Q: Do you remember having a favorite nursery rhyme or bedtime story? What was it?
A: We had an old, hand-me-down, avocado green sofa in our living room, and some of my earliest memories are of curling up next to my mom with my brother on her other side while she read to us before bed. It was during these story times that she introduced us to books such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Little House On the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Pippi Longstockings, and The Boxcar Children. I have no doubt that my ongoing love/obsession of reading originated on that green couch listening to my mom's voice.
Some nights we had a special treat when my dad was home and would tell us stories from his experiences while serving as a missionary in Argentina for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had only been a member of the Church for a short time before leaving home and essentially paving his own way to live as a full-time missionary. I didn't understand the sacrifices he made until much later. At that time, I mostly appreciated it for the stories he told which I never tired of hearing.
Fast forward to my own parenting years, and a favorite children's book of mine remains Goodnight Moon. I recall growing up with that one as well, but I particularly liked reading it to my kids when they were little. One reason, I'm sure, was that it's short enough that after a long, tiring day you can get through it without expending too much energy. But more than that, there is something soothing about the simple sentences and engaging and repetitive artwork.
Showing posts with label story in a jar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story in a jar. Show all posts
Monday, July 1, 2019
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Story In a Jar: Chores
Q: Was there a chore you really hated doing as a child?
A: Do kids ever like chores? I suppose perhaps once in a while. Morgan enjoys organizing things. Aiden likes doing projects with Jeremy. But the day in, day out home maintenance jobs? Not so much!
I have a default toward lazy, so even doing chores as a grown up isn't my most favorite thing. Some things I procrastinate until they can't be ignored. One of those is dusting.
It seemed like I was always in charge of dusting when I was a kid, and because my mom was religious about getting it done every week it was hard to really see much difference between the before and after. The worst part about it, though, was moving all the knickknacks, dusting each one, and then putting them back. So, so tedious.
When I stayed home with my kids, the dusting got done more regularly than it does these days. I try to not completely neglect it, and I truly do appreciate a clean and tidy home, but it's usually near the bottom of the ever-growing to do list.
A: Do kids ever like chores? I suppose perhaps once in a while. Morgan enjoys organizing things. Aiden likes doing projects with Jeremy. But the day in, day out home maintenance jobs? Not so much!
I have a default toward lazy, so even doing chores as a grown up isn't my most favorite thing. Some things I procrastinate until they can't be ignored. One of those is dusting.
It seemed like I was always in charge of dusting when I was a kid, and because my mom was religious about getting it done every week it was hard to really see much difference between the before and after. The worst part about it, though, was moving all the knickknacks, dusting each one, and then putting them back. So, so tedious.
When I stayed home with my kids, the dusting got done more regularly than it does these days. I try to not completely neglect it, and I truly do appreciate a clean and tidy home, but it's usually near the bottom of the ever-growing to do list.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Story in a jar
I have recently caught the family history bug and have tried to use a little portion of my spare time looking for names to expand my family tree. As I do this, I realize the neglect given my own personal history. For Mother's Day this year, Morgan came home from school with a "Story In a Jar," accompanied by the following poem.
I've gone through a couple of the story starters with Morgan, but honestly I tell a better story when writing than when talking. So I thought in my efforts to improve recording my personal history I would work on some of the "Story In a Jar" here. It won't necessarily be the most entertaining or funny, but I feel it's something I should do. Here we go...
Q: "Were you ever given any special awards for your studies or school activities?"
A: Funny that this is the first slip I pulled, because I am such a nerd. If you haven't heard me mention that before, then you probably weren't listening.
I'm not sure this qualifies as an award, but it was something I was always proud of. In seventh grade, my English teacher submitted a story I wrote to the Reflections contest [at least I think that's what it was called back then -- now I'm not totally sure]. My story was selected for publication, and I was invited to attend a special program where each person published received a certificate and a copy of the book. I remember after they called my name and gave me a certificate, I was walking off the stage and a woman told me that mine was her favorite story. That was a big deal to me then and gave me confidence that writing was one of my talents.
My senior year I received a couple of honors that also meant a lot to me. I worked hard in school. Jeremy likes to tell the kids how smart I am, but I always feel I need to qualify that with the fact that I worked at it. Some things came easily, but other things didn't. I studied, I read, I stayed on top of my homework, I asked questions when I didn't understand. So I felt like my work payed off at the end of my senior year when I was named English Studies Student of the Year and Social Studies Student of the Year. I also respected the teachers of those classes a great deal, and I deeply appreciated their recognition. Somehow I also got the Attendance Award, which still baffles me.
When I headed off to college, I was able to start at BYU with a half scholarship. There were times I thought for sure I wouldn't be able to keep it, but after my sophomore year they upgraded it to a full scholarship. Not only was this an honor, but since Jeremy and I got married that summer, it most likely saved our poor college finances from totally biting the dust. In the end, I managed to graduate cum laude.
In this jar you will find,
Story starters of all kind.
Every night when you tuck me in,
Pick a slip and let the story begin.
Tell me about your life as a kid,
I want to know all that you did.
I hope you know that I love you.
You make me happy with all you do.
I've gone through a couple of the story starters with Morgan, but honestly I tell a better story when writing than when talking. So I thought in my efforts to improve recording my personal history I would work on some of the "Story In a Jar" here. It won't necessarily be the most entertaining or funny, but I feel it's something I should do. Here we go...
Q: "Were you ever given any special awards for your studies or school activities?"
A: Funny that this is the first slip I pulled, because I am such a nerd. If you haven't heard me mention that before, then you probably weren't listening.
I'm not sure this qualifies as an award, but it was something I was always proud of. In seventh grade, my English teacher submitted a story I wrote to the Reflections contest [at least I think that's what it was called back then -- now I'm not totally sure]. My story was selected for publication, and I was invited to attend a special program where each person published received a certificate and a copy of the book. I remember after they called my name and gave me a certificate, I was walking off the stage and a woman told me that mine was her favorite story. That was a big deal to me then and gave me confidence that writing was one of my talents.
My senior year I received a couple of honors that also meant a lot to me. I worked hard in school. Jeremy likes to tell the kids how smart I am, but I always feel I need to qualify that with the fact that I worked at it. Some things came easily, but other things didn't. I studied, I read, I stayed on top of my homework, I asked questions when I didn't understand. So I felt like my work payed off at the end of my senior year when I was named English Studies Student of the Year and Social Studies Student of the Year. I also respected the teachers of those classes a great deal, and I deeply appreciated their recognition. Somehow I also got the Attendance Award, which still baffles me.
When I headed off to college, I was able to start at BYU with a half scholarship. There were times I thought for sure I wouldn't be able to keep it, but after my sophomore year they upgraded it to a full scholarship. Not only was this an honor, but since Jeremy and I got married that summer, it most likely saved our poor college finances from totally biting the dust. In the end, I managed to graduate cum laude.
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