I'm Crying Today - In A Good Way

I haven't written much about Mister Man's school change.  I'm still frustrated about a number of things at the old school, but I'm so glad we moved him before the end of the year last year.  He's now at the same school as Little Miss (whoo hoo, first time ever they've been in the same school at the same time and they get to ride the bus!), and it's been good so far.

The "so far" is what I'm worried about, of course.  It's so easy for the early part of school to work because everyone gives the kids a little leeway.  The things that grate on nerves aren't yet grating on nerves.  And Mister Man isn't fully comfortable, so he's on his very best behavior.

I wrote earlier this week about the special needs introduction letter "Mister Man" wrote to his teacher explaining his strengths and weaknesses and sharing strategies that we know work well for him.  It was sprinkled with pictures, and the hope is to have them understand him better so that the year is smoother for everyone.

The first day, I picked the wee ones up from school because Mister Man had tae kwon do.  His teacher stopped me in the hall and told me he had a wonderful day.  She said he was "the sweetest kid, and he got along so well with all the other students, too."  Phew.  Those are the things that ease a little of the weight from my shoulders.

Yesterday afternoon, I received an email from the art teacher.  Apparently the social worker shared the letter I had prepared with the specials teachers, as well - something I appreciate.  I read it while sitting in the car in a parking lot while running errands.  Whenever I see an email from the school, I always have to read it immediately so that I can fully process it before the wee ones get home.

Dear Michelle,
A copy of Mister Man's letter was in my mailbox. You are a wonderful Mommy to help Mister Man learn to advocate for himself and know that although he doesn't look exactly like the other kids in the crowd, he is the beautiful person that God made him to be. I have a son like that too.
You can rest assured that here, at New School, we will love your babies no matter what. They will be taken care of with love and respect and dignity. In fact, we often love the quirky ones best.
I know that Mister Man had a hard time in my overfull summer school class a few years back, although he did make strides just during that short time. I have been working to make sure he knows that I think he is awesome just as he is. I try to let all my students know that the art studio is a safe place where they will be listened to any time.
Thank You, and I am completely psyched for a GREAT year!
Mrs. Art Teacher

Now that?  That brings tears to my eyes.  Completely unsolicited.  She had to go look up my contact information to send this.  They care.  And they get my kid here.  No wonder the end of the year for him was so smooth and peaceful and trouble free.

I heaved another sigh of relief, called my mom to read this to her, and then I finished my errands for the day with a smile on my face.

I Prefer To Think It's My Guardian Angel

This past Friday was a perfect example. My dad was chaperoning Mister Man on a field trip so was driving to school, which meant Little Miss was riding the bus instead of me having to drop her off, too. My day - the productive part of my day, that is - would start at 8:13 intead of 9am. I was rather looking forward to that extra hour.

As Little Miss's bus left, I decided to do a couple quick things around the house, emptying the dishwasher and putting away laundry, before I headed out to teh gym as I'd originally intended. I left the house at 8:33, not quite as early as I'd hoped considering the errands I needed to run later in the day.

As I drove out of the neighborhood, my phone rang. It was my dad calling. Uh-oh. School hadn't even started yet, and already my dad was having trouble with his first chaperone experience.

Ummm, did Violet by chance leave her lunch and backpack in your house or car? he asked.

I sighed and turned around in my seat just enough to see the familiar flowered pattern of her backpack sitting on the middle seat in my car. Ahhhh yep, it's in my car. I'll come drop it off, I groaned internally, knowing that I'd be pushing it to get to school and drop it off before the buses for the field trip left.

I made it to the school a little after 8:50 and just before the students headed out to their buses. I passed the backpack - and its completely disposable lunch inside - over to the school and then headed out to the gym.

I had a benefit luncheon that started at 11am. Getting in a full run and the rest of my workout (ummm in addition to the shower that I definitely needed) was not going to happen. I didn't bag it entirely though. I went to a different location of my gym and got my run in before showering as quickly as I could. I made it to the benefit only a few minutes late and had a great time.

As I was headed to the benefit, I thought about how I had a few choices about how to handle the interruption to my day. I decided to be happy that I wasn't halfway to the gym at the time or already at the gym. My gym is 20 minutes in one direction - so had I left as soon as Little Miss had gotten on the bus as I'd originally planned, I would have been either pulling into the parking lot or already working out. Even if I was only on my way to the gym, the school is 20 minutes in the near opposite diection from the gym - getting to school before the field trip had left would have been impossible.

So it was a good thing that I had procrastinated slightly in getting to the gym because I could get the backpack and lunch to Violet. It would have been nice had she not put her backpack in my car to begin with, but we'll focus on the fact that I could fix it.

And the gym I ended up going to? It turns out that it's closer to where I had my benefit lunch by a ways, so it helped me have less driving to do. And with those realizations, I was able to focus on what I could do that morning - I got a load of laundry in! I emptied the dishwasher! I ran! I got the backpack dropped off! I made it to the lunch! - and not on any of the negative part of it.

I started thinking about this as I drove to the lunch. Those days when I just miss a stoplight and have to wait? Or when I end up leaving the house five minutes later than I expect? Or when a friend calls and has me changing plans at the last minute? How many of those little changes keep me safe and sound? How many accidents or muggings or incidents have I unknowingly avoided because a little guardian angel was looking out for me?

Maybe it's silly, but that's the outlook that is going to keep me sane and happy. That silver lining exists somewhere, and I'm going to keep searching for it.

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Little Wonders Company personalized hardcover book here
$25 Build-A-Bear Workshop gift card here
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It's The Little Things That Make Me Happy

This is another of those gifts I received that I would never have bought for myself and never even lusted after. In fact, I never knew it existed before my husband presented it to me one Christmas.

We've had our temperature gauge for a few years now. It is attached to our deck and monitors the outside temperature. It also tells time. And we have two units. One sits on the main level in the kitchen and also tells the indoor temperature, among other features.

My favorite one lives upstairs in our bathroom though. This one not only tells the indoor temperature and humidity levels, it shows you.



Disclaimer: Yes, those are icky brass fixtures on the bathtub. And yes, that is a dusky rose tile on the surround. Fortunately you can't see the black and white diamond tile floors or other atrocities like the trickle of water that comes from my shower. I need a new bathroom, I know this. Just focus on the cool toy and pretend you don't see the icky styled bathroom.

See how cute that little dude is wearing his pants, hat, and jacket? As it gets colder, he'll add mittens and a scarf. As it gets warmer, he'll lose the jacket, and eventually he'll end up in just a little bathing suit wearing a big smile and some freckles. Granted, I won't see this again for months and months. And months. And months.

And I might be making it up that he's holding a beach ball when it's 90 degrees, but the fact that I have a little dude telling me how cold it is outside with his outfits always makes me giggle. And there are definitely some mornings when I need that.

What's your favorite little thing that gets you smiling for no good reason?

And This Week We're Happy!

Last week, I had a list of ten things I'm sick of. And apparently, I'm not the only person sick of many of those things -- or other items! However, we need some more happiness in the blogosphere, so this week, I'm turning it around with a list of ten things that make me happy!

10 Things That Make Me Happy

10. A full night's sleep. Sometimes I wonder if this truly is something that makes me happy, as it's been so long since I've slept completely through the night with no interruptions from wee ones or my husband and also not been awakened at least once before my internal alarm clock says I've had enough sleep. But then I realize how much I crave sleep, and yes, a full night's sleep definitely makes me happy. I figure I've only got another eighteen years before Little Miss has graduated college and I'll get that full night's sleep, right?

9. A manicure and pedicure. Ahhhh. It's time totally for myself, which is always a luxury. And I'd skip the rest of it just for the good hand and foot massages you get. No, I guess I wouldn't really. I love the pretty polishes, too. And the one chance I have to read trashy magazines I'd never otherwise read. Granted, they're six months or more out of date usually, but it's still always news to me!

8. Watching the wee ones figure out a new skill. Mister Man is a great one for this. Little Miss always has full confidence that she'll succeed at whatever she's doing, so she merely comes to brag and show off what she can do now. LOOK. Mommy, look. Mister Man, on the other hand, is the perfectionist who doesn't always want to try something if he doesn't think he will succeed. But the look of excitement in his eye and the surprise in his voice when I hear things like, "Look, Mom! I got it! I got an eyelash out of my eye all by myself!" Well, those are the things that make me smile.

7. Weeding. I know, I know. I'm probably the only person who would ever say that weeding makes them happy. I love projects with tangible measures of success. This is why I'm a list person -- so I can cross items off the list when I finish them. I love seeing those huge piles of weeds beside the mulch and then looking at the cleaned up landscaping. Granted, I don't often have the time to weed, but I certainly enjoy it when I get the chance.

6. Spring. I am a true spring lover at heart. I love the days where the chill is finally off the air and you first venture out for the season without a coat. Your heart always seems so much lighter, and the bright sunshine seems to be beckoning to you, asking you to just pause for a moment to close your eyes and bask in the delicious rays. No bugs are out yet, and the promise of new life is all around.

5. Cooking. Yep, you heard that one right, too. I truly enjoy cooking. I love taking the disparate ingredients and putting them together to make something yummy. I won't lie and say that I also don't enjoy having people think that what I've done is so hard and so impressive... but that's just a bonus. Even when I was single and just cooking for myself most nights, I enjoyed it. I think it's the European in me. Maybe.

4. The wee ones' shouts of joy. To know that whatever they're doing is bringing them joy brings me joy, as well. The knowledge that the wee ones are content and happy, becoming self-sufficient children who will be content with their lots in life is all I ask for as a parent. And so far, it looks like I'm getting it.

3. Days off. Every Monday and Thursday when I log onto my computer for work, I get a reminder message that I'll be off the next day, as I only work Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I look at that message each time and smile, sighing. Those days that I'm not at work are so much fun for me. I have alone time with each of the wee ones in turn, plus I'm able to get things done that need doing from heading to the gym to writing the newsletter for the PTO to grocery shopping to cleaning. Can anyone tell that I'm ready to be a SAHM again? If only this economy weren't quite so depressing and I could justify quitting.

2. A clean house. I have a feeling that I'll have some company in this one. Everything has a place, and everything in its place. I firmly believe in this one, but with three (ok, technically only two) children, this doesn't often happen. Add the work schedule and everything else I do, and there are nights that I skip the full straightening. But when I walk into my house or walk through my house after it's been given a thorough cleaning and before anyone can start returning it to its natural state? Now that's true happiness!

1. Quiet. Yep, just complete and utter quiet. No television on, or if it is on, the volume is sufficient at 3 or 4 instead of 11. No one demanding my attention or hurrying me along. Just me, and maybe a good book. It's a rarity, but it's such a feeling of contentment to finish off the day with a note of solitude to recharge. Again, I figure I'll have my quiet in fourteen years when Little Miss goes off to college, so long as my husband hasn't retired -- and if Governor Quinn has his way, all teachers will be working at least until they're sixty-seven, so I'll have my quiet.

So what about you? What are the things that make you happy?