age appropriate behavior?

The phrase “age appropriate behavior” does not help me. It invalidates my observations and gut instincts as a mother. I sometimes feel frustrated and let down when I hear those words. And they're said for, what I believe, is one of two reasons. First, the person is trying to make me feel better. Thank you. Your compassion is duly noted, however, your dismissal of my child's erratic and inappropriate behavior as “normal” implies that I am wasting countless hours at therapy, doctor's appointments and crying into my diet coke. Second, perhaps they do not have a full understanding of the situation. “But she's so cute!” Yes, my 3 year old is very adorable in her glasses, but she should be able to say more than two words. Her cuteness does not excuse her lack of speech. “He's so smart!” Yes, he is smart. But his smartness doesn't stop him from running in the road, hiding in the car park and screaming for 10 minutes when I try to coax him into the van.

“Age appropriate behavior” tells me I am the problem. Those well meaning words convey the message that I can not cope with normal children. I must need some parenting education class because Simplicity Parenting, Parenting with Love and Logic, The Power of Positive Parenting, Successfully Parenting At Risk Kids, etc neglected to provide the skills necessary to raise my children.

Those who know so much about child development are right. I can not cope with normal children. God gave me the tough ones because I needed the challenge.

Gluten Free Success.. finally

i have made some nasty tasting, gluten free food. i have proven that it is possible to make chocolate taste disgusting. {a culinary feat, i believe} i have also made brownies taste like edible sand. large pats of butter made my last batch of muffins edible.

tonight, however, my Mulligatawny Soup stole the show. so good, we all had seconds. here is the recipe. i tweaked it from one i found on allrecipes.com. i'm only giving guidelines on spice amounts... make your own to taste.

Gluten Free Mulligatawny Soup
2 carrots, sliced or diced
2 celery stalks, sliced thinly
1/2 onion, diced
1/4-1/2 cup butter
2 chicken breasts, cut into pieces
6 cups of chicken broth
1/2 tsp thyme
1 Tbl curry powder
salt
pepper
1 cup rice, white or brown
1 cup of heavy cream

1. in heavy pot, melt butter. saute carrots, celery and onion. brown chicken cubes
2. add chicken broth, curry powder, thyme, salt and pepper. simmer for 15-20 min.
3. add rice and cook until tender (about 20 mini for white rice, 40 for brown)
4. when rice is tender, slowly stir in heavy cream and serve

If you're not into recycling

consider letting the kids tear apart your old electronics. They can use the parts to make entirely new creations. Like a doll house of one's own. Or a zepplin.

I think Fridays are my new favorite days. I volunteer for a bit at the girls' school, run a book club for high schoolers, then spend the afternoon cleaning while the kids craft and Zerin naps. Last week, Normandy and Meghan made this fairy house using electronic parts from broken items the kids in my book club broke. This week, another friend is making a lego laboratory.

good times.