Mayhem and Magic

A day in the life with a 5 year old boy ...
Yesterday Little Man almost gave me a heart attack by undoing his seatbelt while I was driving him on the interstate. He thought it was quite amusing. After me goin' all "crazy mommy" on him (borrowing this term from my friend Susan who used it about herself when her son did the exact same thing) I HOPE he will never do it again. I think I threatened no TV for a week (as it was happening) and going back to his babyseat like forever, haha. All Positive Parenting techniques that I generallly practice went right out the window! After it was all over I apologized to him for raising my voice, but explained that I was scared because it was so dangerous. He wasn't upset at all, but vowed not to do it anymore. Then I think about how we all flopped around the car as kids and kind of have to laugh at myself.
Then today, he made an angelic remark. He was talking to himself in his little imaginary world like he likes to do when playing, and I asked him what he was pretending to be. He said he was a magician, then told me how his tricks were an illusion and not real life. Then he came over to me and said "Real life magic is love!"
So sweet ... so true! I want to write a song with him now based around that line! :)

Please hold this family in your thoughts and prayers

I haven't written in a week because of a terrible tragedy that happened locally last Monday that I wasn't sure I should write about, but I can't ignore it either as it is all that is on my heart and mind. An old coworker/friend's toddler son and the baby's beloved grandmother died from an accidental drowning. Though I didn't know the victims of the accident, I know the family and as a mom (and a daughter) my heart absolutely aches for them. I have never experienced anything like what they are going through, but I have had traumatic events in my life (the unexpected death of an old boyfriend while I was with him, and the near-death of myself and my baby during childbirth) and the one thing that got me through both of these experiences was the outpouring of love, kindness and support that I recieved. I wish I could take their pain away, or turn back the hands of time, but since I can't I will just keep envisioning them surrounded by a coccoon of love to get them through this most difficult time. I hope that all of you who see this will hold this family's strength, peace and healing in your thoughts and prayers. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}

http://www.theprovince.com/Surrey+woman+young+grandson+pool+mishap/3253329/story.html

A MOMnivores Dilemma

I just finished reading An Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. It is A Natural History of four meals. He attempts to answer the question "What should you have for dinner" and after digesting this book, I can only answer "very little"! From what I understand his book is very much along the same lines as "Fast Food Nation" and "Food, INC" (Both on my list to see whenever I would like to shed a couple of more pounds)
As a mom I am now even more aware of the threats of potential hormones and chemicals getting into my precious child's body. The book tells of the multitude of uneccesary and downright scary ingredients in a certain crack-for-kids fast-food (which my child has had). You would think this item would have two, maybe three, ingredients, when in fact (according to the book)it has thirty eight. One of which, alarmingly, is tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, "an antioxidant derived from petroleum that is either sprayed directly on the (food item in question) or the inside of the box it comes in to "help preserve freshness." According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane (i.e. lighter fluid) the FDA allows processors to use sparingly in our food: It can comprise no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a (certain food item). Which is probably just as well, considering that ingesting a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse." Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill."
Oh, my, my!!! I already wanted to avoid these items anyway for the animal cruelty that I believe is associated with them, but if this is true from a health standpoint I am horrified!
Yet, in the "muddiness" I grapple with, I am sitting here drinking a coffee my husband brought me this morning from the very same establishment and I will sometimes take my son there (right around the corner) on a rainy day to play in their play area and get him something else I consider healthier. Hypocritical of me? Probably!
I, as many of us did, grew up on the place. Even to get my kid a milkshake from there (which I have) I now have to think about growth hormones in the milk and again, not to mention cruelty to the cows separated from their calves and hooked up to milking machines all day. Yikes! Why can't it just be easier! It certainly is easier not to think about this stuff, but when you do ...
Eating organic makes me feel better, but it is expensive. I just amusingly heard someone refer to Whole Foods as "whole paycheck". I have heard some people compromise by buying organic produce that tends to retain chemicals more and non-organic for the produce that doesn't. I just discovered this list of "the dirty dozen" and "clean fifteen" that I found interesting.
Coming away from the book, I have a strong desire to support local organic farmers and the humane aspect to animals is huge to me and another issue altogether. ("Free Range" isn't always actually free range) Yesterday I found a farmers market that I can buy from once a week. That will help, but obviously it is not easy to eat that way all of the time--going to restaurants, etc. Is anyone else struggling with these very issues?

Mama's Chance to Dance

Today I filmed a promo for CMT (Country Music Television)'s "Your Chance To Dance" It is an upcoming TV show where people will compete doing choreography from their favorite music videos. I auditioned to Beyonce's "Single Ladies" which was a b-l-a-s-t, but when I got cast I thought I was going to be filmed in the Beyonce leotard and put myself on a total emergency carb-free diet! Then I found out that I would be dancing to another video in a little more clothing and got to start eating again! I danced to a short routine with four other women to Leann Rimes "Nothing Better to Do". The women were all great; a couple of totally with it young pros, a Titan cheerleader and a Miss Senior USA! Always neat to get to meet new people on these things. We were supposed to be 1920's style jailbirds (in thigh high stockings), got to love playing dress up and getting paid for it. And a man who I did a stage production of "To Kill A Mockingbird" with a few years ago at TPAC was there in a Billy Ray Cyrus costume (read mullet) doing the Achy Breaky Heart dance (along with some other hysterical Billy Rays) Little Man got to have a rare week day out with his Daddy. It was a fun day!

By the way, this show would probably be a hoot to compete on if anyone feels so inclined to have their own "chance to dance"! Will post info as I find it out for anyone who may be interested.

Here's one for my inner flower child ...

When I was about my little boy's age one of my favorite songs was "Brand New Key" by Melanie Safka. It was just such a happy, hooky, fun, innocent feel-good song that totally embodied being a little kid in the seventies.

"I got a brand new pair of roller skates / You got a brand new key / I think that we should get together and try them out you see / I been looking around awhile / You got something for me / Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates / You got a brand new key. / I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car / Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far / For somebody who don't drive / I been all around the world / Some people say I've done alright for a girl..."

Later, as a singer/songwriter I delved into Melanie's music more and so appreciated her clever songs and messages of love and humanity and was very flattered when I was compared to her as an artist.

I had an opportunity to hear her the other night when she did a benefit concert for a musician friend of hers whose daughter is a school friend of my sons. Brother Don Henry was my "date" and we loved getting to meet her. What an amazing night!!

You've got a friend in me

We went to the opening night of Toy Story 3 and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! The whole family did. I was a little concerned about going on opening night, but we got there early and got good seats. There was actually a fun energy surrounding it. The audience applauded when the movie first came on and when it ended ... I love that! The 3-D was pretty amazing, the plot was entertaining and, in parts, heartwarming and sentimental. (The little boy, Andy, growing up tugged at my heartstrings.) These films are really good about tossing little humor-nuggets in for the adults while still keeping it sweet for the kids. All in all it was very fun. I love having an excuse to see Pixar films!

Wild things

My five-year-old boy is obsessed with zoos. Out of nowhere. And now he IS a "Zoo Man". He insists that we go to nashvillezoo.com (funny to hear him refer to it that way) all the time so that we can make lists of all the animals there that are also at HIS (imaginary)zoo. He has a location for his zoo picked out too. It is at Centennial Park ... speaking of 'wild things', he has no idea that his mommy, as a rebellious teen, once innocently hung out and swilled tequilla with the reknowned folk-punk band the Violent Femmes into the wee hours at that very location, but I digress. He is obsessed! When I put him to bed I say "I love you, Little Man" to which he responds "Say I love you 'zookeeper'". "Okay, I love you zookeeper ... goodnight Little Man", "Say goodnight 'zookeeper'!" He has given jobs to everyone he knows at his zoo (I think my job is to either answer questions or swim with the dolphins and his dad is the ticket man) I love his wild imagination, and I hope that all of his wishes come true. However, I am not sure about the potential of owning a zoo. I speak to him about the importance of kindness to animals and have discussed the virtues of having an animal sanctuary instead. And we are going to visit one such place on our trip to the Jersey Shore this summer .. Popcorn Park Zoo, a refuge for abused or abandoned exotic animals and wildlife who get released back to their environment whenever possible. How cool would that be as a family venture?!