It's the fourth week of school here. Both Baboos have sniffles but are well enough to go to school. I have some projects to work on, as well as the regular duties to keep the household running.
Whines: the state of the world.
How's it going for you?
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46 comments:
Thanks for hosting, esperanza!
Things are moving at a typical September pace around me, which means I need lots of intentional "Slow Down Sue" moments. It doesn't all need to get done this week! I'm still a bit like I was in high school and university. We would get the syllabus and project outlines for the term and a little part of me wanted all the assignments done immediately.
AW: At least I've finally learned that about myself. Better late than never?
Thank you, Esperanza!
Convergence of albatross projects right now -- supposed to finish 2 sets of things by the end of the month.
I'm watching the news and horrified by the latest school shooting. Do you guys know the blogger History Enthusiast? The prof who was killed was a good friend of hers.
Another damned campus shooting. I'm beyond words at this point... As many have pointed out, if Sandy Hook was not enough to get our country moving on sensible gun control measures (following, and followed by, so very many other horrifying gun incidents), there really is nothing shocking enough to do the trick. I have to believe there will be a way to limit the unspeakable evil that is the NRA, but finding it is not happening today.
xoxo
I can't even think about Sandy Hook anymore, now that the Baboos are that age. Horrible.
Sue, Slow Down! I have a similar issue when the Baboos return to school. I want to do all the things right now!
Yes, it's a marathon, not a sprint!
So, the other thing that came up late last week was a call from SIL's facility, saying she's "OK" except for getting really agitated and screaming, like a couple times a day. They are trying to get her distracted from spinning around about how her first ex is coming to marry her and he'll have a Bentley, and yadda. (The first ex may be long gone, but he is not forgotten...)
They suggested we get some magazine subscriptions -- important for her name to be on them -- because they think that will calm her down in times of trouble. If they can use this for a distraction, worth a try. Got a couple subscriptions. And then I found out that our recycling center has a magazine bin in the "free exchange" zone, so I scored a few mags there and put fake mailing labels on them. We'll see how that goes!
Kathy a, the fake mailing label idea is brilliant. I hope that it helps.
W: E is still very sore, and today decided that she would like to wear a tensor bandage, but only if I tape her two legs together. I have no idea. But she cries whenever I separate her legs, and she's easy to manage when they're taped together. This is inconvenient for diaper changes,especially because she's in pull-ups. (Mr. Q is coming home with a second tensor, because she apparently doesn't like having only one leg bandaged.)
QWP, oh! Can you come up with a little something similar to use on a favorite toy? Then she can be the parent or friend helping the toy's leg feel better. Just an idea.
Kathy: that's what I tried at naptime, and it didn't go well. Stubborn toddlers. BUT!! A cookie sitting out of her reach gave her the incentive to get her leg free, so the she could get around independently. And then Mr. Q came home with adhesive tensor, and cut two bandages to the right length for her little legs, and taped up each leg (separately). Now she's happy, because she didn't like having only one leg bandaged.
Very resourceful kathy!! I wouldn't have thought of fake labels.
(((QWP))) (((E))) I hope it all starts to heal up quickly. I like the idea of putting a bandage/wrapping on a favourite toy. Solidarity always helps!
W: Today was our kitteh's regular check up. She's 16 so I knew she wouldn't pass with flying colours. She has good eyes, good ears, no apparent joint pain or mobility problems, and good blood work... except for her renal tests. She isn't concentrating her urine properly which likely means her little kidneys are tired of working. Her heart also seems to be a tad enlarged but the vet isn't too worried about that as her lungs are strong and she has no shortness of breath.
Anyway, I have to take her back tomorrow for one more test, then the vet will know better how to proceed. New food for sure, possible subcutaneous fluids. :(
Aw, poor kitty.
kathy a, genius with the fake mailing label idea. (And I'm impressed that her caregivers can come up with creative ideas to distract her, too).
QWP, glad you figured out what E wanted with the leg wrap business. I was wondering if it was like taping your jammed finger to the one next to it, to give it a little more stability. But I guess it was simpler (in toddler world) than that.
((( Sue and kitteh ))) It doesn't sound like a bad checkup for the grand old girl, though! xoxo
(((Sue and kitty))) I hope you guys are able to sort out the renal issues soon.
Kathy, I definitely assumed it was like taping two fingers together. It might also be that, with the big, old stretchy tensor and tiny legs, I was getting the tensor more firmly wrapped when it was around both legs. This new, adhesive tensor that Mr. Q brought home is perfect, and she's so happy. Hopefully this will help speed up the healing process.
W: Mr. Q has to be gone for a work thing from Wednesday to Friday, and the kid is still injured, and she and I are coming down with his cold now. I'm feeling whiiiiiiiiiny about all of this. I'm already so tired from how high maintenance she's being through the day, and I get to hand her off in the late afternoon.
That is whine-worthy, QWP, definitely.
Hugs to QWP and E!
W: Neighbor Boy is having a very rough transition to 6th grade. Feels invisible at school, not with any friends in any classes, worried about being picked on about his size. (He is very tall for his age, and also is very solid....). Wanted us to google how to make friends. :( Stayed home from school Friday due to not feeling well which turned out to be anxiety. Just sent a letter to his teachers, and now hoping for some strategies....
Makes me want to cry. I want to just fix everything for him, and I can't, and also I know I shouldn't. But I still want to.
AW: ran a 5k this weekend. also, have started to do a bit of jogging with Neighbor Boy because he also asked us to help him get more fit. Also, Neighbor Girl chanted from the torah at this morning's service, and did a wonderful job! When did she get so grown up?!?!?!
--Neighbor Lady
((( NB ))) Starting middle school is rough, especially without friends in his classes. Yet. Wish I had some good suggestions, too, but the only one I can think of is to pursue any activities he is interested in, and just be nice to other kids.
In 6th grade, I was as tall as your average 3d or 4th grader, and one new boy in my class was 6 feet tall! But he was gentle, kind, smart, funny, and everybody liked him once they got to know him a little. xoxo
Thank you kathy a.!!!!!
--NL
(((NL))) It's so hard when you can't just fix it all, isn't it? Good for him for wanting to run with you! And NG chanting from the torah is a super proud parent moment!
QWP - very whine-worthy!! Whine away...
W: In the continuing saga of No Clue How to Dress for the Weather, I changed three times this morning. When it's near freezing in the morning and 30 with the humidex by early afternoon, it's a challenge! I ended up with layers. *sigh* It should not be this hard to get dressed!
((Neighbor Boy)) Middle school is tough.
so sleepy.
W: Homework time here is half-miserable. Sweet does her own thing in her room, winding down from the day. Mini likes to dive in to her homework immediately. This goes well. Then when it's time to persuade Sweet to do her homework, Mini will NOT leave her in peace. She is literally in her lap, hanging over her head, etc. Makes me crazy. Causes me to lose it. Mini responds neither to polite invitations to go do something else, nor to demands. Nothing has worked. Anything that might convince Mini to leave the room (ie screen time) would be equally attractive to Sweet and leave her more distracted than Mini's presence does.
W: Additionally, and probably related, Sweet HATES it when I correct a word when she is reading. That's why I'm reading with her, yes? I've asked the special ed teacher for some hints on the reading part. We'll see what she says.
Would it work to do a schedule that puts wind-down / play time first for everybody, and homework time a little later? Mini probably has easier homework, and so she will be all over Sweet as soon as she's done, unless there is also a no-bothering rule for homework time. This is how parents end up with so many rules (and sticker charts), trying to find the balance of needs. If memory serves.
Would Sweet feel less angst if you asked her to "try again" when she gets a word wrong? This sounds like an "I'd rather figure it out myself" complaint, because victory in reading is sooooo satisfying. ;)
Mini LOVES homework and wants to get started right away. Apple: tree, on that one. The issue is that she wants a playmate when she's done, rather than playing by herself. I tried to get her to think of things she might do, and the only substantive suggestion she had was "play outside," so maybe we'll try that tomorrow. It was ninety-freaking-five today, so that didn't seem pleasant to me. I am not a kindergartner.
Sweet's reading...it's more of a "let me finish this as fast as possible so I will be done with homework." "Try again" sometimes works, but not more than a few times per session. She really doesn't want me to say anything at all and is totally cool with getting the word completely wrong and moving on.
My suggestions are to get Mini to help you prep a snack for both of them, or to ask her to be the person Sweet is reading to, or send her outside to get the mail or to play for a bit (yes, 95 is hot, but how long is it for?)
Special projects for Mini? I used to keep lots of art project ideas and supplies around -- coloring, stickers, gluing stuff on cardboard, watercolors, etc. Also, useful stuff -- helping mama in the kitchen; watering plants? It's a change when they are used to doing everything together at home, and when they have different needs after school.
NL, I forgot to congratulate NG on her chanting!
Sue, may the layers be with you. One of the funniest instructions for an annual conference I went to a few times was, "Mom suggests layers," because it was hot/muggy outside, nippy-to-frozen inside.
AW: One of the albatrossi is getting all edited, chunk at a time, and pieces are off to the fabulous person who will make it orderly and pretty! So lucky someone knew of this magician, as the one who planned to help needs surgery for something fairly serious. (That last bit is a big W.)
Thinking good thoughts for the helper who needs surgery.
Also, yay on the albatross chunks (although, man, that sounds gross!)
--NL
Thanks for the good wishes for my friend!
To rephrase -- maybe "chapter" is a better description of albatross milestones than "chunk." (Don't look for me on Am@x0n, though.) But anyway, 6 chapters got sent for their fluffing and fixing!
Yay for the albatross kathy! Sorry about your friend's surgery though.
AW: Kitteh's remaining test was well withing normal range, so that's good. The vet sent me home with several new "kidney formula" (read: expensive) foods to try. She likes them all! We need to put some weight back on her, so she's livin' the dream right now. Also, no subQ fluids yet - vet wants to see if the change in diet helps first.
W: Pulled a muscle in my back. It feels like one of those "lift and twist" injuries that happen before you even realize you're doing it. Very difficult to sleep. Wah!
Yay, Kitteh! Ouchy, ouch for your back, Sue.
Anybody else a fan of that great kid who built the clock? I am horrified that the school had him arrested -- what an illustration of the power of blind pre-conceptions -- but thrilled at the support he has gotten. Think he and his family have managed the situation with exceptional grace, meeting hatred with dignity.
Liz posted a video of the young man answering questions, and one of the things he wants to do is work against that hatred, to help other kids. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/14-year-old-arrested-homemade-clock-mistaken-bomb-prompts-istandwithahmed-twitter/
Yay on albatross projects, and kitties that pass tests. Sorry for the ouchie back. Mine has been so tight. Stretching helps, when I do it. Ahem.
W: I've been really frustrated and stressed with Sweet's teacher. She's just not very communicative, but very nice. Sweet got in the car yesterday and said she has missed part of PE because she wasn't done with her work. This was not the first time she's told me she didn't finish her work. So I emailed the teacher last night to ask WTH is happening. Sweet is having a hard time focusing in class.
AW: So the teacher emailed me and then the special ed person called me, and we talked it over and they have some strategies to try to help.
AW: And Sweet came home in the nicest mood ever. I have no idea what happened to bring that on, so I'll just be thankful.
Hooray for Sweet's nice mood, and for the teachers following up quickly with communication, but I sure hope that her teacher figures out something soon.
And hooray for kitty passing the test, and being able to avoid subQ fluids for now! Boo for the twisted back, Sue! I hope it heals quickly.
A combined Mullet nomination for Kathy and NL, for "albatross chunks."
AW: after all this fear about handling E on my own during Mr.Q's trip, we had a really good night last night, and a great day today. E has handled her Daddy's absence really well (although she thinks he's in Norway right now, for some reason). And then she did way more walking today than she has since her fall! She has been consistently standing and walking, with only brief breaks, since she woke up from her afternoon nap.
AND my FIL has the day off tomorrow, and is taking E for the whole morning, to give me a break. (My in-laws offered to take her for the night tonight, but I thought that might be pushing it too much. I really need her to have a good sleep tonight.)
W: Now, if she would only fall asleep sometime soon...
Go, Team Sweet!! It is great you have that communication going! (FWIW, I was *very* slow at getting work done in my early years of elementary. And, that changed.)
Yay, E! So glad she is getting easier with having Fun Daddy away. And, yay FIL for giving mama a break!
AW: Sweet had been begging to go ride the horse, which we didn't even make time for very much in the summer. So I called and asked if we could come today. Yes, of course, they said. So we went after school, and we had fun.
W: It was ninety-fireplacing-seven degrees out there. The horse was not in favor of this activity. She and I were both super sweaty (I lead the horse around). And my feet hurt.
AW: I have had the most eclectic day ever. Starting with a conversation about Mexican Independence Day with the Baboos' principal (who I really need to talk to more. She is African American, grew up in Panama, and speaks fluent Spanish. Very intriguing). Then a visit to the barrio of Big City, where I arranged to get Mr. E's Bible rebound. Then to the fancy pants area of Big City for a meeting. Then Greek food for lunch. Then tromping around a horse pasture, getting horse snot and dust all over me.
O, what a day! That really is eclectic, Esperanza. But sounds like good fun for Sweet.
My son had some big boxes shipped here, involving an inflatable kayak and equipment. A friend of his stopped over as he was test-inflating in the driveway. He deflated, found some old swim trunks of his in the garage, and ran off to test the kayak in actual water. Not once did he raid the fridge -- which is pretty peculiar behavior....
Also, his 3 night classes this term are history of the American labor movement, African art history, and something about newswriting. All fit the general ed requirements for an AS degree, and his work is paying for it all. But he is a busy guy, between the job and the commute and 3 night classes.
BTW, I'm thrilled about the diverse night classes! He seems especially interested in the labor movement, but he has an artistic streak, and newswriting sounds good for him also. He decided to skip college after HS, but is going at it on a different path.
The night classes all sound good. I think I must be in the mood to learn something new.
And I am off to investigate inflatable kayaks :)
He's taken night classes before, but engineering-oriented as that was helpful for his work. The great thing about actually finishing up a degree is that they require a more well-rounded set of classes. Think he may have forgotten that he likes learning about a variety of things.
W: The dryer died, after a mere 25 years. AW: We still have SIL's dryer, just sitting there in another corner of the garage. W: The old one is gas; hers is electric; and the only outlet for such is behind a giant set of shelves crammed with boxes and oddments.
My husband is a total mensch, and happy as a clam to be fixing something. He is moving all the mountains around in the garage. He even took the clothes that did not dry, and hung them in the sun.
AW: It's husbands as mensches (is that the plural?) day! Mr. E came in, all decked out in his work clothes, and proclaimed he was going to go trim the bushes. And he did, and even picked up the branches!
Woot!
The excavation turned up a 3.5 foot plastic skeleton, which I do not remember at all, but correctly guessed belonged to my son. He says he doesn't really need it any more. ~~ giant eye roll ~~
My husband has a cold. I am keeping far away from him.
Yay for eclectic night courses!
Well, crappity. I'm supposed to be driving to Middle Earth Canada for a Big Chunky Meeting on Thursday of this week. I will be on my own for a number of reasons, mostly related to our upcoming election and my usual companions on these adventures being heavily involved in separate campaigns.
The traveling alone isn't a problem for me, but my back is still really icky. Lots of spasms and discomfort. It's a six hour drive each way - so UGH.
I'm scheduled for a massage on Wednesday. I really hope that helps.
Oy, Sue! Would some kind of heating pad thingy work? I think there are some nowadays that are "instant," just rub them to activate. That's a freakin' long drive. xoxo
Ouch, Sue. Hopefully it will be greatly improved by Big Chunky Meeting time.
A Pixie godmother helped today with the problem of someone in distress, somebody neither of us knows in real life. Am so grateful.
xoxo
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