So it's the first "real" day of school. Yeah, the boys went yesterday, but it was only for an hour and a half. This morning, I had to make them lunches (and had to remember who had what lunchbox, since they are both new this year) and get them out the door WITH their lunches. I didn't put any sort of a note in their lunches (but maybe I should have?) to tell them how much I love them and all that stuff... but then I remember, they're BOYS. They might not even use the napkin that I've written the little note on, much less READ it (I can hear it now: "Ugh, MORE reading?" Thanks Will, love you too, buddy.).
I have friends who get all weepy and sad when their kids go to school, but I'm not one of those types. Why should I be sad? The boys would much rather be at school than stuck at home for yet another day hanging out with me and their sister who has to nap in the afternoons. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time this summer, but it was definitely, DEFINITELY time to go back to school. They need it, I need it. It makes me a better parent, a better person. Not to mention what it does for them. They get to spend their day with kids they like, learning cool stuff, with teachers they love.
The house is strangely quiet during Meredith's nap. My husband, who works from home most days, has no radio on today, so it's REALLY quiet. I can hear him eating chips. I can hear the dog dreaming about something. The keystrokes on my keyboard sound especially loud. I know this will all change in an hour, but this is like a strange break from reality. It's one of the joys of late summer.
You'll not find me wiping tears from my eyes when my kids go back to school. Their going to school is one of the benefits of parenthood. I've raised kids who are smart, funny, and independent when they need to be. What more could I ask for?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
T minus 19 hours and counting...
Until my boys go back to school. Not that I'm counting or anything.
This summer has been great, but I'm SO ready for my boys to go back to school. They need the structure that school brings that I'm just so horrible at delivering. It's times like this where I wonder how ANYONE can homeschool their kids. Yikes.
So this summer, we packed in a LOT of stuff. New stuff that the boys hadn't been exposed to before. I'm not so worried about Meredith this summer, as I can't imagine that she'll actually remember anything that we did... so this summer was about the boys (well, and the grown ups, but do we actually count anyways?). In June, we road-tripped to Philadelphia for a friend's wedding. It was a pretty quick trip, but the boys remember a lot of what we did, so that's a bonus. It's amazing the stuff they remember. Random stuff. Like the fact that Betsy Ross suggested to George Washington that the flag should have 5 point stars instead of 6 point stars because they're easier to cut out. In July, we went for our annual trip to Michigan, but kicked it off with a quick trip to Mackinac Island where we rode our bikes around the island. The thing that the boys remember about this trip? That the island is pronounced MackiNAW, not MackiNAC. They brought this point up when we were on a boat tour in Chicago the other day and the recorded tour was talking about the boat race from Chicago to MackiNAC island and the boys kept saying, "they've got it wrong! It's MackiNAW!" (so they ARE related to me!).
This summer was great. The boys were very sweet to their little sister, who has also come a long way this summer. At the beginning of the summer, she still was very limited in her talking, where as now, while she still has a long way to go, she babbles and repeats with the best of them.
This summer has been good. Fast, but good. And for next year, we need to remember to not front-load the summer. August drags EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Must plan a getaway in August next year. I'd love to do a train trip (we've only talked about it for 3 years, never being able to actually go), but we'll see. Maybe my parents will finally come through on the whole "let's have the boys come stay with us for a week at camp Gramma and Grampa". Oh, the luxury that would be...
This summer has been great, but I'm SO ready for my boys to go back to school. They need the structure that school brings that I'm just so horrible at delivering. It's times like this where I wonder how ANYONE can homeschool their kids. Yikes.
So this summer, we packed in a LOT of stuff. New stuff that the boys hadn't been exposed to before. I'm not so worried about Meredith this summer, as I can't imagine that she'll actually remember anything that we did... so this summer was about the boys (well, and the grown ups, but do we actually count anyways?). In June, we road-tripped to Philadelphia for a friend's wedding. It was a pretty quick trip, but the boys remember a lot of what we did, so that's a bonus. It's amazing the stuff they remember. Random stuff. Like the fact that Betsy Ross suggested to George Washington that the flag should have 5 point stars instead of 6 point stars because they're easier to cut out. In July, we went for our annual trip to Michigan, but kicked it off with a quick trip to Mackinac Island where we rode our bikes around the island. The thing that the boys remember about this trip? That the island is pronounced MackiNAW, not MackiNAC. They brought this point up when we were on a boat tour in Chicago the other day and the recorded tour was talking about the boat race from Chicago to MackiNAC island and the boys kept saying, "they've got it wrong! It's MackiNAW!" (so they ARE related to me!).
This summer was great. The boys were very sweet to their little sister, who has also come a long way this summer. At the beginning of the summer, she still was very limited in her talking, where as now, while she still has a long way to go, she babbles and repeats with the best of them.
This summer has been good. Fast, but good. And for next year, we need to remember to not front-load the summer. August drags EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Must plan a getaway in August next year. I'd love to do a train trip (we've only talked about it for 3 years, never being able to actually go), but we'll see. Maybe my parents will finally come through on the whole "let's have the boys come stay with us for a week at camp Gramma and Grampa". Oh, the luxury that would be...
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Don't know if I'm ready for this
As a mom of boys, I've been pretty darn lucky. Yes, there are moments when I'm sure that my boys will end up killing each other because they're just so PHYSICAL with each other. For the most part, we've avoided drama (except for the obvious times when I'm the "worst mom in the whole world", usually because I've not let them watch 4 hours of Pokemon or allowed them to have McDonald's for a second lunch), which, hearing from my mom of girls friends, is a blessing (although I suppose it's just a matter of time for my share of that too). I'm just not sure if I'm ready for my boys to "like" someone.
I might have entered that world already.
Yesterday, we were at the zoo with some friends, and TJ starts walking with his friend, a girl, who will be in 3rd grade in the fall (ooooh, older women!). They were kind of by themselves, a few steps to the side of us. It was very obvious that there was something going on there. I asked him later what they were talking about, to which he immediately replies, "Nothing".
THIS is the clue. Really? A "nothing" that quickly really only means one thing: it was something. I tried to blow it off, not make a big deal of it, "were you talking about Harry Potter?" (they're both reading the books this summer) to which he immediately responded "No." Oh geez. I'm in for it now.
HE'S GOING TO BE IN SECOND GRADE. Lord help me now.
I might have entered that world already.
Yesterday, we were at the zoo with some friends, and TJ starts walking with his friend, a girl, who will be in 3rd grade in the fall (ooooh, older women!). They were kind of by themselves, a few steps to the side of us. It was very obvious that there was something going on there. I asked him later what they were talking about, to which he immediately replies, "Nothing".
THIS is the clue. Really? A "nothing" that quickly really only means one thing: it was something. I tried to blow it off, not make a big deal of it, "were you talking about Harry Potter?" (they're both reading the books this summer) to which he immediately responded "No." Oh geez. I'm in for it now.
HE'S GOING TO BE IN SECOND GRADE. Lord help me now.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Awesome timing
In the words of my friend Natalie, "Seriously?"
We've actually made plans (reservations and all!) to go out to dinner tonight with my in-laws who will be in town. Granted, we're not going late, but still... dinner in a somewhat nice restaurant. OF COURSE today is the day that my usually awesome napping daughter cuts her nap and only takes a third of the nap that she usually takes. She seems to be in a good mood at the moment, but I'm sure that will change when we decide that it's time to leave for dinner.
This comes on the heels of a news story that I saw yesterday about this one restaurant (and apparently, it's a growing trend) that has become a "kid free" restaurant. It's all because some parents like to think that the world should revolve around them and their children, and the little cherubs can (basically) get away with just about anything because, well, they're just being kids. Whatever.
We all have those moments where our kids make us insane, make us look like we have no clue as to how to parent, and those are almost always witnessed by someone we know. Case in point: when I had to shove my middle child into the car so that we could go to church (oh the irony) as he's screaming, "BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO!" And, of course, my friend Katie is driving by as I'm doing this. At least she understands (or at least she led me to believe that she did). People without kids don't always get it.
I GET that kids shouldn't have free reign over every situation. I'm not in that school of thought at all. But for dopey, inept parents to ruin it for the rest of us who are just trying their best... well, that sucks. But I guess it's life.
Here's hoping that the place we're going tonight doesn't want to turn "kid-free" after we dine there tonight.
We've actually made plans (reservations and all!) to go out to dinner tonight with my in-laws who will be in town. Granted, we're not going late, but still... dinner in a somewhat nice restaurant. OF COURSE today is the day that my usually awesome napping daughter cuts her nap and only takes a third of the nap that she usually takes. She seems to be in a good mood at the moment, but I'm sure that will change when we decide that it's time to leave for dinner.
This comes on the heels of a news story that I saw yesterday about this one restaurant (and apparently, it's a growing trend) that has become a "kid free" restaurant. It's all because some parents like to think that the world should revolve around them and their children, and the little cherubs can (basically) get away with just about anything because, well, they're just being kids. Whatever.
We all have those moments where our kids make us insane, make us look like we have no clue as to how to parent, and those are almost always witnessed by someone we know. Case in point: when I had to shove my middle child into the car so that we could go to church (oh the irony) as he's screaming, "BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO!" And, of course, my friend Katie is driving by as I'm doing this. At least she understands (or at least she led me to believe that she did). People without kids don't always get it.
I GET that kids shouldn't have free reign over every situation. I'm not in that school of thought at all. But for dopey, inept parents to ruin it for the rest of us who are just trying their best... well, that sucks. But I guess it's life.
Here's hoping that the place we're going tonight doesn't want to turn "kid-free" after we dine there tonight.
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