Boys, Cell Phones, Destruction. . .

These days every child starting in elementary school has a cell phone.  I have never been a fan of  children having cell phones. Not only do they have cell phones but they have the newest iphone or whatever.   I think it is silly to start with and I do not think it is good for their eye development.  My oldest did not get a phone until he was a Sophomore in high school.  I am reminded of this fact quite frequently by him.  The only reason he got one then was because he was going to be driving and should something happen I wanted him to be able to get in touch with me.  Big T got a phone when he was in seventh grade but, only because I had started working and I could get called in and would have to communicate to him how he would be getting home. I am reminded of this one too, by Sprat.

I share all of that to say this:  Sprat has gone through 4 phones since his Sophomore year of high school.  I am sick of buying phones.  This last one he complained about not working and he wanted a new one and I put my foot down!!  He worked this Summer and I told him if he wanted a new phone he would pay for it him self.  So he did.  I also made him change phone providers because his bill was more than mine and Big T's put together.  He bought his new phone and I am paying for his service and I made him go with my service that is much less than what I was paying. 

With that my phone bills are going to go down dramatically.  Wheww!!!!

If anyone is reading this that is techie, I will give you something that desperately needs to be developed.  Someone needs to develop a teenage boy proof cell phone.  This phone should be indestructible, now there are phones out there that claim to be sturdy and durable but I am seriously talking about indestructible.   

Bless Big T he has had the same phone since seventh grade and has never had problem one with his.  Sprat is like that gorilla you used to see on the Samsonite commercials banging the luggage around showing how durable it is.  The only difference is that with Sprat he destroys all the phones. 

Teenager proof phone, the most needed tech item ever.  

Doctors and D Poles. . .

Update on my many doctors' appointments, this is part of my self care routine.  I have neglected myself for the last 14 years while keeping up with the kids and the house.  I got a good report on my pap and my routine physical, got a good report on my Cologuard test so no colonoscopy for this girl.  Yesterday I had a visit with a doctor about my migraines.  He is an OB/Gyn but has personal experience with women with what I call menstrual migraines, those migraine like headaches that happen after your cycle that migraine medicine does not seem to help.  Mine are bad and have been for some time but, these last few years they seem to have gotten worse.  I had a nice visit with this doctor and funny thing his wife has gone through this same thing and here I thought I was all alone.  It was nice to talk with someone that you knew understood what you were saying.  I came away from that visit feeling like I may be on a path to remedy.  We have a plan and a follow up in 3 months to see how it helps. 
Big T had his last lacrosse game he played well and I am happy and sad to see the season end.  They played a really good team last night and several of the kids Big T had played against and with when he played Summer league.  It was funny to see him talking with his friends on the other team. This teams coach had also coached him in Summer league so that was kinda funny too.  Big T has decided to play with Sprats' wooden D pole.  To play with a wooden D pole is a lot different than playing with the light weight aluminum, titanium, or scandium.  The wooden D pole is heavier and packs a punch when you hit someone with it.  Sprat abused the offense when he played with his D pole but Sprat was a little bigger than Big T is.  Sprat had no trouble wielding that D pole, he broke four poles last year over kids bodies.  It was fun watching Big T play with his brothers' pole last night.  He had several good hits and stopped several shots on goal. I was a little worried about how he would do with the heavier pole but he did great. I did not get to see him play on Tuesday night but he used it then too.   We did not get the W but it was great watching him play. 

College Dorm Stuff. . . For Boys. . .

I have been seeing a lot of posts on Pinterest on what to bring and what not to bring to college for the freshman year.  I thought this would be a good post for today.  I searched the internet for these very same things last year when we were preparing to take Sprat to college.  I will share what I found and the truth about what is really needed. 
I will start with; things have changed since I went to college back when dirt was new.  College life is also very different for boys than girls, all the things that you think girls need or would like boys do not care about.  There are some things that us moms will have to insist on and that your sons will thank you for later, so be prepared to put your foot down. 
I did all of the dorm sheet shopping through the school flyer thing that all of the colleges send out.  Those are very handy but, in the words of my son, "the towels suck."  I bought all the sheets, towels, pillows, pillow cases, comforter etc. . .  Sprat informed me the laundry bag in that kit also sucked, it apparently ripped in the first weeks of school.  Sprat hated the towels the most, so my advice, buy your towels from where ever you buy your towels for your home.  Oh and boys do not care if everything matches, color and pattern wise that is.  Now for sheets it was very good to buy those through the college site because you  have to have the extra long sheets for dorm beds.   We also bought the trunk from the college site, we could have probably bought one from a local store but doing this online through the college site was very easy.  The trunk is a must for boys, Sprat decorated his with lacrosse stickers and band stickers and he used it as under bed storage, it had a lock so that he could lock any valuables in it when he was not in the room or when he would go home on break.  These locks are not 100% but they keep an honest person honest.  He kept his winter things in it during the fall and his extra summer things in it during the winter, it fit perfectly under the bed and it also was sturdy enough to use as an extra seat if you had company in your room.  We did not do curtains or hang things on the wall but I did take several of those command type hooks if we needed them.  Sprat did end up using those to hang extra towels or belts up, he even hung up a few lacrosse pinnies for decoration after we left.  We did get a small dorm fridge, I am not sure how much he used it but he had one if he needed it.  We did not do closet organizers, desk organizers, and things of that nature.  I did buy a caddy type thing for him to carry his shampoo, razor, soap, tooth brush and toothpaste to and from the showers.  Sprat stayed in a typical dorm where 16 boys shared a bathroom so this little shower caddy was a must.  He was not that enthused by it when I showed it to him but he did tell me later it was very handy and he was glad he had it.  I also got him some shower flip flops to wear to and from the shower and in the shower, he bucked at this and said it was stupid.  He later admitted he was glad he had them and he did in fact thank me for buying them for him. 
What Boys Need in the College Dorm:
trunk
shower caddy (Bed Bath and Beyond)
shower flip flops
command hooks of all sizes
towels (from where ever you buy them for home)
sheets, comforters, mattress pad, egg crate foam mattress thing (from college store)
lap top and printer, extra ink
flash drives
mini fridge used for leftovers and water
plastic refillable  water bottle  ( the one with water filter is really good)
lanyard for keys (if they do not already have one)
pictures of home and family (nothing fancy and just stuck where he will find them later)
surge protectors/ power strips
collapsible laundry basket (not what you can get from college store)
Small desk lamp
small fan ( a must according to Sprat)
Extra cash to leave with your Son ( most appreciated )
Snacks to leave ( another must per  Sprat)

Moms your instinct is going to be to decorate, take it from me I wanted to do the same, your son does not want this.  On move in day take:  water, lysol wipes, a trash can, paper towels, and snacks.   Don't say good bye in the dorm, do it in the parking lot.  It will not feel quite as final and you will not embarrass yourself or your son.  I got a little teary when we said good bye but, I cried like a baby off and on all the way home, just so you know, home was 13 hours away.   I still cry when he comes home and when we send him back, just not as much. 

The Boy is Home for Spring Break. . .

It is so hard to believe that I have one finishing his first year of college thirteen hours away and one finishing his sophomore year of high school.  I am too young for this.  Look at this sweet face below, I just loved those chunky cheeks and that big ole smile.  Sprat was a very happy little boy and seems to be a very happy young man.  I was so happy to see him when he got off that plane, you would not have believed he had only been gone a few short weeks.  It seems like a year since I last saw him, all those gushy mom feelings came flooding over me. 

Is this not the sweetest face ever???

I got a few hours with him last night and then he was off making his rounds to see his buddies that were also home on break.  He even took Big T with him to make the rounds.  I got to hear all about Boston and his possible new school.  Lots of things pending right now so I do not want to share anything until we are 100% sure but things are looking great for this guy.  We are very excited for him, lots of changes and great new opportunities opening up for him.  It is very true that when God closes one door or college in this case, he opens another better door and guides you through.  This has been a wonderful teaching moment and learning experience for us all.   It would be very easy to be bitter and ugly about all of this and it has had Sprat down a little bit but I keep pointing out that God took him there for a reason and we need to embrace this as what it is, a wonderful opportunity for him to continue his education. 

Stay tuned as we figure all of this out and sort through the mire that is College transfer. . . 

Lax Season is Upon Us. . . .

So sad that Sprat will not have a Spring lacrosse season this year but, Big T's lacrosse season is in full swing with three games this week.  The first one was a bad loss, the other team was very good and had been playing together for several years.  Big T's team has not been playing together more than a few weeks.  The second game also a loss but they fought hard, they stayed close through half time and unfortunately lost in the second half.  Big T was so excited when he came home, I had to work that night so I did not get to see the game.  He was bursting with excitement when he came through the door that night.  I love seeing him that excited and beaming with confidence.  I have not seen him this way since last lax season.  Looking forward to watching him play this year.
Sprat is getting ready to come home for Spring break, I cannot wait to see him.  He said they got a lot of snow this past week.  For a kid that did not want to go to school where it snowed a lot and was very cold he sure has enjoyed his time in Boston and is looking forward to and hoping to go back in the Spring.  He cannot wait to watch his little brother play lacrosse while he is home on break. 
Big T is getting ready to go to his first Prom.  We have the tux and his date has her dress now we have to get flowers and the hubbs and I will be chauffeur since Big T has no drivers license. 
Stay tuned for lots of Prom and Lax pictures. . .

Facebook Help or Hindrance inOur Social Lives. . .

A dear friend of mine from high school teaches third grade right here in my backyard.  We had found each other on the almighty Facebook but we had not physically seen each other since high school graduation (I could tell you how long ago that was but I want bore you with dinosaur history)  That is sad. Facebook can connect us to people far and wide but we lose that physical connection to those closest to us.
My very sweet friend reached out via Facebook and asked her friends and family to adopt her third grade class and supply each child with a book and a note of encouragement for that first day of school and prayers throughout the year.   I was thrilled to sign up for that since bringing snacks and surprises for the kids is frowned upon for the Sophomore year of high school.
We decided to schedule a lunch date so that we could catch up and I could bring her some goodies for the class.  It was great to see my friend and find out how she wound up here and to tell her how I wound up here, funny thing was, they were very similar love stories. 
We laughed and cried telling each other our terrific love stories.   We have vowed to keep in touch personally and not just with Facebook.
So back to my title of this post.  Is Facebook a help or a hindrance?  I think it is a hindrance, we like a post and comment here and there and you think you are keeping up with your relationship with that friend.  I think Facebook is driving a wedge between friends and family with all of the political nonsense and all the hate that is publicized that before Facebook we would not have heard about.  I do not delete people for their posts but I might hide a post or two if it is offensive to me.  I have been deleted before and I am not really sure why this person deleted me, I am not political and I do not argue with anyone on Facebook because that is useless.  Arguing with someone on Facebook is like arguing with my Basil, there is no point.
So what do you think about Facebook, help or hindrance? 

Stay tuned, prepping this week for taking Sprat to school. . . .

Lake Pictures . . . More Celebration. . .

Continued from my last post and our Lake celebration of Sprats graduation: 

The hubbs had to get in on the act. 

Big T making a birds nest in his line. . .

Fishing was a little slow but to my crew any day fishing is a good Day!!

Stay tuned more celebratory pics to come. . . 

I am the Slacker Mom. . . But, I do Love my Kids. . .

I am a slacker mom, I have one good picture of Sprat in his cap and gown and not one good one of he and I together.  I must say, I am a little jealous when I see these moms with these great pictures of their boys and their tux at prom and their cap and gown at graduation.  I am just never able to capture those moments, I have other moments but never these perfect moments.
I have this one halfway decent picture of Sprat:

As you can tell, this was a quick snap as he was coming off the stage after receiving his diploma.  He hates having his picture made and that does not help when trying to capture these precious moments. When he was little I could hold him hostage and snap away but, now that he is grown up he is harder to hold on to to grab those special moments.

This is one of my favorites, I love those chubby little cheeks and that smile is contagious.  He has always had such a great smile and was always such a happy little fella. Not many things upset him.

I challenge you to look at these pictures without smiling.  He is just so darn cute!!

So many adventures ahead for this guy, I cannot wait to see what happens.  Stay tuned as Boston is getting closer and closer.  Who knew there was so much paperwork involved in going to College?  I do not remember this much.

Big T First Week of School. .

Wow! First week of school under our belt.  Big T has had a wonderful first week of school and I am so happy.  This could have gone so many different bad ways.  Lol!!  We were all a little nervous about how this would go and I still have some reservations but, so far I am very pleased.  

He is taking a career management class and his instructor brought out Dave Ramsey and shared parts of his DVD's.  I was thrilled and of  course Big T knew exactly who he was.  He was probably the only kid that knew who he was.  They have been talking about credit cards and mortgages, raise your hand if you were ever taught about credit cards or mortgages in high school.  Ha Ha Ha Ha  me either.  My kids have been taught about the whole credit cards are bad since I am an ardent Dave Ramsey fan/follower.  

In may they have been adding Star Wars quotes in with their math learning.  According to Big T she is not teaching math they are learning to solve problems.  Big T seems to be learning though and he is very excited to go to school each morning.  His first day he was very excited to show me his new computer they have issued them.  He was also excited about his google calendar and how his teachers add his assignments and how he knows that in November he has a big paper due for English composition. This is similar to what he will have once he goes to college like the Blackboard sites most colleges have so that the students can interact with the teachers.  He also has a sort of study hall but they call it Seminar.  They can work on homework or if there is a particular class they are struggling in they can go to that teacher and get extra help. This is the last 30 minutes or so of school.  The picture below is him after getting off the bus the first day.  

First Day of School and other stuff. . .

Big T went to his freshman boot camp yesterday.  It is very hard to believe that my little baby is starting High School and my first baby is starting his last year of High School.  This is going to be a huge year for our clan.  Stay tuned for lots of news of all the happenings. 
I am excited for Big T starting his new adventure  and Sprat starting his college classes.  Yep, Sprat will be starting college classes while he finishes his Senior year. 
We will be following all kinds of different schedules this year.  It is going to be crazy. 

First day of Kindergarten for Sprat, First day of pre-school for Big T

College Prep and Other Stuff. . .

Preparing to send a kid off to college is no easy task.  Sprat is two years away from going to college but there are still things that have to be done at this stage.  Sprat is supposed to be preparing by taking classes and being involved in clubs and the community during these couple of years before applying to college.  Our high school offers many AP and Honors classes for the kids preparing for college.  They changed things up this year and required the parents and students to attend an information session about the AP classes.  If you did not come to this meeting your student could not apply to take the AP classes.  I agree that parents have to be involved and that both parent and child should be aware of the commitment required to do well in these classes but, I think this may be a little far reaching.  The students were also required to sit in on a talk by the teacher about what ever class they were interested in.  If they did not sit in on that session then they were not allowed to apply for that AP class.  I say "apply" because they made the students write an essay on why they thought they deserved to be in this particular class and what they were going to do to excel in that class.   Again, I think this is just a little over the top for a high school.  They have now scared my kid to death about taking AP classes.   I thought the whole point of our education system was to encourage our kids to learn and want to excel and want to do their best.  Our high school seems to be discouraging our kids at every turn.  I wonder what would happen if all 450 students in my sons' class did not sign up for a single AP class?  I know that won't happen because the parents in our high school have been brain washed to follow the pack.  

Sprat is so afraid of taking those courses, he is afraid he will not do well and it will hurt his GPA.   So, instead of encouraging our kids to stretch their limits our school is trying to squelch them.   I am trying to encourage Sprat to stretch his limits but he is afraid because of what the administrators have told him.   He is taking honors classes, so that will help.  

Sprat will be a junior this year and this is the year to start applying for some scholarships.  We still have a few more tours to do when I can work them in.  Then he will start actually deciding on where he wants to go and start filling out those applications.  He already knows of two schools he does not want to go to, one because it is too big the other because it is in the mountains and is very cold in the winter.  How is that for choosing a college?   Everyone has their own criteria I guess.   At least he has an idea of what he wants and does not want.   I found this giant book of scholarships at my local used bookstore and it has a lot of scholarships that kids can apply for and some do not require essays.  There is one in there that only requires the kid be over six foot two inches in height.  There is another one for kids that are left handed, I cannot remember if that one requires an essay or not.  

By the time I get Sprat ready to go off to college I should be an expert on this stuff and Big T should be a breeze.  Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned lots going on. . .   The hubbs made salsa last week and feel another batch to come. . .

Little Things for the Kiddos. . .

The end of the school year is fast approaching and some will be preparing one for college, some will be preparing for a Wedding, and some will be preparing for a new high school student.  Ahhh, the varying times of our lives as parents.  Each of these a big milestone for your child and for yourself.
I am just trying to keep my kiddos focused on school and school work.   I do think about these other milestones I mentioned and I think about all the things I need to teach  my kids before they go off on their own.
There are so many little things you can do now to share with your kids when they graduate high school.  One thing I have been doing for my boys is writing them little notes about things that happen in their lives or if I think of something I think they should know about a particular situation they are struggling with, then I also enclose a little money with it.  I seal it in an envelope and write the month and year that it was sealed.  I think I will give these to them when they graduate high school or college I have not really decided yet.  No matter when I give these to them they will be getting notes from me at all different times in their lives along with a little cash.  I usually enclose between $10 and $20 in each envelope.   This is not my idea, I borrowed it from somewhere else but I cannot remember where.  I have seen it on Pinterest but I started doing this before Pinterest existed.  Where ever I picked this up it said do one note a year.  I have done a couple a year, just whenever the mood has hit me or if something happened that I felt I needed to write on.  
I am not sure how much my boys will appreciate their mother's words or the extra cash but I feel good that I have done this for them.   I hope they will take my words to heart.

Thinking Creatively. . .

Today Big T had school as did I but, Sprat was out due to exams.  Mom must get creative especially since hubby has been out of town all week, headed home this evening.   I decided Sprat would go with me to school.  I did not want to leave him at home  alone and I thought it would be a good chance for him to check out a college campus.  I know it is just a two year college but he has to start somewhere.   I also thought he should know how my day goes when I go to school.   There are kids only a year older than him in my class, they are in early college.  It is kind of weird being in class with kids that are young enough to be my own.   Most days it does not bother me, today I was a little bothered.  I guess I am just wondering what is the rush in growing up these days.   As it is the youth today are all doing things two to three times earlier than I ever did and now we want them to go to college quickly so they can face the yuck of finding a job and going to work.  Why can't they just be kids a little longer?  Many of the kids in my classes  will graduate high school with not only their high school diploma but an Associates in something through early college.   Are they really ready for that?  Are they ready at that age to face the drudgery of work?   I guess I want my kids to enjoy being a kid and to enjoy college life, not to the extent that they neglect their grades or do something stupid and mess up their life but have some fun.  They have their whole lives to work, why not enjoy being young and free.   I am sure some of you probably think I am out of my mind and that is alright, maybe I am.   I just know that these kids are not really ready to face the work world, they need to experience a little more life first.   There is a bigger push now to test out of certain subjects by demonstrated mastery.   This may seem like a good idea on paper, the kids do not take a class they already know and end up being bored out of their minds.   What next, what will they take if they test out of a couple things, or do you end up sending them to college two years early.  I know from my kids that mine are not emotionally able to handle that kind of responsibility.   

Think about when you were in college, you did not have to attend class if you did not want to, the professors never nagged you about homework.   They told you one time when assignments were due and it was your responsibility to make sure that it was done on time.  Yes, there is a marvelous little bit of technology called Blackboard that allows you to keep up with your assignments but you still have to check in with it, it does not check in with you.  

I know I have blathered on again, but this was on my mind today.  I would love to know what you are thinking.  Here is the question:  Are we rushing our kids to grow up too fast?