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A Memorial day weekend project. Painting the stars on my sons ceiling. If anyone ever says to you, "let's paint the ceiling" you punch them in the face.

a struggle to which I'm accustomed

I have been a bit down in the dumps lately, negative attitude, etc.  It comes and goes, but I stumbled across a blog today on Pinterest ( I love you Pinterest) and its inspired me to think about what Im grateful for.  I like the idea of teaching my son to be appreciative.  I want him to understand gratitude and God knows, I can always learn more about it myself.  I would call myself incredibly blessed and I still get down about stuff that shouldn't bother me.  So, after reading the post on this blog,

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/03/how-to-help-raise-grateful-kids/

I want to share this with my kid and with anyone who stumbles across my small corner here.

surprised face

oh yeah, the pie

After raving, I suppose I could share what I'm talking about. from http://sixsistersstuff.com/

Key Lime Pie, Sour Cream and I may have been wrong about a few things

where does the time go?  sometimes it feels like a day takes a year and other times it feels like a week went by in an hour.  I suppose this all relates to wether you're doing something enjoyable or not.  But regardless, my time has not felt like my own of late.  I have been trying to stick to a schedule for cleaning up around the house and its been working out pretty well.  Schedules are more important to me than they used to be.  That said, I sure do enjoy deviating from them.  in all this time eating, I have managed to do some cooking.  I have made my first Key Lime Pie.  I have never had key lime pie.  I saw a pin on Pinterest and it looked so simple I had to do it.  5 measly ingredients.  And damn if it isnt delicious!  Im a convert.  I've been a picky eater my whole life.  I try stuff but like nothing.  So this was refreshing.  Though looking back, its pie.  How do you not like pie?  I also made a mistake and ate some sour cream on a potato.  The horrors!  I dont care for it in general, never liked it on anything.  But this was amazing!  I've been missing out for years.  Moral of the story: try, you'll like it.  Thanks Toodie. 

Mother's day

how do you solve a problem like Maria? er, Jackson?

I have an only child and my prior experience with children is limited at best.  So raising my own has been an adventure to say the least.  I have a great 4 year old boy, he's loving and sweet and the strongest willed person I've ever met.  That said, we are really struggling with his social skills.  He started preschool in January and this was his first real exposure to other kids.  He potty trained really late (right at 4 years old) and we couldn't start him in school until he was trained. So the minute he was trained, we put him in school and for the first 3 months he was really, really sick.  About 6 rounds of antibiotics, doctor every week.  it was really awful.  Since starting, he seems to struggle with normal social situations.  He shares ok, but he just has no concern for how others feel.  But thats not exactly right either.  He's empathetic, he cares when you are sad or crying.  He wants to help other kids, wether they want it or not.  He's just so exuberant.  He loves being around kids so much he just runs full tilt.  I think I worry that putting himself out there so much will result in his being hurt.  But maybe thats just my own middle school insecurities?  I cant fully describe his situation.  He will run over and knock a tower of blocks that a kid is building.  but if you point out that that was not nice, he'll run over to help rebuild and apologize.  This morning I heard some kids say "Shame on you Jackson" as I was walking up the stairs from dropping him off at preschool. I dont know what he did, but he ran over to them as soon as we got there and I have a feeling he broke someone's toy.  I try not to get too involved there, let them teach him social cues so I am not over parenting.  But he just doesn't care what others think, which in some ways is great.  But you have to care a little to be accepted/not ostracized.  its a struggle.  He's really stubborn too, he never wants to listen to instructions.  Jack's going to be one of those kids who has to learn everything for himself.  Maybe I worry too much, and he'll mature at his own pace. No maybes about it, he will obviously go at his own pace.  But is there anything I can do to help him?  I read up on this subject, I try to talk to him, provide good examples, we watch shows and read books about kids interacting well together.  Do other parents feel this way?  I read suggestions that I try to set up play dates with other kids at school, so he can have one on one time.  This is not really feasible to me.  If someone asked Jack over, I wouldn't let him go.  I dont know them.  Why would some parent let their child come with us, with me being a stranger? yeah, not going to happen.  He plays well with his cousin who's a year younger than Jack, but they dont get to see each other that often.  Maybe I am making mountains out of molehills.  But I am struggling with it today and the obvious answer of talk to his teachers is not a good option.  They act perpetually swamped and I feel like I am annoying them whenever I ask any questions.  If I didn't have evidence of Jack having learned a lot in his 4 months there I would move him.  But I will hold out hope that a few more months will improve his social skills and worry my self sick in the meantime.

you're doing it wrong

I'm feeing a little ranty this morning and here's why.  I have a great doctor.  He's nice, seems interested, doesn't keep you waiting for too long.  Or at least he used to.  I was diagnosed with Lupus a while back and then after many, many rhuematologist visits, they have determined that whatever the hell Im dealing with is not Lupus.  The reason any of this is pertinent is that the last 6 times I've tried to schedule an appt for myself, my husband or my kid, they havent been able to get us in.  they've changed models and are only seeing 2 patients an hour.  And my doctor apparently takes vacation every month.  And this is the last straw for me.  6 times?  they keep trying to pawn us off on an Urgent Care, which is a much higher cost to us out of pocket.  I am bummed, because I liked him and his office pretty well, but who wants a doctor they can never get into see?  I suppose I will end up heading to the old doctor who's waiting room is like a germ Chernobyl.  you wait 35 years to get in to the actual office, where you dont see an actual doctor, just an assistant, but by God, they see you within a few days of actually needing to be seen.

this makes me feel old and tired.

the end (of semester) is nigh

Spring semester is almost at a close and I can not wait.  The parking situation on this campus is terrible and when the kids vacate it becomes almost tolerable.  I wont know what to do without my parking angst.  

Im not having super coherent thoughts today, so I'm just going to spew a few things out that are on my mind right now:

have I really been out of college 10 years this year?

why does no one appreciate a pun anymore?

I have a sudden obsession with survivalism.  The most taxing thing I've ever gone through is waiting in line at the BMV.  where does this come from?

is a Jack of all trades a bad thing to be?  why not dabble?

why is it sometimes things go so easily and you sail along and other times its just one damn thing after another and it seems never ending (though it obviously ends and you have easy times)? Why isnt it spread out more?

enough for now as I am ready to scream after a few phone calls and this head shaped dent in my desk is getting deeper.