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I Probably Won’t (Almost) Forget Snack Again

7 Sep

Of course I remember it’s his turn to bring snack. When it’s 10 pm and all. And I just want my head to sink into the comfort of my soft pillow while the crisp breeze signaling fall’s arrival puts me to sleep. So up I am, my lovely boyfriend helping me to pop popcorn and put equal amounts of carrot sticks into 21 snack bags.

This is my style of organization. I keep the vast majority of it floating around in my head and my memory generally fires appropriately to inform me of my obligations. Sometimes, tonight being a perfect example, I nearly miss the cue calling me to duty. I remember, but at a time when it’s a big hassle or leaves me barely enough time to complete whatever project requires my attention. At times I love my style–I can remember many things without writing them down and this is extremely helpful when it comes to needing a phone number and not having my phone (I still remember my best friend’s home number from when I was FOUR) or making appointments while driving or knowing how much I spent per week on food without having to reference receipts or remembering personal details of co-workers and friends so that they don’t have to tell me so-and-so plays soccer for the fourth time when we’re chatting.

But yet it’s nearly midnight here and now I’m stuck with a second wind (totally wrote wine the first time…now there’s an idea for how to productively spend this time!) because, with the help of my wonderful and extremely organized boyfriend, I belatedly finished 42 lovingly stuffed bags of snacks for my little dude and his class. Definitely could have planned better.

So I ask you, if you call yourself organized or not, what is the single best thing you do to keep organized?

His First Day

30 Aug

Dear Aidan,

Dude. We did it. You started Kindergarten today–a day you’re more than ready for. The sunrise was a glowing sphere the color of tangerine and you had eaten every bite of the pancakes with a chocolate chip smiley face I prepared for you.

You were wearing khaki shorts, a navy blue and green striped polo and your orange tennis shoes. Wait, yes! I said khaki shorts! You have flat-out refused to wear khakis or jeans the entire year. The outfit item of choice is cozies. Yet yesterday, when I told you what school clothes are supposed to be like, you came around. You always do this you know. You always take your sweet time getting there, but pull through when it counts.

I didn’t think I would cry. I don’t know why I thought my sensitive self would be fine, but I did. Perhaps because you’ve been going to daycare a couple of days a week since you were three, perhaps because we’re pals and we’ve always hugged, kissed, high-fived and rocked anything we need to together.

I was wrong.

When I was loading the dishwasher and you turned around, first day of school outfit on and the lizard backpack you chose snug to your back–I just couldn’t help it. Warm tears pooled in my eyes and a less than attractive cry-smile beamed on my face.

So we begin. You going to school and growing up, me learning how to let go a little at a time. That’s my job. To prepare you the best I can, to help mold you into a unique, responsible person ready for life and to let you experience it. There are so many lessons you will learn. I can hear myself now, at your high school graduation, “Goodness, it feels like he started Kindergarten just yesterday!”

Today is that day, and I could not possibly be more proud to be your mama. We’ve done our best so far, and I know you will listen to your teacher, I know you will be kind to the other students. I’m not entirely sure you won’t pull the classroom frog out of its tank to play with it, but I’m hoping on this one.

I will remember this day and the way you looked, always.

Love,
Mom

Surpriiiiiise!

15 Dec
Let’s put it this way. The week my sister got married, I had insomnia. She, on the other hand, slept just fine. If there is a party happening in my family, I’m up to my elbows in the planning. I am not, in any way, complaining about this. I used to be an event coordinator and I absolutely relish in the preparation and pulling off of an event.

That same sister knocked my socks off by driving 16 hours from New Orleans to cheer me on when I walked across the stage Saturday. As I scanned the crowd to find my family, I realized my error in not wearing waterproof mascara as my eyes landed on my little sister, waving with the same ferociousness as someone who has just realized the camera is poised in their direction while in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. She spent 32 hours in a vehicle with her 5-year-old over the course of four days so that she wouldn’t miss my day. That is love.

I also thought there was a very real possibility, even as the first person to graduate in my family, that we might just order pizza that night. Okay, I’m joking. But I certainly was not expecting to see a white stretch Hummer casually hanging outside my mom’s house when we walked out, calling who was going to ride with who.

What the what?

And then we showed up to dinner and I’m all predictable, “Table for eight, please.” This, of course, right before I notice that friends of mine are already sitting there! It was amazing. My two closest friends, one local, one in Philly, had helped my mama pull off an epic surprise.

Every last detail- the Spanish champagne, the invite in rhyming Spanish, the Mexican food…it had been planned perfectly.

I LOVE surprises.

Thanks to all the awesome people in my life.


And now I’m feeling the itch to plan a party for someone…

Typical.

Finally a Graduate!

14 Dec
I cannot sum up graduation weekend in just one post, so this one will be Aidan-focused and the next one will be everything else(surprise party, limo, etc)!

A typical day in the life of Aidan and his mama for the last semester: Mom gets up around 6. Aidan gets another 50 minutes of sleep. Then we’re both up and a flurry of activity ensues. Breakfast! Arguments about clothing! Making sure we don’t forget show and tell items for A, homework for Mom, both gloves for A, Mom’s coffee thermos to keep her sane, etc.

Comments like this constantly ring out, “Aidan! A royal blue shirt and navy blue pants do not match!”

“But Moooommm! They’re both blue.”

Screw it. We don’t have time. You’ll just have to look like your mother blindfolded herself before picking out your outfit.

Aidan is off to either his dad’s or school for the day, I’m off to work.

The after party: Three days a week Aidan has either been with his dad, a grandma or a girlfriend of mine while I attend school. I pick him up just in time to cuddle him, maybe get a short activity in and on to the bedtime routine. Which he has been dragging out even more than normal as a result of not getting in enough face time with his mama. Which has whittled my patience down to something resembling that of a person who has been stuck behind a train for twelve minutes and was already five minutes late when they got on the road. Not good.

After this full day of excitement, I settle down on the couch with a Spanish novel, or an assignment from writing class.

Joy.

This has all been about as fun as shoveling my driveway in a hot pink bikini while someone shoots paint balls at me. Just keep going! It’ll end at some point! C’mon, dodge that potential disaster! DO IT! Even though you feel as though you may just throw in the towel, sit down and decide it’s not worth it.

Last Thursday the mitten blessed us with a snow day. Granted, it was supposed to be my final presentation day for my final Spanish class and now I have to go do that tomorrow, but it was the first Thursday night I’ve had with my boy since summertime.

We made fudge, we read stories, we took a ring off the Christmas countdown chain we made and we delighted in this lovely little gift of a lowkey evening together.




Last night, after the perfect dinner with friends, I turned off all the lights except the Christmas tree and we cozied up and slept by it together.



I get this ALL THE TIME now. Every week night. Weekends. With my boy. I haven’t had this since he was born.

Blinking back tears as we fell asleep under the shimmer of Christmas last night I felt really grateful. Grateful for a boy with infectious laughter and genuine hugs and kisses who sacrificed so much so his mama could finish what she started eight years ago.

Ten Good Reasons to Finish School Before You Get Yourself Knocked Up

20 Nov

10.) It becomes very difficult to face forward in the classroom. Then impossible. Those desks are not designed for a pregnant woman’s comfort.


9.) It is kind of embarrassing to have milk stains on your shirt when in college.

8.) Your prof doesn’t really care if you were up all night. Everyone was. Only difference is, they were knocking back Coronas and you were trying to calm a child getting two-year molars.

7.) You cannot work full time and go to school full time and raise a child and pay a mortgage. You will either go crazy or never see your child. Which will make you go crazy. So you must opt to take one to two classes per semester. I like to call this THE FOREVER PROGRAM. Major doesn’t really matter, it’s just going to be forever before you’re holding that expensive piece of paper.

6.) Getting up at 4am to write a paper before you go to work when you didn’t go to bed until 1am because you were doing laundry and getting kiddo’s stuff ready for the next day really sucks.

5.) You will criticize the clothing of your fellow classmates and be all, “Is she really wearing that? How old is she?!” And then, no matter how old you are, you will realize you are old in comparison with everyone else.

4.) Study Abroad does not really work with a child in tow. Go ahead and cancel that semester you were planning to spend in Brazil.

3.) In your Senior semester, it’s really odd when your prof is only three years old than you.

2.) You will want to turn to a fellow classmate who is complaining about their allowance and tell them to shut the hell up. You probably will go ahead and say it.

1.) Motivation when you’re a Senior? Not good. Motivation when you’ve been a Senior for TWO YEARS? Practically non-existent. I may actually go crazy during the next ten times I have to sit in class. But then? Well, the forever program actually ends.

So I guess there is a little silver lining! But really. Finish school. Then make babies. That is my PSA of the day. Please let me know if you need another hundred reasons or so.
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