Boy Mama: Fears and Lightning

I have very vivid memories of thunderstorms from growing up in the midwest. The sky always turned an eerie colour, the winds changed and the air even smelled different.  If a storm occurred during the day, we would go about our normal business, stopping only to be amazed by the brilliant flashes of lightning and the enormous almost earth-shaking booms of thunder. But if a storm happened at night, well, that was a different story. With the darkness, came fear or those brilliant flashes and loud booms.  I remember laying in my bed, covers pulled tightly to my chin, my pillow draped over my eyes and surrounded by stuffed animals as the thunderstorm raged with full force. And, on those nights, when the pillow, blankets and stuffed animals were not enough to soothe me, the only thing that did work, was to make my way to  my mom’s bed and the safety she offered. The problem there was that I had to get from my room, through the connecting bathroom to her room.  Normally this would be no problem, but during a storm, it presented a huge problem. I had to figure out how exactly to get out of my bed and into her bed between cracks of thunder. I remember laying there thinking, “Okay, now! Go!”  but I had waited just one moment too long or the storm was too bad and there was another crash and I had missed my opportunity.  Then, just as if by luck, I would throw the covers back, grab my pillow and a stuffed animal or two and make the mad dash to my mom’s bed where she would put her arm around me and all my fears of the storm would fade into a deep sleep.

Thunderstorms are a common weather event here.  I cannot even count how many evenings I have stayed awake watching the lightening streak the sky and light up the city.  The fear I once had is now gone and what is left now is fascination.  I am amazed by the power and force of the storm. How it commands attention and lures you into its web.  I made a decision that I was not going to allow my sons to fear the storm as I did when I was younger. Instead, I was going to instil in them that fascination and awe that I now have.  So, on nights when the skies are lighting up, we cuddle up in bed, turn off the lights and watch the light show. We high five at the really big ones and boo and hiss when we miss seeing a big strike or one is hidden behind a nearby skyscraper.  We talk about each strike as if it is a friend and I answer each one of their questions as best I can.  

My sons are now just as intrigued by the storms as I am and I am so pleased. This time together is like a secret we share and I cherish that time so much. As I watch them watch the storm, listen to the stories they have to tell and answer their questions, I envision them grown up with a child (or two) cuddled up in bed enjoying the amazing light show that nature has to offer.


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There was another huge storm today.  The day began with blue skies and comfortable temperatures, but as the day progressed, the temperature dropped, the blue skies disappeared and cold, grey clouds moved in.  As we walked home from school with the rain just beginning to fall, we decided that today was the perfect day to make a Thundercake.  The recipe for Thundercake comes from Patricia Polacco’s book by the same title. It is a wonderful story of a young girlwho is afraid of thunderstorms. Her grandmother knows of her granddaughter’s fear and asks her to help her make a Thundercake to distract her from the storm. The ingredients have to be gathered, the batter prepared and the cake has to be in the oven before the storm arrives. The grandmother’s plan works, the girl learns not to fear the storm and they enjoy the cake as the thunder rumbles above.

© Boy Mama Teacher Mama 2012

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Boy Mama: Getting There is Half the Battle

My son recently started Kindergarten. After the first few weeks of school, he decided that he wanted to go to after school care with his buddy.  I looked into it and found out that it was a great program so I signed him up to go once a week.  When his first day of after school came around, I thought, how I am I going to make sure he remembers that he needs to go to after school care and not freak out when I am not there at pick up time.  I jotted a quick note to his teacher asking to give him a gentle reminder at the end of the day, but I know how the end of the school day can be and his teacher may not remember to remind him. So, I created this reminder for him.

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So, every Wednesday morning I clip the reminder on his bag so he knows where to go after school.  Then when he gets home in the afternoon, I take it off and put it aside for the next week.

Mamas Directions: Creating a Backpack Reminder

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1. Print the words, “After School Care Today” on a piece of white paper. Or whatever words you choose.

2. Cut the paper into the desired shape. I created a star.

3. Glue the white shape onto a heavier piece of colored cardstock or cardboard and cut it out again leaving a small amount of the colored paper showing around the edges.

4. Cover the back and front with clear packing tape so it doesn’t rip.

5. Punch a hole in it and tie it onto the zipper or on a clip on the backpack.

Related ideas:

Here is another reminder tag I made for my son.  Karate takes place during recess time and if I am not there to remind him to go, he won’t remember! So, I place this reminder tag on his backpack or on his lunch box so he doesn’t miss class.

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I created this name card for his backpack as well as just in case it goes missing. This goes on the clip and stays there!

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A little worn, but still works! 🙂

© Boy Mama Teacher Mama 2012


Boy Mama: A Sincere Apology

I was grumpy with my son last night. I hate when I get that way because of what is going on in my head.  I put him to bed and then curled up in my own bed and began to think. I began to think about apologies and how important they are and, how the lack of an apology can be just as devastating as whatever it is that needed the apology in the first place. And I began to think about how a sincere- truly sincere apology can be, well, magical.  It can make the hurt go away and make you feel as if someone has wrapped you safely in a warm blanket after being chilled.

When my son woke this morning, I cuddled up next to him and apologized- a sincere, heart-felt sorry.  He looked at me and said, “You don’t have to apologize, Mom.  I know you didn’t mean it.”  Wow. Later that morning my youngest threw my eldest’s breakfast on the floor. This, of course, incited a small crisis between the two of them.  Wisely thinking, my youngest retreated into his room for a bit and when he reappeared he went right up to his brother and said, “Sorry, C.”  I held my breath an hoped that my son would do what we practiced- just say, “Thank you.” (We never say, “It’s okay” because it is often not okay, but simply saying, “Thank you” works) I hoped that he would not turn his back on this apology nor give his brother an evil, unforgiving look. And he didn’t. He looked his little brother right in the eye and said, “Thanks, T.” Wow. Proof positive that a sincere apology is magical.

boymamateachermama.com i'm sorry image

© Boy Mama Teacher Mama 2012

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