Falling Off The High Wire

Yesterday Lady Jennie had a very thought-provoking post up at World Moms Blog, relating to how your own childhood compares to that of your children and what opportunities you wish you had and/or want them to have.  It triggered some very good comments as well.

I mentioned briefly in the comment section there that my own childhood was very peripatetic.  We moved every two or three years, and from when I was two until I left for college, I lived in the US for only a few months total.  We spent almost all of my childhood in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, which was truly fantastic from an opportunity standpoint...we got to see so much of the world and had some fabulous experiences.  Been to the burial chamber in the Great Pyramid and seen the riches in King Tut's tomb.  Been to Bali before going there risked bomb attacks.  Been to the Forbidden City in Beijing and to see the terracotta warriors in Xi'an.  Been on safari in Kenya.  Been to the bubbling mud pools of Rotorua, NZ and Kakadu National Park in Australia.  Kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland and spent one Christmas in Salzburg, Austria.  Rode a camel in Rajasthan, India.  I say all this not to brag...travel was just a fact of life for us.  I completely took it for granted until I returned to the US, actually; since all the kids I went to school with in every country were serial expats like me, I genuinely hadn't considered that my life experiences were unusual for an American kid until I started talking to college classmates.

By comparison to the international and cross-cultural upbringing I had, my three children are being raised in a small town that is very homogeneous, which is the only thing I don't like about it.  What they do have that I completely lacked, though, is the sense that they belong in a community.  When I was a kid, I distinctly remember telling my dad (probably right after he came home and announced that we were making yet another move) that when I grew up I was going to put down roots to the center of the earth and never move again!!

So now, having essentially done that and feeling guilty because my kids don't have the opportunities I had (we need to travel more!) I try to give them every opportunity to get involved in activities.  Sports.  Music.  Camps.  Academic stuff.  To the point where our after-school schedule is completely insane and we are all relieved to have a break when something gets cancelled!  That's no way to live either.

So, as always, looking for the balance.  And getting right back up on the tightrope to try again when I inevitably fall off!

I Feel Like I've Been Whomped With A Stick

My taekwondo belt test was last night, and I passed!  I wasn't perfect by any means, but I didn't blank on anything or really screw anything up--walked out of there feeling like I did the best I could have done on that day and that's all I can ask for.  Especially since the testing instructor assigned to our group was a 24 year-old guy who hasn't yet grasped that not everyone is as fit and flexible as he is!  My entire body hurts today.

My new Senior Green belt!

There were 18 students testing last night.  Of the 18, 14 were under ten years old, and 3 more between the ages of 10 and 18.  I was the only bona fide adult in the group!  Love being the 'old lady' trying to keep up with all the kids...did my best to represent for the old fogies of the world.

(As a side note, shortly before a test I always get a pedicure to match the belt I am testing for ...it's a tradition.  Right now I am walking around with what is essentially a French pedicure in forest green and black...I got a very strange look from the non-English speaking Vietnamese nail lady when I explained what I wanted her to do!  Maybe next time I should bring a picture of the belt so she doesn't think I'm completely cuckoo.)

Thing One also earned his new belt--his is plain green but otherwise looks like mine.  We went out for a celebratory treat after our test...salted caramel ice cream with toasted almonds for me and Oreo ice cream with gummybears for him.  Yum.  And no guilt whatsoever: we earned those fair and square!  :)

For A Change, I Am NOT Behind The Eight-Ball

For any homemakers/primary caregivers/primary cooks out there: is there any daily question you dread more than "What's for dinner?" or is it just me?

Unlike my mother and brother, I am not an inspired cook.  I usually can't just look to see what we have around and come up with something fabulous off the top of my head, as they do.  Trained biologist that I am, though, I am whiz-bang at following a recipe...after all, what is a recipe if not an experimental protocol involving edible reagents??

At any rate, I don't mind the process of cooking, for the most part (and I actively love to bake)--it's the deciding what to make that drives me crazy.  I love getting meal requests, because it makes my job that much easier.  Especially since we have either two or three kid activities every day of the week after school, which means that I am also pressed for time with dinner prep to make it even more fun.

At any rate, last night Himself made three requests for dinner this week: chili, tacos, and a really fabulous Thai peanut chicken and noodles dish that I don't make often enough.  This morning I went to the grocery store and bought everything I need for all three, came home and cooked them!  I'll serve the Thai dish tonight and the others later in the week, because they'll keep.  Add to that the fried rice that I will make from leftover pork tenderloin and the goulash that can be easily produced from the last few slices of last night's pot roast (both quick and easy meals), and I have a full week of dinners on hand as of midday Monday!

Yes, I know that I am pathetically excited about this, but it is what it is.  Anything that makes my life less complicated is a good thing!  

I Will

Thanks to Lady Jennie, I found a wonderful post today.  The lines copied below are an excerpt: click here to see the post in its entirety.  This is going on the wall above my desk!

I will be me.

I will reach further.

I will strive harder.

I will live every day and do all that I can.

I will be a good mom.

I will love more fiercely and with all my heart.

I will be fearless.

I will not stop until I get it done.

I will say what I feel.

I will have that glass of wine.

I will say yes.

I will say no.

I will throw guilt in the garbage can.

I will leave dirty dishes in the sink. Sometimes.

I will say bad words. SHIT.

I will. I will. I will.

One Other Thing

OK, I'm quite sure that y'all are completely sick of the sight of the word "basketball" on this blog, and I'm sorry.  I don't blame you.

But I just have to tell you about something really cool.

A few weeks ago, Thing One's team had a game in our school gym.  He has to be there early to warm up, so while that was happening I was watching the game before his, in which older boys were playing.    Probably middle-school age, I'd guess.  One of the kids on the opposing team that day obviously has Down's Syndrome.

Initially, I was just thinking how cool it was that a kid with a handicap was able to play on the team.  Then I actually started watching more closely and realized that the kid was one of the stars of his team.  No joke.  That kid has a shot you would not believe.

Saw him again today; he was still dropping baskets left and right.  Go #6...you rock!

Change Of Plans

Side note: so far, no inundation with spam comments, so until further notice the captcha word verification will remain off.

No company this evening after all, unfortunately.  Thing Two has a cold, and since both daughters of the family that was supposed to be joining us for wine-drinking and general merriment will be trying out for a highly competitive swim team on Tuesday, they are wisely staying away!

As usual, started the day with basketball: the regular practices for the younger two kids and then an unexpected game for Thing One.  The head coach of Thing Two's team almost pulled another fast one on me today, too--as practice was starting, he informed me (in my assistant coach capacity) that his son wasn't feeling too well and that he might be leaving at any time.  You may recall that the last time he did something like this, I had about eight hours to come up with a practice plan--said eight hours extending from midnight to 8AM--this time I would have had no warning at all!  Fortunately for his well-being and my blood pressure, he ended up staying for the full practice.

Thing One's team played Thursday and Friday evenings and is off today, but he stepped up when one of the other teams put out a request for substititute players because they were a couple of boys down.  He played his heart out on that court, bless the child, but they still lost narrowly and he was crushed.  He and the other two boys from his team who subbed in made the difference between a one-point loss and a total blowout, at least.  Not sure what happened with the team divisions this year, but two of the teams at his level are very strong and the third (today's) just isn't, which doesn't seem fair.

Home now, and not leaving again!  The rest of the day will now involve waiting for the furniture delivery, sitting my behind in front of the fireplace, and much cooking, since I'm in the mood.  Right now, the house smells of roasted garlic...I threw a few heads into the oven with olive oil and we will crush the cloves on toasts made from homemade bread leftovers for hors d'oeuvres later.  A beautiful roast, some mashed potatoes too...all comfort foods to stave off the rawness outside.  I'm ready for spring.

But at least the sun is shining.  That covers a multitude of sins!

  

Trying An Experiment

Me being a scientist and all, it always makes my husband nervous when I tell him that I'm trying an experiment (especially since it is usually in connection with meal preparation!) but this one should hopefully be pretty minor.

Anyone who's ever tried to leave a comment here knows that I've had the captcha word verifier enabled to weed out spam.  I hate that thing, as do many other people (I hear you, NOLA...I always end up having to type the word two or three times to get it right too.)

Anyway, assuming that I did what I intended to do, I've just removed the captcha requirement for comments here.  If I end up with a ton of spam comments, I may have to put it back on, but it's worth a shot.  If somebody could confirm that the captcha is gone for me, it would be much appreciated!