Well I'm about to enter a new world...a world of staging!
Long (many years) story short I finally talked my very conservative husband to put our house on the market and "just see if anyone is interested" because of what a good market it is to buy bigger for less.
I've never hidden the fact that there are five of us in a 3 bedroom house. This wouldn't be a big deal (many people share bedrooms - I did growing up) but our bedrooms are not quite the size for sharing when you are reaching the tween stage!
So, that being said we had our old Realtor that sold us the house five years ago come take a look for me. She immediately started telling me what would "need to come down" and how I should "tidy up this or hide that" and then she handed me a number for a STAGER! "Oh it may run you anywhere from $200 to well you could spend a $1000 for moving new furniture in." I hid my look of panic from the sweet Realtor in her bling shirt and wrote down her suggestions.
So, she gave me two weeks to get these things done...put a new floor in the bathroom (should be pretty cheap), "thin out my 'wild' landscaping" (I thought it was beautiful), hide ALL of my sweet little angel's pictures, and then she suggested we paint our living room a lighter color but seeing how there is like a 50 foot steeple in the middle of it I don't think I'll be getting Nate to do that!
As for the stager...as soon as she left I got on the phone and called up a friend whose mom and aunt are stagers in the fancy city of Franklin. Then I walked next door and recruited my neighbor to ask her sister, a "master gardner of Rutherford County," to come take a look at my yard...I'm calling out the troops for this adventure!
Will I be terribly upset if the house doesn't sell? No...I actually love my house and I LOVE my neighbors and neighborhood. Will we need to live in this house five years from now? No...probably Eli and Ian will get tired of using a bunk bed and sharing a tiny closet at the age of 12 and 14 when they are almost 6 feet tall so...I'm going to act now and see where it gets me.
As I walk down this road of for sale signs and real tracks.com I am very aware of the friends that have tried and are still trying to sell their houses not just for convenience but out of pure necessity. I know many people have lost their houses during the economic crisis over the past years. So, I am most sensitive towards all of them as I join the rat race of the housing market.
Now...if anyone is interested in a three bedroom....large kitchen...most beautiful fenced in back yard...with sweet neighbors and a dead end street....please come see me!
Sep 24, 2010
Sep 16, 2010
Mommy Moments
I was recently at a children's 'discovery museum' with sister girl and they had roped off a section of the upstairs. What they failed to realize was that little two year old monkeys could still crawl through a tunnel into a train room and then be safely out of yanking distance from their mothers who could not enter through the proper door because of said 'roping off'. (it was not just rope mind you but large walls stacked to keep us out) There was another mother standing near all of this excitement watching me to see what I was going to do. I yelled at sister girl to stop (why do I even bother) and then looked at the mother and said, "I am about to have a mommy moment." She laughed and said something supportive mother to mother. Then I proceeded to crawl on the floor through the tunnel into the train room only to have the little toot crawl through the other tunnel out back into the main lobby. It was all quite comical for all on lookers, although they politely glanced the other direction as I crawled on all fours back out the other side of the tunnel.
Well...I had another mommy moment yesterday but this time it was with my seven year old son and it was a good one for a change. Ian read his first chapter book by himself and get this...it was all his idea!
I am learning, although I admit slowly, that I can not make Ian do anything he really doesn't want to. Now, I can make him brush his teeth and cut his fingernails and eat his green peas but I can not make him love reading or enjoy writing sentences neatly or graciously show kindness to his brother. So, when those moments do happen all on their own they go down in the books as a proud mommy moment.
"Mom do you want me to read this book to you?" Ian asked as he picked out a Magic Tree House book from their shelf. "Of course I do Ian. You want to read this whole book?" I asked. And then he proceeded to sit on the couch for over thirty minutes and read me more than one chapter (in a continuous sitting) while never getting agitated over hard or mispronounced words. That boy even took his book to bed with him and announced to his proud parents that he was going to read some more in bed that night.
He finished the book in two days. His first chapter book by himself in two days.
I don't brag over my children very often but I have to say that I am so proud that this child has finally after all these years decided that he enjoys reading...he fell asleep tonight with his light on...reading his second chapter book.
A proud mommy moment!
Well...I had another mommy moment yesterday but this time it was with my seven year old son and it was a good one for a change. Ian read his first chapter book by himself and get this...it was all his idea!
I am learning, although I admit slowly, that I can not make Ian do anything he really doesn't want to. Now, I can make him brush his teeth and cut his fingernails and eat his green peas but I can not make him love reading or enjoy writing sentences neatly or graciously show kindness to his brother. So, when those moments do happen all on their own they go down in the books as a proud mommy moment.
"Mom do you want me to read this book to you?" Ian asked as he picked out a Magic Tree House book from their shelf. "Of course I do Ian. You want to read this whole book?" I asked. And then he proceeded to sit on the couch for over thirty minutes and read me more than one chapter (in a continuous sitting) while never getting agitated over hard or mispronounced words. That boy even took his book to bed with him and announced to his proud parents that he was going to read some more in bed that night.
He finished the book in two days. His first chapter book by himself in two days.
I don't brag over my children very often but I have to say that I am so proud that this child has finally after all these years decided that he enjoys reading...he fell asleep tonight with his light on...reading his second chapter book.
A proud mommy moment!
Sep 15, 2010
a new shirt and a new outlook
2 things on my mind during this half-way point...
1. I love Target! I don't allow myself to go much but for some reason I have been twice in the past five days. I did good the first time and only broke down and bought sister girl the cutest pair of silver/bronze shoes (I can't even tell which one. I think Target is probably so cool that they made a new color for little girls to primp in) to wear this Fall. I have been freaking out just a little over having a girl and trying to figure out if it is okay to wear white shoes after Labor Day (DON'T LAUGH AT ME...I AM A PROPER SOUTHERN GIRL THANK YOU!) but then what do you wear with those little summer dresses since it is still 90 degrees outside? Through my research (at the local parks) I have discovered that white sandals don't appear to be fo-pa just yet. I think with all this global warning we have to be able to change with the times...and wearing white after labor day is going to be the first thing to go. Al Gore would be proud!
Upon my second visit I made an impulse buy for myself...this time it was a gray t-shirt with handsewn white flower petals all over the left shoulder/breast. I swear I walked by this shirt and almost fainted it was so stinkin' cute! I even had a gray striped skirt on so of course when I was back in the van I stripped and put my new pimpin' flowered t on! Only at Target ya'll!!!!
2. I started a bible study this morning. I'm embarrassed to say it has been two...yes, two years since I have been a part of an official 'bible study'. It is a 28 day course on...get this...how to study the bible. I honestly didn't know what the class was going to be about when I walked in but I was so pumped to be back in a group ready to study. It sounds so exciting...it is called "Precepts" - a concept that actually walks you through dissecting what you read in the bible. Honestly, I don't know how many times I try to read the bible and I stop because I get lost or confused or just don't follow what I'm reading. Well, this shows you how to take verse by verse and discern what you are reading with the big picture in mind (the whole chapter or book). So often we as Christians just believe whatever someone tells us that is God's word without looking it up to make sure they are in fact speaking the truth. I am guilty of sitting back and listening to others whether it is on the radio or from the pulpit or just another so called Christian woman and take in everything they say as fact, when so often it has been taken out of context or just plain wrong! As a mother I realized today that it is my job to be able to discern the truth and pass it on down to my children...not leaving this job up to 'teachers' they meet with on occasion or hoping that by osmosis they will just become believers (and 'good people')...it takes deliberate parenting on my behalf!
I was so excited to walk in and see a few older women in the class. There is nothing that warms my heart more then sitting in a room with women who are my mothers and grandmothers age who have a heart for the Lord and for ministering to young mothers. These ladies' smiles and encouraging words just lit my soul up today. I look forward to spending one morning a week with them in our new small group and for the time I am about to devote to learning how to study God's word.
So sporting my new fashionable t and knowing I have the making of some sweet older friends along with the next 28 days devoted to learning how to study the bible...I am doing good half way though the week!
1. I love Target! I don't allow myself to go much but for some reason I have been twice in the past five days. I did good the first time and only broke down and bought sister girl the cutest pair of silver/bronze shoes (I can't even tell which one. I think Target is probably so cool that they made a new color for little girls to primp in) to wear this Fall. I have been freaking out just a little over having a girl and trying to figure out if it is okay to wear white shoes after Labor Day (DON'T LAUGH AT ME...I AM A PROPER SOUTHERN GIRL THANK YOU!) but then what do you wear with those little summer dresses since it is still 90 degrees outside? Through my research (at the local parks) I have discovered that white sandals don't appear to be fo-pa just yet. I think with all this global warning we have to be able to change with the times...and wearing white after labor day is going to be the first thing to go. Al Gore would be proud!
Upon my second visit I made an impulse buy for myself...this time it was a gray t-shirt with handsewn white flower petals all over the left shoulder/breast. I swear I walked by this shirt and almost fainted it was so stinkin' cute! I even had a gray striped skirt on so of course when I was back in the van I stripped and put my new pimpin' flowered t on! Only at Target ya'll!!!!
2. I started a bible study this morning. I'm embarrassed to say it has been two...yes, two years since I have been a part of an official 'bible study'. It is a 28 day course on...get this...how to study the bible. I honestly didn't know what the class was going to be about when I walked in but I was so pumped to be back in a group ready to study. It sounds so exciting...it is called "Precepts" - a concept that actually walks you through dissecting what you read in the bible. Honestly, I don't know how many times I try to read the bible and I stop because I get lost or confused or just don't follow what I'm reading. Well, this shows you how to take verse by verse and discern what you are reading with the big picture in mind (the whole chapter or book). So often we as Christians just believe whatever someone tells us that is God's word without looking it up to make sure they are in fact speaking the truth. I am guilty of sitting back and listening to others whether it is on the radio or from the pulpit or just another so called Christian woman and take in everything they say as fact, when so often it has been taken out of context or just plain wrong! As a mother I realized today that it is my job to be able to discern the truth and pass it on down to my children...not leaving this job up to 'teachers' they meet with on occasion or hoping that by osmosis they will just become believers (and 'good people')...it takes deliberate parenting on my behalf!
I was so excited to walk in and see a few older women in the class. There is nothing that warms my heart more then sitting in a room with women who are my mothers and grandmothers age who have a heart for the Lord and for ministering to young mothers. These ladies' smiles and encouraging words just lit my soul up today. I look forward to spending one morning a week with them in our new small group and for the time I am about to devote to learning how to study God's word.
So sporting my new fashionable t and knowing I have the making of some sweet older friends along with the next 28 days devoted to learning how to study the bible...I am doing good half way though the week!
Sep 10, 2010
It takes a village
You know the saying "It takes a village to raise a child?" (For some reason I think of old Hillary Clinton when I hear that even I though I know she didn't coin the phrase). Well, I believe this saying is so true but maybe we should change it to "it takes a community to raise a child". I mean we don't really need other women folk to watch out for our babies being eaten by tigers or burned by the open flames of the house fire pit or even from being kidnapped by neighboring tribes. But we do need insight and support as we walk through the trenches of raising our children.
I have learned a life lesson lately. It dawned on me when I was talking to a sweet friend of mine who has one child Elizabeth's age. She was recently reminding me about a time she had shared her exhaustion over trying to get her son to sit down in the bathtub and how it was making her crazy fighting with him over it. She was so scared that he would really hurt himself standing in the wet tub. I shared with her a story about myself having this same conversation when my first child was just gaining independence and he too would not sit down in the tub. This too had absolutely freaked me out so I reached out looking for advice from a friend concerning what to do. (this friend had a child Eli's age but also two older girls so she knew everything in my opinion). She looked at me after I asked her what she did about this problem and she said, "I never really thought about that; I guess I just let him stand up in the tub." Of course I remember very clearly thinking to myself that she was 1. either a bad mom or 2. had realized that this wasn't a fight to try and battle with a one year old.
It wasn't until I had my third child and we are brought to the present conversation with this mother that it flashed before me what the old friend had told me...and I repeated the wisdom I had received years ago and added that I too now didn't really make it a big deal (oh to have a third child and not care...)
Of course I'm not condoning letting your children run wild in the bath tub (but please don't come to my house at 7:00pm each night) but my point is this...
the friend was reminding me of this conversation to point out how much she appreciated me sharing my learned lessons of mothering with her as she goes through it the first time.
But what I have learned is even greater...even though I have been through this now three times I am still learning from other moms, whether they are first timers or have five kids. I feed off the passion that is felt from first time moms as they watch their children grow and learn. I am still getting advice from other moms, whether new or novice, who went through something with a child that I am just now going through with my third (such as using duct tape with a diaper obsessed sister girl).
I almost didn't rejoin a mothering group that I have been a part of for eight years now. The reason in my mind was that I had been there done that...I had talked about potty training, ear infections, teething, separation anxiety for so long that I didn't need the support of other mothers any more. I was good to go. But then I realized this summer that I will never be done needing the support of other mothers. Whether it is through a mother's group or some other type of system every mother needs a community to help her raise her child. Whether she works outside the home or stays in it all day we all need the support and encouragement of other women who have been there or are going through it along side of us.
I am thankful that I have a large support system of women who have both been through the trenches of preschool like myself years ago and survived to laugh about it now but also those women who are going through it for the first time to give me a fresh perspective this third time around. It does take a village and I'm glad that I have built one up around me.
I have learned a life lesson lately. It dawned on me when I was talking to a sweet friend of mine who has one child Elizabeth's age. She was recently reminding me about a time she had shared her exhaustion over trying to get her son to sit down in the bathtub and how it was making her crazy fighting with him over it. She was so scared that he would really hurt himself standing in the wet tub. I shared with her a story about myself having this same conversation when my first child was just gaining independence and he too would not sit down in the tub. This too had absolutely freaked me out so I reached out looking for advice from a friend concerning what to do. (this friend had a child Eli's age but also two older girls so she knew everything in my opinion). She looked at me after I asked her what she did about this problem and she said, "I never really thought about that; I guess I just let him stand up in the tub." Of course I remember very clearly thinking to myself that she was 1. either a bad mom or 2. had realized that this wasn't a fight to try and battle with a one year old.
It wasn't until I had my third child and we are brought to the present conversation with this mother that it flashed before me what the old friend had told me...and I repeated the wisdom I had received years ago and added that I too now didn't really make it a big deal (oh to have a third child and not care...)
Of course I'm not condoning letting your children run wild in the bath tub (but please don't come to my house at 7:00pm each night) but my point is this...
the friend was reminding me of this conversation to point out how much she appreciated me sharing my learned lessons of mothering with her as she goes through it the first time.
But what I have learned is even greater...even though I have been through this now three times I am still learning from other moms, whether they are first timers or have five kids. I feed off the passion that is felt from first time moms as they watch their children grow and learn. I am still getting advice from other moms, whether new or novice, who went through something with a child that I am just now going through with my third (such as using duct tape with a diaper obsessed sister girl).
I almost didn't rejoin a mothering group that I have been a part of for eight years now. The reason in my mind was that I had been there done that...I had talked about potty training, ear infections, teething, separation anxiety for so long that I didn't need the support of other mothers any more. I was good to go. But then I realized this summer that I will never be done needing the support of other mothers. Whether it is through a mother's group or some other type of system every mother needs a community to help her raise her child. Whether she works outside the home or stays in it all day we all need the support and encouragement of other women who have been there or are going through it along side of us.
I am thankful that I have a large support system of women who have both been through the trenches of preschool like myself years ago and survived to laugh about it now but also those women who are going through it for the first time to give me a fresh perspective this third time around. It does take a village and I'm glad that I have built one up around me.
Sep 8, 2010
The many roles of me...
What has my job been lately?
Professional Potty trainer, lets see going on over a month now (that's because I give up each time I end up picking up poop off my floor, or shoes and put the diapers back on). You see I have said it before but I never tire of saying again...my little sister girl does not like to wear diapers. I don't know if it is the feel of the things or that she just has ambitions of being a streaker when she is older because she does the same thing with panties! So our final alternative was to get out the duct tape (just for sleeping mind you). But I learned the hard way that if the duct tape is not applied just the right (so as to hide any indication of a tab for bored little fingers waiting to fall limp asleep) then my child will indeed figure out how to take the diaper off. Don't worry...I have taken my new duct taping job more serious and never let that happen again. (picture has been removed but I found my little one sleeping, diaperless with duct tape wrapped around her waist!!!) I like it so much now that I'm thinking about just taping her to her chair at times when I need to take a nap or visit a friend! Oh, and what does she think of this new silver sticky material wrapped around her during bed time? "Tape...off..ha ha..diaper off..ha ha...tape off..ha ha ha!" Yes, that would be her laughing the whole time with a big smile while I spin her around and around applying the tape! At least she has a sense of humor about it.
My other job which I fulfilled two weeks ago was party planner. I finally let Ian have a birthday party at a "place"...you know those second born children never get what the first do! They are so overlooked! But, we broke down and rented the rock wall at MTSU, I was very disappointed that my husband's devoted service to the school got us no break at all! Dummy me...not knowing what kind of attention span a bunch of little kids would have when it came to rock climbing agreed upon the two hour (minimum that is) rental of the thing only to have my son and many others take off their safety harness 30 minutes into the party and start running around the Rec center. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!???" I asked. "Mom, we are tired of the rock wall can we go swimming now?" (yes, I admit it was the longest birthday party planned in history - two hour rock wall then party then two hour swimming...but hey, I thought parents would be thanking me for taking their kids off their backs all afternoon! My reply to sweet birthday child..."NO YOU CAN NOT! GET THAT HARNESS BACK ON AND GET UP THAT ROCK WALL! WE ARE HERE FOR TWO HOURS DAG NABIT!" No, I was really a little nicer then that but my eyes definitely said all of the above. Needless to say the kids climbed a little longer then I gave in and we went to the pool. I won't be planning any rock climbing adventures for my little ones any time soon!
Can you tell who had the most fun? That would be my good looking husband up on that wall...at least in this picture he had on a safety harness. Before that he and the other dad there kept trying to be spider man and freaking me out!!!
My third job, which has been on hiatus since last Spring, is soccer mom come every Saturday morning. I LOVE watching my boys play soccer, especially the oldest since his team actually competes and they are by now pretty skilled players. Not that I don't enjoy my little Ian running around trying so hard to kick the ball. I'm very proud of them both of course! (I put that in case Ian ever decides to look up my blog thank you!) But this year with sister girl being, well almost two, it gives new meaning to the term "multi-tasking". You should see me during Ian's games while my sweet husband is coaching (um hum...you ladies know what I mean here) I'm trying to give Elizabeth suckers, wipe her sticky hands, give her crackers, change her diaper, keep her from taking off her diaper, read her books, get out her baby dolls, draw pictures with her, tackle her as she tries to run onto the field, run after her across the field during the game while she is yelling "daddddeeeeee", all while paying attention to sweet Ian playing his heart out. Thank God Eli is old enough to wonder around with friends...
Now you see why I have no pictures of Ian playing. Sorry little buddy!
And my last job? Being me! And with my emotions and self-induced drama (I put that in for my husband's entertainment) it is a full time job! No, really I am actually loving being at home with Elizabeth all week. I don't regret pulling her off the preschool list. We have fun painting, doing puzzles, singing, playing, reading books. I forgot how much fun it can be watching a little one grow and learn so much each day. Plus she takes three hour naps each day so I have a lot of me time! And the best part is I have discovered a new passion of mine that I'm going to pursue in hopes of making some money. It is exciting but scary; I hope with the help of wiser ones that have gone before me in this endeavor I will be successful! More to come on this adventure later as I become more confident!
Aug 27, 2010
Lock Down Drama
Ya'll know I just can't help myself and hey this blog beats me paying for a therapist so it's your choice to listen to me rant and rave about my crazy life....I'm just warning you!
After all my jealous talk concerning 'those moms' who get to volunteer in their kids' classrooms b/c 1. they don't have anything better to do 2. they sacrifice the time from their job (yes, working moms volunteer too now!) or 3. they have the money for a babysitter (something I'm just not that devoted to do this year, the kids have to eat, sorry)for all those preschoolers/babies they have at home, I finally got to sign up to help in Eli's classroom for a project. It was my friend's scheming and on the ball planning that arranged it all...I watched her kids yesterday so she could help with project number 1 and then she reciprocated today for me to help with project number 2.
I was all ready with my glue gun and sequins in hand. Eli was so excited about me coming into his classroom this morning. I met my friend in the parking lot to hand off sister girl for an hour of play and I started up the big stairs to our school.
And what did I see? All the other moms who were volunteering sitting on the steps. "Code Yellow - the schools locked down and we don't know why but we can't get in." At first we sat their nice and cordial talking with each other and then the time kept passing and we became curious. Finally the SRO pulled up in his cop car and gave the five of us moms baking in the hot sun the scoop..."there is a psych patient that escaped the hospital (just down the road) and is wandering around. Everyone's out looking for him so it maybe awhile." Well, being the protective and devoted moms that we all were we asked for a description of this loony man and stood our ground. Of course no one was going to be the first to get up and say "I'm leaving" because there was still a project that needed to be done and WE were the moms to get it done today! Our teacher needed our crafty abilities; we couldn't let her down.
So we kept chatting and watched all the strange people walking around the neighborhood (our school is right down from the square and beside MTSU's campus so you can only imagine the characters we saw.) At one point an old man wearing the same clothes described by the SRO as our escaped assailant walked right past us. You should have seen the five of us staring him down as he approached. Now don't you know he was an old man out on a leisurely stroll but some of the moms just let their maternal instinct kick into overdrive and one even yelled out, "You don't have a tattoo on your neck do you?" (this was police information we had) to which the older gentleman looked our way and said "no" as he gave us all a quick "you are a bunch of crazy overprotective mothers who can't leave the steps of your kids' school for some reason" look. Then another mother piped up..."You didn't just come from the mental hospital did you?" I almost died! Thankfully she yelled out (by this time he was starting to jog away from us as fast as he could) "be careful there is a crazy man wearing the same clothes as you out there!"
This sure beat watching Elmo's world and eating goldfish!
Well...the time finally approached the end of the designated volunteer hour and my free babysitting was up (not to mention she had been playing on the playground near by and I forgot to call her and let her know there was a crazy man on the loose...so when I did make the call, I was just enjoying myself so, she quickly tossed the little boogers into the van and locked the doors!)I had to call it a morning.
Now I will just vent one time...I understand the precautions that schools have to take but I'm just saying...really???? Is this what our community has come to that we are so protective b/c there are so many crazy people now that we have to lock out a bunch of moms from getting into the school to use a glue gun? I know, I know...that crazy man could have changed clothes and dressed like a stay at home dad wanting to eat lunch with his kid and all...that can be confusing for the administration. But really? Weren't there crazy people a long time ago that just walked around town free? No, I am very glad that my school takes precautions to keep my kids safe (like last year when they practiced code red and all the kids had to pick a weapon of choice like a book or pencil and throw it at the 'stranger' who was trying to break into their room). I have no worries over their safety while at that school. It's just a sad, sad time we live in when five moms in pony tails and flip flops can't enter the school b/c of fear of the outside.
But I did enjoy my hour of adult talk where I wasn't chasing a toddler around and I think I even got a little tan on my arms! And as for that crazy man? I sure hope they find him before 2:45 or that school might just be serving a bunch of kids supper tonight!
After all my jealous talk concerning 'those moms' who get to volunteer in their kids' classrooms b/c 1. they don't have anything better to do 2. they sacrifice the time from their job (yes, working moms volunteer too now!) or 3. they have the money for a babysitter (something I'm just not that devoted to do this year, the kids have to eat, sorry)for all those preschoolers/babies they have at home, I finally got to sign up to help in Eli's classroom for a project. It was my friend's scheming and on the ball planning that arranged it all...I watched her kids yesterday so she could help with project number 1 and then she reciprocated today for me to help with project number 2.
I was all ready with my glue gun and sequins in hand. Eli was so excited about me coming into his classroom this morning. I met my friend in the parking lot to hand off sister girl for an hour of play and I started up the big stairs to our school.
And what did I see? All the other moms who were volunteering sitting on the steps. "Code Yellow - the schools locked down and we don't know why but we can't get in." At first we sat their nice and cordial talking with each other and then the time kept passing and we became curious. Finally the SRO pulled up in his cop car and gave the five of us moms baking in the hot sun the scoop..."there is a psych patient that escaped the hospital (just down the road) and is wandering around. Everyone's out looking for him so it maybe awhile." Well, being the protective and devoted moms that we all were we asked for a description of this loony man and stood our ground. Of course no one was going to be the first to get up and say "I'm leaving" because there was still a project that needed to be done and WE were the moms to get it done today! Our teacher needed our crafty abilities; we couldn't let her down.
So we kept chatting and watched all the strange people walking around the neighborhood (our school is right down from the square and beside MTSU's campus so you can only imagine the characters we saw.) At one point an old man wearing the same clothes described by the SRO as our escaped assailant walked right past us. You should have seen the five of us staring him down as he approached. Now don't you know he was an old man out on a leisurely stroll but some of the moms just let their maternal instinct kick into overdrive and one even yelled out, "You don't have a tattoo on your neck do you?" (this was police information we had) to which the older gentleman looked our way and said "no" as he gave us all a quick "you are a bunch of crazy overprotective mothers who can't leave the steps of your kids' school for some reason" look. Then another mother piped up..."You didn't just come from the mental hospital did you?" I almost died! Thankfully she yelled out (by this time he was starting to jog away from us as fast as he could) "be careful there is a crazy man wearing the same clothes as you out there!"
This sure beat watching Elmo's world and eating goldfish!
Well...the time finally approached the end of the designated volunteer hour and my free babysitting was up (not to mention she had been playing on the playground near by and I forgot to call her and let her know there was a crazy man on the loose...so when I did make the call, I was just enjoying myself so, she quickly tossed the little boogers into the van and locked the doors!)I had to call it a morning.
Now I will just vent one time...I understand the precautions that schools have to take but I'm just saying...really???? Is this what our community has come to that we are so protective b/c there are so many crazy people now that we have to lock out a bunch of moms from getting into the school to use a glue gun? I know, I know...that crazy man could have changed clothes and dressed like a stay at home dad wanting to eat lunch with his kid and all...that can be confusing for the administration. But really? Weren't there crazy people a long time ago that just walked around town free? No, I am very glad that my school takes precautions to keep my kids safe (like last year when they practiced code red and all the kids had to pick a weapon of choice like a book or pencil and throw it at the 'stranger' who was trying to break into their room). I have no worries over their safety while at that school. It's just a sad, sad time we live in when five moms in pony tails and flip flops can't enter the school b/c of fear of the outside.
But I did enjoy my hour of adult talk where I wasn't chasing a toddler around and I think I even got a little tan on my arms! And as for that crazy man? I sure hope they find him before 2:45 or that school might just be serving a bunch of kids supper tonight!
Aug 26, 2010
My week as a single mom
The week has almost come to a sweet but exhausted end.
My husband went to Denver to learn about some secret military flying machine (not really secret obviously)for the first half of the week and consequently left me with the children to fend for myself. I have to admit I wasn't overly anxious about being home alone since the boys would be at school for most of the day and sister girl has taken the term 'get your beauty sleep' to an extreme with three hour naps each midday.
Honestly, I was kind of looking forward to the 'just me' at home with no one working in the kitchen on their computer and looking up to chat or see what I'm up to (you know I have to clean the house and look somewhat busy when he is working at home...like just the other day I broke out the flashcards for sister to start teaching her addition and subtraction just to impress the man) I needed a break from all the hard work!
Of course I have to mention so you will take pity on me as you read this...I broke my pinky toe (don't let the word 'pinky' fool you into thinking that its size devalues the amount of pain that can emerge from it)Friday afternoon while getting up from folding laundry and then tripping over the little pint size thing in the middle of the floor (that would be my daughter). I heard a snap (I kid you not) and saw that my toe was pointing in a weird angle (I didn't know toes could do that but it is the last and smallest of its fellow members so it is more vulnerable). Well I've never felt such bad pain (other than the labor I went through while I was drugged up at the hospital just waiting for Elizabeth to actually start coming out and for those God forsaken nurses to get me an epidural!)Anyway...I have been limping around in pain looking like, as a friend said this weekend, "I'm strutting my stuff." (this person actually thought I was 'strutting' my stuff around not realizing I was LIMPING because I had a BROKEN PINKY TOE!)
So, come Monday morning I limped out of bed and high tailed those boys into the kitchen, fed 'em, clothed 'em, groomed 'em and shuffled 'em into the van with my cup of coffee and sister girl! We were early I tell you...I had to pull over and let them hang out b/c we were so early! I was doing good!
I already had a play date planned for the morning to wear sister out and ensuring her three hour nap once again. Alas, the afternoon was spent in peace and quiet, allowing me even a short nap after I got some 'work' done around the house.
Then the big shocker...on the way to pick up I spontaneously volunteered to watch my friend's four children for three hours for her to attend a very important meeting. So, after having a leisurely day with my youngest I now was a short order snack chef for seven children, a Super Nanny overseeing all play and making sure equal time was shared on the Wii as well as a WWF referee watching over the trampoline and yard play. Then I became a school teacher enforcing homework time and once again a chef cooking tacos for everyone. When the sweet crew left I managed to get my kids in bed early and collapse into the bed.
The good news from all that work was that said friend reciprocated my hard work and watched all three children the next day after school for me to do whatever I wanted. (and I didn't even have a very important meeting to go to AND I have a two year old which equals all four of hers!)
The rest of the week I managed great. Don't get me wrong I did very very much miss my husband, especially each evening after supper when I got everyone ready for bed, something he participates in a great deal! But the best part was that all three nights I put the boys in bed super early and I curled up in bed and watched a BBC (British Broadcasting Center) made for t.v. movie, 3 seasons worth, of a wonderfully beautiful love story about some old English town. Nate was very thankful I had found such an entertaining show to take my mind off being so lonely without him (and the fact that I had found this show while he was so far away from having to be exposed to it!)
Nate has returned...my pinky toe is still hurting...my three season movie has ended...and I was quite ready to relinquish sole responsibility over our children!
And guess what sister girl saved all week for her sweet daddy? A lovely surprise of smeared poop on her carpet floor after supper tonight. I guess she knew to wait for his return b/c God knows if she had done that to me while I was a single parent I might have just put her out on the curb!
My husband went to Denver to learn about some secret military flying machine (not really secret obviously)for the first half of the week and consequently left me with the children to fend for myself. I have to admit I wasn't overly anxious about being home alone since the boys would be at school for most of the day and sister girl has taken the term 'get your beauty sleep' to an extreme with three hour naps each midday.
Honestly, I was kind of looking forward to the 'just me' at home with no one working in the kitchen on their computer and looking up to chat or see what I'm up to (you know I have to clean the house and look somewhat busy when he is working at home...like just the other day I broke out the flashcards for sister to start teaching her addition and subtraction just to impress the man) I needed a break from all the hard work!
Of course I have to mention so you will take pity on me as you read this...I broke my pinky toe (don't let the word 'pinky' fool you into thinking that its size devalues the amount of pain that can emerge from it)Friday afternoon while getting up from folding laundry and then tripping over the little pint size thing in the middle of the floor (that would be my daughter). I heard a snap (I kid you not) and saw that my toe was pointing in a weird angle (I didn't know toes could do that but it is the last and smallest of its fellow members so it is more vulnerable). Well I've never felt such bad pain (other than the labor I went through while I was drugged up at the hospital just waiting for Elizabeth to actually start coming out and for those God forsaken nurses to get me an epidural!)Anyway...I have been limping around in pain looking like, as a friend said this weekend, "I'm strutting my stuff." (this person actually thought I was 'strutting' my stuff around not realizing I was LIMPING because I had a BROKEN PINKY TOE!)
So, come Monday morning I limped out of bed and high tailed those boys into the kitchen, fed 'em, clothed 'em, groomed 'em and shuffled 'em into the van with my cup of coffee and sister girl! We were early I tell you...I had to pull over and let them hang out b/c we were so early! I was doing good!
I already had a play date planned for the morning to wear sister out and ensuring her three hour nap once again. Alas, the afternoon was spent in peace and quiet, allowing me even a short nap after I got some 'work' done around the house.
Then the big shocker...on the way to pick up I spontaneously volunteered to watch my friend's four children for three hours for her to attend a very important meeting. So, after having a leisurely day with my youngest I now was a short order snack chef for seven children, a Super Nanny overseeing all play and making sure equal time was shared on the Wii as well as a WWF referee watching over the trampoline and yard play. Then I became a school teacher enforcing homework time and once again a chef cooking tacos for everyone. When the sweet crew left I managed to get my kids in bed early and collapse into the bed.
The good news from all that work was that said friend reciprocated my hard work and watched all three children the next day after school for me to do whatever I wanted. (and I didn't even have a very important meeting to go to AND I have a two year old which equals all four of hers!)
The rest of the week I managed great. Don't get me wrong I did very very much miss my husband, especially each evening after supper when I got everyone ready for bed, something he participates in a great deal! But the best part was that all three nights I put the boys in bed super early and I curled up in bed and watched a BBC (British Broadcasting Center) made for t.v. movie, 3 seasons worth, of a wonderfully beautiful love story about some old English town. Nate was very thankful I had found such an entertaining show to take my mind off being so lonely without him (and the fact that I had found this show while he was so far away from having to be exposed to it!)
Nate has returned...my pinky toe is still hurting...my three season movie has ended...and I was quite ready to relinquish sole responsibility over our children!
And guess what sister girl saved all week for her sweet daddy? A lovely surprise of smeared poop on her carpet floor after supper tonight. I guess she knew to wait for his return b/c God knows if she had done that to me while I was a single parent I might have just put her out on the curb!
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