An Ode to Socks

Socks, oh socks, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways….

You keep the tootsies warm.

You add color to our wardrobe.

Hmmmm. Guess that’s it.

Socks, oh socks, how do I dislike thee? Let me count the ways….

You disappear into the depths of rooms and toys to never be seen or heard from again.

You leave your partner once in the washing machine.

You never get clean no matter how many times you are washed.

Hmmmm. Guess that’s it.

Socks, oh socks, how do my girls like thee? Let me count the ways….

You are fought over daily. Seriously.

You have a special resting place on the steps.

You are reused without washing….see above.

Yes, you are so special that it does not matter if you are clean or not. You are just grabbed and worn again…all from the magic sock pile.

But oh dear socks, that will not be happening any more. You see, when I was told today by a certain little girl that she just grabbed socks from the sock pile, the little light went on in my brain.

(There is a light there, I promise. Sometimes it seems dim but other times, it shines brightly.)

Lovely socks, prepare to live a new life. A life free from being tossed in a pile on the steps and free from dirty piggy toes.

Dear socks, in exchange for my saving you from the dreaded yet magical sock pile, I have a favor to ask.

Please try to not murder your partner when in the washing machine or dryer.

I’m sure we can reconcile any differences you may have.

Alive and Kicking.....

Yes, I've been away for a long time.

Yes, I've dropped the ball.

No, I am not dead.

I have no excuses for my absence.

Well, maybe one.

LIFE.

Life with two teenagers and two little ones plus a full time job is putting me over the edge. Toss in a daddy who just left for a three week trip to China as well as other issues, and maybe you'll understand.

Maybe.

I hope to catch up on my blog reading and posting soon. I hope.

But I fear my blogging days may be screeching to a halt.

As much as I enjoy writing, the time seems to get away from me.

Out the door at 7, home at 4:30, homework, check email, make lunches, get snacks for the next day, choose clothes, start dinner, eat, showers, stories, collapse.

Sigh.

I will do my best to catch you up soon. Until then, I will leave you with a Halloween picture of my two princesses



who just two days before went to school for costume day dressed as a devil and an angel......

So who was the devil and who was the angel???

The South Rides Again

Bedtime is a wonderful thing. Small children are finally quiet. And in our house, that is a huge feat.

What is your bedtime routine?

Likely it’s similar to ours. Brush teeth, read stories, music turned on, hugs, and kisses.

Well, last night brought a new dimension to bedtime.

Anna Grace was tucked in bed with books and music playing. Country music, no less.

When I went back to check on her a bit later, I heard this…..

“And Kyle Busch is in the lead.”

Huh?

The child fell asleep listening to the NASCAR night race.

Y’all, I know we’ve lived in the south for a long time. But seriously??

Yes, daddy watches NASCAR. The girls have their favorite cars....they don't care about the drivers. But....really??

Hmm, come to think of it, the little girls are from southern China.

Guess they have southern blood, huh?

Heaven help me.

Life Lessons....

***I posted this several days ago but deleted it for personal reasons. However, I had a request to repost it as it is valuable information for parents.

Don’t know about you, but the world is much different than it was when I was a teenager. It’s scarier. It’s unpredictable. It’s uncontrollable.

How do we protect our kids from this?

The answer? We can’t.

All we can do is teach, pray, and hope for the best.

I want to tell you all a story. Listen carefully.

I know a student who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He witnessed an illegal event on school property that should not have taken place. He failed to report it to school officials.

Three days later, another student reported it. And guess what?

Long story short, the witness was considered “guilty by association.”

In addition, he was issued the same punishment as the students who actually participated in the illegal event.

Please, please, please warn your teenagers to be extra cautious. Please warn them that their lives can be altered within minutes. Please tell them their lives may never be the same again. Please get them to understand that “guilty by association” is how the world works.

You know how I know all this?

The witness was my child.

Let’s just say that mama bear took on the school system. Mama Bear knows her rights, knows how the system works, knows what to demand, and knows when errors are made within the process.

The punishment was reversed. And rightly so.

But what about those parents who don’t know their rights? Or those who are afraid to speak up? Or those who think whatever the school says is gospel? Or those who are afraid to challenge the system?

That’s the reason behind my post.

Don’t let schools scare you. Don’t let administrators bully you or your child into something you do not agree with. Make notes. Go to meetings prepared. Be ready to speak the truth and speak up for your child.

But most of all. Don’t be intimidated by authority. Question it if you feel they are wrong. You are within your rights. Move up the chain of command if needed.

The three things I want you to know from my experience are……PLEASE make sure your kids know they can be “guilty” merely be association. Implore them to be extra cautious even around friends. Your friends may not truly be your friends.

Fight for your rights. Fight as hard as you can. Don’t be bullied.

But most of all, make sure your kids know you love them regardless of the outcome.

We only have one chance at raising our kids. There are no re-do’s.

Don’t let someone else dictate your child’s future if you know they are wrong.

Please.

My Redneck Life

What is the big fall event in a southern town? Any guesses?

The County Fair.

And guess what?

I have never taken my children.

I just don’t love the fair.

But my teens have been….once they were old enough to drive.

So Alex went all day yesterday and arrived home late last night with three friends. Three friends who swim in a glass bowl.

Yep, carnival goldfish.

He named them Darth Vader, Joseph Stalin, and Piranha.



And just a short twenty-four hours later, we have celebrated two burials at sea. Only Joseph Stalin still lives. But for how much longer?

With the arrival of the fair is the arrival of fall. Today actually felt like fall. Amazing! We hit a high of 68 degrees but that did not stop my girls from playing outside in shorts and barefeet.



Based on those nasty feet, they must think we live in Alabama or something….

Welcome to the south. =)