An adjective for another’s voice

I first noticed myself using my mom’s tone in subtle ways.  Then, particularly when I wanted to get someone’s attention or to reprimand, I found myself using her tone more deliberately.  In fact, it became an adjective, ‘my kay redmond voice’.  Anyone that knows my mom, knows that tone.  As I write this, I worry that it may be perceived as  making fun of my mom, that is not the case. She has a way of getting her point across, and commanding attention. That doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people.  Now, having kids of my own, the cycle repeats.  I hear my tone of voice in my own kids.  Today, my older one instructed me to get thick crust pizza the next time I buy it, the younger chimed in immediately and said “don’t you mean to say ‘thankyou for dinner?’ “  I find it endearing, but I’d imagine that they find it humorous and will one day blog about the ‘kate diday voice.’

Preserved pre-business casual attire, now halloween costume

I exited the workforce to raise a family in 2002.  Business casual attire was just starting to be the trend, but I was proud of the investment I’d made in my professional wardrobe!  So I packed it up and stored it.  Now, my 11 year old is using an old blazer for this year’s halloween costume.  She’s a secret agent, and loves the oversized black jacket (with, may I add, subtle shoulder pads).  Who’d of thought my hard earned paycheck $s, smartly used to buy the fashion trends of the late nineties, would have ended up in the costume box.  I only wish I would have kept that first cell phone of mine. A bag phone, complete with the faux leather zipped cover and handle.  That would have been a huge hit with the kids.

Almost as good as lasterday

Had one of those priceless conversations with my 11 year old at bedtime tonight.  I wouldn't trade these conversations for the world, and hope to always remember them... which is partly why I blog.  Tonight, she introduced a new phrase "another o'clock."  We were discussing the impact of me returning to work, and I explained how I'd likely have to start work by 8:00.  This, she thought was fine, since she'll be in school at 7:45.  Then, she simply suggested that I return home from work at "another o'clock" to be here when her school day ends. This, from the genius who at the age of 4 coined the phrase lasterday.  Lasterday was how she referred to anything that occurred in the recent past. It made much more sense to her then the word yesterday, and we all agreed, naturally!

Grief creep

Just when you think you may have finished the grieving cycle, little things happen that allow grief to creep in.  I was at the pool yesterday watching my daughter and nephew (9 and 8) play baseball... they were striking a very worn water-bomb-ball, using their arm as a bat and jumping in to swim the bases (whose location was visible only to the two of them).  This lasted for over an hour, and there were no bad calls, no outs, frequent re-dos and lots of pure fun.  I wished my sister, Eileen, was sitting there with me to watch her son and niece.  I remember when, 12 years ago, we had agreed that we'd stay close, so our kids would grow up playing with their cousins. We planned for it, bought houses in the same city, had 5 kids between us... What we didn't plan on, was cancer. She got it first, ovarian.. then I was diagnosed with breast.  8 months later, only one of us remained.  That was nearly 5 years ago.  So there it is, grief creeping in on a warm sunny, otherwise perfect pool day.  With this creeper, though, there were no tears.  I just said a prayer asking God to make sure Eileen had a great seat to see this baseball game.  Since she wasn't sitting next to me, here, I know she must be with our dad taking in the view from Heaven.

Weed-wacker for hedge trimming

I'm in awe of the friends of mine that are transitioning household chores to their kids.  I occassionally get mine to clean their rooms, perhaps even vacuum and dust... but that's only after asking 3 times.  A neighbor of mine has her kids not only doing chores at home, but distributing flyers to do chores around the neighborhood... for a fee, naturally.  That's the kind of parent I thought I'd be, and I know there's still a chance.  So, as I was using the weed-wacker today in the yard, around the sidewalk and beds, I thought, this is something that eventually the kids could do... Then, I noticed that the hedges also needed trimming, so I simply hoisted up the weed-wacker and took care of the hedges as well.  This is not something that I think my husband would approve of.  In fact, if my kids ever do use the weed-wacker, and I see them attacking the hedges, or anything above ankle height,  I'd likely yell at them...'what are you thinking?'  If, however you choose to try it, it does seem to work just fine.

On the way to John Hancock

During a recent trip to Chicago, I was trying to map out a day that did not involve spending a crazy amount of money. The girls had already said that all they wanted to do was go to a gift store to spend the money they'd brought. One had rolled coins and cashed in her change at the bank for a total of $32.50, the other brought her earnings from the tooth fairy, $8 (all in $1 coins).  We left our hotel at 9:30 am, first destination, the John Hancock building. After that, I was preparing myself for a long day of searching for the right combination of stuffed animals, with a combined cost of $40.50, and net worth of $3.98.  We got off at the wrong bus stop, but we were right in front of a gift store.  30 minutes later, we left with souvenirs for everyone and gifts for the bffs of the 11 year old, it was meant to be.  Across the street was the Contemporary Museum of Modern Art, with a two story gift shop inside. Browsing through there took another hour (never made it inside the museum)In the end, our bags were full of unique toys, cool keepsake charms, one stuffed animal and a obnoxiously bright green scarf (which the girls picked out for me), all under budget.  Never made it to the John Hancock building that day, but had a lot of fun on the way.

Today's Special

My kids are polar opposite when the clock strikes 7:57am on a school day. There are days when my 5th grader is still causally eating breakfast, while the 3rd grader, who's been up and dressed for 30 minutes, runs chaotically through the house looking for socks, shoes, or books. She exhibits so much anxiety, that you think her world will in fact end if she can't find what she's looking for.  Since I never know what will set her off, I like to call it "Today's Special". Today's Special in our house was a library book. The search for it featured stomping feet, slamming doors, tears and finger pointing. My 5th grader, un-phased by the chaos of the search, diffused the situation by quietly going to her sister's backpack and retrieving the book. She thinks methodically, while her sibling is more reactionary. I enjoy the mornings when there are no 'Specials' on the menu, but when there are, I find it interesting to observe how everyone in the house responds, it speaks volumes about our family dynamics. Even the dog plays a role, she just finds a remote spot to curl up in, and stays out of the way.