Way Back When-esday: Looking Back, Literally

Dateline: Spring 2002
Twins' Age: About 6 months

Now nine and a half, and kvetching about their maternally mandated use of booster seats for safety, this image brings back happy memories of our twin travels....from their road baby beginnings.

For anyone who's read Twinspiration---now on Kindle, and coming soon to Nook!---this is the very Mercury Sable of infamy...the one in which (to my horror) I locked them both on Thanksgiving Eve 2002. (No babies were harmed in the incident; only their mother's sense of competence!)

Seeing two rear-facing faces, ready for the day's adventure, warms my heart this mid-week.

Why don't you look back, too? Play along with Way Back When-esday!

Dive into your digital photos or scan a scrapbook find...share an image you might not otherwise. Tell the tale and place a post on your blog. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and please leave a comment when you do!





Fellow friends on Blogger: As late, I am only intermittently able to leave comments on blogs...Blogger not allowing me to sign in...even as "anonymous." Please know I AM reading, and wanting to comment. If you are having similar problems and have a moment, please email me at Cheryl [at] Twinsights [dot] com and let me know I am not alone. Thanks!

Makes My Monday: Memorial Day Morning

The pastry-eater. The paper-reader. The painter. All Make My Monday.

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Please take a meaningful moment today to remember those who've served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

As is our way following three-day weekends, Makes My Monday segues into a My Terrific Tuesday That Feels Like a Monday. Not too late to play along!

Shout. Shout. Let It All Out.

Come on. I'm talking to you, come on!

Scream-free parenting: Not an adherant, and if entirely truthful, not even an advocate.

Call me insensitive, call me reactionary, call health and human services, but I genuinely believe occasions occur wherein a little strategically applied vocal verve effectively sells it to the back of the house.

For those genuinely fearful for my sweeties' psyches, perhaps a bit of clarification is merited. If a napkin doesn't make it to a lap, my larynx isn't overworked. If the playroom is in utter disarray, I don't dole out the decibels. Hurting each other? I'm hollerin'.

In the 21st century, my fear is that as a parenting population, we tend to tippy-toe too tentatively, viewing our children's omnihappiness (yes, the "yelling" inhibits glee temporarily; but to my view, justly. Isn't that how correction/behavior-modification occurs? Don't those mice in the maze get an ever-so-slight buzz in order to learn the "right" path?) as more important than their ability to cope adequately in the inevitably non-coddling adult environment. Risking their long-term social acumen and fluency for the fleeting parental "self-satisfaction" of maintaining my cool (and their "friendship") by following the highly touted tot-raising trends du jour just seems far more insensitive than my currently employed, twin audience attention-getting, maternal method. I don't want my kids to enter adulthood emotionally ill-equipped -- having never confronted "enthusiastic" redirection.

For me: Loud = Love.

[Side benefit: Sarah and Darren are familiar with large, open mouths.]


The above is a personal perspective...first addressed in 2008. As our twins have grown, unapologetically, my song remains the same.

Way Back When-esday: Twin Turbans

Dateline: April 2005
Twins' Age: 3

Coupled cleaning.

It began with individual baby bathtubs, was followed by a brief, overly splashy dose of dips in the double sink, transitioned into fun for two in a traditional tub, and now, at nine, the segue to single showers. How time flies!

My towel-headed twosome warms my heart this mid-week.

Go nostalgic....play along with Way Back When-esday!

Dive into your digital photos or scan a scrapbook find...share an image you might not otherwise. Tell the tale and place a post on your blog. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and please leave a comment when you do!





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Apples are So Passe....

When the time comes for gifting teachers, I tend to lean toward gift cards...imagining nothing would please me more if I were in their well-deserving shoes.

Enter He-Twin and She-Twin...currently enraptured with their art teacher. It's not Christmas. It's not year-end. Yet within the past month, each with intent created something very special for a teacher they feel is very special.

From He-Twin:

From She-Twin:

Nothing quite like a little Art [Teacher] Appreciation. Suddenly, gift cards don't seem so great.

Makes My Monday: Full Family of Four

Fun times with friends, a new full family photo, and clean scans for my man Make My Monday.

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Semi-Spiritual Sunday Snippet: Three Coins

Over snack...

Sarah: "Mom, does God always grant all the things we pray for?"

Mommy: "God always listens to our prayers, but he's not like a wishing well. I believe He always wants what's best for us, and is always with us when things are tough---or in those occasions when we don't get what we want and are confused and don't understand what's going on."

Sarah (with the confidence of a hypothesis supported): "I just knew He wasn't like a wishing well." (Then, under her breath...) "It's not like He's Santa or something."

Whew...and amen.

Common Threads

What do Dog and God share? Three letters, you say?

To She-Twin's view, apparently (in addition to a penchant for trucker hats worn askance), they share musical taste.

(*When surveying Sarah's depiction of God's Son, Double Daddy noted a strong resemblance to superstar music producer, Rick Rubin. Interestingly enough, a quick Google search reveals Mr. Rubin's working on a new album with.....you guessed it. ZZTop.)

Way Back When-esday: Suited Up

Dateline: December 2002
Twins' Age: 15 months

Rare was the occasion wherein we dressed the twins alike. For the life of me, I cannot recall why we did it on this particular day! Something so amusing about how very "strapped in" they are, the uniformity of their attire, the oversized, padded seats and the aerial perspective of the shot remind me of the recent Space Shuttle launch.

Looking at my little ones seemingly ready for lift-off warms my heart this mid-week.

Go nostalgic....play along with Way Back When-esday!

Dive into your digital photos or scan a scrapbook find...share an image you might not otherwise. Tell the tale and place a post on your blog. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and please leave a comment when you do!





Do you play along with Way Back When-esday often? Like Twinfatuation?  Cast a vote for Twinfatuation to be amongst the Top 25 Blogs by Multiples' Moms! You can do that by clicking here if you are so inclined. Thanks!

Want to win a signed copy of Twinspiration ? Add your thoughts in a comment here and be entered to win!

Master Thespian

In his backpack today, a Shakespearean graphic novel---Hamlet, to be exact.

Over the weekend, he chose to participate in the mass (600+ boys, aged 9-11) casting call for the role of Tad Lincoln in the upcoming Spielberg feature to be filmed here in Richmond.

(FYI: Since Darren is no longer in the running, Double Daddy has declared we shall now refer to the lost role as "Turd Lincoln.")

Me? I'm still basking in the glow of my "Merchant #1" who blossomed into "Baker."

Do tell; what are your kids (or you!) doing lately that swells your heart with pride? What strengths are they demonstrating?

Increase your awareness---and theirs---with a Strengths in Action Bulletin Board. For other goal-setting and empowerment building ideas and activities, visit FishfulThinking.com!

Makes My Monday: Draw at the Diner

It was a sustained stare-down.

Extended eye contact is always a Monday Maker.

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Scientific Sunday Snippet

During Sunday morning communion...

Darren (whispering, but with emphasis): "Mom, you know you cannot 'drink the cup'; it's a solid."


Think it's safe to assume he'll do well on the upcoming standards of learning exams....

Bad Haiku Friday: Be Nice to Blogger

Blogger dared go down
The masses they did complain
But Blogger is free...

We don't pay at all
Anger seems an injustice
We all need patience

Behold! It is back
Venom can come to a halt
Time to be grateful!

When something so fun
Has a brief lapse of service?
Let it have a rest.

Way Back When-esday: Potty Cake, Potty Cake...

Dateline: July 2004
Twins' Age: 2

Way back when, when the kids were working their way through appropriate bodily refuse placement, as added incentive, I dangled a "Potty Party."

Behold the spoils. Let them eat well-deserved cake. (Believe me, I ate my due share!)

Glimpses of now taken-for-granted accomplishments warm my mid-week.

C'mon....play along with Way Back When-esday!

Dive into your digital photos or scan a scrapbook find...share an image you might not otherwise. Tell the tale and place a post on your blog. Be sure and link back to participate in the web-wide reverie...and please leave a comment when you do!





Do you play along with Way Back When-esday often? Like Twinfatuation?
Cast a vote for Twinfatuation to be amongst the Top 25 Blogs by Multiples' Moms! You can do that by clicking here if you are so inclined. Thanks!

Movie Night Mates

Take that, Timmy and Lassie. He-Twin and Larry will take your legendary boy/dog's-best-friend relationship on any time---anywhere.

Makes My Monday: Wreath Rapture

She-Twin's floral accessory artistry for Mother's Day Makes My Monday.

Play along with Makes My Monday!

Link up below, visit other celebrants, and don't forget to leave a comment when you do...comments are always joy-bringers!