Pertussis

OK.  So there is a mini epidemic of whooping cough on base.  I have 4 of my kids on house arrest (quarantined) for the next 5 days, because they have been exposed to someone(s) who has been diagnosed with whooping cough.  Mine are healthy, and on prophylactic antibiotics, just in case.  My lucky husband gets to spend the weekend in NY, for Fleet Week.  I am not quarantined - maybe I will just join him!!!!

Working without a net....

This parenting thing is hard!!!!!!!!!!  My daughter is in her mid teens.  She is fairly typical, has had her share of ups and downs.  Teen-aged angst type stuff, mostly.  When my husband was in Iraq, she became friends with a girl from school, who was troubled.  As in, "kicked-out-of-base-housing" type trouble.  I first heard about this girl from a phone call to our home from an NCIS agent who had questions to ask my daughter regarding charges this girl was bringing against a former boyfriend.  My daughter was being a friend - trying to help this girl.  They continued their friendship, and this girl spent a few nights at our house.  She was friendly and polite enough, but not someone I'd have chosen for Katie to grow close to.  She seemed "fast" (I sound like my mother, ack!) Parental supervision/involvement seemed to be sorely lacking in their house, and, against my better judgement, I allowed my daughter to spend a few nights at their house.  She always came back reeking of smoke (both parents smoke), and her grades started to slide.  I didn't have concrete evidence to back up my instincts until I found a note this girl had written to my daughter, all about their drinking and partying, and plans to get drunk on Homecoming night, so that this girl could "lose her virginity again".  Needless to say, my daughter was not allowed to spend the night over there again.  I felt justified in cutting all ties between the girls. 

This year, my daughter has made quite a few really good quality, wholesome friends.  She started attending CYO and bible study, and acting more interested in her faith.  Her attitude around the house has improved immensely, and I have been very proud of the young lady she is becoming.  Unfortunately, the girls she has been hanging around with this year, the girls I really like, are all moving this summer!  AND........yesterday she got a call from the other girl from last year, inviting her to lunch to celebrate this girl's birthday.  Again, against my better judgement, I let her go.  They ended up back at this girl's house, and my daughter called and asked if she could stay there for awhile.  I said that she needed to come right home, and she did, without an argument.  Now, though, she is telling me that she wants to use her new found wisdom and faith to help this girl and her sister (who is 17, and the mother of a 3 year old).  I love her intentions.  I admire her desire to bring these girls to an understanding and relationship with God.  But it scares the heck outta me!  Alarm bells are going off all over.  What if my daughter backslides?!  What if she gets into some kind of trouble with these girls?!  What if they convince her that their lifestyle is more fun than the one she has recently started living?! 

She argues that it is all a matter of trust, and that if I trusted her it would all be fine.  It isn't her I don't trust, and every time I don't trust my instincts, I wish I had.  This will be an interesting conversation with my husband. He will be back at the end of next week, and I am anxious to see what he has to say.  I wish there was a manual, kind of like my favorite "How to Fix Just About Anything" book.  The lady who is currently running the CYO program at church is leaving.  After discussing this with my husband, we agreed to take it on, along with another good friend of mine.  It is so important to be involved in your kids' lives - especially through the teen years - and so hard to do when the younger ones demand so much of our time and energy.  But, it will be a valuable and rewarding experience for all of us, I hope.

Relationships

There is so much that is wonderful to sit back and observe.  This weekend, I was struck (stricken?) by how many truly good, truly happy, truly blessed people that I have the good fortune to know.  Which isn't to say that these people have lived trouble-free, easy lives.  They haven't.  Some have been through trials that would make another person bitter, or resentful, or, at least, cautious to open their lives and their hearts to others.  Some have endured more pain (physical, or emotional, or both), than most people will ever know.  The way they've chosen to live their lives is inspiring.  These are beautiful people!  They are the first to help and the last to complain.  I love that, and I am lucky to know them. 

Change of Command

What a beautiful day for Tim's change of command!  And now the ride begins.  It was great to see so many of our friends and family - especially those who traveled from a great distance to be there for Tim.  It is both strange and wonderful sometimes to stand back and watch the pieces of our lives fall into place.  This is what Tim wanted as his ultimate career goal - to command a battalion of Marines as a Lt Col.  I am incredibly proud of and happy for him that he is living his dream. 

Our Neighbors to the North...

We had a great surprise last week.  Our former next door neighbors, from when we lived her 5 years ago, were in town for a visit.  They are from NORWAY!!  I can say, without a doubt, that I never expected to see them again, after we moved away!  They came for dinner on Friday night, and it was wonderful to see them again.  Their three boys were cute when we knew them before, but they are all teenagers now, and any one of them can marry any one of my daughters!  Nice, boys, polite, well mannered, and handsome!!! 

It is what it is.......

I get crazy when people think that there is an ulterior motive for everyone else's actions.  When I can't say something that someone else will read the wrong way, or try to interpret to feed their own insecurities.  I find myself apologizing for not being more sensitive to the fact that someone else might think there is more to what I am saying than the simple facts.  I like to think I am an honest person.  I have a very hard time with people who lie - no matter what they are lying about.  We don't lie about our kids' ages to get discounts at amusement parks.  I try to stress to my kids how important it is to be truthful, even when it is difficult or costly.  And I try to be a good example for them in this regard.  Which is why I have a hard time understanding why my words or actions are questioned.  IT IS WHAT IT IS!!

On the other hand, I can't help but feel sorry for the people who live their lives looking over their shoulders, anticipating a knife in the back.  I suppose I am lucky and blessed to not be jaded.  To have had a great childhood - wonderful, loving parents who stayed married, and a husband who is faithful, and who I love more with each passing year.  I'd like to think that I would be happy and hopeful, even if that weren't the case.  But, I guess I will never know.  Nor do I want to find out!

Homework!

I was telling Tim tonight how nice it is when he is home to help with homework.  Jack is multiplying and dividing decimals.  He just finished a book project yesterday.  And he has an E square project due in May.  I have read Katie's and Molly's E squares in the past, and am befuddled by the whole process.  Katie is doing an "I-Search" project on Florence Nightingale.  Timmy is doing a project on Iowa - shoe box-type thing, and written report.  Megan is doing a character doll project from a fairy tale (she has, in second grade, by far, the most projects this year).  Colleen is in a school play at the end of the month, about community workers.  Fortunately, I don't have to make a costume, since she is a "damsel in distress" being rescued from a burning building, and therefore, has to wear only her Sunday best.  Molly is in a middle school play in May, but I haven't been hit up for costumes or accessories so far (phew...).  And, Shane's homework, due the day after tomorrow, is to make a lion out of a toilet paper tube and assorted craft items from around the house.  His picture is to be the face of the lion.  Fortunately, I have a plethora of assorted craft items, and we made the body out of a paint roll (fluffy!) painted brown, with clothes pins for leg, and twine for a tail.  Not sure what we will use for the mane, yet.  Holy Cow. 

I am thinking that if I were brave enough to home school this crowd, we would all be studying the SAME thing.  For instance, we could do, say, Africa.  Katie could do the I-search on the continent, Molly could do some kind of project involving African music or culture.  Jack could research the agriculture, Timmy could do a diorama, illustrating some African customs, Megan could make a traditional doll, Colleen could learn a dance or a chant, or something, and Shane could still make his lion out of assorted craft materials around the house!  Hmmmnnnn....................