Mothers and daughters – it’s a comedy, but also a tragedy. We fill our daughters with all the chutzpah we wish for ourselves. We want them to be free as we were not. And then we resent them for being so free. We resent them for being what we have made!

-Erica Jong “Inventing Memory”

Fly fishing on the west coast means a lot of time spent standing in cold water. When sports socks get wet, they get cold and clammy – making for a frustrated and cold fisherman. But when you have a knitting wife, there must be a solution!

Mr. Kate has never asked for socks before, as he rarely wears them in the house. So when I took this project upon myself I wasn’t sure what he would think. Once he got to try it on as the leg was being knit, he couldn’t wait for me to finish.

I used Possum Merino from New Zealand. This is a possum/merino/silk/nylon blend which is quite reasonable in price and gives good yardage, I was able to do two socks, men’s size 12, from one and a quarter skeins. The yarn is available at Fun Knits, although it is not on the website currently.

The yarn was lovely, but it took me a while to get into the groove with it. The suggested needle size made way too floppy a fabric, so I had to experiment with gauge. I settled on a 2.5mm needle. The pattern is my own, 2×2 rib for one inch, 7 inches of 3×1 rib, a short row heel and a stockinette foot.

I am very happy to be finished with them, but judging from the expression on his face, they may not be the last pair of large socks I make.

Saw this over on Lain’s new blog, Five Things, today and it struck me as a good exercise. Admitting that there are things we admire and love but that aren’t really part of our make-up, or part of our lives,is important. So I present to you:

Five Things I Love but Will Never Do

1. Be a Carefree World Traveler

I really admire people who can travel for long periods of time with little planning. They move around when the mood strikes, and go where the wind blows. I love to read or watch the adventures these types of travelers have, and have even felt a little envy when I’ve seen some of the fabulous experiences. The truth is, however, that I am not a person who can travel that way. I like to have a plan. I’m not so rigid that I can’t adjust my plans as opportunities arise, however I like a home base and a list. I’m more of a rent a house for a month kind of traveler. And that’s ok.

2. Attend a Rock Concert

I love rock music. Love it. I have been to one concert, when I was 19 – Bon Jovi. It was great and the band was fabulous. However, I don’t really like loud, crowded places. I just don’t. My head hurts after, it’s so loud the music gets distorted and I’m little and people step on me a lot. So the truth is, as much as I love the rock bands and would love to see them perform, a rock concert is just not the event for me.

3. Drive a Classic Corvette

My favourite car of all time. I can’t reach the peddles. ‘Nough said.

4. Keep my House Always Presentable

I so admire my friends whose houses are always neat. You walk in and the books are stacked nicely, the pillows are on the couch, the coffee table is clear. They do this regularly, their houses look like this every day. I love the look. But it is just not going to happen in my house. I am not that committed to it, and I am a messy piler.

5. Have a Big Family

I know, my choice here. I don’t necessarily mean children, though. I mean the kind of family where everyone gathers for Christmas, and has summer holidays together. Mr. Kate and I both have very small, and somewhat dysfunctional families. There are no cousins for Bush Boy. Both of my parents immigrated to Canada as adults and left behind family, so I don’t know my extended family very well. Mr. Kate is the youngest in his extended family by six years, most of the cousins are 10-15 years older, so he didn’t grow up with them as friends. We perhaps could have rectified that by having more children, but that wasn’t in the cards for us. So here we are, two people who love the idea of big family gatherings, without a big family.

This was an interesting list to create, and I liked thinking about what things do I say I love, but really know I’ll never do. Do share your list, if you feel so inclined, in the comments or on your own blog.

I was telling my mum about a class Bush Boy is taking, where they are building machines after discussing what criteria they will use. She said that was a new word to her, criteria.

Education is often finding buzz words, and criteria is one of the latest words to surface. A criterion is defined as a standard, rule or test on which a judgement or decision can be based. Criteria in education is just that — standards that need to be met. As mum and I were talking, we thought that in the past, teachers would simply say this is what your essay must contain, or here is what I expect. Now, teachers are being taught to talk about the criteria for an essay or assignment.

Does it make a difference? Well, perhaps it helps educators more clearly define what they want from their students. If it helps set a standard for requirements across the board, then perhaps it is a good word to introduce to students. I think understanding that there are criteria for every assignment and task that are universally applied in the classroom, or grade level, or program, can help a student see that he or she is dealt with fairly and equally.

In the long run, however, it will be in how the word is used. Over-usage with little meaning will turn this into just another buzz word that fades away as another fad style of teaching comes in. Proper usage will create a useful term for many years to come.

(Some educators have of course been using this word for decades, especially in the sciences. Now it seems to be a word used in all facets of education.)

So here we are. A generation of Hamlets asked to make choices, but terrified of the fallacies in everything. Capable of greatness, but paralysed by our own self-consciousness. A generation too smart for its own good.

-Tom Scholte ??

I wrote this quote down because I thought it described my generation quite well. For the life of me, I can’t recall the book I was reading at the time, it wasn’t a book by Tom Scholte, it just had this quote in it. Can’t believe I didn’t write down the book title!

After two years and no desire to ever cut the hair, Bush Boy decided it was time. He asked me to take him to the hairdresser, he looked at the books and he told her exactly what he wanted. She was amazed by his detailed description and by how carefully he watched her. I wasn’t, and just laughed from my corner as he completely won her over. He is thrilled with his new look, and got lots of compliments at school this morning.

I’m happy that this was his decision. He obviously feels so good about it, and that was all I wanted. It’s his hair, and however he wants to style it is his choice. There were many factors in his decision; part of it was peer comments and part of it was simply being tired of all that weight on his head and hair falling in his face. He’s doing running club at school, and the hair was definitely bothering him while running.

I don’t know if he’ll ever grow it out again, he’s pretty enamoured of the whole short-hair look right now and how easy it was to wash and go this morning.

Mr. Kate thinks it’s great. I love it on him, especially the big smile that goes with it. But I have to admit that a little part of me wonders if I’ll ever see those perfect curls again….

The other day I read an article about the demise of a Grade 12 program. It was a program that provided practical communications training — writing memos, project drafts, letters, proposals, etc — for students who were going into both technical and business careers as well as those headed towards law, medicine or engineering. The program was canceled due to lack of enrollment, it seems because the colleges and other post-secondary institutions wouldn’t recognize the program.

The article made some very valid points on the benefit of a course that teaches practical communications. I have long said that all students should be taught basic communication skills right along with poetry analysis and essay structure. Once you leave university you may never write another essay, but it is a sure bet you will have to write a memo, an email, a letter or a note to someone at sometime. You may have to prepare reports, or write summaries. You will have to communicate your thoughts and ideas.

Teaching students how to write clearly and concisely is as important as teaching them how to write critically or lyrically, and it is short-sighted of anyone, especially teachers, to dismiss it. If there is one thing you can do for your children that school likely isn’t doing, it’s to teach them writing that is clear and concise. Have them write a recipe. Make them write thank you letters or summer letters. Have them write out the directions to the event for someone. Have them write out the plan for a big party. Teach them that someone has to understand and be able to follow what they write, that the words have a purpose and a meaning. Not only will they benefit, but everyone they work with or volunteer with or live with in the future will also benefit.

“And what’s your name?”

“Wait, it’s on the tip of my tongue.”

-Umberto Eco “The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana”

That is the opening paragraph of the book, and it just pulled me right in. I’m enjoying this book, a different sensibility than our North American authors. Also very literary, as the main character is relating to everything based on books. Translated from Italian.

“Sometimes I wish you weren’t quite such a different mom.”

Bush Boy said that to me the other day. When pressed, he said it was because he had to go to bed earliest of everyone in his class. I asked him if he thought everyone told the truth about their bedtimes… it hasn’t yet occurred to him that the kids might exaggerate these things. I like that he quantified the statement with quite such – he’s ok with me being different most of the time I guess that means.

We had a frank discussion about why I’m a different mom, as he put it. In the end he decided that I wasn’t different in a bad way, and that he really does prefer the way we do things overall. But as he gets older and sees his friends with more material goods, and not liking reading, and being ‘too cool’ he needs reassurance that his way, and my way, is just as valid and ok. Luckily he is accepted socially as he really is an outgoing, fun-loving kid. He’s known most of these kids for five years now, and they all know he doesn’t watch as much tv, doesn’t see all the latest PG13 movies, and doesn’t own video game systems.

I accepted that I was a ‘different mom’ a long time ago. I am hoping that Bush Boy will continue to accept and understand that as well.

Torti seems like a friendly girl, sitting there all cozy with Hubert.

But in the end, she is continuing with her determination to dominate all living things in our house.

I think I’m a little afraid….