- It's been a tough week in the neighborhood.
- Madeline started daycare on Monday.
- When we dropped her off, I fought the urge to grab her and run for the door.
- The temptation of all the toys was so strong, she could barely be bothered to say goodbye.
- I called in the afternoon to see how she was doing.
- Could hear her crying in the background.
- It's true when they say a Mom can recognize her kids cry.
- Was told she was "having a little trouble taking a nap."
- Wanted to stab myself with a rusty butter knife, but knew she would fall asleep soon.
- Went back to my work day.
- Called 4 minutes later to see if she'd stopped crying.
- She had.
- Picked her up that afternoon, and she cried a little when she saw me.
- If there had been a butter knife around....
- Then she grinned wide for her big sister.
- It's been 4 days and she's doing great.
- No tears.
- Except when she doesn't get her way.
- Just like at home.
- They say the first week is an "adjustment period" for the child who starts at a daycare or new school.
- I think it applies more for the Moms than the kids.
- Some days I feel like there should be a "first week" support group of some kind to get us through.
- Or maybe hand out free bottles of booze as you walk out the door.
- Luckily I have a job I enjoy to go to.
- It would suck if I was leaving my kid all day to go to a job I hated all day too.
- I've been working on various and sundry quilt projects the last few weeks.
- Many of them have been 'worked on' in my mind.
- It's simply amazing how many completed quilts I have in my head.
- I have also been absorbing all of the information to be had from the not-so-little stack of books I received last week.
- Remember these?
- I'm ready to share!
- I've picked 3 from the pile using a very scientific method of selection.
- It goes something like, "Eeenie-Meenie-Miney-Mo..."
- The first "very best one" my finger landed on was:
The Gentle Art of Quiltmaking by Jane Brocket
This book is very much in the Kaffe Fasset style, especially with the beautiful photography used to display the quilts. The designs themselves are simple, but her use of color and the skilled way she teaches this craft, is a pleasure to read.
- The second book selected was:
by Susanne Wood
This is a fun book featuring, as the title says, 99 blocks of all different styles and looks, but all in the modern aesthetic. You may or may not recognize the designers (many of them popular bloggers), but you're sure to see a good number of blocks you can translate into a larger quilt.
- And the third selected was:
Simply Triangles by Barbara H. Cline
This one isn't on sale until 2/16. It has 11 beautiful quilts where you'll learn various techniques combining triangles, diamonds, and trapezoids. She breaks down a Y-seam so simply it makes even me want to try, and I've been avoiding them for years!
- So here's the deal.
You can enter up to 3 times.GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!- So yes, technically, one person could win all 3 books.
- But I'd seriously wonder what "bug" got into the random number generator that day.
- Anyways, you can enter by leaving a comment about anything...how motherhood is tough a lot of days, the weather where you are, you hate your job but are happy to have it, you love your job but would rather be quilting all day...anything goes just leave a "real" comment, not just "hi and bye!"
- You can enter by tweeting about this giveaway using the hashtag #giveaway, coming back here, and tell me pinky-swear, you tweeted about it.
- You can also enter by following this blog, and leave a comment saying so.
- Any and all 3 ways to enter are strictly optional to do. You get 1 entry for each way.
- I will pick 3 winners via random # generator by 5 pm EST on Sunday, Feb. 12th. Winners will be announced by Monday.
- The order you're picked is the book you'll win (if you're pick #1, you win book #1, pick #2 you win book #2, etc..)
- I think that's it....right?
- Good luck and thanks for stopping by!
PS - one more thing! (I knew I forgot something)...make sure you are NOT a no-reply blogger when you enter. You MUST MUST MUST leave an email address somewhere for me to be able to contact you, either in your profile or in the comment. Otherwise I will assume you really don't want to be picked but like entering things, or are in a blog-commenting-but-in-the-witness-protection-program type of situation and I wouldn't want to blow your cover. Either way I'll pick another winner. If you think you are one, but would like to change that, try this simple tutorial on how to do it. Thanks!!
Oh my what a great stack of books! The 3 giveaways look wonderful. I was lucky that my son seemed to like playschool, but I also felt so sorry for the mothers of children that had a tough time. One little boy would never let the teacher out of arms length. He was always clinging to her skirt and she laughed that there was always a wrinkle at that spot.
ReplyDeleteAlso wanted to enter the giveaway as a blog subscriber and a podcast subscriber. Thanks for such a great podcast. I enjoy listening to them while I work on my sewing or while in the car.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better - I called to check on my pups when I dropped them off at doggie daycare for the first time. Byron had me worried since he can be shy sometimes but they said he was fine - and I got to watch him on the doggie play camera. Even doggie moms get worried!
ReplyDeleteI tweeted about the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteFollow you on Google reader
ReplyDeleteTanesha - do not worry about daycare behavior. My son got kicked out of two daycares, and he is now a generally wonderfully behaved child. Plus I just had to pay for orthodontia for him, so my sewing budget is diminished somewhat. I need free books!
ReplyDeleteAnd I follow you on Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteAnd I tweeted about it! http://twitter.com/pantsfreesia/statuses/167631576602116100
ReplyDeleteI follow you on google reader.
ReplyDeleteSue
Even though my baby is now almost 35 I still remember vividly leaving her at pre school while I attended college. She cried when I left, I cried all the way to class. It's tough being a mom.
ReplyDeleteSue
Don't enter me in the giveaway. I really want Pam to win and I have two of the three already. But I wanted to say that I share your pain with daycare. My Young Man is long past, but I remember the first day. I was happy to drop him, but it also ripped my heart out. He has a friend from those days he is still in touch with. Now just to find your podcast again....
ReplyDeleteI remember standing by the classroom door, waiting for my son to stop crying before I left him at mother's morning out.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I already own the Modern Blocks book, but I really really want the Simply Triangles book (almost pre-ordered it yesterday on Amazon - honest!). Not meaning to be picky but...
ReplyDeleteI remember the daycare dilemma even though it has been a very long time! (Daughters are 32 and almost 23.) Life got much better when my husband became a stay-at-home dad.
I retweeted - twice but only once with the hashtag. (Yes, I'm old and I forget things.)
ReplyDeleteAnd I have been a follower for a while. Love your Thursday Thoughts, BTW!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the adjustment period for leaving kids at daycare. I cried all the way to work on the first day of leaving each of my children. Some daycares have cameras now, so you can check in on your computer and see how things are going.
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog.
ReplyDeleteI remember those painful days of leaving my children at day care. It is tough on both the parents and the children. This morning I will be taking care of my 4 month old grandson while his Mom does some errands. I know it will be hard for her to leave him and she will worry the whole time.
ReplyDeleteI'm a SAHM for my 3-1/2 year old, and it was torture for about two weeks taking him to preschool two mornings a week when it started last September. I could have totally used the booze at the door. Needless to say, he loves it now and can't wait to go.
ReplyDeletesimplyonebyone(at)gmail(dot)com
And I tweeted it too - twice actually :)
ReplyDeletesimplyonebyone(at)gmail(dot)com
It's emotional to leave your babies and go to work. I'll be thinking about you.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm at work, my mind sometimes wanders and I wish I was home quilting... that is where I am happy!
rwinsby@shaw.net
You poor thing - I am not a mum but put my mum through hell about going to school. I am so glad that she is settling and hopefully you can feel happier leaving her. I can't believe how they are growing so quickly. I had got a little behind with your podcasts but am happily catching up now. Thank you for sharing the goodies. Best wishes for an even smoother week next week. C
ReplyDeleteI also follow you but on Google Reader - I never know if that counts or not. Have a good day. C
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog and would love to win any of those books, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am a Grandmother to three wonderful grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteMotherhood is a job that never ends, although I am at the end of my real "mothering" days. Actually have to stand back and remember not to always offer advise since my "baby" is 23. Would love to win a book from you.
ReplyDeleteslmcgann@verizon.net
Motherhood: wonderful, exhausting, rewarding, challenging, amazing. The short nights don't end when they're no longer toddlers. My 14 year old daughter woke me up WAY TOO EARLY this morning because she had a DREAM that I just woke her up. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI Tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/birdie00000/status/167688102280835072
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower.
ReplyDeleteDon't have children of my own, but hated leaving my step-children at daycare. Tough even for me. I don't have a job, so why am I not quilting all day? Oh, the internet!
ReplyDeleteYou will get through this just fine, wait until your kids start dating and driving! Then you can worry:-) I don't have kids but when I think of what I did as a teenager ......... OMG!
ReplyDeleteJust retweeted:-)
ReplyDeleteI listen to your podcast , so why not follow as well ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Tanesha! Love the podcast and have read nearly all of the books you've reviewed. I have two kids of my own and am amazed at how productive you are......
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower!
ReplyDeleteHello Tanesha....thanks for the opportunity to win one of these marvelous books. In reading your blog post it reminded me how very lucky I am to be at my stage of life "retired" and "empty nesting". I hate the getting old part but love having time to play and be somewhat "selfish". My daughter is now 34 and has a 5 year old (my beautiful granddaughter). I can tell you are a great Mom Tanesha by listening to your podcast and reading your blogposts so don't fret...they will grow up to be beautiful and well-adjusted women.
ReplyDeletesharon.bourque@sympatico.ca
Hang in there mom, this (and everything else that comes up in the next 18 years) will pass. Just sent my youngest off to college...sure is quiet around here! Thx for the chance to win, great books!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower.
ReplyDeleteHi There! I remember the days of day care. I have grandkids now. My heart still breaks a little when I think about it. There were tears once in awhile. I decided it was phases they went through. Overall, they did great. I know Maddy will be fine too. She has you for a mom! The books look amazing. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteHey There,
ReplyDeleteI daydream at work all day about the quilts I want to make, so although work is a slight bore I at least get something out of it. Now if I would have all the time in the world to make all the quilts I would like to!
I follow you on google reader too!
ReplyDeleteI love my job because I'm a stay-at-home mom. Used to work so I know the woes of daycare drop-offs. Even though I don't work outside the home, I still don't have enough time to quilt. I guess that's a universal problem in every occupation!
ReplyDeleteBook #2 is my fave.
Thanks!
peggyschneider5(at)yahoo(dot)com
I now follow you on my Yahoo! Just figured out how to do that a few weeks ago but have been slow to add blogs.
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
peggyschneider5(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love my job but would love to stay home and quilt anyway.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest is 19 years old.......I keep thinking it's going to get easier.
ReplyDelete-debby
Chester, NY
crowefan0517@yahoo.com
I am already a follower of your blog & love your podcast too:)
ReplyDelete-debby
Chester, NY 10918
crowefan0517@yahoo.com
There is nothing better after a day at work than coming home to bebegirl smiles. I like my job and it is hard be away from her knowing some one else is getting the smiles and laughs.
ReplyDeleteAlso a blog follower
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy your podcasts, I love, love the book reviews! Great job, and would love to win a book esp the Simply Triangles.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy your podcasts, I love, love the book reviews! Great job, and would love to win a book esp the Simply Triangles.
ReplyDeleteTanesha you always make me laugh. Keep it coming. It's like reading
ReplyDeleteMy own life. Kelly r
I love your insights into motherhood. And the weather I am having is total crap for crap... I swam to the mailbox today. Just sayin.. LOL
ReplyDeleteI subscribed! I love your podcast.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Montessori early childhood teacher. I've gone through a lot of rough transitions to school with students, but it does get better. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy reading your blog. I wish I could say parenting got easier because you worry about them less as they got older (mine are 40-16) but that would be a lie. You simply worry about them differently. Aren't I full of joy?? LOL
ReplyDeleteI tweeted about your giveaway @gaprhonda
ReplyDeleteI am a follower of your blog.
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog. I remember going back to work after my first and he (we) cried every day. It turned out to be okay because I soon found out I was pregnant again and became a stay at home mom :)
ReplyDeleteI tweeted about the giveaway (cindy_smith) but I wanted to add: don't enter because I need those books!
ReplyDeleteMy mom told me when my four children were young to enjoy them because this is the best time of your life. She was right.
ReplyDeleteI follow the blog!
ReplyDeleteThe books look awesome. I also have a job that I love to go to, now. And because I'm all alone I listen to audiobooks and podcasts all day, it's awesome! Then I get home and can work on projects!
ReplyDeleteAs tough as it is to leave your little one at daycare, you'll look back at how simple life was when you are parenting you teenage daughters. The boo-boos are a lot harder to fix!
ReplyDeleteI tweeted about the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI follow the blog on my reader!
ReplyDeleteSince a recent focus of your blog and podcast is Mommy-ing, I wanted to leave a tip that helps save my life as a working mom. On Sunday mornings, I make three casseroles. I try to keep them simple and make sure to include veggies (we're TRYING to be healthy in 2012, right?). I can usually get this done in about an hour. That way, for three of the week days, there's no real chore waiting for me at the end of the day and we are sure to get a healthy meal without much fuss. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletesewingkaren22@gmail.com
I follow your blog! Thank you for all the time and effort you put into the blog and podcast...they make me very happy!
ReplyDeletesewingkaren22@gmail.com
Just found your podcast this past week. I love it, you've been keeping me company while I quilt, do dishes, walk the dogs! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLeaving the baby at day care must be hard. Those separation tugs will return, my baby just committed to a college in another state, oh how fast the time flies. This time it will be me crying on the other end of the line!
just signed up to follow your blog
ReplyDeleteThe first week of daycare was very, very tough--but eventually my kids were disappointed on days they had to stay home! By the way, weather today? Blizzard. Got a snow-day and hence, able to spend time reading blogs and entering giveaways!
ReplyDelete...and I've been a follower for awhile thru Google Reader.
ReplyDelete...and just tweeted your giveaway and hashtag. What fun!
ReplyDeleteJust tweeted, pinky-promise!
ReplyDeleteLove your podcasts and tweets. Haven't looked at many blogs - find I get too absorbed. Have had a bit of a tipsy turvy week. Drove 6 hrs on Wednesday visiting Welsh university with eldest. On Saturday timing on longarm went now have to wait 'Ril Tuesday to speak to engineer. My Bernina's in for a service so just down to my Juki.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant news though - one of my ladies in my quilt group now pregnant. They've been trying for years, miscarriages, endometriosis plus not suitable for IVF. Baby due mid August. She'll be such a good Mum.
Tanesha - amazed at all you do. Do not know how you find the time. Just want you to know your hard work is much appreciated. Wish we could have a quilt retreat together! xx
Thanks so much for the generous give away! Very excited :) Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeleteTaking a break from my lap quilt that wants to fight with me through the walking foot. Great way to take one by entering a contest! I'm tweeting about it next. ;)
ReplyDeleteAmy