Sep14

A Confession

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I’m a PTA mom.

And I like it.  I like the monthly meetings (dinner out with the girls after the meetings helps that), I like the committees and I like being involved.

I’m a mom who works full time. Because I work, I can’t volunteer in Scorch’s classroom during the day. Being a part of the PTA gives me a chance to still be involved, to ensure the teachers and staff know who I am.  I want to be a visible presence in my kid’s school life.

Basically, I want my kids to live in fear knowing if they act up in school, Mom is going to hear about it.

Sep12

Remembering

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The Hubs and I were living in DC on that fateful Tuesday in September 2001. We had been married under a month and were still a little giddy after an amazing honeymoon in Aruba.

I vividly remember the Hubs calling me to tell me a plane flew into one of the Twin Towers. I thought some guy had a heart attack. Some sort of accident. What else could it be? Terrorism never crossed my mind.

We all know how the rest of that horrific morning unfolded.

The Hubs was working at the White House. According to many, Flight 93, the flight that crashed in PA, was headed for the White House. Relative after relative called asking when the Hubs was coming home that night. They didn’t get it- his job was to defend the White House. Coming home was not an option until the House and all it’s occupants were safe. He was finally home over 24 hours later.
The Hubs was one of the lucky ones.
This 9/11, the Hubs and I went to a wedding of an old friend. There we drank and ate and laughed with some of our favorite people. We loved and most of all- we hoped. I can’t think of a better way to pay respects to such an event.
Screw you terrorists!
Sep9

Today Was A Good Day

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First, the Hubs got some very unexpected, potentially very good news in regards to his job. This is a rarity, so we’re relishing it!

Second, Scorch survived his first day at school! The poor kid was a bundle of nerves this morning and there were tears (his and mine) at drop off, but he seems to have done great after we left.  He told me had a great time and liked his teachers- win!  I’m ignoring the fact that he also said that he’s not going back and that tomorrow morning may be more difficult.

Third, we had a great celebratory dinner out tonight with the kids. Dining out with a 4 year old and a 2 year old is always a crap shoot, but tonight they were rock stars (as long as you ignore the occasional crawling under the table/trying to climb the booth wall episodes. Which I do).

Fourth- NFL season kicks off! While I still really annoyed that summer is over, at least cooler weather = football and that makes me happy.

Sep7

Parenting Fail

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Dear Bean,

I’m never, ever taking you grocery shopping again.

Ever.

I say that every week, yet every week I end up taking both you and Scorch because I’m too lazy to go on Friday night. This weekend I came well prepared. We hit up Dunkin Donuts before going and I got you and your brother a batch of Munchkins to eat. We got to the store early enough to ensure we could get one of the coveted “Car Carts”- the shopping cart with a car in front that you both can fit into.  The lure of donuts + the car cart kept things going smoothly for the first portion of our trip.

Then you got bored, so you started leaning your head out of the cart. I kept reminding you to put your head in the cart so you don’t get hurt.

Do you see where this is going?

As we were strolling down the cleaning items aisle, an older man came barreling down towards us clearly not paying a bit of attention. So I quickly yank the cart (which is about a quarter wider then a normal cart) over to the side and park it to avoid a collision.

What I didn’t do is make sure your head was in the cart.  And it wasn’t.

You screamed the store down. The end result was a scratch that started above your left eye brow, then picked up again on your nose and went under your other eye half way to your ear.  I still have nightmares thinking about what would have happened if your eye was hit.

So I’m saying it now and I’m saying it publicly- I’m never taking you grocery shopping again.

Love,

Your mommy, who feels terrible still.

Sep3

Lucky

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I read. A lot. I read an average of a book every 2-3 days. If it’s really good, I’ll inhale a book in a day. I’ve even been known to put the kids in front of the TV on a perfectly nice day just so I could read while they are getting their brains sucked out.

You can direct me to my Mother of the Year award any time. 😉

Since I work online 8.5 hours a day, I also read a fat ton of blogs. I have a dozen or so I read daily, but then I meander. Someone links to a blog, who links to a new blog, who links to another blog and I follow that bunny trail where ever it leads.

And man- there are some *amazing* blogs out there. People who have overcome so much. People who just lead the most interesting lives. People who are so creative them make my teeth hurt. People who make the world a better place.

And then there is me.

I haven’t overcome much- 3 years of infertility and 3 miscarriage were *huge* at the time. But now, they are a distant memory, thank goodness. My life is as laid back and boring as they come. The best thing I’ve ever created were my kids. I work to make my world better, but I’m nobody special.

And you know what? I’m ok with that. I’m blessed and so so lucky to lead the life that I do. To live my boring life in my little town with the Hubs and the kids. This is the life I always wanted and it makes me happy. I may not have a dramatic story to tell, but I do have two healthy kids to love up on.

I’m lucky.

Sep1

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Almost)

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Dear Scorch-

One week from tomorrow you start school again!

Thank. God.

You’re only going 5 half-days a week, but you need to get back to school. Last year you only went 3 half days a week and you loved it. And man, did you just explode academically and socially!  This summer you missed your friends, you missed playing with them and I think you even missed learning.  I told us how bored you were at least once a day every day this summer.  Good times.

Last night we went to an Ice Cream Social at your school and got to meet your new teacher. She seems wonderful as does her full time assistant! You’re in the same class as your BFF so you are thrilled!

Me? Well, I’m a little worried. See, there are 26 kids in your class. Twenty. Six.  That is a lot of 4 year olds- especially since 16 of you are boys.  Your teacher is either going to be batshitcrazy by the end of the year or eligible for sainthood.

I’m trying not to let the number of kids in your class stress me out too much. But I’m a mom, stressing out over you and Bean is what I do best.  Will you get enough attention? Will you be OK socially with that many kids? Last year your class had 18 kids- only 5 of which were boys. Watching you navigate THAT stressed me out- add in 8 more kids and triple the amount of boys and I may have a nervous breakdown. What if you struggle this year academically- will the amount of kids in the class hinder you from getting the help you need?

I may or may not have been up at 2 am googling classroom teacher to student ratios and thoughts on class size because I couldn’t sleep.

But, I love your school. I love the community there. So I’m willing to give this a go and see how things turn out. I have faith in this school and, more importantly, I have faith in you. You’re going to rock this school year, little boy.

Love,

Mom (who is very tired today)

Aug31

Freedom!

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My parent took the kids for an overnight on Saturday. It. Was. Heaven.

It was so nice to have a conversation with the Hubs that wasn’t interrupted constantly.

It was so nice to go out to dinner, then a movie and then for drinks because we didn’t have to be home at any set time.

It was so nice to come home and be as loud at we wanted with no fears of waking the kids.

It was so nice to sleep in until 9 am, then read in bed for another 30 mins b/c I didn’t have to get up for *anything.*

It was so nice to go the gym and exercise and then go grocery shopping b/c I didn’t need to come home and relieve the Hubs so he could do his thing.

It was so nice to go into Scorch”s room and clean it out without him screaming that some random piece of trash was his favorite thing in the world and I was so mean.

It was just so nice. Period.

I’m hoping my parents will take the little buggers monthly!

And it was so nice to bring them home!

Aug26

Funny People…

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Or kids.

So I’m driving the kids home today from the park and Scorch is throwing a total fit because I won’t let him watch a DVD in the car. You know, for the ride that is a total of 5 minutes long. ::roll eyes::

So he’s carrying on- crying, yelling and basically telling me how he’s the boss of me and I need to do what he wants me to do. Period. End of discussion. I’m ignoring him which is only ticking him off more so he started telling me how I’m so mean to him.  And, for good measure, he likes Daddy so much more then me. I think- he wasn’t really talking sense at that point.

So Bean, who is only two and must be smarter then I give her credit for, starts yelling “I love you, Mommy!” over and over.

At this point, Scorch turns off the tears on a dime and goes “Wait- what am I crying about again?”

Yeah kid- what are you crying about again?

Aug25

Cha-cha-changes

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So life in the Wickedly Crazy Awesome (WCA) house has been in turmoil the past 24 hours.

The Hubs job has a lot of pro’s to it, but the two biggest cons are (1) lack of planning and 2) lack of consideration for families) can make life a tad bit difficult. We know due to the Hub’s job we’re going to have to move- we were told we’d have to report to a new location in Aug 2011.  We could deal with that.  Scorch could have one more full year at his kick-ass school and start a new school for Kindergarten and the Bean could start preschool in our new city.  So, while still a crappy situation- that is the least crappy timing for us.

But…we were told yesterday, Surprise- you have to move in March.

Not. Good.

BUT then today we were essentially told “whoops- just screwing with you! We don’t know when you’re moving anymore!”

That sound you heard? It was my head exploding.

Aug24

No, Thank You!

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This past weekend my amazing mother-in-law (MIL) came to help out as the Hubs recovered from his surgery. My MIL spoils my kids rotten- a tradition they all love!  And let’s face it, my kids don’t go without thanks to the Hubs and I either. We do make Scorch earn enough stickers doing various things throughout the house to get something extra special. But this summer was filled with a million big and little trips- each one requiring a souvenir according to the Hubs.

Unfortunately all this spoiling and the gluttony of things have turned Scorch into a child who only wants more. Yesterday at dinner I asked him what his favorite part about the day was. He said he didn’t have a favorite part because we refused to buy him the football he wanted.  Mind you- over the course of the weekend, he got 4 new pairs of shoes (including much coveted cleats), a new baseball glove, was taken to a Bounce House and countless parks and out to dinner each night.  So…yeah. Spoiled much?

I don’t mind getting these things because the Hubs and I usually only stick to the necessities and the fun stuff is only bought once Scorch has earned them or for holidays.  But what I do mind is his complete lack of gratitude.  And I don’t know how to teach him that at this age. Reasoning with him doesn’t work because he’s 4 and doesn’t get a lot of the abstract “there are starving kids in XYZ country- don’t you know how lucky you are?” conversation.  Do I take him to volunteer? Do I just keep talking to him and pray that this will finally click?

I’m at a loss! How did you teach your kids to be grateful?