I think I have pretty much gotten settled into my work and volunteer and home and kids' sports routines and everything else in between. There are some weeks that are busier than others, but that's life and I'd rather have that than not enough of being busy.
This has been a particularly busy week. Jeffrey caught a virus from his classmates at school. You know, the ones whose parents send them in dosed up on Ibuprofen so they can get through the school day masking their illness. So he missed school Monday through Wednesday. Tommy was sick on Monday and then after straining his adductor muscle (otherwise known as the groin muscle) in the rainy soccer practice Tuesday night and barely being able to walk, he stayed home on Wednesday; hey, I realize he could have hobbled through the school day, but his staying home helped me with Jeffrey, who much rather preferred to stay home than hang out with me at the rectory where I work.
I had to squeeze in two unplanned doctor's appointments - one for Jeffrey on Tuesday, and one for me because the Poison Ivy I caught over the weekend somehow found its way to my face and I was in bad shape. I manage to get it every year and usually endure a week of uncomfortable itching, but I was ready to get the magic steroids that I knew would minimize the suffering. Yay for steroids!
I planned to attend the Mass of the Ascension on Thursday evening, but had a meeting already planned. So, I made arrangements to move it to Wednesday night. After dropping Tommy (who insisted on going so he would be sure to "start" at the State Cup semi-final game on Saturday, despite his injury limitation) at soccer practice tonight, I got the boys dinner, and headed to St. Jude's for Mass. But there were only 3 other cars in the parking lot. Something was wrong. I went to my office to get a bulletin to check the time, because maybe it was at 7:30 and I had put the wrong time in my calendar. But the bulletin in the office was next week's, and they had already removed last week's from the church. So I checked the bulletin online and yes, there was a 7 PM Ascension Mass at St. Jude's. But it was a Vigil Mass that took place last night. Today, they had their Ascension Mass at 8 AM.
I fielded many phone calls today from people asking when St. Raphael was having its Ascension Mass. Remember, I work now at St. Raphael's full time. Their Ascension Masses today were at noon and at 7 PM. Of course, I wasn't going to get to Manchester until 7:30, and would miss half of the service.
So I gave up and went home.
Do I feel guilty? No. I honestly tried. And anyway, if I hadn't had to attend the meeting that I rescheduled from tonight to last night, I would have never come upon the turtle in the middle of the road and stopped to get it over the embankment and off the road, saving its life.
So, it all happened like it was supposed to. Right? Except for Jeffrey being sick. That could have totally been avoided. Lame parents. Phfft.
Thorny rose
Mother's Day for me is usually just "meh". I never really expect much from G and the boys and really, I'm okay with that. I mean, Sundays are soccer game days, and this year would be no different except that we could enjoy three home games instead of all over the NH and MA map. And another plus - sun! (After nearly 2 weeks of mostly rain, getting a sunny Mother's Day was a definite plus.)
So the three younger boys gave me cards they made, and then G gave me a gift, which I was not at all expecting. We just don't swap gifts to each other in May and June, not for Mother's Day or Father's Day or even our wedding anniversary, which will be 16 years next month. I unwrapped the newspaper wrapping to reveal a Kellogg's waffle box. Typical G, practical joker. I wondered whatever could it be in the waffle box?
It was an iPad. An honest to God iPad. For Mother's Day! Something he knew I'd love and the kids could enjoy, too. I couldn't really say this Mother's Day could be summed up as just "meh" and for that,I was really glad.
Off to soccer we eventually went, where Chris and Joey's teams ended with losses, and finally Tommy's with a win. After the game, the team approached their mothers each bearing a single red rose. I knew this would not be easy for Tommy to do - to hand that rose to me. He hates me and it's no secret. He hates my cooking and when I ask him a question or even when I so much as sneeze. He tries to break me down constantly and hates me more when I don't react to his insults and instead, carry on with my life and remind him that I still love him. Still, he walked up to me and handed me that rose, in silence of course. I certainly didn't expect anything else. I know his coach was the one who gave the boys the roses to give to their moms, but I was nonetheless thankful for that flower. I brought it home and put it in a vase to enjoy all week long. But Tommy had other plans for that rose. While I was outside, he plucked it down to the stem. I guess he was going to show me what he really thought of the rose and me and just how far he would go. His plucking the petals off that rose hurt more than the thorns ever could. But if he wants me to react, he will be disappointed. I'm going to leave that naked rose in that vase all week long.
Spiteful? Maybe, but my reason for leaving it isn't out of spite. My reason for leaving it is because he otherwise would have given me nothing and today, my oldest son gave me a red rose. How could I not love that?
Off to soccer we eventually went, where Chris and Joey's teams ended with losses, and finally Tommy's with a win. After the game, the team approached their mothers each bearing a single red rose. I knew this would not be easy for Tommy to do - to hand that rose to me. He hates me and it's no secret. He hates my cooking and when I ask him a question or even when I so much as sneeze. He tries to break me down constantly and hates me more when I don't react to his insults and instead, carry on with my life and remind him that I still love him. Still, he walked up to me and handed me that rose, in silence of course. I certainly didn't expect anything else. I know his coach was the one who gave the boys the roses to give to their moms, but I was nonetheless thankful for that flower. I brought it home and put it in a vase to enjoy all week long. But Tommy had other plans for that rose. While I was outside, he plucked it down to the stem. I guess he was going to show me what he really thought of the rose and me and just how far he would go. His plucking the petals off that rose hurt more than the thorns ever could. But if he wants me to react, he will be disappointed. I'm going to leave that naked rose in that vase all week long.
Spiteful? Maybe, but my reason for leaving it isn't out of spite. My reason for leaving it is because he otherwise would have given me nothing and today, my oldest son gave me a red rose. How could I not love that?
DC or Bust
From day 1, I knew it would take more than a miracle, wing, and prayer to pull it all off. But I persevered because I believed it in the cause. And, well, for just $70 more, we would be guaranteed a refund if he did not go. Sometimes, insurance can be a good thing. So when I made the first payment for Tommy's 8th grade trip to DC back in October, I purchased the insurance.
Over the next few months, I would make installments, until the final payment in mid March. $739 later, we were paid in full and come hell or high water, he was going on that trip, despite his insistence that he was not. Here's why: "It's stupid. My friends are on other teams. I don't care about learning about the history. We can't even go to the Holocaust." (Due to remodeling, this exhibit would not be available in the tour.) His words, of course.
When the time came for the parent and student meeting, where they would get information on chaperones and buses, he and I went. By this time, I felt confident he had been persuaded to go. Because really, who wouldn't want to go? What a great opportunity for these students! Yes, they have a busy schedule, starting with the 5:15 AM departure on Tuesday. They were expected to be up at 6 AM every day and wouldn't be returning to the hotel until 9:30 or 10:00 PM each night. By the time the buses arrived back in town late Friday night, they would be exhausted. But in a good way. Who wouldn't want to tour DC for four days instead of going to school?
Tommy. That's who. But he was going if I had anything to say about it. Because I knew he would enjoy it the moment he boarded that bus. BecauseI was so looking to the four days of peace and quiet with him gone it would be an opportunity I knew he shouldn't miss.
I knew things might not go as I had hoped when he got his itinerary and saw who his chaperone was. Apparently, he had requested two other teachers, and specifically requested not to have this particular one, and yet, he was assigned to this one. "I'm not going," he said.
Okay, I could sympathize with him to a point. In all fairness, his closest friends are in other pods this year. So his choices for roommates were limited, to say the least. But this is due, in part, to poor behavior choices he made last year. So, you know, you reap what you sow. There are consequences for your actions, and sometimes you don't see them until much later. At least, this is what I told Tommy, but it basically all fell on deaf ears. He was not going with this particular chaperone, and it was already bad enough that he wasn't on the same bus with his closest friends, nor would he get to room with any of them.
As bad as his behavior was last year, he more than made up for it this year. Grades, behavior, everything - impressive, to say the least. So with that, I went to battle for him and because of his noted improvement, they actually went out of their way to accommodate him. He was moved to be with one of the two chaperones he had requested, which meant displacing another student. All was well again.
Until last Wednesday night, when he started to get sick. He missed school Thursday and Friday. He went to school yesterday, though he felt miserable. I decided to comply with his request to see a doctor because if he didn't feel better by Tuesday,the day of the departure, he was absolutely not going on the trip. His words, again.
We visited the doctor Monday afternoon. The flu test came back negative, and he was diagnosed with a sinus infection, although this being accompanied with a fever of 100.6 was indeed, odd. Still, the prescription for antibiotics he could start taking Monday night would surely have him start feeling much better by Wednesday. Unfortunately, he could not be convinced of this.
The buses left at 5:15 AM Tuesday morning. Bus 4 had one less student than anticipated. My quest to have him accompany the other 8th graders on this trip failed.
Hello, Brightspark? We are due a refund of $669, thankyouverymuch.
Over the next few months, I would make installments, until the final payment in mid March. $739 later, we were paid in full and come hell or high water, he was going on that trip, despite his insistence that he was not. Here's why: "It's stupid. My friends are on other teams. I don't care about learning about the history. We can't even go to the Holocaust." (Due to remodeling, this exhibit would not be available in the tour.) His words, of course.
When the time came for the parent and student meeting, where they would get information on chaperones and buses, he and I went. By this time, I felt confident he had been persuaded to go. Because really, who wouldn't want to go? What a great opportunity for these students! Yes, they have a busy schedule, starting with the 5:15 AM departure on Tuesday. They were expected to be up at 6 AM every day and wouldn't be returning to the hotel until 9:30 or 10:00 PM each night. By the time the buses arrived back in town late Friday night, they would be exhausted. But in a good way. Who wouldn't want to tour DC for four days instead of going to school?
Tommy. That's who. But he was going if I had anything to say about it. Because I knew he would enjoy it the moment he boarded that bus. Because
I knew things might not go as I had hoped when he got his itinerary and saw who his chaperone was. Apparently, he had requested two other teachers, and specifically requested not to have this particular one, and yet, he was assigned to this one. "I'm not going," he said.
Okay, I could sympathize with him to a point. In all fairness, his closest friends are in other pods this year. So his choices for roommates were limited, to say the least. But this is due, in part, to poor behavior choices he made last year. So, you know, you reap what you sow. There are consequences for your actions, and sometimes you don't see them until much later. At least, this is what I told Tommy, but it basically all fell on deaf ears. He was not going with this particular chaperone, and it was already bad enough that he wasn't on the same bus with his closest friends, nor would he get to room with any of them.
As bad as his behavior was last year, he more than made up for it this year. Grades, behavior, everything - impressive, to say the least. So with that, I went to battle for him and because of his noted improvement, they actually went out of their way to accommodate him. He was moved to be with one of the two chaperones he had requested, which meant displacing another student. All was well again.
Until last Wednesday night, when he started to get sick. He missed school Thursday and Friday. He went to school yesterday, though he felt miserable. I decided to comply with his request to see a doctor because if he didn't feel better by Tuesday,the day of the departure, he was absolutely not going on the trip. His words, again.
We visited the doctor Monday afternoon. The flu test came back negative, and he was diagnosed with a sinus infection, although this being accompanied with a fever of 100.6 was indeed, odd. Still, the prescription for antibiotics he could start taking Monday night would surely have him start feeling much better by Wednesday. Unfortunately, he could not be convinced of this.
The buses left at 5:15 AM Tuesday morning. Bus 4 had one less student than anticipated. My quest to have him accompany the other 8th graders on this trip failed.
Hello, Brightspark? We are due a refund of $669, thankyouverymuch.
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