That Mom

I was that mom. The mom who went anxiously to Open House the year Oldest Child started kindergarten. And a few years later, when YC followed in her footsteps. I was the mom who waited for the bus each afternoon to see what she learned during the day away from me. I was the mom who had homemade Rice Crispy Treats ready after school. Who was eager to sit down with homework because it was "fun". Who went to every practice of every sport the precious cherubs ever played...and cheered. And even COACHED one season. I was the mom who made sure we ate dinner at the dinner table every night because I would warp my children if we didn't. Who made sure that the meals were well-rounded and healthy because I didn't want them growing up obese. And the park. Oh, my goodness, the park. We had to be there at every opportunity. We walked, we fed the ducks, we rode bikes,we swang. We played. A lot.


And now, I'm not. I'm the mom who hates homework with a passion. I'm the mom who wants homework done as soon as possible, so we can get on with our evenings. I'm the mom who maybe gets one homecooked meal prepared a week. I'm the mom who feeds her children "whatever" for dinner. Just eat so you don't go to bed hungry. I'm the mom who worries about OC getting her learner's permit in March (this March!). She doesn't even know how to put gas in the car - much less pay for it. She doesn't know directions to our house...how will she ever get home? I'm the mom who worried if she did enough during the early years. Is she fundamentally grounded? Does she pick good friends? Does she know that noone will ever love her more that God and me? Did I lay the groundwork I was supposed to lay? Did I do what I was supposed to do during those early, formative years? Because if the years we are going through now are "formative", God help us all!

And Youngest Child, oh, my goodness. Middle School is rocking our world. We have spent the past eleven years getting ready for this. She is so ill prepared. What could I have done differently? How could I have helped more? What did I need to do and didn't? What did I do that I shouldn't have?

I think we all go through this life trying to do better than our parents did. I think I should be reimbursed, because the hospital forgot to give me the owner's manual when I brought them home. We do the best we can, and let God do the rest. We learned that with The Dude. He moved to Tennessee with his mother when he was five. The middle of Tennessee. A long way from Atlanta in Tennessee. So we did the best we could. And he turned out fine. Great, actually. A fine young man I would proudly set up with your daughters. So I need to learn to let go and let God. I'm not raising a couple of ax murderers. The Dude turned out ok. The girls will, too.

WOW!

Back to the real world. I'll post about my week and getting the precious cherubs back home safe and sound and how I came crashing back to reality at 11:00 this morning and spent the majority of the day in the car retrieving the cherubs and the washer hasn't stopped since 11:00 this morning... all of that will come tomorrow.

But now, you have to go here. Rocks in My Dryer is having a giveaway and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't tell you about it. She is giving away the WOW Online 1 CD and the artists/songs looks awesome - I can totally see myself singing totally outloud if I win!

Going, Going, Gone...

...and back again. I have decided after a two-week break from "real life", that I could get used to being independently wealthy and being able to be on one constant vacation. We were camping the first week of spring break. We had beautiful weather and wonderful friends to share our experience. Oldest Child had another "unicycle dork" to ride with her, so she didn't feel isolated. She has almost mastered her new gianormous unicycle - I told you before we left she would. She proficiently rode around Roosevelt State Park on her "regular" unicycle. One camper even commented, wanting to know where the other half of her bicycle went.

We had beautiful weather every day except the day we were packing up to come home. Then on Monday morning, the girls and I headed off to my old stomping grounds of southeastern West Virginia. It was the longest I've ever driven without Dear Husband. But we made it fine and had a great time. I was able to visit with friends and family I hadn't seen in awhile. Youngest Child was able to help Grandma out in the yard. Oldest Child even guilt-ed Unce Carlito into leaving a whole house full of company to drive two hours to see her.

I will update throughout the week - hopefully with pictures from the trip...depending on how busy my technical assistant is this week. We took great pictures at The Little White House - hopefully it will get Oldest Child some brownie points in Social Studies since that's what they're studying now. The azaleas were beyond beautiful down near Callaway Gardens. A bunch of deer decided to visit us while we were at the Sims Bed and Breakfast (thank you, Anne and Randy, for opening up your home to me and my precious cherubs!).

But for now, after more than 1,300 miles on our vehicles, it's back to real life. Finishing up laundry, groceries, bills, lesson plans, menu planning, etc., etc.

Winter Wonderland

I know now why I live in the south. No snow. And when it does snow, the whole city stops to watch in amazement the small while flakes falling from the sky. Growing up in West Virginia, I have had my fair share of sled rides and snow days. Living in Georgia, we haven't been out of school for a school day for three years.

Had today been a school day as opposed to a Saturday, that would have changed. Oldest Child and Youngest Child have been outside since 1:30 playing. It would be a little different if there were actually, hmmm, snow on the ground...but it's melting as soon as it hits the ground. So basically, I am up for the Mother of the Year award because I am letting my children playing outside in the cold and mud. Guess I'd better clear a place on my mantle for the trophy...and then get the girls inside to warm up so I can send them out again!

I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry

It never dawned on me that yesterday was December 17th. I remembered it was December 17th today when I sat down to catch up on my blog reading. The first blog I read had, hmmm, Tour of Home pictures...oopsie! So then, of course, I had to go around blog-er land and look at everybody else's pretty Christmas decorations. But you know there's a good reason I forgot why yesterday was the 17th.

I live with Oldest Child (13) and Youngest Child (10) and YC takes every advantage to get back at OC at any given moment. Well, yesterday YC stepped over the line by telling the neighbor kids a bunch of lies on OC because it made YC look good. Before I can figure out what happened, OC and YC are crying hysterically, Neighbor Kid 1 and Neighbor Kid 2 are in tears. OC is screaming at YC and slamming doors (surprise, surprise, surprise!). Mom across the street and I are trying to untangle the tangled web that was woven to figure out who said what and what is true and what was made up. All while I was supposed to be posting Tour of Homes pictures and getting ready for my Christmas Bunko party. Geez, Youngest Child, if you're going to tell a bunch of lies on your sister, could you please do it on a night I don't have any plans?!

But, alas, DH to the rescue! After the fiasco that was my evening, he insisted that I go to Bunko because I had been looking forward to it. He would handle the girls because they were now walking a straight and narrow path because they realized they had stepped over the line. Neighbor Mom had her kids settled down and yes, OC would be able to babysit again and yes, the kids would be able to play together again and no, they don't hate us...You know you are among friends when you can arrive at Bunko in your PJ's with a tear-stained face and be welcomed with hugs and a cold glass of sangria. I love bunko!

Overheard at My House Today

Keep in mind, these conversations took place throughout the course of the day. Each line break indicates a different time span.

Mom: "Oldest Child, it's time to get up"
Oldest Child: "I don't want to get up"
(well, I didn't either, but I really need to keep my job for a few more years, so I decided that it was in my best interest to do so).

M: "OC, I need you to pick up your school bags"
OC: "I don't want to, I'm watching TV and reading a book"
(yeah, well, don't think I asked if you WANTED to pick them up)

OC: "OMG, where's the pizza?? I only had TWO PIECES OF CHEESE PIZZA and everybody ate the REST and now I DON'T HAVE ANYMORE"
M: "Well, you chose to go to your room instead of eat"
OC: "WHY DID YOU EAT ALL THE PIZZA??"
Dad: "Look in the refrigerator, it's been put away"
OC: "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT??"

OC: "Can I please go to Girlfriend's house on Saturday and spend the night with her because word, word, word, word, lots of other words, and Youngest Child has spent the night at two houses in the last two weeks PLUS had 4 other playdates and you always tell me no and word, words, words, and that's why it's only fair that I get to spend the night at Girlfriend's house"
M: "Go ask you dad"
So she goes through the whole spill again.
Dad: "Yes, as long it's OK with your mom"
(OK, you caught us, we love Younger Child more than we love you so we let her do more stuff)

OC: "Mom, you didn't go to The Sporting Good store and buy me a pair of gym shorts"
M: "I haven't been to the store this week"
OC: "Yes you have because you went to The Sporting Good store and bought you that new shirt you have on because it's a new one because I haven't seen you wear that one before you and when you bought that shirt you FORGOT to buy me a pair of gym shorts"
M: "I bought this shirt in the spring on clearance and it's been in my closet since then"
(I'm sorry; WHY am I justifying my spending patterns to a 13-year old again??)

OC: (low growl)"Why do they have to make this stuff so hard??? (as she sits doing square root homework) I hate this stuff, I'm just gonna drop out of school!!"
(well, not so much. not an option)

OC: (at 7:30 pm) "Dad, you needed to pick Mr. Neighbor up at...uh oh...6:30"
M: "OC, what time did he call?"
OC: "It doesn't matter, Dad was supposed to pick him up but you already talked to him"
M: "Yes, we've already talked to him, but you didn't know that and you answered the phone and didn't deliver the message and Mr. Neighbor could have been sitting over there waiting on Dad to pick him up"
OC: "Yeah, but Dad already talked to him so it doesn't matter"
M: "Yes, we did already talk to him, but you didn't know that. If you're not going to deliver the message, don't pick up the phone."
OC: "Yeah, but it's Other Neighbor's fault because one time I didn't answer the phone because I thought it was Mr. Neighbor and I was gonna let the machine get it and it was really Other Neighbor because his mom wasn't home and he needed me to babysit and I thought maybe it was Other Neighbor calling from Mr. Neighbor's house because he needed me to babysit him and I could make some money because I'm broke and, like, I have no money and so if Other Neighbor needed me to babysit then I could make some money and I wrote the message from Mr. Neighbor on my hand so I would remember, I just forgot to tell you to call him."
(all's well that ends well???)


OC: "OMG, why do you always tell everybody everything"
(as Mom is rudely interrupted while talking to a girlfriend on the phone)
OC: "You just think you have homework; just wait till you get to 8th grade!"
Youngest Child: "Shut up!"
OC: "Make me"

And I will spare you the drama associated with bedtime at my house. Just start sending up prayers now.

EDITED TO ADD: OK, I thought I was going to spare you the drama of bedtime...wrong! Everyone is settled, in bed, all is quiet and everyone is falling asleep. It is, after all, 9:15. When all of the sudden, from Oldest Child's room, came a blood curdling scream. A scream like no other; a scream the definitely says something's wrong...a scream that wouldn't stop. DH and I both jumped up and ran, all the while asking what's wrong, what's wrong?? Wouldn't you know it - she was stung by a scorpion in her bed. OUCH! So I went into doctor mode and DH went in to Alligator Hunting mode. Alas, rest assured, dear internets, the offending scorpion has been rescued and is now safely in a jar. Getting Oldest Child to ever sleep in her room again, however, will not be as easy. Good thing we have a comfy couch!