Sunday, September 30, 2012

Let me sum up...

Since I don't even know what I last wrote about I figured some sort of update was required.  Even if for little more than a space holder.

Our brilliant and highly active boy child is finding himself even less challenged in 2nd grade than he was in 1st.  Either that or he's being given less wiggle room to read or draw or write his stories once he's completed an assignment.  This is leading to Issues.  Issues that, we hope, are starting to be addressed by various parties.  I've learned over the past two years that sometimes we are our child's only advocate.

On top of classroom behavior issues, he's also dealing with one boy who refuses to leave him alone.  He's talked to his teacher.  He's asked me for a little more time to try and resolve the issue himself.  My son knows me.  He knows that it doesn't take much for me to go all Mama Lion on whomever is bullying my cub.  I assured him that I would let him go through the proper channels...he's taken it upon himself to set up an appointment to speak with the guidance councilor.  I know her and I trust her to listen and to take the appropriate steps and to know when to let me get involved.  I can't even begin to express how proud I am of this small little human I'm blessed to call my son.

It seems like every time our little household starts to settle into a rhythm, something comes along and knocks us out of sync again.  Like some dysfunctional jazz medley.

The wee girl's birthday is rapidly approaching.  I think I've finally nailed her down on a party idea.  And explain to her that, no, she cannot invite everyone in her class.  That should be a fun conversation.

Now to carve out precious time to prepare as well as finish her doll house in time.

Both kiddos have actually remained pretty decisive regarding their Halloween costumes.  That's a miracle in it's self.  Typically I'm scrounging and sewing the night before.  Pinkalicious and Wolfman will be prowling the streets of our neighborhood come Halloween night.

My own job continues to be delightfully challenging.  I continue to be baffled by this perfectly fitting niche I've found myself in.  The fur beasties are slowly adapting to being left alone every morning.  Actually, I think the cats just sleep through it and only notice I was gone once I come home.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Hazing...preschool style.

My first day at work I was thrown up on.  Earlier this week I demonstrated how not to check for a dirty diaper. This morning I was peed on.

I'd like to think my initiation period is over.

On the shiny side, my combined college and military experience actually managed to train me for something.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

I miss the rains down in Africa...

"If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a color that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?" 
~ Karen Blixen (Out of Africa)

My parents are moving...again.  They're moving from South Sudan back to Tanzania.  This will most likely be their final move as active missionaries.

Tanzania will forever hold a piece of my heart.  I owe my entire childhood to that amazing and beautiful country.  It's a part of me I need so desperately to share with my own children, as well as with this man that shares my life.

The day my dad told me they were moving we made the decision to make a trip happen.  Not an easy task for a family of four.  (We're giving ourselves a year to plan--and for both kiddos to move out of carseats.)  My own passport just expired, his passport expired last year and the kiddos have yet to be issued their own.  But we're going.  I'm adding a page link following our journey--the prep, the trip, all of it.  Because it's going to be Epic. E-p-i-c.  And since we're of the "go big or go home" mentality, I'm doing my best to work in a Kilimanjaro climb for myself, my mom and my husband.  We'll see how that goes.

Since my heart soars with the mere thought of going home, I wanted to share our plans.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Conversations "normal" families don't have...

Me: "Um...what the holy weird stuff is that in the sink?"

Him:  "Bits I salvaged from the cannon balls..."

Me:  "And why are there cannon ball bits in our sink?"

Him:  "So I can clean them up and shellack them before they corrode anymore."

Me:  "Of course.  Because that's what our decor had been missing."

Obviously I had him explain what all of the bits were and the differences in a couple of them.  It's not every day one gets to see the inside of a cannon ball.  And, you know, still live.

7-year-old ears picked up that conversation from all the way across the house...

"We have a cannon ball?!"

4-year-old...

"Can we play with it?"

Oddly enough, they've been back in school for an entire week and we haven't had one single phone call from the school.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

News flash...

Third Culture Kids do not handle social functions well.

Tomorrow is Parent Orientation with the preschool.  I meet the parents of my students.  I have to talk with the parents.  Make small talk.  Chit chat.  I don't do Chit Chat well.

Tonight I'm grateful for the doctor who had the foresight to prescribe me stress meds.

On the shiny side...I'm really excited to meet the kiddos I get to spend the rest of the year with! 2-year-olds rarely judge me for my oddness.  Just the opposite, in fact.  I'm thinking I'll wear my Wash dinosaur shirt just for them.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Brain dump...

Tomorrow is the boy's first day of 2nd grade.  When the hell did he get old enough to be in 2nd grade?!    He's beyond excited.  Mostly about the fact that he now gets to play on the Big Playground and that he actually has a new backpack this year.  But mostly the playground thing.

I start my workweek at the preschool.  I've been The Mommy for seven years.  The stay-at-home mommy for the past five.  Even though we've been a part of the preschool since the boy started pre-k there and I've subbed in classes, volunteered for all sorts of things, dreamed up and instigated their Annual Field Day and even assisted in the toddler room a few days a week last spring...I'm a little nervous.

Re-entering the Working World is a massive step.  Massive.

My co-workers are fantastic. I'm excited to be a part of the preschool.  I'm excited to spend my mornings helping a new crop of wee ones learn and explore their world.

But then there's all of the Stuff I used to get done during my mornings that now needs to be done at some other time.  Squished in and around all of the other Stuff that I do during the afternoon.  I realize that working moms have been dealing with the "not enough hours in the day" dilemma for forever, but I haven't.  We'll find our rhythm.  It just might take a week or two.  We all dance to a different drummer in this household. It might take a little longer...

No idea when I'm going to fit in runs and work outs.

Rhythm.

We're all going to have to find it.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Be. Nice.

It's gettin' nasty out there.  And by "there" I mean politics.  Ginger over at "Ramble, Ramble" wrote a post that everyone needs to read.

I plan on respecting my friends and family the next morning--no matter who they vote for.  I also refuse to participate in the insults and mud slinging.  I ask for the same courtesy.  I don't fall under one label.  Very few do.  Respect that.  Thanks.