Since When?
I realize we are very new to the this whole school thing. With our son in Kindergarten this year it has been live and learn about the in’s & out’s of what occurs. Last week I was a little shocked when he came home with a suggested gift card list for all the school personnel.
Now I know teachers can really only have so many mugs that say “#1 Teacher!” and I would much rather get something useful for them, because I value the work they do and recognize they do not get paid adequately. We are confident he is in a good school and that the staff is very committed to helping each child do their best.
In the past I’ve usually purchased a gift certificate to a local bread company (which can be used for a variety of baked goods) and purchased some small gift for Ethan’s pre-school teachers. I had something similar in mind for this Christmas, but I was a little taken back by the list that named about 10 specific places that each teacher would enjoy gift cards from.
Maybe I’m making something out of nothing. I just thought it was awkward to send home the list, because now anyone who doesn’t purchase a card from the list for their teacher will be “that person.” Once again I’ve compromised and bought a small gift card from the list and then a small gift.
This week they had their school/church Christmas music program. A note came home stating what his class should wear that evening and again I was a little shocked. The request was for black dress pants, all black shoes and a white shirt. Let me explain that Ethan wears navy dress pants to school as part of their uniform. So why would you ask parents to send kids in black pants? Why not navy pants that everyone obviously has? As the new family on the block I did not question this (even though I wanted to), instead I conformed and bought a cheap pair at Target that I promise you will only be worn once.
As for the black shoes, there was no way in hell I was going to buy him a new pair of all black shoes. He just got new tennis shoes that were mostly black (with a little silver and green) a month ago. When we got ready to leave that evening Ethan protested that he HAD TO WEAR all black shoes according to the music teacher. I explained to him very simply that I could have bought him new shoes to wear once tonight or a toy for Christmas and asked which he would rather have. The choice was simple for him. Seriously who is going to notice?
I was fine with the white shirt, because that is one of the colors they can wear as part of their uniform and he already had a turtleneck. That was the easy part!
So maybe it’s the pressure to conform that I’m not quite comfortable with. I want to raise Ethan to be himself and not always follow the crowd. But in the same way I want him to get along with people and learn to choose his battles. It’s only Kindergarten…
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I Came Out The Other Side Of Crazy
Yes, I made it home. We made it home from the land of crazy. All three of us. No, make that four, because we actually took the dog. (Not my decision.)
Despite the usual defectiveness of it all, it went alright. The law-in’s were their usual cheerful selves, but given the fact we hadn’t traveled up there in a year we were able to cope a little better. For the first several days their behavior is amusing, but by around the third day tension rises and the countdown begins. By the time we leave the driveway both my husband and I are laughing hysterically as we wave goodbye. Usually the visit provides enough conversation to get us through the 6 hour drive home.
There was one major revelation made within the first few hours of our arrival that I was not expecting. Apparently the wedding I drove 6 hours by myself for our son to be in last November didn’t last long. By didn’t last I mean they were separated within 4 weeks and divorced by the end of last year. I lost my bet because I gave it a year tops.
The only other big thing that happened over our visit was the yearly change in furniture. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on here before, but every time we visit my husband’s father and step-mother they have new furniture. They always have a new kitchen table and usually some other pieces such as a couch or chair (or two). I think in the 10 years I’ve known Nate I’ve sat at 8 different tables in that kitchen. To me it’s ridiculous. If you can’t find a table you like after 2 or 3, then just give it up already. The one’s they choose are awful. My favorite was the round glass table top with rolling wicker chairs. Try keeping a 3 year old from wanting to roll all over the place during a meal.
This time around it was one of the pub style tables where the table is the height of a bar with taller bar stools, which I found very uncomfortable to sit at. The bigger issue was that when Ethan sat down (I should say climbed up) at the table and put his Bionicles down to play there was a big scramble to put something down over the distressed wood top to that his plastic pieces wouldn’t scratch it. What they put down was newspaper. Yes, like he was dog.
This is just a glimpse of the things that happen when we visit. We come home feeling extremely normal and maybe it’s good therapy.
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My 1989 Christmas Wish List
If it were 1989, I would have asked for this…
Remember these? I had a pink one.
Red plaid. Size 9 then - now 11!
Teal with pink flamingos all the way.
Cassette tape baby.
That would make my Christmas, but thank goodness it’s not 1989!
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Happy Turkey Day From A Land Far, Far Away…
Life and work has been hectic lately (as you can tell by the non-updating that I’ve on this blog). So today I am thankful for being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with several days off. Being with my family is a nice perk too!
We traveled North to visit with my in-laws since we have not visited the crazy land for a year. Remember the wedding that had me questioning if I was certifiably crazy? It’s really no wonder it has been a year since we returned.
But it does not matter what location we end up in, I’m just thankful to concentrate on my family and having fun. I’m also thankful that when we return to the craziness of life (more so work) next week that a long needed vacation from work is on the horizon.
I will be taking about 3 1/2 weeks off of work which should get me out of the office by mid-December and returning when the calendar says 2009. With the economy in a spiral going the wrong direction for many, I am most thankful for a job that I love - even if it has occupied too many of my weekends lately.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I’m sure I’ll return soon with stories of our quality time with my in-laws and plenty of time to blog when my Christmas vacation starts early.
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Home Sweet Home on Wheels
During October we went out in the woods for two weekends in what our son refers to as the “home on wheels.” Which means we went camping. This isn’t really a new family activity for us. Exactly 6 years ago we did the same thing - the only difference was that we were a young married couple with a 3 month old child then and now we’re much wiser. Plus it doesn’t hurt that we upgraded to a pop-up camper that is older than we are!
That camping experience 6 years ago didn’t go as well as planned. I’m not sure if it was the fact we had a restless baby or that it rained all weekend, but this time around was different. Remember our weekend St. Louis trip in August that caused so much stress?
You would think that shoving 3 people in such a small tight space, using a public bathroom for all your needs and being responsible for bringing all the food you’ll need with you would be stressful. But it wasn’t.
In fact we all three got along pretty well and we enjoyed ourselves. It certainly cost considerably less that the St. Louis trip and there was no threatening to leave someone behind. Most of camping is low-key. You stop and sit, which isn’t normally what you do when you go away for a weekend or week. We need more time away to relax like this.
Ethan told us when we got home that he likes camping because, “I can eat hot dogs for breakfast, sleep in my dirty clothes and play in the fire. You don’t let me do those things at home.”
Maybe relaxing actually means the rules?
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