Sick Days

Two nights ago I went to bed with a stuffy nose and this morning I woke up with a full-blown cold. I am not sure how people handle being sick--and is a cold even considered being sick? Blech. I should be grateful because somehow I have almost 100% of the time miraculously avoided getting whatever nasty sickness everyone else in my family goes through--including the stomach bug that infected every person in my family except me a few weeks ago.

So I haven't made my bed this morning because I intend to crawl right back in whenever I get the chance. Grant thinks he is in heaven because I let him turn on a movie as soon as the big kids went to school. Unfortunately, Ammon doesn't understand that mom wants to shut her eyes for a few minutes, and he uses this opportunity to turn me into a jungle gym and a pin cushion for fingers.

So I am blogging.

I thought I had a ton to say, but I can't remember it all now.

We've managed to get into some sort of a good after-school routine. The kids get home, get a snack, and continue on to do their homework. As I've mentioned, my home has become the hangout place for the neighborhood, which has its goods and bads. Anyway, the kids start knocking, and my kids have learned that before they can go out to play (or their friends can come it) they have to complete their homework, practice their piano (all their songs 3x's each), and do a chore for mom. Playing with friends is a very good motivator. Random info--someone left a pair of blue kid glasses in our backyard. I cannot find the owner, whose parent's are probably not very happy that their son lost his glasses.

I went on a field trip with Logan a few weeks ago and a mom came up to meet me. Apparently her son is also in 3rd grade and lives in our neighborhood and has asked if he could come play at Logan's house because that is where all the other kids played. She wanted to meet me before sending her child over to a stranger's house. I appreciate that, and understand, because several kids come over to play and I don't think their parents have a clue where they are--and they certainly don't know who I am!

Yesterday I made whole wheat oatmeal cookies for book club. I never bake because I am the one who ends up eating the junk while everyone is at school. Anyway, I sent some cookies home with the neighbor kids, and a few minutes later they returned with cookies their mom had been baking and had sent back to us! We need to be better at inviting these neighbors over--not just their kids.

Also, this is not aimed at anyone, just something that has been on my mind lately. I have really great kids. They are well-behaved, good students, hard workers, good listeners, helpful, honest, etc. I am very grateful for the experience I have as their mother. That said, I am told often--very often--how lucky I am to have easy kids. People will say, "I don't know what that would be like to have kids that________(fill in blank)." I agree--I am lucky. I agree that all children have different personalities and strengths and weaknesses. But I also believe that I have something to do with how great they are, and in turn, how lucky I am. I work hard! I spend a lot of time teaching them, I spend a lot of time trying to make sure they feel loved, and I spend a lot of time making sure I follow through with what I want to happen (one that I struggle with is making sure they practice piano or do a chore in the afternoon, because honestly, it would be easier or faster a lot of time to not fight it, or to do it myself, or to let them play so that I can have some time to myself). I have high expectations of my children, and I hold them to that. I don't think I am mean about it--as in a yelling, forceful way--but I am strict about it, hopefully in an explaining, helpful, way. This is not to say that I am always patient or that I do everything right--trust me, I am very aware of my failings as a mother, and I'm always trying to do better. Luckily, I think kids are very forgiving. I should also mention that my kids are not perfect, either. They struggle and make mistakes and so do I. Anyway, I do have good kids, and they each have different personalities, and we work together to become good people. I am lucky to have them, and I hope that they feel lucky to have me.

And finally, I wanted to share a bit about their different personalities.

Logan is my cautious, wants to do everything right, very sensitive child. He learns very quickly, and he likes having rules. He loves to help others. He hates to be wrong.

Madison is my social child. She loves words. She finds power in words--talking or writing. She makes friends easily, and she instinctively knows how to pull people to her. Her artistic creativity is coming out.

Grant likes to role-play. He loves to dress up and pretend to be a superhero. He wants to be brave and strong. When in a big group he tends to become quiet. At home is my wilder child--at school and church he is the quiet one. This worries me a little bit, and I am trying to come up with ways to strengthen his confidence. He has a lot of potential, but often gets overlooked because he is the 3rd child.

Ammon is my cuddly flirt. He gets people's eyes and makes funny faces for them. He understands almost everything we say, and he is wonderful at following directions. I hope this is a forever thing!