Skipping The Kindergarten.

...So, I wonder what he thinks about the second grade and on!

Beautiful Waste.

Emanuele Pizzolorusso| Waste Paper Bin

A waste basket is made entirely of recycled paper. 

+Thin paper layers of 40 disposable bags. 

Extract the bag and throw the paper away when bin is full.

...and guess what? The layer beneath is ready to collect more paper.

The PTA.

Abréviation/ Acronym: PTA, PTO
Otherwise known as: The Parent Teacher Association, Parent Teacher Organization 


“Welcome to the PTA!”, they said.
“It will be a breeze”, they said.

And then they ran.

As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve seen any of the old PTA board around since the switching of the board mid August.

Wait, let me start over.
I have seen a ‘few’ of the old board members…in passing.

I’ve also overheard the catty remarks on the side as to what the new board ‘should be’ doing. Funny how people mouth off on the sideline? You know on the other side of the parking lot! Hey, I’m standing two cars over from you! How about offering advice – since you’ve been there and done that!

Oh, and then there’s Ms. Zumba a.k.a. the parent with three real names (there are a few of them at the school). She approached the PTA President in the school parking lot about her concern on the upcoming Harvest festival and made the PTA president all frazzled.

Smh. Funny. Real funny. Ms. Zumba lady. Cleary you knew who and who not to approach!
No worries. We found an activity for her -Chair of Santa’s Workshop – you know – because she knows everything!

(Sorry, I went off on a tangent)

The PTA, it ain’t rosey.
They talk about you.
The same few parents and/or guardians volunteer – and how that burns me up…I never understood parents that made no effort in volunteering.
I believe my time is as important as yours. Not to mention it’s for YOUR CHILD.
Oh, but guess what? Your child really likes seeing me at the school and most of the time I know how their day went – so take that.

This PTA thing…
It’s like my normal 9 to 5. wtf.
The responsibility involved.
It’s not a breeze!

Btw, oh my gosh, Did I mention I’m PTA treasurer?
Seriously, worst position like e-v-e-r!
Balancing books for campaigns. fundraisers. spirit night. box tops
Folks don’t want to own up on what they owe (you know you owe fundraising money, stop playing and no we can’t barter)
Folks write out their checks wrong (because it’s rocket science, not)
Gimme. Gimme.  Gimmie.
When did the PTA become the Bank of America…like why do we pay all the bills?
Hey, News Flash People. Gimme got shot when the PTA board transferred over!

Oh and the Bank, the bank we bank at is Aawful – that’s double A awful! Like the school chose the bank awful. Like prehistoric banking awful. Now you know that’s just AWFUL!

And let’s not start on the School Board that expects the PTA to operate on the 5th hour as they do. That would require another post.

So now it’s January and school has started back up again.
I was afforded a partial break from my PTA duties due to the holiday – my Savior!
Back to sticks and stones
Back to writing checks, receipts and disbursements.
Back to balancing the books.
Back to planning and implementing volunteer hours.
Back to knowing ‘it won’t be a breeze’ – as they once said.

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Are you on a PTA Board at your child’s school? What’s your favorite part of PTA?

Family.

They came
we fellowshipped
we broke bread
They left

Or

They came
They cackled
They laid all over my furniture
They ate all my damn food (even what I didn’t sit out)
They used my Internet
They tore up my sons playroom
They left and went on their merry way

EITHER WAY…

They’re family and we had a good time. I think I’ll invite them back again...next year...New Years Day.

The Last Five Months.

The lazy five months have been…let's say crazy. Or cray cray (for the hip folks)

The school semester started not only for my son but for me as well. With this being my last year of school the semester felt like a movie that would just never end, ground hogs day, or possibly hell if it's anything like what I've been told.

Needless to say my blog was neglected. I truly wanted to share but I just had no energy in between the day-to-day, my school, my sons schooling and sports, oh and wait…the P.T.A (that's another story).  Overall, I think I spent more time on Instagram than my blog because it was a bit easier - less writing.

Despite my hell, excuse me, I meant my classes, I (we) did get out a little.

I must say that when we did venture out, we enjoyed it to the fullest! Below is a photo review of all the things we did when I didn't have my head in the books…and that I never got the change to write about.

My sons first day of kindergarten…woo hoo! He's super excited…it's probably just for recess!

An early Saturday morning on the soccer field.

A long weekend in Dallas to spend time with family and for my younger cousins wedding.

Picking pumpkins and getting fresh fruits at the local farm.

No explanation needed…someone's 5 and still knows EVERYTHING!

Halloween: Ironman by night, Farmer Joe by day.

For the love of New York City. A trip to see the Rockettes, a visit to Times Square, 

Rockefeller Plaza with family and friends.

Happy New Year.

In Between A to Z (The Holidays)

The Weekend In Pictures.

Holding It In.

Last night my kid did a number on me.
Well, I suppose that's normal...but last night it was different.

It all started when I took his paper airplane away from him because it was distracting him from putting on his seat belt. Seriously, who wants to sit in the parking lot for 15 minutes while their kid puts on his seat belt?
He cried.

Then in route to meeting up with his little friend and her dad, he decided he wanted a hug. No, to be exact, he wanted me to stop the car in rush hour traffic - while driving in the left lane on the beltway - and get out and give him a hug. I wouldn't do it...you know safety reasons.
He cried.

Then it was at Barnes & Nobles. He wanted to take home 20 packaged Thomas the Tank trains. No, seriously. If you know my kid you know he has over 50 Thomas the Tank trains, etc. It wasn't enough that he was spending time with one of his friends on a play date and during the week at that.
He pouted and cried.

The finale - when we were being seated at the restaurant. He wanted to sit next to his little friend. The friends dad wanted them to sit across from each other to make sure they would eat their dinner and not play. I totally got that. My sons friend got it,  but my kid didn't.
He pouted and cried.

Inside, each time, I think my patience and mental capacity just depleted.
All I could think is: 
Why. 
Why me? 
Why now? 
Whose kid is this? 
And, what happened during the day for my kid to be like this?

The other part of me was thinking, if he doesn't cut it out there is going to be trouble!
I even thought about just dropping him off at someones house - my cousins or moms, ringing the bell and running and leaving him there - even if I had to tie him up to the porch furniture. Yes, I went there!

My last thought was too go home and make a martini. Okay, so I just found a new martini recipe - I thought it would mellow me out.

The night ended quietly.
The kid went off to bed with no problems. I suppose all that crying and the tantrums wore him out.
I on the other hand never made that martini. I was just too drained to mix and shake anything.

How do you as a parent cope with the meltdowns and a whiny kid? What's your breaking point?

---To Follow Up---
This morning I landed on "MOTHERHOOD: THE BIG, FAT FUCK YOU" an article by Lisa Morguess on the Scary Mommy blog. You can read it here. It's worth a read.

The comments are worth a read too. One comment that stuck out was:

"Ya know what kills me? That moms feel like they must apologize for losing it. That moms should be thankful and and feel totally fulfilled by motherhood every day of their bloody lives. Who made this crap up? Motherhood, like everything else, is full of trials and tribulations, and sometimes sucks and is sometimes joyful, and is another aspect of being a human being, and human being are imperfect even when we are trying our best. And we should not judge another mom who yells at her kids when she’s had enough of their lack of cooperation and concern for others! Sometimes that is the only time kids actually hear us and hopefully they learn something…."
-Melon

Wordless Wednesday - Superhero Push-ups.

"Superhero push-ups minus two."

A Wordless Wednesday Post.

Learn more about Wordless Wednesday here.

One Fine Day.

Last Wednesday was the closing program for the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes at my sons school.  There will be a little singing here, a little singing there I thought. The teachers, principal, and pastor will speak and it will be all over in 20 minutes tops!

Not the case.

There was singing by both grades. However, I’m not sure what my kid was doing. He was only enthusiastic about one song. I kind of don’t feel bad about it. I mean the rest of the songs that were sung I heard the ENTIRE school year (at the school, at home, in the car, etc.). I suppose he was over them. The one song he did sing was participatory – that will get the kids going if anything.

There were also a few words by the teachers, principal, and pastor as well as a slide show at the end of the ceremony.

And then somewhere in between all of that, promotion of next grade certificates and awards were given out.  When I heard that awards were going to be given out I cringed. It didn't help that my parents and other family members looked back at me and asked, “Will E be getting an award?” My response was a shrug of the shoulders and a side eye as in to say, “Really people, do I know!”

Suddenly, I sort of slide down a little in my seat and wondered, awards? What, they’re giving out awards? Oh my goodness! I wondered how I'd I feel if my kid didn't get one? Will that make me a bad parent? Did I not do something right this school year?  Wait, kids get awards in Pre-K? 

Promotion certificates were given out first. When they called my kids name, I could hardly get up to get a picture because inside I’m still spazzing over this award thing. Thank God for other family members and their gadgets.

Okay, so now I’m feeling like a crazy lady and an idiot. Regroup, regroup, and regroup – it’s “award time.” I just sit there…

I hear my sons name being called, I jumped up slightly. I didn't want to seem too excited or crazy. Inside I’m thinking Yessssssssssssssssssssssss! That’s my boy! Proud Momma!  (Only six awards were given out).

The award – In Recognition of Demonstrating A Positive Attitude, Good Character, Hard-worker, and Responsible Citizenship  

As he gets his award from the principal he looks towards me and smiles. I smile back. 

...Definitely one fine day.

Two Days.

Two days...

Yes folks just two days!
That's a 1 and a 2...
Two days left for what you might ask or wonder?
Well, in 2 days school ends and summer begins!

Should I really be this excited?
Am I ashamed that I am excited about this?
Has the school year made me a us horrible parent parents?

So what my kid is only in Pre-K!
Hey Pre-K counts!

And When I think about it numerically...
25% of me is ashamed about being excited and the other 75% isn't.

Here's the reason:

But seriously after all the shame is said and done (that didn't last too long),
I found out I'm not the only one! Jen Hatmaker, a mother of  five (5), feels the same and a little more. Check out her post, "Worst End of School Mom Ever"...it's definitely relatable...you know, if you have kids or know people who have kids.

Here's wishing you and yours a Happy Summer filled with a house full of noise, with extra questions about meal time, where's my so and so, when are we going to the beach, etc.!

Enjoy!

+++
Blog Post: Jen Hatmaker, "Worst End of School Mom Ever"

Thankful and Blessed [HMD]

joyful smile

silly laughter

heartfelt kisses

intriguing conversationalist

extraordinary talker

my teacher

amazing joy

ultimate sacrifice

undeniable love

a gift from GOD

lifes BIG blessing

I am THANKFUL and BLESSED to be called his MOTHER.

Happy Mothers Day to all mothers near and above, 
and to the parental units who are in that role.

I Judged A Book.

1/

Monday is library day at my sons’ school. Like clockwork every Monday he brings a book home. I take the book out of his book bag, look at the book and then sit the book on table.  I can honestly say that half of the books he brings home don’t get read, mainly because we go to the public library frequently which amounts to having tons of library books along with personal books.

This past Monday when my son brought his library book home, I took it out of his book bag. I looked at the book and thought, ewe Pinkalicious? To be exact, “Pinkalicious: Fairy House was the book’s title! Really! Oh this isn’t getting read,” I said to myself.

I immediately wondered why my kid picked this book. It’s pink and glitzy - it’s a girly book (yes, I said that). What happened to the robot books, the car books, the truck books, or even the SpongeBob books that he brought home before? I glanced over the book one more time and I then put Pinkalicious and all her pink glory on the table...with no thought of adding it to this week’s reading list.

Today is Wednesday and Pinkalicious: Fairy House was read to my son last night before bed time and I enjoyed it.  Well, we both enjoyed the book.

The book is about Pinkalicious along with her friend Peter, building a cozy house in the backyard for fairies to stay in during their visit to her family’s blooming garden which she believes comes to life each year due to the fairies hard work. The book is an I Can Read book which makes me happy, happy! It’s an easy reader for parents (especially if you are tired from a long day) and it encourages my son to read as well as helps with his reading skills via the use of site words. The book is also well written illustrated.  Because I enjoyed the book so much, I later decided to Google the book title to see what I could find out about the author. What I found was that there was a Pinkalicious website - a lot more than I was looking for! But seriously, the website is very well designed, it’s informative and educational.

So in less than a week I learned again that I was wrong. Just because my son brought home a pink colored glitzed out girly book was not a good reason to not want to read the book to him. Thus I am reminded of an old saying, “One should never judge a book by its cover.” As I am normally not the type of parent that will stir my child away from something because of its makeup…why would I start now? 

++++++

What books are you reading with your children? Do any of these books or authors of books have interactive/educational websites or apps?

2/

Element.

1/

I'd have to say this semester of school was draining. I gave my final presentation for class my digital economy class on Wednesday.

Two days later this graphic clearly shows how I'm feeling - "out of my element."

It's strange to feel this way. I guess I never get over the hustle and bustle of school. I'm excited when classes start. Then I get annoyed during the semester because of the work and time in general. Then classes end and I'm lost and I'm super tired from it all...and my allergies are up to level 90.

A spa day would be awesome but, there are a ton of other neglected things that I need to take care of.

I need to jump back in...and get it together...quickly.

Be.

Love this...

via Geekie

Getting the Sillies Out.

Do you watch Nick Jr.?

Have young kids or young family members?

Have you heard the name Brobee, Mono? Wait...DJ Lance Rock?

If I've lost you, I'm referring to Yo Gabba Gabba - the television show. I have to admit when I first saw the television show I was a bit freaked out. But over time I've grown to love this television show and so has my son (the original reason I watch). 

This month Yo Gabba Gabba came to town...and we went to see them. Actually, the real story, I promised my son last year I'd take him when he saw the commercial and I totally snoozed on the tickets - they were sold out in one (1) day. I felt like a horrible parent (yep, it's that easy). So last Fall when I heard they'd be in town, I set every calendar reminder I could to remind me to buy tickets...and I did. Yes, I'm awesome - this year.

The show was A-MAZ-ING...and that's being honest! I don't think one could ask for much more than double entertainment - 1. for the child and, 2. the parent/guardian.  The show was very colorful, engaging & loud, and to top it off we had great seats! 

So really what I'm trying to say is, if you ever get the chance to check out Yo Gabba Gabba live in concert it would be worth your time.

2.14.13

Here's what the little one gave out to his classmates for Valentines Day. 

Hope you enjoyed your day.

Troop 795.

Once upon a time...
I was a Girl Scout.
Clearly, I rocked in the badge department!

Front & Back of Girl Scout Badge, Circa...

...now to work on my kids skills!
----
What activities were you a part of as a kid? Looking back, did you enjoy these activities or was it all for your parents? 

Homemade.

An entire house under the weather.

I'm not sure how this all started but I think it was compliments of a kid. I'm sure that kid got his germs from other kids. You know the story. And so now not only is everyone in the house sick but a number of people in my family are sick...and so I made homemade turkey noodle soup.

It was delicious.

Here's looking to feeling better soon.