Theme song for this week: Call Me Maybe, US Swim Team
Take a moment and enjoy!
I have a former student on the team and she is as fun as this video is.
Littleman loves it and gets so excited every time he hears this song. There is nothing better than hearing him sing the refrain: Hey, I just met you and this might be crazy, but here’s my number, so call me maybe.
Go TEAM USA!
It has been a week. It seems like last Monday was months ago.
Monday – date
Tuesday – birthday
Saturday – 20th high school reunion, which I did decide to attend
I could have skipped the reunion and I really wouldn’t have missed anything. It wasn’t really my crowd there, but I did get to catch up with a few folks. In that regard, I am glad I went.
Here’s to the start of another one!
Today I turn 37.
What does a single mom with a son who is too young to be able to organize anything for his mom’s birthday do? She writes a post about it on her blog as a shameless attempt to get people to wish her a happy birthday.
Well, maybe, but what she also does is celebrates herself!
I got over waiting for people to do things for me for my birthday. I found that I got nothing but disappointment from sitting around and waiting for someone else to plan any type of celebration.
I no longer have any expectations of what my birthday will hold. I usually buy myself some kind of treat and plan my own celebration of sorts with friends or family or both.
I know there are plenty of people who think you should not plan your own birthday party. I think that is a bunch of bunk. We are not talking about hosting your own baby shower, folks. If no one else is going to plan anything for you to celebrate your special day, why in the world would you not plan something for yourself? It’s all about self-care.
Not sure what my treat this year will be – a vitamix blender, a hair removal system, something special for me off etsy? At 34 I bought myself necklace crafted by a local artisan. For my 35th a beautiful watch that I wear daily.
The celebration of sorts – not sure what that will be yet either. Last year I went with family to the Sound of Music sing-a-long at a local theatre. It was a blast! They showed the Sound of Music and during each song they had the words of the song in closed caption at the bottom of the screen and the audience sang along. Loved it! I am that type of girl.
I thought for sure I would have all my birthday plans figured out by now, but I don’t. Right now it looks like pizza and ice cream with littleman after swimming lessons tonight. Yes, it will be great, but nothing super special.
So, ideas? A girl only turns 37 once.
Anyone that knows me knows that I am not into fashion, don’t wear make up, and my hair is 100% wash and wear.
I don’t brush my hair. I don’t style it. It is what it is. That being said, I am blessed with naturally curly/wavy hair. Thankfully for me, when I let it do what it going to do it usually turns out looking pretty good. I am one of the crazy few who loves the humidity. The more humid it is, the better my hair looks. Good thing I live in the South.
One of the issues with curly hair is that when you let it grow, it never seems to get longer because it just curls up more. I had a super short bob this time last year. I’ve been letting it grow out, but it still isn’t to my shoulders. I am getting frustrated and although it is advised not to make any major life decisions when you are depressed I am ready to do something different with my hair.
I’ve been searching on Pinterest – short curly hair, short wavy hair – and today I found this:
Y’all, this is exactly what I want. I love Karla Deras’ hair. It is super cute and I know my hair can do this! Can’t believe I have actually added a fashion blogger to my reader, but I have.
I can’t get enough. Super, super cute! And the best part – I showed littleman and he said, “That looks like Mama!” Oh, I wish, but it is always good to have something to aspire to.
I have a cousin who is an Aveda stylist who I happen to have an appointment with Saturday, which happens to be the day of my 20 year reunion, which I happen to have bought a ticket to…
Littleman and I spent some time with family this weekend. He got to watch Mickey’s Playhouse on Disney Junior, which I think must be the worst show ever. I am a Sesame Street girl myself and here is a great reason why:
Share It Maybe
Sesame Street’s spoof on Carly Rae Jepson’s, Call Me Maybe
The smart television execs make sure kids television is something adults can tolerate also. Thanks Sesame Workshop!
I have wanted to be in a book club for years, but finding one can be difficult and finding the time can be just as difficult. Thankfully the mothers’ club I belonged to just started one up. I was thrilled because I would know a few folks there and it is close by.
Our first meeting was Tuesday night and it was exactly what I needed. I needed to take a break from my day-to-day stuff and be with other women. I knew I needed it, but I didn’t anticipate the major impact it would have.
First let me say a little bit about our mothers’ club. It is a club that is for mothers who live in a particular area of town. When I joined back in 2009, it was a club that catered to stay-at-home moms. Thankfully the leadership has changed the direction for the better.
Last week all 110 members got an email that said: We want all of our moms – working moms, single moms, stay-at-home moms, and everyone in between – to know that there is a place for each of you. All you need to do is reach out and we’ll help you figure out the best way to plug in. And if you’re shy, tell one of the committee chairs and we’ll make sure you take you under our wing and introduce you around. Sometimes it is hard to walk into a group of people you don’t know, but just let us know that and we’ll take good care of you!
So proud that I belong to a group that is so welcoming.
Book club tonight was fantastic. There were moms of all kinds in attendance – working moms, stay-at-home moms, moms with infants, moms with tweens, younger moms, older moms. It was quite a dynamic group.
I did start off talking to my two best girls there, but branched out and made some great connections with some other women.
I made the connection with one mom that we both attended the same open houses at two different schools we were both considering for our children. Another mom has a son starting at my school next year. I had a great conversation with the mom of a 5 month old about how we both have to get out of the house and don’t do well when we are stuck inside all day.
There is something intangible about getting together with other women. There is unspoken support, understanding and respect between each of us. We learn more about each other and more about ourselves when we spend time together.
Tonight was just the boost I needed. Can’t wait for next month!
The Minimalist Mom is not getting dropped from my reader yet, but her post I’m Not Busy (And I’m Proud of It) has ruffled my feathers just a bit.
She states: Busy is a choice.
I respectfully disagree.
I don’t have littleman in a zillion classes. As a matter of fact, the only organized activity he has ever participated in is swimming lessons. The kid must learn to swim – no apologies there.
We don’t have a super booked social schedule. We are lucky to get together with friends and family once every few weeks and, quite honestly, we do it more for me than for him. As a single mom I could go weeks without having a personal interaction with another adult without these meetups.
Still, we are busy.
Our days start early. During the school year we are dressed, fed, ready for the day and out the door by seven a.m.
Our days end late. We are rolling in the door no earlier than five p.m. There is dinner to be cooked and eaten. On a good day littleman is bathed and ready for bed by seven. We get to spend a little time together and then littleman is off to bed.
Two nights a week – give or take a night – I have to be at school for one event or another. It’s my job. The one that helps keep a roof over littleman’s and my head. Yes, we are a one-income household, but we are also a one-adult household. It makes a difference.
I feel that The Minimalist Mom equates simple with not busy, but simple doesn’t always translate into not busy. We have a simple schedule, but it is non-stop.
Over-sensitive? I admit, I *might* be.
I am sure The Minimalist Mom knows that everyone’s situation is different and I’m sure she supports folks doing what they have to do to take care of their family.
In our case busy isn’t a choice. Busy is just the way it is.
Folks, I can’t make this stuff up. Here is the exact text of an email that I received today from fs (former spouse):
Littleman was asking me a lot of questions about Santa Claus last night. I am going to tell him that Santa Claus is not real. I want him to know that what I tell him is the truth, and I do not feel comfortable continuing the Santa Claus myth with him. I know you think that we should continue it for the sake of other children, but littleman is our son, and we should do what is best for him. I plan on telling him when I am keeping him on Tuesday evening.
What!?! FS is going to tell our three-year-old that Santa Claus isn’t real?!?
We’ve been down this road before, but I thought I had talked him down off the ledge. He knows that I don’t agree with him, but my opinion doesn’t matter. The only point that gave him pause was how this would impact other people’s children, how it isn’t fair to other families for him to say anything to littleman. Obviously he had only taken a step back from the ledge, not gotten down.
I dialed fs’s work number. He picked up like nothing in the world was amiss. Internally I was freaking out, although externally I tried to remain calm.
me: I just got your email and we have to talk about this. I do not agree with this at all.
fs: I am not comfortable lying to littleman. I want him to know that his daddy never lied to him about anything.
me: This is ridiculous. Are you scarred from your parents lying to you about Santa? I can’t believe that you want to rip littleman’s childhood out from under him.
fs: I want him to know I always tell him the truth.
me: Well, I will tell littleman that I don’t agree with you.
fs: And then 10 years from now when littleman finds out that Santa isn’t real he will know that I told him the truth and that you lied to him.
me: Yes. {long silence} I absolutely cannot believe this. I will talk to you later.
I had to get off the phone quickly before I became completely hysterical. Angry tears burned the backs of my eyes and my voice was beginning to shake.
Who does this? More importantly, what father does this to his child?
I have full physical and legal custoday. The decisions regarding littleman’s health, religion and education are solely up to me, but there is nothing in the decree that says anything about Santa Claus.
Littleman is only three years old. I am working hard to make sure he always feels loved and always feels secure. As much as possible I want him to be spared the pain that other people can cause, yet in this instance I am powerless.
Well, it’s July 9th. The process of getting throughout almost 18,000 emails has been an experience. I don’t have my inbox down to zero, but I have learned a lot…
I’d love to get through the last 574 emails that remain in my inbox, but 574 is 17,476 fewer than 18,000 . That’s a much more reasonable inbox.
The 2012-2013 school year officially begins for me tomorrow morning, although the kids don’t come back until late August. I have more things to get done than I care to think about. It will all get done – it always does, but I am nervous about this school year in a way that I have never been before.
This time last year I started back to school with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I was more ready to begin the school year than I had ever been before. I got so much done over the summer and was super pumped for a great year to begin.
What began was the worst year of my professional life. I can’t go into a lot of any details, but it involved Facebook posts by students and anonymous letters from faculty. It wasn’t over one issue, but over multiple things that occurred throughout the school year. If the attacks had been about me professionally I would {most likely} have been able to let those go pretty quickly, but the attacks were personal – about who I am as a person, as a mother, about littleman.
For the first time since my first year of teaching (way back in 1996) I have second guessed my career choice. I am a super strong woman and it takes a lot to shake me, but the 2011-2012 school year shook me to my core and, quite honestly, I’m still shaking.
This year has to be better than last. Students have graduated. Faculty has {hopefully} moved on. Still I am wary.
I keep reminding myself that I am on the other side of what I pray is the worst I ever have to deal with professionally. I made it through. I know lesser women wouldn’t have.
Tomorrow I have to get up and put my big girl panties on and move forward. Tomorrow is a new start. This year is going to be a year of Fun & Adventure, right?
I am moving forward with a {tentative} smile, my faith in God and a little MTM (Mary Tyler Moore) inspiration.
