My Mom is the Coolest Ever

Who has a Mom like that? Where 5 tween/teenage boys yearn to hang out with her?

Most teens have quilt knitting Grandmas to look forward to..mine have one who is a total rebelJ

 So last night she sent me a text (yup she knows how to text too!) and tells me that she had dinner with the 5 teen boys (my kids and their buddies) and they had a huge discussion (in English!) about what each of their opinion was on what happens to someone after they die.

How cool is that? And she cares and listens to each one..and makes the others shut up when one says he sees spirits in his room (the shy one).

She cares. And they all love her.

She leads a discussion group monthly and thought it would be cool to see what generation Y had on their minds.

She even got the shyest boy of all-the one that barely utters a word when he is with us-to speak English to her and want to tell her more about his opinion. She made them all feel like a million bucks over pizza and peach cobbler and I love her for it.

It reminded me of my own adolescence where my friends flocked to my house-because they were made to feel important. Their opinion was valued, they were heard and they were intellectually challenged. For all the times that I rolled my eyes at my parents for challenging me at the dinner table and making me open my mind-my friends envied and loved this side to my home. And secretly I loved it too-because I knew that they cared about my opinion.

And my Mom was always a hit with her stories, and wonderful personality, and the fact that she would talk about death and sex and drugs and whatever else openly with me and my friends. We could be ourselves with her and there were no secrets.

 And even my Dad, despite all his problems and eccentricities, was honored at his funeral, by many of our friends being there and wanting to say something about him that changed their lives. Our friends and family all said that he opened their minds beyond their homes. It made me feel a pride in my Dad I had not felt before necessarily before, to hear these words spoken of him. I wish I had listened harder for them when he was alive in some ways.

So Friday night with Grandma rocked. All in all-it made me want to leave her alone with these teens more often on purpose just so they can get more of her because I know the profound impact she has on them, their minds and their spirits.

I am abundantly grateful that she plays such and active role in my kids lives and that her endless love for me extends just as deeply to my husband and children.

And I am proud that she is different-as I have always been- from other Grandmas I know.

No woven mits, church and roasts on Sundays and  stale soda biscuits for this lady.

She has brought the word Granma to a whole new level and we all think she is coolest lady ever.

Keeper

My husband and I spent a good part of the week apart.

And we reunited today.

He had taken a few days off to “get a ton of outside work done” at the cottage, but really he relaxed and enjoyed which he felt guilty about but I was overjoyed for him. This man deserves a break not only from work but from US. The kids. ME bossing him around. Some peace and quiet was well deserved.

 Well he missed me..Tremendously. He always does. I think that is so sweet. He texts me and tells me, and phones me and tells me and is so happy when I am back with him again chatting him up and talking about every detail of our lives. Never shutting up.

 He is sad tonight because I am not feeling very well…I think I am coming down with the flu. I find it so sweet that he misses me.

I spent the week catching up on work and realized if I were single I would be a serious workaholic. Three nights in a row I worked until wee into the night  for the company I work for because next week offsite part of week and have to get caught up (only taking breaks to talk with a girlfriend on the phone all 3 nights).

When I am alone or travel for business I am never lonely although I miss my Hubby too. I always use the time to catch up on stuff in a major way and enjoy the pace and no one telling me to go to bed. Maybe that is why I feel sick tonight-no sleep!

So for the next day and night Hubby and I took 2 days off and then back to our beautiful kids for the second part of weekend and might even venture out into the wilderness who knows?. Our plans have changed a few times and we are going with the flow-and I think I am getting sick and feel like crap, but the important thing is that we are together and love this alone time.

Our conversations of choice right now? Nope not travel! (we have already planned out 3 yrs of travel concretely for real) It is: “how to become successful empty nesters in about 10 years. There are things we can do now to prepare and we made a list since you can never be too prepared for the next decadeJ

Also we decided today neither of us will ever be able to retire, we love vacation but work is where we belong. Gotta figure out how to be a jetsetter until at least 90 yrs old…is it easy to get hired when you have a ventilor and wear diapers?

Anyways I love that even despite how crazy and what a planner I am –my husband still misses me and appreciates me so. And this time..both these ideas of conversations were HIS. Love that man.

He’s a keeper don’t you think?

Passion

You know when it is there; and you know when it has gone away.

It’s something that is easy to recognize because your body feels it all over. The heart quickens, you blush more easily, and your nerves become on edge.

Just passion in general.

For work, for life, for friends, for family, for hobbies…or of course for lovers too.

You see it for friendships when you desperately care about their lives. When something is going on for them and you feel like it could be happening for you. When you hang out by the phone to get the next update or the next call-assuring you that they are going to be ok.

You feel it for your friends when they have babies. When you can’t sleep until that healthy bundle has been delivered and you get the call. When you hold their babies in your arms and feel as if they were your own. When you love them for real.

You know it with your partner when you look at him and feel so ultimately lucky to be his. When like a magnet you are pulled in his direction for a hug and a kiss. When you are grateful to him, and bound to him like no other. When you know that life would not be even a single bit as lovely if he were not in it.

Where you are desperately grateful for where you life has landed. Because of him.

And for your work. You know it is there when a project or a paper sparks it in you. When you lose sleep over it and the work intertwines itself in your dreams. Where there is no barrier of work and play-they are one and the same. Where you give countless hours to something when even the expectation is not there necessarily of you to do so.

When you breathe your work-you know you love it.

When the workweek rolls around and your heartbeat quickens.

You know it is there for your children when you savor them.

Live with them in the present.

Love watching them experience life.

Relish in them.

Understand there is so much more good than bad.

And for your future when you can taste the sweetness of it.

When you know it is there but can’t figure out yet exactly how to bring it to you.

When you look forward more than you look backward.

And anticipate with every sense of your being the next decade ahead for you.

Passion for me is a combination of loveliness on all levels. It is really when you know you have come a very long way.A gift you receive for your countless efforts.

When you know that you will do everything in your power to keep yourself in that place for as long as you can stand it.

Some people might start with passion.

For me it’s an indulgence that you earn as you go along in life.

PoopDeck

 I kinda like it when my kids get into my blog-it is funny. I don’t really like them following it regularly (which they don’t) because I have a problem with my kids sometimes seeing me air my dirty laundry to the world..but here and there I get a kick out of it.

Well today my boys told me I had to write a post about this one.

So this is for you boys!

It’s about poo.  Dedicated to you.

 Scene: Beautiful sunny day on the lake. After a busy weekend a little quiet boat ride and ski just the little family. All 5 on the boat and very fun although lightly irritated mood since Beauty being pulled on one water ski behind the boat and crying and screaming most the time. Very irritating. We still have no clue as to why 50% of time she does this. She is super good. Why oh why does she cry? She never tells us-she just does. It is never ending and very annoying.

A flock of 8 ducks fly above us fairly low. We look up at watch their gracefulness and beauty.

They shit on our heads. Us three in the front. Loads and loads of shit.

We three in front are totally shocked and don’t speak for what feels like minutes.

Then we begin to laugh and cry and almost puke. Bear who was most affected starts saying over and over “They shit on me..they shit on me..they shit on me”

Usually we don’t like swearing in our home but this was sooooooo funny. All Chase and I and Dad could do is laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and he said it over and over and over again.

Beauty continued to cry in the back of the boat. Now even harder as we stopped the boat to sit and laugh about shit and ignored her even more.

So we all wiped it off, it was gross.

We continued to laugh and cry for a long time.

The boys (being boys) thought a blog post was in order.

It’s fun at this age to sometimes just stoop way low and join in the fun. Take a break from being their mentors and role models and just be...ourselves basically.

And basically talk about shit. With our kids.

It’s fun to have one kid name your post and the other say” All it takes is a little bird shit to make the humor of the day better.”

I most certainly agree! That just about did it to put me back in a good mood.

Next time I am irritated or down…..I will hope a bird comes along and dumps on my head.

Excellent solution child!

Summer Happiness

 

There are so many things I have loved about summer.

But the thing I love most about summer is the person it turns me into.

All strawberry like, au natural, spontaneous, welcoming and casual. Hair wet, jogging pants and oversized sweatshirts.

Few routines and lots of good times. Opening our home to many and delighting in the happiness it gives us all to share Trent. This is such a good place.

Knowing that even if we end up eating at 11pm some nights, left with a big mess, showing the house to neighbors when it is at its messiest. Not caring, because it is summer

I am at my very best in this season.

But the chaos can’t last forever can it?

Schools need to be gone to, beds need to be slept in with proper pyjamas, lunches need to be made, chores need to be completed, and life needs to be organized.

So…I bottle up slivers of Summer me and I take it with me into the other seasons.  With three season Minty me.

What do the following things have in common?

Guesses anyone?

Making a Gatorade stand

Going for a 5km run

Going to the store independently and selling your old Gameboy

Talking your Grandma out for dessert at St-Hubert

Taking a long soak in the bath

Cleaning up your room without being asked

Getting ahead in French by reading the next book assigned

Swimming outside after dinner

Writing a thank you email for a gift you received

Chatting up your parents about your day

Telling us a bunch of stories about your crazy teachers

Fighting! Wrestling and being noisy

Answer: The re-implementation of technology block out period in our home after summer for specific hours of the afterschool and evening periods Love it. Best thing I have ever done. I am going to write a big book about this specifically one day. It’s my big secret and one I intend to get rich on one day.

My advice? If your kids has a TV or computer in their room-if you have no limits on technology, if your kids are constantly connected to the determent of everything else?

Read my future book.

New Beginnings

It’s going to be a good year.

That’s our estimate so far anyways. Hubby and I texted each other today and expressed how happy we are where our life has landed.

The first week of school is always a good indication of where things are at. So far so good.

Chase started Sec 3 this year (aka Grade 9) you won’t see a picture of him here posted with any of his friends because he would not like me taking pictures of him and his friends with schoolbags in their uniforms. That would be quite uncool at his age he feels . But he did allow me to take ONE picture of him alone! In front of a tree!

Chase has changed so much this summer-it is incredible. Different kid really. Different habits grew a lot, different outlook on life, different sleeping patterns. It’s all different and it’s all great so far (minus a number of extremely attitudy days) Overall awesome kid. He is so independent this year so far too-my brain is likely finally able to start consuming less of him (for the moment anyways). He does his own things with lots of “I love you” in between and lots of laughs. It’s a great stage. I still worry..but I worry less. My brain has been on auto pilot for years to think about this kid…feels like I have too much leftover brain power now it seems.

Bear started Sec 1 this year (aka Grade 7) and if you follow my blog you know how amazing it is that he in Sport Etudes after missing the 3 hr. exam because of his surgery. What an amazing feeling to see him start his year exactly in the specialized program he belongs in. He came home yesterday and already announced he wants to do the Ironman in 6 weeks!!!!!

Although I have been through first day of high school before with Chase…I still cried with Bear…it broke my heart and also made me abundantly happy on many levels.

Here he is with his buddy in “uniforme official” the first day and then one of the regular uniforms the second day” this school rocks for uniforms! Maybe it is because I am his Mom-but I think this guy is soooooo cute in these pics I could scream it from the rooftops. My Bear. What a year we have been through!

Beauty started today. She is in Grade 5 and got the teacher she wanted and one friend in her class (phew!). I love this little girl to bits..the older she gets the more bonded we become it seems…..lately I am literally breathing this child in she is so sweet. We let her for the first time ever “hang around” in the village with her BFF for 1.5 hours since only a couple of hours of school. She had her Dad’s cell phone and was so proud to call us.

I met her at pizzeria for a quick slice of pizza –big advantage of working so close to home as was back at desk in 45 mins-love it).

She walked home with her BFF after “the long way” and used the cell a few times and will hang out with her Didi this afternoon.

She will get to have some “Back to school Cookies “tonight with her Dad (non-burnt ones!)

She has also radically changed this summer too-her looks, her mind. She is completely different….growing into a young little lady. Her habits have changed, her demeanor, her interests.

I love her little outfit today. I wish I could look like that in her tiny skirt. Are mother’s supposed to feel jealous of their daughter’s legs and butts?

There sghe is at school with her 4 buddies. The five of them have been a clique for many years now. It’s fun to watch them grow and grow together (and as scary to imagine what can happen when you clique is so close as theirs is at this age)

So all in all we start the school year prepared, excited and exhausted already from just a few simple days of being back in routine. As usual I wore my lucky perfume and made wishes for all of them at 11:11. This year more than any other year…my heart was full for them.

I think deep down I am realizing that there won’t be many decades left for me of these special moments. One day I won’t have any first days of school anymore to fret over.

I wish I could freeze time right now. My kid’s ages, my job that I adore and overall just wish time would stop and slow down a bit and let me catch up.

I want to burn some more cookies for many many more years to come. And have my children eat them and text me about how yummy they are while I happily and contently do what I love to do at work. And then come home to them at the end of good and productive days. I could never ever be a stay at home Mom-but man do I love these kids and their moments..often from a distance it seems, but it works for us even though that may be wierd to some.

I want to tuck them in for many more years at night. I want them in my back to school pictures. I want them to stay fairly little exactly as they are in pictured above.