Keeping it Real

Well, the kids are no longer undefeated, Parents have scored one.  We do have a long ways to go to catch up, but it's always nice to even the score a little.  While I am a slightly biased reporter, events transpired somewhere along these lines.
Ella and Madeline were playing with Gabby, who always makes them second guess the validity of their parents requests.  After several failed attempts to have them come inside for bedtime, Ryan decided to have a sit down talk with Madeline and Ella.  Now, Bethany (my younger sister) has some experience with Ryan's sit down talks- and she confessed to mom and dad that she would much prefer to have mom and dad yell at her than one of Ryan's sit down talks.  When we worked with birthmothers who would milk you for everything, we would sometimes intervene with what we called a "Come to Jesus" talk.  Ella had a Come to Jesus talk last night.
Miraculously, she was too tired to talk when she finally got in from playing with Gabby.  After the whining, rolled eyes, rebellious looks, and why's, we finally had a good conversation.  Then, we asked her to got ready for bed, and she refused.  Ryan came to me and told me he was getting ready to spank her.  I asked him if he thought that was what was best, as we have a goal to use spanking as a very last resort.  He spotted the "if you don't get out of bed and get dressed quickly you'll get squirted" water bottle on my sink, where I'd used it just that morning.  "No", he said, "I think this would work better."
He went into our bedroom where queen Ella was sitting on her throne reveling in how she had won when Ryan sprayed her for all he was worth.  Ella is like a cat, can't stand to be wet unless she is playing in the water.  She went to bed quickly, and I have hidden the water bottle, because the girls have threatened that they are going to get us.
Today, we are working further on quick listening.  It's exhausting.

"These is my Words"

With reckless abandon, I stayed up until 12 last night, finishing the story of Sarah Prine.  Reckless abandon indeed, knowing that children are no respecter of late night readers.  Alone in my bedroom, the windows open, the door closed, I was another woman; separated from the insatiable needs of a household, husband and four young children.  I was transported to the wild west, to the Arizona territories and the heartache and triumph associated with those early years:  tragic Indian relations, rough terrain, fluctuating weather that meant life or death, and death around every corner.

The adventure sucked me in on about page 4.   The developing and lasting romance with Captain Jack Elliot tickled my tummy.  He referred to her as General Elliot, and considered himself outranked when she requested something of him.  Except when it came to him leaving home to fight the Indians- he longed for adventure.  His love for her and her love in return for his was remarkable.  Both enabled the other to be who they were. 

The dependence on community for survival was refreshing and inspiring.  Such comfort and healing existed in the relationships forged with Sarah's sister-in-law, her Mexican neighbors and her family.  Births and deaths were times of love and fellowship. The births were attended by all the women nearby- they all helped the mom bring the baby into the world.  Birth was a joyful event.  They believed that at times of death, as many loved ones as possible should be around to help the dying transition peacefully into death.  

Most lovely of all was Sarah's indomitable spirit.  Her future husband "lost his heart to her"  as he witnessed her Annie Oakley style sharp-shooting skill.  Often she lamented she wasn't more peaceful as her loving quaker sister-in-law Savannah.  She vowed after reading a book called The Happy Bride that she would practice it's teachings including: becoming more religious, learning to be a "righteous example of piety and purity, virtuous to a fault, kind and sharing."  She is so real and so wonderful.  You love those she loves tenderly, and despise with real emotions those who hurt Sarah or her family.

Definitely one of my favorite all time books.