Thursday, June 26, 2014

Missing My Cue

Editor's Note: Please refrain from editing this too closely as you read along...I did go back and re-read it, but with tired eyes and ones which may or may not have missed typos, mistakes, etc.

Don't judge.
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So I would be remiss if I neglected to tell you all that I am not enjoying my week all that much.

Overall, that is.

Parts have been ok...even dare-I-say nice. I've spent time with friends; I got to sit beside a pool which was by a lake and chat with friends; I got to chat with a friend on the phone (you know...the original intended use for a phone?). Aare you seeing a theme here?

All that to say...parts have been good. Where I am running into the "not enjoying it" part is that I have been spending a lot of time alone when I am at home.

For an introvert, that should be a good thing, right? But when the introvert wants to spend time with her family, (aka being a little extrovert-y), she needs the family to be there.

But they have not.

All last week, the boys had camp; when the 11yo came home from his daycamp, he needed time to be alone. (He's my introvert).

And even when my extrovert came home from his week at church camp, he needed to decompress...alone.

Fine. Be that way.

I may or may not have handled it well.

And you may be wondering why I am talking about last week when I was complaining talking about about THIS week.

I'm laying the groundwork for perhaps WHY I am so bothered this week.

Now this week, Mr. AR has been serving at the church each night (long story: local mission trip experience for High School Ministry at our church...the kids stay there all week...including at night...and they run a daycamp at the church during the day.) Mr. AR is spending the evenings with the teens...eating dinner, hanging out, doing devotions, all that stuff.

Which means he's out the door early for work and then home late from church.

It's only a week and totally do-able and I am really not complaining (too much) even though it might seem like I am (ok maybe a little bit but I am really ok with it...it's not for forever).

Plus, I thought I would have the PBA here to keep me company.

Ha!

Monday afternoon, the 11yo had a friend over to play and the 13yo went to a sleepover surprise birthday party.

Tuesday evening, the boys had a friend spend the night.

Thursday evening, the 11yo is spending the night at a friend's house and the 13yo is playing outside.

Friday afternoon the 13yo is having friends over.

Saturday night the 11yo is going to a birthday party sleepover.

So you see...I've been mostly alone in my own house.

For those of you who would give their leg to have some time alone in their house, I apologize. I'm certain you cannot relate and for that I am sorry.

I was you just a couple years ago. There's plenty of time for this to come around to you.

And frankly, I don't know what my point is in telling you all that was except it is possibly to make you feel like you got your money's worth from this post.

More words = more value.

So...tonight, as I said, the 11yo is spending the night at a friend's house. Through a series of events which I will omit form this post so as not to disparage my child, the 11yo is grounded from video games.

You don't need to know details.

I reminded him of this as he was going out the door...because otherwise he may or may not have been fuzzy on the details and parameters of it.

And yes, trust me that I realize that he's been grounded from video games and not from friends. Right now, I find the video games to be a bigger issue than the friends, although the conversation printed below may or may not prove me wrong on both counts.

A couple minutes later, the 11yo returned. He's told his friend that he was grounded from video games. And he then proceeded to narrate their conversation back to me:

The friend: That's ok...we can just play them in secret.

11yo: No, that wouldn't be right.

The friend: It's not a big deal; I won't tell.

11yo: Well, my mom's going to tell your mom that I'm grounded, plus it wouldn't be the right thing to do. (drops his head and looks at the floor...summoning up TRUE remorse)

Me: You're exactly right...it wouldn't be right. Thank you for making that choice.

(Silence and HUGE pregnant pause)

11yo: Mom! You missed your cue! You were supposed to say "I'm so proud of you for making that choice that you can play video games tonight!"

Me: Ummmm yeah that's not going to happen.

11yo: Well, I figured but it was worth a shot...




4 comments:

  1. Good moms miss their cues all the time! Good for you, and kudos to your son for honesty.

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    1. Yes, yeah for the honesty...too bad he was only honest b/c he was trying to get something out of me...

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  2. I love that I was privy to this conversation as it happened. Soooo good to talk to you! Love you!

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    1. SO good to talk to you too! Let's try to make that happen again before another 3 years pass, ok? Love you too!

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