The Grindstone

I have six more days of promotions under my belt. I've landed another temp job for two days.

This was the first day back with the kids. JJ must have missed me. He was clingy. Boo was acting obnoxious again. Some of the behaviors that had gone away were back. Hopefully, I get things under control again quickly. Part of it was they were very tired. I don't think things like bedtime were enforced during my absence.

I'm just exhausted. I need my husband to get a job. He keeps talking about going into business for himself. He's playing golf right now. He's always gotten a job before, but I'm still worried. A little stability would be awesome.

As far as getting a job myself, I need a better resume apparently. I seriously need to look at rewriting it, because with my experience, there should have been a couple of phone calls.

Thank you for playing. Now get out!

Well, things have been pretty busy since my last entry. My husband came home from work two fridays ago, no longer with a job. Middle management was cut due to the construction slow down. "Thank you for playing, no severance, benefits are good until the end of the month, good-bye!"

I've been in a panic, so I found some quick promotional modeling gigs. I'm 40 years old, so I felt pretty stupid when I got to my first job and all the girls were 19 and knockouts!

I was determined to rely on my sales ability and not be shown up, so I made sure I was always early every day. I stood up longer than anyone else, and I talked enthusiastically to as many people as I could. I didn't complain, and did whatever I was told without question.

These gigs last 12 hours a day and longer, standing up in the sun, but I'm making pretty good money in a short amount of time. I have another six days this week, I hope I make it. I sure feel my ankles and back more than I used to.

I'm worried about the upcoming weeks. It's going to be hard for me to take these kind of jobs, because my husband could start getting interviews, and then we need someone to watch the kids. Maybe I should start looking for weekend work until he gets a job.

Boo's First Day of Kindergarten

The first day of school went well for Boo. JJ and I were sad. JJ cried her first and second day of school. I just cried on the first. It was sad being home today. I would go to tell her something, and she wasn't there. We both missed her.

She hasn't been able to tell me much about school. Typical conversations are going, "How was school?"

"Fine."

"What did you do?"

"I don't know."

"Did you do your ABC's?"

"No."

"Did the teacher tell you a story?"

"Yes."

"What was it?"

"I don't remember. I want a lunchbox."

On the second day, she said, "Mawummmm" a lot in that eye-rolling kind of way. I think JJ and I have become soooo preschool to her. I can tell she thinks she has hit the big time. I'm sure her older sister will knock that out of her.

Mostly, we miss her all day, and have to keep busy. JJ worked hard on his ABC's today. He keeps telling me he wants to go to school, and that he is old enough. When I picked her up today, it was at the end of a student gathering in the cafeteria. JJ and Boo hugged in front of everybody for a long time. I think she missed him too.

The Last Day of Total Childhood :(

I woke up this morning going, "Why? Why? Why didn't I decide to home school?

I can't let Boo go! Maybe I should keep in the local school. What if she doesn't make any friends? What if the school is too advanced, or not hard enough and she is bored? What if they don't understand her? What have I done? Once she is out of the local school, she can't get back in because it's so crowded. Are her uniforms too big? What if she acts up?

Is a half an hour to get ready enough? Better make it an hour on the first day! I'll send her with a snack, and breakfast, and lunch money! I want to stay at school with her tomorrow, but they don't let parents stay the first three weeks.

She seems fine with going to kindergarten. She is sold on the play kitchen in the corner of the classroom. I'm terrified of kindergarten. I want to cry, and I want my mommy!

JJ in the Grocery Store

It's bad when your kids act up in the grocery store. I'm on a tight budget right now, so I have write down the price of everything. I shop with only cash, so I CAN'T go over budget. I go to a market where you bag your groceries, so I'm always trying to keep up with the bagging, pay, and keep the kids close to the cart at the same time.

I was happy when the kids noticed a mirror and started dancing in front of it. It kept them busy while I kept up with the checker. When she told me the bill, I turned around to pay and realized JJ had dropped his pants and was dancing the full monty. Everybody was so quiet in my line just watching! I was mortified! John wants to know if he really NEEDS preschool. Ya, I think so.

Organization

Next week is the start of school, and I have dedicated this week to getting organized. I have cleaned up my emails, and marked every known event into my calendar. I created an online calendar for the family to use, so everybody knows what is going on.

I need to buy a filing system for the year. I want to keep all of Boo's papers organized. Also, I want a big storage bin for all of the preschool crafts, papers, and so on.

Boo met her kindergarten teacher. She tested her readiness, and Boo was ahead of expectations. All that worry about not being ready was a little over the top.

Her uniforms are ready. Shoes are new. She needs a backpack and a new jacket, since she can't wear anything with a hood, and all of her jackets have hoods.

I'm mentally preparing for all of the volunteer work that I need to do, plus all of the driving. I have meal menus made out for the year. I still haven't decided what to do about JJ's breakfast. I need something he can eat in the car, that is nutritious, but won't leave a mess. I looked at the breakfast bars, but they are so expensive!

I have to decide when to volunteer at Boo's school. In the beginning, I want to be in the classroom and know what is going on. I want to understand the routine. After I know what is going on, and what questions to ask, I'm happy doing any work. I have to do 40 hours a year. I also have to do 3 hours a week at JJ's school, and a night class for his school too. Boo has Saturday school at least once a month, sometimes twice, and then there are some night events too.

We have a few conflicts with soccer too. I hope it's not a problem. I'll probably stay up nights worried I forgot something. Actually, I'm already doing that!

What do working parents do? I guess if I worked I wouldn't choose these type of schools. I'd pay more, volunteer less, and take the path of least resistance. Even though money is tight, I'm glad I picked this path.