Dear Grandma,
Hi from chilly Madison! How are you? I hope that you are staying warm where you are- I know you tend to get chilly easily.
We are doing okay. Steve continues to work outside of the house. Emma is worried about that even though they all wear masks and so far he hasn't come into contact with anyone who has been in contact with COVID-19 cases. So that's good. He still rides his bike back and forth to work every day, which is an amazing release for him. Did I tell you that he got a promotion? He hated the project manager role and now he is doing something different with a different set of people to supervise. He says that it isn't as stressful and so far he seems to get less phone calls at random hours. It is embarrassing that I cannot recall his title!
As I mentioned Emma does get worried about so many things these days. She takes after you! She has started to see a counselor who is helping her manage her anxiety with brain and mind exercises/tricks. For example, she encouraged Emma to choose ahead of time how often she will ride with me when I take Annika to school. Emma had been so worried that I would drive off and not come back so she was coming with for every drop-off and pick up. Poor thing is worrying herself sick sometimes. We started a "secret" journal between the two of us. She will write down whatever she wants to share and then I write her back. She really seems to like the process. I hope it helps.
Can you believe that Emma is in 7th grade now? She is, of course, excelling at all the subjects. She doesn't really care for the material for this semester (micro-economy) but she completes her work with pride and always has high or great participation in discussions. She also loves to play the piano. I don't know if she can remember how you used to play. I do- you were so good. I wish I could have learned some of your skills.
Emma continues to ride horses and finds that the horses are a form of therapy. She feels so much more calm and centered when she gets to ride and be around the horses. Annika and I also started taking lessons. It is so much fun! I love it! We are learning to post when trotting, which Emma has been doing for years and makes it look so easy. It is not but Wes, our riding instructor, tells us that it is like riding a bike- once we figure it out we won't forget. It may be too cold to go today though I really want to give it another go. It may be our last chance until the spring.
You would be impressed with the musical talent of both girls! Annika is still taking violin lessons and has quite the ear for music. She plunks out violin songs on the piano and other songs just by using her ear. She loves to share the story about Grandpa telling Scott and I when we were young and interested in the violin that we are too old to learn to play a stringed instrument because we didn't start when we were 3 years old. Annika's violin teacher, however, told her that you are never really too old to learn- it just might take a little longer or be more difficult the older you are. (She encouraged me to learn to play the bass if I want!) So Annika is sort of proving Grandpa wrong, but I think he would be proud of her anyway.
Steve's parents are doing well. They love farm life! I think there are over 20 goats on their property now but currently there are no "milkers". They have been doing some traveling and didn't want to leave their high school helper with the additional task of milking a goat two times per day. Mom will pick it back up in the spring. We haven't really acquired a taste for goat milk plain but Mom makes delicious tapioca and many other foods that we enjoy. I wish you could taste her food and visit the farm!
At the farm they also have Zena, the pony that Emma helped to train two summers ago, Charley (a large pony mix), 2 horses, a mule and a donkey. They are all sweet and a lot of fun. We are figuring out how to best saddle Charley for rides, how to get Emerald (the paint horse) to move once she is saddled, and Emma may ride Welly (the standardbred) soon. It is never a dull moment! I can hear you telling us to be careful!
You used to tell me that I was burning my candle at both ends and it finally happened. Being the nature preschool director wore me down pretty completely so I quit in June. It was a gradual quitting but I was on the phone with my boss one day explaining how I needed a hard end date when Annika had one of her fits of rage. She was screaming and beating the door and I just started to sob. Right then my boss took over my email duties and told me to step back. I was so relieved and still am. From that point on, one of my educators stepped up as interim director and I was free. Every so often someone at the preschool needs help with something, but it is low-stress and easy. My candle is back up in action now.
Being at home all the time has its pros and cons. I am getting a lot of projects done. You know how I love projects! Emma feels better not being home by herself all day long; if I was working she would have to be. And we can help Annika with her anger management. It is like her colicky days but worse. Because now she has words to throw around and strong arms and legs with which to hurt people. I wonder if it would remind you of anyone in the family when they were little or even as adults. But being home all the time is tough. I feel for all those families who have to work from home and help their children with school work. The teen years are going to be challenging for us I think. :)
Anyway, I will write again soon. We miss you so much!
Love from all of us,
Tara
