Biggest log in the Lehigh.
I have been reading alot. Since my break from school is now coming to an end, my reading kick must too. I ate up 8 books in three weeks. They certainly weren't War and Peace... but they were literary works instead of reality TV, so I'm ahead of the ball.
Went to the Lehigh gorge yesterday with the boys. A much needed day of burning off energy for Jack. He had a rough week last week after his long Christmas break. It seemed everyday got worse than the last. Until Friday when all hell broke loose and he cried at school because.. "He blew it, all his hard work was wasted!"
How did it get like this? well, I know. For once, in a long time I think I know for sure what happened.
We have always tried to be the "positive" approach parents.
When you have a great day, when you get a good grade on that spelling test, when you play nice with your friends....We will do/see/go/get whatever.
Last week for some reason, after a yellow light on Tuesday I decided, for some reason that I would tell him, "If you get another yellow light tomorrow I am taking everything away for the day."
Well Wednesday, he got a yellow light. I took everything away.
Thursday morning I told him, better have a good day or everything stays away and you will be in your room for the afternoon.
Guess what? He got a red light, follow through and hes in his room, with no priviledges.
Normally I punish for things that ACTUALLY HAPPEN, not for things that haven't happened yet.
I think it put some pressure on him and the NEGATIVE talk, really worked.
He behaved negatively.
Friday morning I knew it was going badly when he told me he "knew it would be a bad day, since all his other days were bad."
Oh shit.
ANd it did.
Chatted with teacher who said all he was worried aboutt all day was, not going on his adventure walk on Sunday "If he didnt have a great day."
we went home Friday and I realized what I had done. I changed the rules basically.
He had the crying totally dismantled breakdown when I picked him up.
I blew it Mom. Do you still love me?
Why did I do this? What made me change directions? I don't know.
By Saturday, we pulled it back together, hung out all day, Jack went to lunch with Daddy, visited his Bobchi, snuggled and got loved up all day. Then spent time with his Nana and best girl Ella. We had Pizza night and just plain did feel goods things.
Sunday was our adventure walk. We took the neighbor boy along for company and it was good. They walked, picked up sticks, watched ducks, kicked rocks, raced down paths, and were BOYS.
It was a rainy foggy, damp day on the outside. But my heart was warming up again, and easing back on some of my guilt.
What is that Mothers Guilt? why is it stronger than anything else?
A child has a misstep, or even has a great accomplishment and we think we could/should have done more?
My girls I feel I wasn't present enough, or too present.
Too involved, not involved enough.
My experience with jack has been all Mother guilt. of course stuffed with LOVE for the boy.
Nothing anyone can say or do changes those feelings. It just is.
So my adventure walk on Sunday turned into a real exciting event.
Here is how it unfolded.
On our way down to Jim Thorpe we stopped at a cute diner in some hole in the wall town. Packed with blue haired ladies and white haired chaps. All settled into their meatloaf dinners after church.
We stumble in, wearing snow boots and hats, coats and two loud chatty excited 7 year old boys.
They ate their chicken and fries, were good and a real treat it turns out for all the blue haired ladies.
On our way out a 399 year old woman told me I had sweet little boys, I looked around, thinking "ME?" Oh "thank you, they are something arent they?"
Not going into the details of this ones mine this ones his friend...
She said "I had 7 boys, and would love to go back to my busy kitchen... enjoy them.." and she smiled and shuffled along with her church friends.
After the week we had, I wanted to cry. right there in East bumblegulch.
No time to cry Suzie, just keep moving, the Lehigh awaits.
We drove the extra 15 minutes and piled out of the truck. boots, hats, binoculars, headlamps, water bottle.
We walked along the trail that is between the Lehigh river and the Lehigh Canal. A nice flat footpath, that has trails that lead to the river. The boys decided to lead us down one trail. As we went down the trail it hit me.
I really have to pee.
We are two miles in, and 4 miles form the end of the trek.
I will have to conjure up the old days of peeing in the woods with Kathy. I told Andy who gave me "the look."
I really have to go. That soda at the diner went right through me.
He chuckled and said he would walk the boys further downt he trail and I could squat somewhere, no ones here, its a rainy day, go ahead.
"You alright by yourself?" He said.
"Sure, what could go wrong?" I said.
I wathced the boys trek on down the path watching for bigfoot and bears.
I decided a big tree near the edge of the river would be a perfect cover for my pasty white ass.
My jeans were big so they would slide right on down, less than a minute. Nothing to it.
I took off my coat, wandered down tot he river side and leaned up against the tree and....
you know.
hmmmm nothing to this.
except.
when the cool mud, which was somewhat firm from the chill, warmed up from... you know... the pee.
The mud came loose.
and my feet started to slide, and my pants were down, and my hands were full.
Wow, I think Im going to fall in the river.
I remember thinking that. As I slid and tried to backpedal myself up the ridge. Which is now just soft mud.
Crap, crap crap.
I let go of my pants, my white ass exposed and decided either I try to sit down or turn over and dive for the tree that has now drifted about five feet above my head from slipping down the side.
I opt for the climb a ladder approach, flat out on all fours, white ass in the air I start to grab at roots and branches hanging down to try and pull myself out of the urine bog I have created.
The whole time Im thinking, "MY ASS IS OUT MY ASS IS OUT!!!!!!!"
Dummy.
I finally get on my knees, push myself a little further up the side and grab that old tree.
I hang on for a moment, and pull up my pants. My yellow coat hanging so nicely form the branch.
I get back up the ridge and am COVERED in mud.
up tp my elbows, legs, sweater and my white BUTT is now a beautiful earthy tone of Lehigh river mud.
As soon as I got up to my feet, my phone bings.
Its a text message.
From my husband.
"I see your ass! hahaha Where are you?"
He couldnt really see me, he was just being ANDY.
I'm on my way. I replied.
Finally caught up with the boys, of course Andy says "what happened to you! you ok?"
Ah I was trying out for the fat girl falls in the river with her pants down role on the next Funniest Home Videos.
He was a little shocked at the mess I was, "How did you get so dirty ... so fast? I just left you?"
"Aw nothing to it in Suzie world, really."
He swatted at the mud on my jeans, gasped at my boots, arms and hands covered in mud.
Then said... "anyone see you?"
I sure hope not.
Just every deceased member of my family and friends that were certainly laughing at me from heaven.Who then sent a little strength my way so I didnt become the biggest log in the Lehigh.
Thanks everyone. I owe you one.
Attached is a photo of my launching site, which I snapped on the way back from our trek. It would have been a memorable and cold little jaunt. I would be easy to find for sure....
I'd be the one with the white ass bobbing out of the water behind her.
Love to all.
Went to the Lehigh gorge yesterday with the boys. A much needed day of burning off energy for Jack. He had a rough week last week after his long Christmas break. It seemed everyday got worse than the last. Until Friday when all hell broke loose and he cried at school because.. "He blew it, all his hard work was wasted!"
How did it get like this? well, I know. For once, in a long time I think I know for sure what happened.
We have always tried to be the "positive" approach parents.
When you have a great day, when you get a good grade on that spelling test, when you play nice with your friends....We will do/see/go/get whatever.
Last week for some reason, after a yellow light on Tuesday I decided, for some reason that I would tell him, "If you get another yellow light tomorrow I am taking everything away for the day."
Well Wednesday, he got a yellow light. I took everything away.
Thursday morning I told him, better have a good day or everything stays away and you will be in your room for the afternoon.
Guess what? He got a red light, follow through and hes in his room, with no priviledges.
Normally I punish for things that ACTUALLY HAPPEN, not for things that haven't happened yet.
I think it put some pressure on him and the NEGATIVE talk, really worked.
He behaved negatively.
Friday morning I knew it was going badly when he told me he "knew it would be a bad day, since all his other days were bad."
Oh shit.
ANd it did.
Chatted with teacher who said all he was worried aboutt all day was, not going on his adventure walk on Sunday "If he didnt have a great day."
we went home Friday and I realized what I had done. I changed the rules basically.
He had the crying totally dismantled breakdown when I picked him up.
I blew it Mom. Do you still love me?
Why did I do this? What made me change directions? I don't know.
By Saturday, we pulled it back together, hung out all day, Jack went to lunch with Daddy, visited his Bobchi, snuggled and got loved up all day. Then spent time with his Nana and best girl Ella. We had Pizza night and just plain did feel goods things.
Sunday was our adventure walk. We took the neighbor boy along for company and it was good. They walked, picked up sticks, watched ducks, kicked rocks, raced down paths, and were BOYS.
It was a rainy foggy, damp day on the outside. But my heart was warming up again, and easing back on some of my guilt.
What is that Mothers Guilt? why is it stronger than anything else?
A child has a misstep, or even has a great accomplishment and we think we could/should have done more?
My girls I feel I wasn't present enough, or too present.
Too involved, not involved enough.
My experience with jack has been all Mother guilt. of course stuffed with LOVE for the boy.
Nothing anyone can say or do changes those feelings. It just is.
So my adventure walk on Sunday turned into a real exciting event.
Here is how it unfolded.
On our way down to Jim Thorpe we stopped at a cute diner in some hole in the wall town. Packed with blue haired ladies and white haired chaps. All settled into their meatloaf dinners after church.
We stumble in, wearing snow boots and hats, coats and two loud chatty excited 7 year old boys.
They ate their chicken and fries, were good and a real treat it turns out for all the blue haired ladies.
On our way out a 399 year old woman told me I had sweet little boys, I looked around, thinking "ME?" Oh "thank you, they are something arent they?"
Not going into the details of this ones mine this ones his friend...
She said "I had 7 boys, and would love to go back to my busy kitchen... enjoy them.." and she smiled and shuffled along with her church friends.
After the week we had, I wanted to cry. right there in East bumblegulch.
No time to cry Suzie, just keep moving, the Lehigh awaits.
We drove the extra 15 minutes and piled out of the truck. boots, hats, binoculars, headlamps, water bottle.
We walked along the trail that is between the Lehigh river and the Lehigh Canal. A nice flat footpath, that has trails that lead to the river. The boys decided to lead us down one trail. As we went down the trail it hit me.
I really have to pee.
We are two miles in, and 4 miles form the end of the trek.
I will have to conjure up the old days of peeing in the woods with Kathy. I told Andy who gave me "the look."
I really have to go. That soda at the diner went right through me.
He chuckled and said he would walk the boys further downt he trail and I could squat somewhere, no ones here, its a rainy day, go ahead.
"You alright by yourself?" He said.
"Sure, what could go wrong?" I said.
I wathced the boys trek on down the path watching for bigfoot and bears.
I decided a big tree near the edge of the river would be a perfect cover for my pasty white ass.
My jeans were big so they would slide right on down, less than a minute. Nothing to it.
I took off my coat, wandered down tot he river side and leaned up against the tree and....
you know.
hmmmm nothing to this.
except.
when the cool mud, which was somewhat firm from the chill, warmed up from... you know... the pee.
The mud came loose.
and my feet started to slide, and my pants were down, and my hands were full.
Wow, I think Im going to fall in the river.
I remember thinking that. As I slid and tried to backpedal myself up the ridge. Which is now just soft mud.
Crap, crap crap.
I let go of my pants, my white ass exposed and decided either I try to sit down or turn over and dive for the tree that has now drifted about five feet above my head from slipping down the side.
I opt for the climb a ladder approach, flat out on all fours, white ass in the air I start to grab at roots and branches hanging down to try and pull myself out of the urine bog I have created.
The whole time Im thinking, "MY ASS IS OUT MY ASS IS OUT!!!!!!!"
Dummy.
I finally get on my knees, push myself a little further up the side and grab that old tree.
I hang on for a moment, and pull up my pants. My yellow coat hanging so nicely form the branch.
I get back up the ridge and am COVERED in mud.
up tp my elbows, legs, sweater and my white BUTT is now a beautiful earthy tone of Lehigh river mud.
As soon as I got up to my feet, my phone bings.
Its a text message.
From my husband.
"I see your ass! hahaha Where are you?"
He couldnt really see me, he was just being ANDY.
I'm on my way. I replied.
Finally caught up with the boys, of course Andy says "what happened to you! you ok?"
Ah I was trying out for the fat girl falls in the river with her pants down role on the next Funniest Home Videos.
He was a little shocked at the mess I was, "How did you get so dirty ... so fast? I just left you?"
"Aw nothing to it in Suzie world, really."
He swatted at the mud on my jeans, gasped at my boots, arms and hands covered in mud.
Then said... "anyone see you?"
I sure hope not.
Just every deceased member of my family and friends that were certainly laughing at me from heaven.Who then sent a little strength my way so I didnt become the biggest log in the Lehigh.
Thanks everyone. I owe you one.
Attached is a photo of my launching site, which I snapped on the way back from our trek. It would have been a memorable and cold little jaunt. I would be easy to find for sure....
I'd be the one with the white ass bobbing out of the water behind her.
Love to all.
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