Big Brother is Watching......

Yes, Big Brother is watching you.

Not in the global sense, of course. What, did I scare you?

Alex has watched the little girls quite often while I run errands. It’s going to become common place next year when Katie is gone. But for now, he’s usually not the key person in charge unless it’s necessary.

Now, that makes it sound like the boy is incapable of babysitting his sisters. No, that’s not the case……although I sometimes worry about coming home and what I’ll find.

It can’t be any worse than coming home once before when Alex was in charge and Anna Grace had written on the couch with permanent marker WHILE he sat there playing video games.

It also can’t be any worse than coming home one day after daddy was in charge only to find out the girls had decorated Katie’s carpet with make-up while he was downstairs watching sports.

Last night, I didn’t have any choice. It was Honor’s Night for Katie, Dave is gallivanting about China, and the girls really could not come with me. Golly gee, can you imagine? They can’t even handle Mass for an hour much less Honor’s for two or more! I’m already dreading Graduation, but I digress.

But last night meant having to call daddy on Skype, brush teeth, read stories, and put them to bed. He’s never done that before. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I knew Alex could handle it but the girls? Only having Alex at bedtime? How would it go?

I had my phone set to silent during the awards program just in case. I had a few texts like: “can they play on the computer”, “yes we called dad”, and “they are going to bed now” kind of thing. I had one call from him too which freaked me out but it was only for the girls to say goodnight.

So, as I calmly impatiently sat through Honor’s Night, Katie was awarded her gold tassel for finishing four years of high school in the Gifted/AP program, the gold rope for graduating with Honors, and the gold stole for being part of the National Honor Society.

Katie receiving her National Honor Society Stole (photo courtesy of Tracy, Cat's mom)

Katie and Catlan (photo courtesy of Tracy, again!)

Katie and Natalie, her best friend and future college roommate

Katie, Catlan, and Natalie



I came home to a quiet house. Wow. Well, except for my company of Anna Grace beginning at 11:30 pm, it was a quiet night.

And then…..

This morning, we were driving to school and chatting about last night. Anna Grace mentioned that she cried at bedtime because she wanted her mommy.

Nothing new there but how did it play out?

Upon questioning, Abby said,

“Alex hugged Anna on her bed until she felt better.”

I teared up.

I know he enjoys his sisters but they get on his ever-lasting nerve. But last night, he was the daddy. He took care of them.

Flashback: when I got home last night, Alex gave me his grinning thumbs-up sign and said,

“I put them to bed!”

Huge strides made this week.

Wow.

All my kids are really growing up.

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To my blogger friends: I truly have not forgotten you. I try desperately to read your blogs when I can, but time seems to get away from me. Maybe this weekend, I can finally get caught up. I will be back, I promise! Being a full-time working mom to four whose husband is traveling is rather challenging. My hat is off to all my friends whether single, married, working, staying at home, who are able to keep their heads above water. Right now, I am treading and sinking. :-)