SOL2020 #22

Ehh…Ehh..                            See,

Read this book!                   The cards fly at 20 mph!

Why?                                     Watch this…

There’s a one-year old on my left, wanting me to read her a book.  Wanting my attention.

There’s a husband to my right, wanting me to watch a video of a Lego card thing that shoots playing cards at 20 mph.  Wanting my attention

Somehow.  A classroom full of twenty-five plus sixth graders (wanting my attention) seems more manageable right now…

DTM

“You do too much,” my husband tells me as we drive around, spending much needed time out of the house, while still social distancing. He knows I’m told this regularly by my sixth graders and apparently I’m bothering him now.

“No one has said that to me for over a week,” I respond.

“Does it makes you feel better?” he jokes.

“Actually…yeah..it does.” I can’t wait to be told I “do too much” again… I miss them!

Strawberries 🍓

Pancakes cooking in the pan. Lorelai sitting her high chair. Me hoping that Lorelai will stay happy in the high chair until the pancakes finish cooking.

“Do you want a piece of strawberry?” I ask my daughter as I open the fridge to grab one.

The strawberry was gone within seconds and then… “Ehh! Ehh!” she demands pointing to the fridge.

“Another strawberry? What do you say?”

And she smacks her hands together. Signaling please.

As soon as she sees me coming with the red berry, her eyes light up. A smile appears so wide I can see those new molars popping out of her gums.

This same exchange happens several more times before the pancakes are done. Each time the same light in her eyes, the same smile.

Pancakes done cooking in the pan. Lorelai smiling in her high chair. Me grateful for this time with my princess.

Before and After?

“I had to put my card in myself,” my husband puzzles aloud. He’s not a Starbucks regular and often I make him use the app on my phone to pay. Today he used his card.

“They always make you do that. Even before,” I respond.

“Oh.”

I don’t have to explain before what. He knows. And I have to wonder, is this how life will be referred to now? Before and after?

SOL2020 #16

I walked in and turned the corner to see her little face pressed up against the grey mesh gate. Each time I return home, I can count on this. “Hi!” she said and then walked away, back to what she was doing.

I looked around and everything was as I had left it. Phew! It was the first time I left my teenage son home alone with his one year old sister. It was less than an hour,required no diaper changes, and he’s more than capable. But still. I started babysitting before his age. But still. Phew!

“She made me read all the books,” he said, obviously less than thrilled.

I smiled, “Everything was fine then?” The anxiety I had been feeling since I left slowly draining.

“Yeah,” he replied. “But she wouldn’t take a nap with me. I kept trying.”

“Well, I’m home now. You can take nap.” And within a few minutes, he was asleep on the couch.

I guess I don’t need to worry so much next time.

“You broke the law!”

“Mrs. Bless! You broke the law!”

“What?” I asked. Confused, but cautious. Cranky middle schoolers like to claim that holding them past the bell is breaking the law…this could be anything.

“You broke the law!”

Eyebrows raised, I just looked at her. Waiting.

“How could you get Dunkin Donuts instead of Starbucks?! You broke the law!” she said exasperated. She obviously didn’t understand why I was confused. How could I have not known what she was talking about?

Looking back, I guess I should have known. Kids notice everything. Kids don’t adjust to change well, even in middle school. And…this particular kid begs me to bring her Starbucks regularly. Sorry for breaking the law, M!