MOVING DAY

A year or more ago our blog reader-friend Jeremy J tried to convince me I would be happier using a different platform for my blog.  Now you know how emotionally attached I get to things and how difficult change is for me, so I just wasn't ready.  But Jeremy J is freaky smart about a lot of things, so I finally took a look at what he was talking about, and I was instantly convinced we need to make the move.

One of the things I am hoping we will gain in the move is the ability for you to comment.  I have had problems with the comment section almost since I started.  It seemed the only people able to comment were angry Europeans and people trying to sell "enhancement" products.

So here's what's going to happen:  The new place has an import feature, so when I get done here I am going to go ahead and try importing the old blog into the new one.  I am not convinced this is going to be as easy as it sounds, but we'll try.  If you are a subscriber or RSS reader, I think you'll just get moved over. If you visit this page or get lost the new address is:

atleastweknow.wordpress.com

Notice that the address here was "leastweknow" and the new address is "atleastweknow."

Okay.  Here goes nothing.

Preschooler D Gets a Library Card

PLACE: The library

LIBRARIAN WENDY:  Now D, here is your very own new library card.  You will need it every time you check out a book.  There's a big card and a card for your key ring some day when you get a key ring.  This is free, but don't lose it because then you will have to pay a fee.  Are you ready? (Pushes card to D)

PRESCHOOLER D: No. (Pushes card back to Librarian Wendy. Librarian Wendy looks stunned.)

THE MOTHER:  Why don't I just put it in my purse for now?

Librarian Wendy called just now still laughing.  She said she's never had anyone weigh the responsibility of the library card so heavily.

Am I cleaning? No.

The Son Rises

Not that son (although He did too).  My son.  May I just brag on my child for a moment?  Good.  We can take turns bragging about our children.  I will start.

So we forced Colin to join the track team this spring, not sure if it would be too much for him or not.  It was an experiment, and to be honest, we were sort of expecting to fail.

Here he is with Shelby.  Colin has his eyes closed, but it is such a rarity that Shelby has her eyes open, that we have to look at this one.

I will be darned if that kid didn't run (sort of against his will), keep up his grades, keep up his music and have a cheerful and cooperative attitude most of the time.

Here he is with Jeremy:

We had a couple of ugly mornings when he had track practice, Awana and then 7 am jazz band rehearsal, but he did it AND kept up with Awana as well.  Here he is with his upside down award.

I remember bawling my eyes out 9 years ago this summer, wondering what he would be able to do.

I ask you, what can't this kid do?

Mmmmmmm, put his dishes in the dishwasher for one, put his folded clothes away for another. . .

Insanity, etc.

I don't know for sure how parents with more than four widely spaced children do it.  We have been to a program and/or event every night for more than a week and we have one more to go to tonight.  I am running out of energy and "competent mom" outfits.  (Don't pretend you don't know what I mean.)

I am burning the candle at both ends so seriously that I ran too far today.  Normally I check, check and recheck my route for the day.  For some reason I didn't today.  I got out there and was running away like a tough girl in the raging wind.  I swallowed a bug and another one flew into my eye.  Shortly after the bug swallowing incident, I started to think, "This seems pretty far."  I was supposed to run 2.75 miles.   I checked my GPS thing and I'd gone 1.64 miles.  I'm not great at math -- especially after I've swallowed a bug -- but I realized that when I got home I would have run over three miles.  I never over run.  Sometimes when I get back from run, I won't have gone quite far enough, so I run around the parking lot across the street until I get the right distance.

I didn't know if I should be proud of myself or disgusted that I'd wasted miles I did not need.  The fact that I even had that argument with myself just proves how far I've come.

This weekend Brent took me to a sporting goods store, so I could shop for sporting goods.  Friends and loved ones, I have never been to a sporting goods store with a purpose in my life.  It was time to retire the old yoga and group aerobics clothes and figure out what runners wear.

A young tiny salesperson came over and asked how I was doing.  I looked at her helplessly.

"Well," I said.  "I'm about 10 weeks into running and I need to move into some more serious running clothes.  I don't think the world is ready to see my thighs, though.  What do you have for the middle aged mommy?"

She looked at me and smiled.  "You're a runner," she said.  "They are supposed to see your thighs.  Other serious runners aren't looking and anyone else has no right to criticize."

I wanted to hug her, but that seemed inappropriate.

At the Track Meet with Colin

SCENE:  The mother observes autistic son talking to himself at the track meet, she wanders over to remind him this isn't socially acceptable behavior.

THE MOTHER: Colin, you're talking to yourself.

COLIN: (Puts his arm around The Mother.  He pats her gently on the back and smiles.) Mom, you're embarrassing me.

A Moment of Compassion with Preschooler D

SCENE:  The mother of the home is in tears over something only another stay-at-home mom would understand.  It seems no one knows how to open the dishwasher and put in his plate.

THE MOTHER:  What's the matter with you people?!  You're always eating!  You make dishes dirty and consume food constantly!!  I am always at the grocery store!! And you wear clothes that then have to be washed and folded and dumped in a drawer where they get all wrinkly and it looks like you just rolled out of bed and put on the first thing you found on the floor!!

PRESCHOOLER D:  Mom!! Mom!!  It wasn't me!!  It wasn't me who told on you!!  It was Colin!!