Our household had managed to acquire the flu and I was getting through the final head congestion stage when my mother was warning me that it was much worse this year. To me, it seemed like it was a slightly worse flu than the last time I had it (more severe respiratory symptoms than I’m used to), but hardly a pandemic. This year, though, I did make an extra effort to stay home and keep the kids home as much as possible to keep from spreading it. Yesterday I found out about the public health emergency declared in Boston, and the problems in other large cities, like Chicago and Dallas. We have a HUGE vat of hand sanitizer and I’m getting smaller ones for the vehicles and my handbag.
Tag Archives: kids
Today I got a phone call.
It was Al. He was trying to get to the bottom of a situation at school that stood to really be a hot mess. He told me that he checked in with the office and they told him one thing, but he was calling to make sure everything was okay with me before he did what they said. I told him to go ahead and that I would resolve the situation before the end of the day, but I was really impressed with how he handled everything. At times like this I’m so happy that he is growing into a young person who makes good choices for himself. I’m also sad that he is getting so mature so fast, but that’s the way life is.
Wouldn’t you know it.
After a post like my last one, challenges were popping up for me left, right and center. Each of my children tested me this morning. Al decided he wanted to attempt to start an argument when what he needed to do was apologize for what he did wrong, do what I told him to do in the first place and go on with his life. Max decided that he wanted to take his shoes and socks off when the bus pulled off. Then he thought he was going to go on the bus with half his clothes in the house. Little A decided that not being happy with life was cause to be allowed to stay home (or maybe she figured she’d take advantage of what she perceived as an opportunity created by the foolishness of her brothers). Either way, she was wrong. Maybe everybody will be in a better mood once they get home from school. I hope so.
Messy shoes.
This morning I was out walking with Nat (the edgy one). Exercise helps both of us to navigate life. We came to this ridiculous pile of dog poop and I tried to steer him away from it but he seemed determined to step in it. Then he was determined to get it off of his shoe. Yuck.
I know that kids have to learn from their own mistakes, but I do feel life can be hard enough and I wish someone would have steered me away from a number of the piles I stepped into during my adolescence and young adulthood. There were times when people tried and I didn’t listen (Nat has to get it from somewhere, right?), but I wish I had received more guidance so I try to offer more to my kids. Sometimes it sinks in. Sometimes, notsomuch.
