I am a happily married mother of three boys. I am a full time mom, and I work part-time tutoring English at our local JC and on the OWL. I'm having a great time! Although I don't have much spare time, I do like to write and I try to update this blog as much as I can. Most of my free time is devoted to my family, and when they're busy, I can get on here and type a bit! Sometimes, I have a lot to say and you can read about it here.....
Why is it that people feel the need to forward me emails about miracles that were performed by the common man or woman, with the influence of God whispering, and sometimes shouting, in their ears to influence their decisions? Following these unbelievable stories of coincidence combined with divine intervention, there are always instructions, requiring me to forward to 10, 20, or 40 friends to "prove" that I believe in, or love, God.
Last I checked, God didn't have email. And I don't need to prove to anyone but God that I believe in him-or her, for that matter. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I know that these emails are fabricated by individuals with wonderful imaginations. Why can't you see that????
If you need assistance or attention, please don't sit there and audibly sigh. Ask for help! Call your friend and tell her that you need to talk. Reach out to someone!
I am sitting here at work in the Writing Center, and I know that the student next to me is having issues with her computer and she is unable to print. Instead of asking for help, she is heavily sighing, waiting for me to offer my assistance. I refuse! I want to shout at her "Don't be a victim!" Yet, she has now sighed a total of 10 times. I would be more than happy to help if she would just ask...*sigh*
A couple of years ago, my parents started saving up to take a trip to Ireland. My mom had always wanted to go, and with the kids out of the house, they figured that it was about time.
Then, my sister decided that she makes a lot of money, and her boyfriend wouldn't be able to afford it, so she decided to go with them.
If it were just my parents going, I wouldn't be so f'ing jealous. They've worked pretty hard for a long time. But my sister going with them leaves me at home, a little jealous.
They left this morning and they will be gone for 10 days. I get to take care of their dog.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Associated Press) -- Seven of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's top aides are defying subpoenas for their testimony into possible abuse of power by the governor. Palin's Chief of Staff Mike Nizich and six other aides have failed to appear at a legislative hearing Friday into whether Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer,
Alaska Senate Judiciary Chairman Hollis French, a Democrat, waited 30 minutes Friday before reading a statement that the witnesses could be found in contempt when the full Legislature convenes in January.
Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg filed a lawsuit on behalf of the seven state workers Thursday challenging the subpoenas. He claims the committee has no jurisdiction to issue subpoenas in the investigation.
We just got back from camping yesterday. We left Thursday evening, so we were up there about three full days. We really like camping together, and despite occasional bickering, we all have a great time.
It was warm during the day and pretty darn chilly at night, but we did okay. The dog went with us and slept with the boys, guarding their tent. We have two tents and we face them toward each other with just enough room to get out in between. The boys all like having their own tent and mommy and daddy like being in their own tent, too! ;-)
We only had minor issues,like little man getting a little burn from a flying, flaming marshmallow. Don't worry, it wasn't serious. ;-) Other than that, it was pretty fun.
We spent one of the days at the falls and the boys had a great time scouting for tadpoles and frogs. The big boys liked giving me a nervous breakdown as they jumped from high boulders into the water. (All I kept envisioning were ambulances and emergency rooms.)
I finished the last book in the Twilight series while I was there, and I enjoyed being away from the phone and computer. But now, I am enjoying being clean and campfire smoke-free. ;-)
His grades barely qualified him to stay on cross country. I was torn between taking him off of the team, and allowing him to race. In the end, I let him stay on the team because he needs to have somewhere to go and keep him out of trouble. We have changed the way that we do homework in this house, and we are working closely with the teachers again. He's a good boy. Other than his grades, I don't have any complaints. He makes me very happy. When he crossed the finish line, he was hurting. It was his very first competitive race and it was just under two miles long. I was SOOO proud of him. My eyes welled up and my heart just burst wide open. Peace Out, Mom
The boys got their progress reports yesterday. Not too good. Now, I am trying to be understanding. I mean, they both have moved to the bottom of the school food chain as they have moved up in grade. However, MO brought home a 2.0, which barely makes him eligible for cross-country, and MM brought home a 2.5. Both of them had comments that they were missing homework. ARGH!!!
They are both VERY good boys, and I feel like we have a very good relationship as a family, so I really don't have too much to complain about. That being said, I won't tolerate them not doing their homework. If they are struggling with the material, that's something that we can work with. If they are just not doing their work-that is unacceptable.
I did not take away any privileges, except the play.station. They can't have their play.stations until they go on break in two weeks.(Year-round school)
I actually cried. A lot. My husband and I work very hard so that we can live in a good neighborhood and they can attend the schools that they do. We also work around each other's schedules to make sure that there is always someone home when they are. The researchers say that this means that our boys should be getting straight A's. Damn those researchers.
His speech was fantastic. In the beginning, I was a Hillary fan, but he's really won me over. I believe in the change that he's promising. To hear his story, his family's story, really, is inspiring. I watched his speech, and saw the look on people's faces, and I thought about the hope that he brings to people. Tears came to my eyes and I, like all of those people in the crowd, and all of the people watching,felt hopeful. Peace Out, Mom
Last week, I had horrible abdominal pain (mostly on the right side) and was out of action for a couple of days. I am thinking that it was an ovarian cyst. I had one many years ago, and the pain was reminiscent of that incident, and it subsided over time, which is a sign of a cyst. We don't have insurance right now, (don't worry-we're working on it)so I was unable to go to the doc. Also, my period was a bit late and my mind began to wander to pregnancy hopes. As I've mentioned before, my biological clock is ticking loudly in my ear, and I really do want another baby. I know that it's not a good time, and that we work a lot already, but that doesn't stop the yearning. I actually started to feel pregnant, and I was really happy. Then yesterday, my late period started. My husband was happy. And I cried. Peace Out, Mom
Monday, the college opened. Because we are in a recession, and because our school's budget has been hacked by at least 15 percent, our writing center won't open until the third week of school. We will also be operating with a skeleton crew and limited hours of operation. I have about ten fewer hours a week than I did last year. It hurts. I am already working a few part-time jobs.
I am working in the college bookstore for the first couple weeks of school until the center opens.
I am also piloting a new Power study group for English classes this semester. I am so excited. I started this week, and it really is a great opportunity for me.
Although I was accepted to the University, I had to put that on hold while we work through the changes that are happening with our family. It is frustrating because I would really like to be teaching classes of my own. Life happens, you know?
I hope our economy pulls out of this slump soon. We've already lost over 150 thousand dollars on our house. We now owe more than our house is worth. Our mortgage payment is over 3300 dollars. Every time we make a payment, a little part of me dies. I think it's the part of me that really wants to go on a Disney cruise. ;-)
The visit with the MIL went better than I thought it would go. Since my FIL passed away, she hasn't had any contact with his family. They don't invite her over, and she isn't included in any festivities or family get-togethers on that side. Although she denies it, I think it hurts her feelings. So I think that she really wants things between us to be different. I like her. I love her son. ;-)
We went to get a family portrait done, and we included all the grandparents. It was pretty fun. My mom and dad are so awesome. I'll post the pics when we get them!
On Saturday night, we all had dinner at my parents' house. It was really a good time, and we all laughed and played Monopoly. I really was sad to see her go on Sunday.
The only reason that I was happy to see her go is that I finally got my bed back! Without a spare room, the MIL slept in our bed, and my hubby and I slept on the couch. I'm getting too old for that! ;-)
My oldest, along with being incredibly smart, is also incredibly handsome. He knows this. For some reason, he thinks it is okay if he slips in his studies, as long as he has a cushion of friends around him waiting to socialize. We are diligent in our efforts to contact his teachers-weekly, and we require him to sit at the table every day for at least 30 minutes, with us, to do some sort of homework or studying. Despite this, he still fails to turn in homework, but continues to do well on tests. I am exceedingly frustrated.
Yesterday, my husband was driving home from picking up the middle son when he passed MO ditching cross country practice to hang out with some girls near the school. On my way home from work, I went by the field where all of the cross country runners congregate to find the coach. He revealed to me that MO had also missed a practice last week.
He came home at the normal "after practice" time and I asked him how practice was. He answered with the expected "good!" So from there, I told him that he knew. Instead of yelling, I calmly told him that we were revoking all of his privileges. Everything. Until further notice. I talked more to him about it later on when we had some alone time.
I think back to when he was born and everything that I ever wanted for myself went right into him. Everything and anything that I ever wanted for myself was transferred right over. I called him my little prince. He's in the midst of teenagerdom, and I know some of this is just a phase. In the grand scheme of things, he is a freakin' awesome kid. I know that he will turn out okay, I just hope that he isn't forced to pull himself out of too many sticky situations that he gets himself into. But then again, he may learn a lot from those sticky situations. ;-)
"If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others." ~Haim Ginott
Me-I want my kids to know that I have faith in them. If I can't believe, no matter how much they may screw up, that they will make something of themselves one day, who else will? No matter what, I know that they are wonderful, loving, and brilliant boys. And I tell them, and everyone else around me, every day.
"The guys who fear becoming fathers don't understand that fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man. The end product of child raising is not the child but the parent." ~Frank Pittman, Man Enough
Me-This works for moms, too. ;-) I am a better person because of my children.
"Parenthood is a lot easier to get into than out of." ~Bruce Lansky
Me-I've thought a lot about this lately. I can't imagine wanting out of this wonderful, chaotic experience. I don't understand anyone who willingly starts, or joins, a family wanting to get out-emotionally or physically. I am their parent-No matter what they do, no matter what happens, I am there for them. I can't take a break from this job. The end result will be that I am proud of the young men that I have raised. Along the road, there will be tears, shouting, angry words, and hurt feelings. That's okay. It's called a family. I'm not checking out. To balance out that heartache, there will be joy, love, pride, and accomplishment. It's all worth it.
The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.-Richard Bach
Me- Our family is not the "average" family. But we are awesome. My husband loves and cares for each of these boys equally. Even though a couple don't carry his DNA, they have his heart, and in the end, that's all that matters.
I can be very judgemental at times. I know this about myself, and I accept it. I can't say that it is something that I'm working on because really, it is just who I am.
When you are my friend, I love you fiercely, and I would do anything to protect you. However, if you hurt me, I can be angry and vengeful with equal ferocity. At the same time, I get over things quickly. My emotions are worn all over me, and I'm not good at hiding what I'm thinking or feeling.
I guess the reason why I am spilling all of this out is because I often say what I'm thinking or write it out. It's not that I don't think before I speak; that's not it. I do think about it, and what comes out is what I truly feel. I know that I can hurt people sometimes, but I would expect those close to me to tell me when I'm doing something stupid.
My mom asked me once why I have a blog, and she commented the other day that I wouldn't put all of this out on the internet if I didn't want people to read it. I guess that's true. I have this blog to vent, and to connect to others who are venting. When I post about things that are happening, I expect people to comment, either favorably or inauspiciously. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. That would be silly. But I do hope that, whether you agree with me or not, you keep coming back. Dialogue is what makes people think, and that is so effing important. Peace Out, Mom
My oldest has decided to run cross country this year instead of football, which makes me very happy. He is very fast, and his body is made for running.
Everyday, when he gets home from practice, we ask him if he has any homework, and to that, his usual reply is "no." Yesterday, I asked to see his binders. Then, I told him that I would be emailing his instructors to check on his progress. At that point, he broke down and started to cry. He said that he is having problems in his second year Spanish class, and is just not understanding. He was afraid to tell us. That sucks. I told him that we just want him to succeed, and we want to make it possible for him to do that. I recommended that he go to his counselor tomorrow and ask if he can move down to Spanish 1-2. He's afraid that if they make the change, they will change all of his classes and he won't be in classes with his friends anymore. I can understand that, since it is his first year of high school and would definitely be stressful if he was alone in that big school.
I wanted to go to the school on his behalf and talk to the counselor myself, but he wanted to do it himself first. The next step is me going over there. I hope that this works out for him. His tears made me sad and brought back my high school issues. It sucks to be a teenager. Peace Out, Mom
My little man (kinder) has so much homework that we are doing it for at least two hours every day after school. He has an albhabet workbook that he has to color and cut out pictures from magazines for every day-one letter each day. He also has a homework packet that is sent home on Monday and due Friday. This packet consists of 11 worksheets that vary in activities from cutting/coloring to writing. He also has a family activity that is due every other week. He also has a book that he checks out every week from the library, which comes with specific instructions for us to do with him each day. Now, I am not against homework. I like doing homework with him; I really do. However, he is just a little dude. I don't think that this much homework is necessary in kinder, especially since he is only in class half day-three hours. We are doing more work at home than they are doing in class. It really is time-consuming. Am I being a bad mom because I am complaining about sitting at the homework table for three hours every afternoon? Or does anyone else think this is A LOT of homework for a five year old???? Peace Out, Mom
I bought a Dell computer about a year ago. I am somewhat satisfied with my computer, but my battery started just freaking out right as my warranty is set to expire in two weeks. I decided to go with the tech support online option tonight when I got home from work. And to my utter surprise, they are sending me a new battery! Wow! I have been dealing with them with another issue for about a year now, and I pretty much hate them, so this is a nice surprise. Seriously. I hate them so much that when a rep calls my house, I tell them how much their company sucks and that "no, I don't want to renew my warranty because Dell is an awful company who doesn't deserve one more red cent of my hard earned money because you are all awful people who work for an awful company. I hate you all!!!!" But really, I', glad they were helpful this time and will be sending me a new battery in 2-3 working days. Peace Out, Mom
