Sheri, I so know what you mean. I came back to clarify that I did not mean to imply an "independence agenda" when describing the fighting over toys, just that kids do have the faculties within themselves to work things out amongst themselves, probably better than we ever could.
It is frustrating in our technological world. I hear people talk about taking kids to work a lot and in some cases it works but in others there are so many things the kids can't get into it definately wouldn't. I can just see my dd pulling the plugs on all the computers at dh's office, taking all the paper out of the printer. Dd can get into tons of things at home and I just put away the things that I don't want her to get into (selfishly, I admit). And I don't want her standing at the stove though she desperately wants to! It's so artificially hot, what natural senses could warn her that if she touched it it would sear her fingers? I guess if we cooked on a fire she would learn safety around it on her own. My IL' are driving me crazy lunging at her ever time she even steps near the woodstove at their house. I told them, she's no dumby, she can feel that it's hot when she goes near it. The more you try to keep her away, the more she irrationally wants it, and that's when she'll hurt herself on it! I don't know what to do about them.
I like what you said about days being filled with good work. There's nothing that gets my dd more antsy than me sitting at the computer (another techno society frustration), and if I'm sitting on the couch she gets very whiny. But if I busy doing stuff, so is she. Wanting to adopt a simpler lifestyle sort of goes with the territory, I think. But it can work in an apartment. It's harder, but it still works. I was able to find a great group of women through LLL that I considered a tribe, shared babysitting, cared for moms with nbs, traded clothes, favors, had playdates (arguably artificial, but they got the same kids to play with at least, and there was a good age range and usually a very small group), went shopping together, etc. It was fun. I hope to find even a shadow of that here. We have a yard now but I don't think dd has seen another child besides her 10 yo uncle in nearly 2 mos now. The intensity of being together constantly is starting to wear on us.
Well I am rambling too! I do dream of a big family with lots of kids running around, sort of our own tribe, and a big house that others love to visit and stay. Someday maybe.
<font color=blue>~~~waterlily~~~
You mean she actually slows down?</font color=blue>
http://www.wolfeboroonline.com/lily/pooped2.JPG
<font color=green>"No trumpets sound when the important decisions in our life are made. Destiny is made known silently."
~Agnes DeMille</font color=green>
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