Dear Fellow Mom at the Track Meet

I wrote this last year, in a snit - and decided to post today, even though this is long since resolved....
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In the spirit of Flappiness Is, I have a letter of my own to get off my chest...


Dear Fellow Mom at the Track Meet -

I understand.  I really do.  And I'm sorry.  I am so very very sorry that my son hurt your son.  I understand the blinding anger that comes from finding out that someone did damage to your baby.

I have spoken to my son. He knows that he cannot use physical violence in the face of teasing. He knows it is simply unacceptable.  He is, in fact, heartbroken that he hurt someone else.

But let me clear one thing up.  Your kid is not an angel.  He is not blameless in this.  He, along with another child, provoked and teased an autistic child to the point that said autistic child lashed out in anger.

Please don't try to convince me that your kid is an angel who was attacked by my kid for no reason, when, in fact, your kid spent at least 10 minutes throwing gravel and rubber track bits at my kid in the bull pen before my kid lost it.  My kid has been dealt with because his behavior was unacceptable but you need to look at the kid sitting next to you with the shit-eating grin because THAT kid? That kid is lying to you.  And if he is lying to you at 11 about provoking a fellow runner while not being supervised in the bull pen, then you are in for a world of hurt in a few years.

Whew.

Glad I could get this off my chest.  That was therapeutic.  I should do this more often.

Because, sometimes, men are just dumb.

A conversation with my beloved, just this afternoon -

Stephen: Honey, are you sure you want to go out tonight?

Me: ?? questioning face??

S: Because you look tired.  I mean, if you're too tired, then I'm not tied to it.  We can go see a movie another night.

Me: Wait, what are you saying?

S: Well, you just look really tired, and I know you've had a rough week with the kids, and you know, if you need to go to bed early you can do that instead.

ME:  (being slow) You mean I look bad?

S:  (starting to realize the mess he just stepped in) No!  I mean... well... you just look tired.

Me:  You said that already

S: Well, I'm just trying to be nice here, and we don't have to go out if you would rather sleep.

Me:  **stare**

S:  I mean, if you need sleep.  If you're tired.   Which it looks like you are.  With the bags under your eyes.  The circles under your eyes are really dark.  And your hair..  (finally notices my glaring eyes, behind my glasses...)  Well, I mean...

Me: I got us babysitters already.

S:  Well, we can cancel if we need to, right?  If you need some sleep...  I mean... (starts floundering with his hands)   you have ... bags...  dark circles...

Me: So, you are saying that I look so exceedingly awful that the one night I have prepared to have off from the children, with you, isn't worth it because it would be better for me to sleep and perhaps get my face in order?

S:  (finally realizing the extent of his asshattery) No, wait - that's not what I'm saying - I'M JUST TRYING TO BE NICE!  Never mind.  We'll do whatever you want.

Me:  Exactly.


Poor boy.  Trying to be nice, but not understanding that after a week of being a working from home single mommy 24/7, I really need a night out at the movies.  Even with my baggy eyes, and even if I fall asleep in the theater.  It's a good thing I love him, or I might have to punch him in the face.

A message from Poppy...

Family and Friends –


It has been awhile since our last message, and I must now tell you all that my dear wife Sue passed-on peacefully to life everlasting Saturday evening, April 30th, at 9:20 pm. We feel very blessed to have been given nearly 2-1/2 glorious years together since the onset of her disease, and thankfully she retained a reasonably good quality of life during this time.

As you know, her strong faith and positive spirit never waned as she approached each day with a fresh, new smile. In fact, even as the cancer advanced through her body, she exhibited remarkable grace, dignity, courage, and valor. She could not have achieved this by herself; we attribute her miraculous strength to the many positive thoughts and prayers from you all - her earth angels.

Although the outcome is not as we would have wished from an earthly perspective, she has achieved Eternal Victory and is now at peace, in the hands of the Lord.

Her memorial service will be open to all who would like to attend. The service will be held at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria Island, on Sunday, May 15th at 12:00 noon. A reception will follow the service.

Our entire family appreciates all of your love, support, and blessings. In lieu of flowers, we respectfully request that any donations you may wish to make be made to either:

• Roser Memorial Community Church at: Roser Community Church Online Donation
If you prefer to send a check in Sue’s memory, you can do so with the following information:

Roser Memorial Community Church
512 Pine Ave.
Anna Maria, FL 34216
• Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care at: Tidewell Hospice Online Donation
If you prefer to send a check in Sue’s memory, you can do so with the following information:

Philanthropy Department
Tidewell Hospice
5955 Rand Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34238

(Tidewell Hospice is tax exempt under the U.S. Internal Revenue code and all contributions are fully tax deductible.)


In Peace and Love,
Jim Lathrop

What Cancer Cannot Do

 

Cancer is so limited…

 

It cannot cripple Love

It cannot shatter Hope

It cannot corrode Faith

It cannot destroy Peace

It cannot kill Friendship

It cannot silence Courage

It cannot invade the Soul

It cannot steal eternal Life

It cannot conquer the Spirit.

The Happiness Project

I've discovered a new favorite blog just yesterday:  The Happiness Project.  Some of you might have heard of the book - I actually haven't read it yet, although I just bought it on my nook.  To be actively happy is something I need to cultivate in my life.  In my younger days, I was an innately happy person, but as I've gotten older, I see myself becoming more and more pessimistic and generally grumpy about everything.  It's not my favorite quality, in myself or in others, but I haven't done much about it thus far.

On the main page of the site, Gretchen has listed 12 personal commandments.  The third is "Act the way I want to feel", and the fourth is "Do it now".

Well, color me inspired!  My incremental step for today is to do exactly that:  Act the way I want to feel, and do it NOW.  I woke up mildly sick, generally lethargic and totally grumpy about my long list of to-do's that simply MUST get done today, but none of which are things that I enjoy.  In fact, I sat down to blog in an effort to procrastinate over those very things.  Now, I'm not saying that I don't still feel grumpy about it, but I'm closing down my browser as soon as I publish this blog so that I can focus on finalizing my taxes. (Yes, I realize it's April 12th.  Shut up.)  And I will smile about it, even though I hate doing taxes, and I hate that it's my job in our family, and it makes me feel confused and angry in all sorts of ways.

See me smiling?

Okay, it's more of a grimace at this point, but I'll get there.

And here's your cute for the day, because I know you don't tune into the blog to hear my musings - you're here for the pics!

Bye Bye Banshee

Adios, Senor Banshee...  some of us will miss you...

 Poor Stephen, saying good-bye

Oddly enough, I was not nearly so sad...

Wahoo!!!

Sleepover Madness!

 Last month we had a sleepover with another family - the Dallases.  Jackson, Iain, Quincy and Whittaker are great kids, and match up with our boys quite well.  Seven boys in the house was less work than you might think, since they entertained each other, but there was a time there that it was CRAZY LOCO in our house.  One one bloody injury: Quincy fell off the scooter, scraped his arm and knee, and banged his front tooth (thankfullly a baby one) pretty hard.  All in all, I think that seven boys with only one injury that did NOT involve the hospital is pretty good.  :-)

Here are some random pics through the night that show both the calm and the crazy.

Ben and Jackson, playing Wii

 Outside scooter time, pre-injury

Pizza for dinner!

Inside chaos with Ryan and Whitt - both moving so fast I couldn't get a clear picture of them

Nerf Wars

 Saturday morning - everyone lived!

 Ryan and Whitt - still crazy-town!

It was a great night, but next time it's their turn to host and we get a whole evening to ourselves.  I think I like this plan...

Rain Rain, Go Away?

Ryan loves the rain - mostly because it means he can wear his most favorite shoes in the world: rain boots.  And - bonus! - he can use his fancy schmancy Cars umbrella that is sized just for him.

I couldn't resist taking some pics of him in the rain - and of course I had to share!