by Nicole
My eight-year-old daughter spends more time upside down than right side up.
Cartwheels, backbends, flips…and then there are the handstands. I’ve got footprints on every eye-level wall in this house. I feel like I’m living in a gymnasium.
I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. As a pre-schooler, Anya’s favorite activity was shimmying up the inside of a doorway with her hands and feet. I’d walk into a room to find her hanging out up at the ceiling, suspended like a spider. We almost lost a few babysitters over that one.
She’s also quite the escape artist. Anya was the only one of our three kids who managed to climb out of her crib (her older brothers being too lazy and/or rotund to free themselves). Another time, her dad and I made the mistake of walking out the kitchen when she was in the high chair; within minutes, she had slithered out of the belt, motored across the table and was literally hanging from the chandelier. Naturally, she hated to be confined; I had to muscle her in to her car seat every day. After one mighty struggle I looked back to see that–while technically still buckled in–she’d unlatched the entire seat from the car, effectively turning herself into a human projectile.
Needless to say, she exhausted me. But over time I’ve learned to work with a kid in perpetual motion. My heart no longer leaps to my throat when I find her at some terrifying height or position (i.e., using the top of the swingset as a balance beam). These days, I can almost snooze right through her running flips onto my bed, providing she doesn’t kick me in the head. And I’m constantly redirecting her to carpeted surfaces.
The girl simply needs to move. She also needs plenty of sleep, and lots of healthful food to fuel her full-tilt metabolism. At snack time, popcorn is one of her go-to favorites (and mine!). I’m happy that she’s choosing a whole-grain snack to keep her going strong, and popcorn fits the bill perfectly. She happily scoops it hot from the bowl when she’s busy and on the run, but also loves popcorn sprinkled with Tex-Mex seasoning. We enjoy making this tasty treat together…when I can get her to slow down.
Tex-Mex Mix
Yield: 2 quarts
Ingredients
- 2 quarts popped popcorn (air-popped)
- 2 teaspoons ground chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- Butter-flavored cooking spray
Directions
1. In a small bowl, combine all seasonings together.
2. Put popped popcorn in a large bowl and spray lightly with butter-flavored cooking spray.
3. Add spices to popcorn and mix thoroughly until all kernels are coated.