Throwing Rocks...

Write about a time your child embarrassed you in public.
Unfortunately, when I saw this prompt on the Writer's Workshop that I often read, I didn't have to think long to come up with an answer. A few weeks ago Jacob's Cub Scout troop had it's Crossing Over ceremony for their fifth graders.  The ceremony was held in the park, so I let Ally and Logan loose to play on the toys while Jacob and I watched and thought about how cool it will be next year when it was his time to cross over.Part way through the ceremony Logan runs over to tell me there is a boy throwing rocks at him on the playground.  I whispered to him to just stay away from the trouble maker.  Logan rolled his eyes at my inadequate dealing of the situation and ran off.A few minutes later I turn to check on my kids, just in time to see Logan picking up a rock to retaliate to the situation with which I hadn't helped.  I quickly exited the ceremony area and ran over calling Logan over to me.  My son felt completely justified in what he had done.  My most logical child had thought this through...a kid throws rocks at him, Mom won't help, he had to take things into his own hands.  My intent was to make him sit for a few minutes, talk to him about the hazards of throwing rocks, and move on.  Why doesn't anything happen with my kids the way I imagine it in my head?He planted himself, with other parents on the playground watching the show, and shouted he threw them at me first.   Wearing the heels I had worn to work that day, I was not as good at getting around on the playground as Logan, so it took a bit of time before I caught his arm.  We need to get off the playground, I tried to calmly explain to my five year old.  He had no intention of making any move away from those toys.At this point, I was in too deep to let it go and discuss later, so I did the only thing I could do, I picked up my boy who has been too big to carry for at least a year.  His legs dangled in front of my legs, so his feet kicked my legs with the first few steps.  Then the little genius wrapped both his legs around one of my knees rendering me immobile.After a little more regrouping in my head, the kid got set down and picked back up.  But this time sideways, like a log.  I made quick work of throwing him in the van and shutting the door.  Finally I was able to turn around and face the park full of people, while I leaned on the van from which screams of hatred were coming from my youngest child.  I stood there and pondered just getting in and driving away but then I remembered I have two more kids, one of which was in the middle of a function.  So instead I waited for the screams to stop.  Then I would open the door and they would begin again.

How can you stay mad at that face??

He was released from the van at some point that evening, but definitely not to return to the playground toys.  There also was a follow up grounding from video games, which, for him, is the cruelest form of torture.  I'm hoping he came away a little wiser, while I just came away wishing I could throw some rocks.

So Far This Week...

Last weekend was very quiet for us.  I was so excited to not have any plans.  I had this wonderful dream of tons of family bonding and we just laugh and play all weekend.  However the reality is by Sunday evening we were all getting on each others nerves.  So I was ready to head back to work Monday morning.  Don't get me wrong, I love my kids more than words can describe.  I miss them like crazy when I'm at work.  But by Sunday, when Jacob cries because he found out someone in his class got an I Phone (and he doesn't have a phone), or Ally cries because Logan ran her finger over with the toy dump truck, or Logan cries because Ally's mad that he ran over her finger, work sometimes sounds like a nice break.  I accept that as God's gift to keep me from being too sad that I work full time.
Monday evening is Jacob's Cub Scout meeting night.  I forgot until I got the email around lunchtime on Monday that instead of meeting inside we were meeting outside to work on a service project.  We were helping clean up some land where we plan to have our end of the year barbecue next week.  That was scheduled for 5:30; I get off work at 5:00.  Thus straight there we went.  My kids and I weren't very appropriately dressed for the occasion.  I finally went and sat in the car with Ally and Logan while Jacob worked.  When he was done he came and told us that the people who owned the area had offered to take the kids on a hayride.  Ally and Logan were so excited!!  I felt guilty that Ally and Logan went on the hayride after the three of us didn't help but no one seemed to mind.

Today I decided it was time to get Logan all caught up on his shots.  I called the doctor's office this morning to see if there was a day that the office had evening hours when they could do this.  The assistant was super nice and just told me to come in this evening.  I picked the kids up from the babysitter and told Logan he had an appointment and we headed straight there.  I waited until we were there to tell him it was for shots.  He was nervous but did well.
Logan's shots meant I gave him the right to decide on dinner.  The obvious choice was mac and cheese from the box and chicken nuggets.  I must point out that I made homemade mac and cheese this weekend (that we ate for leftovers last night) and my kids made it quite clear that is not what they wanted.  After the fourth time that Ally said not that mac and cheese you made us eat last night, I finally had to say if I hear that one more time I'm going to get frustrated.  I then think one of my kids said frustrated and laughed at me.  But I didn't hear it again.
During dinner, Logan discovered that not only does he like to dip his chicken nuggets in ketchup, but he also like ketchup with his mac and cheese (out of the box, of course).

And I had a plan for dessert...

Ally and Logan worked hard on the whoopie pies.

Maybe they don't look exactly like they did on the box, but they tasted good!

So that is how our week has began. Tomorrow the work week is halfway over, headed into a 3 day weekend!!  Woot!!

Here We Go...

So I don't know if I will have the discipline to keep this going.  But I feel like its something I should do.  I want to show everyone that being a single mom is totally doable, and being a single mom with God's help is even easier.
When I became a single mom, I didn't want to do it and I wasn't quite sure I even could do it.  Before it even happened I was mad at God.  I had thought if this is all God can do for me, I was throwing in the towel.  Why go to church, if God was going to let my dad die of brain cancer and my mom have to battle breast cancer?  Luckily God didn't give up on me when I had decided I was giving up on Him.  Suddenly I found myself a single mom and I was still mad at Him.
It's amazing to look back at how things worked out.  I was a broken, single mom.  I don't want to take credit away from the people who were there.  My family was there when I needed them and I had some friends from work who were beyond supportive, but none of that could fix how broken I felt.
After nearly a year,I thought I should take the kids to church for Easter.  I still don't know why I made the decision.  But I can tell you why I went back the second week, they took my kids.  What better way for a frazzled mom to feel better than to sit down for an hour while her kids were being cared for by nice people.  Then through the many Sundays there and the kind people I began to know, I realized that God was asking me to let Him back in.
Going to church isn't always easy when your family isn't typical.  Sometimes I feel like I stick out sitting there without a spouse.  But here's what I finally realized, everyone else has their own set of problems.  Being a single mom, in no way, would mean that I don't belong in church.  It is only my insecurities that would ever give me that idea.
So here I am.  I want to blog about my family and how we do it.  I feel like God is leading me to reach out to other single moms.  I do not claim to have things figured out.  But I'm just hoping that I can show people that it is possible.  Maybe no one else needs to see this and this is just a reminder for myself (because I often forget).  Whatever the case, here we are and I hope it helps a little.

This picture is us on Easter this year.  That marks 3 years since that day back in 2009 when we went to church just for Easter (and now we can't stop.)