When Kids Name Pets

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My boss has a cat named Papagena. I always thought that was a bit unusual. Plus, I always mixed it up with Patagonia, the clothing company.

As my boss and I were chatting the other day, I learned two things about Papagena. First, the name is from a character in the opera The Magic Flute. Second, my boss’ teenage daughter picked the name Papagena.

Which got me thinking.

I’m not sure my kids would ever pick a name from an opera, probably because my kids have never been to the opera! But they do watch TV. Thus, they have a different cultural reference for picking cat names.

First, here’s what the cat would be named if my 9-year-old could choose:

Spongebob

Patrick

Sandy

Squidward

Mr. Krabs

Second, here’s what the cat would be named if my 6-year-old could choose:

Fred

Daphne

Velma

Shaggy

Scooby

Do you have a great pet name? Why did you pick it?

Image courtesy of dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day 2012

Last Thursday was the official Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 2012. According to their website:

Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day has inspired a future generation of girls and boys by helping bring them into the workplace to explore the many life choices they have.

Some of my friends work for Fortune 500-type companies that rolled out the red carpet for kids and hosted seminars and pizza lunches. My son Will, 8, went to work with my husband, who works in sporting goods.

There were no seminars. No lunches.

Will was put to work packing orders. That’s right, child labor is alive and well!

Don’t be too worried about him, though. I *think* he had some fun:

Uh, looks like Will was inspired (!) and empowered to explore the many life choices he has!

I should mention that Will had the option of going to work with me that day and didn’t. On Thursdays, I’m a stay-at-home mom. I took the cat to the vet, my 5-year-old to swim lessons and later to choir, cleaned 2 bathrooms, did laundry, cooked dinner, etc. He could have learned a lot, I tell you.

Did you take your son or daughter to work?

 

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Deep Thoughts from a 5-Year-Old

My family of 4 was sitting around the dinner table chatting about our day.

I shared how my boss had been coughing all over me and my co-workers earlier. My boss was getting over a cold, but wasn’t trying to cover her mouth as she coughed on us.

“Maybe she didn’t know?” suggested Will, 8.

“Huh,” thought my husband. “Could you say, ‘thanks for sharing?’”

I shrugged.

Then I looked at my daughter Sydney, 5, for her opinion.

“Maybe she doesn’t like you?” she offered.

Ha! 

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Winter Wonderland

We had our first snow today in our little corner of the world.

There’s nothing like snow to make you feel like a bad mom or dad. That’s because my thought is always, “Please don’t snow enough to make it a snow day.”

And I bet this morning bad moms and dad all over metro Detroit were scrambling before they had to leave for work and/or the kids had to catch the bus to school.

I present a hypothetical scenario from this frosty winter’s morn:

“Where are your snow pants? You’re going to miss the bus.”

“I don’t know. Where’d you put them?”

“I didn’t put them anywhere. They’re your snow pants.”

“I can’t find them.”

“Where are your snow boots? Don’t forget to pack your other shoes to wear in school when you get there. Remember last year you forgot your shoes (like 8 times) and it was always on gym day and you complained that it was all our fault that you had to walk the track around the gym rather than participate in gym class. What do you mean you don’t know? And where are your snow pants?”

“I’m gonna miss the bus.”

“Where are your gloves? I don’t care that you don’t want to wear them. You have to. Why is there only 1? Did you find your snow pants yet? Your boots? Did you pack your extra shoes to change into when you get to school? What do you mean you need lunch money? Oh, crud did the bus just leave…”

“M-o-o-o-m, I missed the bus! And I can’t find my snow pants.”

And so on! I’d love to hear what your first snow morning was like.

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Time for a Nap

Both of my blog readers know that I work in research (when I’m working outside the home, that is!)

Often, my work hosts guest speakers who talk about topics in child development. A recent talk caught my attention. It was about an experimental study of the effects of nap deprivation on emotion regulation.

Hmm. Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying kids who don’t take naps get cranky?

I would think all you have to do to confirm that theory is poll anywhere from 1 to 1,000,000 moms!

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