June 27, 2005

ferber method my ass

whoever came up with the “cry themselves to sleep” method is a jackass.

we read all of these books about how to get our daughter to sleep. we’ve tried several methods and most recently stuck with the ferber method. it seemed like the only thing that would work (see but the routine is nice).

last night, however, i figured it out. to hell with the crying. we did the whole routine only this time i put her in her crib before she was asleep and gave her a little massage. she zonked right out. no tears. i was worried that it was a one shot deal, that it would only work one night. not so! it’s worked two nights now.

it’s very beautiful and sweet and we both like it much, much better. so, dr. richard ferber, you’re kind of a dick. guess i should have known.

posted @ 6:58 PM

June 25, 2005

but the routine is nice.

i think she enjoys the pre-bed routine we’ve created. although she caught on to it today.

we say goodnight to the music first. then she likes saying goodnight to the buddhas. we say good night to each of them; kirti tsenshab rinpoche, dharma rinpoche, sogyal and all the tashi lhunpo monks, khen rinpoche, geshe michael, lama zopa, ribur rinpoche, geshe dakpa, shakyamuni, his holiness, the wheel of life poster, prayer flags. then we go the window and say goodnight to the world and close the blind. we do the dedication. then...

tonight we had a little cry cuz she realized dad was sitting down in the rocking chair.

we read a book or two and have some water. when she’s ready she twists around and i know it’s time to move to the shoulder. she falls asleep pretty quick (after a few minutes of goofing on the prayer flags being blown by the fan).

we just enjoy this time with each other. i rocked for 15 minutes tonight after she was sound asleep. probably 20 total. then i get up softly. she stirs a little and i make a few rocking motions. right back to sleep. just like when she was a couple months old. we lost this at around four months, so it’s nice to have back.

now when her body touches the mattress she opens her eyes wide and looks at me. then looses it. and cries for an hour and a half. it doesn’t matter how many times i pick her up and do this. tonight was three and she still didn’t fall asleep until 9. (the goodnight routine begins at 7:30). i can’t put her down and get away fast enough. she’s already awake on the way down. her inner ear works just fine and doesn’t seem to fall asleep.

have i mentioned that i’d rather be in a room with four chalkboards being scrathed by 20 first graders than listen to her cry?

posted @ 8:13 PM

June 12, 2005

metric metronomes

i think the metric system is a far superior method of measurement. i work with the english system all day long and am getting better with it. fractional subtraction still throws me for a loop. fortunately you don’t have to do that much.

speaking of loops, it occurred to me that music is also “goofy”. in measures of four. time is kept in the same way carpenters measure 2x4s. only musicians call it 2/4 time. carpentry is rhythmic. metrics are not.

posted @ 8:10 PM

June 1, 2005

not just another day

generational gaps, disputes over which generation had the greatest impact on the hippie movement. gun control, violence vs. non-violence. karma and the laws of cause and effect, the eternal question - what was my dog in his previous life? then there’s the trim, bi-fold doors, national public radio, coffee, sandwiches. and don’t forget about the stock market, the real estate bubble and mcdonalds.

we went everywhere today.

posted @ 8:16 PM