Mama Bear? ? ?

Does anyone else have the mama bear syndrome?  I think I am eat up with it.  If you don't know what I mean by mama bear then you don't  have kids or they are just babies.  That does not mean that you won't find your mama bear personality down the road.  Mama bear syndrome usually occurs when you as the mom see or feel that your child is either in danger or being grossly mistreated.   You feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up and you want to intercept what ever danger is headed toward your child.   Sometimes you just have a feeling when your child is not around that something is going to happen.  I have had that one a couple of times and have stopped what was about to happen once I got to where my child was.  Sometimes it is just the fact that they are getting ready to do something stupid like jump a bicycle over a drive way.  It seems simple but as soon as we left the kid jumped the drive way and didn't quite make it and broke his collar bone.  Sometimes you just have to trust your gut.  It is not always the popular decision according to your child.
Mama bear can come out in other ways too.   You know Sprat just got a cell phone and he is actually being very responsible with it.  It does not go up to his bedroom at night and yes I do check it each day to see what is on it.  Do not assume all kids are nice because they are not, some are just plain mean, deceitful, and conniving.  As a mama bear you must keep vigilant and watch over your kids and their friends or who they think their friends are.  Sprat has three close friends and of course they got his number right off the bat but now he is getting text from people he does not know.  I have warned him about giving his number out and that some people are not who they appear to be.  Facebook and texting allows too much anonymity if you ask me.  I told him he should be ware of people texting and not telling who they are.  I told him some boys may pretend they are girls and try to get him in trouble.  He, of course, blew me off and does not want to listen.   One tried to friend me on Facebook and I don't quite understand that one, and it was just a wee bit creepy.  They do not run in the same circles and up to this year they never even played the same sport.  You see why I am apprehensive of some of these kids he is in school with.  Some just want to know what everyone else is doing and it drives them crazy when they don't.
To all the mama bears and to the future mama bears stay strong and follow your gut.

My New Cover Picture. . .

This is a throw back picture to 2003 when my sweet Big T was just a Tiny T.   This was from his first beach trip.   Time goes by so fast, that was Big T's poem that he wrote that I posted yesterday.  It was part of his language arts homework.  I thought he did such a good job it warranted sharing with the blogosphere.

I started this blog to share the funny quirky  things that my kids said and did on a daily basis.  I love sharing things here, it is a means to get things off of my chest and, some days, brag just a little.
Motherhood is a crazy roller coaster, some days I feel so positive and excited about things I could burst, other days I feel like I could just explode at the drop of a hat.  I know we all go through this and it is supposed to be normal.  Huhhh!!!   Some man must have said that.  I guess it is important to remember that in life there are ups and downs and we hope that there will be more ups than downs.   I remember being frustrated with both boys trying to potty train and now that is such a distant memory.  I guess that is one more thing I should remember, the bad stuff fades away and all you remember are those blissful times when your little angel says, "mama" or "dada" or one of my favorites from Sprat, (while trying to put on his zip up hoodie) "mama, mama, I can't get my neighborhood on."   You just have to bust out laughing.  Or when Big T had been somewhere and I had not seen him in a day or two and I looked at him and told him, wow! you have a grown a foot.  Big T looks down at both legs and asks earnestly, where?
 We had difficulty getting pregnant with Sprat but things happen in God's time not ours.  Big T was a complete surprise and we could not have been happier.  We almost lost him at 25 weeks, when I went into preterm labor.  One of the scariest things I have endured as an adult.   Dear hubby was two hours away in a deer stand and I had Sprat age 3 and did not realize I was in labor.  We did make it to term, thank goodness.   Yes, I guess the good does out weigh the bad.  It is just sometimes so difficult when we are living the bad to think about that.
So if you are a mom or trying to be a mom focus on all those good things so that when those years have flown by that will be what you remember.

Where I am from. . . By Big T

I am from the old wooden rocking chair, from the smell of homemade cookies.
I am from the sweet smell of roses.
I am from the mint leaves and rosemary bushes.
I am from sitting at the warm fire on Christmas and looking at our Moravian M's on our hands, from Mom, Dad, and Sprat.
I am from family get togethers and family dining,  from live life to the fullest and say it don't spray it.
I am from the Chirstian songs at church.
I am from Thanksgiving turkey and gravey.
From the highway where I ran over a deer, and the pain of hitting my forehead on the carseat.
All the pictures of the family on the wall remind me where I am from.

By Big T

First day of High School and Middle School

Big T came in after school with the biggest smile on his face.  That says it all.  I have been so worried over him and his classes, who would be in his room etc. . .  He has a couple friends from elementary school and one from baseball and is making new friends fast.  His whole demeanor has changed from last year to this year.  So very thankful today!  I pray this is a sign, things are on the up swing. 
Now high school is another story.   My oldest is so closed lipped about things I never really know what is going on till I read it in the head lines.  Just kidding.   He is a good boy he just has more teenage attitude than the law should allow.  I have been reading my "Power of a Praying Parent" heavily these last few months.   This is just teenage boy stuff, I dread when girls come in to play.  
I hope I will find out more today.  It is hard I guess because he is at school till after 6pm everyday for football.  I only see him a few hours each day during the week. 
Covering them both in prayer.

First day of school

Well there is no more putting it off, I am a mother of a high school student.  Eeeek!!  I really should have thought about all this before we had Big T.  It is hard to have tow big years at once.  Sprat starting high school and Big T starting middle school.
Hubby took today off to help get everyone out the door and to start things off smoothly.  After dropping the boys off we went for a nice breakfast.  This has become our anual thing.  It is nice to sit down and talk and spend some quality time together.  We also went to the store to pick up extra school supplies for the boys and buy groceries for the week. 
Now we can relax a bit before it is time to pick the boys up and start any school work they may have. 
I know we will all need to be up sooner tomorrow, we barely made it to school this morning.  We will be tweeking our morning routine.  I hope everyone has a good day.

First JV football game

Lots of firsts yesterday.  Sprat had orientation for  his freshman year of high school,  Big T had his orientation for middle school, and we had our first JV football game.
Sprat, even though he is a freshman, did get to play last night in their first game.  We also chalked up our first win for the season.  Big T has a jamboree tomorrow with his football team.  I hope they are going to have enough kids to play this year. 
School starts Monday,  dear hubby is taking the day off so we can  have a date.   It will be very simple a nice breakfast and then grocery shopping.   I know it is not romantic but, hubby and I celebrated 21 years this year and we don't have to have elaborate expensive dates.  Simple things and just time together is all we need. 
We have been doing our little date on the first day of school for a couple of years now and we celebrate and commiserate about our babies growing up.

First day of class. . .

I started my classes today.  An advanced software support and criminal law.   It is going to be an interesting semester, especially if you throw in the kids and my dear hubby.
I have had to fill out all these introductions for my classes so everyone knows who I am.   One of the  things you are supposed to tell is what year  you are going to graduate.  That is a hard one for me.  I am not sure when that will be.  I am going slow and taking only two classes a semester.  That is all I can do comfortably and still be there for my boys.  My goal is to graduate around the time they are done so that I can get a job to help cover their college expenses.   I am also paying cash for my tuition and that is tricky with our already stretched budget.  I am determined though, not to get into debt with school.  I don't want my kids to go into debt for school either.   

God knows what we need. . .

God truly  does know what we need when we need it.  I have been feeling kinda disconnected the last few days.   Feeling like there is nobody in my court.   I think I may be having a mid-life crisis.  No I don't want a Mercedes convertible or have an affair.   Although if anyone had a  convertible and wanted to give it away I would not say no. 
I think the reality that my babies, that are not really babies,  are growing up and I cannot stop it or slow it down.  I have been talking about having only four years left with my oldest and how I feel like I still have so much to teach him.  All the talk has sunk in and now I am panicking.  
I have also been feeling like when my kids are all grown and don't need me, who am I then?   I have always been Sprats' or Big T's mom.  So who am I when they are gone?   I know I will always be their mom but when they don't need me 24/7  who am I? 
So back to my title, God knows  what I need.  I got a call from my sister today and there is just something about talking with that person that makes you feel like it will all be ok.  We did not talk about any of this but just hearing her voice and knowing she thinks about me makes me feel better.   Sometimes it is just knowing that no matter what kind of mistake you may make or how bad you feel that she will always be there for you.
My dear sister called today to talk about nothing in particular but, I believe God sent her to me today because of how I have been feeling these past few days.  I needed to hear from her.   This is not to say my dear hubby is not there for me because he is.  Sometimes though it is a sister you need more than anything.    So to my sis, love you so much and thank you for calling and thank you God for sending her this day.

I am not folding to peer pressure. . .

I did it, I got my oldest a cell phone.   I have not broken under the pressure.  He is going to be playing JV football this year and I have been waiting on him after practice because you never know when they will finish.  This is a right of passage for my dear oldest, this means I think he is old enough to be responsible and mature enough to handle this.  I am sure you hear my hesitation.   This is a trial run and next will be the car.  Eeeeek!!!.  Did I really just say that?   
He is not getting the newest version of any of the phones.   The one he is getting is somewhere between the one Zack from Saved by the Bell had and the one that every other kid age 7 and older has now.  
I figure I have at least three more years before Big T has a need for a phone. 
Kids and cell phones have been a big issue for me.  I find it very amusing why some people want to buy their 5 and 6 year olds $500 + phones.   
The phone I bought for my self did not cost near that much.  My computer I got for my self for school did not cost that much.   Oh and the older model phone Sprat is getting was free when I purchased a month of service through a pay as you go plan. 
Yes, you could say I am tight with money, I like to think I am frugal.   I am saving for two college funds while paying for my own college in cash and running a household on one income while staying out of debt.  
I would love to hear what you guys think on the whole child entitlement thing we have going on all around us.  Our kids more and more think they should have the biggest and the best of everything no matter the cost.   It is up to us as parents to stop that line  of thinking.  My kids are just as guilty of these thoughts, the difference with my boys is I don't give in.   We must stand strong with how we were raised. 

Only Four Years to go. . .

My dear oldest starts high school in a few weeks and in four years will be headed to college.   Time has flown by,  it seems like yesterday I was preparing him for kindergarten.   This will probably be my theme this year.   I only have four more years and my baby will be gone to his next adventure. 
The boys have always had savings accounts, even as babies they had savings accounts.  Anytime they received money from relatives it went to their savings.  I always joked that grandma and grandpa had to pay to see their grandbabies.  A dollar here and there along with spare change does add up.   Now that Sprat is approaching the driving age he will need a checking account.   That is next on our list for this year and again proves that he is growing up.  
Big T is also going to have big changes this year.  He starts middle school this year and this will be his last year for Saturday football.  It will also be his last year for his dad to coach him in football.  I think my dear hubby is taking that one hard.  He loves football  and has enjoyed working with the kids.  He also has enjoyed watching those young men that he coached when Sprat played, now playing at the high school level. 
The boys are each taking giant steps this year.  Stay tuned. . .

Less than four weeks. . .

In less than  four weeks my oldest will be getting his drivers permit.  Eeeeeek!  Am I old enough to have a child with his permit?  Sadly,  I am more than old enough.  I am old enough to have a freshman in high school too.  Ughh!
After driving will come dating, I guess.  Dating these days scares me.
I saw where a young girl posted rules for other young girls to follow in high school.  It was a great list of things to do  and not do.  It had some that could be relevant to both boys and girls.  One of them  said to stay vertical.   I totally agree with that for boys too.   The other one I liked was; selfies are for faces.   One that she did not mention was, to not put yourself in a compromising  position to begin with.  
I gave my boys a talk the other day about dating etiquette.   Here are my rules for my boys on  that: 
  Do not ever honk the horn  or text a young lady to let her know you are in her driveway.

  Always go to the door and knock  and then walk her to the car and open the door for her. 

  Always open doors for ladies.

  Never make out or get smoochy in public.   Nobody wants to see that.

  Always walk a young lady to the door a little kiss goodnight and wait until she goes in before  you leave the porch. 

These are just a few of the things we talked about.  I brought these up becasue I have seen this happen and it is very sad.  It is sad that a girl would let a boy treat her this way and it is sad that the girls parents would allow her to be treated that way. 
   This day and age of technology has moved dating along to a level that is not for the better.  Our kids are learning about sex very early and seeing sexual material before they are ready.  Girls are sending explicit texts and pictures of themselves to boys.  I am here to tell you that my boys will  not be associating or dating any girl that does that.  Young ladies should hold on to their modesty for as long as possible, once it is released onto the internet you cannot ever get it back. 
  Maybe that should be the class they teach in elementary school.  Instead of sex ed, internet ed, how once you take a picture and send it to someone that somone can send it to many others and so on.  
  I know I have babbled on but, I hope you got my point.  

Just Another Day

The boys are both deep in football practice now.  They are still working on their school work.  I have tried to keep them doing something educational this summer so that their brains don't go to mush.  I hope we have done enough, according to them, they have done more than enough.  I have tried to keep it fun and educational.  We also did some educational things while we were on vacation. 
I think it is important to always be doing something to keep our brain working.  There is always something new to learn, even at my age.  That is why I have gone back to school.   I am loving my computer courses and the criminal justice courses I have been taking.  I will be going back to school before the boys do so that is going to be tricky. 
I hope that my going back to school teaches the boys that you never stop learning.  I hope they will always yearn to know more and will strive to better themselves no matter what their age.  

Driver's Education ughhhhh

Sprat is driving in driver's ed now.  By the end of the week I may need a wig, and I am not even the one in the car with him.  Today was day 2.  Yesterday Sprat said the instructor had to grab the wheel a few times and also had to use the brake several times.   Evidently today was not much better.  I must admit I did cringe as I was turning into the road by the school and there set Sprat waiting to pull out. 
He has never driven anything as far as I can remember.   He does not mow the grass and we don't have an ATV.  I took him out Sunday morning before church and had him make a few laps at a vacant parking lot.  I guess we need a lot more practice. 
I drove my dad's truck in the hay fields and the tractor.   So I guess I had a little more practice than he has had.   Just remember when you see those cars with the wedge of cheese on top, that those kids are terrified in there and keep your distance. 

Mission Camp over Church Beautification Just begining. . .

Mission camp is winding down and I have to say I am very proud of our youth and our youth leaders.  They have re-done the labyrinth and it looks great.  They did some painting in some of the Sunday School rooms, picked up furniture for their new class room, and cleaned the basement of the fellowship building.  They even had time for fun: swimming,  hicking, bowling,  and a neighborhood movie night.   They watched "Heaven is for Real." 
Two weeks before Mission camp we found out Sprat would also have football camp at the same time.   When he found out he told his dad and I that he was going to do both.  We told him that was fine and we would do everything we could to help.  I am so proud of him and proud that he worked so hard to be able to do both.  He loves football and he loves youth fellowship.  It was a crazy week, but so worth it.   Feeling bleesed.  

Feeling like things might actually be ok. . .

Do you ever feel, as a mom, you cannot do anything right?  I have been feeling that way for quite some time.   Every time you make a decision for your kids you run the risk of screwing them up.  On the other hand, you also may just save them from some of the heart aches that you endured at their age.  We want to protect them and we pray that they will make something of their lives and be happy doing it. 
My oldest is a teenager, that alien that takes over your precious little Angel at the age of 12 ish.   Teenagers don't think they need their parents and certainly don't want to be seen anywhere near them.  According to the teenager parents do not know anything and our only purpose is to drive them places  and be a never ending ATM.  Please do not take what I am saying wrong.  I love my kids, even my alien.   It's just some days, you feel like you have done everything wrong.
The point,  I guess, to all of my rambling is to share something my alien told my dear hubby.  They were talking football,  naturally, and were talking about a boy that is being recruited by several different Universities.   My hubby tells that he heard the boy is looking at a University that is close rather than the two that are farther away.  My alien wants to know why he would choose the close one.  Hubby puts it simply, he doesn't want to be that far from his mama.  Brace yourself, here comes the earth shattering little tid bit that makes me smile.  My alien says, "yep, I can understand that.  I don't blame him."   Could this possibly mean I did something right and that I have not ruined him for life?   I always have said my alien would be the one to go off some where far away for college and never come back.  Maybe there is hope that he will visit and he won't forget about his dear parents.
The jury is still out on our soon to be alien.  I think he has a few more years of tolerability before he makes that ugly transformation to pure alien.  If you have or have had teenagers you know what I mean, if not please don't judge.  You do not know until you have been there.   Love, hugs, and prayers to all of you in the trenches raising teens.  Hang in there, there is a light at the end of that tunnel.