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When I see the school's number on my caller ID I used to wonder what was going on at school that necessitated calling ME.  Now I see the number and I ask: Huh.  I wonder what GUS wants.  This year he seems to be able to pick up the phone during the day and just check in.  Yesterday it was: "Hey mom, it's Gus".  Me: "Hey Gus!  What's going on?"  Gus: "Oh.  I just wanted to tell you that I got my test back?"  (He raises his voice at the end of most sentences making himself sound so young and making each statement sound like a question.)  Me: "Oh!  How did you do?"  (I say "Oh." a lot.)  Gus: "Well.  I got 100% at a 5.5".  (I think this is Fifth Grade Math, fifth month, but I'm NOT   SURE.)  Gus: "It was a REALLY hard test with like (!) multiplication and division and EVERYTHING."  Me: "Oh that's SO great!!  Good job sweetie!!  Now you should PROBABLY go back to class and get busy, k?"  (I know perfectly well that he is calling FROM the damn classroom because I can CLEARLY hear his teacher's voice.)  Gus: "Oh.  Okay.  Bye."  And then the little fucker just HANGS up on me!

Eighties Movies Revisited

I am a fan of the big gesture.  John Cusack standing in the rain with the stereo, forever set the standard.  I did NOT marry someone who is a man of gesture.  He is a man of actualities.  This is a good thing if you are a wife who likes things done.  Stuff built.  Actual stuff.  Fixed.  Dug.  I am such a wife.  But I also want that John Cusack serenade (and if you grew up on a steady diet of eighties movies you know exactly what I'm referring to).  What we have here is a case of Starry-eyed Romantic marries Clear-sighted Steady Realist. I finally figured out that I might want to start seeing the gesture in the completed projects: enjoy the romance of the elegantly executed bookcase I requested, for example.  (Might make me seem less whiny.)   Gene might take after his dad.  Neil is my boy.  Pretty sure Gus will make me and Neil look about as romantic as Darth Vader.  The jury is still out on Bay.  She sure does like her sparkly jewelry though and she has this whole narrative about "weel diamonds".

Five Days and Counting

Mrs. Curtin is leaving in five days.  We are all a bit sad (to put it mildly).  To quote Gus: it's very annoying.  I really need a photo of the two of them together, but I don't know if I'll be able to hold it together to do it.  He is reading past all expectation and is ready for third grade.  I never thought I'd be writing those words...  He actually likes going to school.  Mrs. Curtin claims that he is helpful (we believe her, sort of.  Remember, we always thought she might be crazy).  He writes me notes now; writes letters to Santa (year round); makes lists.  He's still a free thinker and a free spirit.  He asked me last week if he could go live with Mrs. Curtin and Stu (sorry Terry) if something were to happen to me and Trent.  

Good Times with the Grandparents

It's been so much fun having mom and dad here.  The time goes by too quickly....  Dad sleeps in in the morning so after the boys got on the bus, mom and I would sit and have breakfast and LOTS of tea together until the house started waking up.  Those mornings were my favorite part of their holiday...  I would love my kids to have a more easy familiar relationship with them, but it is what it is...  Mom got my skype up and running so that should help a lot.  It really allows the little ones feel like they are really connecting with Grandma and Granddad.  Gus LOVES skype!!  It's about the only thing that comforts him regarding  Mrs Curtin's move : he'll be able to skype her when she gets to Virginia.  (And he will!)

Just to add some balance :

Gus (on the other hand) has taken it upon himself to be the saviour of any kid who might be a "have not".  There is a side to him that is so softhearted.  I have had to make confusing statements to the generous little lad (!) like:  "GUS!  You are NOT allowed GIVE stuff away without checking with me FIRST"....   or : "GUS!!  You CAN'T give someone YOUR lunch OR PART of your lunch"....  This completely contradicts all previous rules and principles regarding generosity and sharing.  Shit.  Parenting is SO complicated.  (And Lisa : I am intentionally leaving an occasional extra "u" in here and there because I am feeling nostalgic.)

Skipping School

Tomorrow was to be "Back To Workout Day"... but Neil went to bed complaining of "not feeling good" and so I think I may be home with him.  (Of course, given that I've skipped working out for two weeks in a row I am glad of a "real" excuse to not go.  Two weeks skipped?  It's easy-peasy to skip two months.)  Neil  LOVES school and never misses any.  Last week I let Gus stay home (he was up until after 11pm with his cousins and would have been a NIGHTMARE to wake up and probably a nightmare in school, so I kept him hom (he slept until almost 11a.m.)  Neil was up and out the same morning with nary a backward glance...  He has a great teacher whom he loves, loves, loves.  The nice thing for me is that I never have to question his motives : if he says he "doesn't feel good" then he doesn't feel good. 

Gus is very, very, very, very, very sad because his teacher is moving away.  I knew he'd be sad, but the day that she told the class the news he got off the bus, asked me if I knew about Mrs. Curtin moving away and then walked away from me trying to hide his tears.  He pretty much cried all day.  It was heartbreaking.  This is NOT a kid given to tears or drama.  He is still horribly sad about it but is comforted by being able to blame Mrs. Curtin's husband for accepting a job offer in Virginia.  The new line now is "I'm so mad at Stu"... there are far less tears now that he has moved on to annoyance.

Read Allowed (or not)

It could be MY fault for picking SUCH a long book, but I cannot seem to get through a chapter without Gus raising his hand with a question.  (Usually an inane question...)  After I exasperatedly explained to them agAIN how much energy reading aloud takes Gus offered me this advice:  "Mrs Curtin does THIS when we are supposed to put our hand down" and he made a kind of slashing motion.  I said "GUS!!!  You had BETTER not be interrupting your TEACHER with as many questions as you are asking me!!!!"

We are more than halfway through this great book, but it IS a 480 pager... and I might have been a little too zealous.  It's a book called "The Mysterious Benedict Soceity".... and there IS lots of mystery... and secrets... and cunning....  It's very good.  (I know this because I sneakily read ahead.... I couldn't help myself... the boys were slowing me down too much....)

Hold that thought....

Gene is starting at Crescent on Tuesday.  Or, as I like to say... consistency and order are the keys to good parenting...  (oh  ha.  ha.  ha.)  The change of heart stemmed from a conversation with my friend Sabina (who does not read this blog) who suggested we "man up" to the decision we have so obviously already made but are afraid to execute.  So... after talking to Sabina I immediately made an appointment with the principal at Crescent (this was a trick move on my part because by setting an appointment I knew that only one result could come from the meeting).  It worked.  Crescent listened to us, asked pertinent questions, told us what they would do if Gene were in their school ... and we signed the boy up.

The ironic thing is that that very same day one year before was Gus's first day in 2nd Grade with Mrs Curtin.  That was the right move for Gus AND for us...  Neil started six months after Gus and that was the right move for Neil... and six months later I firmly believe that it is the right move for Gene.

The little boys are thrilled...  Now can I get away with taking Gene's "first day" photo as he gets on the bus with Gene and Neil on Tuesday morning??

In the meantime... GUS TURNED NINE!

And he loves:

"his" dog Drake ♥ to read ♥  to ride his bike ♥ to climb things ♥ to get really, really wet ♥ to get really, really dirty ♥ his cat, Stitch ♥ to ask awkward questions ♥ to talk too loudly ♥ to start projects late at night ♥ to hear stories about  himself (there are MANY) ♥ his teacher ♥ going places with Trent ♥ cinnamon toast ♥