The drama of young love

Robert had a track meet last evening.  He was pretty excited about it as he was going to get to throw disc which he hadn't done since his successful 8th grade year.  He had a fabulous relay to start the evening, and then another decent relay that probably would've led to a first place finish if not for a really bad hand off in the final exchange.  After that, I ventured out to the discus area.  He was standing in a corner by himself and I had a feeling...which was right.  He had just received a text from his girlfriend that she was ending it.  We weren't overly surprised as there had been lots of young love drama occurring, but that doesn't make the timing of it any better.  He was so upset, and was completely unfocused during his throwing...which just added to all of his emotions.  Andrew and I both feel that after seven months, he deserved better than a text breakup, but we have tried to stay out of it overall.  As a mom, it's so hard to see my son hurt so much, but I also know that there really isn't anything I can say or do to make it better.  At this point, we are just praying that Robert remembers all the other good things happening in life and that we don't have any regression in his behaviors!

Last week before break

We are in our last four days of school before four of us are on break next week.  All of us have Friday off, and we are looking forward to an extra day of sleeping in!

We had a fairly laid-back weekend, and I am grateful for that.  Friday evening we traveled to our former town and visited with friends.  We are so grateful for these friends we have where we can just hang out, and the kids love reconnecting even though it's been months since we've seen each other.  Robert had to work Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, but I didn't leave the house at all on Saturday.  It was my chance to catch up on things for my volunteer job and catch up on laundry.  It didn't help that I didn't feel well most of the weekend.  Andrew took the boys to church yesterday and I stayed home with Catherine who didn't feel great either.

The thing I enjoyed about the weekend was just hanging out with my kiddos.  We got things done, and just enjoyed hanging out together!

I really enjoyed our time together

Today I am back in the Ag class that causes afternoon stress in my world.  I really love the morning classes, and honestly, I refuse to let the afternoon classes chase me away.  It also helps that we are on a modified schedule and I only have to see them for about 30 minutes!

The previous three days this week I've been in for the English teacher next to Andrew.  There was a student teacher in the room, so I was literally there just to keep things legal.  It allowed me a lot of flexibility though.  I was able to take care of some other things I needed to handle, and I was able to kind of float back & forth out of Andrew's room.   I graded some quizzes he had given, and I was able to help with another project as well.  At the same time, he was able to assist with some drama, and we just worked really well together as a team.

We both really enjoyed getting to see each other so much.  In fact, some of the students told me yesterday how cute we are together.  At the same time, we both acknowledge we couldn't do it every day.  It would get very old after awhile and we would quickly get on each other's nerves.  I'm grateful for each day, whatever it brings, with my husband!

We are a tired house

Our house is just flat out tired.  For Robert, I think it is adjusting to being back at school after having last week off for break.  For Catherine, I think it has been the stress of the state testing.  Same for Thomas, and there is also the mental drain of our unpleasant evening Tuesday evening, as well as the track competitions.  Andrew works about 14 hour days on Monday, and I'm working every day this week as well.  We are really, really tired.

Last evening at 8:00 I looked at Thomas and he could barely keep his eyes open.  I sent him to bed, and he didn't protest.  At 9:00, Catherine announced that she was going to bed.  I reminded her that because of the school schedule with testing this week, she was going to get to sleep in about three hours, but she said she was tired and wanted to go to bed anyway.  Andrew decided he couldn't stay awake anymore and was off to bed shortly after 9:00.  Robert came in shortly after that and said good night.  I told him he didn't have to go to bed yet, but he said he was tired and his movie had ended so it was good timing.  At 9:30 I was the only one still awake!  After watching Joey Votto hit a home run to put the Reds ahead I decided it was a good time for me to turn in as well.

I instantly fell asleep and was in a deep sleep.  I woke up hoping that I still had at least another hour to sleep and the clock said it was only 11:00.  Clearly I had already been sleeping deeply, and that was delightful.

We have a fairly unscheduled weekend, and I'll be honest, I am looking forward to that!  We will have plenty to get done around the house, but for the most part we don't have a set schedule!

Not our best evening

Last evening was kind of a rough evening...during a rough week.  I am working every day this week, and I'm absolutely grateful for these opportunities.  At the same time, I'm obviously tired and still trying to get things done around the house.  It's also state testing week for the kids, so the school schedules are completely out of the normal routines.  And of course, we are down to 30 days of school left for the year so we are all really ready to just be finished.

We aren't though, and things need to get accomplished.  That includes laundry (necessary for Thomas's track meet this evening) and homework, etc.  The kids are losing their scholastic momentum and while I can't blame them, it isn't acceptable.  School needs to happen, and they need to be responsible about it.  Unfortunately, I completely blew my top, and I absolutely hate when that happens.  I hate that there was yelling and there were tears, and I know that is not the way to handle things.  On the upside, as things calmed down, there were still lots of hugs and we always know there is love.

As always, I'm grateful for the new day to make a new beginning!

A wet beginning to his track career

Yesterday was Thomas's debut in the world of track.  It was a wet mess.  We were soaked by the end, and Thomas had some wet tears as well.  He didn't even come close to clearing in the high jump, and his longest disc throw was only 32 ft.  On the upside, that is the longest he's ever thrown, but many kids were throwing in the 60 - 80 ft range.  His reality came crashing down around him, and it was heartbreaking to watch.  We so appreciate that he is willing to try all of these different things.  We just wish he wasn't quite so unrealistic about his abilities.  Overall, it was just a miserable evening for him.  Hoping that he can figure out how to have fun, even if he isn't competitive.

A day of figuring out how to go with the flow

I am scheduled to sub today, and it's in one of my favorite places.  It is in the classroom next to Andrew, and she has a student teacher so there really is nothing for me to do.  That turns out to be a good thing, because other things are popping up all over.

This is a standardized testing week, so as a sub I wasn't required to report until 2-1/2 hours later than normal.  That was nice!  I knew there was an adjusted schedule, as the class periods are only about 1/2 hour long.  I was expected to be in plan for the first period as I know the teacher's schedule well, but was reassigned to another class.  Okay, I'll go with the flow!  Before classes actually began, I went to the athletic office to get a picture packet for team pictures that are after school today.  Robert wasn't able to attend practice Friday and that was when packets were handed out.  The athletic office actually didn't have any, and suggested I hunt down another teacher who coaches a spring sport.  I'm not sure when I can make that happen, but I will work on it.  Somehow, I need to meet with Robert after school and get him the packet that hopefully I can track down.  We also received an email that Thomas has an unscheduled track meet today.  There was a miscommunication between the two schools, and if they can make this happen, it is an excellent opportunity for Thomas to participate.  Of course, now I have to throw things together so that he is prepared to compete.

And I just got to send a kid to the office!  Ugh!  This child did a stupid thing that he could easily fix, but he chose to turn it into a power struggle.  I ended up having to call a principal to come and remove him from the room because he refused to go.  This is quickly turning into the longest short day ever!