Appropriate Behavior

Do you think I’m referring to my child? No, not really, instead an over-friendly, and unknown grandmother. I was lamenting that I have not written in a month and then this morning happened.

Back in April, I had my first real altercation with another mother. Sara Ellen and I were at the mall and I was letting her climb around on the over-priced rides next to Playtown. A little girl had gotten into the firetruck and sat in the backseat. Sara Ellen jumped in without asking and sat in the frontseat. I probably should have taken her out immediately, it’s usually ok to share but you need to ask first. I was standing aside and the other mother went to speak quietly to her child. I went up next to get Sara Ellen and I let the other girl know she could move up to the front before the ride stopped. Then the mother came up and asked me what was going on. I repeated what I said and she got quite upset, asking why I was speaking to her child like we had a relationship, also complaining that Sara Ellen had jumped on without asking. Except for the unauthorized ride-sharing, I was a bit speechless as to why she was so upset. She gave up and walked away. We also left, me very unhappy, and drove to the Cupertino Memorial Park. It was cloudy, which seemed to keep most visitors away except for one couple. This is how we met Michaela and Kathleen. What a blessing they were.

Today I was on the opposite end of the mother spectrum. We visited CMP this morning. A beautiful sunny day, a couple groups of kids, and other parent/child pairs. After over an hour Sara Ellen found a little girl to play with, whose grandmother was also there. I sat down to read and then a conversation started between myself and mothers on either side of me. The grandmother was very friendly, instead of seeming like Sara Ellen was intruding but over time she got to be too friendly. Sara Ellen and the girl were coming down the slide together or one after the other and at some point Sara Ellen came out of the slide and ran straight ahead into the arms of the grandmother! I was quite surprised but laughed a little. But it was not an isolated insident and the grandmother was very encouraging. It’s perfectly ok with me for Sara Ellen to hug her new boy and girlfriends, but a strange adult? No ma’am. My friends? If she wants. Her teachers, again, if she wants. I asked her to come over to me and I quietly told her not to get so close with adult she doesn’t know, but that she could hug her new friend. She may have gone down the slide and then she went back to the woman. She just stood in front of her but held her hand. She looked at me and I shook my head a bit. The other mother saw me but didn’t say anything. The grandmother started peeling an orange and as I was getting up she offered some to Sara Ellen, without asking me. Well, that’s quite enough. Sara Ellen was upset to leave but I had her wave to the girl and picked her up. I don’t want her to afraid, but we don’t have the problem and though this is a first, I don’t want it to set a precedent.

Little Ashes: Thoughts and Questions

Robert Pattinson is an awesome actor. I’ve read that because he was the only non-Spaniard on the cast or crew, he spent all his time learning how he should play Salvador Dali. He’s such a beautiful guy but isn’t the kind that takes “cute guy” parts, except …

Happy Mother’s Day

I definitely had a HMD!! Some was planned and some was unexpected; it was all great!!

This morning I made blueberry pancakes. At church, they celebrated the day with an amazing performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria. Wow. It was just beautiful. I had so many wonderful thoughts …

Still Living With A Thankful Heart

The second Sunday we visited Los Altos United Methodist Church Tim mentioned how happy he was that we seem to have made a good choice in moving out here. God has given us so much. There are times when I’m afraid it could all be taken away, but …

For This I Am Thankful

The great new friends for both Sara Ellen and myself. As mother/daughter couples, Sara Ellen and I immediately got along with Michaela and Kathleen. We met at Cupertino Memorial park on a unusually cloudy day. Michaela was swinging and got down to ask Sara Ellen if she’d …

Read Since August 16, 2008

One of the wonderful things… about Twilight (not Tigger) is that it has encouraged so many people to read, young and old (one thing it does have in common with Harry Potter). I’ve always enjoyed reading, but ever since picking up Twilight I’ve really felt a need to always …

My Map of California

I pin-pointed, virtually, places we’ve been or would like to go in our new area. I’ve also included the “everyday” places. If you click on the blue pin-points, you can see the name and my description/story. They only go as far as the area shown in this …

What’s *Not* To Love - Things Which Do Not Please Me In The Movie Twilight

Perhaps you have grown tired of me sharing the Twilight gospel. When I first saw the movie, I was not sure what I thought of it. I thought of some things I did not like, how some of the movie-magic was not so magical and how adaptation changes …

The Nativity Story

Originally Written December 27, 2006.

Mom, Dad, Emily and I saw “The Nativity Story” this afternoon. I loved it. Emily and I agree it is rewatchable, several times over.

Tim did not come though he had the day off. I’d forgotten, or didn’t realize that fact so …

Princess Power

I have a 3 year old daughter. While not 100% conclusive, in our home, this means I watch a lot of Disney movies. Most of these movies have female heroines. Not all of them are princesses. In many of the older films, the ladies are princesses …