This particular post is going to be focused on each of the kids and where they are in life.. just to have as a reference when I look back at these, so I can see how far we’ve come over the school year. I really get caught up in the moment, and forget where we started, and where we are.. the changes are gradual on a day by day outlook, but long-term, it blows my mind.. so.. here goes..
Allie – 9th grade. High School!!! 14 years old. shy. smart. anxious, to the point of breaking out in a rash, when asked to read aloud in class, or answer questions. she’s not too thrilled about group work, or having to write on the board in front of class. loves to be alone, says she doesn’t like people. rarely interacts in a long conversation, or any conversation at all. she’s into reading, loves musicals and plays. About a month ago, I met with her therapist alone. She reviewed her notes, after I expressed concern about her high level of anxiety with being around people and interacting. We had a trip to CA, and she was extremely shy and avoiding family. It was highly rude, even if she didn’t intend on that being the case. The therapist advised seeking a psychiatrist and needing medication to address the borderline depression / anxiety that she observed with Allie. I went ahead and did my due diligence and scheduled that appointment with her pediatrician for the upcoming month (october). However, my dad and Christy are involved with a special product line (multi-level marketing.. ugh), but thought I would give it a try before going the pharmaceutical route. There is a special juice that is highly concentrate with fruits that help with some of these symptoms she’s experiencing. It’s worth a try, so we are 2 weeks in, and she’s noticing more energy and being more at ease in everyday life. I’m more than willing to continue this regiment until her appointment, and see if there are any issues between now and then that cause great concern. I don’t want my daughter or any of my children being on prescription medications, but I do know there are some that work well with situations like this. I am not 100% opposed, but want to try the natural options first. My dad has picked her up to take her to school twice now, and they’re actually making small talk and jokes in the car. I’m feeling better about that. Even April (my step sister), noticed a little more conversation (little, but more than before) from her. 🙂 Allie is also about to earn her black belt in taekwondo. She’s scheduled to test in December.
Autumn – 5th grade. FINAL year of elementary school!!! 11 years old. passionate. very aware of her feelings, and able to openly express them. bold. loving. This girl has come a long way from last school year to this one. She’s completing her homework, enjoys reading, (despised it last year), more flexible with her discussions about things, still very mouthy and stubborn, but a smidge less, maybe? lol She loves her 2 birds, we had lost one a couple months ago, but Papa took her to buy another one just a month ago.. she’s enjoying playing with them, and being responsible for their well-being. She must vacuum every night under their cage. (part of the agreement with Papa). She has a BFF she immediately connected with that first day of school. This girl just moved here from North Dakota (I think), and they are two peas in a pod. Even the teacher says they work well together, and don’t cause disruptions in the classroom. I’m good knowing that! She has a tendency to try to “mother” the boys. Both April & I have to constantly remind her that she is not the authority. She always keeps her eyes open for someone doing the wrong thing. She might overlook her own wrongdoings though.. 🙂 She loves rollerblading, so when Allie & Adam are in their karate classes, we take Autumn skating with Kylee. Autumn is also very much a pack rat. She considers EVERYTHING to be a treasure. She is very emotional if you tell her that you donated or threw away something. It is almost like you committed the ultimate sin, in her eyes. We had this situation this morning. I had told her I donated her old lunchbox. They always get new ones each school year. When we moved, there wasn’t room in the drawer to keep their old ones, so I donated / threw them out, depending on condition. OH that was the end of the world this morning. I also tried sharpening a special pencil that I did not know was a mechanical one.. oops! She about had my head for that too.
Austin – 3rd grade. 8 years old. into technology like you wouldn’t believe. passionate about many things. He is constantly hungry. LOVES to talk about all things electronic. Can’t focus on much else. He has a high interest in fancy, expensive cars. He can’t wait to get a job and buy one. He plans to live with Adam when they grow up and neither one want to get married or have kids. They just want to build things together and make $$. Austin is really good at math, and all things really. It comes easy to him. He just doesn’t always cooperate in the classroom, as in doing the work when everyone else is doing it. He just tends to sit there and do nothing. We have a new behavior plan with the school, so there are consequences and rewards for both doing and not doing the work. This was just set in place this week, so hopefully he gets it and knows what is expected of him. Rewards are motivating, aren’t they? I think so for him… Austin also just joined Cub Scouts last month. He came to me, excitedly, saying he wanted to be in Cub Scouts sooo bad. I couldn’t believe my ears. So, we went to the first meeting, and he still wanted to be in it, so we signed up.. we are going on our first overnight, next weekend. The whole family.. that should be interesting. There will be activities, games, he will be able to shoot bb guns, learn archery, earn a badge or two, and learn what being a Cub Scout is all about. I’m excited for this journey for him. He’s also become quite the swimmer. We had our 2nd round of swimming lessons over the summer, and he’s just taken off in the pool. No need for a floatie any longer. He used to be sooo afraid to get in the water, even up to his knees. He would stay by the stairs, and that was it. I couldn’t even take him on a piggy back ride around the pool. Even when we started this 2nd round of lessons, he said he didn’t want to learn to swim. I told him he had to, for safety. It was a life saving skill he needed to have. After that, he pushed through and caught on quickly, and loves to swim now. WIN!!
Adam – 2nd grade. 7 years old. not a huge fan of school. loves video games, loves his mommy, motivated to complete his work for school, and hold me accountable for signing and looking over his work everynight. He obeys easily, and is not afraid to me how he’s feeling. He also loves electronics, and could be on a game all day, if I let him. He knows when something is not fair, if a sibling gets something and he doesn’t.. he makes sure I am aware of that. He loves cuddling, and his soft, silky blanket. He really likes it when I make a toaster streudel and put the frosting on it, in different designs. He is a purple belt in taekwondo, and is about to move up to green belt. He has mixed feelings about going to class each week. Sometimes he wants to quit, other times, he’s excited about it. I’m just keeping him in, no option to quit. Quitters never win. Winners never quit. boom! He’s not sure what he wants in life, so it’s my job to do what is best for him. 🙂 He’s a great swimmer too. Over the summer, they had a lot of time at the Rogers Aquatic Center, and he has become a fish. Papa also has an indoor pool now, so the kids can go their quite often. He goes off the diving board doing cannonballs, spin arounds, and not even a need to hold his nose. Super impressed with this guy!
In summary, I have my work to do.. the mother’s job is never done. Even at the end of the day, there’s laundry to fold, someone’s shoes on the floor, a backpack, not ready for the next day, lunches to make, the need to make sure all are tucked in tightly in their beds, complete with a bedtime kiss, story time if they want it, and lights out. (with one night light, of course). Mom’s know what each kid needs, tries their best to fulfill those needs, making life fun and exciting, all at the same time. It’s a career.. I might not have a educational “license” for this “job”; but I am in a constant state of learning. There are a team of people on my side, and with their support, I have the tools and insights to keep directing and pushing forward through this crazy ride. ha
All in a Day 