In a little box labeled....

Something is not right with this week. It's sort of a personal disaster kind of week. Several people I know have been/will be going to funerals. Poor Jenn's lab passed away, too. And Baby Jeremiah, only a few days old, has some sort of infection, and has been re-hospitalized.

Cross your fingers!

And put me in a little box labeled "So Lucky."

Speaking of disasters, though, I am about to complain about my husband. He gives Grant oatmeal for breakfast, cereal with milk for Abbie, and then walks off. So, I came back from walking the dog to find Abbie with milk in her hair and Grant's mostly empty bowl turning into cement. And last night he spilled lemonade on the floor, and now it's sticky. Kind of like Abbie. Now for the punchline. 10 to 1 if I were to mention any of this, his response would be, "I was trying to help!" Therefore, the new definition of help is to make 3 times more work for me, and then leave.

I had nightmares last night. And today I have a horrible headache. So, the thought of going to the grocery store is making me less than cheerful.

Just put me in a little box labeled "Ow".

Did I tell you that Ms. Penny asked if I was going to homeschool my children? I said no, and probably wouldn't have thought too much about it, but the subject keeps coming up. In the beginner taiko class, one of the beginners mentioned being a homeschooling mom, and another young lady commented loudly to her boyfriend that she also was in favor of such practices. (It wasn't a stage whisper so much as a stage yell.) And Natalie, it seems, was homeschooled. And then I got asked again yesterday. Can't remember if it was my mother-in-law or Deanna.

Hmm. Well, everyone knows that I am not impressed by this country's educational system. And everyone knows that I am staying home with my kids right now. So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I get that question occasionally. But I'm not good enough to teach them anything, really. Besides, our family needs me to get a job. Sadly, I am the only superhero we have any reason to expect. After having surgically removed myself from my own life, pursuits, and interests for what will end up being 7 years in exchange for witnessing my children's babyhood and knowing that they are the victims of my mistakes, as opposed to those of a stranger, my reward is that I get to put Josh through school (and pay off the debts he forgot to tell me he was accumulating). Fun.

What would be my ideal choice for my kids' education? I think, if I were financially independent, I would probably try to put them into a private school. Then, they would really be taught how to learn, and how to study. Possibly, I would re-enter them in public high school and maybe a junior college at the same time. The point is, their jobs would be to be students. Which is a job. Not a non-job. Not a free ride. Not a time with all freedoms and no responsibilities. I want them to come out of all of it having actually learned something. Knowledge is power, etc. In addition to all of this, I would probably have several lists of books for them to read at home. Aloud, sometimes. And I would make sure they learned to write letters, and in nice, neat handwriting. My parents tried to get me to do that, but my handwriting is nothing short of scandalous. Well, until you see Josh's. Then mine suddenly becomes consistent and legible.

Poor Josh. I don't mean to be so cranky about him. He's had a rough month, too. But it was as he chose, not me. I even gave my own little page of demands, none of which have yet been addressed, so occasionally I get a little bitter. And I promise I'm being very nice to him.

Maybe the country will magically get its head on straight before my kids start school. But I doubt it.

As for the family update, Abbie is wearing a pink dress, and has agreed to use the potty chair "next time" (don't hold your breath). Currently, she is singing a song to my right arm. Grant is "reading" a book, and has requested the Harry Potter movie. A safe guess at his mood would be "Hungry". It's pretty much a constant. Josh is at work, of course, and has class tonight. He is very unhappy that he got a C on his calculus test, and that he can't remember any trigonometry. I pretty much never see him except when he is doing homework, or when he randomly runs off to do something like go to picnics or pirate festivals. But no home time, and no conversation. This makes me pretty much hate my life. That, and I never cook real dinners, so I never know what to buy when I'm shopping. Brother will be coming to MO on October the 18th. I'll be missing a taiko performance to get him from the airport. We always carve pumpkins when he comes in October. He's really good at it. My mom is actually taking her mom to Brother's house between now and his arrival. "Didn't she just come back from a long car trip?" Why, yes - she did. Obviously, I'm the appropriate one to be driving my grandmother places, but when I offered....they both declined.

Josh told me I should buy a lottery ticket today. ...Maybe I will.

You can put me in a little box labeled "In Your Dreams, Kid".

Yes. In the good dreams.

Off I go to find a little box labeled Ibuprofen.