I think the seasons might be turning.
It wasn’t a hundred bazillion degrees in my house today, so I also cooked a pretty awesome dinner. I made a pan-fried salmon with chard and onions and seared polenta cake, all topped with an orange-mustard sauce. I’m pretty modest about my cooking, but I sort of blew myself away on this one.
Most amazingly, it didn’t take all that long to make. My one cheat was that I started with pre-cooked store bought polenta in a roll. I spied it while I was at the market picking up fish, and since I hadn’t actually thought out my meal plan, it struck me as a simple element to finish up the salmon and chard. Oh, but this was one of my favorite cooking experiments of late, and I was probably only actively cooking for about half an hour, plus a separate 15 minutes to decide on what to put in, and then to make, the sauce. It wasn’t a Julia Child recipe, in that I didn’t use a recipe at all, but I’m pretty sure I did her proud.
The best thing was being able to use butter, since I was cooking fish. I can’t use butter with meat and still be kosher.
Like I said, it was a thoroughly reasonable temperature outside today. In fact, it was so downright comfortable that if the weather holds, I may go for a lengthy run tomorrow morning.
I am technically training for the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on December 6th, but I have some challenges. I’m a few weeks behind where I should be in training owing to 1) having taken the month of August almost completely off and 2) trying to avoid running when it is too hot and sunny out. Now that the temperature is taking a nose dive, I may be able to get somewhat vaguely reasonably on track. If I get up to a 19-mile training run at least 2 weeks before the marathon, I will consider myself prepared to run it. I’ll be able to finish, even if I don’t finish fast. If I don’t get to 19 miles, I will scale back to the half marathon, which I already know I’d be ready for.
Until recently, I had a never-say-die attitude about this marathon, but the cloud of potential injury is hanging over my head, so I am somewhat forced to accept reality. I’m sticking to a reasonable training program and also getting all my practical responsibilities covered, and so what will be, will be in this case.
In other miraculous news, Sami napped yesterday. Not for super long, maybe 45 minutes, but the new leaf in this story is that I told her: you don’t have to sleep, but you do have to rest quietly. Every time I come in here and you are not trying to rest, I am taking a toy away.
Toy #1 she thought was a joke. Toy #2 she stood at her door crying, “My toys… my toys!” for about 15 minutes. Toy #3, she threw a raging tantrum, and Toy #4 resulted in actual attempts at resting quietly. I didn’t hold my breath, but when I checked on her about 20 minutes later, she was out cold.
Huzzah! I found my method! I know it worked because Mel, who watched her while Ben and I went to Yom Kippur concluding services last night, told me the following story. She asked Sami to start picking up toys from her bed and the floor to put them away. Sami flung toys one by one onto the floor, adding dramatically, “It doesn’t matter. I’m bad, so mommy’s going to take them away anyway.”
I was guilt-ridden for about 30 seconds before I realized… that meant it worked.
Who says an old mom can’t learn a new trick or two?
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have i mentioned that i love this kid?
of course you’re doing a good job parenting — and your sanctions worked — because you are so amazingly consistent and constantly reinforcing the standards you wish Sami to meet.
as the favorite babysitter, it’s relatively easy to get the results i want from Sami (or any other kid) because the behavior-consequence cycle is so short-term and rapid-cycle. i can be consistent and firm over the course of a few hours with no problem at all. because i know i get to go home at the end of it, and the battle is at least temporarily won. but my limited experience in longer-term babysitting gigs has given me a quick taste of what it must be like to be the parent, and (a) firm, simple, straightforward rules that are consistently reinforced are the foundation for well-behaved kids and (b) it’s HARD.
i know that Sami tests your limits and tries your patience day in and day out, and somehow you have the fortitude to stick to your guns even when she’s making you absolutely insane. i’m constantly in awe of your excellent parenting!
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..Nerds in iceland =-.
thanks for the new entry!! my cheryl withdrawal is dissipating.
i love coming up with yummy quick meal ideas. my recent one was roasted acorn squash with butter, a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, along with some lightly breaded chicken and a tad honey mustard for dipping.
and you by no means are allowed to call yourself an old mom!! you are new to this stage of sami development, and you are not old! also, you do realize that should i ever start a family i’m calling you for parent coaching, right?