I want to be a helicopter when I grow up.
posted by Aaroneous at
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Friday, March 25, 2011
The Wisdom of Solomon
Below is a piece written by my first baby sitter from back in Juneau, I though it was so cute I had to share it. Enjoy.
Lonnie Miller
November 4, 2009
The Wisdom of Solomon
That Tuesday morning started out like any other: breakfasts were eaten, lunches were packed, my hubby left for work, and our two oldest kids were car pooled off to another day of elementary school. The youngest of our three kids, nine-month-old Kylie, was still in jammies when Aaron arrived, and now my real work day began: Home day care. Up until that time, I’d considered myself a very capable and creative mother of three, and a fairly clever person all around. I was responsible, dependable and loyal, but by the end of that day, I doubted myself in every way possible.
Whatever possessed me at the time I’ll never know, but three years earlier I’d responded to an ad I found on the bulletin board of our local grocery store seeking child care for a six-week old baby. When I called the number and agreed to meet the new mother for an interview, it was a little intimidating as she took out her list and questioned my child rearing philosophy, daily routines, and what seemed to be every aspect of my life. But it was her precious firstborn she was about to leave in my care, and it was her right to know those details. After meeting her husband and infant son later that day, things seemed to click; and we all breathed a sigh of relief when we signed an agreement for a “trial period.” And that is how I set off into the beginning of my new career as home day care provider: taking care of baby Aaron.
In those first days, Aaron’s mom, Snova, called frequently to check on his status and I tried to set her mind at ease: “Aaron’s down for his nap…yes, he burped…no, he didn’t cry when you left him.” These calls were more to sooth her fears and relieve her guilt for going back to work, since she would have much rather have been at home with her baby. Occasionally, Aaron’s dad, Ron, who worked nights and slept days, had a mid-week day off and would keep him home for part of the day. But soon we settled into a routine, and he fit right in with our family, and “Baby-Aaron”, as my two kids called him, became a part of our daily lives. We celebrated the usual childhood milestones with Aaron; and he and his parents, who lived just two houses behind us, shared all our birthdays and Christmases as well. Our families melded, we became friends, and life was good. We’d built a relationship of trust and respect, so two years later, when I became pregnant again, Snova offered to change her schedule in any way necessary to accommodate my needs, if it meant I’d be able to continue caring for her son, now a very active two year old.
Our third child was born in September of 1986 and I took off just three weeks before I resumed caring for Aaron, who by this time, was in fully entrenched in the “terrible two’s”, and had taken to challenging my authority in many new ways. For the most part, things were smooth sailing, but there were days when it seemed like 5 o’clock didn’t come soon enough. Plus, Aaron had developed a new behavior: hiding from his mom when she came to pick him up. This started out as a game, “Where’s Aaron?”, she would sing. And he’d come giggling out from the closet, or under the bed, or behind the couch. This hide-and-seek play seemed harmless at first, but after a couple of times of really looking hard to find him, I put the kibosh on that game. Aaron was unhappy that I’d made some previously favorite hiding spots off limits, but for the most part, he was usually compliant; and, I’d begun locking the front door.
Then came that fateful Tuesday: I’d put Sesame Street on TV for Aaron while I was getting Kylie down for her morning nap, and when I came back out into the living room a few minutes later, he was nowhere to be found. I called out, I looked in every hiding spot, but as my heart beat faster and faster, the reality set in: he was gone! I grabbed Kylie from her crib and began looking all around the yard, then in the cul de sac, all the time calling out for Aaron to come to me. Thoughts of him wandering into the road, being hit by a car, or being kidnapped, all blurred in my head, which was now pounding louder and louder with my racing pulse. I was almost in a panic as I strapped Kylie into her car seat. Maybe he’d walked up toward the duck pond with day old bread, as we’d done so often together. But after not finding him there, and looking frantically for what seemed like forever, but was in reality only 6 or 7 minutes, I headed over to Ron and Snova’s house to get help finding Aaron.
When I rang the doorbell, I knew I’d be waking Ron up after having worked the night shift. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be greeted by a smiling Aaron saying, “Hello, Lonnie!” Relief flooded my mind, Aaron was safe. But the look on his dad’s face told me I was dead meat. I stood at the door as I explained to Ron how I was getting Kylie down for her nap, and that Aaron was only out-of-sight for about ten minutes. And how I’d begun looking right away, and was just about to call 911. But none of this mattered to this man who had just been awakened by his three year old son, who was supposed to be safe and sound at my home. He told me rather brusquely that he’d be keeping Aaron, and to go home. He said that he or Snova would call me later. He was clearly, and justifiably, very angry.
My heart sank low, very low. I was a failure. I was a failure at day care and perhaps at being a mother as well. What kind of terrible person loses a three year old? Tears streamed down my face as I got back to our house, and by the time I picked up the phone to call Snova at work, I was sobbing. She was obviously shaken, her voice gave way to her feelings as well, and she said she couldn’t talk right then, but that she would get back to me after work when she’d had time to sit down with Ron and discuss their options. By the time my husband came home from work at lunchtime, I was inconsolable. My stomach was in a million knots thinking about the consequences I would face. Aaron could have been seriously hurt or worse. My reputation was ruined: who would leave their child with someone who loses kids? Would they report me? I just hugged and rocked a very confused baby girl, and prayed for help. I needed wisdom.
After school, my kids knew something was up the minute they saw my blotchy face. I pulled it together as best I could and started supper as I told them what happened. They were as sympathetic as little kids can be and affirmed their love to me with their hugs; my husband was equally reassuring and told me it would all be OK. I was unconvinced. And after supper, the dreaded call came. Snova was tentative as she spoke of maybe having a “time out” (for me, I guessed) and at Ron’s suggestion, perhaps considering other options. She was trying her best to keep her emotions in check as Ron was vocalizing his loudly in the background. This went on for about ten minutes; all the while, I apologized profusely. Then all of a sudden the front door flung open.
“Hey mom, it’s Aaron!” our six-year-old Brooke exclaimed.
“Which Aaron?” I asked, since we had several in our neighborhood.
“The Aaron who ran away,” she replied. It got very quiet on the other end of the phone, and then I heard Snova ask Ron where Aaron was.
“He was just here” came the reply. And then I overheard the scuffle as they started shouting for Aaron. When she came back on the phone her voice had softened.
“We’ll be right down” was all she had to say. My husband couldn’t contain himself.
“At least you were out looking for him!” he blurted out.
And that was my get-out-of-jail card: as two concerned parents sat at the table, discussing just what they would do with their day care provider who obviously couldn’t keep track of their precious son, they themselves lost track of Aaron. Yes, he’d wandered back to my house: across two streets, and along the little path worn over the years by friends and neighbors, all in what seemed to be a flash.
A few minutes later, Ron sat in the car as Snova came inside, rather sheepishly as my husband observed, to retrieve her errant son.
“We’re terribly sorry for the trouble he’s caused,” were the first words out of her mouth. Then she quickly added, “We’ll see you in the morning, that is, if you’ll still keep Aaron.” I smiled. Then two friends, mothers each, comrades in the trenches, hugged in a warm embrace of relief. And I knew in my heart that in my wildest dreams I couldn’t have thought of a better way to end this crazy ordeal. I think the Lord heard my desperate prayer for wisdom that day. Not even Solomon could have orchestrated it better.
Lonnie Miller
November 4, 2009
The Wisdom of Solomon
That Tuesday morning started out like any other: breakfasts were eaten, lunches were packed, my hubby left for work, and our two oldest kids were car pooled off to another day of elementary school. The youngest of our three kids, nine-month-old Kylie, was still in jammies when Aaron arrived, and now my real work day began: Home day care. Up until that time, I’d considered myself a very capable and creative mother of three, and a fairly clever person all around. I was responsible, dependable and loyal, but by the end of that day, I doubted myself in every way possible.
Whatever possessed me at the time I’ll never know, but three years earlier I’d responded to an ad I found on the bulletin board of our local grocery store seeking child care for a six-week old baby. When I called the number and agreed to meet the new mother for an interview, it was a little intimidating as she took out her list and questioned my child rearing philosophy, daily routines, and what seemed to be every aspect of my life. But it was her precious firstborn she was about to leave in my care, and it was her right to know those details. After meeting her husband and infant son later that day, things seemed to click; and we all breathed a sigh of relief when we signed an agreement for a “trial period.” And that is how I set off into the beginning of my new career as home day care provider: taking care of baby Aaron.
In those first days, Aaron’s mom, Snova, called frequently to check on his status and I tried to set her mind at ease: “Aaron’s down for his nap…yes, he burped…no, he didn’t cry when you left him.” These calls were more to sooth her fears and relieve her guilt for going back to work, since she would have much rather have been at home with her baby. Occasionally, Aaron’s dad, Ron, who worked nights and slept days, had a mid-week day off and would keep him home for part of the day. But soon we settled into a routine, and he fit right in with our family, and “Baby-Aaron”, as my two kids called him, became a part of our daily lives. We celebrated the usual childhood milestones with Aaron; and he and his parents, who lived just two houses behind us, shared all our birthdays and Christmases as well. Our families melded, we became friends, and life was good. We’d built a relationship of trust and respect, so two years later, when I became pregnant again, Snova offered to change her schedule in any way necessary to accommodate my needs, if it meant I’d be able to continue caring for her son, now a very active two year old.
Our third child was born in September of 1986 and I took off just three weeks before I resumed caring for Aaron, who by this time, was in fully entrenched in the “terrible two’s”, and had taken to challenging my authority in many new ways. For the most part, things were smooth sailing, but there were days when it seemed like 5 o’clock didn’t come soon enough. Plus, Aaron had developed a new behavior: hiding from his mom when she came to pick him up. This started out as a game, “Where’s Aaron?”, she would sing. And he’d come giggling out from the closet, or under the bed, or behind the couch. This hide-and-seek play seemed harmless at first, but after a couple of times of really looking hard to find him, I put the kibosh on that game. Aaron was unhappy that I’d made some previously favorite hiding spots off limits, but for the most part, he was usually compliant; and, I’d begun locking the front door.
Then came that fateful Tuesday: I’d put Sesame Street on TV for Aaron while I was getting Kylie down for her morning nap, and when I came back out into the living room a few minutes later, he was nowhere to be found. I called out, I looked in every hiding spot, but as my heart beat faster and faster, the reality set in: he was gone! I grabbed Kylie from her crib and began looking all around the yard, then in the cul de sac, all the time calling out for Aaron to come to me. Thoughts of him wandering into the road, being hit by a car, or being kidnapped, all blurred in my head, which was now pounding louder and louder with my racing pulse. I was almost in a panic as I strapped Kylie into her car seat. Maybe he’d walked up toward the duck pond with day old bread, as we’d done so often together. But after not finding him there, and looking frantically for what seemed like forever, but was in reality only 6 or 7 minutes, I headed over to Ron and Snova’s house to get help finding Aaron.
When I rang the doorbell, I knew I’d be waking Ron up after having worked the night shift. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be greeted by a smiling Aaron saying, “Hello, Lonnie!” Relief flooded my mind, Aaron was safe. But the look on his dad’s face told me I was dead meat. I stood at the door as I explained to Ron how I was getting Kylie down for her nap, and that Aaron was only out-of-sight for about ten minutes. And how I’d begun looking right away, and was just about to call 911. But none of this mattered to this man who had just been awakened by his three year old son, who was supposed to be safe and sound at my home. He told me rather brusquely that he’d be keeping Aaron, and to go home. He said that he or Snova would call me later. He was clearly, and justifiably, very angry.
My heart sank low, very low. I was a failure. I was a failure at day care and perhaps at being a mother as well. What kind of terrible person loses a three year old? Tears streamed down my face as I got back to our house, and by the time I picked up the phone to call Snova at work, I was sobbing. She was obviously shaken, her voice gave way to her feelings as well, and she said she couldn’t talk right then, but that she would get back to me after work when she’d had time to sit down with Ron and discuss their options. By the time my husband came home from work at lunchtime, I was inconsolable. My stomach was in a million knots thinking about the consequences I would face. Aaron could have been seriously hurt or worse. My reputation was ruined: who would leave their child with someone who loses kids? Would they report me? I just hugged and rocked a very confused baby girl, and prayed for help. I needed wisdom.
After school, my kids knew something was up the minute they saw my blotchy face. I pulled it together as best I could and started supper as I told them what happened. They were as sympathetic as little kids can be and affirmed their love to me with their hugs; my husband was equally reassuring and told me it would all be OK. I was unconvinced. And after supper, the dreaded call came. Snova was tentative as she spoke of maybe having a “time out” (for me, I guessed) and at Ron’s suggestion, perhaps considering other options. She was trying her best to keep her emotions in check as Ron was vocalizing his loudly in the background. This went on for about ten minutes; all the while, I apologized profusely. Then all of a sudden the front door flung open.
“Hey mom, it’s Aaron!” our six-year-old Brooke exclaimed.
“Which Aaron?” I asked, since we had several in our neighborhood.
“The Aaron who ran away,” she replied. It got very quiet on the other end of the phone, and then I heard Snova ask Ron where Aaron was.
“He was just here” came the reply. And then I overheard the scuffle as they started shouting for Aaron. When she came back on the phone her voice had softened.
“We’ll be right down” was all she had to say. My husband couldn’t contain himself.
“At least you were out looking for him!” he blurted out.
And that was my get-out-of-jail card: as two concerned parents sat at the table, discussing just what they would do with their day care provider who obviously couldn’t keep track of their precious son, they themselves lost track of Aaron. Yes, he’d wandered back to my house: across two streets, and along the little path worn over the years by friends and neighbors, all in what seemed to be a flash.
A few minutes later, Ron sat in the car as Snova came inside, rather sheepishly as my husband observed, to retrieve her errant son.
“We’re terribly sorry for the trouble he’s caused,” were the first words out of her mouth. Then she quickly added, “We’ll see you in the morning, that is, if you’ll still keep Aaron.” I smiled. Then two friends, mothers each, comrades in the trenches, hugged in a warm embrace of relief. And I knew in my heart that in my wildest dreams I couldn’t have thought of a better way to end this crazy ordeal. I think the Lord heard my desperate prayer for wisdom that day. Not even Solomon could have orchestrated it better.
posted by Aaroneous at
Friday, March 25, 2011
2 Comments
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Double Feature: Star Wars and Jane Austin Version 2
Hands down what you see below is the best video cinematic of any game, anything, every.
Enjoy.
For my female readers (and I know you're an numerous and you are hungry for entertainment) may I present a glorious retelling of two of your favorite Austin classics, sure to send your love starved hearts a patter with felling you didn't know you had!
As you may be figuring out these books are a bit different indeed below is the only one I've read and the mix of actual history and Fiction is succulent like coconut milk on meat. If you're hungry for something new give Seth Grahame-Smith a lick.
Enjoy.
For my female readers (and I know you're an numerous and you are hungry for entertainment) may I present a glorious retelling of two of your favorite Austin classics, sure to send your love starved hearts a patter with felling you didn't know you had!
As you may be figuring out these books are a bit different indeed below is the only one I've read and the mix of actual history and Fiction is succulent like coconut milk on meat. If you're hungry for something new give Seth Grahame-Smith a lick.
posted by Aaroneous at
Thursday, September 30, 2010
0 Comments
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Double Feature. Clothes+Funny
The other day I noticed a gal in the elevator had a really cool jacket on (I'm a bit of a connoisseur so I keep my eyes peeled) What caught my attention was the totemic design around the collar. I couldn't help but ask her what the brand was (I've had beautiful jackets just walk away from me before never to be seen or heard from again and I wasn't about to allow that to happen with such a fine example) She said Copper River Fleece, based in little Cordova, AK of all places.
The only thing classier than fine merchandise is: said merchandise, hand made, with a local touch (take my lappy bag for instance, i knew you were thinkin it.) At any rate its worth a look, as usual the ladies stuff is a bit nicer than the guys but it's all pretty good and surprisingly customizable (hoods, borders, patterns). Its almost enough to make a guy wish he had a lady friend to spend his money on...
In other news Stephen Colbert had a little something to say about immigration. Although I don't entirely agree with his point I often find the only thing better than something true... is something funny.
posted by Aaroneous at
Saturday, September 25, 2010
0 Comments
Monday, September 13, 2010
funniest video ever
The back story.
Stay with me here, super funny.
Seriously funniest every.
posted by Aaroneous at
Monday, September 13, 2010
0 Comments
Friday, September 10, 2010
Original content is dead
Check out some links:
http://talktomejohnnie.com/
some funny reads about surviving the zombie apocalypse (as well as an informative shopping\wish list)
The wait is over. I give you Portal 2 "its been a long time, I think we can put our differences behind us, you monster"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZD17pQSqUU
Some great new Music, courtesy of my one and only music hook up who shall remain anonymous for their protection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBN-5Og-zG4 Timmy Curran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG1qaxWRXTY Sean Watkins
Yes, you totally dodged this bullet, sorry about that.
I'm probably the only one I know who's physical capacity is of any interest but even if you don't share my neurotic self deprecatingly motivated hobby you can still enjoy the wonder that is Kelly Starrett
http://mobilitywod.blogspot.com/
A few great blog reads on nutrition:
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/lipid-hypothesis/the-vegetarian-myth/
For those who think being a vegetarian is a fair idea at all, see above
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/cancer/the-china-study-vs-the-china-study/
For those afraid of eating fat or protein to excess (or in moderation for that matter)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgqa5rXrxqs&feature=player_embedded
posted by Aaroneous at
Friday, September 10, 2010
0 Comments
Friday, July 16, 2010
Previous Posts
- I want to be a helicopter when I grow up.
- The Wisdom of Solomon
- Double Feature: Star Wars and Jane Austin Version 2
- Double Feature. Clothes+Funny
- funniest video ever
- Original content is dead
- Elliots Wedding pictures
- Juneau Pictures
- Myth Buster and the Maltese Falcon.
- Memorial Day 2010
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