It's Sunday night and the night before the first official day of summer!
Although I used an exclamation point after that first sentence I am anything but excited. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my children but I DREAD the summer and the statement that has already surfaced at least three times this weekend. "I'm bored. There is nothing to do!" (Or in Alex's case a bored look, a sigh and a twirling his thumbs motion.)
I also dread lunch. It's like you just get breakfast over with and then it's time for lunch, by the time that's cleaned up, it's time to start dinner. I just cook and clean up all day long. Not to mention my creativity for exciting lunch menu ideas is sandwiches or soup. Blah! I was so excited to hear that free lunch is happening again at the park. I told my kids they're on their own for lunch. They can make something at home-and clean it up themselves-or go to the park and take their chances that they'll like free lunch.
So, tomorrow Kambree leaves for OYA (like EFY but outdoors) if she gets packed. (I've been asking her to pack all weekend and it's close to ten pm and I don't think she's ready yet.) The rest of us are heading to Lagoon after Alex's first reading tutor session. We're also having "mom" school for 45 minutes before reading-which is something I use to do when my oldest were much younger. I'm just going to review spelling and math with Rylee and Alex but I'm requiring ALL my children to take the spelling test on Monday. If the older one's pass, then they're off the hook for the week, if not, they get to study too. (This stems from the experience I had with Austin last week while he was filling out a job application and needing my assistance to spell some very basic words!) Am I mean or what?
Kambree is going to nanny for Kammy three days a week, Austin (who is also hoping to get his learners permit tomorrow-scary I know!) has applied for a job at a bakery-hopefully he'll get it. That will relieve us of big kids a few days a week. Alex has reading tutor twice a week in June and his English tutor twice a week through the summer and both he and Rylee are signed up for swimming lessons. Devree has Oakcrest this month and she and Kambree have girls camp in August. Austin has scout camp in July and he and Kambree have Youth Conference. Alex also has a two day scout camp this month. And what fun and excitement do James and I have on our docket?? Nothing. Well, shuffling kids around from one activity to another. Whoopee.
Oh, wait I do have rehearsals starting this week.
I had an incident with Alex last night involving obedience, it might sound very stupid but it was over how many graham crackers he could have and although he agreed and said "okay mama" to the three crackers I allotted him, he ate the whole package. I sent him to bed for disobeying and he went without a fuss. I let him lay there for awhile and then thinking he'd be crying and pouting I went in to explain my position and he was not crying. Pouting a bit but not crying. I explained that I need to be able to trust him and he knew he was to only have three and he willing disobeyed. He told me "You talk, me bed." Which I translated as "I know you told me to go to bed and I did." He was taking his punishment like a man. I let him stay in bed for about 30 minutes and then asked if he'd like to get up and watch the movie we had rented for him and Rylee and he said yes. This morning James asked if he knows the word "trust" or "obey" or "believe" and he nodded negative to all three. So just how much does he understand? It seems like he's really getting it when I talk to him, he nods at the right time, he looks me in the eye and I feel like we're communicating and then later I start doubting it. Moral words are so hard to explain, it's one thing to point to an object and give it an English word or pantomime an action and tell the English word but how do you convey words like faith, trust, honesty? I decided to pick just five moral/ethical words a week and print the English word and the Ukraine translation. This weeks words are trust, believe, faith, honesty and obey. Poor little guy, he has so much to learn.
Last night he got a telephone call from some giggly girls in his class. They're friends of Rylee's but they wanted to talk to Alex because they "think he's so cute". This was right during his time out in bed and I told Rylee he couldn't talk. Five minutes later they called back and I took the phone and explained that Alex cannot understand them on the phone and that I don't believe in boys and girls talking on the phone at this young age. (Eww...I sounded so old and cranky!) I told Alex some girls had called for him and he just shrugged with this "Oh, well."look. He didn't even seem to recognized the girls names that called. I have a feeling we will have more giggling, blushing girls hanging out and calling for our cute boy.
So here's to summer lunches, spelling test and giggling girls calling for Alex!
Although I used an exclamation point after that first sentence I am anything but excited. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my children but I DREAD the summer and the statement that has already surfaced at least three times this weekend. "I'm bored. There is nothing to do!" (Or in Alex's case a bored look, a sigh and a twirling his thumbs motion.)
I also dread lunch. It's like you just get breakfast over with and then it's time for lunch, by the time that's cleaned up, it's time to start dinner. I just cook and clean up all day long. Not to mention my creativity for exciting lunch menu ideas is sandwiches or soup. Blah! I was so excited to hear that free lunch is happening again at the park. I told my kids they're on their own for lunch. They can make something at home-and clean it up themselves-or go to the park and take their chances that they'll like free lunch.
So, tomorrow Kambree leaves for OYA (like EFY but outdoors) if she gets packed. (I've been asking her to pack all weekend and it's close to ten pm and I don't think she's ready yet.) The rest of us are heading to Lagoon after Alex's first reading tutor session. We're also having "mom" school for 45 minutes before reading-which is something I use to do when my oldest were much younger. I'm just going to review spelling and math with Rylee and Alex but I'm requiring ALL my children to take the spelling test on Monday. If the older one's pass, then they're off the hook for the week, if not, they get to study too. (This stems from the experience I had with Austin last week while he was filling out a job application and needing my assistance to spell some very basic words!) Am I mean or what?
Kambree is going to nanny for Kammy three days a week, Austin (who is also hoping to get his learners permit tomorrow-scary I know!) has applied for a job at a bakery-hopefully he'll get it. That will relieve us of big kids a few days a week. Alex has reading tutor twice a week in June and his English tutor twice a week through the summer and both he and Rylee are signed up for swimming lessons. Devree has Oakcrest this month and she and Kambree have girls camp in August. Austin has scout camp in July and he and Kambree have Youth Conference. Alex also has a two day scout camp this month. And what fun and excitement do James and I have on our docket?? Nothing. Well, shuffling kids around from one activity to another. Whoopee.
Oh, wait I do have rehearsals starting this week.
I had an incident with Alex last night involving obedience, it might sound very stupid but it was over how many graham crackers he could have and although he agreed and said "okay mama" to the three crackers I allotted him, he ate the whole package. I sent him to bed for disobeying and he went without a fuss. I let him lay there for awhile and then thinking he'd be crying and pouting I went in to explain my position and he was not crying. Pouting a bit but not crying. I explained that I need to be able to trust him and he knew he was to only have three and he willing disobeyed. He told me "You talk, me bed." Which I translated as "I know you told me to go to bed and I did." He was taking his punishment like a man. I let him stay in bed for about 30 minutes and then asked if he'd like to get up and watch the movie we had rented for him and Rylee and he said yes. This morning James asked if he knows the word "trust" or "obey" or "believe" and he nodded negative to all three. So just how much does he understand? It seems like he's really getting it when I talk to him, he nods at the right time, he looks me in the eye and I feel like we're communicating and then later I start doubting it. Moral words are so hard to explain, it's one thing to point to an object and give it an English word or pantomime an action and tell the English word but how do you convey words like faith, trust, honesty? I decided to pick just five moral/ethical words a week and print the English word and the Ukraine translation. This weeks words are trust, believe, faith, honesty and obey. Poor little guy, he has so much to learn.
Last night he got a telephone call from some giggly girls in his class. They're friends of Rylee's but they wanted to talk to Alex because they "think he's so cute". This was right during his time out in bed and I told Rylee he couldn't talk. Five minutes later they called back and I took the phone and explained that Alex cannot understand them on the phone and that I don't believe in boys and girls talking on the phone at this young age. (Eww...I sounded so old and cranky!) I told Alex some girls had called for him and he just shrugged with this "Oh, well."look. He didn't even seem to recognized the girls names that called. I have a feeling we will have more giggling, blushing girls hanging out and calling for our cute boy.
So here's to summer lunches, spelling test and giggling girls calling for Alex!
5 of my blog friends said something...:
Oh, you're not mean. Some girls are soooo forward. One kept calling Gage when he was about thirteen, and I took the phone and asked to speak with her mother! I'm going to be calling you for advice a LOT in a couple months!
Too funny! He's 10-11?! Why are they calling already? Yet, I have a feeling Masha will want to call Alex frequently once we get her here. Maybe even Nastia, just so she has someone to speak Russian to. We'll see. I promise, it won't be a blushing, I think you're so cute call!
I'm not ready for summer either. Can I send my kids to your school?
We were all young once. With youth came the first crush, and our friends daring us to call that boy. If you think about it most of us have been there and we survived tween and teen years. Yes, it may be a bit forward, but it is also part of being young with a crush. For Alex it is nice the girls are willing to take notice, they will probably be the ones to help him adjust socially. Good Luck to you Mom, it will be a challenge.
No, Definately not mean.. It's good you are teaching your children and that they will be keeping themselves busy this summer. Keep up the good work! your a wonderful mother.
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