Lucas’ first day at LANK (Lake Anne Nursery Kindergarten)
September 11, 2009
Tagged: Lake Anne Nursery Kindergarten, LANK, pre-school, Reston
Our Everyday
Sharing our stories, big and small.
Posts from the “childhood” Category
Strong
My mom could split an apple in half with just her hands, a skill perfect for road trips and managing four hungry daughters. Moms pack lunches while reviewing homework; set the table while coordinating carpools for soccer, gymnastics, swim, basketball; complete deliverables while crafting the perfect party invitation; blow dry, style and make up while brushing, washing and clothing so that everyone gets out the door on time. Moms rub backs, wipe away tears and band-aid falls. Moms practice diplomacy and bullying, alternatively, as needed.
Tagged: moms, Mother's Day, mothers
“It’s all your fault”
“You’ve ruined everything”
I have not said these things to friends or to my spouse, not even to my co-worker who really deserves to hear them. Nope, I have said these things to my children. As the words form on my lips and are lashed out by my tongue I immediately regret them. I am helpless, left to stand there, towering over them as I watch my words crash and land on the wide-eyed innocent face of my child. But I’m too angry to show my cards so I stomp away, curl up in a corner and berate myself.
Sometimes my words are so terrible that I have an immediate, physical reaction, trying desperately to scoop them up, wipe them off their shocked faces.
Either way it unfolds the same way; I calm down, explain to my child why I got so angry and make sure he understands his part in all of this, he says sorry, then I say sorry. Then the next morning or a week later I hear my child repeat those same awful words to his sibling.
Tagged: parenthood
On September 11, 2009 Lucas had his first day of junior pre-school at Lake Anne Nursery Kindergarten (LANK). February 12, 2016, Oliver has three months left. Over the years I’ve volunteered, attended class parties, play dates and school events, eager to participate in anything and everything. Now in my seventh year I rarely make it to kiss and ride, haven’t been to any class parties and only one play date. So I nudged my way into Oliver’s Valentine’s Day party. All the kids were gathered in a circle where they patiently waited their turn to hand out their Valentines to their classmates. They iced and decorated cookies, licking knives and fingers. As the kids finished up, Mrs. Even started a game. I watched the kids silliness and giddiness and was reminded of what I too often forget with my youngest, the magic and wonder of being five years old.
As we finish our 7th year and LANK its 51st year, I am grateful for the time Penny bit another child, twice, because she finally learned to share, the teacher conferences where I found out Lucas has sick dance moves, Penny is quietly confident and Oliver is an artist, the art projects that fill my treasure trove, and all the bittersweet memories Lucas, Penny, Oliver and I have made in this nurturing, affectionate, sweet school to which we’ll soon say goodbye.
Tagged: childhood, Lake Anne Nursery Kindergarten, LANK, pre-school, Reston
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.
I was uniform. Uniform in routine balancing work, family and time for me. I was comfortable.
The acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.
My comfort diminished as I challenged myself to grow. Exhilarating at first, I was happy to throw balance to the wind, to approach a new opportunity with confidence and energy. According to Newton the acceleration of the object is dependent upon two variables, the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. My new challenge began to shift to something uncomfortable and undesirable, untethering me completing, making me light as a feather and tossing me at will.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I was pushed so far and tossed so hard that I had to react with an equally opposite force. I pushed back by refocusing on what is truly important in life. I needed my feet planted, I needed perspective, I needed to remind myself what I want to remember when these days are gone.
September 29, 2013
To 2016
Service – noun. 1. the action of helping or doing work for someone.
In thirty minutes I ordered ten gifts on Amazon, a new record. Selected, packaged and shipped to be opened without ever passing through my hands. If that doesn’t say Christmas spirit I don’t know what does? I always start the season with the best of intentions, to buy all my loved ones thoughtfully chosen gifts, but time runs short and sentiment turns to materialism.
This holiday season Lucas’ Cub Scout den volunteered to help Cornerstones organize gifts to be delivered to area families. The boys ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the Xbox One some lucky boy was receiving and at one point the office chairs became merry-go-rounds. There was plenty of horseplay but there was also a lot of focus and diligence as we efficiently completed our project. The boys will remember they did something together, they had fun and countless Christmas gifts passed through their hands.
Tagged: Cub Scouts, holiday, service
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