Here’s the dirt on mom and daughter

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 18 August 2009 14:11

My grandma loves to tell the story of two young girls who went outside to play. Before long, as my grandma tells it, she passed by a window just in time to see the older of the two smear mud down the front of the other’s coat. The youngest ran to the house crying, “She got me dirty, she got me dirty.”

Contending that the oldest didn’t want to get in trouble for getting muddy, my grandma laughs about how a dirty coat put the youngest in such hysterics.

And I still don’t like to get dirty. (My cousin knows that, and still makes fun of me. But, hey, better that than getting mud smeared down my front.)

I like my clothes to stay clean and my shoes to look like new. I like my fingernails to remain un-appalling. In the uncommon...

Read more: Here’s the dirt on mom and daughter

Mystery of acquiring language skills

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 14 July 2009 14:12

Even though it’s once again illegal to shoot fireworks, we continue to have daily explosions at the Just house. But before reporting us to the authorities, you should know that our explosions have nothing to do with fire, and everything to do with words.

Now a 15-month-old, my daughter’s language development is exploding. Each day, it seems, she says a new word or imitates a new phrase. Staple words include outside, shoes, hi, hot and OK.

The phrase most often heard is a high-pitched, “It’s a kitty.” We will be playing in our backyard when my daughter stops everything and points while saying, “It’s a kitty, it’s a kitty.” She’s very astute, as it takes me a few moments to finally focus on the cat sitting at the back...

Read more: Mystery of acquiring language skills

If the shoe fits, then no more blisters

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 17 June 2009 06:59

I recently stepped out of my brown-and-black comfort zone and borrowed a pair of red-patent wedges to wear for my husband’s and my fifth wedding anniversary. It was refreshing to dress up for an evening out, and the bold shoes added to the fun.

Shoes have the potential to make or break an outfit. First designed for foot-protection, modern shoes now require a flair for fashion. And the more fashion-driven, the less foot-protection offered.

Gone are the days of simple foot-bags made of leather, although the simple, inexpensive flip-flop could compare. Today there are shoe engineers paid to design aero-dynamic tennis shoes, light-weight, innovative Crocs, earth-friendly mules. The list could go on.

And my 14-month-old has already bought...

Read more: If the shoe fits, then no more blisters

Value of blood donation now clear

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 19 May 2009 14:45

A couple years ago, before beginning my journey into motherhood, I sat on a folding chair, waiting to donate blood at a local Red Cross blood drive.

I had made my appointment for a busy time of day, so I had ample time to observe my surroundings. It was then I engaged in reading each of the survivor stories mounted on the makeshift lab cubicles.

There were stories of car accident survivors, needing 12 units of blood to pull through. There were stories of children born with sickle cell anemia, needing regular blood transfusions to live an active life.

And there were stories of babies, barely out of diapers, needing the gift of blood to help combat childhood leukemia.

I was glad I had the chance to donate my O negative blood to...

Read more: Value of blood donation now clear