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25 Oct 02 - 08:53 AM (#810963) Subject: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: MMario not that I like to nag...but what is it with parents and grandparents these days? Used to be they would brag about the kids, and you would hear every little detail about them, plus pictures. Every other sentence would be about the kid(s). Nowadays it's like plucking hens teeth to get them to say ANYTHING. c'mon people - have a heart for those of us living vicariously through your parenting and grandparenting! *grin* seriously - comments about various of the younger folk at Getaway made me think of this; and how much I *do* enjoy hearing about the wee ones, and the not so wee ones, as they grow, mature, etc. So how about a little bragging here? |
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25 Oct 02 - 11:26 AM (#811116) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Amos Well, MM, thanks so much for asking. Got an hour? Barky's now well into her first semester at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has fallen in love with the history of Western civilization, has been accepted in the "New Music" performance group, a rare honor for first-year, is loving her classes in music theory, ear-training, harmony construction and her performance tutor. She is living alone for the first time and absolutely flourishing on it from all indications. She's puklling down excellent grades as wlel, as far as we know. Not only that but she is comely, cute, smart, funny, compassionate, resourceful, courageous, and kind! A |
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25 Oct 02 - 11:35 AM (#811123) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: MMario Sounds a great deal like my neice Kim - (did I mention she is in her second year as an Artistic fellow at the Wilma Theatre?) especialy the comely, cute, smart, funny, compassionate, resourceful, courageous, and kind! part. And now that you have so kindly lead off, Amos (thank you!) there's also my psuedo-great neice and god-daughter,Gaia, for whom the same description I'm sure is going to apply. right now she is just mainly cute and snuggly - tends to fall asleep in my arms a lot when I hold her - but that's okay. I *don't* get to see her as often as I would like - but then again, she could be in Texas! |
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25 Oct 02 - 11:43 AM (#811128) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: CarolC My son's a film major at a school out west with a good film department, and strong ties with the Sundance Film Festival. He loves where he is, and what he's doing. And he intends to learn to play the accordion ;-) as well as the guitar (as soon as we can get the instruments shipped out to him), on top of his previous training on the violin and hammered dulcimer. |
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25 Oct 02 - 11:46 AM (#811132) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Troll I was informed about two hours ago that I will be a grandpa sometime in July. Both prospective parents are doing as well as can be expected. Prospective Grandpa is a little numb. Bulletins as conditions warrant. troll |
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25 Oct 02 - 11:49 AM (#811135) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: CarolC Congratulations |
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25 Oct 02 - 12:01 PM (#811145) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: MMario Wow! Congrats GrampsTroll! Carol - I've heard good things re: Sundance Film Festival - nice that he is in a program with ties to that. |
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25 Oct 02 - 12:34 PM (#811168) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: wilco Eight Children: 31 year old married daughter, new baby, youth minister and first grade teacher. 30 year old daughter, two sons, youth monister. 27 year old son, student New, Haven CT. 25 year old son group-home manager. 22 year old son, church organist and music minister. 19 year old daughter, sophomore in college in Alabama, wants to be youth minister. 18 year old son, sr, high school, wants to be taecher and coach, 16 year old son, 10th grade high school. Wants to be in smaller family today. |
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25 Oct 02 - 01:05 PM (#811190) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: EBarnacle1 Gabe, now 11, is turning into quite a person. Despite what I tell him, he's doing fairly well in school. He's also quite a fencer, currently learning epee and foil. On the boating front he recently solo'd in a K1 (Olympic class) kayak. He's getting pretty good at poetry and song composition although he's lagging a bit on his formal music study (Xylophone). |
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25 Oct 02 - 01:24 PM (#811205) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: MMario Where are you that he can get fencing at 11? Around here it's very difficult for anyone to get classes until they reach college level. |
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25 Oct 02 - 01:43 PM (#811218) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Wesley S My little guy Brendan is 22 and a half months old now. He might be having some trouble with his hearing because of fluid build up - we're having tubes put in his ears one week from today on the first of November. We're concerned of course - no parent likes to see their child "put under". But we're convinced it will turn out alright. And we're all a little sleep deprived because it can keep him up at night with drainage problems. He's got lots of personality and gets into everything he shouldn't. We can have a hundred toys in the room and he'll root around to find something toxic or electrical to play with. And if dad should pull out one of his instruments to play he's right there to "help". I don't think I'll have any trouble getting him to play a musical instrument. It might be tough to get him to stop however. And do I have to add that he gets cuter and smarter with each passing day ? And that being a dad this late in life { 51 for me } is more fun than I thought possible ? |
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25 Oct 02 - 02:25 PM (#811258) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: EBarnacle1 Last year, his afterschool program made it available. As an epee man, I got him to give it 5 lessons before making a decision. He decided he loved it. The instructor is a former member of the US national team. At his request, I got him the other two weapons for his birthday. Over the summer, he worked out on epee with me and on Sabre with a former collegiate champion who happens to be a friend of mine. When he returned to the program, the instructor commented on how much better he had become and how he had developed a variety of tactics, instead of simply charging or lunging. There are also several high schools in the New York City system that offer fencing. I suspect that Title IX may have had something to do with it. You could probably use the title IX argument to get your kid's school to start a team. In addition, he has had a few sessions at Metropolis Fencing in Manhatten. En Garde |
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25 Oct 02 - 10:33 PM (#811649) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Janie Wow. An invitation to brag! Our young man Stan is 8-soon-to-be-nine. Afraid he is a bit doted on, as many change of life kids are--but it hasn't seemed to hurt (too much). He has been listening to and playing traditional African drums since he was an infant, and I think percussion will end up being his forte. But he loves messing around with guitar, uke, banjo uke, recorder and keyboard. He makes up great songs and lyrics of his own, but cannot quite carry anyone else's tune. He absolutely abhors any instruction or advice regarding any of these instruments. I have no idea how he will develop musically. He loves listening to music on tape or CD, especially string bands such as the Bing Brothers or Critten Hollow, but doesn't like for me to sing, and live music often scares him--too loud, I think. Very bright and beautiful he is. He loves nature and good, fat books, and fancies himself a soccer star. Did I mention he can wiggle his ears! Janie |
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26 Oct 02 - 08:25 PM (#812093) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Deda Daughter Sheyna is 26, a single (divorced) mom who lives in Israel with my beautiful, sweet-natured grandson Zachy, age 4. Sheyna's a trained chef and works for a private family. She's beautiful, warm, talented, smart and courageous. She's also unofficially engaged to a fellow American-Israeli whose family live in NYC. They're starting to plan a wedding next summer, probably in NY. (Head's up, Amos!) She'll be here for a visit in December -- I can't wait. It's no fun having them so far away! My son, who occasionally logs on here as Bull Am, has just come back from France where he did a lot of street performing, singing and playing guitar, as well as playing in pubs. He actually played at a wedding just before he came home. He's 23, and just a delightful human being -- very smart, very talented, very self-defining, with tremendous integrity and a great heart. And a musician, to boot! He's completely fluent in French, and learned a little Gaelic while he was in Brittany. Now wants to learn Spanish, and put together a group so he can perform some of his own songs. |
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27 Oct 02 - 01:40 AM (#812255) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: DonMeixner Greg will be the best guitarist I have ever heard given the time to develop. Geoffrey has a mathematic mind but he doesn't know it, his skill in Judo and Akido grows daily. Rebekkah is now a fine teacher and will be more so. I am just beyond proud of my children. Especially because they are unique individuals. Don |
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27 Oct 02 - 01:51 AM (#812250) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Chip2447 Okay, from a proud uncle viewpoint. My sister is a single mom raising a very strongwilled 3 year old. Unca Chip has taken quite a shine to this little girl, Ciara (pronounced Sierra) and vice versa. Three weeks ago Ciara was tested for preschool. My sister was told to allow up to 90 minutes for the testing procedure. Ciara finished in 43. Completely astounded the tester. The little girl scored in the 93rd percentile. The lady doing the testing told my Sis that Ciara was too smart for daycare, but she can be a, get this, peer educator... At three years old. Needless to say everyone was pretty proud that day. When this little girl looks into your eyes, ponders a bit and says "We need to have a conversation" exact quote, you suddenly realize that you are dealing with a smart little girl. Once a week, Unca Chip brings her a Sakagawea, Sacky (the new dollar coin in the USA). Not only can Ciara say Sakagawea properly, but she also knows that these are for something very special. As for music, she loves to sing and dance to anything. Her current favorite song and she can sing the first verse and the chorus pretty much by herself is, another get this moment, "Waltzing Matilda" While strolling the the local mall the other day one of the Toy stores had a display of a to electric guitar and microphone set up out front. Without so much as a second thought she prances up to the Mic and starts in with her "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages" spiel. It's hilarious. Quick witted to boot. We have a couple of bells strung between the basement...my part of the house and the upstairs where my sis and Ciara share with my parents. Generally speaking, we use it as an attention getter, rather than yelling back and forth. Ciara has been told that we dont ring the bell unless a grown up tells her she can. Not a week ago, I'm sitting at my desk, and lo and behold ring ring ring. I went up stairs to see what was needed. Funny thing that no one up there rang the bell, and then I noticed a very sheepish grin on a little girl..."Ummmmm, I rang the bell unca chip." this is where you could almost see the wheels turning..."Ummmmm, I forgot to tell you that I loved you and you needed a hug." She's decided at this point to be a doctor. Chip2447(proud uncle, playmate, and gifter of ocarinas) |
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27 Oct 02 - 05:18 AM (#812291) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Liz the Squeak Bratling is 6 1/2 with a reading age of 11. She's devouring Harry Potter books, and anything else she can get her hands on. She's also decided to learn 'a Blacksmith courted me' and has already participated in several singarounds, Paltalk sessions and the world record attempt at endurance singaround in Leigh on Sea this year. She is excelling at school, holds intelligent conversations and apart from a desire to own everything Barbie or pink, is quite a likeable child. Mostly. LTS |
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27 Oct 02 - 06:16 AM (#812308) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Eric the Viking Number one son (15-not his name!) Just week before finished in the sound of music, then without a break was sound assistant/lights rigger for West side story. He has a break for a week, but is rehersing for pantomime. The he'll be singing in the choir for Joseph and the amazing tech colour dreamcoat,before two weeks in panto-all in a major northern (uk) Theatre. He was the only one of over 1000 children who applied, to be allowed to do his forthcoming works experiene in one of the most prestigious theatres in the Yorkshire area-coming March, with the Ballet Rombert. In the last year, he has; leading roles in King and I, sound of music, he has appeared at Dewsbury town hall, Huddersfield McAlpine stadium, Batley variety club, pantomime, Joseph, The scouts gang show. He sings, dances(and can withstand all the crap about a boy doing dance)He is a young leader in the scouts-I can go on! Number one daughter (just 10) is going to be in Whistle down the wind in Sheffield for two weeks, Sing in the Joseph choir with her brother at Bradford. Pantomime for two weeks at Christmas, has just been at Batley variety club,at Dewsbury, now in school productions and sings with the choir. She has had 3 solo spots in local shows this year. She won 2 talent competitions whilst on holiday in Holland (against local talent) and came 3rd in another-and still cycled over 500 miles in a month. She has taken on cubs (scouts) 63 boys, 4 girls in a cross country race, and came 3rd- I can go on. Who says the youth of today arn't worth anything. Proud or what? But the best thing of all is not their achievments, though you get big lumps when you see them on stage.Everybody who knows them comments on how polite, well mannered and balanced they are. They are happy children who care for others in society, always helping out anyone-you should have seen Freja last week, helping an old lady with her shopping-the bag was nearly as heavy as her. Do they look for a reward? No.They are just like that. We don't worry that they are fighting, mugging,vandalising things, dropping litter, hanging around the streets or anything like that. |
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27 Oct 02 - 07:22 AM (#812332) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Leadfingers I'll do a reversal on this thread and brag about my old Mom,who at 85 signed up for computing classes last year,and is currently getting into the iternet side of it.I'm trying to talk her into getting on to Mudcat. |
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27 Oct 02 - 08:36 AM (#812375) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: SINSULL My son has been drug-free for almost five years now. He can't carry a tune and DJs the most awful music but...I really don't care. Life is good. Mary |
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04 Nov 02 - 02:47 PM (#818284) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: EBarnacle1 Gabriel and I were at a boat race on Saturday. I was the starter and he was working as timer. A reporter noticed that he was taking his job seriously and asked me how old he was. I commented that he was 11. The reporter got interested and interviewed him. If we are lucky, the interview will appear in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on Tuesday and in the Brooklyn Heights Press on Thursday. Sometimes it pays not to skylark. |
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04 Nov 02 - 02:48 PM (#818285) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: EBarnacle1 PS, I didn't identify myself as Gabe's proud parent until after the interview. |
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04 Nov 02 - 04:35 PM (#818384) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Morticia Hey Wes,so good to see you here and hear about Brendan....still waiting for piccies though! Many of you were such a comfort when Fiona went off to University, and when her dad died and when Chris, who had been living with him came home again, I feel you know my kids already. Fiona is now almost finished her degree and looks set for a double first if her marks remain consistent.She's thinking about her options but will probably stay at school and do a Masters, and then Phd.She's an intelligent and beautiful young woman with a wicked sense of humour and highly developed sense of the ridiculous, I feel priveleged to be her mother. Chris has gone off to college,he chose to go 'home' to do that and I miss him terribly.He has had to grow so much in the last year and a half and rose to the challenge in way that makes me proud and ache all at the same time.His course isn't charted yet but he has all the right equipment to get where he needs to be in time.I wish their father could see them, he would be so proud. Thanks for inviting me to boast shamelessly MMario :) |
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04 Nov 02 - 04:39 PM (#818391) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: MMario My pleasure! |
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04 Nov 02 - 06:41 PM (#818495) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: wilco Watched my four-year-old grandson's soccer game Saturday. He ran around in circles, singing songs from a Disney video, with his hand in his shorts about 1/2 the time. Best part of the game was "snack time." They all got a trophy from the local YMCA, since it was season's end. Neattttooooo! |
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04 Nov 02 - 09:29 PM (#818620) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Big Mick My girls make me so damn proud, I just love to brag on them. Wee Ciara (at almost 11 she is tiring quickly of this nickname.....LOL) just made honor roll the first time she was eligible. She is feeling pretty good about herself. She sings in a Choral group, has any number of 1st and 2nd place medals in Stepdancing competition, loves to play volleyball, and spoils her old man shamelessly. She refuses to play the "clique" game and makes her judgements about who she hangs with on the basis of how they act, not what they wear. The kid goes out of her way to make friends with folks who look like they need one. And she is just one of three that are like this. My oldest, Cass (26), is one of the finest people I know. She is still struggling with who she is, and what she wants to do with her life, but this is a great human being. I watch her wrestle with life in the 21st century, and watch how people react to her, she is such a great person. And a heart of gold. Yep, I am so proud to be her Da. And most importantly, I really like who she is. My middle daughter, Liz (24), is the mother of my first grandchild, the formidable Uasal (Mr.) Conor. She works so hard at being a great parent, and doing the best job she can with her career. She also has a heart of gold, and cares about what is right and what is wrong. What a wonderful young woman. They are great kids. It isn't that they don't have problems, and they make some major mistakes. But what makes me like them, and admire them, is that no matter what they face today, tomorrow they will be right back in the race. They will lead with their heart, and when it gets bruised, they will grieve and cry. And when they are done with that, the next day they will lead with it again. They understand that it is a journey with no end, and that every day you stay on the path, you grow. I am a lucky man. Mick |
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04 Nov 02 - 10:15 PM (#818648) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Ebbie My niece's son is 2 1/2 and a unique individual. He's funny without meaning to be (that one can tell, anyway!) and he is frequently quoted. This fall his dad ordered him out of the children's swimming pool because of his obstreperous behavior. A.J. wanted back in and threw a tantrum. After more discussion, he sobbed, "If I get rid of my stinkin' attitude can I go back in?" |
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04 Nov 02 - 10:17 PM (#818649) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: harpgirl Nathan turned twenty last week. He is in his first year of Community College. He's been driving his car now since the beginning of the summer with no accidents or tickets. He manages his money responsibly and he is thrifty and pays his credit card on time. He doesn't drink or smoke or do drugs. He has had the same girlfriend for the past three years. He still bowls YABA bowling. He was President of SADD in high school. He plays basketball and works out at TCC every day in addition to going to every class. Some people think he is too dependent on me and compared to most children his age, that is probably true. However, he is such a fine individual in terms of character, that I am not worried. He does need to get a job before the end of the year or I may take his car keys away from him. He needs to take more initiative to take care of his needs around the house. He has always needed a push to make each independent step in life. But being a decent person with good morals has come easily to him. I'm very pleased with him thus far. hg |
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04 Nov 02 - 10:22 PM (#818653) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Tinker Okay, someone really said it's okay to brag... and I can take the time to brag about all of them -- the whole horde!!... OOOOhh Thank You... Julienne who is almost sixteen and somehow still unconciously gorgeous. Loves to be around people and manages to convince most grown ups that she enjoys their company as well. And after squeaking through Freshman year with 60 illness days in the second semester ( We don't discuss Doctors who lack common sense) She's on track with 90+ averages across the board this fall. Working at a Score Center tutoring and only annoyingly parenting her brothers part of the time. First Son (13) is the one "blessed" with mom's empathy genes and I know it's been a mixed blessing as he goes through middle school. But he seems to drop into any crowd and do okay. He moves up and down social and racial divides in a amazingly uncalculated way. Course this means at times you find a group has formed in a record breaking time and a little parental reconaissance is in order. This is a kid with good but not outstanding soccer skills who can go into a nationally ranked camp and come out with an age group award for round robin tornament play. Why? cause he instictively knows how to assist each team mate to play better and get the team win, even when the team mates change every day. Middle Middle son, this child is so smart it's scary sometimes. Keeping half a step ahead at least till he gets out of high school is my current goal. He plays hard and fair. And despite the fact that he seems destined to be the smallest of the bunch he'll try any sport hard and smart. Holds his own on stats, history and standings on most any team any adult has tried him on... and please don't start him on the advisability of any trading prospects... This fall as he started middle school a counselor approached me to say a new transfer with an inner city background had transfered in and Ben had been assigned to help. He hadn't been too sure if the kid would make it..(didn't want to be there, wasn't prepared, etc...) But two weeks later every thing was looking prettty good and as far as he was concerned it was Ben's doing... Youngest son definately a keeper. Kid gets perserverance awards time after time. In a family of overachievers he tailed in with processing problems and motor development issues. He is not going to be left behind and stands up to all of them to get his rights. He's my song and dance man even if I don't always agree with his taste. Last year we began homeschooling after two horrid years and and made up all the lost time in one year. And to big brothers horror, he's on track for the family height record. All in all we have our days.... but I wouldn't trade any of 'em... |
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04 Nov 02 - 10:22 PM (#818654) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: harpgirl ..oh heck, I'll tell you the rest. He goes to bible study every week, he goes to youth group every week and he went on a weekend church retreat two weekends ago. He attends Presbyterian church. *sigh* hg |
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05 Nov 02 - 03:00 AM (#818779) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Gervase Me brag? Never.... But my daughter, Kate, is settling in splendidly in her first term at Cambrige, studying for a tripos in social and political science. Last week she rang rather nervously as she was occupying one of the science blocks as part of a nationwide 'stop the war' demo and, fearing she was just about to get arrested, wanted some instant legal advice. In the event the university proctors turned a blind eye and everything cooled down, but it was her first experience of non-violent direct action and she loved it (even if the hairy anarchists did nothing more threatening than sharing a packet of HobNobs while they squatted on the lab floor!) She's getting active in the Cambridge Union, but is disappointed because no-one's willing to 'come out' as a Tory and expose themselves to her sardonic and devastating dialectic. I'm chuffed to bits, particularly as she's the first kid from her comrehensive ever to make it to Oxbridge (complete with the predictably embarrassing piece in the local rag about her success), and it's all been through her own hard work. As a hugely proud father I realise that my input is largely over - save for baking Red Cross parcels, building endless shelves for her cell-like room and solving computer problems long-distance. Dominic, who's 23, is more of a mystery and a worry - he's living down in Tower Hamlets and working in the IT department of a large inner-city college, still skating on the thin ice of modern life (he got shot in the face with an airgun a few months back and couldn't bring himself to tell his mother or meself for weeks afterwards) and making intermittent contact. He's now effectively cut all domestic ties, and I haven't seen him since last Christmas, but would very much like to see him before this one. And maybe one day I'll get him back to Towersey... So, between the two, I've got the gammut of parental emotions - pride, worry and, of course, unconditional love for both of 'em. |
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05 Nov 02 - 11:17 AM (#819042) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: EBarnacle1 I was talking with Gabe last night about his Math homework. He said that they were still on the same subject and that he didn't have any because he aced the last two tests. When I asked him had he copied any answers from the other kids, he said "No, they copy from me and I charge them for it." [A budding capitalist here?] His Visual Motor integration issues keep him from acing the speed tests but what he does answer comes out right. He does need help in Spanish, though. |
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05 Nov 02 - 11:48 AM (#819065) Subject: RE: BS: ahem -Community responsibility From: Mary in Kentucky I'm gonna be a grandma for the second time next May! DERBY DAY...we're taking bets! If the new baby is anything like 2-year-old Lauren, it will be unbelievably grand! I cleaned out the basement last week and found all the old dolls, Care Bears, barn & horses, peeps (people) and Hot Wheels. Lauren cries when she has to leave my house. We had one day last week just to play. I don't know of anything that can make me laugh like she can. She dances and sings and is learning to put sentences together...Where's the cat? (With dramatic arm gestures and voice inflection.) The three grown-up kids are all fine and well and have jobs they love! They live just close enough to visit, but then they leave. One was here Sunday, one is working in town today and spending the night here tonight, and one stops by (with my granddaughter) several times a week. MMario, I've always said that having kids is like being married. The good times are better, and the bad times are worse. Right now it's mostly good times. PS Leadfingers, my two 80+ uncles have been into the Internet and email for several years. I even make a birthday webpage with lots of silliness every year for one of them. We routinely exchange jokes and pictures. |