DC Metro Moms

When Divorce Hits Home

Every one (well, probably close to everyone) now knows about Jon and Kate's marital problems. The media has been having a field day reporting who's been seen where, with whom, and what that must mean.

Jon and Kate certainly aren't the first celebrities to have the marital problems aired out all over the news. And couples getting divorced certainly isn't a new phenomenon.

But what about when it hits close to you?

I consider myself fortunate. Both my parents are still married after 40 years. Sure, there have been ups and downs. But they work things out. Same with my grandparents, aunts and uncles. Growing up I really can't think of many friends whose parents divorced.

As I entered college a few family friends parents did call it quits. I also started meeting friends whose parents had split while they were growing up.

Ten Cents A Chore

As we all know, the economy is not at its best right now. Luckily, we’ve fared ok. In fact, I’ve been lucky enough to have taken 2 years off of teaching to back to school. I’ve been working part time, but we’ve definitely had to cut back on some luxuries. Now that my classes are over, I’ll be going back full time in September (I hope).

Because I’ve been working part time, we’ve not been able to ‘spoil’ our son like we used to. However, I don’t see this as a bad thing. Now that he’s older (10) we decided it’s time that he started learning about the value of money and that hings are not just handed to you.

In fact, in the past few weeks we’ve given him chores and an allowance. His ‘wants’ list is ever growing with books, Bakugan toys, and nerf guns. He has a list of chores that he can choose to do or not. For every chore he does, he gets a dime. At the end of the week we add it up and record it in his ‘checkbook’. Should he want something that he doesn’t have enough money for we charge him interest until it’s paid off. But that's only if his credit is in good standing to begin with.

At first he didn’t think it was fair that he had to work to be able to buy toys. After explaining to him we have to go to work each day in order to pay the bills and provide for the extras he began to see our point. But that didn’t mean he liked it.

You've got it so easy!

Remember when we were young our grandparents would complain how easy we had it? They had to walk to school, up a hill, two miles both way, in the snow? And how lucky we had it because we had bus stops near our houses?

I remember being a child and being astonished hearing stories from my parents about what their childhood was like. No TV, and then, just in black and white. Radio shows. No seat belts in cars. Drive-in movie theaters. No fast food.

I also remember watching cartoons like The Jetsons and wondering what life would be like for my child. Would we really have cars that flew around? Would we really have machines in our homes that you would press a button and food would slide through, ready to eat?

What Really Matters In Life?

In my last post I was complaining about not being able to find enough time to do all that I wanted to do. There's so much to do - work, housecleaning, bills, talking with friends, reading blogs, checking up on old friends on Facebook, spouses. The list goes on and on.

But then, two events happened in the past week to two families I do not personally know, but because of the blog world have come to know from their blogs. Two devastating, in your worst nightmare come true events - Maddie and Thalon are gone. I don't think their parents are worrying too much about all that work, housecleaning, bills and other stuff anymore. What they wouldn't give to hold their babies just one more time. To see their smile, feel their touch.

I Want My Hour Back

Remember last weekend, um, I mean last week, um, I mean a while ago when we all had to change our clocks? I'd really like that hour back. Now.

Seriously. A Mom's life has got enough to do as it is. And then we lose an hour?

I'm juggling working full time, 2 grad classes, household manager, Mommy and Wife. I imagine that just like you I'm always feeling like I'm juggling the hours of my day. And when a ball drops, it's a domino effect - all the other balls drop too.

Like you, I try to keep it all balanced and carve out some time for the extras - me time, Facebook surfing, and exercise. But it's hard. Really hard.

This post is a perfect example. It's taken me 3 weeks to finish this post! It's not like I haven't wanted to finish it. But after a day of work, monitoring homework, taking care of some household chores, studying and having a conversation with my husband about who gets to pick up our son from daycare the next day (times 3 weeks) I'm wiped.

A Snow Day For This?

As a teacher I'm pretty used to having snow days (ie: days off from work in the wintertime). It's pretty standard in this area. An inch or so of snow and the schools shut down. But not this past Tuesday. It was a teacher workday and us teachers were sent in. I wasn't too happy. I couldn't believe we were being Forced To Go To Work While It Was Snowing.

On the drive in I had plenty of time to ponder my emotions. After all, my 20 minute drive became an hour long. Seeing all the other cars on the road made me realize how many people still go to work when there is snow. It's just the schools that shut down. But not the rest of the world. Stores are still open. Doctors are still open. Offices are still open. And my New England blood kicked in. This was nothing. Big deal. Suck it up and get to work.

There's a lot of Internet and media talk over President Obamas recent opinion on schools closing this week. He was quoted as saying,

"Can I make a comment that is unrelated to the economy very quickly?" the new president told reporters at a gathering with business leaders. "And it has to do with Washington. My children's school was canceled today. Because of, what? Some ice?....As my children pointed out, in Chicago, school is never canceled," Obama said to laughter. "In fact, my 7-year-old pointed out that you'd go outside for recess. You wouldn't even stay indoors. So, I don't know. We're going to have to try to apply some flinty Chicago toughness."

New Years Resolutions?

So, we're half way through January. How ya doing on those New Years Resolutions?

Each time a new year rolls around you hear about people making new goals. Being a better person, paying off debt, joining a gym to lose that last 10 (or 20) pounds.

But I always wonder. Why do people wait till the beginning of a new year to make improvements? I supposes its that new beginning, start fresh philosophy?

This year I made some. I don't normally do so. Maybe it's all this blog reading I'm doing now and you all have gotten me inspired. But honestly, if I think something needs to be done, I don't wait until the beginning of a new year. I just try to make that change right then and there.

Diversity in Learning

I think when people hear the word diversity they probably think race or income class. And yes, that is one way to look at diversity.

But, being a special education teacher, I also think of diversity as in the many ways one can learn something, or as in the many ways one can teach the same concept. Or even the concept that different students need different things taught to them.

When Accidents Happen To Children

My son, Adam, recently taught me a huge life lesson.

Recently he was up for his 2nd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. In the weeks leading up to it there is a Prep Class. Master walks the candidates through what the test will look like and they get feedback on what still needs to be tweaked. Three weeks later (and 2 weeks before The Test) is a Pre-Test. It's fairly formal. You have to pass this test to go to the actual test and you once again get feedback.

Adam passed both with flying colors. He was set to go to 2nd Degree Black Belt testing.

Weekend Get Away - to go or not to go?

So, our son is 10. And we've NEVER gone away without him. Yup. You heard it right. We've never had a romantic weekend getaway that you hear couples doing.

It just never felt right. Some of it had to do with his Aspergers. Some of it had to do with no family living around here. But all that has changed in the past couple of years. My sister lives in NoVa and has a child of her own. She totally relates to wanting a weekend away now. My son adores my brother-in-law. So last year he had a sleep over there. It went great and he has been asking for another one ever since.

So hubby and I thought why not? Why not take get away for a night? 

And this time I was ready. I knew our son would be happy and safe. I knew I would be able to enjoy the time not worried if he was ok.