I made it!

So he thought I paid it, and I thought he paid it. It was just a small misunderstanding; that’s all. No worries! Direct TV was very nice when I called them and asked them what code 721 meant and why our cable no longer worked. If this was the only snafu with my husband being gone for 17 days then I am happy.
This trip made me realize one big thing, I can handle it. Not that I am one of those women who can’t do anything by herself, but the thought of being alone with no family close by did scare me. I don’t know why, single parents do these things all the time. I watch my friend who is a single parent handle it every day amazingly.
In twelve years of marriage, we have never been apart for more than a few days. Neither one of us travel for work outside of a conference a few times a year, so this was a new experience for both of us.
Several people said to me that the break would do us good, I thought they were crazy (at the time) but now I think they were right. Being apart from my husband for a few weeks had some advantages, being apart made us appreciate each other a little more, and having some time for ourselves apart is healthy for a relationship.

Play Outside!

It’s not even hot enough to melt popsicles… where is the June weather? Despite the cold front my boys and I decided to buy a new slip and slide on Monday and get wet anyhow. It still amazes me how far these toys have come since I was a kid. I remember slip and slides being just a flimsy piece of yellow plastic that the hose was hooked up to. No fancy pool at the end or blow up boogie boards to cushion the belly on the way down the slippery plastic. And when the end was in sight, there was no spray of cold water to rinse off and if the rider was not careful they might just get a mouthful of grass.
Another difference I have noticed is the amount of time kid’s play outside. I have to push mine out the door ;my mom had to drag me back inside. The video games are calling their names from the moment they get up, and I have to patrol the usage constantly. Why not spend a little time outside playing ball, hide and seek , and riding bikes? It’s a hard sell when most of the other kids in the neighborhood are inside playing video games when I make mine go out. I keep telling them that if the other kids see them doing something fun then they might start a new trend…playing outside.

1950's Time Warp

My dad is a 50’s junkie. His basement is like a time warp, every authentic piece of 50’s décor imaginable hangs on the walls haphazardly like the stuff in an Applebee’s restaurant. There is so much loot that it may possibly be a fire hazard—really. He doesn’t just collect it, he lives it. He throws 50’s themed parties several times a year and drives clear across the state to see ‘the only really good’ Elvis impersonator when he is traveling the Michigan circuit.

Oddly, my dad was born in 1952, so his memories of the 50’s are not really vivid. No one really understands where this nostalgia comes from or why he is not stuck instead in the 1960’s when he was in middle and high school. The 60’s were a great decade as well.

A few weeks ago he asked my sister and I to attend a father/daughter dinner, later we found out it was 1950’s dress up costume party. Still how could we say no? So we went poodle skirts and all. The sock hop was this past Friday night, I’m not much for costume parties but I borrowed my mom’s attire anyways.

I felt silly dressed like a character straight out of Grease, especially when the average age of the daughters was about twelve. But I went for him and he had a great time. I am hopeful that my boys one day will be willing to do silly, goofy things like that for me. Maybe they will be able to step out of their comfort zone to appease dear old mom? As they get older I am sure I will begin to embarrass them because I won’t be that hip anymore. Right now, I am still young enough and I teach high school which makes me stay in tune with the in lingo and style. But I know that my time is coming. One day I will become like my dad, and be stuck in a decade that the younger generation cannot relate to, but hopefully still appreciate it.

Grass done...check!

I cut the back grass today. It doesn't sound like much, but with a push mower and three kids fighting on and off in the background, it was an accomplishment. My mind kept traveling to the zero turn John Deere in the garage during my torment of pushing and dumping load after load of grass. As much as I would have liked to have fired it up I was afraid to mess with it. I haven't been 'properly
schooled' on the thing and thought what if I mess it up or break it somehow?

I’m actually being stubborn and cheap about the whole grass cutting thing. I didn’t have to cut the lawn. My husband told me to call the lawn service before he left. But with so much rain the lawn has been out of control, and I can’t see spending that much money. My oldest who is 11, suggested that we mow it and save the money and do something fun like go to Kokomos with the extra cash instead. It sounded like a great plan, and he even helped but he’s too young to mow the whole thing yet. During the two hours it took to complete my task I broke up two fights that started with “Mom he hit me… “, removed a hockey puck and a nerf ball from the gutter, and taught a lesson on why never to touch mushrooms that grow in the grass. Finally they decided to go in the house and play video games. I’m normally against that sort of thing on a nice sunny day, but today I decided to make an exception to my rule.

Varsity Football

ON MY OWN

I Left MBS Airport around noon thinking “Now What?” My husband is officially on his way to Asia for 16 days and I am officially on my own with my kids. So far everything is good; for the first day. There have been no fights, we accomplished grocery shopping, dry cleaning, and the bank-no problems. Equally surprising my 11 year old is being very mature and helpful. Crossing my fingers for tomorrow…
Of course I am being dramatic, I can handle it. And if I keep repeating this phrase in my mind I may start believing it. It’s not that I can’t do it; I just never have had to. I admit I have it really good. Some wives have husbands who travel frequently for several days at a time, or are married to soldiers who are deployed for months at a time. Many women raise kids alone without a husband in the picture.
Yet, my husband is always home in the evening and on the weekends. He doesn’t have to travel very often except to a conference every now and then and he is home most days by 6 or 7 pm. Plus, I can pick up the phone whenever I need him. I know, it’s not that bad …I am whining again.
I do consider myself to be an independent woman; I have always been goal oriented and determined. Yet the thought of being the only adult at home still frightens me. Maybe I would feel more secure if I had family around to help, but both his side and mine live hours away.
Despite my fears I am determined to make this a fun and memorable time for my kids. We are planning to go to the pool, the park, and bowling this week. They are excited and I am too, because I am determined to make these next few weeks fun and memorable.

Finding My Zen...

The anticipation and excitement is at an all time high in my house. For my husband that is, he is leaving for a 17 day excursion to Asia on Saturday. He was telling me about all the fabulous places he would be visiting, and all I could do was how think how in the world am I gonna do this alone? I have to wrap up the yearbook (get it to press), finish this masters class, take care of three kids alone (my family lives several hours away), and of course try not to go crazy. Well, at least I know what I’m up against….
He brought home from the University recently (he’s part of the Gerstacker Fellowship through SVSU) a small paper bag with a bold black character on it. I peered inside and found all kinds of interesting trinkets native to China, Japan, and Taiwan.

Being curious I looked it up on the Internet. I discovered it stood for Zen. Peace, tranquility, mediation these were the things I had associated with the concept of Zen. Yet, I discovered it means something more. Zen is now part of the English language and we interpret it to mean becoming fully aware, to let go of all the baggage of life and truly live in the moment.
Right then I wished I had some Zen. I have never really been able to relax, I am a very type A personality. Both Yoga and Ti Chi actually stress me out… seriously. Yet, I think I may just surprise myself. People often find strength where they least expect it.