My Little Math Magician

I’m using my blog as a means to brag about my son and his accomplishments.  Deal with it!

McKade won an award today!!  At one o’clock in the auditorium, members of the kindergarten and first grade classes were given awards for various achievements.

Attendance, being a good friend, and writing skills were among some of the reasons these kids were being honored.  McKade’s award was for being a “Math Magician!”

Of course Mike thinks this means that McKade has a future in engineering just like his Daddy.  And me?  What do I think?  I think my bumper sticker should say, “My kid counts better than your kid!”

Damn Fundraisers

• We paid $5.00 for a $10.00 off coupon valid TODAY ONLY at Elder Beerman,
• The 5 bucks went to the PTA, for yet another fund raiser we are doing,  so I guess that makes it OK,
• I think this is the 786th fund raiser this week year so far,
• So Mike headed over there for a little “away from home time”, as he is feeling stir crazy and trapped. (Of course the overly tight jock strap isn’t helping much.),
• He has to wear the strap as he heals from the “V”,
• So Mike’s intention was to find himself some new shoes, but of course the coupon could not be used on any of the 5 pairs they had in stock.  Yes, that’s right, 5 pairs!,
• He calls and asks if there’s anything I need.  He was in the athletic department and began mentioning a few pairs of work out pants,
• Despite the $10.00 coupon, the pants he found were still going to run at least $25.00, which means these damn pants were around $40.00 to start with.  What?  Forty dollar work-out pants?  Are you freaking kidding me?  I sweat in those bitches!  It’s not like I’d wear them to a job interview!,
• So I say no thank you, but then tried to rack my brain to figure out something else we could buy.  Wait.  This is wrong on so many levels,
• I remembered that I was wanting a new water bottle, you know one of the new stainless steel ones…so I suggest that and luckily Mike tracks one down…AND it is only $10.00!!  BINGO!!  Coupon spent!,
• Except, Mike has no cash and he is faced with using our debit card for the measly 60 cents to cover the tax…
• So then we start bantering about investing in a new down-alternative comforter…apparently they had some on sale…
• Suddenly I realize we are seriously considering spending about $60 or $70 just so Mike can avoid paying 60 cents tax on our debit card.
• HUH?
• This is not a good plan,
• Spending $ does not = saving $,
• The above mentioned all took place while we were on the phone.
• Damn fund raisers!

FEAR

Saturday night we attended the annual Bonfire at McKade’s school, as I mentioned before. What I didn’t share was the experience of losing sight of my kid for an uncomfortably long period of time.

Mike was volunteering that night at the hayride which left me alone with the boys. Normally this is not a problem for me. The boys seemed quite happy playing in areas that were close in proximity and therefore allowed me to keep a watchful eye without difficulty. I was however, aware of the potential for disaster.

When I arrived at the school that night I observed the closeness of the parking lot to the rear of the school and the unsuspecting children. I surmised that this would indeed be a vulnerable area open to trespassers with ill-intent. And even as I write this, I wonder to myself, am I passing on “hints” and/or “secrets” for next year? You may call me paranoid, I prefer safe, not sorry.

So back to the fear. Mike had a break from volunteering and we stood together and chatted all the while watching the boys enjoy themselves. Right before it was time for Mike to return to his post, McKade ran back over to the main play area. We kissed our goodbyes and off Mike went. What I didn’t see, was that McKade ran behind and caught up with Mike. My vision of this was indeed obscured by the jungle gym I thought he was still playing on.

Suddenly I realized I could not see Mack and I started to freak. I went over to where Mike was volunteering however he was already on a hayride. I just couldn’t wait until he got back. I found a friend to watch Rogan and ran to the DJ to ask him to page McKade. As this was happening, my imagination and fear was rapidly increasing. My initial, passing thoughts of a potential boundary breach by predators were now front and center. McKade did not respond to the page, and my fear was now reaching an even more intense level.

I turned to scan the area again and thankfully this time Mike and McKade were walking towards me. McKade apologized for not telling me before running after his Daddy, and in his defense, he probably assumed that he didn’t need to tell me where he was going since he was going with Mike. I did not have my cell phone with me during this trauma-averted, and I wish I would have.

But what if I did have my cell phone and upon calling Mike, McKade would not have been with him. What the hell would I have done then? Thankfully, the hypothetical is not the reality. My heart breaks for parents who have lost their children. This scare has given me a dose of harsh reality I will take this experience back to the PTA and the school so that next year, perhaps we can shore up the boundaries a bit and provide a little extra safety for our children.

Hug your kids tight and don’t assume that you are the only adult watching them. The predators lie in wait and they are watching too.

What Might Be Written in My Obituary

We were all notified today via email whether or not we were given a part in The King and I. And I did not impress enough to be given a role. This is not a surprise. And, if I’m being honest, and I usually am, there is a tiny bit of disappointment.

But perhaps it is my optimism, my ability to find the silver lining that I am able to stand back and say, “Hey, it’s ok!! I’m still busy and very happy!” You see, since McKade started school, I went and stuck my finger in quite a few pies.

I’m on the PTA at Mack’s school, even co-chairing a committee, I’m teaching a Silver Sneakers class to older adults at my gym one day a week, and Rogan and I are now making weekly visits to a nearby assisted living facility. I went from doing nothing to almost doing too much. Plus, I have been bitten by the football bug, and I have plans to follow them this season!! And I’m happy. With the addition of even one more thing to my calendar, I might have been pushed over the edge. There will be other productions, perhaps not so musical in nature, and I will try again!

No one can ever accuse me of not stepping out of my comfort zone. I even joked around the other day, that might be what’s written in my obituary: Tanzie Nielsen died happily, having found the courage to step out of her comfort zone A LOT!!!

Mrs. Llaneous Sweetness 1.0

So from time to time, sweet little things happen and I feel the need to take note…and share them! So from now on, a post entitled: Mrs. Llaneous Sweetness will appear!! I hope you derive as close to the same pleasure from reading as I do from experiencing.

♥ When I rub Rogan’s ear lobes, we both giggle uncontrollably!

♥ McKade woke himself up this morning and got dressed all himself, without any input from an adult!

♥ When Rogan says the word Chihuahua, it sounds like “Chee-ah-wah-wah”, and that makes me giggle!!

♥ While putting Rogan to bed tonight, I held him so that he was in the ‘flying’ position…I told him to put his hands out in front, and he promptly reached behind!!

♥ I went to my first PTA meeting last night and was told by one of the other Moms (who happens to volunteer in the lunchroom) how well-mannered our McKade is..she also mentioned that she often has to remind McKade to actually EAT his lunch rather than chat the time away…sounds like our boy!!

I’m Still Waiting for the Other Shoe to…

at least scuff the floor!!

The day started well, very well. Rogan, Mike and I woke McKade up for his first day of kindergarten. He was groggy, but not grumpy! He followed all directions, got dressed without complaint, ate his breakfast, and allowed me to take a bunch of pictures!! He was quite the pleasant boy!

He did express some minor hesitation regarding riding the big, yellow bus, but after some minor cajoling, he was back to tip-top confidence regarding his chosen method of transportation.

The bus came at 7:40ish am, and he was the first to board. Mike stood in the background, operating the camera while I ‘mother henned’ the situation up front and center. And I kid you not, the moment the bus pulled away, I let the tears go…I was sobbing…into my good husband’s shirt. Don’t misunderstand me, the tears are for joy, and excitement, and for change!

The whole day passed by without a hitch. There were NO frantic calls from the school begging me to come and pick up my little broken boy. Rogan and I accomplished all two things on my list and despite some serious initial opposition from him, he ended up napping like a champ.

I waited and watched the clock for a couple of hours, feeling the impending fear that my little/big boy would come home in a state of sheer exhaustion. I made a batch of his favorite chocolate chip mini muffins (as my Mum had suggested doing something special for him…) and he scarfed down 6 of them…but actually, 4 were the chocolate chip, the other two were blueberry, which up until today were NOT among his CHOSEN foods…then he asked to go out to play. I had all but set up a bed for him on the couch thinking his energy would be depleted and even in the negatives.

But I agreed to some outdoor playtime, what Mom would deny her son such fun? He played and played and played and played, without major incident until dinner.

Then he ate, and ate and ate and ate…more than I would have guessed since just hours earlier he had polished off half a dozen muffins. He ‘WII’d’ a bit with Daddy and Rogan, then relaxed on the couch for a spell, and went to bed SANS complaint—no tantrums—no breakdowns—the other shoe never dropped.

McKade sailed through his maiden voyage without a glitch!

I am the proud and pleased Momma of a 5 1/2 year old little man.

It’s Almost Time

The excitement is building.  McKade and I went school supply shopping while Mike and Rogan stayed home to install a water softener.  (This may make our dishwasher more functional, so yeah…no more hand washing dishes!!)

Anyway, there we were at the store, list in hand, and I started experiencing  more and more emotion.  I felt excited, scared, worried, insecure,  anxious…so many emotions.  My first born baby is going to school…without me…for an entire day!!  Full day kindergarten for McKade will be a great thing, I know it.  There are no doubts about his ability to handle it.  And I can too.  It’s just that every time I picture him standing there at the bus stop and enjoying a short ride to school, I then picture him stepping off the bus with no familiar faces and starting a life so very independent from Mom and Dad.

We have an ice cream social to attend on Monday night, and I suspect this event will put my his mind at ease.  It will be an opportunity to get a feel for the layout of the school, see his classroom, meet some friends, and meet his teacher.  I am so excited about this!!

Meanwhile, we found some fun school supplies, and of course his notebooks are covered in Spiderman!!  I can’t wait for my little boy to discover the joys of school.  He will soon be reading and discovering other worlds within the pages of his books.  I am eager to watch him grow and develop into an even more amazing young man.  This is such a special time for him and I will do all I can to support and encourage his academic endeavors!!