Once again, the kids' social studies teachers are offering extra credit to kids who dress up in themed costumes for Halloween. This year Monkey is in the Government class his sister took last year, and Chickadee is in US History. I both love and hate this idea; I love it because it's (supposed to be) fun and gets the kids engaged, but I hate it because who ends up doing all of the work, I ask you? (*AHEM* Exhibit A.) (Please also note that SOMEONE is refusing to let her little brother borrow her Bill costume this year EVEN THOUGH he doesn't have the same teacher she wore it for last year.)...
So my folks were here, briefly, and my father mentioned no fewer than three times that he was going to check my blog to see if I'd written. "Um, I don't really write much anymore," I said, as if he didn't already know that. "Yeah, but how will I know what's happening in your life?" he said. "It's terrible," added Otto, never one to shy away from ganging up on me with my dad. "I used to be able to check the blog before I came home to find out what I'd done that day or to know if I should be worried about something. Now I just have to GUESS." I waved them off. Whatever. A day later, Chickadee...
Over the years, Otto and I have worked out a system for being Involved Marching Band Parents, and it's served us pretty well. My responsibilities include working in the concession stand whenever we have a home game (after my baptism by fire three years ago I somehow ended up a permanent fixture in there), assisting with the mad scramble that is uniform fittings/distributions in August, helping with fundraisers, and dropping everything to show up at any rehearsal where a child of mine has completely lost their crap and requires an intervention (fun!). Otto's responsibilities include most...
But first... a scintillating Duncan update: He is very much enjoying his hobbit meal schedule. Where he used to just sleep in my office all day long (presumably due to his low blood sugar and being mostly dead), he now hops up and follows me around the house. Bathroom break? Duncan is there! Grabbing a snack? Duncan is ready! Someone at the door? PERHAPS HE HAS KIBBLES! Duncan now believes it is his birthright to have a handful of kibble in his face at all times, and he'd be happy to follow you around to remind you. He is forgiven, because 1) he's adorable and 2) this newfound energy came...
You know how people say that God won't give you more than you can handle and then you want to punch those people in the face because clearly you are dealing with more than you can handle and the idea that someone or someTHING handed it all to you on purpose, with thought and consideration, is kind of the the very last straw? That's where I live, now. To be fair, it's possible my tolerance isn't very good. But it's also true that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and three fun days in Boston has since given way to three ridiculous are-you-fucking-kidding-me-with-this?? days...
There's a certain magical thing that happens as your children get older; at least, it's happening to me. In the very beginning, when they were tiny babies, I was sure I had no idea what I was doing. Over time, I gained confidence, and ever-so-steadily inched into a place where I felt like a competent parent. But then they turn into teenagers and once again I have no freaking clue how to do anything right when it comes to them. It's just that instead of a colicky baby I now have stressed-out humans who are larger than me. Neat! But if I actually DID know anything, I'd write about it all...
And lo, it did come to pass that the edict came down from the grand high ruler of the land (if we agree that by "land" we mean "this particular science class my kids are taking") and the charge was thus: create a poster of determinate size and scope and breadth and beauty. First, the children diligently argued over the dimensions of said assignment, for somehow the rubric and the spoken words from the ruler's mouth, they didst not match. A missive delivered to said ruler was mirthfully replied to including the line, "I just love your children!" which is indeed ancient code for, "Wow, I see...
Every time I think I'm getting the hang of this parenting gig (don't worry, it doesn't happen all that often; just the rare, delusional flash of perceived competence), something new comes up. Chickadee's been doing marching band for years, y'know, so I figured I had the routine down and everything would be old hat with Monkey. But I forgot that he's a boy and she's a girl. I mean, it's not like I didn't know, but I forgot that once they got into uniform fittings there are... ahhhh... different concerns for boys and girls. Marching band uniforms are... very form-fitting. VERY. FORM-FITTING....
I think I promised you some super-exciting content about our last visit to Costco. (I tell you what, this blog is worth EXACTLY what you're paying for it. Such value!) Before that, though, apparently I am falling down on my chronicling duties by not verifying that 1) my children went back to school and 2) they were wearing shoes when they did it. Here you go: [Obvious from the picture: My darling vegetarian has thus far refused to let me buy her leather boots, which means she wears these crappy ones that fall apart and make her look homeless. I'm not saying she doesn't rock that particular...
