Today I joined a group of four other ladies for an early matinee followed by lunch. We saw "The Other Boleyn Girl," (Great movie, but boy, am I glad I didn't live during that time! My neck hurts just thinking about it!) and then had lunch at Ruby Tuesday (Gotta love that white chicken chili!). I so rarely get together with a group of people to do anything like that, therefore today was a real treat. Even though I met two of the ladies for the first time, the fact that all of us are military spouses gives us a common bond. It was a lot of fun and I hope we have the opportunity to get together again soon.
Before pulling out of the parking lot I checked phone messages at home. There was a message from my oldest son, and as I listened, my heart sank. It seems he had a "Class Cabaret" performance at school today, something he'd mentioned, but hadn't brought up in a few days. To my knowledge parents weren't invited, so I'm assuming this was just something the band members in my son's class were putting on for the entire class. Anyway... long story made short... he'd forgotten his trumpet and sheet music and wanted to know if I could bring it to him.
Forgetting the trumpet isn't an uncommon occurrence, and I've taken it to school more than once when this has happened. No big deal. But today I wasn't at home when my son called, and he didn't call my cell phone, so I had no idea he needed me. I quickly called the school, knowing it was probably too late to come to the rescue, but the lady in the office knew nothing of this performance and couldn't locate the band teacher to inquire. I was also 20-30 minutes away from the school and it was 2:15 or so when I called, so there was nothing to do but just drive home.
Now I'm at home waiting for the kids to get off the bus and I feel terrible! I know I deserved to enjoy a day out with friends and I've done nothing wrong, so why do I feel guilty? As unrealistic as it may sound, I just feel like I've let my son down and wasn't there when he needed me. It's like "mommy guilt run amuck." I hate this feeling!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A real stand up kinda guy
I've mentioned before that I love my husband for lots of reasons. Sometimes I overlook reasons I love him and then I'm reminded when something special happens, like at our son's basketball game on Saturday...
Our 11-year-old's basketball team started their playoffs over the weekend and were playing in the first round that afternoon. Three of the team members' dads are coaches, including my husband who happens to be an assistant.
Our team has had a great season (5-2 overall) and we were playing against the best team in the leaugue, the team that is undefeated. One of our better players wasn't there on Saturday, which was unfortunate since he leads us in scoring and is the best ball handler on the team.
The game was so exciting! It was close the entire time and eventually went into overtime, not once but twice. Double overtimes are nail-biting, heart-pounding, gut-wrenching times for me. Our kids played really hard and did their best, but they lost the game in the end.
Now to the special thing that happened that reminded me once again why I love my husband so much...
In our basketball league there are rules about kids sitting out a certain number of quarters so that everyone gets a chance to play as well as rest. The group of kids who were on the floor at the end of regulation play were the same kids that played in the 1st overtime. When the game went into the 2nd overtime, the coach was having difficulty deciding whether to leave the lineup alone or make substitutions. There were three kids sitting on the bench who hadn't played since the 3rd quarter, which meant they were "cold." And the three players these kids would be substituted for just happened to be the three coaches' kids.
The coach looked at my husband and told him he couldn't make the decision. Here were these kids who'd played so hard and their dads were sitting there on the bench as well. I'm sure it was a tough decision. The coach asked my husband to decide what to do.
My husband made substitutions and allowed the three kids who'd been sitting out for a long time to play. The other team's coach kept his same lineup in, not substituting one player. Who made the smarter move? I don't really know, but I know who made the best move. We don't know if we'd have won the game if our lineup hadn't changed, but that wasn't the point. The point of the game for kids this age is learning and having fun, and the only way to do that is to allow them all equal playing time.
A few people had something to say about my husband's decision after the game. One coach from another team said he'd have left in his best players and a parent on our own team couldn't believe what he'd done. My husband just felt it was the right thing to do and he wouldn't have felt good about continuing the game any other way.
So there you go... another reason to add to the mound of reasons I love my husband. He's a real stand up kinda guy!
Our 11-year-old's basketball team started their playoffs over the weekend and were playing in the first round that afternoon. Three of the team members' dads are coaches, including my husband who happens to be an assistant.
Our team has had a great season (5-2 overall) and we were playing against the best team in the leaugue, the team that is undefeated. One of our better players wasn't there on Saturday, which was unfortunate since he leads us in scoring and is the best ball handler on the team.
The game was so exciting! It was close the entire time and eventually went into overtime, not once but twice. Double overtimes are nail-biting, heart-pounding, gut-wrenching times for me. Our kids played really hard and did their best, but they lost the game in the end.
Now to the special thing that happened that reminded me once again why I love my husband so much...
In our basketball league there are rules about kids sitting out a certain number of quarters so that everyone gets a chance to play as well as rest. The group of kids who were on the floor at the end of regulation play were the same kids that played in the 1st overtime. When the game went into the 2nd overtime, the coach was having difficulty deciding whether to leave the lineup alone or make substitutions. There were three kids sitting on the bench who hadn't played since the 3rd quarter, which meant they were "cold." And the three players these kids would be substituted for just happened to be the three coaches' kids.
The coach looked at my husband and told him he couldn't make the decision. Here were these kids who'd played so hard and their dads were sitting there on the bench as well. I'm sure it was a tough decision. The coach asked my husband to decide what to do.
My husband made substitutions and allowed the three kids who'd been sitting out for a long time to play. The other team's coach kept his same lineup in, not substituting one player. Who made the smarter move? I don't really know, but I know who made the best move. We don't know if we'd have won the game if our lineup hadn't changed, but that wasn't the point. The point of the game for kids this age is learning and having fun, and the only way to do that is to allow them all equal playing time.
A few people had something to say about my husband's decision after the game. One coach from another team said he'd have left in his best players and a parent on our own team couldn't believe what he'd done. My husband just felt it was the right thing to do and he wouldn't have felt good about continuing the game any other way.
So there you go... another reason to add to the mound of reasons I love my husband. He's a real stand up kinda guy!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Laughter is the best medicine!
My kids crack me up sometimes. My oldest, in particular, is starting to develop quite the sense of humor. While eating lunch on Saturday, my youngest son was telling me about his basketball practice, and listing the names of the kids who'd shown up that day. He told me Simon was there and unsure which kid that was, I asked, "Who's Simon?"
That's when my oldest son, not even missing a beat, said very seriously, "You know, Mom, he's one of the chipmunks." (Insert drum sound like at a comedy club) Oh, that boy reminds me of my father-in-law, who is forever making a joke.
*************************************************************************************
Later we were watching TV with the boys and there was a very dramatic scene unfolding during this show where a SWAT team was called in. My youngest son said, "What's a 'squat' team?"
Admittedly, it doesn't sound all that funny now, but trust me, it WAS funny. You had to be there. I nearly peed my pants.
Who needs to read the comics when I have two comics of my own? Isn't laughter, especially unanticipated laughter, truly the best medicine?
That's when my oldest son, not even missing a beat, said very seriously, "You know, Mom, he's one of the chipmunks." (Insert drum sound like at a comedy club) Oh, that boy reminds me of my father-in-law, who is forever making a joke.
*************************************************************************************
Later we were watching TV with the boys and there was a very dramatic scene unfolding during this show where a SWAT team was called in. My youngest son said, "What's a 'squat' team?"
Admittedly, it doesn't sound all that funny now, but trust me, it WAS funny. You had to be there. I nearly peed my pants.
Who needs to read the comics when I have two comics of my own? Isn't laughter, especially unanticipated laughter, truly the best medicine?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Mom, look what I can do!
Kids get so excited when they've learned a new skill, don't they? I remember when I was a kid and I learned to tie my shoes, snap my fingers and whistle, all around the same time. I thought I was the coolest!
My children are no different. As soon as they've acquired a new skill, they want to show me and everyone else willing to watch and/or listen. After all, what's special about this newly acquired skill if you can't share it with others, right?
My 8-year-old son came up to me a couple of days ago, excited beyond measure, saying, "Mom, look what I can do!" Naturally I dropped everything and gave him my complete and undivided attention. And this is what he did...
HE MADE ARMPIT NOISES THAT SOUND AS IF SOMEONE IS PASSING GAS RATHER LOUDLY.
Isn't that special and worthy of high praise? We're so proud!
I just looked at my son, trying my best to stifle a giggle, and said, "Where did you learn to do that?" I've never seen or heard my oldest doing the armpit noise maneuver, and of course my husband and I don't either, so where did our son pick up this wonderful new skill?
My son tells me that a friend of his from church taught him.
"Which friend?" I ask.
Turns out it's our preacher's daughter who's been teaching our son these new tricks. You know, I've always heard that PKs (Preacher's Kids) are the ones you have to look out for and now I know it's true. I might just have to have a heart-to-heart with our preacher regarding the corruption of our child.
My children are no different. As soon as they've acquired a new skill, they want to show me and everyone else willing to watch and/or listen. After all, what's special about this newly acquired skill if you can't share it with others, right?
My 8-year-old son came up to me a couple of days ago, excited beyond measure, saying, "Mom, look what I can do!" Naturally I dropped everything and gave him my complete and undivided attention. And this is what he did...
HE MADE ARMPIT NOISES THAT SOUND AS IF SOMEONE IS PASSING GAS RATHER LOUDLY.
Isn't that special and worthy of high praise? We're so proud!
I just looked at my son, trying my best to stifle a giggle, and said, "Where did you learn to do that?" I've never seen or heard my oldest doing the armpit noise maneuver, and of course my husband and I don't either, so where did our son pick up this wonderful new skill?
My son tells me that a friend of his from church taught him.
"Which friend?" I ask.
Turns out it's our preacher's daughter who's been teaching our son these new tricks. You know, I've always heard that PKs (Preacher's Kids) are the ones you have to look out for and now I know it's true. I might just have to have a heart-to-heart with our preacher regarding the corruption of our child.
Friday, February 22, 2008
We're having an "ice day!"
It's 11:09am as I begin blogging and I'm still in my jammies. Why? Icy weather has made its way to the DC area and the kids are out of school today. My boys are broken-hearted, of course, and are forcing themselves to play the Wii all day today. I'm "piddling," (a very technical term I might add) doing a little of this and a little of that. You know... emailing, googling, playing, blogging... all on the computer. I'm ignoring all the things I really need to be doing and I'm enjoying every precious minute of it!
My sweet husband has been away all week on a business trip and he was due to return yesterday afternoon, however, the ice that my children were so excited about getting actually fell in the area where my husband currently is and his flight was ultimately canceled. Hopefully he'll be able to make it home today.
I think I really needed an "ice day." I'd been running to and fro all week, seemingly busy every second, but not really accomplishing a whole lot. Ever have days (and weeks) like that? Today is just a relaxing kind of day with nowhere to be (except the metro station later today when I pick up my man) and nothing pressing to do. Praise God for giving us a day to just chill! Days like today are few and far between and I appreciate them when they come along unexpectedly.
Gee, all this "work" on the computer has really worn me out. (Yawning now...) I think I might be in need of a short nap.
My sweet husband has been away all week on a business trip and he was due to return yesterday afternoon, however, the ice that my children were so excited about getting actually fell in the area where my husband currently is and his flight was ultimately canceled. Hopefully he'll be able to make it home today.
I think I really needed an "ice day." I'd been running to and fro all week, seemingly busy every second, but not really accomplishing a whole lot. Ever have days (and weeks) like that? Today is just a relaxing kind of day with nowhere to be (except the metro station later today when I pick up my man) and nothing pressing to do. Praise God for giving us a day to just chill! Days like today are few and far between and I appreciate them when they come along unexpectedly.
Gee, all this "work" on the computer has really worn me out. (Yawning now...) I think I might be in need of a short nap.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
My Little American Idol
Like I've mentioned before, I'm an American Idol fan, and it's just gotten more interesting now that the top 24 singers have been chosen and they are performing live this week. I watched the guys perform last night and was fairly impressed. I was all set to watch the girls do their thing tonight and realized I was going to have to miss a little of the show due to picking up my oldest son from basketball practice (My husband is out of town, so I'm single parenting this week). Now this really cramps my style as American Idol is practically the only show I try not to miss. These coaches really shouldn't schedule practices on American Idol night. I mean REALLY!
Our boys like the show too and when my youngest son and I had to leave to run taxi service for his brother, I asked him, "Do you want to be on American Idol one day?"
He looked at me as if I was high and said, "No!"
I said, "Why not? You have a great singing voice!"
He said, "Yeah, I know I have a good voice." The kid DOES have self-confidence, doesn't he?
Then he looks at me and says, "Do you really think American Idol will still exist when I'm 16?"
Good point.
Our boys like the show too and when my youngest son and I had to leave to run taxi service for his brother, I asked him, "Do you want to be on American Idol one day?"
He looked at me as if I was high and said, "No!"
I said, "Why not? You have a great singing voice!"
He said, "Yeah, I know I have a good voice." The kid DOES have self-confidence, doesn't he?
Then he looks at me and says, "Do you really think American Idol will still exist when I'm 16?"
Good point.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Elementary Math?
My son came home today with a math problem that has stumped me, and I've had to email it to my husband since he's out of town for a couple more days. I feel so stupid because this is supposed be ELEMENTARY math and yet I don't get it. Here's the problem...
Find a set of numbers that will satisfy the following conditions:
The median of a set of 20 numbers is 24.
The range is 42.
To the nearest whole number the mean is 24.
No more than three numbers are the same.
Show your strategy.
Please tell me this is challenging and I'm not just plain ignorant! Did you have math like this in ELEMENTARY school? I know I didn't. I realize they want kids to think outside the box and that's great, but this is way beyond thinking outside MY box. I think I might need a math tutor to help me help my son.
NEWS FLASH UPDATE: I finally figured out the math problem and, believe it or not, I didn't even need my husband's help... THIS time!
Find a set of numbers that will satisfy the following conditions:
The median of a set of 20 numbers is 24.
The range is 42.
To the nearest whole number the mean is 24.
No more than three numbers are the same.
Show your strategy.
Please tell me this is challenging and I'm not just plain ignorant! Did you have math like this in ELEMENTARY school? I know I didn't. I realize they want kids to think outside the box and that's great, but this is way beyond thinking outside MY box. I think I might need a math tutor to help me help my son.
NEWS FLASH UPDATE: I finally figured out the math problem and, believe it or not, I didn't even need my husband's help... THIS time!
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