If You're Not Sure of Someone's Name, Keep Your Mouth Shut

So I take a class at the gym on Wednesday nights. It just so happens that Alan works with 2 ladies who also take the same class. He set up a get together with one of them and her family for the weekend. Now I don't get to actually talk to these ladies very much but I knew who they were. So I decided to try and speak to them after class. One of them didn't show up for class. I thought it was the one we were supposed to be going out with so I yelled out in the middle of class, "Where's [name redacted]?" And do you know the girl who did show up raised her hand in response to my question? That's right, I had them mixed up this whole time. I thought I blew it off pretty well but she told Alan at work this morning that she knew I had them mixed up. Oh geez, did I feel like a moron. So in the future, I will not yell out someone's name in a public place unless I am 1000% sure I know it's them.

Lesson Learned: If you're going to yell out a name in public, you'd better make sure you know whose name it is.

Same Parents...Same Routines...Different Kids

So I already "knew" this one in my head...but it never ceases to amaze me when I am reminded of just how different my little preciouses are. Sam...just like me...a rule follower...shy in front of people...quiet...responsible. He has honestly been the easiest kid in the world to parent. He requires simple, gentle discipline; a "talking to" is all it takes and he will ponder over the situation himself and come up with solutions on his own. Sophie on the other hand is just like her daddy. She's enthusiastic, passionate, stubborn, loud...the life of the party. Discipline is not so easy with her. You must be a little more insistent and we use the phrase "pick your battles" a lot in respect to Sophie. All she needs to be happy is a stage. She creates "stages" at home all the time...out of boxes, books, beds, whatever she can stand on to sing and dance for us. So as I sat and watched her preschool spring program yesterday, I couldn't help but smile. She was in her element. She had her stage and a whole crowd of people watching her. She probably only sang about 2 words and spent the rest of the time jumping up and down, putting her tissue box instrument on her head, laughing, and entertaining the crowd. I had to laugh.
I love them both with all of my heart and appreciate their differences. It makes life interesting living with 2 children who are so different.

Lesson learned (again): Enjoy the differences in the people around you.

Queen of Kindergarten

On St. Patrick's Day, I decided to wear a crown at school. Although it was meant to be a St. Paddy's Day accessory, I chose to name myself the "Queen of Kindergarten" for the day. I wore it proudly and highly recommend crowning yourself for a
day. (<-- FREE lesson!)


Back to my original lesson...I kept forgetting to stop by the pharmacy and pick up my "happy pills". After 2 days of not having them, I called mom and asked her if she could bring them by school for me. She sweetly agreed and called at 9:00am to tell me she was almost to the parking lot at school. I ran out to meet her and didn't even think about my crown until I noticed the surprised look on her face. As her eyes glanced up toward my head, I had an instant realization that Mom was probably wishing she had gotten the meds to me a day earlier. Even though I was enjoying my role as Queen for the day, I think it caught others a little off guard. Too bad for me, St. Patrick's day is over...maybe I will just wear it again soon anyway.

Lesson learned...Don't wear a crown to meet someone who's bringing you medication.

Don't Eat Your Math Lesson...

I eat a mid-morning snack every day. It's usually some fruit or yogurt or on those lucky days I can find something really good, it's cake,cookies,etc. Since I'm trying to keep up with my coupon queen sister, I bought some apples because Ingles had a good sale on them. So Monday morning, I was working on some things during my morning break and decided to go ahead and have my snack. So I washed up my apple and enjoyed every crunchy, juicy bite of it. I must admit, it was one of the best tasting apples I've had lately. At the end of my break, I picked up my students and paraded them back into the classroom, got them seated quietly, prepared to deliver a beautiful math lesson, and then remembered that I needed that apple I ate for the math lesson. Ugh. Thank goodness for the precious teacher next door...she loaned me an apple under the agreement I would not eat it. Which I wouldn't have any way because it had a nasty bruise on the side of it. Eeeew.

Lesson learned...do not consume things you need to complete your work related duties.

If You're Going Shopping with Your Sisters...

Take your debit card. Otherwise, you end up having to beg your little sister to pay for the things you want to buy (or eat). Then you feel goofy and you have to write a check to pay her back.

Lesson Learned: Tell your husband to get some cash for his day trip and YOU keep the debit card.

If You Want to Win Mother of the Year...

you should not forget the following pertinent items:

1.It's picture day at your 7 yr. old's elementary school (this is especially true if you work at your 7 yr. old's elementary school). If you do happen to forget this, I would recommend having a friend or relative break into your home and bring another outfit for your child. This would be easier than dealing with the crying fit your child is sure to have due to their extreme embarrassment.

2.Do not send a liquidy food for your 7 yr old's lunch unless you plan to make personal arrangements with the teacher for a place to put the lunchbox containing said food. Otherwise, your child is likely to "freak out" because the lunchbox will surely not stand upright in the bottom of their cubby. And don't even suggest that your child talk to the teacher about a more appropriate place to put the lunchbox. This is highly unacceptable.

If, however, you already acknowledge that you will not be the mother of the year, don't worry about it. In my case, I already knew this fact, but for some bizarre reason, I still tried to console him about the fact that he was wearing a "regular" outfit on picture day. I stopped trying when I saw how adorable his best buddy looked in his khaki pants and sweater vest. I did manage to explain the spaghettios situation to his very understanding teacher and she was more than happy to accommodate his lunchbox needs for the day.

If Rain is in the Forecast, put an Umbrella in the Car

Without my knowledge, someone removed my umbrella from my car. I knew that the forecast for today predicted rain this afternoon. In fact, I wore my adorable navy with white polka dots rain jacket. Unfortunately, it does not have a hood. It began raining around 2:00 so I walked the "long way" to leave school so I would stay under a covered walkway until I reached my car. I had a 4:00 appointment at Converse College so I drove straight there when I left work. The parking lot was packed and I circled the lot for about 10 minutes before I hit the jackpot and scored a space three buildings away from the building I was headed to. Yep, I had to walk in the rain to meet with the director of graduate studies. And not one soul offered to share their umbrella with me! Can you believe that? I worked hard to get this hair volumized enough for my afternoon meeting. Trust me, the rain sabotaged my efforts. Lesson learned...check the car for an umbrella before you leave the house.

Welcome to my life lessons...

It seems that just about every day, I learn something new (or am humorously reminded of something I really already knew). These lessons are not always monumental and mostly just come from ordinary events. But maybe you can benefit from my mishaps and discoveries--at least, maybe you can laugh at them! Enjoy the lessons I learn in my life...