Summer of Chaos

The girls, now ages 7 & 8, have reached the age where spending their summer in day care is not their idea of a good time.  So........we came up with a plan about February that we would hire a student this summer to care for them out of our home, with the idea that they could stay very busy with activities.  The perfect summer, right?  Go to the library, and the park, and the swimming pool.  Do arts & crafts.  Play games.  Play in the yard.  In theory, it all sounded perfect.  But in theory, I seem to have forgotten that: 1)  I run a very busy appraisal business from our home, 2) children this age will all test an authority figure if there is another authority figure present, and 3) my youngest has a very challenging neuro-developmental disorder that includes manipulation at the highest levels.  UGH!

So each morning, our babysitter arrives.  She has honestly done FAR better than I would have if the roles were reversed.  FAR FAR FAR far better.   But still.......the noise level is through the roof and anytime she asks/tells them to do something that they don't want to do, they run to ME to see if they can get me to allow whatever it is they want.  I'm doing my darndest to reinforce the babysitter's authority when she's here, and send them back to her.  But in the meantime, I'm pulling my hair out.

So......whose idea was this???  :)

I'm running for school board. Yep......For REAL!!!

Last week, I filed to run for school board.  No joke.  On November 8th, my name will be on the ballot.  Right next to my opponent.  And people will either vote for me.  Or they will vote for him.  But either way, in the next 4 3/4 months, I'm going to have a LOT of opportunities to speak my opinions about local and not-so-local school issues. 

Its a little mind-boggling.  I mean......I'm familiar with the democratic process, right?  But still........when it comes right down to it, it was remarkably easy to throw myself in front of the bus.  In Washington State, there isn't even a fee to file.  It's free!  Just sign up and say you want to run!  WOW! 

As my opponent and I are the only candidates for the seat for which we are vying, we don't have to run in the primary in August.  (Hallelujah!)  So.......I'm getting focused on November 8th and developing a plan for how to reach potential voters.  I live in a GREAT school district and would love to be part of the team that continues moving forward.  I want to help our teachers' voices be heard a little louder (figuratively, not literally), I want to encourage more parents to step forward and speak their minds when they have an issue, and I want to make sure our students know that school is about THEM. 

I will have another blog up and running very shortly as a support to my campaign literature.  I will provide the link when that is ready to go, so you can all check in there and see where I'm headed with this.  In the meantime, I hope you all smile!  An SPD Mom is running for office!!!  WAHOO!!!  :)

Its a "head-scratcher".......

The school called and left a message on our answering machine today.  Apparently, Jennica burned her finger at school today.  On.  A.  Light.  Bulb.  ????????

Now........we've had some reactions here at home to this that strike me as somewhat odd, even though I am admittedly involved in these decisions. 

First, we laughed.  I mean seriously????  A light bulb???  We know our school district very well and if this was a serious injury, I have 100% trust that they would not have simply left a message on our answering machine.  I want to make that very clear, as I know not all parents are as fortunate in being able to trust the decision making skills of their school staff.  So......since it was obviously not serious, we felt free to laugh.  And did.  Let's face it.........burning your finger on a light bulb ranks right up there with sticking rocks in your ears.  Which we have been to the ER not once, but TWICE for removal with this child. 

Second, without even "arranging" to not mention it to Jen, we didn't mention it to Jen.  Neither of us.  We have reached a state with this child that unless she is crying or bleeding.......don't bring it up!  If it is serious enough, she'll let us know!!!! 

Now.........these are both odd reactions to me.  I feel like a TV evangelist is somewhere saying that I have seen so many car wrecks that I am now numb to them.  Only in this case, I have seen too many "Jen-wrecks" that unless we need to dial 9-1-1, I can laugh and move on.  I'm oddly humored and concerned at the same time with my reactions!!!!

Ahhh..........but it is what it is.  I shall ponder this.  And chuckle.  A light bulb???  Sheesh.

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round...

Yes........I've been blogger-absent for a few months.  Okay.....more than a few.  It wasn't intended to be that way in the beginning, but after a little while, it DID become an intentional break.  And a good one. You see.....I've been on journey of inner reflection.

Last fall, right after my last blog post, I attended the SPD Symposium in Seattle.  While I didn't necessarily have an epiphany while there, I had some "ah-ha" moments.  Those moments started me down a path to asking who I am, and more importantly, what am I becoming?  Where do I want myself to be in 10 or 20 or 50 years?  Not career-wise, or financially.......but as an individual.

Through my daughter's SPD, I have become much more attuned to the inner being of all humans, and more importantly, to the inner workings of myself.  No........I haven't become a new-age nut.  But I'm more aware, through her, of how the outside world is capable of driving our emotions and reactions, and how we all need to be able to break that chain when the outside world is a negative force. 

So.....bottom line........I'm back.  For the most part, this is a news-y blog about my family and will continue to be.  But I'm growing up.  (About time, eh?)  I hope you also see a new maturity, a renewed sense of humor, and a Mom more at peace with the chaos that is my life at this stage.  Life is going to continue with or without me.  So I might as well ride the bus with a smile, right?

Welcome back, blog-readers.  :)