Book knowledge and experience As you all know, I’m putting together The Plan. It’s quite a Plan so quite a Task. Never one to spontaneously jump into the unknown, I feel I need to prepare thoroughly. Being an academic, the first thing I reach for is book knowledge. I’m reading up on biology, ecology, agriculture, husbandry, energy, construction, as well …
Author Archives: kaat
The Dream of Moving Out
Dreaming of moving out I love this place, especially when summer comes around, as it finally has. The hustle and bustle of Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village, the treelined streets, the many large, grassy parks, the general friendliness of the community, oh and not to forget the two independent bookstores, one of them the Children’s Bookshop. Work/school/daycare are less than …
I and You: Mastering Personal Pronouns
I and You Amie is now in the habit of formulating descriptions of what she is doing as follows: “Are you x-ing?” She does this in imitation of our own (incessant) questions about and observations of what she is doing, and because she is struggling with the personal pronouns “you” and “I” and “me”. Once …
Drawing as it Develops: Two more articles
I’ve added two more articles on the development of Amie’s drawings, the last one (no. 4 in the series) finally relating the “Breakthrough” I posted on earlier. Here are all the installments so far: First Drawings of a Very Young Child: Amie at 16 months Circles, and Coloring Books (a Mistake?): Amie at 18 months …
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Compost Dream Replaced by Other Dream
Compost Dreams Dashed The vote is in and it’s a veto: the majority of the Trustees of our condominium have said no to our composting bin idea. The first one was personally against it, the second one would dearly like to do it herself, but she knew many other residents would revolt. The third and …
The Fetus Fone and other Pregnant Fantasies
The Baby Tote When I was pregnant with Amie, I often amused myself thinking up all kinds of ways to make the pregnancy easier on us. For instance, later on in our pregnancies, when the weight begins to pull our spines out of allignment and our back muscles out of shape, when all those vital organs need …
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My Articles Elsewhere
Did I mention I am also a Feature Writer for Suite101.com? Once in a while, as I publish more there, I’ll post a widget with my latest articles, like this one: * Become a freelance writer! Latest Articles by Katrien Vander Straeten * Don’t miss my latest article: the more detailed and informed review of …
New Article Series: Drawing with Very Young Children
Amie, 28 April 2007 Breakthrough! I think Amie has made (or is in the midst of making) a breakthrough in her drawing. I happened to catch it on video, and may try to find a way to share that clip with you (at present that is beyond my technical skills). It has prompted me to start writing a …
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Recycling Comic Strip
Comic strip experiment This is an experiment. On a Previous Blog I published a comic strip once in a while to illustrate the funnier side of our life. It was the (only?)Â part of the Previous Blog that most of my readers liked. I hope to make more of them and publish them here. The biggest …
My child has a life without me too
First weeks at daycare A dear friend, whose daughter was born a month after Amie and is Amie’s only playdate buddy (I’m not exactly the gregarious type), just survived their first week of daycare. The first week (for some, the second and third, too) of daycare is awash with waves of despair, glimmers of hope, heartwrenching …