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December 2, 2008
Baby Sign Language It is so much fun to watch my beautiful 16-month-old niece, Elle, develop her hilarious personality. It is amazing to watch her grow physically and mentally, especially her communication skills. To see and hear her communicating now with her mom and dad is great, and finally solves the mystery as to why she’s crying! Elle is working on her verbal skills, but communicates mainly through sign language. Baby sign language is an excellent way for parents to communicate with a child who hasn't developed her verbal skills yet.
Baby Sign Language It is so much fun to watch my beautiful 16-month-old niece, Elle, develop her hilarious personality. It is amazing to watch her grow physically and mentally, especially her communication skills. To see and hear her communicating now with her mom and dad is great, and finally solves the mystery as to why she’s crying! Elle is working on her verbal skills, but communicates mainly through sign language. Baby sign language is an excellent way for parents to communicate with a child who hasn't developed her verbal skills yet.
December 2, 2008
Lucky me, Talia's Blog
Lucky me, Talia's Blog
We visited the place of rest, a place where I would in no way lay my head.
The place of rest is one of many informal settlements in South Africa. The settlements look like hundreds of makeshift clubhouses. They look like my seven-year-old gathered cardboard boxes and tin and made a place to play. But there are thousands of Africans who live in the settlements. [more]
December 2, 2008
Snowflakes, Professor Mom
Snowflakes, Professor Mom
One tradition T. and I started two years ago (a tradition which, thankfully, has not fallen by the wayside yet) is to make our own paper snowflakes the weekend we decorate the tree. The first year we did these, they were simple paper ones, and I used a hole punch to attach the string at the top. We hung them from the tree, from the kitchen ceiling lamp, from the dining room chandelier--we had white paper snowflakes everywhere. This year we got more ambitious and decorated them with silver and gold glitter. [more]
December 1, 2008
Too..., Talia's Blog
Too..., Talia's Blog
We’re driving cars fast and furious, rushing for the train to get to work on time.
We are feeding our children pop tarts for breakfast; cereal eaten in a stick.
We are noisy, horns beeping, road rage rearing its ugly face.
We are driving though a drive-thru to get a flu shot.
We are just busy, too busy to stop and see the homeless man sitting in a corner in the train station. We run past him.
Too restless to know we need rest. Too busy to notice our business; too busy letting the small things go unseen. [more]
December 1, 2008
Walmart worker killed in shopping stampede
Walmart worker killed in shopping stampede
The day after Thanksgiving is famously known as Black Friday -- the day when stores open before sunrise and offer huge discounts on everything ranging from clothes to electronics. Many people eagerly anticipate the deals to be had, and look forward to getting their Christmas shopping started (or finished), but the incident that happened this past Friday in Long Island, NY both shocked and disgusted me. [more]
December 1, 2008
Unpacking the past (and future), Professor Mom Even though all the evil super mega stores and malls everywhere decide each year to decorate for Christmas the day after Halloween, we pride ourselves on managing to hold out until a day or two after Thanksgiving. When I was growing up, we never decorated for Christmas until about a week or so before Christmas Eve. Every year as a child, I thought I would spontaneously combust on the spot from sheer impatience. I have always loved Christmas and decorating the house for the holidays.
Unpacking the past (and future), Professor Mom Even though all the evil super mega stores and malls everywhere decide each year to decorate for Christmas the day after Halloween, we pride ourselves on managing to hold out until a day or two after Thanksgiving. When I was growing up, we never decorated for Christmas until about a week or so before Christmas Eve. Every year as a child, I thought I would spontaneously combust on the spot from sheer impatience. I have always loved Christmas and decorating the house for the holidays.
November 30, 2008
The boys in Boston, Talia's Blog
The boys in Boston, Talia's Blog
I can hear the trees shifting, as the summer’s warm air travels though their palms. I can hear myself think.
I am thinking how I would enjoy living my life just like this: worshiping with Africans, dancing with Zulus, and laying on a chaise lounge under a beach umbrella by the pool, writing as my son jumps in and out of the water. [more]
November 29, 2008
Three boys, Talia's Blog
Three boys, Talia's Blog
I noticed three boys sitting idly on the grass under a Nando’s chicken sign in a small South African plaza. You can easily tell that they’re homeless, living on the streets, beggars. Two of them were possibly 10 years old and the other about 15. They wore dirt; you could see the dust on their clothes, their heads, and their faces. [more]
November 28, 2008
It's how you play the game, Skadaddle
It's how you play the game, Skadaddle
One of K-Man’s friends gave him the classic board game Candyland for his birthday. At one time or another, just like reading Goodnight Moon, every kid will play Candyland. It may very well be the ultimate starter game (no dice, no counting, no complicated rules). Needless to say, with so many colors (not to mention a space on the board with an ice cream cone), K-Man LOVES to play Candyland as much as possible. Or rather, he loves it when I play. [more]
November 28, 2008
Today we arrived in South Africa , Talia's Blog
Today we arrived in South Africa , Talia's Blog
There is something different about life here. It’s both stirring and stimulating. South Africa is more than its beautiful scenery. It’s more than the mountains, red dirt, and landscape. The Africans are different shades of brown skin, and they’re scenic. I see noses like mine and big bright eyes. I love the sightseeing. [more]
