parenting

I've always thought it funny that you have to take a test to drive a car but not to be a parent.

Lately, I feel like I have come up short on parenting skills and if I took a test, I would achieve a high D or very low C.

I feel this huge weight on me and I can't seem to lift it. A few days ago, I noticed Hannah had her stuffed animal, Marley. Marley has been on the shelf a few years and I noticed Marley has been by her side every day since I first noticed it. A huge sign to this parent, she needs her childhood friend for a feeling of security.

School for both of my brilliant children (they are both far more intelligent than me) has been a source of friction the last few months.

School for both kids is online and two days a week in the classroom for my social kids...it's a very quiet environment much like an actual college environment but not conducive to making friends. Both would like to go to the high school next to our subdivision but....there is a 5 parent note limit and hockey would exceed this in two tournaments...and we get home so late from Nashville, Matthew can sleep in with his current school. He is a sound sleeper so getting him up at any time is a challenge, the earlier tho more difficult.

Hockey is another area I can't find an answer. Do I move Matthew to another team or do we stay where we are. We are blessed, we have options, both teams want him but I don't have peace about either team.

If I move him, I don't have to drive to Nashville. However, he would have to practice with the local U18 team...which a U18 mom probably wouldn't like at all and would the Team's Coach actually coach him or focus on his team? Who would blame him?

Neither of these situations are life and death and I know other parents are dealing with much more serious issues with their children but I feel this huge weight on me...like actual weight...and I can't figure out what to do and both situations need a decision...Soon. Hockey, tomorrow and school next week.

I keep waiting for a sign from God. My prayers for wisdom and discernment are leaving me with no gift of either...so I pray and hope no one gives me a report card on my parenting. I always had good grades in school and this feeling of failure is a heavy burden I can't shake.

Southernisms

Chicken Salad Chick is a total chick food place that serves...chicken salad. I adore this place. I found these framed southern sayings while washing my hands...I forgot I meant to put them on my blog until today when I finally sat down to delete some photos off the computer...I have a lot photo chores to do...like actually print some pictures from the past two years and delete photos and make photo books...oh yeah...here are the pictures...before I delete them...

Today

Thoughts of posts, amusing, memorable, swirl in my head as I am driving (and I do a LOT of driving). However, when I sit down at the desktop and think "I should post something and share when Hannah ____ or Matthew _____, I draw a complete blank. I remember thinking something funny, but what the heck was it?

And here I am at the computer, checking Facebook because I refuse to install the Messenger app to my phone since I don't want it having access to my texts and contacts. I already feel violated by them and their ads using my posts and messages for targeted ads, why give them more access?  Where was I going with this? Oh yes, I thought I would post something to let my family know what we are up to and I have already forgotten the witty and amusing posts I came up with while driving to the Ice Rink so the kids could help teach hockey at Learn to Play.

There is one conversation that I do remember...I told Hannah I could no longer multi-task now that I am 50++ and I am lucky I remember to breathe...I got a lecture from my Science Girl about how remembering to breathe would be impossible since it is an involuntary something or other...and on and on about how breathing works...my mind kind of went somewhere else during my science lecture, did I mention I am old and my mind is prone to wander? 

April Update

I forgot to mention the happenings around the house in my previous post...here goes:

Matthew had hockey weekends in Atlanta and Chicago, along with Hockey Camp in Nashville on Tuesday and Thursday nights.. He is in Chattanooga today for Lacrosse and Nashville later today for hockey. Lauren applied and interviewed for a job in Chicago, she will hear back next week on whether she will be moving. Hannah is focusing on school (I hope) and untangling her love life. I am praying she will put romance on hold for a year or two and focus on school.  I had surgery on my left knee, Greg goes on travel on Monday.

You know, when I look at this, I can't believe this is my life. I am a homebody. God definitely has a sense of humor and is stretching me in ways I have never imagined. I hope I survive this season of life with my sense of humor in tact and His light in my heart.

April

The month is drawing to a close and the lazy days of Summer are a breath away, so close...yet so much to be done.

The month has been busy with Matthew's hockey and my knee surgery. May looks just as busy...and so does June...but July...now there is a month with promise. Lazy days of iced tea and a good book on the back porch with the fan running...or knowing me and how much I hate humidity, inside on my cozy couch.

Parenting is taking a toll on me. I find I am lacking the wisdom, discernment and tech savvy ability to navigate my role in life as a parent of two teens. I praying God dumps a whole lot of wisdom on me soon. I fear I am about to age 50 years in the next 2 years.

Today, is a day I have been craving. No one is here and since my knee is healing from surgery, I am fairly limited on chores I can do.so I will be enjoying a cuppa and catching up on Masterpiece...a quiet day is a gift from heaven and a foretaste of the lazy days of Summer....well, July.

Happy Easter

He is risen! He is risen indeed! I love this weekend. Christ was resurrected and the earth is coming to life with the colors of Spring.

It has been a good weekend, we had an awesome Church Service on Friday night, served last night and today, we have nothing on our schedule. We are just hanging around the house having some family time. My favorite kind of day.  I completely forgot to take pictures of the kids in their Easter best last night and I know today they will be adorned in sweats or workout garb.

It has been busy around the house and looks to get even busier...I thought hockey season was over...but nope, it is just getting started.

My trip to Iowa last week for mom's surgery went well. She is healing nicely and didn't need any pain medication. Amazing. My brother has taken over her care and I am sure is getting extra points in heaven for this.

Hannah was great last week also,  when the doctors found out she is interested in medicine, they gave her a lot of useful tips and information.

My brother grilled some amazing food so Matthew was a wee bit jealous he missed out on the food. Otherwise, he was a happy camper with some hockey in Tulsa. (A practice for a tournament in Toronto in May. It's a team with kids from several states)

Hannah got some snow while we were in Iowa and she was so happy. I will insert some pictures later...I still need to upload. In the meantime, if you can't make it to church, you can watch here. http://live.churchofthehighlands.com/



It is amazing! Happy Easter!

Crazy

Life has turned into a blur. I can't remember what days things took place since I last posted for Valentine's Day but since then...I've been to Vegas and Toledo. Maybe I went to Vegas before...I really don't remember. I've been driving to Nashville for practice....there is a tournament in Nashville this weekend that I am really dreading...there is a tournament in Nashville next weekend...the following week Matthew is supposed to practice in Tulsa on March 24 for a Tournament he was invited to play with in Toronto, Ontario in May. Mom is having on March 22 so I am still working logistics for the Tulsa weekend.

Hannah finished her hockey season last night. Her team won the Championship. A nice way to end the season.