New Normal

Its always interesting the conversations you can have in the specialty aisles at the grocery store.  Today, while just getting a few items, I had a lovely conversation with an older woman who has Celiac.  We were comparing some of the snack and bread items available. 

Anytime I see someone pondering a product or in search of something, I somehow become this social butterfly engaging random strangers in conversation.  Granted, if they aren't responding, I back off.  I don't want to be the weirdo in the grocery store.  And, some of these conversations have also led me to meet others who might be that person.  However, its rewarding to either give new information or share information.  I had that a few months back at Barnes and Nobles while looking at some books in the cookbook section.  An older woman was being shown the gluten free books by a clerk, and I was better able to direct her to what she was looking for (I had already seen it on the shelf).  We started up a conversation, and before you knew it, I was able to give her some resources she wasn't aware of.  It was such a rewarding feeling.  So, for a day filled with errands and most likely limited human interaction, those few minutes sharing our experiences or findings become the highlight of my morning.

This food-aware community is growing, be it from allergies, sensitivities, or illness.  You never know where or how you'll meet someone.  My mammogram tech's high school aged daughter had a plethora of food allergies, and my new dentist's elementary school daughter has a few life-threatening allergies as well.  You cannot escape this new reality.  For our sake, hopefully this makes it easier as the Babe gets older.  She won't be unique, and her situation will hopefully be seen as manageable to those around her.   We will learn what is the new normal, grow, and accept it. 

Morning Mood

The Babe is not a morning person.  I may have mentioned that most mornings I get her dressed while she's mostly unconscious.  She acknowledges me when I make her, but otherwise, she pretty much is sleeping through the process.  Then she watches a show while she has some juice, goes to the bathroom, and then we're pretty much on our way.  Today though was one of those days that had her whining and fussing.  "Why are you rushing me?  You know I'm not a morning person!"  This out of the mouth of a five year old.  She comes by this honestly, as my mother isn't and my grandfather wasn't much of a morning person.  Granted, once she's in the car, the Babe generally snaps out of her morning snarky-ness (except today of course).

Today though she couldn't get past her mood.  It was foggy outside, but that is still not an excuse.  Lately she'll whine when she doesn't get her way, "This is the worst day ever!".  Based on all our family health dramas, I hate when she says this.  Today, I again told her how I dislike her saying that.  You don't know what the day has in store, its only started.  The fog will lift, she'll enjoy school, and if the day goes as planned, we'll be going to the kiddy pool.  That does not bode for the "worst day ever".  I reminded her how fortunate she is- she woke up in a comfortable bed, in a nice house, and had nice clean clothes to put on.  I told her if she really felt it was the worst day, we could skip school and I could just lock her up in her room.  Apparently she didn't like that option.  Good thing, because that wasn't a real offer.  See, Mommy can be snarky, too.  However, I'm starting this day hoping for a good start to our weekend.  Happy Mother's Day!

Building blocks

The Babe has been in school since we moved in October.  It's a private facility that is mostly childcare, ages 6 months to 6 years.  They have a 4k group, and one kindergarten class.  The kindergarten program is taught by a licensed educator with a Bachelor's degree in education.  The Babe only goes part-time to the kindergarten class, as I pick her up before lunch is served.  In the fall, she will be attending kindergarten in our local public school.  Right now, she's learning sight words, working on penmanship, and other wonderful things.  The afternoon focuses more on science and math, so she has less of that, but she does get some.  Because she will be attending kindergarten next fall, our primary goal in this year's schooling was socialization.  Everything else is a bonus.

Last night she decided to write a letter to her cousins.  I did not get to read the letter, beyond her showing me her start of, "Dear Kasins".  After she finished and put it in an envelope, she told me what she wrote.  "Dear Cousins, I love you.  I miss you.  Love, __".  As she was telling me the letter's contents, she told me where she had the greeting, the body, and the closing.  I was highly impressed that she's already learned the format of a letter.  There are these wonderful building blocks that she's learning at what seems an earlier age, but she gets it.  I'm excited to see her educational development.  As Dr. Seuss says, "Oh, the places you will go."