New Title for My First Book

"Is It Okay That I Don't Like My Kids?". Yup. That's the big title. I'm livin' large and starting my novella now. On my blog. Okay, I'm just bringing this up because two of my three kids is in hot water with me. (As I type it is now all 3 of them!)

This morning Lauren got obsessed with finding a watch to wear so she wouldn't have to turn around in class to see how much longer she had in a certain subject. She couldn't put on her shoes, brush her hair, find her sweatshirt or take her backpack. I told her I didn't like her very much this morning. I've felt terrible all day about it but I keep thinking about it and it's still a true statement.

Midday I get an e-mail from one of Connor's teachers. He currently has 17 out of 100 points in class. Really? They've been in school just two weeks. How can this be? Connor didn't do the history summer reading - they handed this out when he was out. So, I check the teacher assignment website. Connor is already missing 4 assignments and has an F in a class. And his teacher says he has a "who cares" attitude. I care too much and am annoyed with him now.

And Tylor? He didn't want to go to the orthodontist. He didn't want to do homework. He wants to go to soccer practice but he has a bruise on his heel. He is whining ... big time!!

This is why I don't like my kids right now. Maybe tomorrow will be better?

Hostessing Debate: Me: 1 School: 0

So, remember that whole thing I was protesting on Monday? That I was so angry about? Well, I shot off an e-mail to the PSA President (which I was asked to be but declined due to lack of children involvement and that I would have had to deal with people like me). She called to chat about it, I've known her for several years and like each other. I was clear in my debate with the administration stance and countered her points solidly. She called me back several hours later with the situation determined that if I have an issue with it then I probably wasn't alone. I wasn't: there were several other calls and e-mails - none as persausive as mine of course - and they decided we shouldn't do it this way. Me: 1 School: 0

I PROTEST!!

I need to vent a little before a Friday morning meeting where I could vent but it could get ugly. So, if I vent now maybe it will go better and you, my loyal friends and family, can direct my rant in a more positive, if not constructive, direction.

I received a call from the Head Room Parent about a new part of the Room Mom job. She said each grade would be in charge of hosting a "Hospitality Lunch" for the teachers once during the year. This may not seem like much but here's the crux of it for me ... no one asked me if I want to do this. I am fairly certain I live in a democracy where volunteers cannot be pressed into involuntary service. The room moms at our school are there to facilitate teacher needs and coordinate other parents as needed. A luncheon for 60 people is not a teacher need - maybe a want but definitely not a need.

Here is the Friday morning room parent meeting in my head (dream sequence here).... Welcome, blah, blah. Thank you, blah, blah. Packets with teacher requests, budget, etc. blah, blah. There is a new job we want you to do which is to host a hospitality luncheon for all the teachers one month as a service (my hand flies up here) to your (head room parents eyes light on me and she visibly sags) teacher. Yes, Mrs. Voydat? (I stand looking questioningly at the head room parent.) Me: Excuse my interruption but I don't remember this being on the list of things to do for the teacher's last year or any of the other 8 years I have been a room parent or on the website this year. Can you tell me who made the decision to add to our responisibilities without talking to us first? HRP: The proposal was brought to the administration who decided it was a good idea and then implemented it. Me: Implemented it without asking us if this would overly burden our already busy schedules? Or add it to the duty description so we could weigh whether or not we had time to do this job along with our duty of meeting our teacher's needs, correct? HRP: That's not how we see it. (end dream sequence) There were other more snippy remarks made in my head and other scenarios. But, it goes along this same vein.

I'm not opposed to the hospitality luncheon but I want no part of it. I did it for 6 years and am done. If we don't have enough parents volunteering doesn't that mean that it doesn't mean anything to the parents and maybe we should just do away with it?

I'm here to wave my banner of protest and say, "I will not be made a hostess!!".

Monday, Monday can't Trust that day!

I had a signed off with a client this morning. It was a loooong road to get here and extremely rocky near the end. I have been stressed and over-stressed. I have broken out and broken down. I would say that it's almost over but it's Monday, September 13th. Most people think that Friday the 13th is unlucky. With the way this transaction has gone I'm hoping that Monday's won't become the Friday the 13th for me. AWWWWWWWWWW!

I've Seen it All Now.

Californians cracks me up. It's the reason I live here. Not the great weather, beautiful mountains or the scenic beaches. Nope. It's the people.

I was reading the Entertainment Guide "The Eye" for our paper today when I can upon a wedding invitation. The ad looks like any ad for an entertainer; half page color with photos of the singer. I was glancing over it - I like Jazz and Santa Cruz is always entertaining - when I saw the schedule, "1 pm doors open ... 3:30 Wedding Ceremony ...". WHAT? I then had to read the whole thing. Yup. A wedding invitation put out by two Santa Cruz local entertainers at The Coconut Grove Grand Ballroom.

I even checked it out to make sure it was for real, www.kayebohler.com/Wedding.html . The website doesn't do the ad justice and the photo I took was too small to read.

This is why I love California. Just when you think you are going insane you can find someone crazier than you in putting an ad in the news paper for you to pay to come to their wedding. You can't tell me that this isn't a good reason to stay put in the great state of California.

You can Tell you're getting older when ...

... for the second time in three weeks you put your jeans in your kids pile to put away (and not the same kid).

... your kids know how easily you are distracted by bread and/or sweets.

... you forget about dinner for the 2nd time this week for the 3rd week in a row.

... you are singing, "We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine...", and your daughter says, "Um, Mom? You know the house is green, right?".

... your daughter asks to borrower your kitten heels and they fit her.

... your kids tell you you need a new swimsuit ... in a bad way.

... you forget to shave one of your legs more than once in the past couple of months.

... you find a hair where no hair should be. (Really!?)

And finally. The number one way you can tell you are getting older ...

... the cart boy at Safeway says to you, "It's okay. Lots of older people can't get these carts apart."

Youth is wasted on the young.