Ninjas don't wear cowbells

Robby and Drake, first day of 3rd and 1st grade.

School is back in session and this is a whole new world to me.  For the first time in over 8 years I have no children home with me during the day.  What did I do with my first day of freedom?  I had early coffee with a great friend, followed by grocery shopping, followed by my very first day of work and earning a wage in 12+ years.  *sigh*

I had the day off today and it started out fantastic!  Coffee, pedicure, couple of errands, time with Gen, a little cleaning, donation drop off and all before 1pm!  Off to pick up my cherubs from school.  

Robby is LOVING his class and teacher.  No problems settling back in at all.  Drake is learning a whole new side to school not to mention trying to make it through a long day.

Drake's teacher meets them in the morning in the commons (a.k.a. lunchroom) so he has about 20 minutes of sitting in the lunch room with other kids as they eat breakfast.  Do you see where this is going?  Are we all clear on Drake's favorite pastime?  The first day of school he managed to score a free breakfast.  Today he tried again but Robby caught him and couldn't get Drake to leave the food line so he had to tell a teacher.  This resulted in a 8:23am call to me (they were dropped off at 8:10am) letting me know that I need to have a chat with Drake about how the food services works and when he is allow to use his code.  I thought it was no big deal because I was NEVER going to give Drake the code.  That would just asking for trouble.  Unfortunately a well meaning para educator taught Drake to memorize his code.  ARGH!

Fast forward, another Drake incident, fast forward, headache starting, fast forward, I fell again, fast forward, playing at the park after school.  STOP!

I had a wonderful time chatting with the Moms at our usual picnic table and then I see Drake walking across the grass with a small, green, biodegradable bag.  

Me:  "Drake, where did you get the green bag?"

Drake:  "Over by the sign with the dog on it."

Me:  "Where are you going and why do you have the green doggy bag?"

Drake:  "I need to find someplace private."

Me:  O.o  "Why?"

Drake:  "I have to poop."

Me:  "In the doggy poo bag?  Right here at the park?!"

Drake:  "Yeah."

Me:  "How about we walk over to the bathrooms instead?"

Drake:  "Okay, but this would have been faster." (clearly exasperated)

For this and every other time I am mere seconds away from a disaster, I am thankful for my Drake-dar.

*"Ninjas don't wear cowbells" is courtesy of Michelle.  It was her reply to my plea to have the boys wear cowbells so they would stop sneaking up behind me and scaring me senseless.

"Inner peace... Inner peace..." Master Shifu

I have been trying to spend more time slowing down and making my life less complicated overall.  Going through the list of "have-to/gotta's" and paring it down to only the things that really make a positive impact for myself and my family.  Taking care of me and making time for myself is a hard one so I thought adding meditation back into my day would help.  Not sure it is working.

So I bought a book on meditation 4 years ago and I have yet to get past the 2nd chapter.  To be honest, it is "technically" the 1st chapter but I DID read the intro so I am calling the 1st chapter the 2nd chapter so that I seem less pathetic.  Anyway...

Quiet room: check. (6am: Bob gone to work, boys still asleep) Close your eyes, focus your attention about 2 or 3" in front of your 3rd eye: Umm...okay...check.

Now, breathe deeply, clear your mind.  *sigh* I can hear the furnace.  Stop!  Focus...block out the hum of the furnace, breathe in, exhale.  Shoot, I just heard one of the boys cough so they will be up soon, better hurry and get this meditation thing done!  Focus!

Clear.  Your.  Mind.   Breathe.  Okay, here we go, I can totally do this.  I'm breathing, I am focusing my attention in front of m 3rd eye...  What is a 3rd eye anyway?  That's probably covered in chapter 2, I mean 3!  I think my forehead is getting hot right where that 3rd eye is supposed to be.

Seriously, FOCUS!  None of this matters!  Relax, take some time for you!  Now, breathe...

Success!  I did it! For like an hour! *peek at clock*  1 minute?  Really?!  Ugh!

I have an itch.  I have to pee.  Did we take the garbage to the street?

Not quitting!  Shake out the wiggles, center, focus.  "Mom, I just peed in my bed and stepped in cat puke and I think Robby is throwing up".

Right.

*yawn*

I wish this were me. Warm fur coat, passed out for a nap... I love that the boys are on vacation this week. I wish the weather were better so that I felt more motivated and so that we had more options. My eyes have been burning ever since I got out of bed. And now with the eye twitching... *sigh, yawn*

I need to run a couple of errands today but I am stalling. I have been very fortunate that the boys are fining for themselves today. Robby taught Drake how to take a shower, then they made "brunch" for themselves (grape, carrot, celery soup). They have fed the cats, brushed their teeth and are now playing nicely (finally!) in Drake's room. Wait. I am blogging while I could be napping. Later!

Mama Bear

It is very hard to be a parent! There are plenty of books, videos, seminars, classes, advisers, etc but if your children don't fit into any of the numerous categories, then you are forced to reinvent the wheel. I am completely in love with my children. I have 3 of the most talented, brilliant, compassionate and amazingly unique boys. They challenge me, fulfill me, make me proud, push me over the edge of sanity, make me laugh until I cry and make me cry until I laugh. They provide no end of entertaining stories to tell and they will always keep me on my toes. Bottom line, no matter WHAT they do or say, I will always be their Mom and I will always move mountains for them because I love them.

Mama Bear was NOT happy yesterday. Our job is to raise them to be productive members of society. Lay the groundwork so they are able to go on in life to make good decisions, excel in their endevours, become spouses, parents and to have the confidence to attempt what we are attempting now. To feel like you have completely failed your child at the tender age of 4 is not a good feeling. Suffice it to say that all is on the mend and we have a plan evolving to put everything on the right track.

I realized yesterday that I truly have no idea how Drake's mind works, what makes him tick. He is sensitive like me, enjoys making people laugh, and wears his emotions right out there for everyone to see. I honestly thought that he was my mini-me (other than the mischeiviousness, that he gets from Bob...). That is not the case. He is VERY much like Bob and I don't get Bob. lol! I love him dearly but I don't get him and I have been scratching my head for 12 years now. Now I see that Drake is Bob's mini-me yet so completely unique that even Bob is scratching his head. I have a social introvert. What? Seriously. A social introvert.

So now we are calling in the big guns. lol! Someone with a PhD to observe him and see if they can give us any guidance on what Drake truly needs to flourish. Bob and I are very fortunate to have such wonderful people who care about our family and are here to help us through. It is time for us to be 2 steps ahead of Drake instead of him lapping us. =]

This picture is from Mother's Day last year when I spent the afternoon swinging in the hammock with Robby & Drake, before I knew that I had one more son out there to love whole heartedly. I look at this picture and it is cathartic for me. This is why I am a Mom. This is why everything we do and endure is worth every moment.

The most dangerous place to be is between a parent and their child.

Grrrr.............!

Last week I did a little retail therapy; it's good for the soul you know.

I took Drake shopping with me to a brick and mortar store, then I did a little surfing later that night. It was very cathartic!

I ordered yummy coffee. I ordered quilt patterns, tools and gadgets. I even ordered my pillow pet for this summers vacation!

So...I have been anxiously yet patiently awaiting my parcels and packages. Yesterday we got a delivery! It was Legos for the boys. [frown] Today we got 3 packages!! WHOO HOO!!! Wait, for Bob?! [growl] Where are my treasures? I needs the coffee! I needs the quilting supplies and patterns! I needs the Dragon pillow pet! I needs them... [whimper...pout]

I hope for the letter carriers sake I receive at least one tomorrow because I will be hidden and ready to pounce. I would hate to embarrass either of us...