Should Be Laughing April 30, 2009

Frustration.  I know I should laugh, but I’m frustrated for now.  Perhaps by the end of the post things will change.  Here goes…

My children received their year books yesterday at school.  You know the ones, memories of the past year to be enjoyed for years to come.  It’s so fun to flip through the pages and remember what your year was like and how your friends and you spent the time together.

My oldest son has one or two pictures in the book. His nice formal picture and one of him in class with his head laid down on his desk in deep sleep…with pajamas on (Homecoming Week).  Great…this is how he will be remembered his Junior year of high school.

I know – “Get over it, Mom.”  But, yuck!

My next child was absent the day formal pictures were made, so re-take day comes along.  He doesn’t go for re-takes.  He claims re-take means “to take again”.  He never had his taken in the first place, so re-take didn’t mean him.  He has no picture in the book.

Ahhh…memories of the school year 2008-2009.

Alarm Clocks April 15, 2009

Halfway to Harrisburg, AR for a mandatory meeting at 7:30 in the morning, my cell phone rings. All I can hear is crying and sniffing and more crying.

“He left me because he thought I wasn’t ready. I ran down the driveway and he just kept going!”

More crying and wailing.

“Now I’m going to be really late!”

More and more crying…

I’ve been traveling a lot lately and my children have been struggling with getting to school on time. When I’m home in the mornings, I usually check on them several times to make sure they are in the appropriate stages of readiness. When I’m gone, no one checks. They have been hard pressed to make it to school before the bell.

Enter everyone’s own personal alarm clock. They have now become responsible for waking themselves up, getting ready on time, and making it out the door at a predetermined time each morning. The above scenario was one of the first mornings of our experiment. Not just real successful.

The rules are: Barrett has to leave by 7:30 or he has to go with a parent, be tardy, and not get to take a car to school. The other 2 children have to be in the car and ready to go before 7:30 or they will go with a parent and be late…if at all possible.

Real consequences are the best teacher…and the hardest teacher…for all of us. This has not been easy, but it could have a big payoff.

Last week was our first week for the new alarm system. It started out rough, but got smoother as the week progressed.

Today was awesome! They were up and out of the house with no fussing or drama.

I had to leave before 6:00 AM today to make it to a meeting in south Arkansas. As I was scooting down the road, I kept waiting for a phone call from one of the children in tears or fighting mad.

The phone was eerily silent. I picked up the phone a few times to call and check, but decided to leave it alone.

All went well. I am hopeful that we are on to something good.

Country Girl April 8, 2009

I was walking the halls of my daughter’s school last week enjoying the stories that her class had written about their favorite things to do. I came across hers and had to fight the urge to scrape it off the wall and shove it in my purse.

It started out fine…she likes to play with her older brother and wade in the water, go fishing. Great, wholesome, country girl activities, building a long-lasting relationship with her brother, appreciating and loving nature.

About this time, I’m patting myself on the back for raising my children in the country with lots of space to roam, keeping them in touch with God’s creation. Then came the zinger, “We also like to get our slingshots and guns and shoot birds.”

Great…She had to add that. I’ve told them not to shoot birds! Never thought I would have to instruct my little girl who wore bows as big as her head to not shoot birds. This is the same girl who has brought me baby squirrels who have fallen out of their nest to nurse back to health.

She took it just one step too far…I’m afraid she went right from country girl to redneck girl.

Gotta love her!!

Morning Rush Hour February 18, 2009

I am not a night owl. I am done by 8:00 pm. Nothing important was ever decided after 8:00 pm. Sleep on it. Let your dreams work it out. As Scarlett said, “Tomorrow is another day.”

I love mornings. I wake up refreshed and ready for the day. I am optimistic about what great things the day has in store for me.

However, I may need to update my “I Love Mornings” status.

There are now three children to get up and around. When school is in session, our mornings seem to swirl around us like a dust devil carrying shoes, socks, homework, toothbrushes, and pop tarts just out of our reach. Sometimes I am amazed at what I am compelled to say.

“Rise and shine!”

“Time to get up.”

“It’s time to get up, that’s what time it is.”

“What do you mean, ‘What’s for breakfast?’”

“Leave the door unlocked, so I can get in the bathroom.”

“You don’t have to have fresh jeans EVERY day.”

“Grab a banana. You’ll be fine.”

“No. Those ARE your socks…today.”

“Do you have your homework? You can finish it in the car.”

“Here’s some money. Bring back the change. Don’t loan it all out.”

“Where’s your brush? Keep it in your backpack.”

“Do that in the car. Just go!”

“There’s a toothbrush in the car. Use your brother’s toothpaste. It’s in his locker.”

“Did you get that onion? Don’t open the onion baggie in the car!”

“Go! Go! Go! Hurry!”

“Get the dog out of the car!”

“Go! Go! Go! Hurry!”

“Don’t drive fast!”

“I love you!”

That’s our morning rush hour. I hope my children don’t remember all the things that tumble out of my mouth on school mornings. What about you?