Got a call last Thursday from the Summerwind STEM counselor. You must realize I have had 1 child who should probably start paying the counselor for therapy sessions, i.e., my mom is having a baby, can I handle this? I feel kind of sad today, better go to the counselor's office. I think I was just raised to suck it up, whereas we are more soft and fluffy round here. Anyway, I was a little worried, BUT it was just to let me know Ben would be surprised as student of the month the next day which is...AWESOME. To me it is a big deal that even with the speech struggles he's had, he has pulled off being a good friend and a good student rather than acting out, getting angry and frustrated with the extra challenges his brain and muscles have decided to throw at him. Needless to say, when my work scheduler totally ignored my urgent request for 30 minutes to an hour off which I would make up whenever she wanted, I was sending some unpleasant vibes her way. I will have a special essay on work someday, but no point in burning bridges now. I decided I would just clock out, run over, come back and to heck with the consequences. If SHE met my son, she'd get it. It's just that since I work from home and my supervisor/scheduler don't see my face, they forget I'm human...just like I forget they have souls and hearts. So, really bad pictures, but the least blurry one is the back of Ben's head. He's wearing purple! He had no idea idea, even as the principal spelled out his name, reading a comment for each letter. Then he got high 5's from his class on the way back to his spot.
The N - that one stumped me. Actually several of the letters. Ben (so far all my boys, actually), lead secret school lives. Lily would come home and still often does and just verbally throw up every little detail about her day. At times, it was overwhelming, but I knew everything. The boys, whelp, you can interrogating them with all your might or casually try to start a dialogue and the response is about 3 words. That N, though, his teacher said future Nobel Peace Prize winner. I learned from his ward that he is a peacemaker in his class, a comedian, as well, who makes everyone laugh every day. Wow, he is just blooming (can boys do that? I now girls can.)
Side note: It is fall, but it barely feels like fall. It is hot, but hardly in AC and no heat, so we are raking in the dough on electricity and gas savings. Freezing temps will come soon enough. I have at least 2-4 kids who are bursting with excitement about Halloween. I would be if I could nail down my husband to a costume theme that he can get excited about. Sigh.
And lastly, such an unflattering photo. I need contacts...if I can stand them...which I probably can't, but I really don't like glasses all the time. Still, Lily and I went to General Women's Conference and listened to a 4 speakers. It was VERY REFRESHING and just what I needed after a week that involved more tears and gnashing of teeth than I'd like to discuss. And I braided Lily's hair as she laid on her head on my lap. Attention spans can only go for so long, so we make the best of it for my 12 year old. Every year, they also have random photo getup so you can take a photo for memories, and since they did pioneer trek this year for the older youth, they went with a pioneer theme. I am glad I was not a traditional pioneer. I do not like the look at all. . If I lived in that time, I would go for Southern Belle...except maybe head north before the Civil War...or to California, but I would always have the best dresses and go to balls and stuff. I am kidding again; I am sure I would have been poor working class and desperate to head west whether for my religion or a fresh new start or adventure...just like all our ancestors did.
