Bittersweet

I wish that we could have stayed and celebrated my Mom's birthday all day, but our schedules forced us to return back to Virginia. It is always so much fun to visit, and leaving is always bittersweet. I was glad to be home where I could tackle my projects, but I wanted to stay and spoil her all day. As we were pulling away from her driveway, Robby and I were trying to focus on the positive. It was sad to leave, but the fact that we can visit again is absolutely awesome.

I arrived home in time for a scheduled conference call, followed by some quiet time for me to focus and work. Robby had his cooking class in the early evening and prepared one of the best meals I've had in a really long time. I love his cooking class. Not only is he learning a life skill, but I get a night off from my dinner cooking rut. 

Timmy was quiet for much of the afternoon, content to be home and to play by himself. He was mischievous and chaotic during our visit and I think the energy expenditure caught up with him. Hopefully he will return to a more normal activity level now that we are home. 

Today we are back to normal and, yet again, trying to play catch up. I feel like the past few months I have constantly been falling behind and catching up. I wish we could just stay on pace, but I don't think that is in our cards this school year.  At this point, I'll take finishing as a win.

Happy Birthday Mom

We had a nice albeit quick weekend away. Today is my Mom's birthday and I'm glad that we were able to spend a few days with her to celebrate. We didn't do anything spectacular, but I was able to help her with some projects around the house.

Timmy spent his time rollerskating and playing around my Mom's yard. He thoroughly enjoyed being the center of his Nana's attention, regaling her with stories and inventing games. I love hearing the two of them laughing and talking! Robby was content playing video games and cyber chatting with his friends from the comfort of my Mom's Lazy Boy recliner. I worried that he was bored, but in reality I think he rather enjoyed being left alone.

Today we are heading home. I wish I could spend the day with my Mom, but life and school are waiting for me back in Virginia. If you see my Mom today, or know her email, please wish her a very Happy Birthday!

Homeward Bound (again)

The rain finally let up, allowing Timmy and I to play outside. I continue to be amazed by how being outside lifts my mood. Timmy had a blast rollerskating up and down the road, giggling as he rolled over the bumps and sped down the hills. It is so hard to feel overwhelmed when I am surrounded by his squeals and smiles. 

It has been a long week, and I'm  glad that it is Friday. My Mom's birthday is Monday, so the boys and I are headed up to visit with her for a few days. After a year apart, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that we can resume our visits. Thank goodness for our vaccinations!

We don't have any great plans with my Mom, but it will be nice to just hang out and relax. I think she has some projects around the house and yard that she wants help completing. I really don't care what we do, I'm just glad that we are able to get together again.

Boots

I am not somebody who becomes excited by shoes. Even when I had two biological feet, shoes were merely something that I slipped on to protect my feet. I had friends who were borderline shoe addicts, stashing new styles and colors into their closets as if they were treasures. I tended to kick my shoes off at the bottom of the stairs so I knew where they were in the morning. Style and fashion had little to do with my choices. Since I became an amputee, my utilitarian perspective towards footwear has only exacerbated. 

Imagine my surprise last night when I found myself giddy over a pair of boots. These aren't any boot, they are the new Ariat EZ Zip boots. Instead of using shoe horns, plastic bags and an assortment of tools to cramp my prosthesis into unforgiving footwear, these boots were designed specifically for amputees. 

I have given up on wearing boots more than twenty years ago. I have one boot that I wear in the snow to protect my biological foot, but it has been too frustrating to try to get the match onto my prosthesis. I love the idea of wearing matching shoes in the snow and bad weather.

Perhaps more than just matching in the snow, I love the idea that I can match my boot-loving boys!

Bad Mood

Well, I'm hoping that today is better because yesterday was certainly not my best. It wasn't a bad day, per se, but I definitely was not the Mom that my kiddos deserve. I felt myself on edge all day, and in retrospect I was probably less patient than normal. 

I struggled all day to maintain my composure. I smiled and tried to be calm, but inside I felt like hiding in the tree house while eating ice cream sandwiches. I think sometimes we all need a break, and yesterday must have been my day. 

With social distancing, I haven't really had a break in over a year. When I hear about my friends going out and resuming their lives, I feel twangs of jealousy that make me uncomfortable. I don't begrudge their happiness, but I also know that relaxing protocols to that degree is not feasible because of Timmy. I think I'm just feeling claustrophobic in my own house.

There was nothing that set me off or put me in a sour mood. I just didn't feel like myself all day. Hopefully today will be better, because I don't like feeling that edgy!

Milestone

Gulp.  Yesterday was a big day for my not-so-little Koopa. Last night he shaved for the first time. His shaving has morphed into a family affair.  From thoroughly investigating the best electric razors for teens to a special father and son excursion to pick out his own shaving cream, we have tried to embrace this milestone as a coming of age event. 

It is strange to think of my sweet little boy as needing to shave. As if his 5'11 inch frame isn't enough of a clue, is emerging mustache and sprouting beard serve as constant reminders that he is growing up. I really wish I could freeze time. But since I can't stop him from growing up, I plan to fully enjoy every phase and experience. Last night, it was shaving.

Other than some technical issues with the razor, the "event" went off without a hitch. Robby didn't have any nicks and felt both comfortable and confident with the experience. Even though it felt surreal to watch him shave, seeing him clean shaven felt comforting. With the facial hair gone, it is easier to see my little boy.

Iron Curtain

My teen who typically hates getting up early and is grump before 11 woke up at 8, and smiling from ear to ear when he met me in the kitchen on Friday. After a three week hiatus, his enrichment classes were resuming. My goodness he has missed his friends. Although they have remained connected through VR chat and text messages, nothing can replace the in-person experience. 

I love witnessing his enthusiasm for his classes and his friends. We spent the drive to school reviewing his classes and working out a plan for Russian domination. On his last class before break, Robby was elected as the head of the KGB in his Cold War Role Play game. He spent the break researching his options and developing a plan to spread the propaganda across the globe. 

I'm sure that our dinner conversations would sound odd if other people were listening. (Thankfully, we are still social distancing so there was no risk of eavesdropping.) Talking about snuffing out the CIA and expanding the iron curtain have monopolized our conversations during break. I never thought that we would be rooting for communism, but here I am, living the dream.  

Before the emails start flying towards me, we had no control over which side of the conflict was assigned to Robby's class. The luck of the draw assigned the Russians to Robby's section and the Americans were assigned to the virtual class. The two sections compete against each other in a game of strategy and espionage, using the Cold War as the backdrop for the experience.

His weeks of strategizing paid off. When I picked up Robby from class Friday afternoon, he almost ran to the car. He recounted the successes of the messages and his strategies for the remainder of the drive. I love seeing this kiddo so happy!