A Corner Table in My World

Three weeks ago the kids went back to school and this year saw a big change for us. I picked their school very deliberately years ago. You see, Heli Dad and I both grew up in small towns - I attended the same school from kindergarten through high school graduation, he was at the same school until grade ten. We wanted that kind of learning community for our own kids and we are extremely lucky that we found that in a school very close to our home. We've been fortunate that our kids are able to attend their school right from preschool through grade nine.  This September, Princess started grade 10.  New school, new people... It's been a big adjustment for us all.  And boy, high school.   I don't think it's really even necessary for me to say more than that, is it? I have so many really great memories of high school, but I've got my share of bad ones too. And while so many things have changed in our society and in our culture, so many of the quintessential hig...

For most of the summer I continued to get up with Heli Dad in the mornings, simply to see him for a few minutes before he left for work for the day. Then I decided that if I only had a couple weeks left of summer holidays with the kids - aka: a couple weeks before I'd have to start getting the kids up and motivated in the mornings for school, I would spend them sleeping in. You know, mom sleeping in until 8:30 or 9am.  This week with back to school (check out the Corner Table Kids hamming it up for their first day of school picture) I've slowly managed to get myself back to getting up before Heli Dad leaves for work, if only to give him a hug and kiss goodbye. Which he appreciates and it's something I've come to realize is really important too - because honestly somedays that hug and kiss is one of only a couple intimate moments we have throughout the day. We've only finished the first week of school but already I can see that there are days that I'm going to be...

The Princess -           She started grade 2 this year and it didn’t seem to be all that interesting or note worthy of a first day.  She insisted that I walk her in, so that I could find her classroom and her locker for her, and then once she knew those basics it was “see ya later mom, get lost!”  And since day one (now 2 weeks past) she hasn’t wanted my interference or my assistance going in or coming out.  Except for that one day when the Mommy (yes, me!) forgot the schedule and didn’t show up to pick the Princess up from school and she received the stressed phone call from the school - “where the heck are you mom?”           Princess also started her gymnastics program again and again, I walked her in on the first day to make sure that she got to the right place to start.  It was almost embarrassing though, because honestly we get inside and then she turns to me and s...

Here we are at the start of a new school year (grade 2 and Kindergarten for the Z’s) and we’re back to a schedule that gives us all a chance to fit in a little, wee, tiny bit of, what I like to call, “ME! Time.” And I really do mean it when I say it’s only a small amount of time.  But even that little bit of time is an awesome reprieve from the constant presence of the kids this summer.  Not that I’m complaining about not getting (or taking) an opportunity to pass them off for any appreciable time over July and August, but I’m sort of sorry that I didn’t. But now that schools back, that means that all the extra-curricular activities are starting again soon too.  The first of which is gymnastics, which starts next Monday.  And this year the Boy AND the Baby (& me) are joining the Princess in the gym.  Last year we also spent a lot of time running back and forth from the skating rink for both the Z’s lessons.  The Princess won’t be going back on th...

So it's time for another post and my big sister gave me the means for this one, when she asked me a question on Facebook today... She asked:  "So how's this transition back into academic life treating you?" And my answer is:   The school part is mostly okay - my classes are great but there is, obviously, a lot of reading and work involved and finding the time to do it is difficult... I'm really liking being back at school. It's nice to be able to sit and listen to an adult speak about something that I'm interested in, and having conversations with other 'big people' is wonderful too (instead of just kids all the time). At the same time, the whole process is just that bit more difficult because I can't do my reading or work when I'm alone with the kids, and that is most of the week. Fortunatley mom has been taking Za&S to the farm overnight on Mondays and Wednesdays - so I usually end up at the University until at least 1am t...

I think that the whole school/university thing will be okay.  The first day went really well anyways.  I enjoyed the classes I'm registered in, with one small exception which I'm going to rectify and with what I'll have left I think I'll be busy, even really busy sometimes, but I don't think it'll ever become something that I can't handle.  For now, I guess, I'll keep my fingers crossed on that. Of course, not everything could continue to be all sunshine and rainbows though.  I got through my day fine, only to find out that ZONA got in trouble at school today.  Stupid, little, stuffed toys that she can hide in her jacket pocket.  She was told on the first day that no toys were to be brought to school - except for on 'special days,' and I told her on Tuesday that she was NOT allowed to take the little thing to show her friends... But the little brat just had to do it anyways.  So, ha ha ha, she was told after school today that if she brought ...

Argh!!! I'm back to school tomorrow :)  It's actually a little bit scary! I'll actually try and update tomorrow night or Friday morning to let you know how it went.  I don't anticipate things being to horrible, or painful, but I don't know what it will be.  I guess we'll find out. Till then, I hope your day goes well.   (I hope my day goes well too!!!)

We survived the first week of school.  Well I guess it's a bit premature to say that, since Zona still has to go tomorrow but I'm pretty sure we won't collapse into a quivering mass of nerves.  At least I hope we don't.  It's actually been not too bad of a week.  A bit busy as we try to get back into the swing of things but we are getting there.  Of course, we'll be thrown a bit next week when I start classes, and then again the week after that when Zona and Zack start their dance classes, but I'm hoping that we'll be able to handle it.  We have to be able to handle it. I guess that's really all I have to let you know.  Boring, I know.  But I'm going to try and post something here at least twice a week.  We'll see how it goes.  In any case, until next time I hope that everyone enjoys these last lazy days of "summer," including the last long weekend of the season.  Party safe and have fun!

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr Zona starts school again in less then a week. Kindergarten this year. It's really amazing because it's just like it was yesterday that Obie and I were bringing her home from the hospital and marvelling at how amazing she was. She's still amazing but so much has changed since then. We've done the trip home from the hospital with a new baby twice more. We've celebrated 5 years of birthdays. We've learned so much. Taught each other so much. Discovered so much. Sometimes, like right now for instance, it's almost unbelievable how much we've all changed. Yet what makes things bearable is realizing and understanding that no matter how much we do change, we've always got one another. It's also interesting to see how things circle around sometimes too. For instance, I'm heading to school this fall, again. I'm not committing myself to going back full-time or even for longer than just this semester, yet, bu...