Dear 16 Year-Old Me

My cousin just recently posted a video titled "Dear 16 Year-Old Me."  Although the video was amazing, an educational video about melanoma which you can see here, I expected it to be about something different.  With the posting of the video and a couple of other happenings throughout the day, I got to thinking about what I would tell myself at 16.

And would I listen?
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Dear 16 year-old me,

I'm not the wisest, the wealthiest, the prettiest, or the most perfect person on the planet, but there are some things I know for sure.

You're going to be okay.  Life is full of bumps and bruises, but it's the way you handle those little hiccups which determines how you wind up in the end.  Positive thinking, silver linings, and a lot of patience can get you through.  A bad thing doesn't always have to have a reason, but I bet you could find something good come out of it.

No matter where you go or who you're with, if you have compassion and integrity you will get far.

Everyone deserves love.  Unconditional, fall-to-your-knees love.  If the love you have doesn't fit into both of those two categories, run like the wind!  Seriously.  True love will come to you, don't settle.  

Don't settle for friends either.  There are billions of people in this world, someone who hurts you doesn't deserve to be in your life.

A sincere "sorry" takes a lot of practice.  Practice it.

Death is scary.  Grief will sink you to the ground, holding you hostage for a long time.  You may not think you can live without another person, but in time you will become comforted by your memories.  Allow yourself to mourn, but realize you must also live.

Have a passion, something that makes you *very* happy.  If you can't find one, keep looking!

Take risks, live your life to the fullest, accept challenges, and do you best.  Be gutsy.

Judging others is not a charming attribute.  Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Love,
39 1/2 year-old me

All Comes Together

It's the first Monday of summer break and we already have one at camp and two others asleep at 9:00.  It's raining so I'll let that pass.

Our chore charts are hung up on the fridge and journal pages are waiting for some thoughtful insights or creative stories from the boys.  I have high hopes!

Last week I was so full of anxiety, mainly worried over my graduating elementary boy.  Although I knew he was ready, I wondered if I was.  Another step closer to growing up, oh my!

But it's interesting how things all come together for me sometimes, or how my mind sifts through the good and the bad.

On the morning of the last day of school, Kyle won the Eagle Award at his school.  It's the only award of it's kind at the school, reserved for a student who stands out as a good citizen (and I'll just add good-looking and smarter than everyone else because this is my blog and I can make up stuff like that).  Our pride soared for Kyle and the wonderful comments from his teachers and our friends about Kyle and our parenting made it an even more special award.

And it got me to thinking about Kyle.  And how he's ready.  And how he's going to be just fine.  And how he's a great kid.  And we are fortunate to have him in our lives.

Because really, the one thing you want to do as a kid is grow up.  And really, the one thing you want as a parent is for your kid to be a good citizen.  Why should I worry about middle school when we both have what we want?

So as the fifth graders made their final walk through the halls of the school, high-fiving the younger students lining the halls, many of the moms were teary-eyed.  I thought I would be a blubbering fool, but I wasn't.  I was ready for this and so was Kyle.  It was all good.

Of course on the drive home, reflecting on the morning's award, Steve said, "If only he would keep his room clean."

I guess we can't have everything we want.

Summer and the End of an Era

Tomorrow is the last day of school and I'm distracted by the flow of emotions I'm experiencing.  My oldest, Kyle, is moving on to middle school and I'm about to have a heart attack coming to the reality of my little baby boy going into middle school and becoming one of those tweenagers (sic) I've lumped together in the "punk" category.  How can it be the little baby we were so overjoyed to have, who I sang "Puff the Magic Dragon" to until the wee hours of the night, who put the word "sha" after every words (Mommy-sha, Daddy-sha, bubble-sah, you get the drift) is bigger enough to sit me on his lap?

The end of the school year also brings such a sense of joy in my world.  My family is a bunch of sleeper-inners, so summer means no more dragging my boys out of bed and dealing with intense grumpiness (mine more so than theirs).  Pools, sunshine and friends.  Vacations and beaches.  Happy!

Summer is also the time when I need to be more diligent than ever to fine a way to find structure and discipline.  Chore charts and journals are just about finished to keep the kids more involved and less off the TV.  We'll see how it works.

In the meantime, tomorrow is the last day of school with an awards ceremony for the older grades and then the final walk down the halls for the 5th graders.  I will be a basket case and have asked my husband to take the day off to keep me standing.  It's not that I don't think Kyle will rock middle school, in fact quite the opposite.  Kyle is a fantastic kid with lots of friends and a great confidence I wish I had in middle school.  He makes me proud and I love him to bits.  Moving on to middle school is just a reminder to me of how fast children grow.  Time is flying and I need more reminders to take time to enjoy the moment.

The summer will kick off with a pizza party and outdoor movie with neighbors tomorrow night.  Can't wait!

School Board Speech

The Principal of my childrens' elementary school asked me to speak tonight in support of purchasing Promethean Boards for every classroom in our county using surplus funds.  I'm nervous as hell and my voice is going!  I'll let you know how it goes.  


Until then, here is the speech.  Forgive the punctuation mistakes.  They are more for me to remember to breathe!
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Good Evening

I am here tonight as a parent and representative from Emerick Elementary School in Purcellville. 

Emerick is not a new school like many in western Loudoun.  We don’t have a fancy new school quipped with the latest technology.  But we DO have a strong community, love for all children, and a passion to learn just like other schools.  Our spirit sparkles like the freshly waxed halls on the first day of school.  We are fortunate.  Emerick is a wonderful place to learn.  

Our administration and PTO have worked very hard to keep our school updated, but technology changes rapidly.  There’s just not enough wrapping paper and bake sales to keep up.  

I fully support the use of the surplus funds to equip Promethean Boards in all classrooms in Loudoun County.  Promethean Boards are very popular at Emerick, both with students and teachers but we are not fortunate enough to have one in every classroom.  I have three children who attend Emerick, only my oldest is fortunate to have one in his classroom.  His teacher uses it almost all day, incorporating curriculum, cooperative learning and demonstrating lessons.

My other two children at Emerick aren’t so fortunate.  Their teachers are amazing, truly amazing, but think of their potential if their classrooms were equipped with Promethean Boards!  WOW!  The inequity between the classes with Promethean Boards and those without does not go unnoticed between students.  My younger boys are all intrigued with the Promethean Board...a bunch of windows wide open for learning!  Think of the potential!  WOW!

Please consider the use of the surplus funds to purchase Promethean Boards for every classroom in Loudoun County.  Think of the potential!

Thank you

No Excuses

So it's been a year since I last blogged.  Almost to the day.  Sorry!

I gotta say I've actually missed it.  There is something quite reassuring to put my thoughts, ideas or craziness out there for others to read.  Writing gives me a chance to sort everything in my head so that it all comes out sounding sane...or not!

It's amazing how my life has changed in a year.  I finished those pesky classes in the fall and then decided I really didn't need another thing (like a job) on my plate.  My twins are now three and a half, MUCH more independent.  A little too much independent, always wanting to do things for themselves even when I already have.  I can't tell you how many times have said, "Sorry!  I can't un-cut a sandwich!"

So maybe things haven't changed as much as I thought.  Life continues to be chaotic with many little tidbits I should be sharing.

I will share, no excuses!

Like I Don't Already Have Enough on My Plate!

It's mornings like this one which remind me why I am thinking about going back to work.  It began with Kyle asking me a question and I responded my, "I don't know because my mind is mush."  I would like to retell what the question was, but I can't remember with my mush-mind.  Here are some other highlights:

• Cheerios littered around the entire first floor like confetti after a party.  Shouting at me saying, "Ha-ha!  You thought you could keep the floor clean for more than 12 hours!  Fool!"
• Indecisive two year-olds who ask for a smoothie (which by the way literally takes more time to clean up than it does to make, but I do it with love because it's a great breakfast...fruit, yogurt...yum!) but decide a smoothie is not how they want to wash down their Cheerios (apparently some went down their throats instead of on the floor).
• Cleaning the shower stall, one of my least favorite activities, with a toothbrush no less.  Not as clean as I want it to be, but it will suffice for another six months.

So I am thinking of going back to work, not only to hopefully bring back some of those brain cells which got me my Master's degree, but to bring back some of the sanity I feel like I'm missing in my life.

It is certainly not for the money, I think after we hire a nanny, lawn boy, housekeeper, cook, food shopper, social planner and chauffeur we will be out a couple more bucks than I bring in.

Wish me luck!

Happy Dance!

I was cleaning up under our dinner table today and found some bits under my two year-old boy's chair.  I couldn't guess what they were and almost pulled out the camera to have a little contest on my blog, but decided to spare you the suspense and me the embarrassment of how dirty under my table can get.

Oh my, you should see it sometimes!

Anyway, as I was cleaning, I started thinking about the boy's eating habits and how no one would guess what a picky eater he is.  Actually I don't think he is particularly picky, it's the way he eats which is peculiar.  He tends to graze throughout the day and not like to sit down for meals.  This may explain the size of his belly considering he likes to eat all day long!!!

Then as I continued cleaning (under the table was pretty disgusting), I thought about my cooking and the way my children eat and one glaring thing came to mind.

I can't please everyone.

While I wouldn't consider my kids picky, some may.  Picky or not, I have a "take it or leave it" rule for dinner.  I worked hard to cook this meal, Dad worked hard to pay for this meal...no complaints.  But we still get complaints.  Every day.  I can't please everyone.

But on those rare, rare days when I do please everyone (or at least 4 out of the 5), we call it a "happy dance dinner."  Each of the kids dances with a silly arm push maneuver which Lance inspired, and the meal goes down in history on the "Happy Dance Dinner" list.

I should say that my other two year-old will dance to anything put on her plate.  She's like that, she will dance to anything.

Currently on our list are:

• frittata (so random, I know)
• baked ziti
• inside-out cheeseburgers
• spaghetti
• breakfast for dinner
• tacos
• pizza (of course)

We are having one of the happy dance meals tonight...tacos!  Very messy though...under the table will be a mess tonight!

Feliz cinco de mayo!  Grab a margarita and celebrate!