Your frother story reminded me of a time my son put a remote control car in my daughter’s hair and turned it on! 😱😱 I’m sorry. 😢 Hopefully you can laugh about it someday.
I laughed about it quite quickly -- what were they thinking? (they weren't) But now I am aware of a previous risk factor I didn't need to consider with only buzz cuts in the house.
I accept your condolences, gratefully. I am beginning to recover from my bad attitude and try to realize this is a blessing, but uh, I've been particularly pleasant this week...
I guess you don't get to pick when blessings are given, but it felt a little like someone was shoving a present in my face while I was trying to do the dishes, and I just wanted to get the kitchen clean, and they wanted to give me a fancy thing I've been asking for, but then I was like, "I wanted to be sitting down with hot coffee to open this present" and my idealist plans for "how it should go" have been foiled yet again. LOL. And here I am whining about a gift because I wanted a clean kitchen (metaphorically and actually)
This is absolutley brilliant, the way you turn these everyday disasters into comedy gold. The frother incident perfectly captures how kids can weaponize the most random household items lol. My nephew once got his whole fist stuck in a pringles can and we legit had to call a neighbor to help figure it out. Something about the chaos beeing such a universal experience makes these stories feel like secret parenting handshakes.
First of all, I feel your moving pain, though I am a little further down the timeline than you. Moving with kids boiling about is a bit, well more than a bit, INSANE - I’ve done it once. Your 13 brings you up to hero status in my book! Worthy of a cape - if Edna allowed it! I DID haVE to shoehorn 25 years of stuff into an apartment on the second floor of a city building with a curved staircase when we downsized. I distinctly remember rising from among the boxes in a full on Scarlett O’Hara hysteria declaring in a semi scream, “As God is my witness, I will never move again!” While I brandished an old curtain rod and a stack of books.
As for homeschooling high school and middle school, I did. But many factors went into that decision. First, I had learning centers for Math and Science. I could not have kept up with those two subjects on my own. I had great math and higher science teachers do that for me! Eternally grateful because they kept my teens on task. I also had a really great youth orchestra for my son to be in. And I taught drama for years to my kids and others in the HS community - we did 33 plays when all was said and done. That filled up a great need for getting together with other teens and having teamwork and something to be proud of together. Drama is great for that! So, in short, high school resources helped me make an informed decision. I could not have done it without them. But let me emphasize: each family is different and decisions rest on a myriad of circumstances. Hope this helps.
Yes. I have been in that mode a time or two. I always get the bad George Strait song going through my head when I'm packing, "Just give it awayyyy, ain't nothing in this house worth fighting over, and we're both tired of fighting anyway, just give it awayyyy"
This is helpful feedback -- outsourcing at some level and having an outlet for social ties seem to be common themes of the older years.
“I distinctly remember rising from among the boxes in a full on Scarlett O’Hara hysteria declaring in a semi scream, “As God is my witness, I will never move again!” While I brandished an old curtain rod and a stack of books.”
Adding that my friends who joined a classical enrichment homeschool program (think, college-like schedule with classes that meet 2x a week and teachers who manage all teaching and homework) in the later years of home ed really really loved it. Esp for her son, my friend cannot overstate the value of young male teachers as role models. Mom’s voice becomes that of a Charlie Brown adult in certain years for certain kids, so this was a good fit for her family. They have since moved and are worried about not having that option for the next set of teens- so much so that they may move somewhere with better schools.
Yes. Gosh, I hear all of this. There are not a lot of options here, so then it's thinking who could we band together with to create some options, how much work would that be etc. etc...
I have to remember that my current state of overwhelm is also not a static variable ;)
Well done for keeping your little people alive and fed and relatively clothed (as they will allow it which is often not much.) Boys are, indeed, border collies!
No decisions in desolation is a mantra for the ages. And every January.
We got a Therasage Infrared sauna (on a black friday sale). I haven't used it as much as I'd like due to pregnancy, but I'm wanting to get back into a routine. I often cannot exercise hard enough to break a sweat (although living in a warmer climate help. I set it up last spring and then just gardened in July and that was a pretty great sauna, ha!). But I do notice a difference in how I feel when I"m using it consistently, esp. in the winter. I have to start cautiously, because it can overwhelm your system if you've got sluggish lymph already. Lots of hydration, and start with less time and less heat than you think you can handle.
I both laughed out loud and nearly cried reading this. I also read about half the essay out loud to my husband because there was no other way to convey the strong sense of "same" that I felt. Grateful for your words that make me feel so very understood. Good luck with the post-move and settling into the new place!
Your frother story reminded me of a time my son put a remote control car in my daughter’s hair and turned it on! 😱😱 I’m sorry. 😢 Hopefully you can laugh about it someday.
I laughed about it quite quickly -- what were they thinking? (they weren't) But now I am aware of a previous risk factor I didn't need to consider with only buzz cuts in the house.
We have had this too - when a drone flown by my son ended up tangled (quite tangled) in my daughter’s hair. Rite of passage?!
haha maybe so! I had to cut it out to my daughter’s hair, which was a bit sad.
YOU MOVED DURING CHRISTMAS, ANNELISE?!?! I just want to clutch you to my bosom and sob. I'm so sorry.
I accept your condolences, gratefully. I am beginning to recover from my bad attitude and try to realize this is a blessing, but uh, I've been particularly pleasant this week...
I guess you don't get to pick when blessings are given, but it felt a little like someone was shoving a present in my face while I was trying to do the dishes, and I just wanted to get the kitchen clean, and they wanted to give me a fancy thing I've been asking for, but then I was like, "I wanted to be sitting down with hot coffee to open this present" and my idealist plans for "how it should go" have been foiled yet again. LOL. And here I am whining about a gift because I wanted a clean kitchen (metaphorically and actually)
This is absolutley brilliant, the way you turn these everyday disasters into comedy gold. The frother incident perfectly captures how kids can weaponize the most random household items lol. My nephew once got his whole fist stuck in a pringles can and we legit had to call a neighbor to help figure it out. Something about the chaos beeing such a universal experience makes these stories feel like secret parenting handshakes.
I would just say that I try not to say things could never happen anymore... there are always surprises!
First of all, I feel your moving pain, though I am a little further down the timeline than you. Moving with kids boiling about is a bit, well more than a bit, INSANE - I’ve done it once. Your 13 brings you up to hero status in my book! Worthy of a cape - if Edna allowed it! I DID haVE to shoehorn 25 years of stuff into an apartment on the second floor of a city building with a curved staircase when we downsized. I distinctly remember rising from among the boxes in a full on Scarlett O’Hara hysteria declaring in a semi scream, “As God is my witness, I will never move again!” While I brandished an old curtain rod and a stack of books.
As for homeschooling high school and middle school, I did. But many factors went into that decision. First, I had learning centers for Math and Science. I could not have kept up with those two subjects on my own. I had great math and higher science teachers do that for me! Eternally grateful because they kept my teens on task. I also had a really great youth orchestra for my son to be in. And I taught drama for years to my kids and others in the HS community - we did 33 plays when all was said and done. That filled up a great need for getting together with other teens and having teamwork and something to be proud of together. Drama is great for that! So, in short, high school resources helped me make an informed decision. I could not have done it without them. But let me emphasize: each family is different and decisions rest on a myriad of circumstances. Hope this helps.
Yes. I have been in that mode a time or two. I always get the bad George Strait song going through my head when I'm packing, "Just give it awayyyy, ain't nothing in this house worth fighting over, and we're both tired of fighting anyway, just give it awayyyy"
This is helpful feedback -- outsourcing at some level and having an outlet for social ties seem to be common themes of the older years.
“I distinctly remember rising from among the boxes in a full on Scarlett O’Hara hysteria declaring in a semi scream, “As God is my witness, I will never move again!” While I brandished an old curtain rod and a stack of books.”
Denise, you make us all feel seen!! 😂
Adding that my friends who joined a classical enrichment homeschool program (think, college-like schedule with classes that meet 2x a week and teachers who manage all teaching and homework) in the later years of home ed really really loved it. Esp for her son, my friend cannot overstate the value of young male teachers as role models. Mom’s voice becomes that of a Charlie Brown adult in certain years for certain kids, so this was a good fit for her family. They have since moved and are worried about not having that option for the next set of teens- so much so that they may move somewhere with better schools.
Yes. Gosh, I hear all of this. There are not a lot of options here, so then it's thinking who could we band together with to create some options, how much work would that be etc. etc...
I have to remember that my current state of overwhelm is also not a static variable ;)
Well done for keeping your little people alive and fed and relatively clothed (as they will allow it which is often not much.) Boys are, indeed, border collies!
No decisions in desolation is a mantra for the ages. And every January.
We too found Boxes for Katje at the library some years ago and now have our own copy. I love it.
Also second your homeschooling older children questions....
Also interested to know more about your pop up sauna...
We got a Therasage Infrared sauna (on a black friday sale). I haven't used it as much as I'd like due to pregnancy, but I'm wanting to get back into a routine. I often cannot exercise hard enough to break a sweat (although living in a warmer climate help. I set it up last spring and then just gardened in July and that was a pretty great sauna, ha!). But I do notice a difference in how I feel when I"m using it consistently, esp. in the winter. I have to start cautiously, because it can overwhelm your system if you've got sluggish lymph already. Lots of hydration, and start with less time and less heat than you think you can handle.
I both laughed out loud and nearly cried reading this. I also read about half the essay out loud to my husband because there was no other way to convey the strong sense of "same" that I felt. Grateful for your words that make me feel so very understood. Good luck with the post-move and settling into the new place!