Mom you're a HOR.. and other inspired tidbits

This afternoon

Jackson and I were playing HORSE (can you see where this is going?)

I got H

J: ha ha

I got HO

J: ha ha

Jack got H

J: (sarcastically) finally, ha ha

I got HOR

J: HOR HOR HOR. You're a HOR.

I thought it best to ignore this.

J: HOR HOR HOR. You're a HOR.

Me: okay Jackson you can't say that. Hor is a bad word.

J: what does it mean? (Of course he asks)

M: uh... um... it's a woman who doesn't have good morals. (phew ok that's not too bad)

J: What are morals? (shoot)

M: they are how you choose to live. What ethics you have (I'm clearly reaching here), the golden rule (reaching even further), treating people like you want to be treated. (yeah, yeah, that's it, that's what a HOR is)

J: (Long pause) But mom, you really are a HOR.

(great, just great - I'm glad he thinks so)


Tonight at dinner

Ted:dip dip dip
dip dip dip

Jack: why do you keep saying that?

T: what?

J: dip

T: No dip Sherlock

(I laughed out loud - okay that's a good choice for an 11 year old)

Camela

And sometimes they surprise you....

I got a call a little while ago from the middle school principal. Ut oh, I think, this can't be good. She starts off with "Teddy is fine and not in any kind of trouble"... okay that's a good thing. Then she tells me we had an incident today where another student said that Teddy had a knife.

My mind immediately flashes to the conversation at the dinner table last night - roughly 15 hours ago - where Teddy asked if he could have a pocket knife. Oh Teddy what have you done? I tried to remind myself that she said he wasn't in any trouble.

Okay I say to her. So when that happens, she continues, of course it's a big deal and I went down to him and he had to empty his pockets for me. I'm holding my breath waiting for the shoe to drop. There was nothing in there but some lint and a quarter, just what a boy should have. Okay, well that's good I say.

But I'm calling you because of how he handled himself and the situation. He was quick to defend the other student. He told me they are in after care together and have a bit of a history but that the other kid has some special needs and some times he makes things up but he doesnt' mean anything by it. He's not trying to get me in trouble or anything. He didn't really think it through that saying that would be such a big deal. At one point Teddy went over to Al (she never named him, but there's no doubt who it is) and said to him "I want you to listen to what I'm saying to Ms. Palson because I would never do that. You can't bring weapons to school and I don't want you to be scared." He told me, she continued, it's really not a big deal. He just can't help it and he says stuff sometimes. He thought maybe Al had seen the quarter in his pocket and maybe he even thought it was a knife since the quarter was shiny.

She said that Teddy was calm and collected the entire time doing his best to walk me through it as well as Al; wanting to make sure I understood that Al really didn't mean anything by it, he wasn't trying to be malicious in any way. She said she's never had a kid handle that kind of situation with such maturity and grace. He very carefully walked through what was happening without any panic whatsoever. With any discussion of a weapons there is often panic and there wasn't at all in this case and it was entirely due to Teddy and how he handled himself and the situation as a whole. He spoke clearly and spefically and responded in a way very few kids could or would have; you should be very proud of him.

It's got to be a bit disconcerting to have the principal come down and make you empty your pockets but he was fine and handled himself extrememly well. He is a much, much more balanced and mature child than I'd given him credit for. He's just a neat, neat kid.

I'm not doing justice to all the wonderful things she said about Teddy, but even so it's nice to be reminded that my child is in fact a great person and he won't be 11 forever. Of course, we're proud of him and as Brad said when I told him about it, it's never a bad thing to have a bit of credit in the bank with the principal. I'd have to agree!

Camela

Lame-o

I've been so lame about posting so I thought I'd at least give a quick update about what's going on with us.

Right now: Brad is making dinner of bar-b-que chicken and grilled marinated shrimp. He made this same shrimp last weekend and let me tell you - it was the flat out best food I've ever had. He made this seemingly simple marinade of basil, olive oil, garlic and some other things.. I think there's some citrus in there of some sort... but man oh man was it good. Cooked perfectly and seasoned perfectly. Frankly I'm not interested in anything else that may be available, though he wants me to make a warm spinach salad, I just want the shrimp!

Teddy, Matthew, Jackson, and Jake are all downstairs playing a video game. I think Teddy actually has the controls but all 4 of them are happily deciding what ridiculous moves Ted will make next. There is a lot of laughter going on and that's one of the best sounds of the world. I truly love when Matt and Jake are over - all 4 boys get along so well; they can mix and match so nicely - so much more calm then just my 2 boys at home.


Teddy
He finally finished his research paper and man, I have no idea how it is. The only comment the teacher gave him on the rough draft was that he needed a stronger conclusion which we'd already talked about. But from where I sit it's not much more than a well written list of quotes from several different sources. Perhaps that's appropriate for his age, I truly have no idea. I look forward to seeing how he does on it. He had a bunch of homework over the weekend and I was pleasantly surprised how he got it down with little or no protesting. (Okay it's a lie to say there was none, but it was minimal so that counts)

Jackson
He and Brad worked on his science fair project this weekend. Science Fair projects have always been a Brad thing for which I am eternally grateful but Brad has this habit of putting it off and as it happens the science fair is on Thursday and Brad will be out of town Monday through Wednesday or Thursday and this timing occurred to Brad late last week. So all that's to say that Brad and Jack have been diligently measuring things and writing things and evaluating things and typing and printing and gluing things on and off all weekend. But it's done and it went just fine.... phew.

Me
I've been working on cleaning out the basement. We're going to have the basement finished in the next couple of months. First step is clean it out. Brad and I have differing views of what this means which is (so far) amusing to both of us. Clearly we need to pick a leader for this job (which if you know anything about us it's what we believe is the secret to a happy marriage). I think it should be me because we both would agree that I'm better at this kind of thing, but most of the stuff down there is his and I think it's too difficult for him to give up control - so he's not suggesting it be me and I'm fearful if I suggest he be the leader we'll still be cleaning out the basement in August so I'm not suggesting it be him. So we're dancing around each other for now. I'm thinking there will be more discussion about this.

Brad
Is busy working on a work project in North Carolina. It's more like the work he used to do when there were production deadlines he was working on instead of just supporting those that have them. He's helping them make their deadlines this time. I think he's enjoying the jazz of it - but I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to do it all the time anymore.

So that's what's up around here. When I'm feeling less lame, I'll get back to posting more regularly.

Camela

Another day... more drama - I'm about cooked.

Teddy is working on his first research paper and I don't think the prince of procrastination is heading in the right direction in a timely enough manner.

I picked him up from school and on the way home......

Camela: When we get home I want you to show me your assignment, I’ve not had the chance to read it yet.

Teddy: Sure, no problem.

C: tell me a bit about the project - there's no wrong answer - just generally, what's it about?

T: (deep breaths, near tears) I just don't want to talk about it!

alrighty then....

927 hours later

C: please show me your assignment

A 3 ring binder is unceremoniously dropped in front of me

C: ok thanks, can you help me find it – where is it specifically?

T: It’s the whole binder

Deep breath

C: Okay but I just want to read the assignment

T: THAT’S MY BINDER

C: Yes dear I see that, but I want to read the assignment for what’s due on Monday.

T: (Pointing dramatically) THAT IS MY WHOLE GT SCIENCE BINDER – IT’S ALL THERE.

C: Teddy don’t be an ass (yes I really said that to him) find me the assignment

T: REALLY THAT'S IT - IT'S THE WHOLE BINDER

C: OMG – okay – sit your butt down, I’m going to read. (I pulled out the first sheet of half-hearted notes from the front pocket and started to read aloud)

T: WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

C: You told me I had to read the whole binder, so I’m starting at the beginning.

T: (He tried to grab it from me) WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?

C: You said I had to read the binder

T: WHAT DO YOU WANT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.

C: (really, really trying not to upend the kitchen table) I know Daddy has read a piece of paper that details this assignment and you won’t tell me where it is so I’m going to read the whole thing as you suggested and you're going to sit there and watch me.

T: OH THAT. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC.

C: (everything I have and all that I am kept me from running upstairs so I could leap out of a window from the highest point in the house) OMG – I’ve been asking for the damn assignment since I picked you up, how the hell more specific could I have possibly gotten.

It went downhill from there.....

582 hours later

C: I’m concerned you don’t realize how much work this is and are therefore not taking it seriously enough

T: I am not concerned. I know how much work it is and it’s not very much.

Well thank God for that, clearly I have nothing to worry about.

And then there's Jackson........

My sweet natured (occasionally), delightful (often) child has for two nights in a row thrown the mother of all hissy, whining, crying fits at the mere suggestion that it's homework time.

C: When you're done with dinner, you and I are going to head upstairs and work on your homework. (When Brad got home with Jack from basketball practice he had seen that I was barely hanging on and had taken over Teddy)

J: (dropping his head dejectedly to the table) I don't want to do homework

C: Well that's normal, but it's just one of those things you have to do

J: (crying in earnest now) WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME

C: (looking around at who he's talking to) ..... well you get the picture

I'm thinking of running away permanently... anyone want to join me?

Camela