel department store type building. Simon, our guide, wrote out the directions in Chinese for our taxi driver, and we left Micheline in the care of Taylor and Alyssa back at the hotel. Alyssa is still quite sick, and Taylor said he has had enough of being a tourist, so he consented to stay at... more

part 2

"Do I give in? Is this too mean? Is it being abusive?" I peppered her with questions. Her replies gave me renewed faith in my decision.

"Does he hoard food in his room?" " No."

"Does he eat until he vomits?" "No, but he takes food with us anytime we leave in the car for anywhere, even if it is a short trip."

"Does he do that because he truly feels he won't be fed again, or does... more

part 1

A few minutes later when I figured I had given him enough time to cool off, I reiterated that he needed to come help by setting the table. He turned his back to me. Slot machine parenting error number two. Micheline set the table for him, and received points toward television time, all within earshot as he sat trying to ignore us.

Everyone else came to dinner and when I told him that he needed to come to the table, he kept his face turned... more

In spite of what Erma Bombeck might have said about being mean, I think I will someday win the "Meanest Mom" award. I was very impressed last week when reading Kelly's foster adoption blog that discussed Slot Machine parenting vs. Coke Machine parenting.

In reading her post, I realized that I too have been guilty of slot-machine parenting when my children misbehave or don't comply... more

I have always felt that there is something healing about using your hands to dig in the soil. Whether it is planting a tree, flowers, or a vegetable garden, I love the smell of freshly turned soil, and how the cool dampness feels on my skin. I love watching for seeds to sprout, or waiting to see new buds of leaves on a tree that was dormant all winter.

I figure if gardening is healing for me, it just might be healing for my children as well. If you would like a project for your children to work on together to improve... more