Wednesday, August 26, 2009
It Has to Stop
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Visitor
Monday, August 24, 2009
It All Started With the Frog
Friday, August 21, 2009
And we're off and running
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
First Day-The Verdict
Monday, August 17, 2009
First Day
We didnt even find out until Friday night that his first day would be today. Our school system does a "phase-in" week for Kindergarten. They have one half of the class on Monday & the second half on Tuesday for a half a day. I pick him up at eleven. Then he wont go back until Wed. On Wed is one half class for a full day- ending at 2:30. Then Thurs the other half of class for the day. Then Friday is full steam ahead for the rest of the year. When I left work on Friday I told my boss that I'd either be there Monday or I'd call. I called in this morning.
Last night I packed his book bag with the supplies from the list given me at registration and the other forms that she gave us Friday to fill out.
His teacher seems nice enough. I just wish she didnt speak to me the same way she talks to the kids. As long as WC likes her, that's what matters. Jay decided to go to work late today in order to take WC to school. So we both went with him. We left him sitting at the table coloring. He told me that he missed his friends. I assured him that everyone in the room was in the same situation he is in. Every one is new. None of his friends are at the preschool today. They're all in their new schools too. He told Jay that, "this is cool, man." It seems he has mixed feelings about the kindergarten adventure too.
Now I'm off to register CJ for daycare/preschool.
Friday, August 14, 2009
And the greatest of these is Love
Last night right after I arrived my parents to pick up CJ, a truck pulled in the driveway behind me. It was Uncle K- my dad's brother. Now I haven't seen Uncle K in two years and 5 months. I know this because the last time was at Grandma's funeral, less than a month before CJ was born. My dad was executor of my grandparent's estate (they passed away less than two months apart) and jealousy over money reared its ugly head in a vicious way with my uncles. I'm positive it was spearheaded by the oldest brother "J" and uncle K was sucked in or whatever. They accused my dad of hiding money from them and not splitting it fairly. Now my grandfather's will give all the control to my dad as to what to do. He didn't have to give them a cent. And without a shadow of a doubt I can say my dad didn't do what they accused him of. He isn't perfect by any stretch but he is honest. My dad is the youngest, by quite a bit. He's a late in life baby. Grandma thought she was going through menopause and turned up pregnant. As most people realize your last child is different from your first. Through time and experience you raise them differently, even if you don't mean to. My dad was the ultimate "baby" of the family. He was spoiled rotten. It seems that 50 years later his oldest brother still couldn't let that go. Being the first son of my grandfather probably wasn't easy. My grandfather was the oldest of nine kids; he grew up on a farm in rural TN during the depression. His parents died when he was a newlywed and five siblings came to live with him & his new wife. Then he was drafted into the army and sent to war. Life was hard. I can imagine he was a tough cookie. I also imagine he may have fathered in a way that I would disagree with. Dad used to tell me the grandfather I knew wasn't the same man who raised them. He was the product of his time/experiences. We all are.
Sadly, "J" has allowed his childhood to taint his entire existence. He's always been a bitter/angry man. The day my grandfather passed away he asked my mom what she was going to do with her inheritance. Naturally, she was appalled. The thought hadn't crossed her mind-the man wasn't cold yet. He said he was looking forward to building his custom house in the country. I couldn't believe the callousness at the death of his father. He was drunk during the wake. My father told him not to show up at the funeral if he was drunk. He managed to arrive sober. In the two years since he had to have half his stomach removed because of bleeding. And his liver is shot. This is what holding on to bitterness, anger, resentment gets you- Old, miserable and alone in your custom built house. The only person he's damaging is himself. Doesn't seem like a way to live- in my humble opinion.
When Uncle K arrived at the back door last night my mom answered. Dad was lounging w/ CJ watching television. Uncle K asked my mom if he was welcome here. And she responded, "Of course you are. Get in here." I hugged him and we spoke of my kids briefly. He'd never seen CJ & I introduced them. I told CJ that it was his Uncle K. I had to leave to go pick up WC. We said our goodbyes. This morning I asked Mom what he wanted. He wanted to make amends and see everyone. He's on the list for a heart transplant. He's been morbidly obese (medically) for a number of years. Years ago he had a heart attack, which caused him to quit smoking. And for a while seemed to watch diet and take care of him. He appears to have backslidden a bit over the past few years. It happens to the best of us, I suppose.
Mom lamented she wished they'd ("J" & Uncle K) would find Christ. I'm thinking that Uncle K coming back over and them welcoming him in and showing him love and forgiveness for the past is huge testimony. She doesn't realize that her actions spoke volumes. I hoping the open dialog can continue and they forge a new relationship and continue to show him the love of Christ through their actions. Maybe even "J" will come back around. Doubtful. We can still pray for him anyway.Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Me vs. Wasp
Monday, August 10, 2009
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Today WC goes for his Kindergarten placement test- we need to leave in about 45 min. We went school shopping Saturday. This was the tax free weekend for the state of TN. Sales tax isnt charged on things likes clothes (articles under $100), supplies needed for school and computers under a certain $ (not printers though). We racked up. I went to a local clothing retailer- every item purchased was on sale, I had a 20% off coupon & no sales tax. It was a blessing and an amazing budget saver. None of his pants from last year fit in length- waist wise he was fine but boys dont wear Capri's. Luckily I found several pants w/ adjustable waist. YAY! Best things ever.
Then to Target for school supplies. Found everything- except 16 count crayons. That's right the list from the school had 4 boxes of 16 count crayons. Why 4 boxes? Why 16 count? I dont know but they weren't there. 4 stores later- I find one box of 16- at the grocery store.
He picked out his back pack-favorite color green & lunch box-Transformers (of course). Now when I went to school the lunch box was metal (later plastic) & it came w/ a thermos on the inside. Education for mommy- they no longer come w/ the thermos. Those are separate & cost an arm & a leg for the character one your kid wants. WC walked around the store wearing his back pack & carrying the lunch box. He received quite the attention & told numerous people he was going to Kindergarten- but not today.
I can't believe it's already here. Kindergarten. It seemed such a long way away when we purchased our house 5 years ago- down the street from a good school. At the time it seemed like it would be forever before our little guy would go there. I think we were considered by some to be quite nuts for already considering his school- at 9 months old. But it has really been a blip.
I've been okay about it. Thought I was ready. But the closer it gets- next Monday- the harder its going to be (on me) he'll be fine.