They're Just So Giving SOL14 #8

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

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The TV is playing Sleepless in Seattle. The cat is purring in the window. The dishes are still piled in the sink and the pile of laundry is not getting smaller.

I am on my second nap.

The biggest snowflakes fell from the sky, they turned to rain, then sleet, then rain, and snow once again.

The husband and daughter took Nick BACK to the Vet (I was right the stiches were not ready to come out). He was excited to go for a ride.

There’s a pot of chili on the stove ready for whoever feels like eating.

And me, me…I am still in my jammies. The headache and sore throat hit sometime in the night. Chills, aches, on a cold wet Saturday. Not in my plans.

I think they were delivered by one sick little kiddo this week that said “Mrs. Klinger, I don’t feel good, my eyes hurt, and my throat is so burning I can’t swallow, and my head hurts so bad my hair hurts.”

Poor kiddoL His was not a slice worth sharing, but he did just the same.     

All Stitched Up SOL14 #7

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

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“We need to do it tonight.”

“Ok or maybe tomorrow.”

“NO tonight the doctor said ten days.” “Where are your sewing scissors?”

“Why my sewing scissors? You’ll dull them.”

“Well I don’t have anything else.”

“Ugh fine.”

“Here you hold him down I’ll cut them.”

“Fine.”

Hand poised. No move to cut.

“Here comes Hadley she can help.”

We wait. “Come and help Hadley, hold that end.”

“Are you sure they’re ready?”

Scowl.

Raised eyebrows. Back to holding my end.

Hand poised once again, not moving.

“Give them to me,” switching spots.

Snip, snip, snip, pull, pull, pull.

“Ewwww” From Hadley’s end, “they’re not ready.”

“It’s just a little spot.”

“Oh no, maybe they weren’t ready, should I call the doctor?”

Really? Now? (not out loud).

“It’s fine he will heal.”

Nick jumps up and bounces around the room, all 100 pounds of chocolate lab of him; happy to be free of his stiches, and Donnie’s stich removing expertise.  

One SOL14 #6

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

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One that has read over one hundred books since January 24, 2014.

Many that have read almost that many.

One that didn’t smile because he didn’t feel good.

One that complains of a tummy ache every day.

Many that hug me numerous times during the day.

One that has “an accident” daily…sometimes more.

One that is worried about his parents.

One that doesn’t have a home.

Many that live with grandparents.

One that can’t sit still, one that won’t talk.

One that reads on a fourth grade level. One that can’t read.

One that is a math whiz, one that confuses numbers.

One that is hungry. One that misses her mom.

One that is a new big brother. One that is acting out for attention.

One that is sad. One that is mad. One that is scared. One that is spoiled. One that is sulky. One that is defensive. One that is demanding. One that is loving. One that is giving. One that is sweet.

All have stories.

And at least one that loves me as much as I love them. 

Daddy SOL14 #5

  

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

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The scent was overpowering. It’s perfume conversant and familiar. I have inhaled this scent before. I have breathed it in. I have lived it. I know this scent, it is branded in my memory. I feel this scent, his scent.  

It’s a pungent strong smell that conjures vivid snapshots of days gone by. It grabs hold of me and blankets my senses. Aqua Velva after shave, alcohol-not just alcohol but stale, old alcohol, like that in the bottom of a bottle discarded from last night’s party; and smoke.

It was the smoke that made me pause, that interrupted my senses.  It circled me with its limitlessness and the splintering of nostalgia. It’s the kind of smoke that clings to clothing and clutches a hand that held it for far too many years. I could feel this smell- this essence of him.  

I knew he was close, and I strained to reach him, to see him.

It was then I woke, stretching to reach him. The smell-his smell lingering in my mind. But I knew he wasn’t there, couldn’t be.

He’s been gone far too long.

But that scent, his smell- in my mind, in my dreams.

Or was it?   

Coming Home SOL14#4

                                               March Slice of Life Story Challenge

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Conferences are always fun, but sometimes the coming home makes me wonder if they’re worth it.

By coming home I mean back to school. It’s always a crapshoot as to what the news will be from the sub. Were they good, were they crazy, were they hanging from the ceiling or tearing things off the wall? Which will it be?

Sadly this time it was all of the above…more or less. The note said “they were awful, two went to the hall, two went to the office, all had to lay their heads on their desks.”

Cringe and super sad face to start my day. What were they thinking? They are not these kids (not any more). They have come so far.

SO the morning was so so not happy…so so sad.

I read them the note. Silence.

I looked at their sad faces. Silence.

They were asked to get their journals out and write about their day last Friday.

I then called them back to the carpet asked them to go line up in the hall again like we do each morning.

“Any more days like last week?” I asked. “NO” they all chimed. “Ok good let’s get this day started over.” Hugs again for everyone and we were back to business.

This is part of what one kiddo wrote in her journal- “we shoud have showed her what a first grade class shoud look like not just like little prekers (translation-Pre-kindergarteners) runing all arawnd I wish we had time to apalugis.”

It’s hard this coming home business. I tried, I really did. But sometimes keeping a straight face is just as hard.  

Snow Day:( SOL14 #3

                                       

                                            March Slice of Life Story Challenge

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Things to do on a Snow Day:

Sleep in

Eat breakfast sitting down

Stare out the window

Be blinded by the white

Wish for hot weather (not just warmer)

Take a nap

Bake a birthday cake

Wash the clothes that didn’t get washed Sunday

Stare out the window (wishing again)

Play my music really loud

Dance

Sing

Nap

Stare out the window (wishing)

Think about cooking supper

Sew

Take a hike on the treadmill

Think about school

Blog

Nap

Stare out the window (pleading)

Vacuum

Start supper

Take off sweats put on PJ’s

Make a huge dent in the couch

Watch The Bachelor

Stare out the window (DEMANDING SPRING)!

Pusher or Nudger? SOL14 #2

         Slice #2 at the TWT SOL writing challenge!

Do YOU push or nudge?

I kinda push. I’m kinda pushy. I know I am. When Matt Glover said to us that we teach children with nudges not pushes. I thought uttt ohh I’m a pusher.

And I’m kinda a pusher in many areas of my life. I try not to be. I have learned to sit back and just “see.” But boy it’s hard. And sometimes you just have to PUSH! Like when my hubby says he doesn’t feel well. “Do you need to go to the Dr.?” “No, I’ll be fine.” I call and make him an appointment.

Or when my bestie says she feels dizzy and I say “go home.” “No I’ll be fine…” as tears roll down her cheeks. I call over for a sub and call her hubby to come and get her.

I push when my girl says she can’t do something by reminding her a girl that jumps off a high dive at the age if two CAN do ANYTHING!

I push when the son says…well maybe later…but I hand him the cash (or reason) to do it now. I am trying NOT to push through this whole wedding planning…that is for the daughter-in-law- to- be to do….I promise I really am TRYING not to push. It is theirs to decide.

AND I push my kiddos. Read more, you can do it, try it, think about it, yes you can, use your strategies, use your time wisely, all me…. push, push, pushing.

But after listening to Matt this week I will try to be a nudger, not a pusher, a prodder, not a shover, an ecourager, not a demander.

LISTEN TO WHAT I’M TELLING YOU!

I will try!