One of my favorite places on earth: the library.
Photo of Mommy by Livia Raine. (Perhaps Liv should join the DPP next year!) I’m thinking I look kind of old on this last day of being 32. It’s good for a photographer to put a pic of herself online every so often, keeps her humble. Or something like that. At the very least, it’s good to be on the lens end of a camera, even one wielded by a six-year-old in the library.
This image accurately depicts life in the Tredway household today. Livia was up in the night with a stomachache and the remainders of a cold. Jeremy was up most of the night with a whopping head cold and now it seems to have turned into something a little more flu-like with fever and chills.
It’s been a couch-focused Saturday with plenty of television consumption.
But the Christmas trees have all been trimmed, the December Photo Project is rolling along beautifully, and staying at home for a day is a good deal for my little family. Let’s hope everyone feels better tomorrow.
One more thing. GO BIG RED! Let’s win that Big XII title tonight.
While visiting Andrew in Chattanooga, I had the privilege of hanging out with several of my blog friends. These are all women I had either met in real life many years ago or at least passed in the halls of Covenant College countless times. So I can’t say it was all that daring of a blogger meet-up. But it was a huge delight to see them in the real world and to watch their children play with Livia. The biggest thing that struck me was how beautiful these gals were in 3-D. Words and images on a screen can only do so much. They were all sweet, kind and lovely–and fun mamas to boot.
From left to right: Jocelyn of BryantChatt, Me, Moriah and baby Arianna of Please Pass the Salt, and Alli and Tebow of Always, Alli.
Livia ran around and played with all the kiddos. I think she and Fuller especially hit it off. Check out Alli’s adorable pic here.
Fun = Your papa, your favorite cousin, and a swing. Good times, pure and simple.
At the end of a long day of kindergarten, sometimes an episode of Scooby Doo is just what a girl needs.
I am crazy about this kid.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
– James 1:7
I praise God for this child, for the fun of being together on a Friday afternoon and doing special things together like drinking Sonic slushies and going to the lake.
I praise God for this world He’s created—that Livia loves to explore—and for the creatures like ducks and caterpillars that bring her such delight.
I praise God for her chubby kid cheeks that will someday morph into a more slender shape. I praise God that He has given such a beautiful child to me to love and care for.
This unchanging nature of our God brings me such relief and profound gratitude. He doesn’t change. His goodness can’t be altered. Praise God.
Under the headline “Why getting messy can be good for children,” The Macomb Daily newspaper printed my photo in their Sunday, July 18 newspaper.
It was pretty cool. Here’s the photo:
If you Google muddy child, (and if you ignore the horror show shot of one particular small child, eek!) then Livia’s image will immediately pop up and that shot will lead you to this blog post. I believe that’s how a journalist from the Macomb Daily found me. We conversed back and forth via email and I submitted several images for consideration. I also gave a small email interview and was then quoted in the article.
Like most other papers, the Macomb Daily doesn’t publish every last article online, but I wish I could link to this one so you all could read it! I think I come off sounding much smarter and more professional than I really am. [wink, wink]
“We’ve always known that kids and play are just a natural combo,” [Dr. Michele] Borba said. “But new research also shows that letting kids engage in self-directed play has immense value for their social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth.”
Rebecca Tredway, 32, would agree.
The former middle school teacher and freelance photographer—whose blog, View From the Prairie Box—provides readers with a daily dose of images and stories about life in America’s Heartland—said, as a mom, she tries to value childish fun and exploration over cleanliness and easy parenting.
The article goes on, with a little more quotage by yours truly, to detail the benefits of messy, independent play for young children. If you’d like to read it in its entirety, you’ll have to stop by for a cup of coffee sometime. I have exactly one hard copy in my possession.
You can see the rest of the mud photo series on my Flickr account. My favorite shot is this one.
Two weeks ago: Is it kindergarten yet???!!!! [bounces around the house with glee]
Tuesday night: Tomorrow I start kindergarten!!!!! [bouncing, glee, etc]
Wednesday 7:02am: It’s kindergarten today!!! [a little less bounce because it’s early in the morning, lots of glee]
Wednesday, 7:47am: Backpack, sidewalk notes, lunch!!! [big smiles]
Wednesday, 8:04am: [The tide turns. Emotions on edge, finally spill over into tears.]
But I want to take my dollies to school! Waaaaah!!
Wednesday, 8:12am: I want to go home. I want to go home. [said in a whisper while clinging to mommy’s leg amongst the millions of schoolchildren and their parents]
Wednesday, 8:13am: Mommy is forced to be strong while blinking back tears of her own.
Wednesday, 8:15am: Child is safely and peacefully walked into classroom. Mommy holds Daddy’s arm and attempts to be brave.
Wednesday, 8:47am: Mommy thinks school is a *brilliant* idea, marvels over the fact that it’ll go on, day after day, until May.
Wednesday, 1:55pm: School was GREAT! My teacher is so kind; she’s not a yeller! [And the giddy chattering commences until bedtime. Seriously, she couldn’t stop talking she was so excited.]
This wasn’t *the* moment before school as it took place immediately after breakfast when Livia slung on the backpack and checked out a dead moth on the front porch. Hair unbrushed, teeth unbrushed and shoeless, but my kid is excited to start school!
We stepped outside to sweet notes on the front and back walks. Who was our Mystery Encourager? Renae! Reneighbor! Love love love it.
A peek in her lunch reveals a napkin and a note from Mommy. I hope she likes the heart.
