Encompass

I know that not all of you are of the Faith but to my fellow celebrants I wish you a very very happy March Madness. I have Kansas to win it all this year but along the way I expect Baylor, Kansas State and West Virginia to do good things. And in the suicide pool (you pick one team each day; if the team wins you survive to pick the next day but the twist is that you can only pick a team once during the entire tournament - tricksy) I am going with New Mexico. And because we like to increase our chances by attributing picks to our children I gave Zazka Northern Iowa because that is just the sort of bold first round choice I expect she would make if she was old enough to gamble.

Clearly we did not look too closely into the new school's affiliations when we moved Patrick because it was the least of our worries and we don't really care all that much when it gets down to it (it is public but there are different flavors of public, you know.) We have our beliefs and traditions and we realize that other people have theirs and we know that Patrick will need to realize this too unless we want him to grow up all stunted. Nonetheless, Steve and I did brush away a few happy tears when Patrick brought home his bracket homework this week along with a vaguely protesteth-too-mucheth note from his teacher explaining that the students would be watching the tournament on Thursday and Friday in class. You know, using it to calculate percentages and fractions and whatnot... math, damn it. Basketball math.

When I saw his teacher on Monday I said, "NCAA, I see" and when he plunged into his spiel about learning opportunities I gently stopped him and explained that we, too, follow the Way. So he laughed and said that in the past he would just take these days off but when he started with Patrick's school he realized that he could bring in a TV, give the kids calculators and they'd all be as happy as happy geeky clams. You know, I can see the appeal of parochial schooling. It is nice to have one's family values reinforced in the classroom. We just want to know when they will be starting their casino unit. 

Actually, seriously, Patrick came home the other day and he was beyond impressed because, as he explained it: "We started decimals, you know, today and one of the girls said she could do pi and Mr. * said ok so he got out a book and kept track and she knew pi to fifty digits. Five," Patrick emphasized, "Zero. It was amazing. She got it all right." 

I presume she stopped memorizing at fifty because it was a nice round number but I see no reason why she couldn't remember digits up to fifty-one or even, hey! fifty-two! or fifty-two times six and I could be the blackjack chaperone.

And then there's this other kid... wow. Just... wow. He has a disconcerting habit of leaping onto a chair while he bursts into song, like, in the middle of a grammar lesson and Patrick tells me he spends a lot of time cooling his heels in the hallway and (I just wrote 'but' except it isn't. it is an 'and') and he is crazzzzy good at math. Like holy Archimedes capital G Good at math. I'm not entirely sure what his specific area of expertise would be but he can be in my field trip group too. Hmmm. All I need is a charming but unscrupulous front man in sneakers, a computer expert and someone to handle the communications and I have just written myself into a Disney movie. Provided Disney doesn't balk at the idea of second graders who take on Vegas... maybe Touchstone.

Moving on.

I am telling you this bit just because you are the only people who will appreciate what a secret ass I was.

My friend Noelle's doctor did not have any new patient appointments any time in the near future so I decided to go back to my current doctor since I am still having the weirdness and I do like the guy except for the difficulty in getting an appointment with him. He had one space free yesterday afternoon and although it was cutting it very very fine to see him and still pick up Patrick I took it. When he walked into the exam room I saw that he was obviously very tan and I thought AH-HA! I knew he was off lollygagging on the sand somewhere while I had to deal with a dismissive shrugger in my desperate hour of woogy need and what price the hippopotamus oath, beach boy?

But because I do not really begrudge the hard-working internist a little time away I smiled and said, "You look like you got some sun."

And he said...

Ready?

"Yes. I was in Haiti."

At which point I shrunk down to a mere three inches tall and fell off the table and his nurse had to come in to help him find me.

I could play compare and contrast this week's appointment with last week's appointment all day long but I will just give you one example. I told him about the ongoing nausea and he asked if I was pregnant. I said, "Well... I have the paraguard IUD... ."

When I told this to the woman last week she instantly said, "OK so that's not it" and moved on.

My doctor merely laughed and said, "Well that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Just ask Doctor... " and then he caught himself, "... Doctor Who-I-Am-Talking-About about their surprise. We should rule it out."

In addition to a pregnancy test (I asked if I could just go to CVS and get one of my trusty pink and white First Response boxes for old times' sake. He said "let's just do it since you're going to be here anyway" and I thought that my plan had not including being there and peeing on, well, anything but whatever) he is checking thyroid, infection markers, Vitamin D, glucose, liver function and four other things of which I have never heard. Because I literally had to run out the door and across the parking lot before speeding to get Patrick on time I wasn't able to do any of them, though, and I need to go in tomorrow.

Steve looked at the orders I brought home and choked over the pregnancy test, which made me laugh heartily. Serve him and his vasectomy-fearing self right if we did have another blessing to brighten our lives and delay his retirement indefinitely [note: there is NO WAY I am pregnant. I mean, technically possible but... no.] Then he said that he had told me I wasn't being poisoned, which has been my latest self-diagnosis. We'll see.

I have spent the past two weeks trying to figure out what to do with Caroline and Edward next year. In another part of the country - say DC - I could call any one of the million or so church basement preschools and sign the twinkles up for two mornings a week of wholesome, mommy-free, paint-filled play. For some reason, though, Minnesota does not start nursery schools until three. This wasn't so much of a problem with Patrick because he turned three at the end of June and started preschool in September. Caroline and Edward do not turn three until the end of December which means they are a year and a half away from being able to go anywhere. There are, of course, lots of communist playgroup options but I don't know. Early Childhood Family Education (aka commie playgroup) requires parental involvement: first I am supposed to play with them in the classroom for an hour then I get to leave them with the teachers so I can talk about them for the next hour; and although there is a lot to be said for this... I just don't want to do it. I want to drop Caroline and Edward off with some nice woman and a pack of other children and return three hours later to graciously accept cottonball bunny art that I had nothing to do with either creating or cleaning up after.

Any thoughts? Are you local and know of a preschool that takes two year olds? The closest possibility I found was something through the YMCA called Kid's Day Out. This would actually be perfect but it is one day a week and goes from 9 until 2. In order to get them home in time for lunch and a nap I would want to pick them up at 11:30 (supposing they still nap by then - Caroline doubtful but Eddybear likely) and although this is possible it would mean that we would be spending about three hundred dollars a month for eight total hours of childcare which... not so much.

My oldest friend Carrie was in town last week and we went out to dinner, during the course of which I was lamenting my options. She suggested an in-home daycare provider might be willing to have them for a couple of mornings a week, particularly as many might have older kids that arrive after school lets out and therefore have some morning flexibility. Do you think so? How do you even find someone?

What do you do when they are two? I just want them to be able to have some new experiences, preferably in my absence. Please advise.

PS Oooooooh it's an exciting start to the tournament already. Love it.

PPS Thank you for the book recommendations. I got the pie book (um, "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie"?) and am excited to start it but I decided I should probably re-read The Order of the Phoenix first as Patrick keeps asking questions about it. It's a hard book, actually, and I tried to suggest Patrick might want to start it again later but he is pretty insistent despite not being sophisticated enough to get a lot of it. Like he keeps asking me why Harry is being so difficult and angry and my reply "Because he's 15" doesn't help.

Would you believe I had never heard of Skippyjon? What a treat. Thank you.

Comments

[Sarah]

Call one of the day care chains and ask about a part time schedule. The one we use (in your area) transitions from toddlers to preschool rooms at around 2.5 yrs old. Mornings are usually filled with singing, books, art, and outdoor play.

[Sara]

Have you heard of Llama Llama? Llama Llama Red Pajama and Llama Llama Mad at Mama are the two I can think of right now, but they are fabulous.

On the daycare front - I would find a nice college student through the employment center at a local school. You can choose the schedule, and require whatever you want to require and they will arrive at your house to wear the kids out. Or enhance their cognitive development. Whatever you are looking for...

[Erin]

What about head start?

[Becky]

St. Andrew's Lutheran in Mahtomedi has a mom's morning out deal one or two mornings a week. My sister drops her kids off there. I don't think it is too horribly expensive, and her kids have a good time. I don't think you need to be members.

I can find out more info if you need it!

[Linda]

Hilarious post! And, as someone who truly bleeds purple, I LOVE your pick of K-State for the final four. Not so happy about KU taking it all, but, well, we'll take the final four. Go Cats! :)

[Jana]

Please let us know what you think of The Pie Book! Number 2 in the series is already out (and is actually waiting for me at the bookstore along with The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession).

[Tine]

Many local preschools have programs for 2-almost-3-year-olds.

I first thought of Montessori because our kids' school starts 'em at 33 mos. This school is in Richfield. It's probably too far for you -- but if not, here's a link: http://www.augsburgpark.com. We love it. Son went there for 3 years, and now daughter is on her second year there. Love, love, love the teachers and the community and the facility. Did I mention that we love it? :)

This one (http://www.oakhillmontessori.org/programs/toddler/intro.htm) is closer to you, I think, and has an excellent reputation.

This one (http://mtcm.org/school) is also excellent and likely within your desired commuting range. A close friend of mine was intimately involved in its founding.

To find a good home daycare, ask everybody you know for recommendations. Accost parents at Patrick's school. Suggestions from people you know and trust are, obviously, the best ones.

[Bridget]

Hi -
I'm local and I know someone already mentioned this, but I found lots of in-home daycare options with http://www.mnchildcare.org/

The one thing I will add is that in MN they can have up to 10 (TEN!!!) kids for 1 provider. That always seemed like a whole lot to me, but that was when I was looking for an infant and probably not such a big deal with older kiddos. After a lot of looking, we found our provider and she only likes to have about 6 kids at a time. So you can definitely find someone, but it may take A LOT of looking (I think we looked at 8 places).

[Amanda P.]

Ah, the joy of the rest period (mid-night to noon ET) between Thursday and Friday of the first round. If only my team hadn't played the 9:55 game last night, I would have something more amusing to say, I'm sure.

In the meantime - Go Deacs - try not to lose too embarassingly to Kentucky on Saturday!

1 hour until I take my basketball holiday from work!

[Heidi]

Our Montana team couldn't shoot for their lives in the second half last night, so you're good to go with New Mexico...

I read the whole Harry Potter series out loud to my honey (including voices!) and The Order of the Phoenix was my least favorite. So much teenage angst. Wah wah wah.

[Erin]

I second the posts referencing college's or universities. I work at a Tech college in WI and my son (who was 2 in August) goes to daycare there while I work. They have a great staff and students who get their child care experience for their early childhood degrees there.

I know that mine offers drop in for students, staff and the public. They are state licensed and certified and my little guy (who also has a speech delay) has really blossomed since being there. He really loves it. I would check it out early though, as they fill up fast!

Oh, the only downside (besides it being a petri dish) is that they are closed when school is closed - spring break, summer, holiday break. Which may not be bad for you, being home, but sucks for me because I have to find a back up place to take him.

Good luck!

[cindy w]

I've used 2 in-home daycares, and they were both lovely. One I found through a referral from a friend, and another was on craigslist. I've also heard that sometimes school districts keep up with local daycares (centers & in-home both) for parents that need help with siblings and/or before/after-school care. Or maybe your pediatrician's office or local library might have a bulletin board with something like that? Not really sure, but hope that helps!

[Kristin]

GO DUKE!!!!

BTW, you should check out The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. My 13 yr old and I just finished reading it for school and it is awesome.

[Catherine]

Try craigslist for an in-home sitter. Or ask the teachers at Patrick's school where there kids go during the day. Most in-home is word of mouth. I googled a lot and tripped over mine.

[Reese]

Not even going to read what responses may have come up to in-home daycare. Just want you to know that I had my daughter at an in-home daycare and the woman was amazing. I was absolutely crushed when she moved away. She was wonderful with my daughter and was always engaging the children in creative ways.

[Amy]

Not sure what side of the metro you are on - we live in Plymouth and found a fabulous program. Curriculum, organic food, inexpensive, and lots of bunny art. She would do PT. www.lnnest.com

[chantale]

When my son was 2, I had him enrolled very part-time in daycare. Two mornings a week. It started 7am and ran until 12:30pm. $40 a week. Not bad at all.

[Kathy]

I'd suggest you check with your local school. The school in our neighbourhood keeps a list of childcare providers, and although we didn't end up using any of the ones on the list, we got leads from a couple of the ones listed and ended up landing in the perfect place.

[Kathleen]

In-home daycare can be fantastic. My son is 17 and I still miss the wonderful woman who cared for him from ages 6months to 3 years two days a week from 9-noon.

Have you considered trying the program you found and letting the twinks stay until 2? If they each lunch and have naptime there instead of at home, that could work out.

We are also of the Way. For the first time we have tickets to three of the games (Regionals) and are beside ourselves.

[Genevieve]

Sittercity.com has been a really good resource for finding babysitters. I'm only on there looking for occasional sitting, but I always see nannies/sitters on there looking for regular work as well. It seems a little more secure than craigslist - you're only answering ads put there by people who have registered because they want to babysit, and they often list their references.

By the way, I don't know if you have any thyroid issues, but if you do, then magnesium to fight migraines is not a good idea. Magnesium lessens absorption of thyroid meds -- so when I started taking magnesium supplements to help with migraines, I made my Synthroid thyroid meds less effective, and it took a long time to figure out what was wrong.

[Leslie]

Go Lobos!!!!! I am thrilled that my team allowed you to stay in the suicide tournament today.

[Cathy]

I'm not sure where you would look to find them, but Mother's Day Out's are a dime a dozen around here. My cousin's three boy's went from the time they 18 months old until they started kindergarden. The baby went four days a week when he was four. They're mostly in churches here, and not hugely expensive. Broc made all sorts of wonderful stuff and had to go in costume at least once a month!

Oh, I've been wondering ever since your simptoms started if you might be pregnant. You at the hormones going berzerk time of life and most anything can happen. I know of a woman who has a record that closely matches yours, except she had twins first. Her little surprise is almost a year old. Just saying!

You might tell Patrick that Harry Potter is so angry because he keeps losing everything that is important to him And it keeps falling to him to go after Voldermort. It's espicially in Phoenix because nobody believes him. He saw Cedric die, Voldermort come back, and then fought Voldermort off and nobody believes it happened. Top it off wit the fact that the only family he's ever known treats him like crap and it makes for a very angry boy! I might hide Half Blood Prince and Hallows away for a year or two, I think they are way above a seven year old. I don't think they are emotionall mature enough to handle them. SPOILER Hedwig and Dobby dying nearly did me in! I'm still irratated she killed them off...Fred too. END SPOILER

Well that would be my assvice for the day.

[Libby]

Oh Jayhawks, why have you forsaken us? I had them to win the whole thing as well. And I love that you love The Big Dance. It's my favorite sporting event ever.

[marion]

OMG. I don't usually use Netspeak, but I think watching KANSAS lose in the SECOND ROUND qualifies. Especially on a day on which Josh Lomers suddenly turns into a towering force on the floor. Crazy days for those of us who share the Faith...

[Ruth]

I am from Iowa. I cannot be anything but THRILLED that UNI played so well today!!

[Haus]

I am an Easter-and-Christmas-only sort of believer, but when the major holiday rolls around, I follow the Faith as well.

Since KU tanked tonight, I'm left cheering for K-State (which is my first love anyway) and my beloved Badgers (we'll see how they do). My husband is thrilled that UNI stomped KU. He grew up in Iowa, I'm from Kansas -- Mom always warned me that interfaith marriages were difficult...

Hope you like Sweetness as much as I did!

[Jenni Booth]

book: "Things to do with toddlers and twos"

[april]

have you looked into montessori schools? they usually start before 3, and have multi-age classrooms. might be a good option!

[babelbabe]

also a rabid Duke fan. altho I wept a bit to see X defeat Pitt, but you know, Pitt, you do this every year. I love you but CHOKE. Anyhoo...my 9yo now into it with me, so that's fun.

i think i love Patrick's teacher.

[Melissa]

A Hoosier here, so we're general required to follow the Way. I was basically camped in front of a TV this weekend. Didn't fill out a bracket so I could just ENJOY it this year - and what a year!

My son's in 6th grade and they've had a massive March Madness project that has spanned Language Arts, Math... Each kid got a school and had to research it - famous alums, write to the school for info - write a paper... I'm not even sure what all they're doing.

My poor kid got Kansas! In the beginning he was over the moon about it. By the time the weekend was over, you'd think he'd had money on the tourney!

[sheilah]

So I have the scenario all figured. You are feeling sick because Steve has been slowly feeding you arsenic so that when his shrewish harpy of a wife finally kicks the bucket he can live off her millions as a care-free happy-go-lucky bachelor.

Wait a minute...I just thought of a problem with that scenario...or maybe three of them? Wait...four...

[Annabelle]

And what a fun first weekend of Madness it was...go Cornell!!! go UNI!!!! My bracket is shot - shot! - but I really don't care. When does basketball come on again?

Oh, and sorry - no help on the kidlets and part time care. But it seems as though you've gotten a few suggestions. :)

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