Resolved

In my last post, I wrote about my son's speech teacher (Mrs. D) and how she began our parent-teacher conference inappropriately.

Personally, I don't like confrontations, never have. My stomach gets all twisted and knotted inside and I cannot eat. I have to make an effort to focus on tasks. But, I knew I had to do something about that comment. I left her a note asking her to call me. When she returned the call, I was not home and she sounded puzzled as if she had no idea why I wanted to speak with her. The ball was then in my court and I placed a call to her. After trying to reach the teacher, the school secretary took a message. Finally, last Friday morning, she and I spoke. I wanted to go in and meet with her face to face. However, she pushed the issue and I had no choice but to speak with her then. Thinking about the situation, it didn't matter if we spoke in person or not. I started off by saying, my son has made wonderful progress in his speech and articulation. I added that my son also initiates conversation, whereas he never did before. Then, I added, but I want to help your relationship with him and his relationship with you. Up until that moment, I had no idea how I would handle the problem. She had to have had a "heads up" because when it was her turn, she apologized profusely and admitted she should have found another word for "whining". I wanted to say, "Well, yeah, ya think?" but, I retrained myself. She told me that he plays nicely with the other children in the session and how he helps them with certain things. Mrs. D. continued our conversation with her admitting she was wrong and thanking me for speaking with her directly about this. Seriously, I could have gone to the principal with this, but I chose not to. I truly believe in going through the proper channels and "telling on her" would not have solved anything. In fact, (while it is unlikely) it could have made the situation worse for my son.

I'm not one to give myself a pat on the back, but I did for this one. I showed Mrs. D. I was looking out for the best interests of my son and proved that I wouldn't be walked on and take comments such as the one she used. All the while using appropriate language and teaching her that even parents can be professional.

November

Well, it has been a busy month. I survived my first Book Fair, parent-teacher conferences for the Mayor and Computer Boy and Thanksgiving with my Mother-in-Law. But, now I'm sick, I'm fighting laryngitis. Just great for a professional singer...(she says sarcastically).

I can't complain about the Book Fair. Scholastic delivered everything as promised and the Friday prior to the event we set up the room. A fellow PTA member, Donna, helped out. Donna is very efficient and when she does a job, it is done well. Many people don't like her, because she is opinionated and while she is knowledgable, when she shares information she sounds as if it's her way or no way. Personally, I don't mind her. It might be due to the fact that she is so informed. She is truly a wealth of information. Or it may be because I only have had to directly deal with her this year.

Book Fair was held on three mornings the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving. Students only have half days that week due to the fact that parent-teacher conferences are held in the afternoon.

While I am on the subject...parent-teacher conferences. As expected the Mayor is doing very well in school. In fact, I would have been extremely surprised if she hadn't done well. My son's...let's just say...didn't go as smoothly. The classroom teacher offered CB's speech therapist the opportunity to speak first. She started by saying my son whines. Yes, you read that correctly. She would have been better off starting off on a positive note. How he's made progress with his language. I'll be honest with you, I know why he whines. He senses that she deson't like him. That's right. A boy with social difficulties, on the autistic spectrum, knows when someone doesn't like him. I digress, that comment made me feel as if a black cloud was hanging over the rest of the meeting. The classroom teacher offered her the opportunity to leave, but she said she would like to stay. I didn't think anything of it, but she probably was just being nosy. I will speak with her about this, I haven't decided if it will be face to face in a meeting or if it will be on the phone. Part of me, wants this to be over with and discuss this on the phone. However, the other part of me wants to look her in the eye and confront her on this (nicely, of course). Unlike her, I will start of a positive note and then get into the fact that her comment, while true, made me feel uncomfortable in an already "tense" situation. Any suggestions or comments on how to handle "her" are welcome.

After Book Fair and my parent-teacher conference, Thanksgiving was uneventful. Since I sang Wednesday night and Thursday morning, we went out to a restaurant for dinner. My meal was very nice, the children were behaved and best of all, I did not have to cook or clean afterward. :) An added bonus, my mother-in-law behaved herself. She didn't embarass anyone by screaming across the room for the server and made polite converation. It was a pleasant day.

A Meme

I don't do memes very often. To be honest, I don't post very often either. In fact, Suzanne tagged me a while back and before I had a chance to do her meme, my life became a bit busier than usual. However, I thought it would be fun to do one. This one is courtesy of Natalie.

The idea is to answer the questions with one word answers only. I'm not going to pass it on, but rather if you'd like to do, please feel free to play along.

1. Where is your cell phone? charging
2. Your hair? brown
3. Your mother? living
4. Your father? passed
5. Your favorite food? chocolate
6. Your dream last night? children
7. Your favorite drink? tea
8. Your dream/goal? millionaire
9. What room are you in? living
10. Your hobby? baking
11. Your fear? alone
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? debt-free
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren't? tall
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish list item? health
17. Where did you grow up? suburbia
18. Last thing you did? laundry
19. What are you wearing? jeans
20. Your TV? on
21. Your pets? none
22. Friends? supportive
23. Your life? busy
24. Your mood? anxious
25. Missing someone? dad
26. Vehicle? Honda
27. Something you're not wearing? jewelry
28. Your favorite store? Target
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When was the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? husband
33. One place that I go to over and over? Florida
34. One person who emails me regularly? Ralph
35. Favorite place to eat? out

Why ask?

I am someone who is naturally curious. I enjoy learning about different things. Consequently, I ask a lot of questions and usually receive a lot of answers to those questions. When I ask questions, I want honest and correct responses. So, I would expect someone to want the same of me. Apparently, that is not always the case.

Why ask me a question if I'm not going to give you the answer you WANT to hear? Have you ever been in this situation? You receive a phone call, exchange polite greetings and then you're asked a question...of course, you give an answer to the best of your ability...only to be told "Oh, well, I'll call (so & so). Truly, I wanted to reach through the phone line and scream "Then why didn't you call her in THE FIRST PLACE????!!" (Rant over--thank you for letting me vent.)

People, I'm sorry. I give honest answers. Is that a problem? Should I just tell you what you want to hear only to find that I was correct in the first place? That seems to be a waste of our collective time. When I don't know the answer, I take the time to find the right answer for your purposes. I offer for your consideration this post. The one in which I was tied up in knots, but I managed to get answers for the people involved. By the way, Dinosaur Rocks! is a definite go for the second graders. Whoo-hoo! I'm thrilled and truly hope the students enjoy the program.

My other PTA responsibility is the Book Fair. My chairperson and I met today and worked on the letter inviting the students and their parents to come "check us out". Scholastic has an entire program in which they offer all sorts of suggestions and assign a sales representative assist in planning and coordinating your fair. This year's theme is "Read Around the World". We have a month and a half to plan, coordinate and line up volunteers to help. Since the students visit during class time, we need volunteers to assist the children in selecting a book (or two) to purchase. I've already made a mental list of people I want to help us with the fair. I'll keep you updated on our progress.

PTA stuff

It has been one heck of a busy week. For a couple of days, I was in PTA (well, there's no other way to say it) hell. This year, I am co-chair of the Book Fair. Hopefully, I will learn all I need to know for next year, when I chair the committee. (Oh, joy!)

However, most of the angst I felt this week was due to the Cultural Arts committee (also known as Arts-in-Education) of which I'm the chair. Essentially, Cultural Arts helps facilitate the students' educational enrichment. Mrs. W (who happens to be the Mayor's second grade teacher from last year) always brings in this program on dinosaurs to culminate the unit. Since it happens so early in the school year, it can be tricky to coordinate the vendor and Boces approval. If you're not familiar with Boces--they (in this case) are the overseers of the various enrichment programs. It just so happens that Dinosaurs Rock! was not included in the Boces list of programs last year. So, my predecessor asked the PTA if we would agree to fund it. Of course, the members approved to do so. (I'm glad too, my daughter LOVED it.) This year, Mrs. W asked if we could once again fund the program if Dinosaurs Rock! was not one of the approved vendors. I called a Boces representative who told me that they once were on the list but weren't currently. Then, I decided to take the proverbial "bull by the horns" and call the people at Dinosaurs Rock! Once again I spoke to a lovely and helpful woman who indicated to me, she was mailing off the form within a couple of days. In the meantime, we had a PTA meeting pending, so at that point, I decided I would ask the Executive Board if Boces wouldn't pay for it, if our funds could do so. I shared the total cost and reminded them that we did this last year. Unfortunately, for me, the school principal spoke up and didn't know why we should pay for it. I tried to speak, however I couldn't find my voice. This happens to me when I am scared or shocked. I saw the writing on the wall-this teacher was NOT going to get her program and the principal didn't care. As luck would have it, we have some out-spoken members (and in this case-it worked out for me), the past treasurer added that it doesn't make a difference. She said that we either pay now or we pay later. This is a correct statement, because if we go over budget we have to pay Boces back. However, it's good, because they increase our budget for the next school year. But, back to my problem and the meeting, the principal said he would take care of it (meaning he'd talk to the teacher), but we didn't vote on it. So, in my mind, the principal was cancelling her program.

I barely slept that night, thinking that I failed the teacher, the second graders and my job to make enrichment programs happen for all of the students. Ready to quit, I finally called the PTA president who said she'd check into it. When I saw her later in the day, she told me that she'd speak to the principal after the dust settles and if we had to do a vote by telephone we could do it. A phone vote means that I would call all the members (with a witness present) and ask them to approve paying for the program. Fast forward 24 hours, when I called Boces and was told that Dinosaurs Rock! is an approved program. Quickly, I fill out the paperwork online and email it to the appropriate people. Hooray! Hooray!

Not for nothing, I hope this gets easier. I will keep you posted.

First Days and Giveaways

Today was the first day of school for us. We live in the north eastern part of the country and begin after Labor Day. If I had my way, our district would start when the rest of the country starts school which is usually sometime in August. However, now that my older children are back in school, I may have time to blog again. Did you catch that? I may have time to blog.

The Mayor is now in third grade and was very concerned about starting school this year. Don't get me wrong, she LOVES school. She loves seeing her friends and learning. But, she really was worried last night. In fact. she was so uptight that she was still awake at 1:15 AM. Computer Kid (formerly known as Computer Boy--thanks Suzanne--I prefer your version) was not at all concerned about his first day. Since CK is on the autistic spectrum, I was thrilled he was not worried. He was excited to see his friend, Carl again. I reminded him that he'd see many of his friends from kindergarten in his new class. Both kids had good first days. One day down and 182 to go.

The same Suzanne is having a giveaway. Whoo-hoo! I love free stuff. She has a $500 gift card for Walmart. So, go visit this post and check out all the details!

Out of Practice

Before HW and I got married, I had voice lessons on a regular basis. Unfortunately, once we got busier, the lessons were the first to go. At this point in my life, I don't get to really work on new pieces very much. Sure, I practice the music that I need to sing for Sunday liturgies but something I can truly sink my teeth into usually falls by the wayside. Between the husband, children (and their activities) and housework, there is little time left in the day for me. You can imagine my excitement when I finally arranged a private voice lesson with my "former" teacher. So, the other day I had my first lesson in almost a year. Holy Cow! She made me work! Honestly, it felt good too. While a couple of the vocal exercises were tricky, I got the handle of them. However, that's not what bothers me. What concerns me is the piece of music she's given me to learn. Talk about giving me a challenge! It's a piece by Mendelssohn and it is HARD.

Do I dare say I'm up for the challenge? I don't know. It scares me a little, but I have to try it. I think finding the time to work on it and learn it will be tough. However, I think it's time to put my money where my mouth is. I always say how much I want to learn more, be challenged and grow as a musician. I don't want to rest on my laurels, become stagnant and rusty. It's time to make the time and get to work.

What will he do next?

As you may remember, I sing at church. Well, three churches to be exact. In those churches, I work with different music directors who have varying abilities and personalities. For the most part, I enjoy doing what I do. It can be lots of fun and hard work (yes, singing is work--you use many different muscles!). Anyway, today was one of those fun days.

One of my favorite directors is RL. He is incredibly talented, has a type A personality, even-tempered and has a great sense of humor. I often wonder what he's doing in a rinky dink little church on Long Island and not in Manhattan playing at St. Patrick's Cathedral. However, the cathedral's loss is my gain. This man challenges me to become a better musician. During mass, he will modulate keys, add interludes between verses of songs (when none are written), play a different harmonization (such as English ones), go off on musical tangents all while expecting me to go along with him. Some singers might find this stressful, but I don't. He and I both feel it makes things more interesting. Playing a hymn over and over can become tedious and boring. My job is to encourage the congregation to sing along with me. If I let his creativity stress me out, the people won't feel comfortable and won't sing along. They should feel as if singing with me is like taking a walk in the park. Something that is an easy, enjoyable activity. Not to blow my own horn, but I know RL doesn't do this kind of thing to the other singers. He has told me so. It makes me feel good, really proud of the musicianship I've achieved, yet I find myself wondering what will he do next. It's good, it keeps me on my toes.

The Open Road

There's one thing I don't like about driving. I'm sure you already guessed it, the traffic. I'm from Long Island, New York. We're not exactly an island, more of an isthmus, however, we are still land locked. So, when something goes awry, the roads are the first affected. For example, when 911 occurred, our roads were backed up for hours and hours and hours. Last Friday, when a spark ignited a huge fire on some scaffolding on the Throgs Neck Bridge. It disrupted EVERYTHING for the entire day. In fact, we are still recovering from the event. Seriously, I was due at a dinner party and ended up being over an hour late.

Long Islanders have a problem being patient drivers. If there is an opening in traffic, sure enough, someone will cut in front of you and take it, if only to advance them 10 feet. When lanes merge, drivers here never zipper. In other words, cars take turns advancing into the (slow) flow of traffic. Recently, I was told that only drivers in the mid-west zipper. Then there are some drivers who weave in and out of traffic too. I don't think I need to tell you that I stay away from them. When there is a car accident and drivers are pulled over to the side of the road, all of the other drivers whose cars are fully operational--must slow down and look at the people on the shoulder.

Give me the open road any day. Ahhhh

Okay, enough of my rant. Thanks for listening.

Vacation is all I ever wanted

Vacation's having to get away...

One of the things I insist upon is taking a family vacation once a year. Between the children's escapades, Mr. HW's (Hard Worker) work schedule (sometimes up to 7 days a week) and when you add my work schedule into the mix doesn't give us much quality family time together. So, it's important to me (as well as my rule) that we take time off and get away. Going away enables us to do that, no distractions, just us.

Because I insist on the vacation, many years ago Mr. HW and I bought into the Disney time share. It allows us the flexibility to "get away" and our vacation is already paid for. We only have to pay for travel and food. It works for us. Since it is a flexible plan, we can go to Disney World or go somewhere else. This year we have reservations on property, however we are not going into the parks. Instead we will visit friends and possibly go to Sea World. Why aren't we planning to go into Disney parks? Between August, 2007 and August, 2008, we "did" the parks 3 times. Yes, three times. So, one could say both my husband and I are "Disneyed out". We could only accomplish this because we have the time share. However, it's been an entire year since we've had a family vacation, so it's time. Both my husband and I decided we wanted to see our friends, so we're driving to Florida.

Whoo-hoo! I can hardly wait.

The Last Day

Today was our last day of school. Somehow we (well, specifically Computer Boy) made it! He and the Mayor brought flowers and homemade cards to their teachers today. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the cards but they were sweet and typical of my children. The Mayor made hearts and told her teacher, Mrs. W, "I will tremendously miss you". She had a good year. Except for 2 B+'s, she got all A's. (One of the B's was for physical education.) CB's card had a picture of his teacher and him. The Kindergarten report card is not based on the typical A-D system. Rather it is based on Satisfactory, Progressing Satisfactorily and Not Progressing. He received mostly S's and a few PS's. I'm happy with how well they both did.

In our district, the children receive their assignments for September on the last day of school. So, suffice it to say, the phone was ringing off the hook today. Everyone was calling to who was in which class. I'm so happy to say that CB's BFF is in his class next year. That information made my day. It may just help him transition into first grade a bit easier in September.

So, now our summer officially begins. Let's hope the weather catches up with us. It has been raining for what seems like an eternity. Plus, it's darn cold. I want the sun and warmer weather. Mother Nature, did you hear me?

Where does the time go?

OMG! It's June already!

What happened to the year? I'm specifically referring to the school year, but I could say the same for the calendar year. In another 25 days half of the year will be over. Around here, school ends on June 26th.


My little boy, CB, has grown up so much this year. Come the end of the month, he's no longer a kindergartner, but a first grader. Learning more responsibility as well as the typical reading, writing and arithmetic. *Sniff Sniff* When did this happen? The worst part is that it happened right in front of my eyes.

Then, of course, there's the Mayor. She successfully navigated her way through second grade and all that goes with it. It's not unusual for relationships to change during the second and third grade years. So, I'm a little nervous f.or her, but hopeful that most of the girls in her grade won't "change" too much. Since they were together from Pre-K, many of these girls have always been polite, accepting of others and cheered one another on. But, third grade is different and only time will tell.

Monkey Girl grows everyday. Make it stop! Oh, it's not that CB and Mayor aren't growing, they are. It's just that MG is our last baby and I'm sad to see her grow up. It's bad enough that she's in a big girl bed and not in her crib anymore. Btw, that was not my idea, but hers. As an aside, my husband and I bought the girls bunk beds and MG decided she should sleep in her new bed (the bottom bunk). Naturally, she wanted the top bed, but we said absolutely not to that one. But, I digress, I anticipate that this summer, I will start potty training her. It's the last milestone for a baby.

Please someone find the pause button and tell me where it is.

A Friday Haiku

Thought I'd give haiku a try...


Mommy, she calls me
I love you, Monkey Girl says
She wants to get up.

MG loves purple
It's her favorite color
She loves wearing it.

He loves computers
I call him Computer Boy
Never gets enough

Loves them so much that
He tells me that it's his work
Just like his Daddy.

The Mayor has grown
In five years, she'll be a teen
My baby no more.

Her first sleepover
Was great fun and successful
sniff* where's the Kleenex?

Laundry is a four-letter word

"I have work to do, but I don't want to do it." Have you ever found yourself thinking and saying the same thing? It's sad, I just can't get motivated. Right now, I'm not even sure if the house was on fire I'd get out. Okay, that's a little extreme, but that's the way I'm feeling.

What's wrong with me? Maybe I'm rebelling. That's it. I'm rebelling against housework. Well, not so much the cleaning, it's the laundry. It never ends. It multiplies. Honestly, the laundry must pro-create all on its own. How it does it, I'll never know. Frankly, I'd love to stop doing it all together. However, the problem is, if I don't do it, no one will. Oh well, better get something started or the children will be going to school wearing dirty clothes and looking like hobos. And, I can't have that now or can I?...

It is crack.

Ah, that first sip was delicious. It may be hard to believe, but the first time was less than a week ago. I can still taste it. Trying to savor the aroma, the flavor, the pure enjoyment of the entire cup, I nursed my beverage. After one cup, I'm addicted.

There's a reason why people call it Starcrack, right? While food shopping last week I ran into a friend. She was going to purchase a tall, non-fat latte at Starbucks, which is conveniently available at a kiosk in the supermarket, so I decided to try my very first one. I'm not a big coffee fan, but occasionally have a cup. Wow! From the first sip, I was hooked. What do they put in their coffee? I consider myself a non-coffee drinker, yet after having that cup, I craved another one ALL friggin day long! Like a drug addict, I kept thinking of reasons to leave the house and "happen" to drive by a Starbucks. The desire pulsed through my entire body making the temptation difficult to resist. Nearly a week later, I still find myself desiring another one. I suppose I could consider it my "little" treat once a week, while doing a necessary chore. Or should I save the $3.25 a week and at the end of the year still have $169 in my pocket?

Even for a "saver" like me, the choice is not an easy one...

Is anybody there?

Hiya! I know it's the same ol' excuse, but....(get ready for it... are ya ready... ok, ok no more waiting) I've been soooooooooo busy! Seriously, between working (this is a hectic time for many church singers and I'm no exception), taking care of the usual household chores, husband and children and PTA stuff, it seems I barely have time to breathe.

Fortunately, it's slowing down--a little. I still have rehearsals and First Holy Communions to sing. But, I think we've made it through the worst of it. My oldest (the Mayor) made her First Communion and if I can figure out how to post some pictures - I will. I think I'll enlist Mr. Hard-Worker's help for that. Meanwhile, we had a small party at our house to celebrate the day. Mr. H-W manned the barbecue and (if I do say so myself) everything was delicious. My sisters, Red and CPA said nothing further about the guest list. My other sister, Army Wife, came down for the event. All in all, I'd say a good time was had by everyone.

Holding on to hope

One of Mr. Hard-Worker's (HW) co-workers was "let go" the other day. I was sure his being fired had to do with the state of our economy. When I questioned my husband about it, he said his co-worker wasn't doing his job. My thoughts, however, are maybe he thought he was doing his job and the powers that be kept changing his responsibilities. Of course, with HW being the primary bread winner of the family, he and I are both concerned about the stability of his job. He works long, arduous hours during the week and it's not unusual for him to put some time in on the weekends. Even with all of that, there is no guarantee he won't be let go. Consequently, he has lost sleep over the worry. I try to tell him that there isn't any point in worrying because he doesn't have any control over it. Easy to say not easy to do, though.

An update regarding Computer Boy (CB). I asked him why he didn't use the bathroom and he said he was working. He was doing math which he enjoys, so he probably didn't want to stop what he was doing. Since this wasn't his first "accident", I think I may speak to K's son. He is a psychologist and may have a few thoughts about CB. Then again, he's not a children's psychologist, so he may refer me to someone else. But, it doesn't hurt to ask. In case you're wondering, K is not the person who upset me, while she is opinionated, she knows when to "back off". Oh, and by the way, J (the out-spoken friend), brought up CB's issues and the incident again. I didn't answer and got very quiet until I could change the topic (which may be the way to handle her). I think she got the message because she didn't bring it up again. Whoo-hoo! Honestly, I hope CB's problem is just a maturity issue and nothing else, but if there is anything else going on. I will get to the bottom of it.

Back to normal?

All has returned to normal, at least I like to think so.

On Monday my husband went back to work. My children are back at school. They started back today. I took Monkey Girl to Pre-K and then to the library for a pre-school program. She loved it. The Head Children's Librarian searches for a variety of programs for the children's enrichment. The program that was offered today was one that Monkey Girl hadn't been to yet. She loved the singing and the dancing. She adored the parachute, making the craft and playing with toys. The only thing she didn't get to do (during the hour) was try out the play doh. This is not a big deal, I have play doh at home. She had a great time.

After school and the library she and I came home and I made lunch. At 2 PM I managed to put her in for a nap. Mind you, with all the "stuff' going on last week and a playdate over here yesterday, she really hasn't napped for the better part of a week. Somehow, even with the tears, she fell asleep. Unfortunately this nap was to be short-lived. I got a call from the school nurse, Computer Boy (well, there's just no better way to say it) pooped in his pants. She wanted to know if I was going to pick him up or just bring a change of clothes. I replied that I didn't know until I spoke to him. He's had gastro-intestinal issues regarding his bowels and is under doctor's care. However, I KNOW my son and there was a chance that with having six days off from school and he was probably tired of working.

Folks, I was right. He was hoping to come home and play on the computer. When I told him, in no uncertain terms that there would be no computer today (at all), he decided he'd stay at school. In addition, if I let him come home early, I'd be rewarding him for having "accidents". Frankly, this is not the first visit to school for this issue I've made and it's time he's learned that it's not ok to ignore your body and what it needs to do. Computer Boy has made a little progress in this area but lately he's been lax, so I need to stand my ground. Various people (friends and two of my sisters) have voiced opinions regarding his issues, but seriously unless they're a medical professional I'm not listening anymore. This is something that he can't be punished for (well, not entirely), in time, he will learn and everything will fall into place. The boy is on the autistic spectrum and my husband and I are doing whatever we can to help him. So, to my friends and family, unless you have something constructive (and, by constructive - I mean positive) to say, then don't say anything at all. I don't wish any of this on my worst enemy, but until you live a day in my shoes, you have no idea what I've been through and have no right to comment.

As I re-read the last paragraph, I thought well, it's not really that bad. But, it is. My son is not the problem. He's made great strides this year and continues to grow. He's a sweet boy who is kind and generous. The problem here is their supposed well-meaning comments. They have a way of making me feel, well like a bad mother, that I'm not doing enough for him or I'm doing too much. What I need to do is figure out a nice way of changing the conversation without being rude or nasty. I know I said I didn't want advice, but you guys are different. You're kind, thoughtful and truly care about others. So, if you have any thoughts or ideas, please let me know.

Almost done

Please excuse me if I ramble or if this post is gibberish. I'm "done" from the past few days.

In the midst of Holy Week (and for me, this is the busiest time of year), my husband and I decided to paint the girls' bedroom. He had vacation time left over from last year and already lost a couple of days and was in danger of losing the remaining 5 days. Of course, the first few days he had off, we were cleaning out the room and, to be honest, moving slowly through the process. Then, as the week wore on, we got closer to our goal. Having the room ready and empty enough to paint. Oy! My husband started painting Wednesday. Yes, I said he started painting on Wednesday. The thing about Wednesday is that it's the beginning of my singing for me the next 5 days in a row. I have a lot of responsibilities at church this week. It begins with Holy Thursday continues Good Friday and Holy Saturday and finally ends with Easter Sunday. I said five days in a row, well it technically starts with a marathon and a monster of a rehearsal on Wednesday night. This is one week where it's not unusual for me to be out of the house for 4-6 hours at a time every day/night. Consequently, I did not do any painting.

Due to the fact, I didn't want my daughters to inhale the paint fumes, the girls were temporarily moved into Computer Boy's room. Monkey girl hasn't had a good night's sleep since she's been in there. It's an adjustment that she simply didn't make. It's understandable, she still sleeps in a crib and since that was too difficult to move, she was using a toddler bed mattress on the floor. So, she'd get up and look for me or my husband. She'd climb into my son's bed and "visit" him. (I did say she was a monkey.) Now the room is finished (a very pretty lilac color) and everyone can go back to their proper sleeping arrangements. Good. I can use a decent night's sleep.

Meanwhile, I still have two days of singing to go. The bulk of my responsibility is yet to come--Saturday night at the Easter Vigil. I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spread my wings as a musician and challenge myself in the process. Very cool, yet demanding and exhausting and nerve-racking too.

Happy Easter everyone!

My Dad

Thank you for you comments and support regarding my last post. I believe it's difficult being a SAHM, but believe it or not, even harder for a SAHM who works part time. Because my hours are not regular and truly are part time, I don't have a regular paid babysitter. Seriously, who would want a job that doesn't have set hours? There are some people (mostly other mothers) who are fortunate enough to have their parents' help. In my eyes, they are the lucky ones. I hope those people don't take their parents for granted. My prayer for them is to realize that not everyone has what they have. If I sound bitter, I guess I am. Before my father died, he adored his grandchildren. He never met Monkey Girl, she was born later that year when he passed away.

My father, Richard was such a generous, kind and loving man and father. He would do anything for his children. I didn't realize it when I was young, but I did when his first grandchild (the Mayor) was born. After her birth, my father evolved into an even more loving and generous man. He was so in love with her. He wanted me to be able to work (sing) and dropped everything so he could help me. Because he was always "my first call" for babysitting, the two were very close and had a strong bond. When Computer Boy was born my dad was thrilled at having two grandchildren. He loved his grandson as much as he loved his first grandchild. Unfortunately, as my son got a little older, my dad started to succumb to living with type II diabetes for 30 years. It got harder for him to control his blood sugar and started insulin regularly. He was able to manage his diabetes first through diet, then medication and diet and finally with insulin. My dad worked very hard to stay healthy--he even went to the gym every other day for many years. However, in the end, diabetes got the better of him. I do think my children extended his desire to live and so his last couple of years were not of the same quality as the rest of his life. So, am I thankful to have had his help? Definitely! But, even more so, I am extremely thankful that he was a part of my life and my children's lives.

Let me out, I need air

Sorry I haven't written. I don't have it in me. Perhaps, it's because I'm so overwhelmed I feel that I can't breathe. I just want to cry. I know I'm approaching my "busy" time. Between Confirmations, Holy Week liturgies at church(es), Easter Masses, First Communions (including my own daughter's) and my Mother's and sisters' attitudes...I.am.done.

Yet, there are so many other people going through worse things in their lives, I can't help but think "who the hell are you to feel this way?" People are losing their jobs, having health issues and going through some tough times and here I am...sad and overwhelmed. I have no right to feel this way. But, I do. One of my immediate stresses is childcare. It always is. I have asked everyone I know and for whatever reason Wednesday, April 1st is a very busy day. Fortunately, for me, my husband has been great. He is actually going to make more stress for himself by taking time off this week to "parent" the children while I go off to work. He's been so busy at his office that this is only going to backfire on Thursday and Friday. But, he's doing it anyway. For me and the children. I'm trying to take things one at a time but it's not easy. I keep thinking about the bigger picture and all the obligations--it's too much. I.need.air.

Double Gross?

Today I got the question every mom tries to avoid as long as possible...I got the question, "Mommy, what is sex?" O.M.G. Did she just ask me what I thought she asked me? Yessiree, she did. I wasn't quick thinking enough or I would have asked her what she thought it was. But, I thought a moment and answered, "It's something 2 people do when they are older and in love." Then, she said, "What else?" What, she wants more info? Well, sweetie, they kiss. Her: "On the lips?" Me: "Yes." Her: "Ewwwwwwwww! double gross!!" There I am thanking God I don't have to continue on this line of topic. Gotta love the mind of a 7 year old!

Venting

There's a reason why my sisters don't know about my blog. It's so I can bitch when I need to. So, at the risk of stealing a blog topic, supposed well-meaning family members should mind their own business. I'm referring to hosting a small family "get together" in honor of my daughter's First Holy Communion. Two out of three of my sisters think I should extend the invitation to include extended family. Here are a few facts as to why I want the party to be small.

1. It may come as a surprise, but I don't like hosting events. I know it seems odd especially due to the fact I'm inviting 8 second graders to my house for an evening in the near future. However, second graders are different from adults, for one thing I won't have to work as hard. As long as I have toys, music and food - they will be happy.
2. Is it about the party or about receiving the sacrament? If I need to answer that one then I know you don't get it.
3. If I invite my aunt and cousins, then I feel the need to include Mr. Hard-Worker's extended family (his aunt and cousins) making the guest list over 30 people. That is not a small number my friends.
4. Do I need to repeat that I don't like hosting parties? Like most hostesses, I work before, during and after, thus, not getting the opportunity to enjoy the company and therefore the event.
5. Whose house and party is it anyway? Hmmm, I wonder?
6. Arghhhhhh! Haven't we been through this already? When Monkey Girl was Christened, I kept the gathering small, only having immediate family present. Yes, they argued back then too.

I'm tired and don't want to think about this anymore. However, if either of my sisters want to host their own event, they are more than welcome to do so. Maybe I seem like a party-pooper, but I'm the one doing the work here. I'm doing her party my way and if they don't like it, too bad for them. They don't have to come now, do they?

And Now I've Done It

As you can imagine (some of you know) being a mother of three children keeps you quite busy. If I'm not running to dance, swimming, Religion class, Brownies with the kids, I'm home doing laundry, cooking dinner, supervising homework...well, you get the picture.

There I was on the telephone this afternoon with Lola's mom (she's the very talented seamstress who made the costumes for the school's talent show, Mary), cancelling today's playdate. The only reason I was re-scheduling it was the fact I thought Mary was overwhelmed. I had no idea how right I was. The poor woman had just picked up her youngest from nursery school when she was in a car accident. I was listening to her story and thinking this could happen to anyone. The worst part was the fact her cell phone wasn't working properly. I felt for her. I easily get frustrated when I can't reach Mr. Hard-Worker about something important. Fortunately, for Mary, she finally was able to get in touch with her husband and he left work to help handle the situation.

However, that's not the end of the story. Before Mary and I hung up, I planned and invited her daughter to a "dessert party" on Friday, April 17th. I not only invited Lola, I called 2 other mothers and told them of the party. The idea was in my head and then out of my mouth in probably less than a minute. I know The Mayor will love the idea of having her friends over and hosting a "get together". I've already decided the guest list will be limited to the girls from the talent show dance. It's only 8 more children in addition to my three. I figure I'll serve ice cream and have fixings for sundaes, cookies, and if another parent wants to contribute brownies or something else - they are more than welcome to do so. Of course, I'll have hot cocoa and juice too. The girls can watch tv or a movie, dance and I'd like to be able to offer a craft for them to do and take home. Now all I have to do is write up some informal invitation to mail out.

Frustrated with a captial F

I'm not sure I want to go into the whole story (it's a bit long). Suffice it to say, I nearly quit one of my singing jobs today. Quite a few months ago, I asked for a raise and was told by my music director (CJ) that I deserved one. CJ said he would go to the pastor and ask for one on my behalf. You might be wondering why I didn't go to the boss. Well, this priest can be a bit Machiavellian. In addition, I know for a fact that two other people went directly to him and were turned down. So, I decided that maybe my chances would be better if I went through CJ, the music director.

It's possible you're thinking "Well, she works for the church. Some of what she does should be considered tithing." And, trust me, I'm not paid much. It's just something to help pay for gas and put some groceries on the table for my family. I also hold myself to high standards. My position as a cantor in church is very visible, therefore I must always dress appropriately and be well-prepared (even for pieces that are not pre-planned).

In the interest of full disclosure, I've been singing at this particular church for 12 years and have never gotten an increase, not even for cost of living. Having heard nothing, I wanted to follow up with CJ (making sure I wasn't forgotten). I waited and waited (for months), last night my husband flat out told me to give CJ my 2 weeks notice. He said, "Forget about Easter. This is ridiculous." I think that was the push I needed. This morning I left a message he should call me. CJ can be a bit passive-aggressive, so I made a point of saying "We need to talk, sooner rather than later." After I left the message I was so sick. (I have a sensitive stomach and don't eat anything when I'm stressed. I can't.) I needed to wrap my head around the idea that I may no longer be singing at that church that I've worked so hard at and lost precious time with my family. By the time he called me back, I had accepted that idea and I'd be done. To make a long story short (or even longer), CJ apparently cornered the pastor earlier today (convenient and coincidental? hmm) Anyway, he got some specific information regarding my raise. So, presumably I AM getting a raise, effective April 1st. How much? I don't know. Only time will tell.

It's Over

The stage was set. Everyone was in her place. Their names were announced...then the music started and I stopped breathing. (I was nervous.) Yes, I'm talking about the talent show. My daughter smiled and bounced through the entire dance. She looked like she was having the time of her life. The girls wore pink poodle skirts (courtesy of Lola's mother), black body suits and high pony tails in their hair. They did the dance perfectly. I couldn't have been happier with the outcome.

Overheard: Walking toward the auditorium...an 8 year old girl asked her mother "Will we be the best?" Her mom answered. "It's not about being the best, it's about having fun." I hope she was being honest with her daughter and didn't answer that way for my benefit (since I was well within earshot and she knew it).

Btw, my daughter later admitted to having a great time on stage. I can't help but wonder if she'll join the choir or drama club in high school.

This is it

Well, after all of the rehearsals and hours of hard work the nine girls dancing to "We Go Together" from Grease finally perform it tonight. My daughter is very excited. Actually, I think all of the girls are excited. But, they're also done - it has been extremely difficult to corral them into practicing. Last year, the seven original girls cooperated every moment of rehearsal. They were so eager to please us and do well. That was not the case this year. It was so much harder this time around. I guess it comes with age. Is it more of an awareness of what will happen? Is their lack of concentration a side effect of what's expected of them in class during the day? Is it that at the end of the day, they are tired and just want to let off steam? Is it a combination of all of these? I don't know.

Still in all, I am proud of the girls. They've worked hard. Dana and I made sure of that. Dana is the kind and generous person who did most of the coordinating of this whole endeavor. There's talk of what song the girls should dance to next year already...anybody up for "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy?"

Following up

A few posts back I wrote that it was time to start taking care of myself. Well, I finally had that check up at the dentist. Monkey girl came along for the ride. She was an absolute dream. It didn't hurt that the hygienist was great with her either. Unfortunately, I have 2 cavities. I already made another appointment to fill them. Of course, I was tempted to cancel my visit. But.I.didn't. I considered postponing due to the fact it's been a hectic week with singing at church on Ash Wednesday, the Mayor's 2 practices and dress rehearsal for the talent show. Every afternoon was booked.

Monkey girl went to kindergarten this week. I know you're thinking, but she's only 2 years old. As you may remember, I help with the Pre-K classes and, fortunately, Monkey girl can come along for the ride. The group has the opportunity to see an actual Kindergarten class in action. Typically, the classroom teacher has circle time during the Pre-K'ers visit. They discuss the calendar, count the number of days of school and discuss the weather. Naturally, she had a great time. She sat on my lap and thoroughly enjoyed herself. If I do this again next year, she is really going to know their songs and the class routine. Wait. She already knows it now (better than some of the 4 year olds...).

And Now a Word from our Sponsor

Commercials...the excuse to get up from the tv and get yourself a snack or run to the bathroom or even do a quick chore.

I don't think I really sit and watch any shows from start to finish anymore. There's just too much to do. Seriously, it seems I always have dishes to wash (whether it be hand washing or emptying/filling the dishwasher), toys to pick up and put away, laundry...well, there's always laundry in some form to do. I'm sure I'm leaving something off the list, but I know you get the point. Oddly, I'm fine with the fact that I don't just get to sit and let myself get carried away in a fantasy world or someone's chance at stardom via reality tv. No, I let myself get carried away on the internet or more specifically other people's blogs.

I recently discovered the convenience of the laptop. Ours is not a new one, quite the contrary. It's at least 2 years old and wasn't top of the line when it was purchased. As many of you know, I am not a technophile. When I first tried the laptop, I found it awkward and difficult to use. But, now I've become more comfortable using it. I've even developed an appreciation for the fact that I can sit in the same room that the children are in and surf the net and even read people's blogs. Btw, I'm doing that right now. Monkey girl is playing with her babies and here I sit...however, dishes and laundry are both calling my name. Oh well, I better get to work.

Is it Summer yet?

The Mayor and Computer Boy have had this week off from school. This time last year we were in Disney World and enjoying every minute of it. Unfortunately, we hadn't planned to go this February. That aside, the younger ones have been battling a stomach virus. The same one the Mayor had last week, although hers was shorter lived. Monkey Girl has passed the corner and is on the other side of this thing. However, Computer Boy...well, let's just say you don't want to know.

Thinking about Disney World, it's time to plan some sort of summer vacation. I'm torn between driving down to Florida again or doing something closer to home. I love the idea of seeing friends but really (I almost can't believe I'm saying this) don't have the inclination to *do Disney* again. In the interest of full disclosure, we bought Annual Passes back in 2007 and wanted to use them to their fullest, so we visited the parks three times. So, one could say *I'm done* with Disney. But, the kids love it, my husband enjoys it too...the question remains, do I put my own desires aside and go anyway? Then, of course, there's the money...park tickets are expensive. Not to mention the fact that meals are expensive there too. I know Disney has a dining plan, but that just doesn't work for us--the kids and I really don't eat enough to *make it work* for us.

Like many parents, Mr. Hard-Worker and I look forward to family time. However, whatever we decide to do it will be a time of togetherness and re-connecting.

Now, I have one question for Mother Nature. Are you done yet? Because, while our vacation plans aren't set, I'm ready for the warmer weather to start.

A Sunday Afternoon

Today was enjoyable. First, I only sang at 1 Mass. Wait.a.minute. Did she say one mass? Yes, I did. Normally, I sing at least 2 in one day and have an average of three Masses over a weekend. But, today, I did not. It was my choosing. Actually, as an aside, I was offered the opportunity to sub at another church this morning, but I turned the job down.

I had a very good reason turning down work today. It was a.very.good.reason. My oldest daughter, the Mayor, was going to see a production of High School Musical 2 at a community theatre with her Brownie troop and I was one of the chaperones. As a chaperone, I was responsible to pick up and drive 3 other girls. On the whole, the troop consists of a very nice group of young ladies. They are polite, kind and just plain nice to each other. I had three of the best in my van this afternoon. It was fun listening to them talking and giggling together. At one point, I announced it was *secret time*. And, so I asked, which girl (they knew) had a boyfriend. You know what? They told me. Yup! The girls told me who had a boyfriend and apparently the two kids kissed too (on the line at recess). Btw, it wasn't anyone in my group. I don't know her mother all that well, so now I wonder if I should say something to her anyway. Truthfully, I think I won't say anything simply due to the fact that she (the mom) will not be receptive to hearing this news. What I may do, though, is mention it to one of the troop leaders. I know she'll find the right thing to say to the girl's mother.

The girls had a *fabulous* time at the show. Afterwards, the stars were available for autographs. They had such a special time together, I hope their leaders plan another activity for a weekend afternoon.

Another Man Down

Actually, the title should read two men down.

Last night I was awakened by the sounds of some serious coughing. My *Mommy Radar* went off and I knew something was not right. At 2 AM, Monkey girl had been physically ill in her crib. So, I had to clean her up as well as change her bedding. Unfortunately, she dirtied some of her favorite "friends". Right now, they're in the wash. If the stuffed toys don't survive the wash, well, they were going to be disposed of anyway... But, I digress. She didn't want to go back to bed right away. So, we cuddled for awhile. About an hour and a half later, I heard Computer Boy. It's amazing how fast you move when you know a little one is going to be sick and you're really not up to changing more sheets. Somehow, even though I was carrying the baby, I managed to make it to him in time. And, (bonus!) he made it to the bathroom in time. Both of them were up with me for another hour or so. Finally around 5 AM, we all went back to our own beds.

For now, everyone seems fine. However, while both children have had drinks, neither child has eaten anything yet today. I suppose that they will eat when they get hungry. I'm not the kind of person who forces food on a child--I believe in eating to live not living to eat.

***Update***Monkey girl's friends seemed to have survived the washing machine. Both kids ate a little bit of dinner, not much, but it's a start.

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

The Letter Game

I have been allocated the letter "S" from Natalie. If you want to play, you have to list ten things that matter to you, starting with a letter that will be allocated to you. Leave me a comment if you want to play.

Sleep. It seems I never get enough of it. I can't blame this one on the kids. They are in bed at a very reasonable hour. It's me. Often, I finish up housework after they go to bed and it's not unusual that once I complete the many tasks, I want and need to relax before going to bed.

Surgery. I've had four surgeries. One was for a lazy eye I had as a child. The other three were the results of my children's births. I am unable to deliver naturally (in fact, I had such a severe reaction to the pitocin when I was induced for the Mayor's birth that I almost had a heart attack on the table). It was at that point, the doctor ordered an epidural and the c-section was performed. During the surgery he saw my apparently very flat birth canal making it extremely difficult to ever deliver naturally.

Serious. I tend to be a serious person. It's not necessarily a bad thing but it's not good either. I wish I could see the fun and humor more in life. I'm trying and I have made some progress, but I think I still have a long way to go. Monkey girl helps bring out my *silly*.

Sing. I love it. Singing for me is more than a job. It's life. Whether I'm happy, sad, confused, whatever the mood may be, music transports me to another place.

School. Sometimes I think I missed my calling. I love reading. I adore books, mostly children's literature. I think I should have become a children's librarian, preferably working in an elementary school.

Summer. I love Summer. The sunshine, warmth, and the lazy days of the season are just some of the reasons why I love it. It also reminds me of my childhood when you could run over to a friend's house and asked them to come out and play. Now, playdates are arranged, sometimes weeks in advance.

Sweets. Unfortunately, they are my downfall. I love candy (mostly chocolate), cake, cookies-all of the stuff that is bad for you.

Stars. Not the celebrity kind, the ones you find in the sky. I enjoy looking up at the night sky and admiring the beauty of the stars shining brightly. One of my favorite dates was going to a planetarium. It was very cool. It was Mr. Hard-Worker's idea and I loved every minute of being there. When the kids are older I plan on bringing them. I know the Mayor will love it too.

Siblings. I have three sisters. Two of which, (CPA and Army wife) I am fairly close to. Red (the oldest sister) and I don't always see eye to eye. She tends to say whatever comes into her head, even though, it may be none of her business or her place to.

Sunsets. Sunsets on the beach are so beautiful and relaxing. One of my favorite things is to spend an evening with my husband and children on the beach watching the setting sun after a whole day together.

**Update** The Mayor is feeling better. She went back to school today. Thanks for all of your support.

A Sick Mayor

I think I started out strong when it comes to blogging. The first two weeks I posted nearly everyday. Now, I guess real life has taken over and since blogging is the newest thing, it's the first to get cut at the end of a long day. Here's what's happening today.

It started early Tuesday morning, when the Mayor woke up in the middle of the night with the runs. After a day of relaxing at home, and having no symptoms, I thought she'd be going to school today. This is not the case. The poor girl is still not well. Today her virus has turned into a full stomach virus - omitting the gory details, I am certain you can fill in the blanks. Aside from the fact that no one wants to have a sick kid, I hope she feels better soon. She has plans this weekend. Her Brownie troop is going to see a version of "High School Musical" at a local community theatre. At least I can say she's been healthy most of the year, this is her first absence from school. I know where my priorities lies, I sincerely hope she doesn't share her virus with her younger brother and sister.



As an aside Natalie has assigned me the letter "S" in The Letter Game. I promise to finish it soon.

Focusing on me

Normally I don't make resolutions for the New Year. However, this year I did. I decided to take better care of myself. I would take my vitamins, get more rest and see the doctor more often. As a mother, I find that I'm not alone when it comes to taking care of the children first and forgetting about my needs. To be honest, it doesn't help that I avoid going to all of my doctors and the dentist. I no sooner had made the resolution that I broke it. But, since my recent battle with this rotten cold and terrible cough lasted more than a week, I finally made the appointment to see the doctor yesterday. I'm happy to say that I don't have bronchitis (which is what I first thought), but I do have a sinus infection. Lou said to me "Without your health - you have nothing." He's right. No, ifs ands or buts.

Now, that I'm trying to focus on my health, this morning I became pro-active and made a dentist appointment for a cleaning and check up. Since I don't have babysitting available, Monkey Girl will come along for the ride. I'll bring a snack, toys and activities for her to do and hopefully those will keep her occupied long enough. Btw, I never would have brought Computer Boy along to an appointment, he never would have been content to sit and play.

Thanks to Grandy for the easy method for using linky love.

Breakfast

Sorry I haven't written. Last week, I didn't really have the energy to write, but I did visit your blogs.

As you may remember I am an active member of the PTA at school. One of the requirements of being on the executive board is to attend meetings. Well, at one of those meetings, the chair of the Pre-K committee asked if anyone would be interested in being a substitute. Needless to say, I volunteered. Our PTA Pre-K program is offered once a week for about an hour and a half. It's purely for socialization and not academically based. Apparently, my subbing has become a permanent situation. It's not a problem, I enjoy working with the children and Monkey Girl can come too.

Last week, the students had the opportunity to purchase breakfast. For the price of $1.00, each child had a choice of cereal, muffin, juice and milk. After all the children had been served, Monkey Girl broke out into tears. She had waited so patiently for her turn and Mommy (me) didn't give her a dollar to buy her own meal. I quickly remedied that, gave her the money and she got to pick her own cereal, muffin, juice and milk. Once she paid for her meal, she sat down at a table and ate and ate and ate. I dare say she ate more than her older counter-parts. She had such a blast and was so happy. She thoroughly enjoyed her morning at Pre-K. I can't wait to see what she does when we visit an actual kindergarten class.

A Day at the Spa

For those of you who don't know, I sing at church. I am very fortunate to get paid doing something I love to do. However, sometimes it becomes a drag. There are a few weekends that I give up a lot of family time and it can be difficult as well as frustrating. Those are the weekends I feel pulled in several directions. It's not easy being a full-time mother and part-time employee. I give a great deal of credit to all those working mothers who manage to "do it all" for their children.

On Sunday, all that changed. Well, it did for the afternoon. I went to a retreat for musicians. When you sing 3 (or more) masses on a single weekend, church becomes almost like a factory. My mindset goes to "what's next". I'm always preparing for the next song or prayer. Since I am close to the inner workings of the church, sometimes I think I am too close. Without saying too much, let's just say, not all priests are nice people. They are human and also can make mistakes. But, as I said, on Sunday afternoon, my life changed for a little while anyway.

The speaker was entertaining and motivating. But, what I enjoyed the most, it seems was the quiet time offered to us. For those 30 minutes, I wasn't a wife, or a mother, I was a regular person just looking (and receiving) for peace. It was nice to interact with other people from my church as well as other musicians from our area. I think my afternoon was like a trip to the spa, without the expense. I returned home refreshed, renewed and able to take on the week ahead.

An Evening In

Tonight, Mr. Hard-Worker came home at a reasonable hour. He brought pizza for dinner. Yay! I didn't have to cook. We had dinner and a movie. The five of us enjoyed the sheer pleasure of spending time together. It's especially delightful when you consider how many hours of long work Mr. H-W has put in this week.

For most of the evening, my husband and I sat together. After the week he had, he deserved the relaxation. I enjoyed just sitting next to him and having him home. We both relished the quality time with our children.

Throughout the movie I hear "Mommy, I love you." This statement is followed by a kiss from Monkey Girl. Of course, she melts my heart. She doesn't really watch the movie, rather decides to play with a puzzle often pushing pieces off the board. She's two years old and growing up very quickly. As far as I'm concerned, she's growing up too quickly. A friend of mine, Suzanne of http://www.suzannesez.blogspot.com will often refer to using the pause button on her children. However, I would love to invent a remote control to slow down this *growing up* process --just a little bit.

My boy child (previously referred to as Sweats, now renamed Computer Boy) watched some of the movie sitting next to his older sister. He also spent some of the movie in front of the computer. He loves his *dot coms* as he calls them. Computer Boy (CB) is growing up fast also. It was just yesterday that he was still in pre-school and learning his letters. Now, he informs you that the letters *CK* together make the *K* sound. It's cool. He's never been one to speak and share much, but now he's really becoming a little person. I'd like to use the remote on him too.

The Mayor, also known as my oldest daughter, watched the entire movie. She laughed in the appropriate spots and enjoyed the fact she got to eat in front of the television. I think she's inherited my husband's love for movies. If we'd let her, she would watch a movie everyday.

Here's an update regarding her dance for the school talent show. Earlier this afternoon, I worked with two other mothers and choreographed the entire dance. If I do say so myself, these second graders are going to look adorable and possibly steal the show. I can't wait to teach it to them and see what they do with it.

***Yes, I promise to learn how to use linky love without all the http//, etc. stuff that goes with it.

Still at work

He's still not home... Mr. Hard-Worker is in the office. I believe he's saving the world from bad computer programs. I know that sounds a little strange...but when you put in the hours he does, it must be true.

Mr. Hard-Worker is obviously my husband. Before you start thinking, oh he's having an affair. You should know that he works for an Asian owned company and it has offices in Europe and Taiwan. So, when they are open, the office in America has to be available to help deal with clients. Unfortunately, he is one of the people that is called upon to assist with certain questions and problems. On more than one occasion, he's been awakened at 4 AM to help with a customer issue.

My husband has a strong work ethic. He feels a sense of responsibility towards his children and I would be lying if I didn't include myself in that statement. He and I both know people that are unemployed, so while, he works very hard, we are also thankful that he has a job, especially in this economy. My part-time singing doesn't exactly pay the mortgage.

The Mayor

My oldest daughter, the Mayor, had a play date with Lola recently. Lola is a sweet girl. She is the second oldest of four children. I like her a lot. I just wish the girls lived closer.

It's not that Lola lives far away. She resides in our town, but (you knew that was coming), she's a *walker*. That's right. She walks to and from school. Or, at least, she lives close enough to school not to qualify for a bus. It's a bit harder to have play dates after school when you take the bus. For example, my children get home later than the other kids. And, aside from missing out on the camaraderie that the *walker* mothers have, I miss out on the gossip. Frequently, I feel left out of the loop. That's part of the reason why some days the telephone is attached to my ear. I'm attempting to keep my daughter involved with the other girls.

My little Mayor is going to perform in the school's talent show. She and 8 other girls will be dancing to "We Go Together" from the musical "Grease". The dance has yet to be choreographed, however, I know these girls and they are all *pleasers* They want to make others happy. Once the parents coordinate our schedules rehearsals will begin. Preparing for the talent show will keep us busy for a few weeks, however, I'm glad that I keep my daughter involved. I want her to have friends and a happy childhood. She is a bright girl, but more importantly a good kid who deserves to enjoy everything good that life has to offer.

Time Suckers

At the moment, I'm sitting at the computer waiting for this entry to write itself. Now, I know that probably won't happen.

However, I do have a question. Where does the day go? Why don't I have enough hours in my day to get everything done? There are days when I seem to be extremely productive and get a multitude of chores completed. Those days are few and far between.

I would love to say I have three little people who demand most of my time and while that is true, it's not the complete truth. I can't say that my children are *time suckers* because 2 of them are school age and aren't home between the hours of 8:40 AM and 3:40 PM during the day.

Actually, the real cause of the disappearing time is the distractions. You may be asking what distractions? Well, there's the television, the phone and, of course, the computer. While Monkey Girl does watch a little television, it helps keep her out from underfoot while I get those dishes washed or the laundry folded. But, there are those times, when she's not watching and it's *on* making background noise. I've noticed if something catches my attention, that's usually it--at least, until the program ends. I am going to make an effort to use our radio more often.

The telephone is probably the worst offender. It's easy to *write this one off* because I do multi-task while talking to friends on the phone. But, I have a feeling things would get done more quickly if I didn't use it while cleaning the house. If you think I'm giving up my adult conversation, you are mistaken.

Ahh, then there's the computer. My desktop is located in our family room (which happens to be in our basement). Now, when I go down to use the computer, absolutely nothing gets done. It's best, for me, not to use the computer until Monkey Girl goes in for her nap. This is no easy task when it beckons you. Perhaps it is a good thing the machine is inconveniently placed.

What takes time out of your day? Care to share anyone?

Honest Scrap

Within the first week of blogging I've already received an award. I sense great things to follow. No, not really. Suzanne (http://www.suzannesez.blogspot.com/) has bestowed upon me the Honest Scrap award. Truth be known folks, I've known her for a very long time. She and I went to high school together. So, the fact that I've received an award is I'm sure she just wants to torture me (oops, I mean honor my efforts thus far).


The rules for the Honest Scrap award: The honorees are to: A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep! B) pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

1. My husband does not know about this blog...yet. I will tell him, I just haven't gotten around to it. Why haven't I told him, hey, I don't know. It just hasn't come up. My family doesn't know about it yet either. I may not ever tell them. This way, I can vent about how my sisters annoy me...


2. I love the Game Show Network. I love word puzzle games. I play along with shows like Password and Lingo.


3. I can eat a whole box of Milkduds in one sitting. I know bad for you all around, especially my teeth.


4. I love children's literature. I also love reading to children. Sometimes, I think I missed my calling. I should have become a Children's Librarian.


5. My first real kiss made my toes tingle. I wonder if Chris knew. He also was my first love. I think we were both in high school, although he lived in another town.


6. Sometimes I feel incredibly sad. I have no idea the cause of my melancholy. Perhaps I feel overwhelmed, although I have yet to find a mother who doesn't feel *crazed* at times. Is it the path not taken? I don't know. I love my husband and children and wouldn't change a thing. Fortunately the sadness doesn't last too long, some times for a few minutes and at times a little longer.


7. I sometimes wonder if I'd go to church if I didn't work there. For those of you who don't know, I sing at church (mostly Catholic Masses, weddings and funerals) and get paid for it. But, the hoopla surrounding the various rituals, I find to be a bit too much at times. Then, on Christmas Eve, the Priest scolded the people for not coming more often. Things like that turn me off.


8. Due to the fact that Monkey Girl is a total sweetheart, every once in awhile, I find myself wanting another baby. She's so easy going and a great toddler. Sometimes, it would be nice to just have another baby like her. Of course, there are no guarantees. Plus, I'm too old now. In addition, a fourth child would really put my husband and I over the edge.
9. I've been on television. A local composer wrote a piece of music based on psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd) and he contacted my voice teacher and the local "church" tv station. When all was said and done he was interviewed and we sang his song and the show was broadcast several times.
10. I don't like to be cold. If I could I would move to a warmer climate in a heartbeat. Living in the northeastern United States in winter just isn't agreeable. I'm not even sure Florida is a warm enough climate, but it's better than here.

I would like to pass the award to the following people. I hope that you accept it, but since it's an award, I make it optional.

1. http://louceel.blogspot.com/ I enjoy Lou's writing immensely. He is a kind man with a heart of gold.
2. http://www.momisodes.com/ Sandy is a great writer. She's also a lovely person. I wish she could be my next door neighbor, I believe we have a lot in common.
3. http://abritdifferent.wordpress.com/ Siobhan is lovely and sweet. She also has a fabulous accent, I would kill to have.
4. http://anglophilefootballfanatic.com/ Holly has a such a great wit and a wonderful and funny perspective on life. Plus, she's started Mimosa Mondays.
5. http://mummypandy.blogspot.com/ Natalie is a mom of 5. She considers herself a manager of mayhem. With three I can't imagine having more children. She amazes me. Need I say more?
6. http://ifmomsaysok.wordpress.com/ Tara is a very creative writer. Even though I just met her through the blogosphere, I think she should have won that "Best Up and Coming Blog" award.
7. http://functionalshmunctional.blogspot.com/ Mary is hysterical. I love her outlook. She's already been tagged by Songbird, so I'll let her off the hook.

I'd love to see your answers. Hopefully you will all participate. I'd love to learn even more about you.

History repeats itself

Ahh, the children are sleeping. Peace. at. last. I made a huge mistake tonight. Instead of having the two older children do their homework within 30 minutes of being home from school, I let them watch tv. BIG MISTAKE. Note to self - Never, EVER do that again. Once the kids have relaxed for awhile, they are no longer motivated to do anything. So, it was like pulling teeth to get them started. Fortunately, they are not studying rocket science. It's kindergarten and second grade work. For these two, it's easy enough to accomplish. You know the strange thing is, I've done this before, let them *hang out* without doing homework and I swore I'd never do it again. Yet I did. Maybe this time, I'll wise up.

The lovely Suzanne from www.Suzannesez.blogspot.com has given me an Honest Scrap award. Once I figure out how to get the award over here to this blog (the techie I am not) and I figure out 10 things about myself to share with the blog world - I will write them. I think I have 5 things now, I just need to come up with 5 more. Hopefully, I'll be able to write them and post it in another day or so.

10 years

This August, my husband and I will be married 10 years. I was hoping to *get away* for a long weekend - just the two of us. However, there is a potential issue that may prevent that from happening.

Babysitting. Need I say more? I'm sure you're thinking there must be someone you can ask. And, yes, I can. Honestly, I was hoping one of my sisters would help. It would be easier if hubby and I didn't have to split the three kids up and the person would come to stay at my house. That's probably NOT going to happen. My youngest sister (the CPA) is not married (and no children) and is the perfect candidate for the *job*. However, caring for all three children, she finds to be a daunting task. Then, there's my sister (the military wife) who's husband expected to be on leave around the time we'd want to go away. The problem: they want to be here to celebrate my Mom's birthday but then, they also want to take a short vacation. So, where they're concerned, precise planning would be required (and, of course, the military could always change those plans). Then, there's my oldest sister, (she has red hair, so I'll refer to her as Red). She's more than willing to take the girls, but is apprehensive about my son. My son can be a handful (a boy with a multitude of issues) but he can also be an absolute delight and pleasure to be around.

Please know that I am not complaining. I love my children. I would never change a thing about having them. I am fortunate to have sisters to ask to help out. My guess is that my hubby and I will shorten our weekend and hopefully something can be worked out with my family. After all, we have eight months to work it out.

One morning

On this particular morning, people gathered solemnly and silently. This morning, parents, siblings, loved ones and friends were saying a final farewell to their son, brother, and friend of only 29 years. He had so much still to live for and so much to give...but he was taken away from them all too soon. He loved science and was an organic chemist. He rode his bicycle across part of Alaska and hiked the Appalachian Trail. He wanted to do and explore so much more. Yes, he was taken away from his family and friends too soon.

This is a true story, although, I don't know the family personally. It must be exceptionally difficult to survive a child. Something, I truly don't even was to think about. My heart goes out to them. I only hope that time helps them move on and heal their broken hearts.

The Rush

The computer beckons to me. It whispers my name. Calling and calling me to come. When I finally give in to the temptation and turn it on, I hold my breath until it's finished booting up. Like a drug addict, I need to access the Internet. When all is ready, it happens, the emotions, the adrenaline, the anticipation...then I finally see them...the comments!! You guys may or may not have experienced it, but I get such a rush out of seeing people actually reading and responding to what I've written.

Non-bloggers just don't understand. Although, if they've joined Facebook, they do...well, to a degree anyway. For the better part of a year, I've been reading other people's blogs. It started with a friend's. I'll skip all the gory details of how long I've known her...because I think she's already outed them anyway. From her blog, I found another one and so on and so on. I've learned so much from you, my mentors. From reading your posts and comments, I've cried and laughed with you. I've been freaked out by situations and empathised with what you've been dealing with in your lives. And so now, this baby blogger is going to try to live up to what I've learned and hopefully will continue to grow as a person and possible writer. Thank you one and all.

PTA and all that goes with it

Almost a year ago, the current PTA president called me at home. Since I had volunteered to help with many of the school functions, she asked if I'd be interested in co-chairing a committee. I was flabbergasted and speechless. I don't ever remember saying yes, but somewhere in the conversation I must have, because now I'm on the Ways and Means and Cultural Arts committees.

First, it's January and I haven't done anything on or for Cultural Arts. I thought I'd get to suggest programming to the teachers to enhance our children's learning experience at school. Well, so far...nada, nothing, zilch. It saddens me because it's like no one wants to rock the boat. Supposedly, the principal is against most *assemblies*. He's an former Marine and I give him a lot of credit for serving his country, but if what I've heard is true, then who's losing out--our children.

On the complete opposite side of the fence is Ways and Means. Since September, we've had 4 fund raisers (and, yes, there's talk of more). All of them have required a great deal of time and attention. Of the four fund raisers, I've helped with 3 of them (had most of the responsibility for only 1, though). Let me tell you, this is exhausting. Ways and Means never ends. I understand we help bring in money to pay for things for the kids, but what is the money spent on? Good question. I've seen the budget and it's legit. But, since the students have virtually no extra curricular in school events, where is the money going? When I figure it out I'll let you know.

I've also decided that the PTA is VERY political. I'm not a politics kind of gal. I speak to everyone and don't care who's in a clique with whom. I joined and became involved for my children.

This and that

A new bloggy friend of mine is up for the 2008 weblog awards, she's Tara from http://ifmomsaysok.wordpress.com/ Please go and vote for her or another one of your faves, but please, vote for her.

I've decided I will never dig out from under the pile of laundry that continues to multiply. It's a good thing that I'm not letting it get to me. Seriously, I don't know about you, but I can't take one day off from it.

Earlier today, I was thinking about something my son said to me recently. For now, I'll refer to him as Sweats. He loves to wear cozy and comfortable clothes and so his nickname. Sweats just turned 5 in September and started kindergarten too. But, I digress. One day, my son, was being especially helpful as well as very sweet and so in addition to thanking him I gave him a kiss. It was a simple, harmless peck on the cheek. You think I would have started a war by his reaction. "Mom, don't do that!! You'll embarrass me in front of my friends!" Imagine my surprise. First of all, we were in the house and his only friends around were his sisters. And, secondly, when did he grow up? This is the boy who always loves to sit on my lap when I read to him. He also still enjoys snuggling with me. I wonder if school and sitting in a classroom full-time introduced him to peer pressure for the first time? Kids can be kids and sometimes they can be cruel. I just hope it doesn't change my little boy too much.

Number 2

My second post! I can hardly believe I've made it this far. No, not really. I'll wait until my 100th post to say that. Btw, I have to learn how to respond back to comments. However, I want to thank everyone who's visited so far.

You would think that being a mom of three, I would be used to all the trials and tribulations of a 2 year old. The answer to that is a clear No. I've come to the conclusion that every child develops at his/her own pace. For example my oldest daughter (the Mayor) was spoke at 10 months and at 13 months she was talking in complete sentences. Once she was ready to train, I kid you not, she potty trained herself. My guess, is that at the tender age of 3 she became the classic over-achiever. My son, (Sweats) did not speak as quickly and also has other motor issues and sometimes I think I'm still training him. I know that as life goes on, I will share stories about him. Then, there's Monkey girl (my 2 year old daughter). She's the quiet one. Her vocabulary is improving, says new words everyday. Well, Monkey girl was taking her bath last night. She was playing and having a good time. That is, until she decided to "she had to go". Fortunately for me, she was clean already, yet I like to give her a good rinse to get any remaining soap off of her. After I discovered the *gift* and the tub was sufficiently cleaned and toys removed (to be washed later). She would not get back in, not even for a minute to rinse her off. So, dear people, does this mean she will give me a hard time about returning to the tub and taking a bath? Perhaps I'm putting the cart before the horse and making more of this than necessary. Let's hope so.

Jibber Jabber

First things first. Welcome. I can't believe I'm actually starting a blog. However, a few people have suggested that I write m own and so, I'm giving it a try.


I am a wife and mother. My husband and I have three children. As you may presume as a mother of three, my days are always hectic. It seems I keep going from when I get out of bed in the morning until the kids go to bed. Of course, some days are easier than others which is to be expected too. In this blog, I'll write about some of those days and other things that happen in my life. I look forward to sharing the good, bad and ugly with you.