Garden - the early days

Lately I’ve taken up gardening. I’m not a big “plant guy” or always had a “green thumb”, but I feel like growing your own food seems like a pretty basic and important life skill, so I want to go for it. Not only do I think it is important for me to know how to do that, but it’s important for me to know so I can teach my kids how to do it as well, not only in words but just in practice. They see me do it, they think “if dad does it, it must be important”, so later in life they feel it is important too. It’s a little daunting to think that my actions today influence their whole world view tomorrow. But that’s why I’m growing the garden!


I started the garden in April. I got some growing lights, and some seed germination tray things (more on those later) and ordered the seeds around February or March (I was determined to get a head start this year). It worked like a charm at first. The kids helped me put the seeds in, and I followed the books to see which ones I should plant inside first, and which are not so good at planting inside (carrots, for instance, they said don’t replant very well. Considering they’re all about the root, I guess that makes sense).

Then we waited. And waited a little more. The little seed leaves came up first, and then some true leaves. I showed the kids and it was a great little learning experience. But then something happened. Nothing else happened. They stopped with the first or second set of true leaves, and wouldn’t really do much more.

My theory on what went wrong goes a little something like this: natural is always better. Just like genetically modified foods and factory made things, even “studio” made carbon copy movies – anything made without any heart and soul, not using the earth and natural materials, anything made in a “factory” is destined to not be as great. I want homegrown – like I want my kids to turn out. Not sickly fluorescent light pale city kids. I want tanned and lean country kids. Kids who grow up in the sunshine by the creek skipping rocks and catching toads.

My plants did all right. Some of them died, but some of them lived. The point was they were just a little weak. Just a little pale. Just a fluorescent light copy of what would grow in the sunshine. And if I had to do that again I would be okay, but now I see that sometimes you can’t put a price – or a timeline – on nature.

If I had it to do again I would have used the sunlight near the windows more, or utilized a greenhouse after the true leaves sprouted. That might have been the solar power those plants really needed! :)

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MTV got me feeling SAD

Doing what I know I shouldn't – surfing the web looking at random stuff that doesn't help me culturally or intellectually – it occurs to me how far we've fallen from where we started.  I'm looking around for music on itunes or videos on MTV or CMT and it's amazing how little I can share with my 8 year old daughters.

 

My daughters – one in particular – love music.  I love to share music with them.  There's great music out there.  Good dance music.  But I watch the videos and it's a little shocking.  Most of you probably say "yea, that's a no brainer", but these are so far gone beyond even the Madonna and Salt-n-Peppa videos that were so racy back when I was in High School.  First it was the Doors saying "Light my Fire" and Elvis' hips, then it was Madonna in a bra.  It's kept traveling downhill and I don't know how much farther it can go.

 

In the end, what this means to me is that I feel like a small pebble trying to stem the tide of a huge river.  I'm spending my days reminding them to be honest, to be polite, to be nice to others, to be modest…and then they are getting bombarded with a completely opposite message.  "It's cool to brag, fight, step on others to get to the top…money is the most important thing there is…it's okay to use people and be rude, to use inappropriate language…" – those aren't the lyrics to a song but they might as well be.

 

And who are they going to listen to?  The guy in the glasses and sweater-vest who is soooo lame, or Beyonce?  I'd probably listen to Beyonce if I were them.

 

But, that is all frustration.  The reality is, and I know it is, that even a lonely pebble can turn the mighty river.  I know I'm paraphrasing the actual saying, but it's something like that.  I just have to hold firm to propriety.  Let the waters of incivility wash over me.  But I bet Socrates never had to deal with this kind of thing…

Avatar - the Last Airbender

My family and I are hotly anticipating the REAL Avatar movie coming out soon - "The Last Airbender".  We've recently got hooked on the cartoon, and my 8 year olds and 4 year old love it.  To be honest, my wife loves it too, and I think it's really great.  It's a perfect allegory tale about right and wrong, good and evil, protecting whats right - it's great.  And it's not your typical Manga style, like Yu Gi Oh or something that looks ridiculous.  Its a good story, funny and exciting.

 

Don't get my little quip wrong, though.  I like the James Cameren "Avatar" movie a lot - it just stole the name.  I recommend renting "Avatar - The last Airbender Book 1 - Water" at your local videostore or Netflix.  Even without kids I would have enjoyed it.  But the kids sure make it a whole lot funner.

First season plantings

The kids helped me put down the first indoor plantings of the season. Tomatoes, parsley, green peppers...going to be some tasty marinara in about 70 to 85 days! In the end it was a pretty cheap project - seeds were about 12 bucks for each kid to have their own plant they wanted, and a few leftover for dad. Kitty chose mint and Kassy got Chamomile - they'll be tea drinkers. The most expensive thing was the grow lights, but you don't need them necessarily if you have a good sunlight space in the house. And you won't have to worry about being put on a DEA watchlist.
I never thought I'd be a gardener (not much adrenaline involved) but the kids love it. I'm still cool, right? Just kidding. If you have to ask that, you're probably Not. So, yea. Greenthumb Edie. Greedie. Uber cool.
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When you can't afford bath toys

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THE FUNNY THING IS, I THINK HE WAS JUST AS INTERESTED IN THESE TOY BOATS AS HE IS IN ONES THAT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE BOATS. :)

The power of imagination. And the thing is, if kids don't expect to have everything, they learn to adapt. It wasn't my idea to use the empty shampoo bottles to play with - HE asked to use them before I threw them away. But he asked because he didn't have an expectation of having some fancy toy in the bathtub. He just wanted something, so he came up with an idea on his own.

A kid who is handed toys that speak for him and move for him and take all the imagination away is unable to create worlds for himself when he doesn't have the aid of flashing lights and moving wheels and video games.

So, next time Junior asks to have the newest toy, tell him NO. You'll be a better parent for it.

Cereal for breakfast

we had cereal for dinner. We all got to go to the store and pick out our own cereals. Not something I would normally do, but something that was fun. Not surprisingly, the kids all picked out something sugary. I know its bad for them, but I think its worth it in the long run. A moment on the lips, forever in the memory. It was fun, and sometimes that's all that matters. Not everything has to be good for you.
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