Schoolhouse Rocks

Tuesdays Tunes is following our school theme this week... Who remembers "SchoolHouse Rock"?  If you haven't seen it, check out the videos on YouTube.  Love the 1970's-ish-ness of all of them.

School Sniffles

I am so far behind! Life has been so chaotic and busy and I've been just plain ol' exhausted and not able to keep up with everything. So, only ONE MONTH LATE, here are a few pictures of my darling wee ones on their first days of school.  (Precious started approx one week before the smaller children.)

Precious entered fifth grade.

Precious is getting to be way too cool for me.  The Little Miss is turning into a "tween" as we speak.  Suddenly, she has very strong ideas about EVERYTHING -- from the clothes she wears, to her hair cuts, to what is too "lame" to eat in a school lunch, to who is allowed to walk her to the bus stop each morning.  

Little Princess started kindergarten. 

 (Insert whimpering, sad mom)

 

Princess has been ready to go to school for well over a year.  Since she had her kindergarten readiness test in January 2010, she has asked me DAILY "When is it my turn to go to 'chool?" (We have problems with words that start with an "s" sound).  Literally, I kid you not, the child has asked DAILY -- often more than one, two, or fifty-eight times a day -- "When can I be big and go to 'chool?!"

Little Man started preschool. 

(Insert wailing, sobbing, 

tear-streaked-face mommy)

Look at how brave my boy is!  His tiny hands are fisted and he's to make new friends, or perhaps do battle?  Not sure which one... he's definitely the most shy and least likely to want to make new friends.  He's an observer who stands back until his sisters pull him into their play.  Now what?  What happens when his sisters aren't there to encourage him to join the masses already enjoying the fabulous-ness of preschool classroom toys?

I cannot believe my babies are all in school.  Aren't I supposed to feel some sense of freedom or accomplishment now that everyone has at least made it to the next phase of their journey?  Or will it be different than I expected?  Instead of feeling accomplished, will I feel a sense of grief and loss at each new stage of life's journey with my wee ones?  SIGH!

I need a small, tiny, precious baby to cuddle.

Sniff, sniff, sniff!

Beautiful Crying? Not On My Watch

The past few months, perhaps, I've mentioned my emotional challenges and slight (aka major breakdowns).  A few weekends ago, I had quite a meltdown.  Let's just call it an "Ugly Cry".  I'm happy to report that I'm getting better every day.  Your support and sympathy was not only greatly appreciated, it lifted my spirits to heights usually only experienced after consumption of several consecutive chocolate bars.

Surprisingly, Husband was scared shitless very concerned about me during the Ugly Cry.  I've been known to cry, but I do my best to NEVER cry around him -- or the children.

So even though he was hoping to avoid my crying jag by staying clear of our bedroom where I was holed-up in the afternoon, he was unsuccessful.  The only bathroom in our home is on our second level, right outside our bedroom.  Apparently Husband tried to tiptoe up the stairs and into the bathroom, but he made a mistake when he flushed the toilet.  I heard the toilet flush and called out, "Who's there?!" and he was stuck popping his head through the bedroom door.  He took one glance at my puffy eyes, red nose, and lack of motivation to get out of bed to make a family supper (because in my world, Ugly Cry automatically exempts you from cooking) and said ever so carefully (lest my temper flare at a random inflection in his tone of voice were to set me off again...) "You okay?"

At that point, I was F.I.N.E. (F**ked-up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional) and simply nodded.

But boy, oh boy!  What an awful Ugly Cry will get you.

Ugly Cry got me:

* Take-out supper for the family.

* I didn't have to fold one piece of laundry all weekend.

* Children were kept occupied so I could lay in bed all afternoon, reading to my hearts content. 

* No smart-ass comments from Husband for an entire weekend!
* AND, biggest bonus, he cleaned the toilet for the first time EVER in our decade of time together.

SIGH!  

Let me reiterate: I'm happy to report that I'm getting better every day.

Robin Williams

I've probably posted about this before, but it still cracks my arse up -- AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!!! It contains some very naughty words, so put the wee ones in their room for a few minutes and listen...

Pass It Over!

I absolutely adore Bill Cosby. How can you go wrong with that man?!?!?! I've been excessively stressed out recently, so as I try to relax, please enjoy some good ol' Bill Cosby.

To Whom It May Concern

Dear Other Drivers on My Morning (or Afternoon) Route:

I realize you are trying to get your child to (or from) school... but so am I. And in doing so, we have to drive on residential streets where people (rudely) park on both sides - which means that one of us has to get over and make room for the other. And you know what, Other Drivers? It wouldn't kill you to be THAT polite and accommodating person once in a while.

Listen! Just because you're rolling in a Hummer the size of mother-effing Alaska does not mean you are automatically entitled to the right-of-way. Bigger does not equal more important, folks! You can pull over and wait just as easily as I can. And while we're on the subject: when you do insist on barging your way through a skinny little pathway with cars on either side, at least wait until I can pull over. I don't feel like grating along the side of a parked car just because you've got to power your big arse on through rightthissecond. And no, there's not enough room. It's too close for comfort. I'm in a Dodge Caravan minivan here, not a flippin' SmartCar.

As long as I’m on a roll -- one more thing, Other Drivers, when I do pull over and let you pass (which I seem to do 98.1% of the time, you pushy a-holes), at least give me a wave. A smile. A lift of the finger. Anything to acknowledge that you actually appreciate me sacrificing two seconds of my valuable time so that you can motor on uninterrupted. Would it hurt to show some appreciation, Other Drivers? No, it wouldn't. I'm not asking you to blow me kisses. Damn.

Please think about all this before I see you again tomorrow morning. Or your big stupid vehicle might just get sideswiped.  (Think of the scene from the movie Friend Green Tomatoes with Kathy Bates in the grocery store parking lot…)

Sincerely,

One Ticked-Off, Mini-Van Driving, Manic Mommy

Bang On The Drum

Just because... this is how I feel today.



Bang On The Drum
~ Todd Rundgren

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day

Ever since I was a tiny boy
I don't want no candy
I don't need no toy
I took a stick and an old coffee can
I bang on that thing 'til I got
Blisters on my hand because

When I get older they think I'm a fool
The teacher told me I should stay after school
She caught me pounding on the desk with my hands
But my licks was so hot
I made the teacher wanna dance
And that's why

Listen to this
Every day when I get home from work
I feel so frustrated
The boss is a jerk
And I get my sticks and go out to the shed
And I pound on that drum like it was the boss's head
Because

I can bang that drum
Hey, you wanna take a bang at it?
I can do this all day