Super Mom (Proud Parenting Moments)

I did something a bit crazy irresponsible today, but it worked out fine, and it was so worth it.

My youngest stayed home sick today.

I was not sure if she was really sick or just feeling a bit overwhelmed.  She had her group interview yesterday, for the Jr. High she wants to attend.  She is worried about them not accepting her.  I know that she will be accepted, but my reassurances do not seem to relieve the pressure she feels.  She thinks:  I'm her mom;  of course I think she's great and will get in.  (The truth is, I really do know that she will get in.  Getting accepted is not as hard as people like to make it out to be. I'm confident enough not to be worried.)

Anyway, back to the present.  My daugher does not like to miss school; so if she asks to stay home, it makes sense to let her.

The thing is, I knew I would be out all day.

I had a morning art class, followed by Chi Kong, at Beit Natan.  Then, a meeting of the editorial staff for the first edition of the Beit Natan newsletter.  (Since I write, I was recruited.)

After that, I planned to go straight from Beit Natan to the pool, to teach.

I left Beit Natan at 2:50 and my first swim class begins at 3:30.  Forty minutes is not a lot of time to cross town, park, change, and get in the pool.

But I made really good time, and arrived in Talpiot, around 3:05.  At the traffic light on Derech Hevron, I should have turned left, to go to the pool.  Instead, I turned right and headed home. (not a rational choice)

I pulled into our parking lot at 3:11.  I figured I had exactly 3 minutes to run in, see how my daughter was feeling, and, if she was up to it (this is a good example of my typical wishful thinking), to bring her to the pool with me.

My daughter still did not feel well, and I think she was running a low fever.  Coming to the pool with me was out of the question. 

But stopping at home was a really good decision.  She really appreciated that I came home just to check on her.  She understood that I could not stay. 

With a quick kiss and a hug, I ran out, hopped in my car, and prayed not to get stuck behind some slow vehicle.  It was 3:15.

God was good to me. 

I parked my car at 3:22 and was in the pool by 3:30, on the dot.

Piece o' cake.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Mornings, Over-40-Eyes, and a STUPID COLD

I needed to make an eye doctor appointment and put it off for months. (Procrastinators Anon, here I come...)

Last week, when I finally called to make the appointment, the secretary said she had time in JUNE. I nearly flipped!

I explained that I was worried that chemo was affecting my eyesight. So, trying to be helpful, she said "in that case, come Monday at 8:20."

Well, I am NOT a morning person AT ALL! In fact, everyone knows NEVER to call me before 9:00 am. (My good friends often wait until 10:00!)

Plus, I have finally figured out that if I want to be in Givat Shaul by 8:20 in the morning, then I have to leave my house by 7:30! (At other, more normal times of the day, it only takes 25 minutes. However, at that time of the morning, it takes almost an hour -- A traffic-jammed, VERY STRESSFUL, hour!)

YUCK!

But I couldn't just tell the really nice secretary, who just squeezed me in, "thanx, but no thanx." So, I smiled (even though she couldn't see me) and said, in my cheeriest voice, "I'll be there!"

Well, the advantage to having such a miserable cold is that when I went back to bed last night, at around 5:30 am, I still couldn't fall back asleep.

Moshe gets up at 5:45 anyway, and at 6:30, the kids all started popping their heads in.

So, by 7:00, as the kids were leaving the house, I "gave it up" and got up.

In the end, leaving by 7:30 was not all that difficult.

"Everything has its advantages and disadvantages." (Ask my kids. I say this ALL the time.)

Anyway, despite my lack of sleep, I was so put together that I remembered to call my doctor on the way, and got an appointment for 9:30! So, I just bopped from one appointment to the next.

At the doctor’s, I discovered that I have another STUPID COLD.... but we already knew that.

So I popped down to the pharmacy, and left with a big, giant bag of drugs… and a box of really soft tissues.

And my eyes?

Well, my long distance vision is fine. And, though I can not see up close as well as before (things get a little fuzzy), it is just a 0.5 or 0.75 impairment.

If you wear glasses, that might mean something to you.

I have never worn glasses.

Now I have to decide if I want to pick up a pair of off-the-counter reading glasses, which will help me read, but might make my eyesight deteriorate a fraction faster. Or, I could just leave my eyes alone. (And keep exercising those eye muscles!) (At the end of the day, they might be the only muscles I'm exercising!)

The vision loss might be slightly affected by the chemo, but mostly it is an "over-40" thing.

Since both my parents got glasses later in life, I basically knew that I would eventually need glasses.

And, since both my parents got glasses at a younger age than I am now, I should be glad that I held out this long. (According to the eye doctor, I can hold out even longer...)

But, I am seriously frustrated by the blurry vision thing and I'm not real keen on the glasses thing.

I have nothing against glasses... they would just be another item for me to misplace!

The day will come when I ask my kids "have you seen my glasses?" -- That will be the day that I officially turn into my mother!

(It started with the keys....)

**sigh**


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Like Father, Like Daughter II

"Do you think we should watch Star Trek tonight?" I questioned Moshe, "We won't get home until close to 9:00..."

We had a wonderful Shabbat at Moshe's parents, but we were slow to leave, and the kids still hadn't eaten supper.

"It's a powerful motivator, for the kids to get ready quickly," Moshe replied.

I couldn't argue with that.

Uncertain about what in our cupboard could be prepared & eaten quickly, I suggested we pick up a pizza on the way home.

Done.

We settled in to watch "Cold Front", which continues a major arc story.

As the episode neared its end, Y protested: "it can't end here, the story isn't over!"

But the episode was, and Moshe quickly ushered the kids to bed.

As he was about to sing them to sleep, Y thanked Moshe for the pizza and Star Trek.

"Pizza and Star Trek," Moshe repeated, "what can be better than that?"

To which, A suggested: "What about coke and air conditioning?"


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA