Happy Birthday to Me (almost)

I have a friend who is a smidge older than I am. At one point in our lives, this would have been a huge advantage for her:

Friend: Well, we have to play my way, because I am 9 and you are only 8.

Me: But I am almost 9. I will be nine in only one year. So then we will both be 9.

Friend: Nope. When you are 9, I will be 10. I am the oldest, and you have to listen to me.

Me: I don’t want to play. I’m going home.

But in the strange twist of fate we call aging, the tables have now turned.

Me: It’s my birthday soon. Didn’t you already have yours?

Friend: Ha, ha.

Me: But you did, right? Right? If I recall correctly, you were born before I was even conceived.

Friend: You’re not my friend anymore, really, you never have been. I’m going home.

Happy Birthday to both of us. She’s always been older, but also wiser and prettier. So, you know, it all works out in the end. Thank goodness for friends like her.

-Kirsetin

Food or Non-Food?

The last week of January, 2007, my husband brought home an article from the New York Times, plunked it down in front of me, and urged me to “Read this.” The article was called “Unhappy Meals,” by Michael Pollen, and in it, Mr. Pollen made a brilliant argument for avoiding processed “non-foods.” “Non-foods” are basically all of the many, many things we eat, often with tremendous health claims, that are extremely far from any kind of food found in nature. He makes a suggestion that sounds fairly easy and common-sensical but, in retrospect, is quite difficult to practice: Don’t eat anything your great-great grandmother wouldn’t recognize. (Go-gurt?) His arguments and ideas stuck with me and when I saw his book, a much-expanded version of the article called In Defense of Food, I promptly purchased it. I bought it, read it, and am now thoroughly depressed about the state of food in America, in my grocery store, and in my cupboard.

So first of all, I recommend this book. Just go out & buy it. Hands-down, you’ve got to read it – even if, in the end, you somehow disagree with him, it is absolutely worth the time and energy just to get yourself thinking about these things.

Second, I have decided to try to follow many of his recommendations, and by FAR the most difficult idea is avoiding the middle of the grocery store – you know, the cracker-chip-snack area. I mean, what else will I feed my kids when they arrive home from school. No goldfish? Come on! How will I entice the other children to play here without Doritos and Oreos? Do they really want to eat organic yogurt? (The answer, we’ve already discovered, is a resounding, “no!”)

Harder still is when I approach the “real food” area of the grocery store – the cheese and yogurt section, for example -- and am inundated with even more “non-food” items. Try it yourself: Skip the nutrition label and take a peek at the ingredients. Do you even know what that crap is? I’m sorry, but is it really what you want to feed your family? What I’m thinking is “no way.” And after the recent beef recall, aren’t we all feeling a bit wary about that meat we buy at the store?

That said, if you see me out and about, I know darn well that one of these days you’ll catch me pouring the toxin of diet pepsi straight down my gullet. I’m trying, but there’s just no way I can give it up all the way. These things take time. If I’m giving up Triscuits, I’ve got to hang on to diet pepsi a little longer.

I’m also hoping that Michael Pollen writes the follow-up book called, How to Cope When Your Child Leaves Home and Binges on Doritos and Sprite. Not to mention all of the mental trauma my kids will endure and the everlasting grudge they may hold against their “crazy” mother... Couldn’t Mr. Pollen have just kept all of this to himself??

But read it. I promise – it’s worth it.

Playground Politics

“Mom, who are you going to vote for, Mom?

My eleven-year old, Matthew, has posed this question to me repeatedly in the past few months. Now, I suppose that I should be proud that my son has taken some sort of interest in politics, but I’m pretty sure it’s just related to bragging on the playground. At any rate, when I was growing up, my father’s answer to that same question (posed to “Dad”, of course), was “Why, are you taking a survey?” In other words, “It’s my vote. Butt out.” Being raised when I was (dark ages), it actually never occurred to me to push my father for more. And, sadly, my gut reaction to my son was the same. “I don’t really share who I vote for, honey.”

But being raised when he is (foolish-parenting era), my son feels free to push back at every opportunity. And I must admit, that after being pressed, I am seriously considering recanting my position. As I thought this through, it occurred to me telling my son who I plan to vote for, and – gasp – even discussing the pros and cons (as I see them) of each candidate, may be one of the best ways to engage my son in the world of politics. And isn’t that what we want – for our kids to engage, to learn, to understand what it means to have a vote? It’s taken me most of my life to figure out what I think about these issues – why not give him a head start? Now, don’t you wish you knew who I had in mind, too? -Kirsetin

PS (Yes, I know Romney is out of the race. You try finding a photo of Huckabee with the other three!)

Hip Mom Interviews

Hip GRAND Mom , Jeanne Schowalter


How long have you been married? 39 years

How many children do you have? 4
Ages? 31, 35, 36, 38

How do you enjoy spending time with family?
Playing pickleball, doing crossword puzzles, boating, eating together, watching grandchildren participate in their various talents.

What do you and your husband enjoy doing together? Playing watervolleyball, pickleball, watching tv, everything!

What is your favorite vacation spot? Greece

Who is your favorite movie or TV star?

How about your favorite movie? Door to Door

What are three to five books that you’ll always keep on your shelf? Bible, dictionary, large print crossword puzzles,

What about favorite children’s books? Boxcar Children

How do you spend your days? Oh, my... the list is long! Bible study, sport exercising, tv watching, organizing, etc.

What’s a job you think you might have enjoyed doing, if you had pursued a different path? Why? Teaching because I'm very enthused to share items I am knowledgeable about.

What do you feel truly passionate about in life? My family & my relationship with God.


13. PC or Mac Lover? Mac !!!

Raising kids, Cooking meals, and Driving carpools..

Do you ever wake up and ask yourself... "where's the excitement and adventure?"  Do you ever get sick of doing the daily duties of motherhood - the cleaning, the cooking, the homework, the never-ending laundry?  As much as I love being a mom, I think it's important to step out of the routine once in awhile and do something exciting.  Excitement is different for different people. For one person, it might be kayaking down a river, for another it might be running a marathon and for another a day in the salon is just perfect.  

I know that overall Contentment is key.  No matter what our circumstances we need to be content and joyful, but that isn't always easy, and sometimes it's just simply fun to spice things up!  What will  you do to spice things up this year?  Will you try something new, like snowboarding?  Will you decide to serve at church or in your community?  What will you do to spice up your marriage?  Will you plan date nights regularly?  Will you do something to improve your appearance?  What about challenging your mind? Will you join a book club or a Bible study?  It's your life, what will you do to make it more exciting?

Walk into my life...

"Kids, it's 7am, get moving!  Here's a grapefruit for you, hurry up.  We need to get in the car soon.  Do you have your homework in your backpacks?  Let's go!"  

We get in the car and head to school, saying a quick prayer before they jump out of the car and run in.  The car is silent, and the next several hours are mine.  Now, my options are open.  I, of course, have several things that I have to do(chores, errands, etc..), but what else?  I'm sure I can squeeze in one new thing... what will it be?  I only have until 2:35pm.  I have to take the opportunity....

Today, I'm going to..... sign up for a snowboarding lesson!  

Some of you still have little ones at home, so use those naptimes wisely and you can also do some fun things.... maybe it's painting a room, maybe it's reading a good novel, maybe it's scrapbooking and maybe it's calling a babysitter and planning a date night with your husband! Whatever it is... go for it!