Middle School: Week 2

So we got through our first week of middle school. It seems to be going well... most of the questions I ask though I get shrugs and "I dunno" but I hear that is pretty common and it has been a common response her whole life anyway ha ha ha.

She is enjoying band still, and she says she's been late to gym almost everyday due to logistics... we'll see how that reflects on her. I'll actually mention it at open house next week.

Mom is still a little bit crazy but she is doing better too.

Guilt... no guilt... guilt?

I guess the point of taking a mental health day from work would be negated by any guilt I will probably feel for calling in sick to work right?

Yeah... I thought so.

Middle School is tough on mom.. I plead temporary insanity

So my daughter started her first day of middle school today.

This is so much harder than Kindergarden was. In kindergaren I knew she was the wee little one but there were so many people that thought awww they are so cute and took care of them. In 6th grade though... yeahhhhhh not so much.

They are given a tour of the school quickly then given their schedules and they are let loose. No one shows them to their buses or even directs them where to go.

I have a hard time letting go so I went up to the school early before dismisal and watched from the parking lot to make sure my wee little 6th grader knew what she was doing without knowing mom was actually there. My attempts to go all incognito failed and I was busted!!! Ahhh we'll get to that in a bit.

Anyway I spot my 6th grader coming out of the school, she's totally petrified and alone. Try to imagine all this with me fellow mothers. I see here frantically looking around for the right bus, and she can't find it. I can see her classic fidgiting signs that mean she might loose it at any moment. I am sitting in my car with tears streaming down my face as I watch this because I know in my head I can't rescue her. All my instincts tell me to go run to her as fast as I can and rescue her from the pits of middle school and all the scary things. All of a sudden I can't see her... I know she must have gotten on "a" bus... but which bus? Oh no!!! A new set of panic sets in... what if she got on the wrong bus? All of this knowing full well she has a cell phone in her bag and can call home. The thing is does she know when to call home or will she panic like mom? Who knows unless we test it out.

See before all of this I find out there is major bus trouble and that on the first day of 6th grade my cousins son got all messed up for the same reasons and didn't make it on the bus home. This added into first time middle schooler mom and the panic I saw in my daughters face as well as the tears she fought back after she thought I left her in this big bad school this morning to fend for herself.

As well it wasn't that long ago I was a new middle schooler entering the sixth grade. One of the benefits sometimes of teenaged motherhood is that I KNOW when things are going on with my kid because it wasnt' that long ago that I was there. I'll know if she tries to get high, or she sneaks out, I know all the tricks. The downside I remember still all those feelings and I have moments of insanity where I think I can spare her all that somehow.

Oh and that I was busted note up there somewhere. It was confirmed my daughter was on the correct bus when she got off of it because she saw me and was confused. I directed her to get back on the bus, and to go to her father's as planned. I had to go to work.

Lesson here... it is likely much harder on mom when she makes it harder on herself. I'm sure my daughter would have been fine and I wouldn't have caused myself the emotional upheavel if I had just stayed home.

Stay tuned... for more middle school stories... especially from this week as somehow I think it will take mom that long to adjust along with daughter.

Hey, at least I wasn't that mom that I saw taking pictures in front of the entire Middle School of my new middle schooler's first day of school talking about how cute it was. That mom fer sure embaressed her kid.

I'm so tired of the campaigning

I know who I want in office... lets get to it already.

I'm tired of the mud slinging.

I'm tired of people being at each others throats and personal debates that turn into hurt feelings. Why do politics always do that anyway?

I've researched, I encourage others to do so as well. I try to veer away from providing that research to others because people who don't want to be swayed won't be and those that don't care don't read it anyway.

I can't help myself sometimes though, I'm so excited about the canidate I support that sometimes I just have to let anyone who talks about the politics know especially when they mud sling at him.

Where did my baby go?

You all get to sit and read/listen to me go on and on about my kid growing up.

I just can not believe that come Tuesday she will be starting middle school, with a locker and switching classes and everything.

Then in about 3 weeks she's going to be getting braces. Brace!! How can she be old enough for braces? How can it be that all of her baby teeth are gone?

She's even got a new later bed time. Oh, and keys... keys to the two homes, and a cell phone to call in an emergency or to check in.

Oh and she's been in band for a year... how can I forget band. Next year she wants to play softball (which for anyone that knows my child knows this is a HUGE thing for her to do).

She's hormonal so I'm sure that other changes are just around the corner.

Where did the time go? What happened to the toddler with the big fat baby rolls who'd say with her index finger pointing in the air (instead of a thumbs up) 'du dude' (which meant cool dude)?

I think I have a crush on Obama too

I heart Obama too. This man is/should be our next US leader. The man has everythign within him to invoke change. Not convinced yet? Watch this msnbc video if it is no longer on the front page look for the video titled Obama: 'We can not turn back'

Oh and for my one friend so far who is reading... did I do that link right this time?

I really hope my country does the right thing in November.

In case you don't know why I've titled my post as it is watch the youtube video Obama girl

America, it is time for change!

Getting ready for camping

Is hard work!

I'm sure I've forgotten something major. I wrote no lists to pack I just quickly tried to get it together. At least it won't be too bad I do know I remembered to pack clean underware for both Sabrina and myself. One time I forgot mine and had to go out and buy some while camping. That wasn't so fun.

Why is it that camping involves packing so.much.stuff? I feel like I packed for an army for 4 nights. Clothes, shoes, towels, toiletries, pillows, sleeping bags (oh shoot... did I remember mine? yes check that off... only if I had a list lol), drinks... yep got those, food was someone elses responsibility thankfully. Then Sabrina has her bike, roller blades, baseball and mitt... hopefully my cousins kids brought their bats because my kid hasn't gotten to the store yet to buy hers (read mom has had no time).

I forgot for certain a disposable camera but I can't run out and get one as I have no car until after we get back, which really stinks. My car is in the shop for another repair, but we'll save that for another blog day.

We are going camping at Higgins Lake you can check it out here http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=496&type=SPRK the waters are crystal clear and breathtaking. Here is a wiki link about Higgins lake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgins_Lake

We will be driving about 3 1/2 hours North of where we live... that should be interesting with my ADHD child who hasn't been in a car that long in AGES. I've got lots of things packed for her to do while in the car she shouldn't get bored... too quickly and the rule in my car

1) Go to the bathroom before we leave
2) NO asking if we are there yet

A little tidbit about Higgins Lake it is reputed to be the 6th most beautiful lake in the ENTIRE world. Amazing that this gem is so close to home. Hopefully while I'm typing this I can find a beautiful picture online to share. Here we go http://www.higginslakehomes.com/asp/homes/2815%5C720184_8226090.jpg ... take a look at how blue and clear that water is.. it doesn't get much better than that without venturing to the carribean.

Michigan is home to the United State's most fresh water. Michigan owns over 90% I believe it is of our nations natural water resources... pretty neat when you think about it. Looking at a map of Michigan you see the Great Lakes but you don't get to see all the large and small lakes inland. There aren't many places you can go inside of Michigan in either Pennisula where there isn't a body of water within a few miles.

I'll probably have many exciting things to be told when I get back. We'll be out on the boat and tubing and loads of other things as well.