At bedtime, Ryan is in my room trying to stand on a yoga roller - something used to stretch out your back and other muscles. At first he is trying to balance while it is rolling, then he turns it on the side to make it taller. He is now trying to balance and touch my 9 feet bedroom ceiling. I ask him to stop. The last thing I need is for him to fall and break something as travel baseball is starting!
Ryan is still trying to annoy Lucas about a video we just watched from when he was little. He is commenting about how tall he is until, as he is stretching his body to the ceiling when still standing on the side of the roller thing. Almost drawing attention to himself like little kids do - “look at me.” but in an older more mature way. BOOM! He totally wipes out. He is silent, not that I could hear him through my immense laughter, I can’t breathe as the tears start to stream from my eyes. Still no sound from him. No movement, not even a sigh, a wince, nothing. Then you have a moment of "uh-oh" in your head, like it was just a little too quiet. I fall out of my bed onto the floor - still not able to really talk from laughing too hard. I lay my eyes on him and spit out “are you ok?” He either said “you suck” or “shut up” as he got up walking out of my room. I really couldn’t tell you because again, I was laughing way too hard. I am still not able to breathe to make sure he is really ok. He is fine, just embarrassed but with a smile on his face. Even now writing, this I can’t help the giggles from replaying it in my head.
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My alarm first rings every morning at 4:10 am, yes this is beyond early. So early that I sometimes have to do a double take. I close my eyes back up and listen to the quiet that fills the house. I can hear the creaking of the siding as the wind picks up and the heat pushing through the vents. It is so quiet that I can hear the chirp of the low battery of the water sensors from the basement.
This is my time to start my day. Most days it is to write reports, but occasionally it is for laundry or riding the stationary bike in my room. I try not to move very much. Once I start to move, it seems the house starts to wake up. The dogs peak at me through their sleepy eyes, as though to say “this early, again.” Today it was not a report, but paperwork that I had been forgetting about since last week. I planned on writing at least one report too. As I dug in my bag, I saw it glaring at me. A book. The book I was supposed to read for the book club I have today with students. UGH! Of course, I almost always forget. I try to tell myself, I can catch a few minutes to read it at work… honestly that never happens. So, instead of writing a report, I read my book and get caught up. The reports can wait until 4:10 tomorrow or the day after. The kids had an early release from school. I can’t remember if I actually knew that when the appointments were made or just dumb luck. Today we all were able to go to the dentist. Just what they wanted to do on an early release from school. We are still all the way to where I went as a child. I have never been to a different dentist and neither have they. After all it is only twice a year that we go there - and then I immediately think that line of rationale makes me sound like my grandmother! I drove her from Chicago to Michigan every year for her appointments.
So we get there, I go first. Then Ryan gets sent back. Lucas is sound asleep waiting for his turn to go. As Ryan returns, Lucas meanders back. I am eagerly waiting to find out how they did. But really, it is them being graded or me? I feel immense pressure or judgement if they get a cavity. Afterall, isn’t it really a reflection of my parenting? Well, I guess whether it is or not, I feel that way. So...how did I do? So far not too shabby. No cavities for anyone! The receptionist seemed impressed with that and so was I. I hope we continue on that path for many more years to come!! I forgot to order my groceries for the end of the week. Now that didn't happen, I don't want to wait until tomorrow to get them...IF they even have an opening to pick up. Typically by now, it wouldn't be until Monday, but the kids need food for lunches this week. I love the pick up. I order, my mom picks up and my kids bring them in. It is a perfect system, well until I forget to order them. Ugh!
I asked Lucas if he would like to go to the store with me. Surprisingly, said yes! Then I realize he would like to go so that he can add to his already abundant slime supply that he won last night. So we had different agendas of what needed to be accomplished at the store. As soon as we walk in, we head directly to the office supplies. He is able to find some fun additions to his stash of slime products and couldn't be happier. Lucas said "now on to your list mom!" He was a champ and shopping went so much quickly with him. it was like a scavenger hunt for him. Lucas would ask for an item and run the isles to find it - it was great! It was another amazing family fun night at my work which is an elementary school! My youngest volunteered to help me this year. He has outgrow the need to play the games and win the tchotchkes that slowly disappear from the house.
Although the games are done for him, we still purchase tickets for the raffle baskets. Tonight we walked around picking what he liked, what I liked and things we could do as a family. 40 tickets later all our selections have been made. While I am talking with parents, he is eagerly waiting to see if we actually won anything. As I make my way down the stairs, a student tells me my named was called. I was thinking, that’s great. I find my son and see him carrying the biggest basket of products to make our own slime. Slime, we won slime. Wait what about the hour massage? Are you sure we didn’t win that one? Or the Dick’s gift card? Nope, it was for sure the slime. #awesome As soon as we walk in, we head directly to the office supplies. He is able to find some fun additions to his stash of slime products and couldn't be happier. Lucas said "now on to your list mom!" He was a champ and shopping went so much quickly with him. It was like a scavenger hunt for him. Lucas would ask for an item and run the isles to find it - it was great!
I'm sure everyone has a forever friend. I met one of my forever friends my freshman year of high school. We both were trying out for softball and instantly felt connected. Through all of the peaks in our lives we have been there, in it together! We created amazing memories in high school, college, through engagements, pregnancies and bonding our families together - even our kids are now forever family. Life gets busy and sometimes you can go a little while between visits. However, the bond you feel never goes away. The best part of having a forever friend is that they are always there when you need them the most - usually during the most difficult of times. Those are the times that most people don't want to share publicly, well me anyway. Usually it is during the difficult times when the forever friend is needed the most. They show up even when you don't expect them to be there or when you say no...They show up and it is always a welcomed surprise. I tend to be independent and don't want to bother other people when I am having a difficult moment. But she knows this and is relentless with her support. I would be lost without my forever friend, I thank you for everything! As I sit down to eat dinner With my young (since they were too hungry to wait for me), I hear “Mom can you come here?” I respond with a “is everything ok?” “I need to show you something” said the 14 year old.
Up the stairs I go. I get to his room and he has a few websites open on his computer screen. "I was thinking I could get this" he says with his sweet smile. Then I take a closer look at the screen, this child must be crazy. Nike: white sneakers $179 Tommy Hilfiger sweater $159 H and M jeans $49 times 2 Honestly, there were a few other items but I was blinded by the prices, so I can't remember what else was there. I remind him that I bought 3 pairs of pants, a shirt (for me) and 4 pairs of athletic shorts from Old Navy for $63. He sighs and says never mind. After I remind him of how little I had growing up, BUT we will go the next day. He texted his dad to see if he could find the shoes somewhere cheaper. We go to the mall and find a couple of pairs of jeans and a Hilfiger sweater (not the $159 one). I can't even count how many "thank yous" that fell out of his mouth on the drive home. The next day he received a package in the mail... you guessed it the shoes (but not for $179). I love him to pieces and I want him to have more than I did growing up but also realize there are these things called budgets and sales. It isn't realistic to like this all the time. He was so happy, he wore some of them the next day to school. He looks like a man, no longer my little boy. I have been so much better about being on time to work in the mornings. I try to go to bed earlier and plan my mornings better. I have been doing my work reports well before their due dates. I try to get copies to the teachers so they can be prepared too. I have all of our schedules mapped out and on the calendar.
It is always a delicate balance of making sure everything is mapped out. Until, the day you get home from the late baseball game and your child says I have “hours” of art homework. I think ART, who has homework for art class??? Well apparently my child, who waited until we got home at 9:30 at night to tell me he has THAT MUCH homework. So of course I spout back “oh, sure hours and hours - OH OK~!” So he pulls out the assignment and WE get started. Now it is 11 at night and not really a sign of being done. Then he tells me the “other” sketch isn’t done either. That’s where things take a turn. The calm storm inside of me started to brew. I reminded him that I have my own things to do after I get done at his hours and hours of sports. He gently tells me that this has been assigned for a little while, but there wasn’t enough time to get it done. I remind him several times that this better never happen again. My eyes are starting to burn from being tired and the time was pressing 11:30. I tell him to just go to bed and I will finish. He is very appreciative of the help. I remind him this is his one pass, no more will be given out!!! A few days later I found out that I received nearly a perfect score on “our” art project. I always said that would never happen. However, reality is different from what you think it may be. As much as I said he would be on his own next time, he won’t be. He will always have my help when he needs it! Getting home from work...
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AuthorI have worked in social work for over 25 years. The past 19 years have been within an elementary school setting. Archives
March 2022
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