Archive for October, 2008

I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions about kids blogging. I originally did a Google search and was freaked about the total lack of all things bloggy for kids. I was actually starting to think about starting a blogging platform for kids, and I have ZERO experience with website building. The things parents will do for their children, eh? But I rephrased the search and wow. Motherlode of information. I’m going to share some of what I found here, not only for the betterment of the internets (snort), but so I have the info at my fingertips. And can finally close the gazillion tabs open right now in Firefox. Princess the PMSing Laptop doesn’t like to work that hard.

Note: I haven’t had a whole lot of time to fully investigate all of these sites, nor have I decided which one I’ll use to set up a blog for A. I assumed that if you’re looking into kids blogging that you’ve decided to not use one of the major platforms already out there. I decided to NOT use one of the major platforms for A because, while they are great for blogging, I don’t think it’s right for my kid. I really don’t want to be hanging over him, teaching him every.single.thing. about the platform (which would be the case because he is that curious). I want him to investigate it himself, with my guidance.

SparkTop–where no two brains spark alike. The site is described as “a Web destination for your child who learns differently. This is a safe place where kids can create awesome stuff … play great games … connect with other kids … and discover new ways to succeed in school and in life.” It’s a totally free site, with no advertising. It’s set up with kids’ safety in mind, with parental approval needed to set up an account. I’ll be setting up an account for A, simply because this site looks way cool. While not actually a blogging site, there is an area to set up a journal.

Edublogs. This is a site for teachers to set up blogs for their students/classes. I love this idea, and since A’s teacher asked me to share with her what I find, I’ll definitely be sharing this. I love that it’s encouraging writing while also teaching technology in the classroom. A’s school is all about technology, so this is something I really hope they implement. I haven’t looked through this a whole lot, but it has promise. It looks simple to use, and customizable, which I know A will want.

Imbee. Calling itself “the first free social network designed for young people,” this is more of a social networking site for young kids/tweens than a blogging platform. Kids/tweens can set up a blog, join groups, make trading cards, stuff like that. I’m less likely to set something up for A here, simply because he’s too young for a social networking site. Maybe when he gets older, but by then there will probably be something different and better.

Homeschoolblogger. Possible for some, but I’m not a homeschooler, and it appears to be aimed at older kids. Older than 7, at least.

Article abound on the internets concerning kids and blogging. Some against, but many, many for. I’m obviously one of the “for.” My son hates writing with the rage of a thousand burning suns (well, maybe a couple burning suns), so if he wants to set up a blog, I’ll do anything to get one set up for him. It’s a place where he’d be able to write what interests him, so I know he’ll probably be writing about science. (His teacher noted that he writes in incredible detail about science, but it’s like pulling teeth to get him to do vocabulary words). It’s a way for him to get even more comfortable with the technology that is going to play a very large part in his future. He’ll become familiar with HTML (and then probably have to teach me), learn how to “do that blue underline thingy,” learn how to be safe on the internets, all while writing. It’s a win-win for us.

So there ya go. Everything (sorta) you wanted to know about kids starting their own blog. Curious to hear how it goes for you.

Mornings are not my best time. Ideally, the boys would get themselves cleaned up and fed and leave me the heck alone until about 9, when I’m considerably more human. Alas, it is not to be. So I try to get them cleaned and fed so that by the time I sit down to breakfast I can have relative silence. Breakfast, coffee, and the paper do wonders to get me ready for the day. And today I read the most amazing article. You can find it here. I guarantee you’ll feel better about…well…everything. That love could survive like that…it’ll put a smile on your face and a tear in your eye.

Ok, a question for those of you in the know. A, my seven year old, wants to start a blog. Not one to discourage writing, especially in one who really needs to improve his writing, I’m all for it. But there is no way he’s setting one up on one of the major platforms. I don’t trust myself to make it safe enough.

Mama Zen, you turned me on to Woogi World, which my boys adore. Do you know of a kiddie blog platform?

Unplug Your Kids, you always have fantastic ideas. Any thoughts?

Anyone? Bueller…Bueller?

Ideally I want something that is safe for him. Something that is relatively simple to use. A way for him to learn how to create links, how to manipulate the internet, as well as write. It’ll pretty much be us, grandparents, maybe his teacher who would be reading it (his teacher LOVES this idea and wants to know what I find out so she has that info in her back pocket for other kids-his teacher ROCKS). It just needs to be safe, creative, fun, and not something I have to hover over him to help him out.

Surely there’s something out there!

If I have to listen to John McCain and his “my friends” one.more.damned.time, I’m going to throw something large and heavy at the television.

End rant.

…but not really. I still have too many emails to count, posts in my reader (please forgive me for just hitting “mark all as read” many a time), a pile on my desk, and bats in the belfry. I bust ass all day and have little to nothing to show for it.

It’s because the days are getting shorter.

I oversleep in the morning because I honestly do not hear the alarm, and it’s still dark and cold in my room.

I slump through the morning, accomplishing what I can half-awake.

I make it through the rest of the day by pure miracle.

I’m tired of the hatred of this election, and of the complete and total tanking of the market.

I’m tired of always feeling behind.

I’m tired of having to plan, to prepare, to be on top of everything and failing most of the time.

Usually these feelings don’t hit til February; yes, it worries me that I feel this way in October.

It’d be nice if the sun came out today.

Enough. Enough whining. More to do, to plan, to prepare today.

Have a great weekend!

J started up violin lessons again this week. He’s so cute with his little violin tucked up under his chin. He’s only four, so we’re taking it pretty slow. My goal is for him to not quit when it gets harder, so making it fun is important. He has a fantastic teacher, so I know it’ll be ok. I know what it’s like on both sides of the music stand, as both student and as teacher.

But I’ve never been the mom of a music student. And holy heck, is it different! I have to force myself to keep my mouth shut during lessons. Part of that is because I was a music teacher for so long. But ay yi yi…so hard.

Not nearly as hard as finding out how much lessons cost. Now, I taught flute lessons forever and a day, so I know it is so important to pay a good teacher what he/she is worth. They do more behind the scenes than you see during a weekly lesson. A lot more. And if you find a teacher who is charging a great deal less than other teachers, please, don’t fall for it. That person is undermining the other teachers in the area.

But I digress.

I know teachers need to be paid. I know they work really hard for what they get (uh, hello? Keeping the attention of a four year old for 30 minutes? Amazing.). That said, I nearly swallowed my tongue when I found out that J’s lessons are going to be $27/half hour. And then group lessons twice a month on top of that, no idea what those are going to cost.

So being the music student mom is going to be quite the change for me. Because instead of getting the checks, I’m now the one writing them.

I have avoided writing about my beloved Cubbies all summer. Nothing. Nada. If there was anything, it was in obtuse language. I am so superstitious about my favorite team that I don’t discuss them. I’d check their record in the sports section, nod and smile, and move about my day. Not.A.Freaking.Word.

Ahem…

FAT LOT OF GOOD IT DID ME THEY ROLLED OVER AND DIED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE FREAKING PLAYOFF WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FRAK?????

There’s always next year…sigh…

I was with my best girlfriends this past weekend, on our twice-yearly scrapbooking retreat. And we watched the VP debate.

Here is something I learned…little of it to do with politics.

Do not play a drinking game during the VP debate with the words change, reform, darn, or (yes, I DID see the SNL skit a few nights later and about wet my pants laughing) Maverick.

Do not play a drinking game during the VP debate after eating a taco salad (minus the flour tortilla shell) from Taco Bell. That is not enough food in the stomach for the amount of alcohol that will hit playing a drinking game during the VP debate.

Do not try to slam Doritos in an attempt to fill the stomach with something resembling food…because then the person who you believe has no place running for VP will say something so over the top stupid you’ll likely snort Doritos into your nasal cavity and that’s not fun. Oh, and Doritos won’t help the food vs. alcohol situation at all.

So tonight I’ll watch the second Presidential debate and will pass on the drinking game. I’m still recovering from the last one.

And if you haven’t seen this…you need to go see it…

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

I was supposed to be a Jillian. Jillian. Somehow I ended up as a Jennifer.

No, not somehow. My poor mom woke up from the anesthesia (this was the early 70s after all, they knocked everyone out!) and found that instead of a Jillian she had a Jennifer. Apparently my dad named me while mom was still under. He liked the name. How she didn’t beat him with a bedpan and that they’re still married after 42 years is a mystery.

The thing is…they didn’t know many, if any, Jennifers. And somehow they ended up naming me the most popular name of the 1970s. And so I was always Jenni T. I was one of fourteen Jennifers in my graduating class…a class of over 400 students, many of whom were from other countries and had names far from being Jennifer-ish.

Funny how now I know few Jennifers. My moms’ group had five at one point, but I rarely see any of those women now.

So now I go by Jen. Tom is the only one who really calls me Jennifer. And my parents/brother/old high school friends are the only ones who call me Jenny.

Kim at Hormone Colored Days wrote a fun post last week: Dear Jen, I love your blog! Do you know how cool it was to read that title? All about the blogs she reads with Jen authors. Fun stuff. Jennifers are taking over the blogosphere…be warned. We’ve hit middle age, we’re technologically savvy, and we’re heavily caffeinated. Watch out, here we come.

Really, if you haven’t seen this, you’re in for a terrible treat. Get a drink. I don’t give a damn if it’s 10 am, you really don’t want to see this sober. I cried. Seriously, politics aside, she’s terrible. As a flutist and flute teacher, sweet Jesus, she’s terrible. Breath support non-existant. No technique. Easiest piece ever. Wanna impress me? Get the fingers moving. Oh.My.God. Get a drink. Trust me.