Week 23

Lucky for us, Monday is another day off. Those dead presidents really know how to party! We have made no plans, as yesterday was our first day out in a week. Sailor’s first foray into proper clothing in at least 10 days. He dislikes long johns and his snowsuit. It’s a choice he has to make daily when he is well and I can’t blame him for wishing it were summer.

Mac asks to be taken to the aquarium, but by the time we get there there is absolutely no parking unless I want to fork over $15. Which I do not. We drive back to our own neighborhood and try the History Museum. Again no place to park. So we end up at the indoor play place that Mac is just about too old for. But we can still go for free, thanks to the generosity of the owners. And I find a parking space. And have to wake up Sailor.

Tuesday is our day back to reality. It’s FREEZING outside and I leave Sailor with my parents to walk Mac to school. Which we do quickly partly due to the cold and partly due to my desire to have him arrive on time on his first day back after a total of 10 days at home. Which is no easy task when the child is still asleep 15 minutes before we are meant to leave the house. I have his hearty breakfast of oatmeal, scrambled eggs, milk, banana and apple slices on the table and his clothes are laid out on his bed. I am ready to go, except my hair is still damp. And Mac toddles out of bed at 8:15. It’s a dilemma I now know the answer to: do not let child sleep til 15 minutes before we have to leave. The morning gets ugly as Mac spends the majority of his 15 minutes eating apple slices s-l-o-w-l-y. I can’t make him understand that he has to rush. He simply refuses to comprehend. And he has no time for a bath. And he forgets his glasses. But we make it to school right as the bell is ringing and we pause outside for a hug and a kiss. He lingers slightly and I know he doesn’t want to go in any more than I want him to.

I walk home and get Sailor. We rush to soccer. It’s hard to get there and get him into his uniform on time. It would be a lot easier if we could just drive Mac to school as we used to before Officer Dick became my worst enemy.

After soccer Sailor is hungry, which amazes me considering he ate all his breakfast and had seconds on oatmeal. We swing by the big school to drop off Mac’s glasses. “I’ll see that he gets them,” says the office lady who I think pretends to like me when the other office lady is there. Today the other office lady is not there.

After lunch we play Candyland on the big Candyland rug Mac got him for Christmas. Except he wants Darth Maul to play along. We do art projects. At which time we talk about home schooling. Sailor tells me all about how he is a home schooler. Then he tells me he is not going to school today. Sigh. I can’t say I blame him for not wanting to venture back outside. It’s really cold. So I give in. “I think it’s story time now, Mama.” We read on the couch and then I tell him it’s nap time. He goes without a fuss and I call his teacher to tell her he will miss yet another day.

It’s 2:24 and I am eating chips and my dad’s famous onion dip. And chocolate. I am not particularly hungry. Just cold. And maybe a bit lonely. I am supposed to be working. Does this count as work? Sailor is asleep. Cute thing. Mac is home in an hour and while I am not relishing a walk back out into the cold I would love to stop at Starbucks with him for a few minutes if my dad can stay with Sailor.

I would really like to have a few moms who homeschool their children over for tea and to discuss what I want to do. I want my children home with me. I know I am wrong. Overprotective. I just don’t get why we are supposed to send them off after just a few action-packed years. They are my life and yet I am supposed to relinquish them. For longer and longer and longer periods of time. But they are my family. I think my parents are super-lucky to have their daughters live so close to them even after all these years. What’s better than that? I live upstairs with their precious grandchildren and my sister is a few blocks away. They can see us every single day if they choose to and I can see them every day if I choose to, and even if I do not choose to I know they are right there if I need them or want them. Am I nuts? Or am I just a really good family person?

I wonder what Mac will have for homework tonight. He is going to be exhausted when he returns home.

After school one of Mac’s little gal pals bursts into tears because she wants her mommy. I zip up her coat, remembering that she is the one who does not know how to do this herself, despite her advanced abilities on the piano. And we wait with her. My fingers are freezing.

According to Mac all of his classmates are back in school this week. “The only one who greeted me back was Claire,” he tells me. I am pleased with Claire. Now if only her mom would let us get together and play.

“Mom, there are some hairs what are bad for you what are called hairs what hurt when they get stuck when you try to do something. You see dat hair what I am holding? Those are the bad hairs.” I think Sailor is in desperate need of a haircut.

It’s 7:04 pm and I am dead tired. Just dead tired. The kid are tired too. Despite Sailor’s 2 ½ hour nap in lieu of school, he is tired. I don’t want to stay up any longer. But the boys have their father over for a visit. I suppose I could get ready for bed and go read, but it would seem weird. Perhaps I should just get the boys’ clothes out and plan our itinerary for another busy Wednesday. Sigh…


Sailor has ended his preschool year early. Just wasn't happy so today we made it official. It's over for him (tho I still have to chat officially with Teacher S). I am bummed about missing all the end of the year stuff but that's me, not him, so it would be unfair to keep him in school just so I can go to Mother's Day tea, know what I mean?