Articles Published by Jean Lanahan
Winter 2008 to Spring 2009
Notes from Momma's Journal......
Published in The Wareham Observer, April 17, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal:
I can’t believe I gave in. But how could I not? My soon to be 10 year old daughter has been diligently saving pennies to purchase a treasure that costs $29.99.
“Mom, can I borrow a few dollars? I have twenty dollars and some change and a gift card with $6.71 on it, but there might be tax. We already have a cage; I’ll clean it every day, every minute if I have to. All you have to buy is food and shavings and a leash with a harness. That can be my birthday present. Please? I fell in love with Skampi - that’s what I want to name him - when I first saw him a few weeks ago. I can’t stop thinking about him and promise to take very good care of him.
Thinking back to my childhood pet loving days (I wished and wished for a monkey but ended up with fish or frogs or hand-me-down dogs), I gave in and brought Jackie to Family Pet to buy the cutest, calmest, littlest dwarf bunny I have ever seen. It was love at first sight.
At home, while Jackie was busy getting Skampi oriented to her new surroundings, Tom reminded me to find something I’d written a few years back, when Liz, my oldest daughter, was in second grade. It was her turn to adopt Oreo, the class bunny:
"Mom, it's time for me to write in Oreo's Journal about his April vacation at our house."
Wednesday: “We took Oreo outside but he got out of his harness and we spent a long time playing hide-and-go-bunny seek. When I picked him up, he bit me and I dropped him, but he didn't get hurt. My sister caught him, and Oreo bit her arm too. My dad saved us. Oreo didn't bite my dad too many times, maybe just two more times. And my dog, he liked Oreo, but he wanted to bite him too, probably to get even for Oreo biting us.”
Thursday: “Oreo fell asleep in my arms. My mom wanted to hold Oreo but every time she went near him she sneezed and talked funny just like when she goes to Auntie Susan's and sits in the chair where the kitty sleeps.”
Friday: “Oreo poops a lot. That made my dad mad because he peed a lot too. My teacher told us that Oreo was trained, but he liked to poop on the rug instead. I had to sweep it up because Oreo was my vacation pet, but usually my dog ate the bunny poop before I got to it. That made my mom really mad. She got even madder when Oreo ate the cord to a lamp.”
Saturday: “We found him on the bottom shelf of my mom's cabinet eating her collectible books. Oreo got a long 'time out' for that. Oreo was looking at Angel, my sister’s hamster, and the next morning, Angel was dead. Jackie thinks her hamster got sweaty and spun too much in his wheel. I didn't let Oreo look at my hamster because I saw what happened to Jackie's pet.”
Sunday: “I have to clean his stinky cage and pack Oreo's vacation bag. My mom will bring him to school tomorrow after she drives to get her coffee. Love, Liz.”
If there was ever a time that I modified my daughter’s homework, it was now. Here’s the entry that went into Oreo’s Journal:
Oreo’s Adventure at Elizabeth’s House -
“Oreo like to run around the house. My mom was allergic to Oreo. She’s allergic to cats too. My dog tried to kiss Oreo. Oreo wanted to play with my hamster. He fell asleep in my arms. Oreo ran up the stairs. He liked my house and our yard and we all had fun with Oreo. The end.”
Jackie and Skampi are lucky that this mom has a tendency to forget things that didn’t happen yesterday or today!
Jean Lanahan of Bourne chronicles the ‘chaotic joys’ of life with children. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer April 9, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal:
I was driving around the other day, doing errands with my nine year old co-pilot, Jackie. She was busy listening to the radio, eating cheese curls; I was busy with my mental to-do list, sipping a luke warm coffee. I almost forgot Jackie was there, until she spoke.
“Mom, if you had three wishes, what would they be?”
“Three wishes for anything,” I asked.
“Yep. Anything, Mom.”
“First, I’d wish for love for all of us, for eternity. Second, I’d wish for health, for all of our days. Third, I’d wish for happiness and prosperity for our family, for ever and a day.”
“That’s it. That’s all you’d wish for Mom.”
“Actually, that’s quite a wish list, Jackie. Wishing for our family to be loving and happy and healthy, forever, is a lot of wishes.”
“Oh.”
“If you had three wishes, what were your three wishes be?” I asked of Jackie.
Without hesitation, she said, “first, I’d wish for a better economy. Second, I’d wish that our dog would behave, like all the time, and not act so crazy when she gets hyper. Third, I’d wish for more wishes.”
“That’s it. That’s all you’d wish for, Jackie.”
“Mom, those are great wishes. A better economy and a more behaved dog is something we really need. And wishing for more wishes would be the coolest wish of all because then I could make wishes forever.”
“That is pretty cool, Jackie.”
“It reminds me of a song, Mom. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, from Cinderella. Let me sing it for you.”…….
I remember watching Cinderella with my daughters and how much they loved Cinderella’s kind way with her animal friends. Jackie taught me the lyrics I’d forgotten; that lovely tune stayed with me the whole day through.
Jackie reminded me of how much fun it is to hang out with a nine year old. But mostly, she reminded me that a dream really is a wish you make with your heart.
Find Jean Lanahan of Bourne online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, April 2, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal: Doing less for our children is sometimes more
As I write, my youngest is working on a school project which she was told of the due date some three weeks ago. Is it done? No.
Does she have grand ideas of the things she needs to complete the project? Yes.
Does she need help? Probably.
Will I participate? Not tonight.
“Mom, what else should I write about Neptune to put on my poster?... Should the I make my aliens blue or green?... Should I build a hotel that my aliens can sleep in after they go skiing or snowboarding in Neptune? … Where’s the clay? What colors do we have? Did you buy any new markers? These are all dried up.”
“Jackie, you’re the one who’s been reading about Neptune, not me. Building a hotel for your little alien sounds great, but drawing it may work just as well. As far as the clay, I have no idea of how much we have or what colors we have. If you find any, pop it in the microwave for ten seconds before building a figure. Markers. Hmm. Look in the school supply box at the bottom of the cellar stairs. ”
“Mom. I’ve got a great idea. Do we have any styrofoam balls?
“Not that I know of, Jackie.”
”Can you buy some tomorrow, Mom?”
“Nope. You should have started this project days ago.”
From upstairs my oldest daughter asks, “Mom, did you get poster paper for my math project? It’s due tomorrow. How about the paint and carpet samples I need to design my rooms. Where are they, mom?”
You’re kidding me, right? About two weeks ago, Liz gave me a list of things she wanted to include on her ‘interior design project’. I’m sure it’s gone through the through the laundry at least three times by then. OOPPS. But had I been reminded a few days ago, I would have made a trip to Home Depot to pick up samples and supplies. Too late now. I’m on strike.
“Here’s the laptop girls. You’ll have to improvise, get creative. Liz, perhaps you can find sample carpets designs or paint colors for your room. Jackie, maybe you can look up Aliens and build one out of the supplies we have on hand. I’m getting ready to fold laundry and watch American Idol. You can join me when your projects are done.”
Amazingly, some 38 minutes later the girls had finished their projects.
“Mom, check out Icy, my (multicolored) clay alien. He’s wearing skis. Actually they’re popsicle sticks but he’s ready to go skiing on Neptune,” Jackie said proudly.
“How do you like the new kitchen I designed for you Mom? Isn’t the floor cool?” Elizabeth asked.
Will their projects be the best ones presented in their classrooms? I doubt it. Did the girls learn that it’s not Mom or Dad’s job to design their school projects, or our responsibility to spend three hours working on them the night before they’re due? I think so.
Jean Lanahan of Bourne chronicles the ‘chaotic joys’ of life with children. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, March 5, 2009; The Bourne Enterprise, March 27, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal:
“Mommy, I’m hungry.” “Daddy, I’m cold.” “Honey, I’m sick.”
With a quarter of million unemployed people in Massachusetts, those heart wrenching statements must be heard thousands of times a day.
Everyone is feeling the crunch of today’s dark economic conditions. I know we are. Spending on anything other than essentials is nil. My daughters are busy with town and school sponsored activities, but that’s about it. Nothing extra. No dancing school or gymnastics or musical lessons on the calendar of late. We haven’t been out to dinner in months, and forget about going to the mall or to the movies these days. (I fully appreciate why our elders reused disposable cups and aluminum foil - and their reasoning behind hiding their hard earned cash under the mattress!)
With the drop in interest rates these past few months, who hasn’t refinanced their homes? Many qualified by the skin of their teeth, with the intent to consolidate credit card debt incurred to pay for ordinary living expenses or to take out cash to keep their businesses afloat.
We’re advised to stay positive, to keep an open mind. Ha! It’s not easy but probably the single most important thing we can do right now. For many of us, it may be the right time to try something new, or the perfect occasion to diversify our services or expand our skills.
We’re told to reach out and ask for help. Last thing creditors want to hear is that we’re looking for greater credit lines, but there are many programs offering assistance these days – free school lunch programs; help with paying home heating bills, electricity, or health insurance. It’s the asking that’s the hardest part until we consider the consequences of not asking - hungry or cold or sickly family members. I won’t have it.
Business owners have two choices: do nothing or recreate/reinvent ourselves. The future looks bleak for businesses that rely solely on “luxury spending”. We’re on our own. It’s up to us to stay informed and educated.
I recently attended a seminar sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation. The first half of the meeting was interesting, filled with information about SBA’s (Small Business Administration) commercial loans which sparked the curiosity of the well dressed commercial/financial attendees. (And there I sat, in my Mommy jeans and warm sweatshirt, awaiting talk of opportunities for little people in no position to buy or sell commercial properties at the moment.) The second half of the meeting, however, my pen was jumping. My heart was pumping with enthusiasm and my brain flooded with ideas.
In less than an hour’s time, I learned that there are SBA Loans available for small businesses that would not pass current traditional lender’s standards. I learned that with a sound business plan, there are people who will guide you through the entire loan process. I learned about the SEED Corporation’s commitment to helping small businesses survive – and grow - during troubling economic times.
“Here’s my card, Jean. Give us a call to set up an appointment to discuss the low interest loan programs we have to offer. I’m sure we can help.”
That was the best news I’ve heard in a long time.
Find Jean Lanahan of Sagamore Beach online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, February 26, 2009; The Bourne Enterprise, March 6, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal: No means 'No'
From a friend’s house, my oldest daughter called and asked a ridiculous question, and I answered with a firm, “no”. The next day, the same thing. She asked, and again I said, ‘no”. A week later, from yet another friends’ house, 12-year-old Elizabeth called and begged this time, pleading with me. “I’m not a baby, Mom. I really want to see this movie. All the other mothers said ‘yes’. Why can’t you just say ‘yes’? ”
“Because I said no once, twice, and now three times. No means 'no'! It doesn’t mean 'maybe, or later, or I’ll think about it'. It means 'NO'. Don’t ask me again, and don’t bother asking Dad because he’s already said, ‘it is not gonna happen’.”
I love going to the movies. Dramas, comedies, and tear-jerkers are my favorites. There’s something about sitting in front of a huge screen watching actors perform magic with surround sound amplifying their every move. No telephones to answer or laundry to fold. Just me with a few tissues and a box of buttered popcorn, relaxing, escaping for an hour or two. I can’t imagine that state of euphoria for anyone sitting through Friday the 13th.
When I was my daughter’s age, The Exorcist was at the movies. Did I see it? Yes. Did it scare me to death? Absolutely. Thinking back to some of the shocking scenes and I’m horrified all over again.
A few years later, Jaws was on the big screen. I watched the movie and for the next few years opted to swim in shallow water, even in a swimming pool.
Some fifteen years later, Silence of the Lambs and Cape Fear were released. After watching the first film, I had nightmares about Hannibal Lector for quite awhile. As for Cape Fear, to this day I often take a peek under my car before entering and the phrase, “come out, come out wherever you are” still makes me shiver.
There were lots of scary movies released in between the ones listed above, but honestly, I had no desire to see them then and definitely no need to see them today. Just watching the nightly news can be frightening enough for this mother!
I have yet to see Friday the 13th previews on our primetime television channels, so how do 6th grade kids hear about the film - and why are they keen about going to see it anyway? It’s rated R for Restricted for a reason; no one in their age group should be allowed to enter the cinema. The movie is filled with bloody violence, graphic sexual content, drugs, and inappropriate language, and yet it was one of the top 10 movies at the box office last weekend, raking in a whopping $7.8 million.
I don’t get it. What’s really unsettling for me is that the movie is targeted to attract teenage and twenty-something year old audiences. Imagine our children sitting in a dark theater, defenseless, with no clicker to fast forward through the excruciatingly gruesome parts and no blanket to hide under when they can take no more of the madness?
I bet that there are many middle and high school students talking about the movie; possibly even admitting that they will never, ever - not anytime in their life - step foot into a campground again. Can you blame them?
P.S. Tom and I don’t feel at all bad about ruining plans that our daughter and a few of her friends tried to organize these past two weekends. Perhaps they’ve slept better than some of their classmates.
Jean Lanahan of Sagamore Beach chronicles the ‘chaotic joys’ of life with children. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, February 19, 2009; The Bourne Enterprise, February 20, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal: A Vacation from School Vacation
Vacation week. What a great time to catch up with friends, get some extra rest, and tackle ignored household projects.
I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting that I’m done with winter. I’m sick of being cold and tired of stacking firewood. I’m ready to change curtains to a lighter fabric and take the plastic seal from our many drafty windows. I’m ready to strip the wallpaper from Jackie’s bedroom walls and paint her room a calming shade of blue. Why not? Vacation week is the perfect time to get things done.
My kids have a different opinion of what vacation week is all about. They just want to have fun which includes staying up late, sleeping until 10, chatting on the phone and computer with their friends, baking cookies, eating junk food, and making messes every waking moment. There’s no time allotted to helping mom or dad with household chores but there’s plenty of time to talk of going to the movies or to the mall.
I don’t get it. Why does everything have to be so scheduled, and so expensive? What happened to old-fashioned spontaneous fun with friends and family?
When we were kids, February vacation was a time when we dressed warmly and busied ourselves with winter activities like ice skating/sledding, feeding the hungry birds, and searching for signs of spring. Being clad in winter clothing was the best way to withstand the hits of the cold ball in a good game of dodge ball. Hide and seek, an all time favorite, was played for hours on end. When I asked my husband about his favorite childhood winter game , without a moment’s hesitation, he said, (dare I put it in print?) “bumper jumping.” I’ll say no more about that except that I’m glad to have daughters....
Our parents told us to “go out and play” (weather depending) and with the right weather, we’d stay out until the dinner bell rang. Those were the days; days in which we didn’t dare say, “I’m bored.”
When I was a child, being bored meant getting busy with scouring the refrigerator with a Brillo pad and a can of Ajax. Being bored meant being sent to my room to organize closets and underwear drawers. I don’t remember admitting to being bored very often - despite not having computers or cell phones or televisions with hundreds of channels. But I do remember cleaning my room and folding laundry before my friends came calling.
I’m happy that the weather cooperated with us this school vacation. We’re not skiers or snow birds; we usually stay close to home during school breaks. We don’t have an Xbox or a Wii, but we do have a large yard filled with adventure – and a rope swing, a tree house play area, an RV, a puppy, and eight live chickens. Have you ever watched a child have a relay race with an energetic chicken? What fun!
I hope all of our kids spent their vacation filling their lungs with crisp air, going on nature walks, and playing backyard games. Getting Jackie’s wallpaper stripped and her bedroom walls painted may or may not be completed by the time school resumes on Monday. No matter. We’ll be back to business as usual in a few short days.
Jean Lanahan of Sagamore Beach chronicles the 'chaotic joys' of life with children. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, February 12, 2009
Notes From Momma’s Journal: Getting to the Heart of the Matter
For the past nine years, come the second week of February and we’re on a mission to find the latest and greatest valentine cards on the market. With daughters in the fourth and sixth grades, I’m sad to say that we may have bought our last box of valentines. Once kids reach middle school, valentines are no longer shared with classmates. Preteens are way above signing their names to cute little cards telling their teachers that they’re special or their friends that they’re awesome.
Valentine’s Day is still acknowledged in middle school, but in a different way. Last year, Liz’s fifth-grade class was instructed to write something positive about each of their classmates. Descriptive words were encouraged and the results were distributed and laminated on poster paper. Liz still has her keepsake hanging in her bedroom. “Kind, considerate, funny, smart, friendly, good singer.” What a great way for students to pay tribute to their classmates, which is not always the case with kids in this age group.
I can’t wait to see how sixth graders acknowledge Valentine’s Day, both in and out of school. My hope is that it doesn't’t include too many gushy emails, notes, or text messages.
At grammar school, it’s a different story. Valentines Day is party day! A day when kids pass out cards telling their friends, “you’re the best” and their teachers, “you’re the greatest”. And then there’s candy, lots of it. Heart shaped everything sure does sweeten the mood for grade school students.
There’s a rule associated with the note and candy giving tradition at Jackie’s elementary school: “If a student opts to pass out valentines, there must be one for each classmate”. I noticed that a few of Jackie’s cards were missing her signature. When I questioned her, she responded with, “Mom, I don’t want J…. or T…. to think I like him, really like him, so they don’t need to know it’s from me.” Fair enough, I guess. The ‘really like him stuff’ will come all too soon.
At home, I encourage the girls to make cards for Tom and me; to write something special in their own words. We have a collection of heart shaped cards covered with stickers and drawings and hand written “I love you’s”. I’m a sucker for homemade gifts including the cards my husband has given me for the past 20 years - Hallmark cards saying everything a wife wants to hear. Cards that he reworks and adds his own words of sentiment. Cards that touch my heart. Isn’t that what Valentine’s Day is all about? A card filled with warm thoughts (attached to a good bottle of wine of course) works for me.
About Valentines Day next year? Perhaps I’ll be at CVS, alone, stocking up on boxed valentines and heart shaped chocolates, just in case the kids have the urge to tell their friends or teachers that they’re extra special. Who knows? Some habits are worth keeping.
Jean Lanahan of Sagamore Beach chronicles the ‘chaotic joys’ of life with children. Find her book, “Enchanted Whispers” Wit & Wisdom from the Mouths of Babes (and Momma too)” online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, February 5, 2009;
The Bourne Enterprise, February 6, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal: Preteen Dilemmas
The preteen years are a time of great change in our child’s life. Hormonal changes, developing their own identity, growing more independent and more defiant – it’s all normal. Preteens need their space, privacy, and rather than ask a parent for advice, they may rely on their friend’s opinion to solve dilemmas (especially those social in nature). Sad but true, and not easy for parents to accept. Kids can’t fathom that we want to be involved. They don’t appreciate that we’re concerned about their safety, what they’re thinking, and mostly, what may be bothering them. Instead, they consider us to be just plain nosey, overprotective, and full of faults.
Whatever we do, it’s not exactly right.
Whatever we say, it’s wrong.
Whatever rules we make, they’re too many.
Whatever we ask of them, it’s too much.
Whatever we ask them at all, it’s an inconvenient question.
It’s all about them and them alone.
How do parents endure the preteen years? From what I’ve read and heard from parents who survived the preteen years with their children, it’s all about communication and perseverance. When all else says defeat, parents must stand tall and
-
Continue to ask questions.
Continue to ask questions. -Plan family time, and private time with our preteens.
Plan family time, and private time with our preteens. -Monitor their cell phone and computer usage where kids often text/say things they’d otherwise never say face to face.
Monitor their cell phone and computer usage where kids often text/say things they’d otherwise never say face to face. -Show you care, how much you love them, and acknowledge their accomplishments (big and small).
Show you care, how much you love them, and acknowledge their accomplishments (big and small). -Share what you know about bullies, clicks, best friends, computers, and whatever else is important in their world. Tell some of your own stories of woe. That always gets their attention - to imagine you as the one who choked on her lines during a school play. And didn’t we all have a crush on the same boy/girl as the most popular girl/boy in school? Surely he/she liked you better because of your kind and considerate ways. (I could write a few Harlequin romance novels based on the stories I’ve told!)
Share what you know about bullies, clicks, best friends, computers, and whatever else is important in their world. Tell some of your own stories of woe. That always gets their attention - to imagine you as the one who choked on her lines during a school play. And didn’t we all have a crush on the same boy/girl as the most popular girl/boy in school? Surely he/she liked you better because of your kind and considerate ways. (I could write a few Harlequin romance novels based on the stories I’ve told!)Oh, the adolescent years. Some 35 years ago when I was 12 years old, I tested every limit, challenged every rule. I remember mimicking my mother when she gave out orders. “Put away your laundry. Brush your teeth. Clean your room. Finish your homework. Come out here and tell me about your day.”
“OMG” (or something like that), I’d whisper through a scowl.
My mother’s words haunt me now, “Just wait until you have a daughter like yourself.” I wish my mom was here to thank her for her persistence - for keeping structure in my confused preteen world; for hugging me when I was unapproachable; for reprimanding me when I was sassy. Oh, that tone that shines through with a preteen’s one or two word responses to everyday questions. “Yep. Nope. Not really. Fine. Why? Whatever!”
When I ask my 9 year old the same questions, I have to take seat for and brace myself for the sermons (plural).
“How was school today, Jackie?”
“It was great, except for when T….. almost threw up in class. Mom, it was sooooo gross. He turned green and then had to run out of the room. The nurse made him sit down on her cot and gave him a bucket till his mom picked him up. Too bad he missed the fun stuff we did in math. We’re doing long division and Mr. Brown taught us a new song. It goes like this, ‘divide, multiply, subtract, bring it down’.” (She even taught me the dance moves associated with the song.)
“That’s cool, Jackie. What do you have for homework?”
“A spelling worksheet and about a million long division problems. I still don’t really get it. Well, I do a little, but can you help? Just watch and don’t say anything unless you see me make a mistake…. Divide, multiply, subtract, bring it down…. How am I doing, Mom?”
At least someone still longs for me to watch her every move.
Jean Lanahan of Sagamore chronicles the ‘chaotic joys’ of life with children. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, January 29, 2009
Notes from Momma's Journal: Super Dinner on a Budget
Call me old-fashioned, but I enjoy cooking wholesome meals, which leads me to the grocery store at least twice a week to buy fresh ingredients. I used to peruse the isles and fill the cart with our favorite things, but no more of that. Coupons and a calculator in one hand, a detailed list of sale items in the other, and I’m off to the races.
We’ve seen nothing but rising prices on the items we use every day. Have you purchased laundry detergent recently? Yikes! And what about the new, smaller, packaging designs? Please tell me that I’m not the only one in search of a half-gallon of ice cream! What’s up with that?
Going grocery shopping is like going into combat. We need be disciplined and prepared. We need to read labels and compare store brands to brand name products. No more reaching for full priced favorites, and definitely, no more shopping with children! Their little brains have been tainted to crave the most expensive, least nutritious items within their reach. Please don’t get me going about juice boxes, fruit snacks, and vitamin drinks….. Shopping alone is a sure way to save at the checkout (in my estimation, approximately $20 per child.)
Here’s another money saving tip: if your family will consume only 6 apples in the next few days, avoid buying a 5 pound bag of apples just because it’s sale. Odds are good that your next milk and bread run will send you back to the grocery store, because it’s probably about the same time you’re out of yogurt, dish detergent, and vanilla wafers. Or diapers, perhaps?
It’s all about being informed; knowing what’s on sale (is it really ‘on sale’?), and knowing how to properly prepare the items you choose.
I hope everyone took advantage of last week’s special at a local grocery store: “Buy a roast for $2.99 lb (3 lb minimum) and get a 5 lb bag of potatoes, a 1 lb bag of carrots, and 1 lb of onions for FREE!” Granted, the roasts on sale were bottom round roasts (or chuck roasts) which I wouldn’t suggest cooking to a medium rare state in a rotisserie, but cooked as Pot Roast, they are pretty darn good. It tastes even better with free side dishes.
If you have a pot roast in your freezer, try this easy, comforting dinner. Start cooking at around noon on Super Bowl Sunday and you’ll satisfy your guests during the pre-game festivities with this awesome dinner.
Pot Roast Dinner – serves 6 +
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 to 4 pound Bottom Round or Chuck Roast
Dry Rub: Combine 1 tsp coarse salt, ½ tsp freshly ground pepper, 1 Tbsp flour, ½ tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried thyme (crumbled)
Wet ingredients: 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar, 2 cups broth (or combination of vegetable/beef/chicken broth or wine or beer), 2 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp gravy master
Vegetables: 6-8 medium Maine potatoes (halved), 1 lb bag of baby carrots, 3 large onions (peeled and quartered)
Gravy: 2 Tbsp butter, 2 Tbsp flour, 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, ½ cup water (or red wine), pan juices
- Trim excess fat from roast. Wash and dry and place in large bowl.
- Press flour mixture – dry ingredients listed above - onto meat, covering all sides.
- Heat oil in Dutch Oven on stovetop until sizzling. Brown meat on all sides.
- Combine wet ingredients and pour over meat. Cover and move to preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for about 2 ½ hours.
- Remove from oven, turn roast, and add vegetables around meat. Cover and bake for 1 hour, or until vegetables are fork tender.
- Place cooked roast on a carving platter and let rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing, against the grain.
- Move vegetables to a deep serving dish and cover with aluminum foil. Reserve pan juices.
- In a small sauce pan, melt butter and add flour. Whisk until blended. Add ¼ cup water or red wine, and juices from baking pan. Bring to boil and cook until liquid has reduced by about a third. Add some fresh parsley.
Ask your friends to bring the half-time munchies, juice boxes, and ice cream for the kids. Maybe they’ll have better luck in finding a half-gallon container of Edy’s Rocky Road, but I doubt it.
Find Jean Lanahan of Bourne online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, January 15, 2009; in The Bourne Enterprise, January 23, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal: Christy & Me
Like so many others, we went to the movies to see Marley & Me over the holiday vacation. And like other moviegoers, I laughed and cried throughout the show.
Having read the book a few years back, I knew that we’d see an unruly dog capture, and then break, the hearts of an entire family. I knew that the Grogan’s were both newspaper writers – Jennifer Aniston, playing Jenny Grogan who is a reporter, and Owen Wilson as John Grogan, the columnist who chronicled ordinary, everyday happenings. (That was enough to sell me on seeing the movie.) And after watching countless movie previews, my dog-loving daughters counted the days until Marley & Me opened.
We owned a beautiful yellow lab for 14 years. Cookie Dough was our first baby. She was obedient, loyal, and as poised as a four legged animal could be. When Tom and I had children, Cookie protected them, entertained them, and loved them. And then she grew old and sickly. It was heartbreaking, so distressing that after Cookie’s passing the kids convinced us to get another dog. (Pssst: Marley dies at the end of the movie so be sure that your kids – and you - are ready to witness him “going to sleep”. I, honestly, wasn’t ready for that scene.)
We adopted Christy a year ago when she was just 12 (adorable) weeks old. She was the runt of the litter of black lab/mix puppies; of course my kids chose her. Christy is now 15 months old, full grown, yet she weighs less than forty pounds. When her four paws are on the ground, which is rare, she stands only nineteen inches tall. Our guess is that her dad was a Terrier, possibly a Jack Russell Terrier. She may look like a miniature Labrador Retriever, but a thoroughbred Lab Christy is not.
Most labs are steady-tempered, dependable, eager to please their owners, but our little ball of fur is feisty, bossy, clever, persistent, stubborn and impulsive. Like a Terrier, she’s quick to bark, quicker to chase. She hates the ocean or baths; loves digging and jumping. Just the other night, I was standing at the kitchen counter about to take a bite of a piece of pizza when Christy jumped high enough to grab it from my hand. She steals pancakes from the kids’ plates and confiscates anything and everything within her reach.
Then comes the shredding session. Pencils and pens are her favorite, but tea bags, Christmas tree ornaments, and/or firewood are just as rewarding. Christy chews on shoes and socks, furniture, and spare change. Talking to the wind and tormenting the kids are her favorite pastimes. She is terrified of the vacuum cleaner, intrigued by the food processor.
Christy spends much of her time running from window to window, jumping onto furniture to get a closer sniff as to what the neighbors may be doing. She lets us know when there’s a dog, or jogger, or car within sight (on our very busy street). Like Marley, she longs to break free of her leash to go on long jaunts through the neighborhood. One time, Christy escaped and entered a neighbor’s house through a pet entry and began eating out of the cat’s dish!
Marley is gone, but Christy is alive and full of vigor as Marley was in his younger days. I’m sure that our dog will grow calmer as she ages; but in the meantime, we love her and all of her mischievous ways, unconditionally. Isn’t that what having a pet is all about?
Jean Lanahan of Sagamore Beach chronicles the “chaotic joys” of life. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, January 8, 2009
Notes from Momma’s Journal: Writing through the holidays
There we were, in the middle of a school vacation, working on a school project. Not one for grade credit, but something for an upcoming celebration. Deb Howard, Principal of Hoxie Elementary School in Sagamore Beach, challenged her students with an extracurricular writing project to be completed over the holiday break. Any form of writing was encouraged: poetry, narratives, news stories, holiday memories, or stories about gifts received or given. “Be sure to use colorful language, distinctive vocabulary, and definitely, try your best,” was the instruction given by Mrs. Howard.
For participating in the Principal’s Vacation Challenge, students will be invited to an after school ice cream sundae celebration. What child wouldn’t want to write a few paragraphs in exchange for an ice cream party? I know both of my girls have participated in this event during all of their four years at Hoxie.
This year, Jackie asked for my participation, explaining that, after all, it was The Year of The Writer. I felt obliged to join the fun. She opted to write an acrostic poem and asked me to do the same.
I haven’t written an acrostic poem in years. Should I use simple phrases to describe the title (like Cute, Adorable, Tender for CAT)? Nah, that would be too boring. Here’s what I came up with:
HAPPY NEW YEAR, by Mom
High hopes for health and happiness,
And lots of adventure too.
Perhaps a bit of prosperity to add to the picture. But without
Perseverance – lots of it -
Your dreams can’t come true.
New beginnings, that’s what it’s all about!
Each year goes by ever so quickly -
With the wink of an eye, “Woof”, it’s gone.
Yet yesterdays will never be forgotten. And why should they be?
Endings are nothing but eternal beginnings - if you
Allow newness to refresh your memory. Just
Remember, dreams only come true when you believe in them. For real.
Jackie wasn’t all that impressed with my work. She thought it to be a little too far out of the box. But it’s interesting that after reading my poem, I saw Jackie’s wheels turning. She added words and worked diligently on changing the font and color of each letter she typed.
When I asked her about the bright, fancy letters, she explained that Mrs. Howard wanted to see descriptive, colorful words…. Here’s Jackie’s (pretty as a picture) poem:
HOLIDAY FUN, by Jackie
Holiday cheer
Oh jolly carolers
Listen for Christmas songs
I got lots of great gifts
Do spread the holiday cheer
A time to celebrate
You’ll have a great time
Fun in the snow
Under the tree, look for presents
No being bad, just be good!
Jean Lanahan of Bourne chronicles the ‘chaotic joys’ of life with children. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, December 24, 2008
Notes From Momma’s Journal: Reach out and Touch
The Christmas season is a time of enjoyment for many of us, and for so many others, it’s a time of discontentment and sadness. My thoughts today are with those who fall into the second category, particularly for those who lost a loved one or friend this past year. Getting through “the firsts”, especially major holidays without our loved ones, is not easy. (That’s not to say that “the seconds, thirds, or fourths…….” are effortless, but there is some truth to the saying that time helps heals wounds. A little bit anyway.)
I have a girlfriend who lost her husband this past year. She and her three young children will celebrate Christmas, just not so merrily.
My Aunt lost her soul mate, her husband, a few months back. She’s trying to get through the season, put on a happy face, but inside she’s blue.
Other friends have buried parents, or grandparents, or siblings. They are grieving, looking forward for the holiday hustle and bustle to end.
Then there's those out of work with no means to play Santa this year. Keeping their homes warm and food on the table are their primary concerns.
And consider those that suffer from physical illness or depression. To think that their days are filled with a little melancholy is an understatement.
And yet, the holiday season arrives anyway.
While we were addressing Christmas cards last week, I was reminded of the importance of reaching out to those in need, those we care about. Instead of putting a stamp on one particular card, Elizabeth put it aside and said that we shouldn’t send it. “They are still way too sad about their dad’s death, Mom. They won’t be having a very happy Christmas this year so we shouldn’t make them feel worse by sending a cheery card.”
Busy with another stack of cards, Jackie pulled out the one addressed to Auntie Ellie and noted how much we’d miss having uncle John here with us on Christmas day. (She even admitted that she’d miss his famous chocolate cake.) “We should make a chocolate cake for John, Mom, so he’ll know that we are thinking about him. But I don’t want to make Auntie sad, so maybe we shouldn’t even mention John - or his cake - on Christmas.”
“Let’s make a cake and tell Auntie that we made it in John’s honor. She’d appreciate that he’s is in our thoughts,” I said to Jackie. And to Liz, I said, “Look at the card Carol and her kids sent to us. I’m sure they are still very sad about Jerry’s death, but they believe in Christmas. They need to know that we are thinking about them, especially now, so let’s write a nice note inside of their card.”
If you know someone in need, reach out and touch. Send a card, letter, or even an email. Call to say that you’re thinking about them. Ask if they need anything, or better yet, bake some cookies and hand deliver them. Just be sure to do something. Our kids are counting on us to show them the way.
Jean Lanahan of Bourne, author of “Enchanted Whispers: Wit & Wisdom from the Mouths of Babes (and Momma too)”. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, December 17, 2008
Notes From Momma’s Journal: All I Want for Christmas….
I thought my family knew me well enough not to ask what I wanted for Christmas. They know how I feel about being told what to buy for someone. Hinting is fine, but being told exactly what one wants as a gift makes me crazy. It contradicts the meaning of Christmas and, in my opinion, takes all the enjoyment out of giving.
But this year, my husband and kids asked me anyway. “What do you want for Christmas, Mom?”
“You should know what I want by now. All I want for Christmas is you - all of you! But what do I need? That’s another story. Surprise me.”
Mariah Carey’s version of “All I Want for Christmas is You” is my favorite holiday song. I think it’s my oldest daughter’s favorite also. It’s the ring tone on Liz’s phone, and very much the theme of this holiday season around here. Wants vs. needs.
My hope is that our girls have learned from Tom and me that Christmas is not about receiving fancy/expensive gifts. It’s about giving from the heart and appreciating what others have to give. Big or small. Something from your wish list or something the gift giver assumed you’d like – or need.
In answer to my family’s question, “What do I want for Christmas” -
I don’t need fancy clothes. Where would I wear them anyway? To Jackie’s Friday night basketball games? Not!
I don’t long for gold and silver. Jewelry just makes me break out in hives.
I have no desire to upgrade my cell phone to a BlackBerry or an iPhone. My old phone works just fine. Besides, my settings are finally adjusted to my liking.
I don’t need CDs or DVDs. The kitchen radio tuned to WQRC and a TV in the family room with access to hundreds of channels works for me.
I know you all think I need, would love to have, a laptop computer. I would, but don’t you dare! Not now. (I’m serious, Liz.)
You know how I feel about gift cards! They are an admission that someone couldn’t think of one single special thing to give, yet, they had to give something. (Tom, please don’t disappoint me.)
I love warm and fuzzy slippers and fluffy bathrobes, but the last thing I need is more of either of them. And you’ve seen my PJ' s drawer. The one that doesn't close very easily.
My favorite perfume is Dolce & Gabbana, but it’s way too expensive for our budget these days. Besides, I have a half of bottle of it in my dresser.
I’ll admit to spending a lot of time in the kitchen, but no, I don’t need more cookbooks or any doodads that require counter or wall space. (That includes a flat screen TV, Jackie.)
I want for very little, in terms of material things anyway. We have a roof over our heads, and most importantly, we have one another. That’s the greatest gift of all. (Besides, I’m sure Dad will take you shopping to buy me a nice gadget that our family can’t live without. And I’m sure I’ll love it.)
Jean Lanahan of Bourne is the author of “Enchanted Whispers: Wit & Wisdom from the Mouths of Babes (and Momma too)”. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
NOTE to the above entry: December 26, 2008
For Christmas, I got a new pair of slippers (size 9 - I wear size 7.5); a new broom (why, I don't know); a Dell LapTop (which didn't even come with a mouse. Imagine! JK... LOL.. I'll figure it out. Stay tuned).
Published in The Wareham Observer, December 11, 2008
Notes from Momma’s Journal: Facing the stress test of Christmas
Look around at the shoppers in the stores. Talk to your relatives and friends. Listen to their voices; observe their faces. From what I’ve seen and heard, voices are quivering, teeth are clenched, and eyes are darting about in search of answers - the right gifts at the best prices. Let’s call it stress.
Every year, I vow not to leave all the shopping until the week before Christmas and every year I do the opposite of what I said I wouldn’t do. I’m great at making lists; make them proudly everyday. This year’s Christmas list was started around Thanksgiving when I gave thought to what we’d give as gifts. (My husband, like so many of his peers, has great trust with letting wives make these crucial decisions. And my kids, they take pride in putting school photos into pretty frames for all of their favorite people. In their eyes, they’ve all done their share.)
I’m all about going green – trying anyway – so this year we’ll save a tree and send Christmas cards via the computer. As for the physical gifts we’ll be give, why not make the gift packaging part of the gift (the biggest part, by the way)? It’s like giving gifts within gifts. Very thoughtful and practical, in my opinion.
So far, I’ve stocked up on the following items:
- Cookie jars for the cookies we’ll bake for teachers and bus drivers.
- Decorative boxes which I’ll fill with my daughters’ favorite things. (They’ll be excited about filling them later with books or magazines, or with dirty clothes when they’re told to clean their rooms.)
- Baskets to be filled with photos and homemade items for the ten guests we’re expecting for Christmas.
- A large, Rubbermaid “Ruffneck” container for my husband to, hopefully, house his tools and gadgets that consume the entire back seat of his truck.
- Mason jars to be filled with homemade marina sauce for our friends and neighbors.
Yep. I’ve got the packaging all figured out, organized and spread across the attic floor.
Now what? Less than two weeks to Christmas to send cards and make goodies to put into the jars. And then comes filling the baskets, boxes, and containers with gifts. Talk about stress.
If you’re in a position like mine, cranky and grumpy and out of sorts, here’s my advice. Breathe. Make yourself a cup of green tea (or pour yourself a glass of wine). Have paper and pencil ready and make a new list. Here’s mine:
Tonight - Take photo of the kids and upload it to the computer. Write a sentimental note and forward letter and photo to all of my email buddies.
Tomorrow - Buy bags of candy and fill the cookie jars. Let the teachers know we’re thinking about them before they get bombarded with a trillion tins of candy on December 22nd.
Saturday – Wake early and leave a note to family saying, “I’ll be home when the shopping is done. Don’t wait up.”
December 28 – Make marina sauce and fill mason jars for friends New Year’s Eve celebration. They’ll appreciate it more once Christmas leftovers are gone.
Whew! That was easy. And I thought I’d be fighting the crowds in the stores and baking and cooking for the next week or so. Not this year. We’ve got some parties to attend!
Jean Lanahan of Bourne chronicles the ‘chaotic joys’ of life. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The Wareham Observer, December 4, 2008; The Sandwich Enterprise, December 24, 2008
Notes from Momma’s Journal: Lobster anyone?
If you’re like me, you keep good pots and pans in one cabinet, every day cookware in another, and holiday pots in a safe place in the attic or cellar. My holiday cookware is brought out when I’m cooking for parties or holidays, but lately, my shiny stainless steel stockpot has a home on the counter between the sink and the stove. Why? Because it is used on a regular basis these days.
Have you visited your local seafood market recently? Have you checked out the price of lobster? If not, take note: Lobsters are selling (at most seafood markets) for about $5 per pound. That’s a ten year record low price for these tasty critters, about two dollars (per pound) lower than average.
Is today’s low price of lobster a good thing? Depends on who you ask.
Ask a lobsterman what he thinks of the current boat price and he’ll grunt before explaining, in detail, that it costs more to run a boat than ever before. “The cost of bait has skyrocketed. Maintenance, insurance, equipment, and docking prices have done nothing but rise. Despite dropping fuel prices of late, we’ve still paid more on average to fuel our boats this year.”
Go ahead and ask a fisherman. I dare you. He’ll tell you all of that and a whole lot more about the state of the economy, the industry. But mostly, he’ll talk of his concerns for the future of his business.
Ask a seafood retailer what he thinks of the record low lobster prices. He’ll talk of lower margins, yet higher sales volumes. He’ll tell you that many people enjoyed lobster instead of turkey for Thanksgiving this year. I’m sure he’s encouraging customers to enjoy it while it lasts - because no one knows for sure when or if lobster prices will rise. It’s all about supply and demand, and unfortunately, it’s out of the hands of the little guys who catch and or sell the goods.
I read an article the other day that noted Maine lobstermen received less than $20 million for their catch in October, compared to more than $60 million the year before. Ouch! Lobster industry advocates from Maine to Massachusetts are concerned for the welfare of our fishermen. How are they getting by? How can they possibly be making ends meet?
Lobster dealers and wholesalers are hoping that the processors start buying product again. Canadian processors aren’t buying much of our excess to put into their freezers this year, and what they are buying, they’re purchasing at discounted prices.
How do I know this to be true? Having worked in the fish market/restaurant business for some fifteen years, my husband and I know the scoop. Now Tom’s a lobsterman - a very disappointed, hard-working lobsterman - and I am his bookkeeper. Yep. We know a little bit about the industry.
What’s a lobsterman to do?.... Keep on fishing and pray for the best.
What’s the retailer to do?.... Sell products at fair prices.
What are we, as consumers, to do? ….. Heat your stockpot and melt the butter.
In times like these, it’s important that we support our local merchants. Just remember to ask your fish-monger if his stock is caught by local fishermen. Last thing we need is to have more neighbors and friends out of a job.
At the end of every lobster season, a fisherman friend of ours used to say, “When you reach diminishing returns, it’s time to pull your gear and get ready for another season. A fisherman’s job is never done.”
Jean Lanahan of Bourne chronicles the “chaotic joys” of life. Find her online at www.jeanlanahan.com
Published in The TriTown Observer, November 27, 2008
Notes from Mommas Journal: Giving Thanks
As I’m preparing vegetables, stuffing, cheese trays, and pies for the big day, my thoughts turn to gratitude. Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about? A time to give thanks. A time to remind those we love how much they mean to us.
I count my blessings and thank my husband (maybe not nearly enough) for his support in the mission of guiding our children. “Thank you, Tom, for all you do and do so well.” And to my children, “Thank you for encouraging me and your father to be the best parents we can be.”
Children’s innocent, yet wisdom-filled voices are inspiration for us to live with more meaning, more joy, and more spontaneity. Their simple way of thinking is a precious gift that reminds parents to keep on listening, talking, guiding, loving, learning, and laughing.
To the rest of our family, “How lucky we are to have all of you in our lives!” It is more than wonderful when family and friends connect with us and our children, enhancing our lessons about love and friendship.
While I’m reflecting on my tenure as a mother, I remind myself that I’ll never have all the right answers, but I will continue to look for them. I will make mistakes, and then I will learn from them.
In between assisting my children in the art of chopping, dicing, stuffing, I took a minute to sit and read something I wrote when my girls were just toddlers:
Parents, How Do We……
….Nurture our children’s enthusiasm for nature, the beauty around us –
If we don’t take the time to watch a bird make its maiden flight?
….Teach our children about sensitivity and compassion -
If we pretend to be made of steel?
…..Encourage our children to strive for their goals -
If we settle for less than we deserve? Or desire?
…..Teach our babies to read –
If we don’t read with them?
…..Encourage our kids to think “out of the box” -
If our thoughts are linear? Predictable? Boring?
….Prove to our children the value of true friendship –
If we don’t reach out and touch those we care about? Or those in need?
…..Explain to our kids the worth of a “value meal” –
If they haven’t had to count nickels to buy one (for herself and her best friend)?
…..Show our children the strength of a smile –
If we spend much of our time wearing an upside down smile?
…..Explain the depth of a whisper –
If we’re too preoccupied to listen closely?
* * * * * About my childhood, you ask? I’m living it all over again! My children are not the only children of the world, but they’ve recreated mine.
Happy days of giving thanks to you and yours.
Jean Lanahan of Sagamore Beach chronicles the “chaotic joys” of parenthood. Find her book, Enchanted Whispers: Wit & Wisdom from the Mouths of Babes (and Momma too), online at www.jeanlanahan.com
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