I have yet to personally meet the new superintendent of our school, but I have to say I like her based on a couple of things. One, when the drama teacher quit after their last play and no one would step in to fill her shoes, she hired someone out of the district to come in. My daughter was elated to be picked to perform in the first play. But this play under the new direction, she’s ecstatic and filled with giddy as she tells us the stories of what she’s learned new. She’s having so much fun. But more importantly, with all the snow, the kids don’t have school again tomorrow so she issued a ”Special Assignment” to all the students in the district.

She’s asking them to reach out in their community and help by:

With parent permission - and supervision where necessary - Mrs. D. would like each of our students to contact an elderly neighbor or relative to make sure that they are safe and warm and to offer to perform a service like clearing sidewalks or running an errand. Not only will this provide a valuable service to the community, but it will be a worthwhile experience for our students while they are out of the classroom. If your child performs a service that is particularly noteworthy, send the story to us and we’ll publish it in the local paper.

 

I have to toot my children’s horns because they’ve been doing this all weekend and continuing to do so. My daughter and her friend have made some pocket change by digging others out. My oldest son and even my youngest have been doing this. Why? Because their parents do it. In all this snow, to me, it’s amazing how something like this will bring a community together. And I have to give kudos to Mrs. D because I’ve lived in this area the majority of my life and never has a superintendent asked her students to do something like this and that in itself to me was worth this blog post and I’ll probably write something up and send it to the school on behalf of my three amazing children.

I’ll probably talk a lot about my oldest son, Blaize. He’s seventeen and a senior in high school. People often ask me if I feel old. Yes and no. It seems like only yesterday when he was born in some ways and other ways, I didn’t think he or I would survive until the following year. Blaize is my accident-prone child. So, we’ve seen a lot of casts, stitches and basic bumps and bruises. We’ve had a lot of arguments, whether it was over lies, friends, stupid stuff, girls…but at the same time he’s always been my little man. My baby. My first-born. Of course he doesn’t remember being the soul center of my life for the years before his sister was born, but I do. While his dad was away on TDY or at work for twenty-four hours, it was Blaize and I against the world.

But he couldn’t stay little forever, right?

I can’t really complain about my oldest son. He’s been a good kid compared to others in our neighborhood or his school. He has a heart of gold and an infectious personality. He’s genuine and goofy. He’s a good actor and to quote Randy Jackson from American Idol, he can blow, dude. There are days he drives me absolutely insane and other days when my heart bursts with pride.

Today was one of those days.

He set up everything. He contacted the Air Force recruiter, he made the appointment and when we got up there, I let him do all the talking. This was his decision. Because I refuse to be one of those mom’s who has to have total control over her kids. As tempting as it is, he’s at the age now where he needs to make his own decisions–right or wrong. It’s my job once he turns eighteen to support him in his decisions and guide him as best as I can. It stops being about me and starts being about him.

As of right now, the plans he chose have been set into motion. He wants to join the United States Air Force after he graduates in June. My heart is bursting with pride that he wants to dedicate at least four years of his young life to serving his country. It’s in his blood. It started with his Pap, then his uncles, his mom and his dad. But I’d be absolutely lying if I said this isn’t going to break my heart in two. My kids are my life, above all else and anyone who truly knows me, knows the sacrafices I’ve made so that my kids aren’t the ones the neighbors sneak back into their house when they see them coming up the street. I get compliments all the time on their behavior. I’ve worked hard to keep them on the straight and narrow and I don’t regret any of the sacrafices I made. They were worth it and they will continue to be so as the other two make their marks on the world.

If all goes according to plan, my son will be shipping out to Basic Training in July. Me? I’ll be the proud, bawling mom at the airport sending him off. Just like he’s broke me into motherhood, he’s going to break me into letting them leave the nest to fly.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me, the first week that school lets out is utter hell. Once Monday rolls around, my three children who I love with all my heart think it’s my responsibility to entertain them. To take them places, to make them not bored, to do what they want to do. Because school is out and they think that that’s the way it should be.

It’s my job to set them straight. (I’ve always wanted to use that smiley.)

I have to remind them hourly that while yes they’re on vacation, this is not a hotel. I am not their maid, their cook for elaborate lunches or their chauffer. I still have to work. Several jobs. They also need the word no redefined. No means no. It doesn’t mean bug me for forty-five minutes hoping I’ll say yes. And I do not owe you or your friends an explanation as to why I’m saying no. “Can we go–or do?” is usually responded with: “Have you done? Did you pick up?” Which let me tell you, they love.

I’m semi old school when it comes to raising them, but it works. When we went to the eye doctors, they had to venture on their own to pick out glasses. When the youngest and I were done with our exams, the one receptionist/tech looked at me and said, “I just have to compliment you on your children. They weren’t crazy. They’re polite. They were a pleasure.” After I thanked her profusely and we left, I looked at my kids and said “Thank you.” I explained that this is why I yell. This is why they get grounded and they were rewarded with McDonald’s and Dairy Queen.

But when we got home, the, “Can we go here or there started again.”

It is getting better and easier, as the days go by. Now, if I could only get through to the dog.

We embarked on a trip to Ohio. I had to grab my oldest and on the way home, I hit a squirrel. Sadly, I do believe it died and the ladies at the bank were teasing me about putting a wooden cross on the side of the road. After construction and several pit stops we got to our hotel and then went to see Mark’s daughter at her work. She works at a Farm, complete with the cutest donkey I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of him. Maybe next time. They had the most beautiful, biggest hanging baskets I’ve ever seen and old fashioned roses. I wanted to load them in the van, but we’d have had to ditch the kids or our luggage and well, I guess I’m pretty attached to those things.

Back to the hotel and some swimming, then a late trip to McDonalds and Walmart. Then, it was time for bed because we had to be at Lauren’s by 8:30 am. Which meant we had to pack and get ready or was it get ready and then pack the van. I don’t know how we did it, but we managed to get there on time. Five of us getting ready in a room that had wall to wall furniture because of the rollaway bed.

We get to her house, take a few pictures and then we’re off to the school. It was a gorgeous day, the sun was shining, wasn’t too hot and we were all amazed at how big the football field was and how nice it was. That’s something about the area she lives in. There’s a sense of pride there and a sense of everything looking good. The lawns are immaculate. If the kids weren’t so into their friends and own school, it’s a place we might like to move too. In fact, Lauren and her mom and Grandma all asked if we’d consider it. But, my oldest has one more year of high school and switching schools on your Sr. year isn’t fun. But it is a nice place–small town feel and yet everything is close enough to get too.

The town we’re in now is run-down. Not everyone takes pride in their homes or yards. There were over 200 kids who graduated from Lauren’s class and everyone of them gave their respected teacher a hug when they were handed their diploma’s. There were eight Valedictorians and six Salutatorians. In the way the speakers, spoke, you can tell they are totally dedicated to their children.

Afterwards, all 200 plus caps were hurled into the air and parents were asked to join everyone for a small reception on the lawn.

We didn’t stay for that, instead we went back to her house and had a small, blended family lunch. Good food, lots of conversation and a ton of laughs ensued and we hated like hell to leave.

Congratulations, Lauren! The best, m’dear is yet to come!

Are you sure today isn’t Monday? It’s raining, which we needed–I needed to get the pollen count down–only it isn’t really that kind of rain–the hard kind that washes away the troubles. I lost a day. Even though we went shopping for six hours, I still lost it and today feels like Monday in every way, shape and form.

I have a busy week ahead. Er, well, what’s left of it. Thursday is the gurl’s chorus concert. Another evening spent sweating in the auditorium, then, Friday we leave for Ohio to see the oldest gurl graduate. Neither Mark, nor I can believe it. She just turned 18. I’m sure it’s harder for him than it is for me. But, it’s just surreal how fast the years have flown by. Sometimes I still see the six-year-old-toothless girl who bound through the living room without a care in the world.

Next year, it’ll be my turn. It’ll be filled with “lasts” instead of “firsts”. His last day of rolling his eyes as I snap his picture on the first day of school, his last Christmas Concert, his last Spring Concert, his last…everything! One of the other mom’s askd me what I wanted to bring to these functions, the tissues or the flask. I told her the flask and I’ll make sure that I have a spare bottle in my purse to refill it.

Speaking of the oldest, B has to do a speech on Friday. He could pick anyone he wanted too and he chose his Mom. I’m honored and a little scared. Can’t wait until he interviews me and would love to have someone video his speech so I could have it.

We’d like to leave early Friday–after B’s speech, but we have another problem–the littlest, J, wants to stay the entire day because it’s his end of the year picnic, while the rest of us just want to get over there so we can chill out. We’re going to have to come to some sort of compromise, even though that’s any ten-year-old’s least favorite thing to do.

She graduates in the morning, so five people getting ready in one hotel room bathroom isn’t always the most pleasant feat in the world. But whattaya gonna do?

While I write this, I’m going to try and think of a title. Friday, the boy went to the prom with one of his best friends. I took lots and lots of pictures, but the one I’m going to share on here is my favorite. A rare moment between brother and sister, let me tell you.

I took this weekend off and we spent time with the kids, some time with our friends and then yesterday we had a John Hughes movie fest. The oldest boy had never seen The Breakfast Club. I’d gotten him Weird Science for Easter and at first he was hestitant to watch. He loved them both. Next up for us is Sixteen Candles. They’ve been digitally remastered. It’s funny to watch them with the kids and then they’ll say, “Isn’t that Iron Man?” They laughed in all the right places and my daughter said, things haven’t changed all that much. I think it gave them a better undestanding that I truly wasn’t hatched into a parent. ;)