Our New Normal

I guess this is an update.

I've reached an uneasy truce with the family crisis that occurred a couple months back. Thankfully the problem seems to have been caught quickly and, with professional help, behaviors are changing. Here is what I hate about the whole thing. I'm afraid I will never be able to relax again. I'm afraid that as soon as I let my guard down something will flare up again. It's an uneasy state to live in but not a tragic one. In relation to what other families are dealing with it could even be considered a blessing. Not that the thing itself is good but it's a thing with a solution. The blessing is the positive changes that are able to be made. It's just, I've realized that I resist change. Even positive change. I consider it a good sign, though, that I was able to face it, be honest about it and get the help that was needed. I guess that what parenting boils down to.

Yadda yadda

Remember the Seinfeld episode where they yadda yadda sex? I'm there. Not my own. Certainly not. But, in films, in books, in music, even political commentary, could I please get a yadda here and there in place of the thrusting, moaning and general all around vulgar language. Yes we are all grown up and it's a fact of life and people do have casual sex and use vulgar language. It's not even particularly shocking or edgy any more. In fact, I'm just.......bored. Isn't it out of our culture's system yet? Can't we get back to where a good story is enough? A good story using elevated, even poetic, language? No? It's got to be out there somewhere, literature, music, or film that doesn't depict honest love by forcing me to experience the mechanics of reproduction. Here is how I recognize such a beast: I imagine watching, reading or listening with my children or with my parents. If I can keep from cringing, that's it. Can someone tell me where it is?

Repent?

The Cranes were a bust.

Here is the story (or non-story) of the Cranes. I ended up asking my dad to go with me. To my surprise he said yes. I shouldn't have been surprised because it makes sense, he grew up in the area, and enjoys a good road trip. That's the nature of our relationship, though. Uncertainty. Well, we ended up turning around. We were traveling from Lincoln NE to the Grand Island area and turned around in York. Roughly half way. There was rain and falling temps added to the darkness which makes my dad nervous these days. By myself I would have pressed on and maybe ended up in a ditch, or worse. So I choose to believe that he saved my life by going with me. And don't even think about me asking to drive for him. If my dad can't do it no one can. Well, in his opinion.

Next year. Or the next, God willing. That's what's great about the cranes. They'll always be there.

This incident demonstrates a theme in my life right now though that I think I need to meditate on sooner or later. The theme is turn around. It keeps coming back to me in various forms. I think God is trying to tell me something. But what.

Multiple Choice

Which gets better results:

A. Parenting teens.

B. Banging your head against the wall.

The boys are off on their camping adventure. In the car, on the way to drop them off we had this interesting exchange:

Me: Where are your gloves?
Eighteen-Year-Old: I didn't pack any.
Me: You are going to die of frostbite.
EYO: (looking incredulous) We didn't need them last year.
Me: Sixteen years (combined) of Scouting.......wasted.
Sixteen-Year-Old: But mom, we didn't need them them last year.

And society expects them to listen to me when I tell them to cover "other" parts of their body.

Compare and Contrast

I'm still undecided on my spring break options but I've been spending some time in front of the Crane Cam. There is a lot of noise, a lot of eating and a lot of mating dances going on. So I thought to myself, this is not entirely unlike any given gathering of our youth group at church. Except the plumage is more colorful. On the teens.

What To Do

At some vague unspecified time in the near future I have a choice set before me. My entire family, save the Four-Year-Old, is leaving me to travel to unknown corners of the earth for fun and frivolity while I sit at home pondering my choices. Choice number one: stay home and rip up tile and remove wallpaper from the bathroom in anticipation of a redo. Someday. Choice number two: take off myself to central Nebraska to commune with the Sandhill Cranes in the midst of their migration, and attempt to get a photo or two hundred.

Surprisingly my husband chooses choice number one. I'm taken aback that he would leave me home with such a destructive directive at my disposal. (how's that for alliteration)

I'm leaning towards choice number two. You may wonder what's so great about spending time in the company of a multitude of birds at time when most choose the company of a multitude of sun worshipers. Well, if you have to ask you wouldn't understand. Plus, I can't afford to go to the beach.

The easy choice is to destroy the bathroom. Traveling gets more complicated: childcare, weather, sleep-deprivation are factored into the decision. However travel is ultimately the more satisfying choice.

Hmm, Stay tuned.

To be continued....

Zoo Two

This weekend I saw this animal in my back yard. Can anyone tell me what it is?



Ha! I kid.

Actually, we made another trip to the Zoo this weekend. This time My hubby and daughter came along. We weren't the only ones who had that idea on a beautiful pre-spring day either, because the parking lot was filled to overflowing. It was great to see so many people there. Not all the animals were out but the one's that were, were really out, if you know what I mean. Both the exotic:


And the not so exotic.
So, if you live anywhere near KC visit the zoo on one of our upcoming fine spring days. Yes, I know, Omaha has the zoo to end all zoos but ours is getting better, and, if you buy a membership you can get into the Omaha zoo at half price. And that's not all. You also get a workout because, oh my, is it a long way around the African section.

Brain Dump

I'll be as brief as possible but I've got a lot to get off my mind. Warning, may be temperamental.

I'm a quiet person. People often feel the need to point this out to me through this brilliant observation, "You are so quiet" Oh really? I hadn't noticed. I am often tempted to counter with this equally brilliant observation, "That's because you never shut up." Sheesh, learn to listen people. (present company excepted. I'm sure you are all good listeners.)

Springtime is here. I'm calling it. A sure sign is the fact that my children have become bottomless pits. The annual spring growth spurt has arrived and we cannot keep enough food in the house. The Eighteen-Year-Old may even manage to squeak out another fraction of an inch before it's all said and done. The Sixteen-Year-Old looks down at me from a greater height every day. My daughter is still coming to terms with the fact that she has no choice in the height department, however, she is still shorter than me. And the Four-Year-Old? The Four-Year-Old is officially out of the 0-5T department and into the boys. Tear.

Higher Edjookayshun costs too stinking much. We make too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to pay with out a loan. And, our kid is smart enough to make great grades but not enough for schools to throw money at him. Hello debt, sorry Dave Ramsey.

Finally, when, for the love of Horned Rim Glasses, is Heroes going to be back?