It has been ages since I wrote a random post so tonight since I have a wide variety of thoughts running through my head, I thought I’d break out some randomness.
~Malachi (5 1/2) has been having SUCH a hard time going to his Bible classes for the past several weeks. I know this is a normal phase – all my kids have gone through it at one time or another and all of them have gotten over it and have happily gone back to class without fear (and without kicking the teacher) eventually. But Malachi seems to be having a tougher time and nothing I’ve tried is helping. He said he wants to be with me forever and he’s too sad when he’s not with me and he’s never going to get married or go to Bible class ever again. You’d think after four kids I’d have this parenting thing all figured out. If only.
~Just when we thought we got Asa’s shoes figured out (you remember that awesome deal we got right?)…we need to turn around and buy another pair of shoes. He’s decided to join our local Home school Basketball team this year and we’re excited to branch out of our soccer thing for a season…but shock upon shock, you are not allowed to wear soccer cleats on the basketball court. And so, on our way to the pumpkin patch field trip this week, we will be basketball shoe shopping. We’re making him pay half. I’m not sure if he’s buying the left shoe or the right shoe…I guess I’ll ask him which one he prefers. (That may have been one of the dorkiest jokes I’ve ever tried to write.)
~Never, ever, ever try to sort and reorganize your summer clothes and winter clothes in the middle of having company and putting insulation in your living room. I started the big clothing switch out (you know, that one you do every fall when you realize your kids need a sweatshirt instead of a swimsuit?), but then got busy getting ready for company and tearing apart our living room and all my organized piles got trampled. Then Legos got dumped into the piles. Yesterday, I decided to just close the door and walk away. I’ll figure it out eventually but for now I’m going to choose to be in denial about the insanity of that room.
I can’t even look at it.
~After I posted the initial pictures of our big living room insulation project, several of you commented about our beautiful window. You’re right…it’s old and antique and beautiful! But, Matt and I decided that maybe you’d better have a closer-up picture:
Nice huh?
One day several years ago, one of our boys was whacking a wooden sword on the couch directly in front of the window. The handle suddenly detached from the “blade”. The handle stayed in his hand. The blade flew up and banged against the window. I’m not sure if he was upset that he broke the window, but he sure was sad about the sword.
Yesterday, Matt finally took out the spider web window and took it in to be replaced. I know…we should have done it long ago, but it was a part of that whole antique beveled glass window and we had a hard time doing it (we were able to leave the top part – the pretty part). Plus, it’s been a great conversation starter. You can never have enough broken window conversation starters, right?
The weird/sentimental part of me had a bit of a hard time parting with the broken window. I never got around to putting together baby books for my kids, so that window was a part of some baby boy memories for me. Really Laura, just get out the photo albums already.
It’s okay, I’m over it.
More pictures of the living room project to come, but let’s just say that I would not be surprised if some of the dust from our plastered walls (that are now all over our floor) may have reached as far as your home and settled there. If so, please accept my humble apologies. One hundred year old plaster really does stir up the dust.
Yvonna says
Hey, that room sure looks familiar. Are you sure you didn’t come by for a visit? Really, it looks like our playroom. We were/are trying to go from all play room to half play room-half exercise room = Family Room. It really looks like that room…ummm maybe times 7 or even 10. We rented a old farm house and we plastered over the holes then painted(landlord didn’t want added costs). I’m glad we were only there for one winter. Our heating bill was horrific :(
Char says
Your random post just made me feel SO much better, for a variety of reasons. But, the main reason? The photo of your piles of stuff. My boys’ bedroom looks ever so much worse than that (and they LIVE in that room, kind of…if trying not to die while navigating piles of toys and clothes could be considered living). But… it did make me feel better to know that I’m not the only one with a room that is a wee bit out of control (ok, so I have TWO rooms like that, but still).
Amber Rogers says
Laura, LET HIM STAY WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU are what he needs. Soon he won’t need you. Not in the same way. Let him stay with you. Teach him a lesson yourself.
Laura says
Thanks Amber, for confirming what I feel about the whole thing. I have been letting him stay with me – sometimes I keep him home and we do our own thing, usually he just goes to class with me. It works and I can tell that it’s a genuine fear, not just a control thing or a naughty thing. He’s learning about God with our without Bible class, but not everyone sees it that way and I get frustrated.
Anyway, thank you for the encouragement.
Laura says
I meant to say with OR without. :)
melanie f says
Just remember Who you answer to when you are swimming against the tide =) Esp- ugh, can’t see what I’m typing! — okay now …especially if your hubby agrees. Do what you believe is best for your son!
Cathy says
I’m comforted to read these comments. I struggle w/taking my 23
month old to the church nursery because he cries so much.
Everyone keeps telling me it takes time and he needs to get used
to it, but it’s hard to leave your kid when he’s crying so hard.
I mean, is that really what I want him to associate with going to
church? We stopped trying for a few months and just took him to
the church service with us (hubs and I took turns taking him outside
when he got too “energetic”). We’re trying the nursery again and so
far he’s doing much better. Sorry, didn’t mean to write a novel.
Just nice to know I’m not alone and even older kids struggle too.
Danielle says
Yup Laura, keep him w/you. if you “force” him to go he may hate it for a LONGGGGGGGGGGGG time! And we don’t want that.
Gayla says
I so agree!Why do we seperate our families?My little guy does everything with me from errands to church.If he wants to go with the kids he is welcome,but most of the time he stays with me.I have two adult children that were raised the same way.He will decide he wants to go when he is ready(even if you aren’t)It is wonderful that you know your child well enough and care enough to think about what he wants and needs even though it is not the social norm.God bless you!
Amanda says
Here’s to new shoes :-)
http://hip2save.com/2010/10/its-back-30-voucher-to-shoebuy-com-for-15-includes-free-shipping.html
Kimberlee says
Dear Laura, your house and mine have so much in common! My clothing piles are in each room and I often want to cry with despair because I wonder if I will ever get things sorted and put away. Too much to do and too many “distractions”, albeit cute and worthy disctractions. Glad I am not the only one.
And, I agree with Amber. They grow up so fast so enjoy being needed because, as a wise woman keeps telling me, “This, too, shall pass.”
Lisa says
I had to laugh at the broken window. We have 4 boys and the same window has been broken 3 times! Gotta love boys! :D
Hannah says
Bless you, Laura for posting that picture on the world wide web! I only have two but there are certainly days I have a room (or three) looking like that! Thank you for your randomness. I’m so happy you will have a warm home this winter :-)
Thought you might like this: http://treasuringitup.blogspot.com/2010/10/therapy.html
Have a wonderful day!!
Valerie @ Kite Koop and the Village of Moms says
Laura, you know the troubles we’ve had with Jacob, right? Since DAY ONE! Well, we were always able to stay with him without any hitches (and we NEVER forced him to go alone). Eventually he was able to go on his own (more recently). But lately he’s been having the same issue. He doesn’t want to go PERIOD. Not if we are there. Not if we entice him/bribe him. Nothing. He says he just wants to go to class with us. So, lately he’s been going with dad or even came to class with Shealyn to help out. I guess that won’t hurt anybody. Just let him stay with you. He’s your baby and you’ll miss him when he’s all grown up and NOT wanting to be with you. :)
By the way, that prayer request meme I told you about is finally up and running starting today! Here’s the link:
http://thekitefamily.blogspot.com/search/label/prayerful%20thursdays
Cathie says
Thanks for clarifying. I was wondering about your “Without Bible Class!” Several years ago, I heard a sermon by Stanley Morris (he translated The Simple English Bible) wherein the whole “sermon” was his iteration of (parts of) The New Testament from memorization. Word for word. It was amazing. I guess since he was (is?) a bible translator it was just work for him, but more than 30 years later I am still impressed.
There. How’s that for a Random comment?
Yvonna says
It is nice to see that there are others out there with what I call “did a tornado go through there or what” rooms(especially the boys room). I thought I was the only one. I use to have a spotless house but of course that was before children came along. Laura my 8 year old has days when he wants to stay with me during Sunday school and truthfully, I know he should be with his class but it makes me feel needed since the boys are getting older and need mommy less(more so since our daughter moved out)
melanie f says
What a blessing to be able to shut a door on that! =) We are living in perpetual “Just moved in, but not quite” in most of our new home. So why am I reading blogs? ahem ~ bye!
Sheila says
I thought you were going to say he needed new shoes because he outgrew them already. That’s what happens to me every time we find a good deal! :)
Danielle says
LOL… I thought that too!