The difference in randomition

Today’s random post is different then the normal randomonium in that my regular random posts have no rhyme or reason to them. I just sit down and write whatever comes to mind. Today’s random post is due to several things on my mind that could probably fill 2 or 3 posts, but I’m too lazy to write that much. Either that or when I write more then one post a day, my comments suffer for it. *Yes, I’m a comment whore. I freely admit it. kthanksbye

First on today’s agenda: Bloggy Boot Camp – and my confession to being a social retard.

I blame my brother, my elementary school, the bullies who picked on me; pretty much anything to shift the blame off myself for my social awkwardness. Yes, I know I’m a grown up now, and the vices that held me down are gone, but those fears of rejection still hold me in their tight grips. All I wanted was to be accepted, have a group of friends to call my own, a posse. But that was hard when you had a brother 1 year older then you who spent his time terrorizing teachers, drinking behind the band room and smoking in the bathroom. His reputation for being horrid and weird passed on to me and I was too much of an introvert to do anything about it. They called me names, threw rocks at me and destroyed my property. I had one saving grace in elementary school and that was my friend Ginger. She didn’t care that I was unpopular and she didn’t let what the other kids say get to her. She was unpopular by association, but she still remained my friend.

I guess, I’ve let my past fears grow with me and my natural introvertedness (is that a word? MS Word says it’s not) has stayed with me. This is not a good combination when you’re thrown into a social setting of (mostly) perfect strangers. It’s not so bad when that social setting is online. I have my computer screen to hide behind. My thoughts come out exactly as I want them to. There’s no awkward silence when you’ve said something dumb (that happens a lot, just warning the BBC girls now); but face to face? Where people can hear my voice, see my face and my expressions?! They get to know the real me behind all the insanity that is this blog. I’m terrified.

But it’s time I put my big girl panties on; and if the BBC girls don’t like me or my weirdness, then that’s ok. I’m stepping out of my fear. I’m no longer going to let the past decide my future. God has me in the palm of his hand and He says ‘Fear Not’ 365 times.

***

Second on today’s agenda: Gary – and an official diagnosis

We’ve struggled the past couple years with Gary and school. This year has been especially hard, and I think each year will get progressively harder (I’m fairly certain that’s how school works, but I can’t be sure). Gary is a very disorganized kid. In second grade his teacher took everything out of his desk and made him use a bucket until he could keep the bucket organized. When his bucket got out of control, she moved his stuff to a shelf in the class room. All his school work remained on the shelf until the end of the school year. Organization is not his strong suit.

Neither is getting school work done. It’s not that he’s having difficulties learning. When you ask him a question about what was taught, he’ll not only give you the answer, but he’ll give you all the additional information that is not required to know. This kid is smart! But he’s not very good at putting it down on paper. He goes off into his own little world when he’s made to sit still and do paperwork. At the end of any given week, he’ll be sent home with 6-10 class room assignments that were due on Friday. But because he didn’t get them done, they are sent home to do over the weekend. Then I stand over him with “whip and chain” just to make sure he gets them done and even then I’ll go over them and there’ll be answers left blank.

These issues with school have led us to a child psychologist. He gave me a booklet with 300+ questions and a ‘bubble test’ for lack of a better word. The next session included playing games with Gary that had him following directions and demonstrate patience. The official diagnosis is ADHD. That is not what I wanted to hear, but it is what we suspected. He said it wasn’t so severe that he recommended medication, but he gave us some idea’s to use with him to help change some of the behavior issues we’re having. I think just having the diagnosis is a weight off my shoulders. We know what we’re dealing with and we can help him in a way that best suits him. There are many different options to look and pray through; but at the end of the day he’s still my sweet boy.

***

Last on my agenda: John – and the fact that he’s a monster.

He’s the cutest, wildest, funniest little monster in the whole wide world.

Monday is totally random. Like when you pick a name out of a hat... or something.

Everybody put your fine china away, bubble wrap your knick-knacks, and carefully hide all thinks breakable. The princess of Randomville has entered the room. I say princess, because Mrs. Nurse Boy started this whole random-mess, so she is the queen!

Let the randomonium commence…

***I wonder how many times I can use the word ‘random’ in a post.

***Startling little boys is the most fun thing ever.

***Rented convertible + top down + little boys in the back seat, putting their hands in the air pretending they’re on a rollercoaster is precious.

***While at our softball game Friday night, I actually hit the ball. It always surprises me when I hit the ball. Of course, being fat and slow, I was out before ever hitting first base. When I sat back down on the bleachers, John came over to me and asked what happened. I told him they got me out. He patted me on the back and said, “That’s ok mommy, you tried.” He spent the next 2-3 minutes comforting me.

***YAY for daylight savings time!! With the time change, most people are coming in an hour later, and I got a prime parking space in the first row! AZ doesn’t change their time, we just change our time zone.

***I was listening to the weather report late one night last week. The weather man said we would have Fall between 2 and 5pm the next day. Then it would be winter. How true that was.

**People who aren’t Native Arizonan’s don’t understand why native’s are freezing right now. 55° is cold people. That’s heavy jacket, sweater, scarf, hat, and gloves weather.

*I would not survive in the snow.

***I found a new shopping partner! I am as random in real life as I am in the blogging world. And this includes the way I shop for clothes. Well, apparently, so is my friend Molly. No one wants to shop with either of us because we are so indecisive, we hem, we haw, we try a million things on and put most of it back. Then we try on hats and laugh. Then wonder the store, checking out the cameras in electronics, find books the kids would like, and generally just have fun. Most people don’t like this kind of shopping. But it’s perfect for the 2 of us!

***Gary’s parent/teacher conference scared me this past week. Apparently, he’s been writing some very dark stuff lately. Like, the teacher’s were worried he was going to harm himself and they were going to report the writings to the principal. This worried me too, until my husband googled the words and discovered one of the papers were lyrics to a Jonas Brother’s song. Why would a band, who plays on the Disney Channel, be singing songs like this:

Tried to turn on the TV to get you out of my head
Tell me Why? Why? Why?
Does it hurt so bad
Tell me Why? Why? Why?
Does it make me mad

These are the lyrics Gary had written verbatim. Of course, a teacher who had never heard this song before would be worried. I was worried too until I figured out this was a song. I think I’m going to boycott the Disney Channel until they can clean up their act.

**The best part, however, was when Gary read Ephesians 4:23-30 on Sunday morning.

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[d] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

He said anytime he starts thinking violent thoughts, he would remember this scripture and let God renew his thoughts. I was so proud and so scared in the same moment. Why is my baby thinking violent thoughts? At the same time, realizing he’s so grown up that he’s aware they aren’t good and letting God take hold of him. I was very near tears on the way to Church.

***Remember – we are not of the law, but were saved by Grace through Jesus Christ. We did not earn it, nor do we deserve it. Remember that today when you just don’t feel like extending the same grace and forgiveness when someone hurts you.

The un-necessities of life

This is a rather short list of things that I find completely unnecessary, and if I could would banish them from my life.

Making the bed: What’s the point? Really. It’s just going to get messed up again when you go to bed. Me – I prefer to use the time I spend making the bed on more sleep. Thankfully, my husband does not push me on this issue.
Folding Towels: What’s wrong with stuffing freshly cleaned towels in the closet? They won’t dry a person any less. Sure, I can see folding them nicely to prevent wrinkles – if I was going to wear the towel in public. But since I’m not, what’s a few wrinkles in a towel? They’ll come out the first time it’s used anyway. Me – I prefer to use the time folding towels on more sleep. Unthankfully, my husband does not agree with me on this point.

Chuck E. Cheese / Peter Piper Pizza: Who ever thought up this sort of idea might have been neglected as a child and does not have children of their own. Oh, and might have been completely insane. I would much prefer to spend less money on good pizza and take it to the park where the kids can play. It would take much less time, and the time I saved I could use on sleep. I’m not really sure how my husband feels about this one, but since he’s usually the instigator of taking the kids to one of these places, I’m pretty sure he disagrees with me.

Analog clocks: Sure it helps a kindergartner with math, but so does… um… math problems. Digital clocks are available on practically every electronic piece of equipment imaginable – except maybe analog watches. Unless you’re Amish, in which case you wouldn’t be reading this blog. And I’m not sure what you’re take is on batteries, but I’m pretty sure analog clocks need batteries. *How do Amish people tell time?* Ahem Anyway, digital clocks are much faster to read then analog clocks. I could have slept in for another 5.3 seconds a day if I never tried telling time on an analog clock. I’m pretty sure my husband is thinking I’m insane now.

Putting stuff away: You know, like the hairbrush, toothbrush, face soap, contact lens case and saline. These are things I need everyday. It’s much like making the bed. I’m just going to get them out again the next morning, so why put them away? Sure, you might argue they need to be put away in case you have guests over and they need to use the bathroom. That’s why we have a guest bathroom. I would rather use the time I spend getting my stuff out on sleep. My husband does not agree with me on this one, but thankfully he’s used to my irrational way of thinking and doesn’t press the issue.

What kind of things do you find unnecessary?