Rite of Passage

This weekend James and J and I were having a discussion about where all of our calculators had gotten to. I started to say, "I bought two of them (to put in stockings at Christmas)..." and then I stopped before I got to the part in parentheses. J's eyes got wide and he said "You said you bought them. That means that Santa Claus isn't really real!!!!" I stood there like a deer in headlights with a look that gave it all away. There was no more denying it. So James and I came clean. I even told him I was 8 when I figured it out just like him. I asked if he would like to help me pick out something for MC's stocking and he said yes, with his face lit up. I told him I trusted him with this information - not to spoil it for his sister or anyone else who still believes. I also told him what my mother told me. If you say you don't believe in Santa anymore, he will stop coming to bring you presents. Honestly, I'm kind of relieved. He has been asking questions for a while now and I've been wondering how I would answer them. I'm uploading a picture of him from his 8th birthday party. Can't believe how the time flies! This picture was taken at the point of the Happy Birthday song that goes "dear J..." (but you could probably figure that out yourself!)

Going Cold Turkey on Clean House

Today I decided I need to take the tv show "Clean House" out of my DVR to-do list and delete all the previously recorded episodes. It isn't helping anymore. It's making me feel bad about the clutter in my house and the dust bunnies and dirt. It used to inspire me to get up and do something about it. But now I think it is contributing to the problem. If nothing else, I could be doing so many more things with my time than watching this show on tv. Even without watching the commercials I often spend an hour or more of each day watching the Clean House crew clean up other people's clutter and analyze why it got out of hand to begin with. To top it off, there is a new spin-off show called "Clean House Comes Clean." In this show the crew talk about things that happened during filming that they didn't show on the original episodes. Now I really don't need to be watching this too. Plus, when I'm watching these shows, I want to eat a snack (and often do). I sit there and think about how I have rooms in my house that look like what I'm seeing on TV. All bad stuff for my body and soul. So I'm stopping that old habit. Don't know what I'll replace it with, but sleep might be one good idea. Anyway, I'm looking for a new inspiration to mop the floors and clean the toilets, and mostly to stop the negative self-talk that's creeping in and keeping me from doing anything about the clutter. So wish me luck.

Pretend Play Can Be Very Real

Just now MC came up the stairs in tears. She had been crying quietly downstairs while she was playing with her stuffed animals and dolls. I didn't hear her, but I know this because she was in that post-crying stage when a person sniffs a lot and tries to catch her breath. She went in her room and closed her door. I went in after her and asked if she was okay because she seemed so sad. She sat on her bed and said something like this: "It's just that Lucy and Sally want me to live with them but Thumper wanted me to live at his house." I guess she really felt torn about whom she would choose because they all wanted to be with her and she wanted to be with all of them. I told her she could tell them they could all live with her instead, and that seemed to help. Then I held her in my lap and read her a couple of books. So precious.

Two Kids in School

I am happy to report that both of my kids have now started school. MC began preschool yesterday. J is in his second week of third grade. Since tomorrow is J's birthday, I have been very busy in my alone time so far. Tomorrow looks to be another busy day to prepare the house for his magic party that begins at 4:30. After my errands today, I think I'll have everything I need for the party here. I do have to get a mylar balloon filled and pick up a cake tomorrow. I now have to concentrate on straightening the house for five 8-year-olds to play games and have a magic show. The last time I checked the weather, tropical storm Hannah was predicted to bring rain on the party. That means that all activities have to be inside. We do have a great back yard for parties, but it will have to serve that purpose another year. If Hannah changes her path, we can always take some of the games outside.