children, humor, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

The Long and the Shorts of It

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Sometimes all a Mom wants is a morning off from having to supervise her children getting dressed.  Even though I try to lay out the boys’ clothes the night before, there are times an intervention is needed.  I had left Mad Dog in charge of the morning routine and as walked in the living room I stopped short.  I mean I stopped because I saw Full Speed’s shorts.  Full Speed had on T.Puzzle’s clothes and vice versa.  Not only did Full Speed’s shorts hug his little booty in a very form-fitting manner, the shirt he had on barely came to his waist.  As for T.Puzzle in his oversized ensemble, he resembled a miniature gangster.

I asked Mad Dog if he noticed that the boys were in the wrong clothes.

“Hey, you leave me in charge and about all I can promise is that they will be alive when you get back,” he replied.  Apparently anything else goes.

So, as I headed upstairs I hoped that when I returned, the clothes situation would be sorted out and each boy would be in shorts that actually fit him.  This was mostly true.  The shorts were correct and even their shirts were properly switched.  However, on closer inspection I realized that Full Speed’s shirt was on inside out.

Thankfully, above all else, he was still safely alive.

children, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

The Calm Before Normal

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T.Puzzle was unusually calm this morning.  As we entered his school he quietly walked up to the receptionist and said ‘good morning’.  He stood placidly in place as I signed the attendance binder.

After I had dropped him off and was getting ready to leave, the receptionist commented on his demeanor this morning.  I said he didn’t quite seem himself.

It is rather telling if my child acts ‘normal’ or ‘calm’ that it is immediately assumed something is amiss.

Will the day come when rowdiness is the new normal?  If so, I will be on easy street.

children, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

A Pick Me Up

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We have officially survived the first week back at school.  I realize it is going to take some time to get smoothly back into our routine.  Overall, the boys fared well and we are off to a great start.

One of the challenges of Full Speed’s school is the pick-up and drop-off.  There are over one thousand students at his school and until some kinks get worked out, pick-up especially is kind of a nightmare.  You throw in some good ol’ Florida heat and it can turn miserable pretty quick.  There’s not a lot of shaded areas to stand and wait.  It isn’t very fun.

Full Speed has noticed that this pick-up situation is getting out of hand.  He had a flash of brilliance and announced, “How about I walk home by myself?”  He’s a fairly confident kid and he did his best to keep this thought going.  Then, slowly, the doubt and fear of walking home alone shadowed over his face.  “Well, maybe since I’m in first grade I’m still kind of little and the cars wouldn’t be able to see me.  I might get run over.”

He was so cute trying to problem solve.  He was even more cute when he realized he may not be quite as brave as he initially thought.

So I’m resigned to continue this pick-up for the foreseeable future.  To cope, I’m applying lots of sunscreen and hoping some patience falls my way.  Oh, and I’ll do my best not to run anyone over.

children, gratitude, kids, life in pictures, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

First Day 2011

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Yesterday was the boys’ first day of school.  The hardest part about it was the logistics.  Since everyone and several of each child’s close relatives were there to help celebrate the first morning drop off, it could only be likened to a human zoo.  The parking lot overflowed with cars going off-road.  Parents were shoulder to shoulder as we marched are children to their fates.  Patience was in short supply.

I allowed myself to be swept away by the noise, the crowd and generalized anxiety I was feeling.  This was how I coped with the changes upon us.  My stoic exterior finally began to crack once Full Speed was successfully dropped off and I was taking T.Puzzle to his first day of pre-k.  It was eerily quiet in the car.  He was calm and his biggest concern was where I had put his backpack.

“I’m so excited to start school!” he exclaimed.

And that’s when it hit me.  He is more than ready for this next phase of his life.

I am more than ready to not really be ready.

I know I should be thankful both boys handled the first day so well.  In a way, it almost makes it harder for me.  It shows me that they are two independent kids who are comfortable being out in the world and away from me.

Now all I have to do learn is how to be comfortable out in the world without them.

Somehow I think they got the better end of the bargain.

bad day, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

Next?

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It’s official.  The internal struggle is over.  I am ready for the boys to start school.  This home stretch to their first day is taking a toll.  Every day I strive to keep them physically active.  Every day I work with them to keep their minds growing.  Every day I make sure all of their needs and most of their demands are met. 

I am doing my part.  Apparently it is not enough.  No matter how much I have planned I get asked by the boys ‘What are we doing next?’ about 557 times a day. 

If I get asked one more time today this same question I’m pretty sure my head is going to explode.

Believe me the irony will not be lost on me when after it explodes I will have to clean up the mess myself. 

Inevitably one or both boys might say, “After you are done cleaning up that mess, Mom, what are we doing next?”

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