Flaming June's Love

Back in that place again. A much brighter spot than last year at this time, but still the same questions. Jack has been adjusting to first grade.  According to all accounts he is doing well.  His TSS worker reports that he is easily distracted, disorganized and has a hard time concentrating. BUT... He is much more social, has been interacting with the other children and his actual WORK is above average.  So we have a very smart child that cant sit still long enough to do his work. His work is messy, but correct. He speaks out of turn, interrupts and has difficulty staying on task. Now here is the question of the ages.... To medicate or not. We have been down this road before.  We tried stimulants once before and he was moody and started grinding his teeth. That was 18 months ago. Now we meet with the Dr again tomorrow.  After our visit to Philadelphia this summer they suggested a stimulant for first grade.  Here we are. I truly hate to do this....

As Buddha says: live like a mighty river. And as the old Greeks said: live as though all your ancestors were living again through you. A friend of mine sent me a link this evening with some amazing thoughts to ponder enclosed. The above are just the conclusion.  I am totally in love with the idea of our ancestors living through us so make it GOOD! When we named Missi, Melissa Sara Bailey we chose her middle name after Her great grandmother Sara.  She died at 21 giving birth to her son Eugene, Tims Father. At the time of Missi's birth I was just 25 and had a 2 year old.  I was a child in many ways myself.  I may not have adapted all that well to a cooking and cleaning stay at home wife, BUT being a Mom was definitely my thing. I loved those girls, and still do like nothing else in the world. As Tim and I chose both of our daughters names we chose names that would be cute as a child, strong as a woman, and had some family tie to their past. Allison Elizabet...

Today was one of those days. Today was a day I expected little and was rewarded beyond words. I was asked to accompany a group of my students to volunteer at the Veterans Hospital for an appreciation party.  They asked for volunteers to escort the residents of the veterans nursing home to a bazzar type event followed by picnic food and a dj.  I was so proud of 15 of my students to attend on a Sunday.  I peddled the event as a "resume improvement"  to the students. I KNOW we all got so much more than that. When we arrived we were told that each student would be assigned a resident to push their wheelchair, or walk with them throughout the event and then bring them back to their rooms. I so wish I could have taken pictures of the students interacting with these men. I spoke to two students that cried at how affected they were to spend time with our Vets. One student had never been in a nursing home, and cried for their apparent loneliness.  I cant tell you ...

The cursed soccer Mom. Close your eyes. (ok open them so you can read what I've got in my head...) Imagine the perfect soccer Mom. She is pretty, smiling, well dressed, but not over done.  Makeup on, but not too much. Car is clean, or should I say the minivan is clean. Knows everyones schedule, all five of her children are fed, washed, homeworked and eager to practice. She knows all the other Moms that walk on, near, or across the field. Everyone wants to be like her, or near her, or share coffee with her.  Because she has it all together. After years of running my girls around all of Wilkes Barre for softball, and soccer, and cheerleading and 6am swimming practice, I have the driving to Godawful places and crazy hours down pat. I never totally got the SOCCER MOM THING. I guess I was in self preservation mode at the time since I was a young, divorced, single Mom of two teen girls that were attending Catholic HS. I was a pariah. Then as I was driving my gals aro...

I have an amazing dog named Honey.  She is a beautiful, calm, friendly Lab/retriever mix.  When Tim moved out and our black lab Petey boy died, I felt I OWED it to the girls to get another dog. They used to make up songs about the dog they wanted before we even got her. "We love you honey, you are so funny, and we will love you more than a bunny. You'll be so pretty And when you shittty we will clean it up." Well it was a totally convincing song and they were so darn cute, and heartbroken, and I would have done ANYTHING to fix them. So we went to the pet store and I bought the dog they wanted. Needless to say they love her, she is so pretty, much cuter than a bunny. But they DO NOT PICK UP DOG POOP. Here is where the title of this post comes in ANDY. We got Honey the Dog and Andy the same year. I picked up Andy online in January and we got Honey in March.  So they came together. Guess who picks up the dog shit?  ANDY. I often say to Honey, wh...

Tonight is the first Blue Moon, in like forever. Well after googling Blue Moon it turns out to be NOT THAT RARE. It certainly isnt a Haleys Comet, kind of rare. It is the second full moon of a single month. Which I enjoyed reading had/has something to do with old proverbs in the bible.  The timing of Easter has to do with lunar cycles. OK, that being "put to bed".  Lets talk about those things that again, only happen every once in a while.  As well as what should I do with my blue moon this evening?  Another fact that this is not a literal BLUE MOON.  It is just a full moon. Just a full moon.  Should I call a friend that I dont talk to enough? Should I go for a walk by moonlight? Maybe I should kiss my husband under the full moon? He's working late. Should I go for ice cream and sit with ALL THOSE PEOPLE that seem to gather at the Baskin Robbins in town? Hmm I dont think so they seem far too... familiar for me. I think they have an ice cream club...

I heard this song the other day while driving in the car.  As usual I think first of a lovers song.  Then immediately following I focus on MY LOVES. My children, my boy. I am sure my on and on about these kids can get... boring. But returning to one of the original purposes of this blog  I must write what fills me, and right now I remain filled with these people. Allie, Missi and Jack. I listen and read the lyrics to this song and each verse brings me to each and then comes around again to another. Winding a path back around to myself-which is always a good place to start. For example: Well, there's so much they hold And just like them old stars I see that you've come so far To be right where you are How old is your soul? These lines are my Boy.  The Boy.  He came to us and showed us a way out of our misery of loss with his bluest eyes and smile of purest joy.  He has an old soul that guided us OUT-FORWARD. I was damaged, but his BEING ma...