The Low-Down of the Show-Down

I know that I don't make it over here very often, and when I do--it seems like it is mostly all negative. I assure you that I am not a negative person, and that I lead a rather postive life!! :)

My hope with this blog, was to share a more personal side of me and give more of an insight into my day to day life. Fingers crossed I will get better at doing so. I'm sure my family would enjoy that.

Anyway, something happened yesterday that definitely rattled some nerves. If you follow me on Twitter, you got to see the "short" part of it. But for those of you who missed it--here is the lowdown of the showdown.

Yesterday was the first day of school for all three of my children. The youngest one entering half day, afternoon preschool. Considering that he is only 4, I wasn't quite ready for him to ride the school bus yet, even though his big brother and sister would be right there with him..so I decided that I would pick him up, as well as the older two.

When I arrived at the school to pick up my son from preschool, they dismissed all parent pick ups. When doing this, they walk all the way on the other side of the building and exit basically into one huge parking lot that has little to no supervision. Not only was I worried for my children to go out there without me being able to get them, but I didn't want them to get out there and not be able to find me.

When the parent pickups were released, I seen my daughter in the very same hallway I was in. When she walked by, I was just going to get her then. I looked on the other side (which is where the 3rd graders are) and all of them were out in the hallway, but I didn't see Nicholas. I was terrified that he had just walked out of the building, while I was waiting inside for him. Since his classroom is right next to the office, I walked down there and peeked in to see if he was still in there. Indeed he was, they hadn't dismissed yet..so I turned around and was walking back to where I came from. The secretary stopped me and told me that I was in violation of their policy by walking past the office and going to his classroom. I apologized for doing so, and explained to her the situation in hopes that we could fix it before it got worse. She was very rude and disrespectful to me and continued to tell me that I wasn't following policy. While this was going on, my daughter exits the building, not knowing I was in there. I requested that the secretary call Nicholas to the office since that is the correct policy, and so that he didn't end up out there, too. And she does. But he goes outside. In the middle of all of this, the secretary turns to another woman in the office and says, "Call Mr.XXXX (the principal), I AM NOT dealing with an ANGRY parent on the FIRST day of school!"

Um, excuse me?

I went over and signed Noah out of his first day of preschool, trying to be as chipper as I possible could. As soon as I walked out of the classroom and went to exit the building and get my other 2, the principal stops me.

At this point I am furious knowing that my 2 children are outside looking for me, with little to no supervision in a sea of people and cars. When I get furious, unfortunately I cry. In this situation, I was fighting with my emotions so much, because I didn't want to make a scene, and I didnt' want to cry. I couldn't breathe and I became very dizzy. Quite frankly, I don't remember exactly what he was saying to me, and all I remember saying to him was that I didn't like way of handling the situation and that things are going to have to change because I am not going through this every single day.

By this point we had made our way to my children, who were thankfully with a dear friend of mine. She had seen me go into the building to pick up Noah, and knew something was askew when my other 2 children came out the opposite side of the building. I grabbed my other 2 children and promptly left.

I kid you not when I say it took me an hour to get where I could breathe and not be dizzy. My stomach, even today is still in a tizzy.

The bottom line here was that they didn' see an issue with how they handled things. I was treated very poorly, even if I did break policy--I am NO stranger to that building. So, this morning I sent an email to the school.

Here is part of it:

"Yesterday was not a good day. First things first, I’m all for
following policies and rules. I apologize for not adhering to them yesterday when I peeked into Nicholas’s classroom to make sure he was still in there. In my defense, the very thing I didn’t want to happen, and I was trying to avoid, happened.

I experienced my first ever panic attack yesterday, and because of this I do not feel as if I made any amount of sense in what I was saying—or trying to get across. I apologize if I made any sort of scene, but I want you to understand where I am coming from. "

I explained exactly what happened from my perspective...

"My children are very dear to me, as I am sure yours are to you. My heavenly
Father has entrusted their care and well being to me and my husband. I do
everything in my power to make sure that they are taken care of and not put in
harms way. While I would like to believe that I have nothing to worry about while they are at school, and in your care, I can’t help but worry a little bit when they are sent outside where there is little to no supervision. For this very reason, I have told both of my other children to meet me at the preschool classroom or the glass office when school is dismissed. Obviously calling them to the glass office doesn’t work, since Nicholas was still allowed to go outside after being
called there yesterday. Hopefully this will work for you all and the rules/policies
that are set forth. I pray that a situation like yesterday doesn’t happen again.

While I fully admit that I was in the wrong walking down to Nicholas’s classroom, there was no reason for XXX to treat me the way she did. Above all, those are my children entrusted into your care for the time being. I am no stranger to the
school. I have been to every class party, field trip and school event as well as had
numerous communications with, you, Mr. "Principal". I would hope by now
that you all would know my character, and know that I am not out to do harm or
cause trouble. You ask over and over again for parent involvement, but
make it near impossible to do so.

Thank you for your attention to
this matter—I look forward to hearing from you.

Phoebe
XXX
Concerned Parent "

I have yet to get a response and it was emailed first thing this morning. Let's hope for a better ending to today!

Any thoughts????

Cedar Posts

This past weekend we made a trip back to my hometown. The whole mission of this trip was to chop down some unwanted cedar trees in my mom's field. She had no desire for them to be there, and we needed the cedar to make fence posts for my garden. A win win for us both.

I've already confessed the not-so-great relationship that I have previously had with my mom. I've seriously not spent more than a couple hours at any given time at her home for the past 6 years. You can imagine my surprise when my husband informed me that we were spending the night with my mom! Honestly it was the only logical solution, but I wasn't expecting it, and I didn't know whether I was ready.

But, it was the best weekend ever! I absolutely loved every single minute of it, and I'm so glad we went.

We arrived Friday evening and just sat on the screened porch and visited. All night. We went to bed around 11, which was late for us all! Saturday morning my mom cooked us all breakfast, and as soon as we were done cleaning up, "the men" went outside to begin cutting posts. Mom, the kids and I went outside and picked cherries off of her cherry tree so that we could make a cherry pie to go with our big lunch. I have very few memories of cooking with my mother, so this was an amazing moment for me. Not only that, but I can count on one hand how many times my mom has cooked for my family in the last 6 years.

God has done such amazing things in not only my life, but my family's. I'm so thankful for our relationship and the time that we spend together. I love seeing my children play with her like I once did, and to hear them talk about her when we're home. And ask me when we are going back. Grandma even asked when Kaitlyn was coming to spend the night with her, they needed their "girl time." That has never happened.

God is my miracle worker. Just when you think it can't happen, he swoops in and makes the impossible, possible.

I consider myself a lucky girl to finally have these moments. Most people don't realize what they've got 'til it's gone.


This post is linked to:

• FinerThings Friday
• Family Friday

Family Time

For Memorial Day weekend, my family and I decided to go back to our hometown and spend the weekend on the river and relax. Oh did we ever!



My in-laws recently bought a cabin right on the river so we had all the amenities of home with an added plus and peacefulness that the river brings. We had originally planned on pitching our tent and sleeping outside along with the children, but I chickened out when the weather kept calling for rain.



Although we did encounter a few good showers and sprinkles, we still enjoyed the time away, each others company, as well as some good ol' family time. You can never have enough of that, right?



We attended a Graduation Party and played at the park:










Swam in the ice cold river, played sand volleyball, lounged around, talked past bedtime, and enjoyed the beauty that is God's Promise.





A peaceful, relaxing, weekend enjoying God's Creation is a Finer Thing.


This post is linked to:

• FinerThings Friday
• Family Friday

Celebrating My Mom

It's Mother's Day on Sunday, and I'm going to celebrate with my Mom, and she doesn't even know it yet! Oh does it ever feel good to say that. We are driving up to my hometown to surprise our mom's.



My mom and I go back 26 ahem almost 27 years. But, I've never appreciated her more or valued our relationship more than what I do now. After all, we've been there, done that, went through it.



You see, growing up, my mom and I were close. Especially close in High School. We talked all the time, and she always humored me. Although I know now that it was her way of keeping tabs on me and keeping me home, she allowed me to have a get together for every imaginable or any made up holiday I could come up with. She made amazing amounts of appetizers and meals and stay up way past bed time to entertain me and my friends. I loved it. My friends loved it. We loved her and my Dad (who was right in on the action always cracking jokes or picking on us).



Shortly after my high school graduation, I made some choices that my parents didn't agree with. I went in a direction that they didn't like and mine and my mom's relationship became very strained. Strained so much so that we didn't talk for about a year (I think a little over).



We started our relationship anew and off we went as normal for the next 2½ years to 2003. Tragedy struck my family.



My relatively healthy father passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. It rocked our world into tiny little bits. My mother was distraught, I was distraught, and our relationship crumbled. Again.



But, this Mother's Day, I am celebrating her. How she has overcame darkness. How we have overcome hurt. How we have grown together. How we will grow together. And how nothing is going to get in between me and my mother. Ever again.



This Earthly life is too short. Celebrate your Mom. Celebrate those Finer Things.

Seriously--Time Flies

I cannot even believe it. This afternoon I can longer deny the fact that my youngest will be going to school. That's right, I'm going to preschool screening and registration. It seems as if he were just born a few months ago!

The last few days I have really been reflecting back on the time that we've shared. Noah is the only one out of my 3 children that has stayed home with me from day one. He has never, ever, ever been to a baby sitter. I don't know about you, but in my book, that is a Finer Thing!

I have seen every moment (okay not every moment, afterall I am more than just a mom!), every milestone, and have enjoyed every last moment (most of them, anyway).

There have been plenty of laughs,

Scary moments,

about a ton of dirt and mud,

A load of hard work,

And more than enough cuteness to go around.

I will definitely miss you being by my side day in and day out.

Or this case, Daddy's.

My time with you has been a Finer Thing and one of the many highlights of my life as your mom. I know you will have a good time at school!

Love you more my Little Monkey!!

This post is linked to:

• Finer Things Friday
• Family Friday

I Redeemed Myself

So--I said the tooth fairy came, sort of. What did I mean?



Since she didn't come the first night, Nicholas left his tooth (which was in a treasure chest, by the way) on top of the windowsill for the next night. When he came home from school, he immediately went in there to check on it and make sure it was still where it was when he left. He's pretty possessive of his things.



Little did I know that during the day, Noah went in and messed with the tooth treasure chest and lost it! I can assure you that Nicholas was not happy in the least! I looked high and low for it, and never found it.



"Now the tooth fairy really won't come, Mom."



Oh snap! Rub the "Loser Mom" in a bit more, would ya?



"Sure she will--she's had ample time to find out you lost it. I'm sure she'll understand that Noah lost it. Surely she won't punish you for that..."



Right? Right. Although, she really did almost forget.

Loser Mom Syndrome Hits Again

Have you ever had one of those days/weeks where you felt like you were experiencing "Loser Mom Syndrome?"



That was me. Last week.



Nicholas came home from school on Wednesday and proudly exclaimed that he lost his tooth while at school. Uh, say what?! He had a loose tooth.? No way. (By the way--it was barely loose, and he decided that he was over it, and yanked it out!!)



No biggie--I can handle this, right? Wrong.



I helped Nicholas find a place to put his tooth since he is terrified that with his moving and flopping that his tooth will fall, or get lost. Since he has a bunk bed, and sleeps on top right next to a window, he decided to put it on the window frame. Perfect.



I went to wake him up for school the next morning and after he was almost fully awake, I just so happened to look over and see the tooth staring at me on the windowsill. The tooth fairy fell asleep, and forgot all about her duties!!



Stink!! No time now, he was almost awake, and I couldn't risk getting caught in the act. Ya know?



What to do?? I left the room--fast! I needed time to think.



Nicholas promplty told me that the tooth fairy never came. Surprisingly, he wasn't all too upset, but I could tell that it bothered him a bit.



My response: "I bet I know what happened, Nicholas. Your tooth fell out so fast, with no warning and the tooth fairy didn't have enough time to fit you into the route. I bet she'll be here tonight for sure since she knows now."



And she was...Sort of.