Lemonade

Thank-you to everyone who stopped by Naomi's (sometimes singing, sometimes reading, sometimes photo-posing) Lemonade Stand this afternoon!

American Girl

Naomi has joined a Summer Reading Program book-club. It's a Tuesday night occasion at one of the public library branches we don't generally frequent. The reading list of American Girl books piqued Naomi's interest, though, and I was quick to agree to chauffeur her back and fourth.

While these Tuesday occasions are located in my least favorite corner of Lincoln I have to say the book club itself is actually a fine time. Glue-sticks, glittery craft activities and a group of clever girls discussing the latest text. It's also lead by two teen-aged sisters and their mom with a whole lot of enthusiasm.

The hard moment comes at the close of each Tuesday. When the group leader has encouraged each reader to bring her American Girl doll and stand up to talk about the dolls. Have you seen these dolls? They're lovely, actually, and apparently rather well made. They also lighten your wallet by $95 for just the doll. Accessories and outfits run anywhere between $30 and $200.

Years ago, when Naomi first became infatuated with the American Girl series, she got the message loud and clear that the books were great but the product-line wasn't going to be something we could afford. All kids have something and no kids have everything. She was remarkably OK with that.

But it irritated me to have a book club, at the public library, wind up every session with a 20 minute product plug. That irritation took a sharp turn to out-and-out pain this past weekend when my kid took a magic marker to the forehead of her favorite doll to draw bangs. Washed the doll's synthetic hair in an attempt to style it. And purple-crayon-colored a make-shift duct-tape dress all in an attempt to have her doll resemble the other dolls the girls brought.

Seriously? I was sick to my stomach as we walked into the book club. Naomi toting this doll under her arm. I had the foreboding sense that the other girls would laugh at her, or sneer with condescension. The gait to my walk was daring someone, anyone, in the room to look down on my kid or curl their lip at her creation because, believe me, I had prepared a few choice words to say about that.

We walked in, sat the doll on the table next to our name tents, and Naomi put her hand on my arm. Are you OK, mommy? her worried eyes asked. And, for a moment, I saw it. She wasn't particularly worried about this doll. She was too busy being concerned about why I was so upset.

Rather than spending the hour like a taut rubber band waiting to snap, which I was fully prepared to do, I looked at those worried eyes and decided to instead focus on my amazing kid. A person who is imaginative, resourceful, and has an enormous heart. She took her turn at that table, talked about this scraggly doll who looked suddenly beautiful to both of us and, at the end of the day, sort of fluffed up feeling both unique and inventive.

There was another little girl, by the way, who didn't have an American Girl doll. She and Naomi huddled up after-wards. The other girl (Bridget) and her mother were duct-tape connoisseurs, I guess. They mentioned that Target carries a plaid duct-tape, and sometimes, sometimes you can find polka-dot patterned duct-tape at Hobby Lobby. Helpful information for Naomi's future fashions.

Self Disclosure

At the dinner table, yesterday, my family took a moment to coordinate schedules. This is less of a coordinated effort as it is the occurrence of my asking "So, what's coming up?" and penning dates and times into my day planner.

N was quick to list every bike ride and movie night she wanted to schedule. McK spoke in generalities without times or dates involved. Lots of margin notes, there.

I flipped the page, briefly, to July and made mention of a writing assignment due date.

"I bring-it up only because the subject matter has me kind of crazy, grateful for you guys. So, if you walk in on me crying for no reason...you know...don't be concerned."

I let the comment hang in the air a moment, considered how genuinely odd the forewarning was, and glanced around at my dinner companions neither of whom bats a eye at my quirky moments. Aren't they just the sweetest?

Pushing Through the Imperfections

I’m trying to learn to be a better seamstress. Naomi has visions that I’ll sew fashionable dresses though that’s well beyond my skill-set. I’m more focused on alterations. As a chronic thrift-store shopper, I’m hoping to more often wear clothes that actually fit me.

I did manage to sew Naomi a dress for Laura Ingalls camp. Not without hard alcohol and lots of swearing but it's finished.

Generally I think that’s what I’m working on: to finish things. Well beyond my sewing projects I’ll take up this or that project, aspire to loveliness, get frustrated and give up.

I’m trying to work through the imperfections and finishing things anyway. So, ugly as this little dress was, I did finish it. My daughter was delighted. And, when it was all done, I could see that for a first effort it wasn’t too bad.

Neither Brave Nor Bold

I’m almost too embarrassed to even tell you this story. Almost. I’ll be brief.

Naomi got a hankering to go swimming yesterday. With the summer heat and a mid-week lul at our house, her poolside plan sounded like a good one. I was quick to sign on. Then looked everywhere but failed to locate my usual swim suit. I found myself caught between canceling our swimming plans or wearing a suit I knew was stashed at the bottom of my never-ever-think-I’ll-actually-wear-but-keep-it-just-in-case pile of clothes in the hall closet.

Does everyone have one of these piles? It’s a stack of sparkly dresses, flashy hats, impractical shoes, and a black bikini. Modest, as far as bikinis go, but still a bikini and therefore completely outside my norm. The suit was so far outside my usual fashion that Naomi was gobsmacked (and a little embarrassed for me) as I came downstairs to find my beach towel.

It’s not that I suddenly quit it with my body issues. I just decided to focus instead on the delightful company of my kid. Not exactly my boldest moment, but a small accomplishment I hadn't had before.
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Currently Listening to: The American Inquisition: The Era of McCarthyism
Recent Goodness: Fresh salad greens from Ms. C's garden.
Random Product Plug: Anyone who knows me knows that I'm just not so much with cosmetics, but, I recently purchased Amazemint lip-gloss. Cover Girl should seriously ~seriously~ ask me to do a commercial for them because I love it THAT much!
Quote of My Day: Naomi observed my penchant for music that's "filled up with sad feelings."

The Story of This

Five years legit.

The Joy of Being Wild

Naomi and I went for a hike last weekend and she cooked up the idea of writing a book. She thought up a title she was particularly fond of. Put her fingers to her lips as she spoke the words: The Joy of Being Wild.

From there, my pen and paper chased after her brainstorm trying to capture the dust as it fell down behind her. Here's some of the advice my paper caught:

Do cartwheels in the open grass.

Ford rivers often. It gets your feet nice and icy cold.

Eat purple plants.

Look straight at the sun with your eyes clamped shut.

Dig around in the dirt.

Let your hair blow all over the place.

Appreciate the privilege it is to live here.