Friday, May 30, 2014

Things you should know before attending 5th grade graduation...

This morning was Carson's 5th grade graduation.  We were instructed to have him dress nicely which meant Sunday clothes...on a Friday.  OH THE HORROR!!!!  As you may have guessed, that did not go over well with a certain boy who only likes to wear basketball shorts.  The only way I got him to wear his suit was the promise of a fun class party after his graduation where he would be able to change into his beloved shorts.



 






Here are a few things you might want to know before going to your child's graduation:

*In order to get a good seat, you need to set up a tent in the lunch room the night before and spend the night...kind of like Black Friday shopping only it's Black Friday Graduation.  It's just as crazy!!

*Never punch people!!!  Even if they think that it is more important for them to see their child graduate and get a picture of the big event than it is for you to see your child graduate.  Even if they come and stand right in front of you as all of the class names are read.  Even if you can't get a good picture because they aren't invisible.  Oh, and don't worry, they'll go back to their seat...it won't be until after your child has already finished but no biggy!!

*Music teachers are amazing and are so fun to watch as they do whatever silly thing they can think of to get their students to sing loud.

*Never punch people!!!  Even if they think that they should not have to stand in line like everyone else to get a visitor's pass.  Even if they just walk up to the front while you wait ever-so-patiently for your turn.

*Don't even think of asking for a picture of your graduate with his best friend unless you have brought his comfy clothes to change into because he has been sitting in his church clothes for long enough and picture taking is the last thing on earth he wants to do!!



*Never punch people!!!  Even if you are starting to get anxious from the enormous crowds that are pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of their child.  Remember to just breathe deeply!!

*Expect a complete and total meltdown if you even dare think to take a shortcut through the school instead of traveling the path that your child has taken for the last 6 years to get to his classes.

*Purple cupcakes and white shirts...don't expect a happy ending!!

*You might cry when you think of how your children are growing up so quickly and how just yesterday you were heading off to the "tissues and tea party" after dropping him off at preschool!

*When the American flag comes into the room and you start to say the pledge of allegiance you might just tear up as you think of the men and women who have died fighting for us to have our freedom and if you are anything like me, you will be grateful for your parents who taught you to stand at attention, put your hand over your heart and be grateful that you were blessed to be one of the lucky ones born here.  Oh...they also might do a "sucker-punch" and play the national anthem too and you'll just be a mess.  Bring a tissue!!

*One day, you won't have any more children going to elementary school...you can either pat yourself on the back for a job well done or you can be sad that you're getting old.  I haven't decided which one I'm going to do yet.

*When you finally get your visitor's badge, for a split second you might think that it says "Mom of the year" but it really says "End of the year party" and you can pat yourself on the back for being such an optimist.  I mean really...how often does that happen...Shanon being an optimist?!  Practically never!!

*There is never enough parking.

*You will run into lots of old friends which is so fun but after a few minutes you may start to think that small talk might just be the death of you (if you are an introvert like me).

*If you take your 15 year old, all of her elementary school teachers will comment on HOW MUCH SHE HAS GROWN!!!

*Did I mention to bring a tissue or two?

*Finally...be grateful for all of the wonderful people that have influenced your child's life in some way whether large or small.  It really does take a village and we have been blessed to live in some of the best villages around!!



Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Mother's Day

I woke up early Sunday morning and the first thing Gary said to me was "Happy Mother's Day, Hon!" and the first thing I said was "Uggg.....I hate Mother's Day!"


You are sorry that you don't get to wake up to my ray of sunshine-y personality, aren't you?!


Yes...I admit it...I hate Mother's day.


I don't hate being a mom.  I love my children.  They are some of the smartest, funniest, most creative, most annoying, most exasperating, kindest, most loving children I have ever met.  They accept everyone just the way they are and draw them in to their circle of friends.  They hate doing the dishes or any other household chores.  They love all things related to technology.  They are good, responsible students who mostly get "A's" and always have me going to the award ceremonies at the end of the year where they are in the 4.0 or higher GPA group.  They always wait until the very last minute to do their homework.  They love to hear their siblings scream "LEAVE ME ALONE!!" and have gotten very proficient at finding a way to make them say it often.  They are always where they say they are going to be.  They have the best friends on the planet that are fun to hang around.  Their rooms are NEVER clean.  They are just GOOD!!


Yet, I still hate Mother's day.  It's a low self-esteem thing.  I hear all of the inspiring stories of all the most wonderful of mothers and I kind of sit and do an evaluation with my "Most Wonderful Mother" checklist and most of the boxes are not checked off.  I won't even go into all of the ways I fail as a mother.


Our day started off with me getting grumpy because we were running late for church and Emily needed to be there early to sing.  She ran in just in the nick of time and I was desperately trying to get in to hear her but Carson is the friendliest, most social boy on the planet and had to say "hello" to all of his friends before he could go inside.  Luckily, I got in just in time to hear her sing but I had an invisible storm cloud over my head.  Then I cried during the opening hymn, one of my children refused to go sing with the group singing the special musical number, and Carson decided that he needed to throw-up during the song so I took him out to get a drink (he didn't throw up, he's just learned the way to get out of church for a few minutes).


Then something happened.  I don't even know what it was exactly.  Kinsey insisted that we take family pictures after church which is usually the best way to get us mad at each other but we managed to have a semi-good time and then I came home and took a nap.  When I woke up, I saw all of the pictures that Kinsey spent the day editing and I marveled at this beautiful family that God has given me.  We aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  We are all a tad (times a million) bit awkward.  We aren't sporty.  We're all a little artsy.  Some of us are musical.  Some of us are not.  We all try to be kind to others but sometimes we fail.  We are all doing the best that we can.


Plus, my husband still loves me.


I guess I will just have to admit, that while I may not be the perfect mother, I have some pretty incredible children so I haven't failed completely!


What more could a girl ask for?!


Happy Mother's Day from this very imperfect mother!!