Life on the Road

I got just plain worn out with Nick sometime after his third birthday.  As a single mom, having just come through a divorce from his dad, I was exhausted all the time.  He was having nothing to do with potty training, and it was exasperating, so I gave him the choice to wean or potty train, so that I could have a little respite. 

Much to my surprise, he chose to wean.  His stubbornness knew no bounds…  Still doesn’t, come to think of it.

Ten years later, I started the family thing all over again. 

Jewel still nursed at 3 1/2, and meanwhile I am happily breastfeeding her 10 month-old brother.

I would estimate that Jewel didn’t get any significant portion of her nurtition from “real food” until she was at least two, and the baby doesn’t eat at all yet.  No rush with these two, as life is more tolerable this time around. 

Breastfeeding is a hot topic for us.  In addition to all the well-documented scientific proofs of how much better it is, we believe that it is part of God’s plan for women aned families, and carries a lot of benefits that haven’t ever been studied or quanitified.

So Jewel was left in charge of her own weaning timetable.  Of course as she grew older the nursing requests came less and less often.  For a while it was only at bedtime and in the morning.  Then Papa took over bedtime, and it was only mornings…  But it was also there when she was sick, or fell and got hurt, or …

On Saturday, January 3, we’d had a busy day of running around.  Jewel had gotten cold, and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt of Nick’s.  We called her a Jawa… then had to explain that to her, and realized that we need to watch Star Wars!  But I digress.

As we were getting ready for bed, Jewel announced that she was a weaned Jawa.  Nobody was quite sure whether that was part of the Jawa game, or if she meant it – and even so if she would keep meaning it.  She’s said that once or twice before, but it never lasted past bedtime…

The next morning, Jewel took a pretty serious fall.  While observing her for a possible concussion, I nursed her.  But (when things calmed down) we continued talking about her weaning announcement.

Since then she has asked to nurse several times.  Each time I have responded with, “Oh, really, I thought you were weaned?”

The subject changes, and we go on about our business.  I would still nurse her if she asked again in that dialogue, but she hasn’t.

A week and a half later, at her age, I think we’re probably safe saying it:

Jewel is Weaned.

Time to throw a party!  Much more significant as a coming-of-age milestone than 12, 13, or 16, if you ask me…

Any ideas what we should do?

I really like having photos around.

When I visit my mom, it’s fun to look through the photo albums from when I was a kid.  I know there is a lot of stuff there that I enjoy seeing over and over again, and there are definately things I wish we had more pictures of.

So I’ve been really conscious of getting formal pictures taken of our family, as well as taking plenty of pictures ourselves at every opportunity.

Wolf and I were married on Leap Day 2004, so the Fall of 2004 was the first “family portrait season” for us.

I think it really helped us build a feeling of ”family identity.”  I enjoy the pictures of us all, and I made sure to do one of Nick and Wolf, which I think is really priceless.

For 2006, we did camo.  This idea was in honor of Jewel’s favorite clothes – and Papa, who is from the same little town in Mississippi as Mossy Oak.  We even carried a 6′ artificial pine tree with stuffed black bears through the mall to use as a prop!

Isn’t this the cutest photo?

Jewel even brought a very special Lego creation to be immortalized with her!

Okay, it’s a bad play on words…  Best I could do!

Jewel have been struggling with a cold/flu/ear infection thing for a couple of weeks now.  R.T. was sick, too, and is now cutting his two top front teeth.  Want to talk about sleep deprived?

It’s sad when one of the highlights of your Christmas celebration is the fact that the Walgreens 24-hour Pharmacy is open to refill your migraine prescription.

Wolf is working 12+ hours a day, 6 days a week over at Knaus Berry Farm.  Hard, physical work, starting a 5 am.  There has got to be a better way…

And Nick is gone for two weeks to California.  It’s his year to spend Christmas with his dad, and I miss him.

Luckily, I don’t have to be scintilating today – Practical Homeschooling is hosting the 157th Carnival of Homeschooling: A Carnival of Reflections (including my last post). 

Enjoy!

Our family is featured on the home page of the Yahoo Group Teens and Tots!

Click over just to see a cute picture of me with Nick and Jewel (last summer at “The Home Place” at the Land Between the Lakes preserve in Tennessee), but if you find yourself with two distinct ages of kids you might want to check the group out, as well…