We are fine (tornado)

Just in case someone decides to check my blog before giving us a call, I wanted to officially state that we are fine. I didn't know anything about the tornado downtown until the phone started ringing this morning with everyone inquiring about our well-being. Even my 88-year-old grandfather called, and that never happens, so I knew something serious was going on. We're a good ways from downtown, where most of the damage is. I do have one friend who lives down that way, though, and I haven't heard from her yet. Keep your fingers crossed. (Updated: she's fine.)
Currently feeling: caught in a whirlwind

Mean Streak

I am so sad and angry and embarrassed right now. When DH and I arrived to pick up DS from school today, we could hear him crying as soon as we entered the front door. He was standing out in the hall, crying at the top of his lungs, while the teacher was carrying a little girl who was also wailing and holding her head. Apparently, the little girl had been standing behind the door, and DS came up and started pushing against the door. There is a long skinny window in the door, and he could clearly see she was standing there, but he kept repeatedly banging on the door, and it repeatedly hit her in the head. The teacher was helping a child who had had a potty accident, so she didn't know anything was happening until the little girl started crying. The entire incident could not have happened 3 minutes before we arrived (it was probably taking place as we pulled into the parking lot). By the time we left about 5 minutes later, she already had a purple bump on her forehead the size of a chicken egg. If I was *her* mother, I would be livid.

As it is, as his parent, I am so angry with him, and I am absolutely mortified. Why would he do that?! I don't know if we did something wrong, or if it is something he picked up from another kid somehow, or what. I just have no idea why. If he didn't know she was there, that would have been one thing, but he did know, and not only that, he should definitely have known once she started crying! I am just baffled. It is possible there was some precipitating incident, but if so, neither he nor she would say what it was, and the teacher was not aware of anything happening between them earlier in the day (she'd been there since 9). We told him how that was not what big boys do, that it was not nice at all to hurt people. Hurting people on purpose was being mean. And he had to apologize. He didn't want to, and we had to resort to pulling privileges for Saturday (in addition to those that had already been pulled for tonight just for the incident itself) to get him to say he was sorry. (I know it's not the same if they "don't really mean it," but at his age (3), I felt it was just important for him to do it.) Usually, they have children hug after something like this, but she didn't want him to hug her, and quite frankly, I don't blame her. We took him out to the car, picked up dinner, and brought it home. We did not follow our usual Friday routine at all, and he and DH have had a long talk about what he did wrong, why it was wrong, and all the things he will not be doing tonight or tomorrow because of it.

I spent most of the trip home crying; I can't tell you how upset I am about this. He is usually so sweet and gentle. And I hate that I look at him and I am horrified. No one should feel that way about their child, ever. I can only imagine that this is something akin (though on a much lesser scale) to how the parents of serial killers feel. It is awful to know that your child intentionally hurt someone else, and I can only hope and pray that I don't look back on this incident as the first of a series of signs of trouble. I hope to look back on it as some sort of odd-ball incident that never repeats itself. But it scares me silly to see his sweet face and innocent eyes and know that they are no longer so innocent. I'm just heart-broken. I know these things happen, and I know we'll all get over it. It just really hurts right now.

Currently feeling: very upset

A strange compliment

While out eating dinner tonight, we had a woman pay us a very strange compliment. Luke was not on his best behavior, and after a couple of warnings (for doing two different things wrong), he was reprimanded and told that we would not be going to Target because he was not behaving like a big boy. This, of course, made him cry, which we also had to stop (and did so quite quickly) because he was being so loud. He calmed down, and we moved on with our meal. This woman was sitting alone behind us; I mention this only because I have no idea if she is married or has children. As she was leaving, she stopped by our table and said "I just wanted to say how refreshing it is to actually hear a parent discipline his child. That just doesn't seem to happen anymore these days, so thank you."

So, let me get this straight: you are thanking us for making our son cry and temporarily disrupting the meal of those sitting around us because we are such lousy parents that we can't get him to sit still, be quiet, and eat properly? Um, thanks? I know that's not what she was saying. She really was being complimentary for us actually taking charge and at least attempting to have him behave, unlike many parents we ourselves have seen. It just struck me oddly.

Currently feeling: thank you, I think

Spring 2008 Portraits

I think these turned out really well. I can't believe how grown up he looks in the last one!



Disney recap to come, promise. Finally got all the needed photos resized for said recap, but I *really* need to go to bed now.

Currently feeling: wowed

And we're back....

Exhausted, but back. More later. Here's a picture to tide you over:



Currently feeling: mousey

Do I clean up that well?

Or do I just usually look that bad? (You know what? Don't answer that.) I had to go "into work" today for a large meeting, so I got all gussied up in work clothes and make-up and everything. I even (I hope you are sitting down) took a purse! I know, that's more shocking than the make-up. Those who know me at all know that I do NOT carry a purse, usually just my wallet/keyring combo and my cell phone in my pocket. But today, I had no pockets (idiot me bought pocket-less dress pants!), wallet/keyring, two cell phones (work and personal), pens, memory stick, hair elastic.... just all kinds of little things I needed for the day that I normally would have tucked in my pockets. Or my computer bag, but sometimes security can be fussy about outsiders bringing in laptops (I'm a contractor), plus I didn't have a cable to connect to the network, so I didn't see the point in lugging it around (other than to have someplace, besides a purse, to put all my little junk). The only reason I even had a purse is because my mom gave me one she bought and didn't like at Thanksgiving. I didn't want to take it, but I figured there might come a day when I would need one. Looks like Mom is smarter than me once again.

Sorry, got off track there. Anyway, the point is, you should have heard all the comments I got when I arrived to pick up Luke from daycare! "Wow, where are you going?" "Is that really Luke's mom?" "I almost didn't recognize you!" His teacher, the one we've seen nearly every day for months now, didn't know who I was until I got right up to the fence at the playground. Even most of the kids (who can spot you a mile away, and know precisely whose mom you are) just sort-of stared at me. Thankfully, Luke knew me! It was just weird. Nice to hear how nice I looked (even DH commented; I got a new blouse, and I do think it looks nice), it just makes me wonder if I look that "bad" normally. It really does emphasize how much of a difference the way you look can affect the way people react and interact with you.

Currently feeling: I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright.... (sorry)

February 2008 Round Up

Blinkie by: Brandy's Blinkies

Monthly Round Up idea borrowed from Katie the Scrapbook Lady.

I didn't do very well at taking notes this month, and I feel like I have forgotten everything that happened! This may be my most pathetic round-up ever.

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
mumble, mumble, mumble..... ::sigh::

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
We did *finally* see National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Disappointing overall, I thought. TV was just the usual stuff.

What special days did I celebrate and how?
Um, uh.... DH and I traded cards for Valentine's Day, and he got me a very cute stuffed dog and some chocolate. Better than what I got him, which was nothing.

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
Melissa and Ursula were kind enough to send me one of the "cast member only" pins they received while at Disney in February. It may be the only one I have, since I am more of a collector than a trader. I mostly only have pins that I have bought myself at the parks, and this was a pin you can only get by trading with a cast member. That was so sweet of them!

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
I think we were all sick this month! DH brought home some kind of 7-day flu bug that knocked out both him and me; Luke seemed unphased. Then I came down with bronchitis, an ear infection, and a sinus infection, all at the same time. By the time the end of the month rolled around, DH was coughing his head off and Luke was starting (though he never got as bad as DH or me). But Luke's ear tubes were deemed perfectly fine at his ENT appointment, so that was good.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
Seems like my parents came for a visit. It is so hard to remember! Other than that, things were pretty quiet (considering we spent the better part of the month rather ill and going to bed around 9 PM).

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
Seems like there was some new place in here, but I can't remember where for anything.

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
Lots of (legal prescription) drugs.

What were this month's disappointments?
Just being so very sick for so long. I lost almost a week at work. Not good considering I will (did) miss 3 days at the beginning of March and a whole week for the beginning of April. And I didn't take a *single* photo of my son this month.

What were my accomplishments this month?
I do feel like I am finally starting to get just a teensy bit better at work. I don't feel completely and totally lost now, just mostly.

What were Luke's accomplishments this month?
Not sure this really counts as an accomplishment: he got demoted at school from the 3-year-old room back to the 2-year-old room because of the potty training thing. They had some kind of surprise state inspection, and they got sited for having a non-potty trained kid in the 3-year-old room, so he is back in the Twos. That's less than two weeks after they officially promoted him. I understand why they did it, and I don't blame them, but I am so not happy right now.

As far as real accomplishments go, he has finally learned to draw something recognizable. It's just a "robot" (read: circle with two eyes and long stick legs), but he is consistent about it. It is nice to see after all this time of just scribbles.

Anything else noteworthy to record?
Nothing in particular comes to mind. Sorry this was so crummy. I'll try to do better for March.

Currently feeling: tired and slack