Opposites repel

One day in July, my boys could not stay away from each other all. The toddler was constantly after the preschooler to play with him and then, as is the horror of every mother of boys, they began wrestling. Why not? They do it with Daddy, why not each other? Thus began a new era in our lives. Our siblings can be best friends at time, and they always wonder where the other is when one is missing, or they can act like bitter enemies.

The toddler has always been one to want a lot of attention; the preschooler has always played solo. The toddler wants to be grown up; the preschooler wants the attention the baby gets. The toddler fights dirty; the preschooler cannot understand why kidney punches are then not fair.

The baby has taken 21 1/2 months of pent up frustration out on his brother these past weeks. He is also dangerously close to two. Tantrums, thankfully short-lived, are always lurking near the surface and triggers are becoming more and more common. The older is learning this but sometimes deliberately provokes the younger; the younger loses it and begins hitting repeatedly or throwing the nearest object he can find; the older child's repsonse is then to tattle, having never really dealt with sibling issues (and truthfully, he has never been one to defend himself too vigorously).

For 18 months we lived in relative peace, the kids having little to do with each other. Suddenly, they like the same things and as they try to learn to play with one another it seems that we will end up with many bruises and tears. And that is just Scienceteachermommy!

Today, Waterboy (my hubby), had to take ALL of the trains away from the pair because of the incessant fighting. For those of you that know us you will probably say the train removal is more punishing to the parents than the children. Still, something had to be done.

I can hear the laughter from all you mothers of many out there. It serves us right after all the years in the blissful la-la land of one child, but I have to honestly say HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! Any suggestions for encouraging sibling harmony would be welcome.

Could We Get a Fact-checker Here Please?

I assigned my 7th graders a research paper last week. They each chose their own (probably my first mistake) scientific question to research. I have learned many knew things in the course of my grading. For example, did you know that although greenhouse gasses are somehow killing the rainforest, they are actually good for the earth because they keep making it warmer and warmer; or that jeans are responsible for your eye color? One student wanted to know how a computer worked and came up with a very profound answer--YOU PLUG IT IN. I further learned that the Pacific Ocean is a mere 64 square miles. I think it should definitely be considered as one of the legs for the next Iron-man Triathalon.

Oh friends, love your children! They will keep saying hilarious stuff for a LONG time.

My nearly five year old was walking very strangely tonight. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that he was missing some of his bones. Lately he is fascinated by his perfect skeleton, transistor stations for electricity and how anything is made. Yesterday in the car he asked me how CD's were made. I've never been so grateful for my science background as I have been the last few months.

My scientific question for research: How does a lumpy mass of fermented milk, sugar and flour produce such delicious bread? I guess more taste-testing is needed. I still don't have any takers on a start. Desmama?

Your House Will Explode if You Don't Pass It On

On Sunday I got a "start" for some Amish friendship bread. I've heard of this; I even think my mother has made it, but I'm not sure about it. On my counter there is a concotion of fermenting flour, milk and sugar in a large Ziploc baggie that I am supposed to be mushing every day, as well as venting so the exhaling bacteria don't explode the bag. On day five (today) I added more flour, milk and sugar. I attempted to open the bag while my husband was sitting nearby eating chips and salsa. He threatened divorce if he was anywhere near when the bag was opened. I waited, unsure of the smell that would exude forth when new ingredients were added.

In five more days I actually get to make the bread. It is called bread, but the recipe seems a whole lot more like cake to me. The sugar content alone might be enough to send my family to the dentist on day 11.

So I have a few questions about the whole Amish friendship bread thing. Maybe somebody out there can answer: Why is it a gesture of friendship to give somebody a bag of rotten milk that sits for a week and a half on their counter? Did the Amish actually start this? The recipe tells me that it is unwise to give away all my starts (as you begin to make the recipe you divide up the stinky bag into four parts and make a gift of two of them), because if I do, I cannot make one from scratch. Apparently only the Amish can do that. So, here we are in Utah. If it was started by the Amish, are there particles in this bag and that are months, nay, years old? Is it called friendship bread because all ten of your friends like you better after you put on ten pounds because of eating several slices of 10,000 calorie bread every ten days? And lastly, will something happen to me if I don't pass it on? Is this like a chain letter (give to 2 people and six months you'll get 500 loaves of bread from all of the world)? Or a pyramid scheme (I sign up two women and somewhere some little Amish lady gets an electric oven)?

Please, anyone with experience with Amish bread giving and getting, let me know.