A week with out fighting.........?

My son gave me "no fighting for a week" for a birthday present. Can't wait to see how this plays out. I would have taken just a day but wow I get a week. It will be an interesting week.

Happy Tears

I just finished tucking in my kids and as I was leaving my son he said to me "I love you so much Mom, I don’t have a word to tell you how much it is,” I told him I loved him too and walked out of his room with happy tears.

Conversations with Ian

related to me by Terry after the fact.....

Terry "So, Ian. Mothers Day is coming up, what do you think we should get Mom?"

Ian "How about a new coffee maker" {my latte machine is broken and has been for some time}

Terry "No, it's too expensive"

Ian "OK, then. How about flowers and chocolates"

Ian is a boy after my heart! He is very observant and knows what his momma loves, and in that order maybe. Coffee, Flowers & Chocolates. Someday {many years away, someday} he will make a good husband.

Girl Talk

Em said "Birthdays are wonderful, you always get what you want!"

Sarah replied " Not always but it's an interesting theory."

Apron Strings

Ian wants to go to camp this summer. Not day camp, but away from home, overnight, sleepover for 6 nights camp. He has asking to go for the past two years and I have just blown the idea off and never really considered it. Several weeks ago he brought the brochure home again from school and the conversation went something like this.....

Ian: {handing me the brochure} "Mom, I really want to go to camp this year!"

Me: {looking at the brochure} But, Ian you would be gone for 6 nights, that's a long time"

Ian: "I will be OK"

Me: {thinking} You might, but what about me? "You won't have any friends there"

Ian: "That's OK, it would be an opportunity to make new friends"

Me: "They probably wont have any food you like {pointing to a picture showing past campers eating}

Ian: "I'll figure it out, I don't think I'll starve."

After thinking about it for a couple of weeks {with Ian asking if I had signed him up yet - often} and not able to think of any other reason he shouldn't go I registered him. Really, my hesitation is about 'apron strings'. It's hard to let go and let them grow up and I have an irrational fear of my kids being around water when I'm not around. The camp has a pool and I could just imaging the entire camp of kids swimming all at once {too many to watch} and not enough life guards. So, I called the camp and asked how they managed the pool. Turns out a couple of cabins at a time go and the counselor of the cabin along with the life guards are watching the kids swim. I have anxiety even thinking about it but I signed him up to go July 13th. Sarah asked Ian with emotion in her voice and tears in her eyes "Why would you want to leave the family for that long, Ian?" I'm right there with you Sarah, but I suppose apron strings must be cut and wings must be spread and they all need to learn to fly sometime. It is just happening much sooner than I anticipated or am ready for. It will be a strange week with out him.

Advice

Came across this on a friends blog and thought it was good advice {especially #13} that applies to any age.

Things I wish I would have know when I was 18

1. Control impulse spending
2. You gotta stay active
3. How to plan finances
4. Junk food will come back to bite you in the butt
5. Smoking is dumb
6. Fund your retirement and don't withdraw it.
7. Money will never get paid back on a hand shake.
8. Hope your checking account can pay off your mistakes in this life.
9. Make time to pursue your passion.
10. All that stuff that is stressing you out won't matter in 5 years, let alone 15 years.
11. Friends are more important than things you buy and your job.
11. All the mistakes you make are worth it
12. Your kids grow up fast, spend every moment you have with them.
13. Keep a journal of you life.
14. All the mistakes you will make despite the advice are worth it.
15. Everybody changes. Every relationship changes. Without change there is no future, so embrace the growth and change in yourself and the people around you, and don't waste time on what used to be.
16. Grow were your planted! "Don't Look Back!"
17. An education is something that can never be taken away.
18. No guy is worth putting aside your goals and inspirations.
19. Depend on yourself and never fully rely on a man to make it in this world.
20. Hardest words to say no, please help me, I'm sorry. Practice them and say them often.
21. Healthy sense of humor especially about self.
22. FROG= Fully relying on God.

Conversations with kids

Ian singing: "I got junk in my trunk"

Mom: "Do you even know what a trunk is?"

Sarah: "Ya, it's your bottom."

Emily: "No, it's an elephants trunk!"

Mom: "Then what is the junk?"

Ian: "You know, bad food."

Mom: "What do you mean bad food?" {trying hard not to laugh}

Ian: "Like junk food."

Sarah: "Like chips and ice cream and stuff."

BTW, Im not even sure I know what junk is!