The Adventures of Truman and Fletcher- boy

Time is interesting, because it's always the same.  Our interpretation and our experience with time are what make it feel like it goes by quickly or drags on. Take today for example, today is the last day of 2020.. a day that nearly ten months ago seemed like an eternity away.  A day that so many have circled on the calendar as a beacon of hope, more so than most years.  And now it's here, 8 hours until the clock strikes midnight.  Like the rest of the world I'm full of reflection on a year unlike any other.   I could sit here and talk about all I've learned to be grateful for, all I've missed and all I look forward to, but instead, I'd like to write a letter to the small humans in my house.   Dear Boys,  I am proud of you.  I am proud of your strength, courage, kindness and resilience.  This year I asked more of you and expected more of you than was probably fair at times. Everything changed for you, in a moment.  It was scary...

Last night, I awoke at 250 in the morning.. as I've done more often than I'd like to admit during this pandemic, full of panic and worry.  Everything culminates and the anxiety presents itself as a dynamic case of insomnia that not even a heavy blanket can cure.  But sometimes, its brings me thoughts that have to be put down on paper.. so here ya go.  The marathon is often used as an example of perseverance.  "It's a marathon, not a sprint" people say when they want to make you feel better when  you're in the thick of things.  Well here we are friends.. in. the. thick. of. things.   Years ago, when time and my knees were more forgiving I used to run marathons.  I embraced the duration of the training, adhered to the strict schedule and celebrated the time in front of me knowing it ended with an accomplishment.  Sounds kind of familiar to current state, right?  There's a vaccine that's now being distributed, so there is a finish line...

I laid in the dark, early morning hours this morning knowing that in a few hours my kiddos would walk into school.  Tru, for the first time in six months, Fletcher for the first time.  And there have been so many emotions to fill this day.  In a petulant fashion, I’m mad at the rain for taking away our ability to walk to school together with our friends as we’ve done the past few years.  But that’s ok, traditions can take some tweaking and there will be plenty of beautiful weather walks to school. And an impromptu parking lot meeting worked just fine.  I’m nervous.  This is the first time in SIX months that I will have been away from my children for more than a few hours. And although I know it will be so good for all of us, it still feels unsettling.  Not knowing what they’re doing and how they’re doing ( and knowing I can’t pop down the hallway to find out ) feels odd after all this time.  I’m happy.. because they’re happy.  They picked out...

 ‘Twas the night before school  But not like you think  We’ll be at home in the morning  Signing on with a link  We’ll Zoom with our teachers  As we wave through a screen We’ll fill time with our specials  And lots of P.E.  The longest spring break Also stretched into summer  But not everything has been such a bummer We shared lots of giggles and went on long walks And shared what scared us through thoughtful talks  I hope these days are remembered well  Even if we didn’t focus on words to spell Patience and kindness should be packed for the days ahead  As we remember what others before us have said. “Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before.  You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.”   - Elizabeth Edwards 

I was on a call today and a word I kept hearing repeated was “grace”.  ( I think I uttered it a time or two myself). Have grace with yourself, your kids, our educators.  And it got me to thinking...  A few months ago my office shut down and I had to figure out my new work situation.  Where was I going to sit, how was I going to balance work and kids, what about my equipment, and so on and so forth .  And over the past few months I’ve adapted, acquired what I need, accepted ideas from others to make me more comfortable and generally just figured things out.  The luxury of time and privacy have been mine. And as our educators step in to the school year they’re doing the same thing.  Trying to figure out what works, how to adapt but with the scrutiny of kids, parents and peers.  I got to hide in my house in sweats and some days I still ended up in tears.  So teachers, I see you , I trust you and I support you as you try to figure this out with t...

 Fun fact about me: I hate roller coasters. Always have. Totally irrational fear. I feel like my feet are going to get cut off. The amusement park industry says its rides are safe, estimating the ​chances​ of being injured at one in 24 million. The chance of being killed at one in 750 million, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The odds are pretty good there, but I don’t get on them. I hold on tight to the sense of control I have by standing on the ground watching others shriek with delight, or is that terror? You know what really stinks? Right now, my life feels like a roller coaster. Every day is filled with ups and downs, except this ride, ​“Life in a Pandemic​”, isn’t one I can sit out. So how does someone who longs to control things in her life handle the fact that so many things are outside of my control? How do I find joy when everywhere I look is bad news? How do I wake up each day, put a smile on my face and tackle the roller coa...