My Real Life

May 29, 2011

One Hell of a Week

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 9:30 am
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Haven’t written in a week.

Here’s why:

Sunday

Baby Monkey’s long-awaited 5th birthday party.

SuperHero Themed.

Monday

Real Man took the day off and we went to the Mother/Father celebration at Monkey in the Middle’s school.

There were happy tears for his great performance and sad tears as we dropped the baby at daycare for the first time.

 

We also took Baby Monkey to the diner for lunch after the show.

Tuesday

I went back to work.

It was great to be back and Tiny Monkey seems to be enjoying his time with the woman who is watching him.

Wednesday

I’ve downloaded the Hipstamatic app for my iPhone and am loving it!

Thursday

We got to see Monkey Girl as Mrs. Potts in her 4th grade production of Beauty and the Beast.

So ridiculously proud of her.

Friday

I had professional development at work, and afterwards, Tiny Monkey went for a swing!

Saturday

We hit the diner before the Memorial Day Parade, then headed over to the parade.

Burgers and dogs for dinner and then it was definitely a Dairy Queen type of night!

Sunday

And now we’re back at Sunday.

It was one hell of a week, in a very good way, and now we begin the next week.

Now that I have a week of back to work under my belt, I think I can definitely get back to my regularly scheduled programming here, at the blog.

Hope you all had a great week as well!

May 20, 2011

Best of Both Worlds

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 11:11 am
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I go back to work in a few days.

It’s been hard to think about, because I don’t want to leave Tiny Monkey.

He’s going to be with a wonderful caregiver and will be less than a minute drive away from where I teach.

But, he’s tiny.

And he’s my monkey.

So, I’ve been feeling low.

Then, yesterday, something happened.

My eighth graders went to DC.

And I found myself wishing that I was with them.

I was texting with some of my teacher friends and suddenly everything I love about my career came rushing back to me.

The students, the content, the discovery, my friends, the students.

Making a difference.

And while it doesn’t mean that I’m going to miss Tiny Monkey any less, or that there won’t be plenty of tears (from me) next week, I’m getting excited to go back.

It’s suddenly like the last week in August when I’m itching to get back and create new lessons and new ways for my students to learn.

So, this morning, I tried on my work clothes and some of them actually fit, and I’m wearing my heels around the house today so my feet are ready.

Because I had forgotten that I can be both.

That I am both.

A Mama who loves her babies beyond all reason or measure.

And.

A teacher who loves what she does and the adults and kids with whom she does it.

I guess I had forgotten that I’m a working Mama and it works well for us.

My babies are happy, their Mama is happy, and life is good.

May 19, 2011

Stuff We Used to Do

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 10:16 am
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The other day, we were coming home from swimming lessons and we passed “The Abbey.”

In it’s day, it was just that.  An Abbey where nuns lived.

Now, it’s an office building that is called “The Abbey.”

I remember when we were teenagers, we would always beep as we passed the building for good luck.

Why?

I have no idea.

Someone once said it was so the nuns would pray for us, and I used to imagine a nun in the middle of painting some beautiful artwork and then some idiot beeping as they pass, startling her and her brushstroke going awry.

I then imagined her saying “I got a prayer for you, a$$hole!” and having to fix the error in the art.

However, passing The Abbey made me think of all the other things we did as teenagers, in the car, for luck, and how incredibly ridiculous they were.

I’m sure you all played “Punchbuggy” when you saw a Volkswagen Beetle.

I thank God my kids don’t know that game.  Otherwise, they’d be in a world of hurt on a fairly regular basis as both of my parents drive Beetles.

But, did you ever:

Pick up your feet when going over train tracks?

Scratch the ceiling of your car when going through a yellow light? (Yeah, yeah…should have slowed down, not sped up to get through the yellow, I know, I know…)

Because I did, and interestingly enough, at 39, every now and then, I reflexively start to do these things without even thinking.

Not every time, but once in awhile, I find myself lifting my feet as I cross the tracks or catching my arm as it raises to scratch the ceiling as I pass through the yellow (not with the kids in the car…of course…nope, no siree…never catch me doing that…nope…uh-huh.)

Funny how these things, which are just silly things to do as a teenager, actually scratch a groove in your brain like that on a record, and when you least expect it, the needle jumps right back into the groove.

I’d love to hear any weird superstitions you may have had as a teenager in a car, because I’m sure there are few I’ve missed!

May 17, 2011

Nature Gone Wild

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 9:33 pm
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So, I’ve noticed, lately, that nature has gone wild.

I don’t mean that we have bears breaking down our door, however, the nature in our area has been increasingly encroaching on our space.

Now, let me just say that I realize that we, as humans, have taken over their living space in major, major ways.  I’m an animal lover and am all about nature and animal life.

Just not in my space.

I know we’re the big bad in the story of life on Earth, but it seems as though they are either revolting or have decided to just throw in the towel and give up on their own lives.

Two birds flew into our windows in two days.  Weird.

Birds seem to be divebombing our windshields as we drive.  It’s like they no longer avoid moving cars or don’t seem to realize the cars are there.

Chipmunks, who used to quickly scurry out of the way of cars, or who just stayed off the freaking roads to begin with, have suddenly begun to just sit in the middle of the road and watch my car coming, leaving me either swerving to avoid them or holding my breath until I’m over them, because I was too close to swerve.

The raccoons have stopped just knocking over our full garbage bins, but now knock around the empty ones, too, as if to say, “Hey suckers…wanna make something of it?”

Squirrels are a little too close to my front door when I’m walking in and out and I fully expect to find deer on the deck when I go into the kitchen for breakfast.

Anyone else notice that nature is getting a little too close for comfort these days, or have Real Man and I done something to offend the birds and the bees and they are now getting their revenge?

May 16, 2011

Monday Musings

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 5:53 pm
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Do babies even feel the drool on their chins?  They never try to wipe it away, and I can’t help but wonder if they even know it’s there or if it’s one of those things where we don’t know it shouldn’t be there until someone tells us so.

What is it about the rain that makes everyone sleepy?  Is it because we know we can’t actively play outdoors so our subconscious says “Screw it…let’s just shut down for the day”?  Or, is there some deeper, physiological reason?

What’s with the whole vampire craze?  (and please know that I am including myself in this)  Twilight, the Vampire Diaries…why are they such a big hit, and don’t tell me it’s the excellent writing and acting, cuz I’m addicted to these and I know that ain’t it folks.  Is it the immortality?  The super speed?  What’s up with the vamps?

Did I dream it, or for a few weeks there, was Charlie Sheen the biggest star in the world?

What’s up with Angry Birds?  I’m not sure I get the lure.

Why does your hair not hurt when you are brushing out your own knots, but when someone else tries to brush them out, it feels like you’re being murdered?  If you were ever a little girl, you know what I mean.

Why does tweezing my eyebrows always make me sneeze?

Why did they have to “update” Weebles?  The old ones were way cooler than the upgrades.

May 13, 2011

this moment

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 9:30 am
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{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo –  capturing a moment. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.  Inspired by Soule Mama’s blog. (link found on the right hand side of my page)

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Mancini

May 12, 2011

That’s What it’s All About

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 4:40 pm

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Mancini

May 11, 2011

Book Recommendation

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 10:22 am
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I read a book yesterday that I think is a must read for any parent.

No, it wasn’t a parenting book, nor was it a self-help or non-fiction.

It was Big Girl by Danielle Steel.

Now, before the Danielle Steel-bashing begins, let me say that although I am not a regular reader of hers since high school, who am I to criticize a woman who has written and published more books than a lot of people have even read in their lifetime, while my own novel sits, unpublished, somewhere on my flash drive?

Enough said.

It’s an easy read…I finished it in a day.

However, it’s a powerful book.

About a girl whose parents unconsciously sent her messages that she was not quite good enough in many small ways, and how those messages formed her entire self-image and shaped her life.

I think, as parents, we can forget that our off-hand comments, remarks tossed in the heat of the moment, and “helpful advice” can really hurt a child, and although the words may come out of our mouths and immediately be forgotten, they stay with our children for life.

So, if you are looking for a book for the pool or your vacation this summer, I’d like to recommend Big Girl by Danielle Steel.

May 10, 2011

Celebration?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:40 am
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Last night was Baby Monkey’s last celebration (concert) at nursery school.

Bittersweet feels like such a cliche term, but I honestly can’t think of a better term to describe it.

He did great.

He sat in his seat and sang the songs and did the motions and was the perfect little Pre-K performer.

And it made me sad.

Which is ridiculous.

And I know it.

However…

The fact that he sat still and did what he was supposed to do, and afterward even commented to his teachers that he knew not to do anything silly during the concert signifies a maturation since his last concert in December.

It shows that my little baby is truly growing up.

He’s ready to move on to Kindergarten and leave baby things behind.

And it makes me want to weep and wail and rend my clothes and throw myself in front of a bus.

Because he’s a baby.

He’s my baby.

Having a new baby doesn’t make him any less my baby than having him made Monkey in the Middle any less my baby, or sharing shoes with Monkey Girl and having her be almost as tall as me makes her any less my baby.

I’m all about giving them wings so they can fly, but it just feels too soon.

And, isn’t that the way of motherhood?

For 3 years I’ve wanted this kid to sit still and sing the songs and do the motions.

When he finally does, it rips out my heart.

Let this serve as a warning to you…

Pre-K graduation ain’t gonna be pretty.

May 8, 2011

Happy Mother’s Day!

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 2:49 pm

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