The playground is a tough place

Two days ago, we were at the local school playground after dinner to get some of our wiggles out.  Normally it's pretty quite, but since it's Little League season, the playground was packed.  No matter, my girls are so familiar with the terrain they jumped right into play.

Until.

Boy 1 and Boy 2 started picking on Robin.  Robin was on the little slide, Erin was 100 yards away on the swings.  I shuffled back and forth between them. Whenever I turned my back to Robin, she started fussing. Boy 1 was always behind her, Boy 2 by Boy 1's side, grinning.  At first, I thought she was taking too long on the slide and Boy 1 was annoyed.  It happens.

Then, protest #4 from Robin had me witnessing Boy 1 kicking her.  With both feet. With a look of grim determination on his face.  The mama bear in me rose up and I demanded of him, "Where is your Mom, Where is your Dad?"  He immediately knew the game was up and slunk away as best he could.  Dad 2 saw this, raced over to intercept Boy 2 and ask what was going on.  I said, "Boy 1 (probably age 6 or so ) was kicking my 2-year-old."  Dad 1 finally clued in that something was going on and chased Boy 1.  Dad 2 apologized profusely.  Dad 1... well, he just wrangled his boy and left.  Oh, during all the bullying Dad 1 and Dad 2 were engrossed in conversation.....

Today, we were at the city park, girls brought their push cars and scooters, again, to get wiggles out.  There's a center grassy area flanked by two playgrounds, one for little 'ins, one for big 'uns.  Around it is a paved path perfect for riding.  Erin was halfway around her first lap when I heard her start crying.  I saw to older folks and a smallish white dog.  I hurried over and asked if Erin was OK ( she was) and the couple assured me she was just startled by the dog, the dog was a reduce and not very well socialized.  Erin finished her lap and collapsed next to me.

She showed me the indentation and the break in the skin on her leg where the dog bit her.

I'm fine with rescue dogs, it's a good cause, it's not the animals fault.  I'm fine with trying to socialize the animal. But at a children's playground?  Where the dog is on a leash, but given enough lead to bite a passing child?  REPEAT:  ALLOWED TO BITE A PASSING CHILD???!?!!?!!

 

This was a challenging week for the McMillers at the parks.  

Too young for pimples. . .

. . .but hives?  Or contact dermatitis?

She woke up with some red on her neck and was scratching the bejesus behind her ears. She's on antibiotics for an ear infection (day 6 of 10) and it's her second round in the last two weeks. I also put some very old sunscreen on her face and neck two days ago. Called the doctor, they said if it was antibiotics it would be more wide-spread. By this afternoon/evening, her arm pits were covered, with some red areas looking raised. She also had scattered spots on her trunk, her arms, and two bands on her legs, right at mid-thigh level. I gave her some antihistamines so she would stop pulling off her skin, so she wasn't itchy anymore, but the bumps!!!

Poor kiddo.  At least she got to watch Elmo (maybe her second time ever) and eat a Nilla Wafer. OK, two wafers.

Now with more decadence

Meet the newest member of the McMiller Household:

That's right, folks. We now have ice cream making capabilities.  The inaugural run was a simple batch of vanilla, but I'm quickly interested in branching out.  Apparently it also can do sorbet and slushy drinks.  I see a party theme in the near future.

So, faithful McMillerPDX readers, what is your favorite ice cream recipe?  Or if you don't make ice cream, what is your favorite flavor combination?  

File this under, "Seriously?"

I remember in about 2nd or 3rd grade playing "homework" with my BFF at the time.  Because we didn't have homework.  Or at least none that was what we thought of as homework.  Sure, memorizing words for a spelling test, or reading a book, or bringing in something for show-and-tell, but not real get-graded-and-assessed-on assignments.

Last Sunday's NYT magazine had a short article emphasizing how much has changed:

"A survey of 254 teachers in New York and Los Angeles the group commissioned found that kindergartners spent two to three hours a day being instructed and tested in reading and math. They spent less than 30 minutes playing."

Huh.  

Letters!

Well, it's Thursday, which of course is the day we read your letters! Let's go to the mailbox, shall we?


Dear Daniel Craig,

Lighten up!

Warmly,
Brian


Dear The Economist,

I already subscribe to your damned magazine. Please don't include the little subscription cards! They just end up falling in or near the toilet.

Cheers,
Brian


Dear Gwen Ifill,

You are totally awesome.

Respectfully,
Brian