Years ago, when J was just a toddler, I was gleaning wisdom from a woman in our church who had 7 children, but only had 2 left at home. Here I was with a preschooler and a toddler, balancing work and raising little ones – and little ones who required a bit more parenting than some – wondering whether it got easier.
And she told me, “they need you more as they get older.”
Really?
And here I am now, realizing that oh that is so true.
Yes, Kgirl no longer has meltdowns over too many people, or how her shirt or shoes rub, nor does she change clothes 13 times a day like she did when she was 3.
Now she does most of her schoolwork on her own, she can completely handle any task in running this household, if I asked her, and often if I don’t.
She can knit, and sew, and cook. She helps me publish our homeschool group’s monthly newsletter, and can put together a website using WordPress with very little help anymore.
She’s quickly become a very skilled young lady.
But, she still needs me to be there for her. As does J.
The need is different. When the kids were little they needed more physical energy from us – raising little ones is very physical work.
But as they grow older and are able to do so much more on their own, they need much more intellectual and emotional energy from us – and time. Fully engaged time.
Now, they have questions and comments that require more thoughtful and thought-provoking answers. It’s no longer about facts and figures – they look that up themselves.
Now instead it’s conversations about other conversations, happenings, politics, spirituality, opinions, culture, books, TV, and movies. It’s discussions about plans and possibilities, and faith. It’s about what they are thinking about, about moving on to adult, and about memories and understanding the context of those memories.
The kids will – and should – own their own opinions and thoughts, and beliefs. But it is through their questions, our discussions, and their own ponderings and observations that they form their opinions and beliefs.
I love having these conversations with my kids – to learn what they are thinking, and how they are thinking. It’s not necessarily a time to correct them but rather to explain a nuance or my position, or even just to be quiet and listen, and to ask a question that allows them to ponder further.
Granted my kids prefer to have these conversations late, at the end of the day when the Youngers are already in bed, and that makes for some very late nights. But the time is important. I won’t ever be able to get back the time with them. I’ll never have the opportunity to have these conversations and discussions again.
One day, in the not so very distant future, they will be off, consumed with their own worlds. Now, it is their time to explore who they are and where they fit, and what they think of the world. I am so glad that I’m able to be part of that.
It’s been a while since I’ve shared any pictures of the kids, so I thought I’d re-introduce everyone to you…
Even though the kids are all roughly 2 years apart, I refer to them in two distinct groups: the Youngers and the Olders.
The Youngers
Z, age 10 and Little E, age 8, and Me
The Youngers are Little E and Z. Though I’m going to have to come up with a new nickname for Little E, cuz at 8, she’s not so little anymore. The youngers are my elementary students, and my awesome board game team members. They do a lot together, and are very close.
The Olders
J, age 12, and Kgirl, age 14
The Olders are Kgirl – who is a very responsible 14 – and J – who looks 14 but is really 12. These two have always been close, but now are busy with their own worlds and exploring who they are and where they fit individually.
Kgirl is my right arm, the anchor in the family when I’m not available. J ensures we all laugh and spend lots of time outdoors. Both make sure Greg and I have plenty of late night conversations, as that’s their favorite time to hang out.
The Extroverts and the Introverts
Little E and J are my extroverts. They need their energy banks recharged with social interaction a couple times a week or they drive me crazy with their moodiness and meltdowns.
Z and Kgirl are my introverts. They need their energy banks recharged every day with hours and hours of personal time. If we are out doing activities too often they drive me crazy with their moodiness and meltdowns.
But no matter how they drive me crazy, they are awesome, fun, and fabulous. And I wouldn’t trade them for anything!
Well, even after the disappointment that Grandad’s long awaited trip was postponed (thanks to the icy weather we had here in Texas), Little E’s still had a fantastic Saturday – she attended her very first concert!
The Imagination Mover’s were doing two shows here in Houston, but we choose to go to the early show so we didn’t conflict with Z’s special time that evening.
We left the house around noon, picked up some lunch from E’s favorite fast food place, and headed into the Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Houston.
We made really good time and were anticipating have some extra time beforehand, but unfortunately hit road construction just before our turn off and ended up being late
But the staff at the Verizon Wireless Center were great. We picked up our tickets from Will Call and an usher took us to our seats, navigating us through all the preschoolers dancing in the isles.
Because of our late entrance, we missed most of the pre-show, but our timing had us face to face with Geniveive while she was performing in the isle. (whoops!)
Little E had a fantastic time watching the Imagination Movers perform, and particularly loved seeing Nina perform with the Imagination Movers. Rather than describe her reactions, I thought it would be more fun for you to see it in this video of snapshots I took during the show:
Little E was probably the oldest kid at the show, as the audience was mostly made up of preschoolers , including a few little fans in their own blue jumpsuits . But E thoroughly enjoyed the show.
The Imagination Movers do a great job of connecting with the kids, and take turns going out into the audience, and covering the various areas of the floor crowd.
Mover Smitty did a really good job making eye contact with the kids in the audience in front of him, which thrilled the little boy sitting in front of us.
Little E really wanted to meet Nina, but that opportunity didn’t come up. So instead she really studied Nina’s costumes, dancing, and singing style, and took those lessons home to pratice in her own “performances”
After the show, the ushers handed out pamphlets which turned out to be mini-posters of the Imagination Movers.
E was thrilled at that too, jumping around later exclaiming, “My first poster! I can’t believe I have my first poster!” It is now hung prominently on the back of our front door for all to see
In all, it was just as fun to take her to the Imagination Movers concert as I thought I would be. My kick though was in watching my girl’s eyes shine and all her facial expressions as she took in the show.
Many thanks to Tiffney with the Imagination Movers Street Team for making this experience possible for Little E.
If you’d like to check out if the Imagination Mover’s “In the Big Warehouse” Tour is coming near you, be sure to visit the events page at http://imaginationmovers.com
Exciting News! Little E and I get to head out to the Imagination Movers’ concert this weekend! We’re so excited!
E and I have been fans of the Imagination Movers since their music videos first premiered on Playhouse Disney and on “unschooling” days we’ll often watch their television show on Playhouse Disney.
When the Imagination Movers’ Big Warehouse Tour was first announced, Little E asked if she could go, but it’s just not something we normally would do, for multiple reasons.
But I did look into it, because I knew it would be a fun special thing for Little E and I to do together.
But unfortunately, the tour dates for Houston conflicted with one of K’s activities and with a rare visit from my dad (who lives on the west coast.)
But at the last minute, K’s activity was cancelled and Dad’s trip was postponed. BUT… just a few hours after I told the kids that their Grandad wasn’t coming this weekend, a last minute opportunity to go to the Imagination Mover’s concert arose. Very cool!
Surprised that I even like the Imagination Movers, K asked me why. After all, she’s a teenager, and she doesn’t get why a mom would like a kids show with four guys dressed up in jumpsuit dancing around and signing.
Well… the answer is quite simple.
Because… they reinforce messages and values that I want my kids to learn -and it doesn’t hurt to have the same messages reinforced in my own brain.
Just take a look at their motto:
” Reach High, Think Big, Word Hard, Have Fun”
What mom doesn’t want her kids to have that message reinforced?
If my kids learn that motto and take that into their adult life, it’ll be a good thing.
Besides the Imagination Mover’s music is fun, high-energy, and catchy – and that helps drive home the message too, especially in kids that love music, like Little E and Z.
I love the fact that the Imagination Movers reinforce problem solving and that encourage big ideas, and lots of them. There are too many other things out there that will steal our kids dreams, they need the messages that their dreams are worthy, that their ideas are good, and that they can accomplish what they set out to do.
If you are new to the Imagination Movers, here’s a couple video clips. The first is their theme song – sung with every episode. You can’t beat the message:
“We had a problem, but we figured it out…”
And then here’s a clip of their Brainstorming song. What a powerful message to learn, and reinforce.
Anyway, The Imagination Movers’ Big Warehouse Tour is going to be here in Houston, February 11th and 12th at
The complete Imagination Movers’ tour schedule can be found on at http://www.imaginationmovers.com The Big Warehouse Tour runs from February 2011 to May 2011, hitting most major and mid-sized cities in the U.S.
If you have the ability to expose your children to the Imagination Movers -either through their music, the television show on Playhouse Disney, or even to make one of the concert dates, I recommend doing so.
I’d like to invite you to follow along on a wonderful international adoption story. Adoption has a special place in my heart, for seveal reasons, but this adoption story is special because it came from a dream that God put in the heart of one of my daughter’s friends – Emma.
Emma is a sweet girl, with a big heart, and because of her dream and persistence with that dream, this month, God willing, her family will be adopting a new brother or sister for Emma and her sister from the Ukraine.
Yes, this month my friend Courtney, her husband Cliff, and their daughters are in the Ukraine on the next step in their international adoption journey.
I have been so lucky to have this amazing family part of my life for the last four years, and I know that they are going to be enriched beyond measure through this adoption.
Courtney is chronicling their international adoption story and sharing bits of their experience in the Ukraine and the process of adopting internationally. She’s a beautiful writer and their story is captivating.
And, if you are up for it, please join me in praying for them as they find and meet their new son or daughter, navigate the paperwork and approval process, and bring their new child home.
…Shannon
P.S. If you are considering adopting internationally, be sure to read through the archives on Courtney’s blog. She’s done a fabulous job of sharing the steps they have gone through, the milestones and the trials. It will give you a very real example of what it’s like to adopt internationally.
The youngers are my elementary students, and my awesome board game team members. They do a lot together, and are very close.
Geniveive and D.C. from Choo Choo Soul do the pre-show for the 
The Imagination Movers do a great job of connecting with the kids, and take turns going out into the audience, and covering the various areas of the floor crowd. 
After the show, the ushers handed out pamphlets which turned out to be mini-posters of the Imagination Movers.
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