Girl Talk

When I was a kid, "the talk" came in 5th grade.  The girls were gathered on the industrially-carpeted floor in the communal space between the four classrooms to watch a filmstrip while all the boys got extra outdoor recess; moms weren't invited, but they did have to give permission to participate.  The whole talk was very abstract, as I recall it, with flowers and how it feels to be a girl, and we got a booklet and a coupon for a product starter kit.  I don't remember much else, probably because I knew about menstruation before the talk (I started after my fifth-grade year, when I was 11.)  I did like the booklet, with its pastel colors, and its chatty informational style.  Amazingly, you can see the whole thing here.  I was very excited, though, about the starter kit that came in the mail after I sent in my coupon, filled with different kinds of pads in a big pastel box.  I kept it under the bed for a long time.

Things are different now.

First, the talk comes in 4th grade and it's after school, very optional.  In fact, our neighbor girl told me that she and her mother are totally against the school providing such information, that parents should teach this when the time comes.  Sigh.  I told her families have different beliefs and that we believe in science and education and this was about biology.  But then, as you know, my kids have had the UU OWL class, about sexuality health already and know a lot about biology and its spiritual dimensions.

The talk was given by a school nurse, very direct, entertaining, informational, and practical.  She put the girls AND moms at ease as she discussed:

• the biology of puberty (the physical changes), from widening hips, growing breasts, appearance of sweat glands, increase in hormones, growth of pubic hair, and then advent of MEN-STROO-ATION! (I can still hear it as talked about in Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret?) and the actual process of ovulation, etc etc etc.  She kept saying that their bodies were practicing for being pregnant . . .and then she said they should wait a long time, after college, to have babies;
• and the emotions of adolescence (the experience of puberty), like moodiness and lack of concentration and tiredness;
• practical hygiene issues--changing pads and underwear, keeping clean with morning showers, and the one that surprised all the moms--changing pillowcases every night to reduce blemishes from the bacteria and oil gathered on the pillow.  Who knew?
• and practical issues for handling it at school--how to have a little pouch with pads, extra underwear, maybe some wipes; how to get to the nurse if you have an accident or cramps--just say, "I'm going to throw up!" the nurse said; also that it's a private issue and no one will know that you are having your period unless you tell them.
• Cramps--exercise to move the muscles and release the endorphins, heating pads, tylenol and ibuprofen if needed;
• she even passed out pads that they opened and unwrapped--of course, one girl stuck it on her forehead (not MY girl.)  The pad was so small that I said it must belong to an American Girl Doll!  When did they start coming in small sizes?  It is so much more appropriate for young girls.
• Sleep, eat right, keep clean, listen to your body for rest, and exercise--girls are strong, the nurse said, and we're the only ones who can make babies and we can handle periods.  

It was all very straightforward and even empowering.  And a huge milestone in a young girl's life (the talk, I mean, not even the period.) The first of many coming up.  

I hope I can meet them all with such calm directness.

So Proud

Sis was awarded the student-of-the-month "Character Counts" for her class.

We are very proud.

And surprised.

She hadn't told us--I read it in the monthly class newsletter this morning.  So Mama and I are thinking up ways to celebrate.

Our 5th Girl Scout Year

It's been another banner Girl Scout year, our fifth year--their first year as Juniors--if you can believe it.

We'll have a wrap-up party in a couple of weeks, passing out the last of this year's badges and celebrating round the campfire as we look forward to next year--we want to help the girls earn their Bronze award.

The girls have:

• completed their aMuse journey, which included lots of drama play, discussion of discrimination, designing of superheroes, making costumes, a photo shoot;
• completed their Playing the Past badge, with our overnight trip to Old Sturbridge Village, which was a huge deal for our whole group and lots of fun;
• completed their Social Butterfly badge, with discussion of table settings, thank-you notes and etiquette;
• completed their Simple Meals badge, with a breakfast-for-dinner event, with pancakes, yogurt parfaits, and an Egg and Hashbrown Casserole they all loved;
• hosted a very successful Cookie Booth;
• participated in an Aqua Zumba class;
• baked cookies for Christmas with the seniors at the local assisted living center;
• collected items for Stockings for Soldiers at a local VA hospital;
• enjoyed a wonderful and exciting evening in the trees at the rope course, with s'mores afterwards;
• and our regular meetings with arts and crafts, games, and lots of singing.

(Our other years:  Daisy1, Daisy 2, Brownie 1, Brownie 2)

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Egg/Hash brown Breakfast Bake

12 eggs

1 block of cream cheese (softened)

10 frozen hash brown patties (thawed)

2-3 scallions (chopped)

1/3 lb. sliced deli ham (diced)

2 cups shredded Monterey/Cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray bottom of 9x13 cookie sheet with sides or stone bar pan; crumble hash browns; press into bottom of pan. Sprinkle about ½ cup of shredded cheese onto hash browns. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until light brown. While hash browns are cooking, whisk eggs and softened cream cheese in bowl; add diced ham and scallions, salt and pepper. Once hash browns are done; reduce oven to 375 degrees, pour egg mixture onto hash browns. Bake for another 8-10 minutes or until center is cooked. Remove from oven, sprinkle remaining cheese. Let cheese melt. Cut into squares. Enjoy!

Music to Our Ears

Last night, the kiddos had their first Beginning Orchestra concert.  Very similar to their Beginning Strings concert last year, they played three songs, including one that was just scales.  I don't remember last year's much, except that I teared up and that Bud's cello ended up in the auditorium (cellists leave their instruments on the side of the stage, per teacher's instruction, to pick up after the concert, but we were leaving earlier; many others were in the same boat.)

This year's concert was almost exactly the same and, despite prior knowledge, his cello still sat in the auditorium until later in the evening.  But we were prepared.  The kids brought decks of cards to do magic trick swith their friends  During the concert,  Bud sat as first cellists--there are only two--and Sis said seats weren't earned but were based on sitting next to someone you wouldn't chat with.  I guess Bud is too chatty even to sit next to the viola-players.    Sis is nestled amid the violinists so that all you can see are her bangs; she too is chatty apparently and wasn't sitting next to any of the friends I know.

The songs were "Jingle Bells" and "Ole Joe Clark" which I have heard dozens and dozens of times on various instruments.  Music only parents would clap for.

Still, it's a great opportunity, this elementary school orchestra and I look forward to many more.

Even if we'll always have to wait to retrieve the cello.

Picture This

We have a routine in our family now, when it comes to taking photos, especially of the kids together.  They pose nicely, sometimes even close enough to touch, if and only if I let them do a silly one, too.

Which usually means they pretend to pummel each other.

Here they are, waiting for the bus on picture day:

Best Bus Stop in the World

This is our first year of having company at our school bus stop.  And the kids love it!  There is one girl in their class and one little girl in first grade, both of whom live up and around the corner.  We didn't really know them well before this but had been on a waving basis with the mom of the little girl.

And now the bus stop is their favorite time of the day.  They play soccer or basketball, chalk up the driveway, walk across the rock wall, run around the house, and play on the swing set.  There is lots of squealing.  And smiles.  At least until I yell, "Bus!" as it rounds the corner.  (I can always hear the brakes in advance.)  After school isn't quite as much fun--they all quickly separate, but the three older ones sometimes reconvene after homework.

The little girl's grandparents (it started with one set, now it's the other; both visit for a long time, from China) bring her every morning, sometimes one, sometimes both, and often with her little sister.  Her grandparents only speak Mandarin, so I get to practice my "ni hao" and "tsi jian" each day.

It's so much fun that the girl in their class has been arriving earlier and earlier.  Yesterday she was 23 minutes early!  And she might have been even earlier--we noticed her peeking through the window watching and waiting, which she did perched atop a lawn chair she'd dragged to the window.  Yes, a little stalking-ish.

But the kids are thrilled.  There's no dawdling in the mornings now.  And they're making friends.

Can't wait until there's snow!!!  (Though, that might be a little messy BEFORE school.)

Two Nights at School

We've been to school a few times in the last week as part of the back-to-school routine.  The first night was a visit to their old school to help with the annual read-a-thon.  They were very short volunteers and so both Bud and I were helping out.  I dressed up in my colonial outfit and read stories about museums and life in the "olden days," including A Night at the Museum, Ella's Trip to the Museum, and Hornbooks and Inkwells, with Sis as my companion and time keeper.  I started each discussion with a question about my outfit, since most readers came dressed in their work clothes--what did the kids think I did?  Most guessed farmer or gardener!  I loved that they recognized the agrarian or pastoral quality associations of the time period.  And I hadn't really expected anyone to guess historian or docent.  Bud did his own reading to other classes, selecting We are in a Book, The Lost Boy, and a book about a penguin discovering colors which title I forget.  I'm told that Mama and Bud actually read the first book as a kind of duet, one as Gerald and one as Piggie, doing the voices.  The kids all loved it!

Last night was our annual open house, our chance to meet the teachers and hear about the curricula and expectations for the year.  This year we had three teachers to meet, as part of the advanced learning program in which both the kids are enrolled.  We heard about the need to study multiplication facts, upcoming units on energy and also electricity, plus Connecticut geography, and about the Columbia Writers Workshop model.  And, best of all, we heard all about the butterflies.  The reading teacher engages the kids in a study of butterflies as inspiration for both informational and reflective writing.  She told us all about how that very day the kids had noticed a butterfly wasn't doing well and so they weren't sure it would leave when they released it.  So, they carefully took it outside and placed it on the butterfly bush at school and . . . lo, and behold! that butterfly took off.  Joyful pandemonium broke out as the kids collectively celebrated (and no doubt the teacher breathed a sigh of relief.)

As encouraging and supportive as all the teachers sounded, I have to admit to strong feelings of academic pressure arising, all from my own memories of seeking approval and good grades in school  I was one of those students you read about who studied and worked for the high grades and teacher approval, not for the learning or joy; as a group, we stressed about failure, cheated to get ahead, and weren't always very flexible or creative, looking for the right answer.  And I was pretty good at all of it.  But it's not what I want for Sis and Bud.  Still, as I heard about rubrics and quizzes and the Parent Portal through which I can check grades in real time, those old feelings of getting good grades came right back.  It will be my struggle this year and many more to come.  And I will try to keep in mind the teacher's story about the person who damaged the butterfly by trying to help it (without letting it struggle on its own.)

"Flash" Backs

I've been doing multiplication flashcards with the kids and had flashbacks of all the different things I've studied that way--multiplication, geometry, calculus, Latin, Greek, French, Euro and American art for orals, and now musical notes!!  I had to teach them a way of using the cards--testing yourself, making piles of correct and incorrect, repeating the ones you missed. Talk about deja vu.  Especially because I realize that I'm a bit rusty with my 8s!

After-School Snack Attack

We've never been that consistent about snacks after school.  Sometimes the kids are hungry when they get home; sometimes, playing is more important.  And sometimes, dinner is only about an hour away.  So, I'm not one of those people with an organized snack routine.  We have stuff in the house that they can snack on, but that's about it.

Today, though, we made something a little more exciting:  personal bags of microwave air-popped popcorn!  A brown paper lunch bag, 3-4 tablespoons of popcorn.  That's it.  Snack.  One for each of us.  With the built-in entertainment of watching the bag expand and listening to the corn pop.

Perfect.

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Paper-Bag Popcorn
brown paper lunch bag
3-4 tablespoons popcorn
salt, seasonings, cooking spray optional

Spoon popcorn into bag and seal by folding tightly and even crimping sides (do NOT tape or staple!)  Place in microwave and use popcorn setting, or approximately 2 1/2 minutes.  The popcorn is done when there are a few seconds between pops.  Remove from microwave, pour into bowl, spritz with cooking spray if desired (so seasonings stick), and season.

Enjoy!
Mommy Hungry

Trying New Meals for School

School starting means a fresh start for many aspects of our lives.  I see September as the new year more than January, a holdover from so many years of school.  And like other years, I've been trying out some new recipes, mainly breakfast and dinner:  Overnight Oatmeal, Quick Waffles, Cornmeal Waffles, Broccoli and Cheese Frittata, My Anything Stir Fry, Peach and Nectarine Galette.


Overnight Oatmeal

½ cup rolled oats
½ cup milk
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
½ teaspoon honey
1 to 2 tablespoons raisins (depending on how much you like raisins!)
⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 to 3 pinches cinnamon

Mix ingredients and refrigerate overnight for at least 5 hours.

100 Days of Real Food

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Quick Waffles

3 eggs
1 cup non-fat milk
1/2 cup butter
1 tbsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar

Beat whole eggs in a bowl until thick. Beat milk, melted butter and vanilla into eggs. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Sift into egg mixture, and mix well. Bake 3 - 5 minutes or until steam no longer escapes waffle maker

Number of Servings: 8

Oster recipe book

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Cornmeal Waffles
(only makes 3-4, so double)

1 egg
3/4 milk
1/4 cup oil
1 cup flour
2 T cornmeal
2 t baking powder
2 t sugar
1/4 t salt

Preheat waffle iron. Blend all ingredients together in food processor or blender. Pour 3/4 cup of batter in iron. Bake 3-5 minutes.

Oster recipe book

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My Anything Stir Fry

oil (something that can stand high heat)
garlic, minced, 2-3 cloves
protein (chicken, beef, tofu--or none), cubed
vegetable--cabbage and broccoli are the favorites, also bamboo shoots, baby corn, bell peppers, mushroom, green beans
water or stock
flavoring:  1/2 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
noodles (Sai Fun noodles soaked in hot water 10 minutes) or rice

Heat oil on high or medium high in high-sided heavy pan--I have a wok.  Add minced garlic and saute briefly (usually until fragrant.)  Add protein and stir till cooked through.  Add vegetables and continue stirring occasionally.  Add water or stock; cover and steam a bit.  Add flavorings.

Serve over noodles or rice.

Mommy Hungry

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Broccoli and Cheese Frittata adapted from Laurie David

8 eggs, gently beaten
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated, plus 1/2 cup more for top
1/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil (or less)
2 tablespoons diced onion (or onion powder)
garlic, minced, or garlic powder to taste
2-3 cups chopped vegetables--whole bag of frozen broccoli florets

Defrost broccoli in microwave; drain and set aside.

Heat oil in oven proof skillet (I used cast iron.)  Saute onion and garlic.  Add broccoli and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

Combine eggs, cheese, salt, and pepper.  Pour into skillet, stirring once.  Then cook until eggs set, about 3-4 minutes (or longer--you want them mostly cooked through.)  Sprinkle with an extra 1/2 cup of cheese on top.

Broil until egg is cooked and cheese is bubbly and golden.

Remove from oven and slide egg out of skillet onto plate.  Serve immediately, planning other good combinations (ham, broccoli, and cheese; potato and cheese.)

adapted from Laurie David

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Peach and Nectarine Galette a la Melissa Clark/NYTimes
I have to be honest:  I flubbed this recipe.  I added all of the cream and egg mixture to the dough, not just 1/4 cup and so had none to brush on the crust.  Also, I used white whole wheat flour instead of all purpose and we used more fruit than 3 cups, so that the crust broke.  And we LOVED it!!

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 large egg
• Heavy cream, as needed
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into big pieces
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest (optional)

FOR THE FILLING:

• 3 cups peaches and nectarines, sliced or cubed if necessary
• 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup sugar, to taste
• Pinch of salt
• Juice and grated zest of 1/2 lemon (optional)
• 3 to 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• also, apricot jam to spread on dough

MAKE THE CRUST:

1.

In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, or in a large bowl, pulse or mix together flour, sugar and salt. In a measuring cup, lightly beat the egg, then add just enough cream to get to 1/3 cup. Lightly whisk the egg and cream together.

2.

Add butter to flour mixture and pulse or use a pastry cutter or your fingers to break up the butter. If using a food processor, do not over-process; you need chickpea-size chunks of butter. Drizzle the egg mixture (up to 1/4 cup) over the dough and pulse or stir until it just starts to come together but is still mostly large crumbs. Mix in lemon juice and zest if using.

3.

Put dough on lightly floured counter and pat it together to make one uniform piece. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic and chill for 2 hours, or up to 3 days.

4.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll the dough out to a 12-inch round (it can be ragged). Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill while preparing the filling.

MAKE THE FILLING:

5.

Toss together fruit, all but a tablespoon of sugar, the salt, the lemon juice and zest, and the cornstarch. Use more cornstarch for juicy stone fruit and less for blueberries, raspberries and figs. Spread jam on dough, if desired.  Pile fruit on the dough circle, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Gently fold the pastry over the fruit, pleating to hold it in (sloppy is fine). Brush pastry generously with leftover egg and cream mixture. Sprinkle remaining sugar on the crust.

6.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the filling bubbles up vigorously and the crust is golden. Cool for at least 20 minutes on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

YIELD

8 servings

Melissa Clark, NYTimes

First Days

School started yesterday and we're all adjusting to the new schedule.  Only the cats seem perfectly adjusted--and totally exhausted from summer days full of running up and down stairs in the opposite direction of the kiddos.  They are curled up together as I type, tired and a bit chilly from the overnight high of 60F.

Yesterday started early, with the kids awaking quite cheerfully to their alarms.  They were dressed and ready to go by 7:15. Sis immediately inquired about our traditional school "cornucopia," the Schultute. This year, instead of school supplies, candy, or little toys, we made coupons--extra 30 minutes of computer time, staying up late, their choice for dinner, movie night.  It's the tradition more than anything else, but I think they liked the coupons.

Then they helped pack their lunches, ate breakfast, and heading outside to our bus stop-cum-driveway.  Soon we were joined by a couple of other kiddos, a first grader whose grandparents speak to us in Mandarin on their daily walks (we say "ni hao" and do a lot of smiling) and a fourth grader in Sis and Bud's class who transferred schools to be in the gifted program. They all chatted happily until the bus arrived--with our same driver from last year!!

They got home similarly cheerful about eight hours later.  They liked seeing their friends and liked their new teachers--they have three of them in this program--for math, science, and writing--and even change classrooms.  I think they get their lockers today.

They had some forms for me and a get-to-know-you questionnaire for one teacher.  One of the questions was to name five wishes.  Bud said, "I wish my sister would be nice to me."

"Not gonna happen," she said.

Funny, but not always what a mom wants to hear.

They were sound asleep by 9 p.m.

The were similarly excited this morning. But my enthusiasm soon dampened a little.  The other 4th grader, a girl, at the bus stop was pushing and grabbing Bud, especially his favorite jacket, even when he said no.  I had to intervene. (Her mom had already left.)  It didn't help that Sis thought this was fun and was pushing him too.

And then, as the bus arrived, that girl called Bud a name.

I told her that was unacceptable.  It took a minute for me to realize how mean she'd been to Bud and, by then, both of them were on the bus.  I spent the morning wondering what I should have done, what I should do.  But I think the teachable moment has passed.  (I admit to emailing the teacher a heads up, since they're in the same class and I want to shut the name-calling down.)

However, if that girl says anything again . . . .

Not how I wanted school to start.

Summer Fun: Not So Summer-y

I've been feeling the beginning of fall all week, an odd occurrence for the middle of August.  But with some overnight lows around 60F, some overcast days, and torrential downpours one night (nothing like the 13" in Long Island, though), it's been soup weather.  It's actually been too cool for the kids to go swimming at friends' houses because their outdoor pools just aren't warm enough.   We've even turned off the air conditioner.  Again.  Of course, thinking about school starting in less than two weeks--with all the shopping for supplies and clothes, getting haircuts, doing last-minute appointments, and squeezing in the last of our summer to-do list--also brings back ideas of autumn.

Plus, I swear I've seen leaves changing on a couple of trees.  Not drought brown leaves, but actual yellow and orange--a few on the side of the road as we drove to see the CT Sun game on Sunday (whew, double overtime!!  What a fun game!!  And we had lunch at Virgil's and dinner take-out at Summer Shake and Bobby Flay's Burger Place.  Plus Krispy Kreme for the ride home)--and even a branch or two in our neighborhood.

But I haven't gotten out sweaters and flannel sheets yet.  There's always a week of 90F days in September, when the poor kids swelter in the un-cooled school buildings.  Still, I'm getting excited about my favorite two seasons coming up.

Summer Fun: Last Day of School

Yep, another school year is over.  In a few hours, the kids will no longer be third graders.  Somehow, "fourth grader" sounds so much more mature, right?  They are definitely looking forward to the summer.  For Sis, this means swimming.  For Bud, I think he's just ready to do whatever he chooses.  For me, there is more driving and just as many meals, but still a relaxed air to the days.

Ready or not, here we go . . . .