Like a Knife

Once a month I get to help out in Leah's first grade class. It's very fulfilling. I get to experience all the joys of being a teacher and none of the headaches. Last year when I helped out the kids would ask if I was Leah's grandma. That hasn't happened so far this year -- must be the vitamins.

There's a little boy, Julian, who epitomizes "snips and snails and puppy dog tails". He's very often already in trouble in the morning when I get there. You can't help but be charmed by him and his eyes that dance with mischief.

This morning I asked him what he wants to be when he grows up and he said "A basketball player and a policeman." I said "like Shaq?" He nodded in agreement and grinned with pride. I asked him if he'd please get tickets for me because I'd like to see him play when he is famous. Before he could answer, his friend Colt looked at me and said "you'll be dead by then."

Mother's Little Helper

Does anyone else take this many vitamins? I guess they aren't all vitamins. Some are herbal supplements.

So far I take a multiple vitamin, red yeast rice for cholesterol, glucosamine for my wobbly knees, black currant seed oil for my hair and nails, omega 3 for my heart, B complex for energy and some kind of herbal supplement for my eyes. Oh and a baby aspirin for heart health.

I wonder if they really do anything. I seem to feel better when I take them consistently and I swear my hair grows faster and my joints are stronger. What would I have to eat in order to get the same nutritional benefits? Pounds of vegetables? Plates of legumes and fruit? I don't suppose the M&Ms I ate this afternoon were laced with nutrients.

My Hiatus Is Over

I'm back. I hope you've missed me. I've missed blogging. Too much going on but I think things are back to normal. My parents went back home (I miss them terribly), I still haven't done our taxes and our house is still on the market.

You know, before Leah was born, I was the loniest girl in the world. Lynn was always hanging out with his friends going here and there and I spent most weekends alone. My friends were knee deep in child rearing with little time to just hang out. I saw lots of movies, read lots of books and worked many hours. Oh how things have changed.

Today started out as a great day. Puttered around the house all morning, de-cluttered, cleaned and did laundry. I was in my pajamas until 11:00!!!

Leah was invited to a birthday party this afternoon. I have been looking forward to it for 2 weeks. It was my chance to have nearly 3 hours to myself at home. I was so anxious in fact that I RSVP'd twice. The party was at 2:00. At 1:00 a realtor called to say she was bringing by a client to look at our house -- between 2:00 and 3:30. My disappointment manifested itself by yelling at my husband. Don't get me wrong, I want to sell our house but I NEVER get to be alone.

I rearranged my day. Went to Trader Joes (and for once remembered my shopping bag.) Then went to Safeway to buy the bulk of things. Finished at 3:00 so I went to Starbucks, ordered a refreshing iced tea and sat on the patio pretending to be a carefree middle-aged woman with nothing but time on her hands. Headed home which left 40 minutes of "ME" time. The best laid plans. After I put away groceries I had 20 minutes to peruse my new Oprah magazine.



My family is in bed and I have some time to myself but it's 10:30 and I really don't have anything solitary to do. It's too late to start a movie and I'm not working on a book right now. I did finish a project but I can't talk about it because it's a gift and the recipient might be tuning in --- more on that in early May.

As you may have guessed -- I haven't been lonely in 7 years.

Blogstipation

It's been a month since I've blogged. Too much going on.

Our house is for sale. We're either very smart or very dumb.

My parents arrived on Friday. They will be here for 3 weeks. Leah is basking in grandparent adoration.

I still haven't done our taxes.

I have many pictures to post and many stories to tell but you'll have to stayed tuned.

2001 Was A Very Good Year

Happy 7th Birthday To My Sweet Girl

The greatest thing she ever said to me, "You're not the best mom, but you're the best mom for me."

Shout Out to Shelley

Happy Birthday Shelley.

My brother's wife. My sister in law. Leah's aunt.

I won't tell you how old Shelley is today but she looks at least 10 years younger than her real age. Shelley married my brother about 20 years ago and I was so glad that he finally found happiness. They are a good match.

Shelley is an excellent mom -- in fact one of my role models for motherhood. She was basically done raising her daughter by the time mine came along but I took notes all along.

Shelley never yelled (a trait I've yet to master). She was always calm and honest with Amanda. And even during the teen age years, Shelley always had a sense of humor. Shelley is a wonderful aunt to Leah -- her biggest contribution may be that she has influenced Leah's education. For every holiday and birthday, she sends Leah the best books and reads with her whenever they are together. It's no coincidence that Leah is an excellent reader.

So Happy Birthday Shelley. We're so lucky to have you in our family.

(Photo from left to right: My mom, Shelley, Amanda, Lynn. I scanned the photo so it looks a little grainy.)

Psychological Warfare or Just Kids Being Kids?

Yesterday we hosted 3 girls for Leah’s 7th birthday party. (Dylan, Maria and Melanie – names changed to blah, blah, blah.) Leah decided on a puppy theme. We had 3 games planned, plus 2 small crafts. Then cake, ice cream and opening gifts – it sounded like an afternoon of fun. I was feeling like mother superior with my stellar planning.

The party started at 2:30 and five meltdowns later, the party was over.


Nothing went as planned. I couldn’t get the 4 girls to agree to do anything at the same time. When Leah wanted to do the piñata, the other girls wanted to do crafts. Then Leah pouted because she didn’t get to go first on every game. During the piñata activity, Leah actually laid on the patio in the fetal position.

HIGHLIGHTS
-One child wanted to spend the afternoon alone in the backyard
-Another child got mad because the others were having too much fun
-In our haste to distract them we not only forgot the candles on the cake, but didn’t sing Happy Birthday.
-The only “game” they would play together was when I put on rock music and they pretended to be models prancing down the catwalk.




I suggested to my husband that there must be a hidden camera somewhere because there was no way what was happening was REAL.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WHO?
The last straw was when the girls divided into 2 camps. Half wanted to play with Leah’s Littlest Pet Shop and the other half wanted to dance. My husband and I thought the only way out was to suggest cake and ice cream. Desperate to unify them through sugar, we forgot to light the candles or sing Happy Birthday. With half the cake missing, we quickly added the seven candles and asked the girls to gather around to sing. Maria refused to come back inside and Dylan felt she needed to stay next to Maria. Leah ran into our bedroom crying which left Melanie, my husband and I singing Happy Birthday to an invisible birthday girl. Defeated, I blew out the candles! (My wish was not granted because the party continued.)



Finally, the heavens shone down on us and the parents arrived to retrieve their progeny. Wouldn’t you know it, the girls could not be coaxed out of Leah’s room because they were having so much fun. Their parents wondered how I could put up with the 4 screaming girls and I reassured them that the amped up squeals of happiness were 1,000 times better than the earlier tantrums.

HINDSIGHT IS 20/20
Twenty four hours have passed since we were held hostage by 4 first graders and I’ve had time to reflect. Here’s what I learned. I tried too hard to keep the guest list manageable. We originally invited 5 girls and only 3 came. In hindsight I would have invited eight in the hopes that 5 would show up. In this case having more personalities would have been easier. I think I could have had an easier time dividing and conquering with a few more (weak) personalities. Once I realized the group was small, I should have let the party evolve into more of a glorified play date. I think an organic approach would have been more successful.