Tag: Life

Round and round it goes; where it stops no one knows

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

It’s risky. Me writing this late in the day. The caffeine that gave me the pleasant perk of the morning is long gone. The chipper moods of the kids have changed to cranky,  while my energy level slowly sinks with the setting sun. What makes me think I have the wherewithal to write now? Then again, what makes me think I have the wherewithal to write at all on any given day?

Tonight, right now, I write as an outlet. I need an outlet. Don’t we all need outlets of some sort? Typically, my outlet consists of the delicious dairy delight called ‘ice cream’. However, because I am determined to be ice cream free for 40 days, I do not want to pacify myself with the frozen delicacy. So, I write. [Day 8, by the way. I’ve gone 8 days so far.]

Today, when I picked up my oldest from Kindergarten, his teacher informed me he had an ‘incident’. Seems my child became upset about something, and he threw a peppercorn at one of the teachers. Sports aside, throwing something at someone is not acceptable. Now, add to the fact that the peppercorn thrown by my child got stuck in the teacher’s ear, and well my child did not win any awards today. It’s a shame the “Peppercorn Toss” was last week.

My oldest has a temper. I have written about his temper in previous posts. And, as I have also mentioned previously, he gets his temper from me. My reaction to his behavior today was embarrassment at first. After quickly overcoming the embarrassment, I was sad. A temper is a horrible waste of energy, and the damage that a temper can cause is extensive. I don’t want a temper filled life for either of my boys. And, I hope this isn’t an indication of things to come.

I remind myself that my son is only five years old, as if there is an acceptable age to throw things. I tell myself that the art of peppercorn tossing is underrated. And, I doubt my son would be able to throw the peppercorn in the teacher’s ear, if he were to try again. Unless she is a TWEOUS, Teachers with ears of unusual size. But I digress. Oh, and before I forget, the peppercorn was successfully removed from the TWEOUS’ ear.

My son was punished for throwing the peppercorn. When we came home from school, he went to his room, where he spent the rest of the day. And, he wrote a letter to the teacher saying he was sorry for what happened. He lost a few other privileges as well, in hopes we drove the point home, without throwing him for a loop. (HA! Sorry, a little throw humor.)

The hardest part about tonight was my son’s frustration, once home. Upset he was banished to his room, he took the opportunity to yell a little, cry a little and pound a little. Okay, okay, so he did all of the above more than just a little. The thing that got me was his yelling, “Why don’t you love me?” “Why don’t you like me?” He was breaking my heart. And again, I remind myself he is only five years old. Wait. Five years old?! Why is he saying stuff like this at five years old? Where’s the ice cream. I need some ice cream.

After supper, things started settling down, well things settled some, okay things settled a little – okay fine, the banished one was still upset. I phoned a friend, and I started to tell her about my day. When I mentioned what the banished one had done, she laughed and said, “Oh, just wait. You’ll be able to laugh about this soon.” Then I heard crying on her end of the phone, causing her to ask “What happened?” She let me know that one of her kids had just kicked the other kid. And, we laughed. Laughter sure beats ice cream, at least calorically speaking. Peppercorns anyone?

Friday Frenzy

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

.:: Lent in August

You’ve heard the marketing ads, “Christmas in July!” Well, I am going to celebrate “Lent in August”. Monday I started my ice cream fast. I am going 40 days and 40 nights without consuming ice cream. And, I am afraid. I am very afraid.

A year and a half ago I weighed 147 lbs. And now? 165lbs. 165. That is utter craziness! However, this normally flat chested girl must admit, I quite enjoy feeling a little bounce of the boobs when I walk. I should start running to increase the bouncing action. But um. No. That won’t happen. And, sadly, when I lose the 15 pounds I seek to lose, the slight bounce I feel when I walk will be flattened. (Still only an ‘A’ cup, many would call me flat chested now. But, a flat-chested girl can dream.)

So, as of last Monday, no more ice cream for 40 days (well, 34 days now, but who is counting? Yeah, that’s right – me!). The shakes have started. And, I am not referring to milk shakes. Wish me luck, please. Wish me luck and weight loss, with a side order of movement. After all, the weight won’t come off easily, unless I get off my every growing butt and move it – move it – move it.

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.::Flowers

I took Charlie with me to the grocery store this week. As we passed the floral department, he asked if he could get some flowers. Thankful he wasn’t asking for ‘junk’, I was happy to oblige his request. He picked out a cute $5.00 bouquet, and he has enjoyed it all week. Cute kid.

As is often the case, when one child gets something the other child makes a similar request. Joe asked if I could take him to the grocery store one day, so he could buy flowers. Normally, I would have brushed off his request, if only to discourage the “he has one – I want one” mentality. However, Joe added, “I can use money from my piggy bank to buy the flowers.” Smart kid.

I did take Joe to the grocery store, and he spent several minutes trying to decide the best way to use his money. Though not every selection was within his ‘budget’, he realized the smaller the bundle the lower the price. Eventually, he decided on a small pot of Parade Roses for $3.99. Frugal kid.

Not too shabby. The pretty flowers he purchased will last longer than the bundle Charlie picked. In fact, provided Joe cares for the flowers, the roses may last for years to come. Good kid.

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The Imposter, by sekiyoku

.:: Discomfort

This week proved challenging for me with regards to my virtual world. Virtual friendships were called out for the awkwardness. The unspoken feelings. The obvious yet unacknowledged dislike. I needed to bring it to light, for my own sanity. I asked questions, and I received answers.

I have often heard the phrase, “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to”, and this week I learned, first hand, the importance of such advice. I also learned the truth in Maya Angelou’s thought, “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

For the most part, I am an open book. By flipping through the virtual pages of this blog, one should quickly realize I share a great deal about my life. My openness may create discomfort and annoyance for some, while others may find it refreshing. I share, because if I keep these thoughts to myself, I will go insane. By the same token, I share, which places a large target on myself. I mean, it’s not hard to attack my character flaws, when I list the flaws (in alpha-order) for you.

My writing is my outlet; and those who know me best have come to accept and expect it from me. Over the years, in fact, those who know me best have encouraged me to write. (Though maybe they wish I wouldn’t be so forthcoming with everything in my life.)

This is me. All of me. Like it or not. I don’t claim to like everyone who crosses my path, nor do I expect everyone who crosses my path to like me. However, I do my best to play nice in the sandbox and always be myself. And, I hope you will play nice, too. If you don’t like me, that is fine; please just move on along, remove me from your life, and let’s continue down our own separate path. And please, to avoid confusion, close the door behind you. Thank you.

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Whose Phase Is It Anyway?

~ Lenore Diane ~ 4 Comments

When I created the category ‘Phase 3 of X on my blog’, my intent was to focus on the phases experienced by Joe and Charlie. The boys have traveled through the infant phase and toddler phase, and now Joe has entered the Kindergarten phase. As a result, I wanted a place to write about the various cycles and developments. However, as the 2nd week of Kindergarten comes to a close, I can’t help but ask, “Whose phase is it anyway?”

Joe’s first day was uneventful. The days that followed his first day were equally uneventful; that is, the time he spent at a new school and in a new environment were uneventful. At home? Not so uneventful. And, this is the part where I step in and realize, I have entered a new phase; it is called the ‘My child is home with me more’ phase. Um. How long will this phase last?

Yeah, I’ve already written about having to adjust to working at home with a child in the house. But, what about not working at home with a child in the house? Though I am readily available for my boss and coworkers 8hrs a day Monday – Friday, I have a great deal of ‘free’ time to tackle chores and – frankly – do nothing.  And, when my kids were in day-care, they spent a full day in day-care (8am – 5pm). When I got the boys home, I’d have them in bed within 3hrs. So, aside from weekends, there wasn’t much time (or cause) for trouble and discipline.

Earlier this week, I went out to dinner with a friend of mine. She was laughing at me and teasing me about my cushy (time-wise) life of having the boys gone a full day, while I was home working a flexible job. And now – NOW I have a kid with me from 2:30 until bedtime. ACK! What?! I actually have to take care of my kid more than three hours a weekday? Seriously? I suppose you are going to tell me I have to interact with my child, too.

Thank goodness, at least for one more year, I don’t have to pick up my 2nd child until 5pm. I cannot imagine being home with both boys for for so many hours prior to bedtime. I mean, after I give my job 5hrs in a day, I have enough flexibility to do whatever I want with the remaining day (provided my boss can reach me). Just last month, I spent many hours watching and enjoying several movies in the afternoon before picking the boys up at daycare. Now how will I get through my queue of 314 movies on Netflix? Huh? And, they are just about to release the 2009 season of Dexter! When am I suppose to fit that in the schedule? Hmmm … is it wrong to have a 5yr old child watch a drama about a serial killer who only kills serial killers? At least Dexter is killing mean people, right?

And Oprah. This is Oprah’s last season! How am I going to watch O-o-0-o-oprah, when my kid is home with me?! Craziness people. Whose phase is this anyway? And, how long does it last?

Now if you’ll excuse me, my son has homework. We have to read a book together; rather he has to read the book, and I have to observe. You’d think the school would send home something more interesting like “Kiss Me If You Can” by Carly Phillips. But no, we have to read “Babe, the Big Hit” about an elephant in a circus, and I’m guessing there will be no romance. Maybe next week?