Lesson 12

This is going to be another "twin" post with your brother.

I know, I know. A long time since my last post. I know I say it every time, but we've been pretty swamped. Dad had his pacemaker put in, and just as things were getting back to normal around here, he had to go in for his valve repair. That took open heart surgery, and 6 weeks of recovery time before he's getting back into things. Let's see, we got a dog. She was a beagle. She was 7, but she kept doing her business in the floor. Even our bed. We tried our hardest to re-train her, but after 2 months we ended up taking her back to the rescue. You handled it well, Dad didn't even though he's the one that made the call. We've spent the summer swimming, going to the park, and even a couple trips to Paradise Park. We've spent a lot at home too, we got lucky and had a pretty mild summer except for a couple weeks of crazy hot. You've been swinging outside and now that you're walking, you've been running all over. It took us 2 months to find shoes to fit, you have my feet. Sorry. ;) You are all about animals right now. The cats are like living play things for you. You chase them around, run up on them while they're sleeping then come to a dead stop before you gently lie your head on them to hug them. It's adorable. Which brings me to lesson 12...


It's good to care for living things. Even just plants. It's very good for kids to do it. One day, when I have grandbabies, plant them a garden. It doesn't have to be much. We did tomato plants in 2 large planters on our deck and various herbs in some window boxes. You're not really old enough to do much but play in the dirt... you're favorite pastime. Though, you have enjoyed eating what we've grown. Which, after your brother's picky eating, I was hoping you'd be a good eater. Tending a garden helps teach skills. Patience, self sustainability, it grows a knowledge of how to care for plants, and makes kids more willing to try new foods. Right now, our herbs are looking a bit ragged, mostly because it was a learning curve for me, I've never grown and used fresh herbs, but they're great. Much cheaper too, we're going to expand next year I think. If nothing else, $50 will buy you a summer of "something to do" with the kid(s).