Speaking of Hearing…
Kristin will often put on a movie for the girls while she makes dinner. Dreading having to cook with yet another Disney tune in the background, she decided to put in a classic. The volume of this old, black-and-white was so low that she turned up the volume three times - to the system’s very maximum volume - and it was still barely audible. And, curiously, it was exactly the same volume in the family room and 30 feet away in the kitchen. Twenty minutes later there was knock at the front door and our neighbor (two doors down and across the street) was on the porch asking if we were watching Anne of Green Gables. “Yes, how did you know?” asked Kristin at the very moment she realized why it had been so hard to hear the movie. Apparently the audio was set to broadcast through our front-porch speakers. Kristin had turned it up so loud that the only people within a three block radius who couldn’t hear it were in our family room and kitchen.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
White Christmas 2008: VI
Speaking of the Doctor…
Ella had her 3-year-old pediatrician visit this summer (previous year’s readers will be relieved that there was now power outage on this visit). Part of the 3-year-old visit is an assessment of cognitive development using a few very simple questions. The first question was a softball: “Ella, how old are you?” Ella lowered her chin, looked right into the doctor’s eye and answered with a resolute, “Five!” The doctor smiled and glanced at Kristin as if to say I know she’s toying with me but I’ve seen this before and know exactly what to do. The next question was even simpler: “Well, what’s your name?” At this, Ella glanced at Kristin as if to say Aha! I have him exactly where I want him. Ella then broke into a devilish little smile, lowered her chin, looked directly into his eye and said “Kaitlyn!” The pediatrician knew he was outmatched and simply said, “her cognitive development is fine… let’s move on to the hearing test.” (Hey doc, I think she heard you just fine!)
Ella had her 3-year-old pediatrician visit this summer (previous year’s readers will be relieved that there was now power outage on this visit). Part of the 3-year-old visit is an assessment of cognitive development using a few very simple questions. The first question was a softball: “Ella, how old are you?” Ella lowered her chin, looked right into the doctor’s eye and answered with a resolute, “Five!” The doctor smiled and glanced at Kristin as if to say I know she’s toying with me but I’ve seen this before and know exactly what to do. The next question was even simpler: “Well, what’s your name?” At this, Ella glanced at Kristin as if to say Aha! I have him exactly where I want him. Ella then broke into a devilish little smile, lowered her chin, looked directly into his eye and said “Kaitlyn!” The pediatrician knew he was outmatched and simply said, “her cognitive development is fine… let’s move on to the hearing test.” (Hey doc, I think she heard you just fine!)
White Christmas 2008: V
Co-pay or No-pay?
Just last week Ella’s pediatrician offered to phone in a prescription but needed her exact weight to set the dosage. While debating the meaning of ‘exact’ over a beer at Johnny’s Pizza and lamenting yet another co-pay just to weigh a 3-year-old, Kristin suddenly set down her (now 2nd) beer, swept up Ella and hurried out of Johnny’s - leaving the rest of us wondering what had just happened. Before our confused expressions had faded, she returned and announced that Ella was 29 and one-half pounds. Apparently, if you are ever in a rush to have someone small weighed, the UPS Store right next to Johnny’s in East Cobb will be more than happy to help - no co-pay required.
Just last week Ella’s pediatrician offered to phone in a prescription but needed her exact weight to set the dosage. While debating the meaning of ‘exact’ over a beer at Johnny’s Pizza and lamenting yet another co-pay just to weigh a 3-year-old, Kristin suddenly set down her (now 2nd) beer, swept up Ella and hurried out of Johnny’s - leaving the rest of us wondering what had just happened. Before our confused expressions had faded, she returned and announced that Ella was 29 and one-half pounds. Apparently, if you are ever in a rush to have someone small weighed, the UPS Store right next to Johnny’s in East Cobb will be more than happy to help - no co-pay required.
White Christmas 2008: IV
A Foreign Language
Amelia came home from school with a note from her teacher last spring. She wrinkled her brow, looked at it first sideways, then upside down and finally right side up only to hand it to Kristin saying, “It’s in Chinese… they haven’t taught us to read Chinese yet.” It was actually cursive but she was right - they had taught her neither Chinese nor cursive just yet.
Amelia came home from school with a note from her teacher last spring. She wrinkled her brow, looked at it first sideways, then upside down and finally right side up only to hand it to Kristin saying, “It’s in Chinese… they haven’t taught us to read Chinese yet.” It was actually cursive but she was right - they had taught her neither Chinese nor cursive just yet.
White Christmas 2008: III
Of Caffeine and Sleep
Ella can sleep through anything, or so we thought. On one recent trip to Chik-Fil-A, Ella was in a deep sleep as Kristin and the girls pulled into the drive through. Kristin asked if they wanted nuggets or strips, fries or fruit and if anyone wanted a Coke. At the mention of Coke, Ella’s eyes opened wide, she sat forward and yelled “I do!” before slumping back and falling fast asleep just as quickly. We now have to spell the work C-O-K-E whenever Ella is asleep in the drive thru.
Ella can sleep through anything, or so we thought. On one recent trip to Chik-Fil-A, Ella was in a deep sleep as Kristin and the girls pulled into the drive through. Kristin asked if they wanted nuggets or strips, fries or fruit and if anyone wanted a Coke. At the mention of Coke, Ella’s eyes opened wide, she sat forward and yelled “I do!” before slumping back and falling fast asleep just as quickly. We now have to spell the work C-O-K-E whenever Ella is asleep in the drive thru.
White Christmas 2008: II
The TV Was on During Dinner
The TV is never on at dinner so Isabelle, knowing something was wrong, asked about Freddie and Fannie and AIG. Putting his expensive education to work, Brad began to explain macroeconomics. Even more brilliantly, he used props! A Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle represented a company, a cup represented banks, the utensils represented consumers and M&Ms represented currency. Isabelle listened patiently to Brad’s elaborate, yet carefully crafted explanation of capitalism. Isabelle studied the scene with a thoughtful look – hmmm, a cup refusing to give M&Ms to the Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle. Brad leaned in with the quiet satisfaction of Socrates ready to answer the student’s first enlightened question. Eventually, Isabelle looked up from the ketchup and asked, “So, does all Ketchup have tomatoes in it?”
The TV is never on at dinner so Isabelle, knowing something was wrong, asked about Freddie and Fannie and AIG. Putting his expensive education to work, Brad began to explain macroeconomics. Even more brilliantly, he used props! A Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle represented a company, a cup represented banks, the utensils represented consumers and M&Ms represented currency. Isabelle listened patiently to Brad’s elaborate, yet carefully crafted explanation of capitalism. Isabelle studied the scene with a thoughtful look – hmmm, a cup refusing to give M&Ms to the Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle. Brad leaned in with the quiet satisfaction of Socrates ready to answer the student’s first enlightened question. Eventually, Isabelle looked up from the ketchup and asked, “So, does all Ketchup have tomatoes in it?”
White Christmas 2008: I
The Bus Was Late
It was the first day of school and the bus usually runs late in the afternoon on the first day of school. But the bus was very late and the parents at the bus stop were beginning to worry. When the bus finally arrived, 7 kids spilled out eager to tell stories about their first day. It took only a few seconds to realize that they were all excitedly telling the same story. The story of how one child was lost and all the classrooms and all the buses were checked and held until they could find this poor child who may have boarded the wrong bus. “Teachers,” they said, “kept getting on and off of all the buses in front of ours. When a teacher got to our bus, she said: raise your hand if you are Amelia White!” And that is why over 300 students were delayed on the first day of school this year.
It was the first day of school and the bus usually runs late in the afternoon on the first day of school. But the bus was very late and the parents at the bus stop were beginning to worry. When the bus finally arrived, 7 kids spilled out eager to tell stories about their first day. It took only a few seconds to realize that they were all excitedly telling the same story. The story of how one child was lost and all the classrooms and all the buses were checked and held until they could find this poor child who may have boarded the wrong bus. “Teachers,” they said, “kept getting on and off of all the buses in front of ours. When a teacher got to our bus, she said: raise your hand if you are Amelia White!” And that is why over 300 students were delayed on the first day of school this year.
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