Conduct? It's such a strict word

We've been battling conduct grades the past few days. I'll be honest-I expected this day to come. I wanted nothing more than to raise a high spirited, confident, smart, beautiful little girl- and that's what we got... I wasn't planning on the other things that come along with being all of those things.

Before we got to first grade, she was the thoughtful-shy-and Witty girl. Now she's the beautiful, free-spirited, "I don't feel like reading" girl.. She's much rather paint or draw that read.. She'd much rather run and play than sit and study her site words.

Last week- she was given a citation at school for cutting in line in front of another student, and then later for smacking someone for making fun of her for getting in trouble. It's so hard to teach a kid to see the wrong in cutting in the first place, which led to the teasing and smacking. She's a hard one to raise. She kind of likes to dive into life- and "cut the crust off" as she see's fit.

Alternately- Bryce is pretty happy reading, playing video games and doing what we ask of him, as long as it doesn't require him to compete with his sister. If there is competition- it is usually heated. It's easier just to avoid all forms of comparison-although we did call out that ALL of Bryce's conduct grades have been excellent. (Which wasn't appreciated by the daughter.. AT ALL!) So, after being grounded for a week-she seems to be doing better. Although- a grounding for her is like a grounding for the entire family. It means no TV on at any time, no computer, no sweets, nothing but reading, eating dinner, laying out clothing for the next day and going to bed. It stinks! I hope that she'll remember those consequences the next time her high-spirit seems to get the best of her better judgement!

We've been spending lots of time in College Station, tailgating for home games. We had the pleasure of joining our friends Marylou and Brent for the Aggie Coaches night, before the season started

Had such a fun time spending time with them and with the Aggie Yell Leaders! Whoop! :)

Heres hoping for a better week and no bad conduct grades! I'll keep you posted!

Technology Parenting

September, 1972- Richard Nixon was in office, the first episode of The Price is Right was hosted by Bob Barker and the Vietnam war was in full swing. My mother was in the hospital, and had been for some time, recovering from injuries she sustained in a car accident. She's got a baby on the way, no nursery-outfitted to the nines, no "Babies R'us", no big deal. Thats just how she "rolled". Times were much simpler, right? But were they just her version of simple? Flash forward to 2004, when we had our twins. Similar story, but my mandatory "incarceration" in the hospital on bedrest was to "cook" my twins a little longer and was very unexpected. I had the ability to get online wirelessly in my hospital room (Thank you Memorial Herman!) and have delivered a littany of baby products ranging from wireless baby monitors, Baby Einstein videos that were "statistically proven to make them smarter!", vibrating bouncy chairs, bottles, binkies, blankies, all backed up by customer reviews and forums with thousands of comments from parents who had recently purchased the same products.

What a difference 32 years makes! Being a mom in 2010 vs. 1970's (from an information perspective) is the difference between drinking from a water fountain vs. a fire hose! The pressure to navigate the gauntlet of technical parenthood and make the right decisions is just one product review away from failure! Its amazing that my brother and I made it though our childhood without my parents ability to share socially with countless, faceless, consumers who had an opinion about what they were about to buy.

Its not easier to be inundated with information- its just more to wade through and think about. Thoughts?

Feeling certainly ~ uncertain

All is not well in the world of financial turmoil. I arrived at work yesterday to the announcement mentioned in this article. We're for sale Now, I've been through this before- and you'd think that after going through this quite frequently in the past- I'd be "better" with the uncertainty. In honor of my past loves, and "not so loved" I'll list for you half my resume- It makes for a good chuckle.. 1.) 1999- Union Carbide/Bought by Dow Chemical 2.) 2001- Red Sky Interactive / Purchased by Agency.com 3.) 2001 - Compaq / Purchased by HP 4.) 2008 - Reliant Energy / ?? (Sniff, sniff) October has never been a great month for me. I wonder why? So what now?

The privacy of strangers

We've fared well through the storm- now its back to business. I cant help but take a few moments though to mention a post by a complete stranger about my neighborhood and our home. I'd like to set the record straight that we left town FOR A WEEK on Saturday, had no electricity through the week we were gone. We returned home and had to deal with the sad loss of one of our beloved family pets, the loss of most of our trees and our fences. All of this coupled with the fact that my 4 year old twins had no available childcare other than moi and my precious husband worked from a Chic-fillet for the week we were gone! (Thank God for wi-fi, electricity and a playground which allowed me to work a little as well!) All of this made for a tough week! (I've edited this post to speak to the sincerity of a reply I got from my earlier rant on Houstonist.) I appreciate your writing me back. I appreciate your explanation. Stepping down now (off my soap box, that is!)

There Aren't Enough Words...

Crushingly, over the past few weeks, there have been several instances of heartbreak for me. Not the kind of heartbreak that collapses you- but the tiny little "tink, tink, tink" of a hammer and chisel that in some cases can bring down a mountain. I had a dear childhood friend recently (a next door neighbor and his dad) that I grew up with, that were senselessly murdered. Its a long drawn out story- but my point is that its amazing what the mind will remember when someone from your past is brought up again. You'll be going along with your busy hectic schedule and all of the sudden- "WHAM"- your mom calls and tells you about something tragic. (She emailed me actually) Heres an exerpt from the notes we exchanged: Obviously- we grew up in the country- so keep that in mind as you read it! ;)

"Ugh- I just got done reading the article about David and "Big David" -- and

I'm really choked up... I can remember fishing with him

on the banks of our stock tanks and he would always catch

grasshoppers (or at least help Lisa and I) and eventually, we'd

end up in the tank swimming and getting yelled at because there were

always snakes sunning themselves and you were afraid

we'd get bit. I can see him in my mind, running around in the

pasture with him when I was little. Thirty acres was the world to us

three. Even more than that was the additional land we would run

around on over their side of the fence. ;) I remember when dad

got so pissed when we went up on the holding tanks for the oil well?

(Im sure that was mine and/or Lisa's idea) I think that was the only time

I remember us ALL getting our asses beat! Dad was having NONE of that! Remember Dot (the truck? was that the name?) we'd all crawl up in her

and I can see David turning the wheel with Lisa and I sitting next to him

on the long vinyl, cracked bench seat that would poke our legs with the

jagged edges and we would pretend we were driving to far away

places... Like Bryan- I suppose? ;) We would climb trees and he would hold my hand to help me up

them and to climb up on "mountains" of brush that daddy would

stack before he burnt it off- we would pretend we were adventurers. His daddy was always pretty quiet- and soft hearted. I

remember being over at their house a very few times growing up -

and although I think I had an idea that Big David didn't have much

(neither did we for that matter!) I could always see his love for little

David. He adored his son- would have given anything for him. I don't

ever remember him yelling at little David for much- just to get inside for dinner

or yelling across the pasture for him to come home at dusk. What

I see in my mind is this wiry little kid with platinum blonde hair that flew

in the air by the end of the summer because his daddy would buzz cut

it at the first of the summer-and it would grow out. I remember him being

able to whistle with grass blades, and Lisa and I never could.

(I think Lisa got some remedial training in that department- because

she eventually learned to do it too I think- but I never did.) He could whistle

with two fingers too- we never could- it always made us jealous- and he

would be patient and still try and teach us how to do it, I can see him smile

this huge white toothed smile, right now, laughing at us. I guess we were

probably about 7 or 8? I can remember him crawling through the

barbed wire fence, mostly barefooted and wandering over to the back shed

when dad used that as a house for his tools and stuff. Remember,

I would wander down there and watch daddy and Little David would

wander over too and just hang out and have the occasional

question about what daddy was doing. He never did have anything bad to say about anyone-unless he was complaining

about Lisa and I (we probably weren't playing nice or something.) I don't

EVER remember him not having a smile on his face. I always thought of him

as an angel.. (And Lisa and I were the devils ;)-- (I mean that jokingly ;)

I don't know that we three played much together after we were past about 10-and

I know he had a much different life than I've had- but there's something to be

said about the children we spend our time with growing up. We grow

up- but those sweet memories are always there. I'll always have good memories

of our childhood. Its unfortunate that his and his daddy's life had to end

so abruptly and so violently. I cant tell you that I wouldn't have handled an

email from my daughter the same exact way. He did what he HAD to do as a dad.

He should always be her hero. I know intimately what I would do to save

my children from even the slightest pain. I wonder what will happen with the

kids now that they are gone? I pray they don't place them back with their mother.

That would destroy everything he stood for in getting them back in a safe place

where he could raise them surrounded by love and safety. I love you- Amydell" Additionally- I got a call from mom that a high school buddy died from breast cancer. She was a couple of years younger than I am. I'm telling you- not because I want to depress you- but because I want you to breathe today- I mean REALLY take a deep breath and whisper sweet songs to your kiddos tonight when you tuck them in. I really want you to hug someone you love and smell their hair and grab their hand when they dont expect it. Tell those you love how much you do love them and really be happy that you had today. Today will be a memory tomorrow and all we really have is today. On another note- just a few weeks away is Fathers Day!! I wanted to post a few pics of the kiddos at their first Astros game last night. It was a fun game- although the 'stros lost to the Cubbys. The kids ate hot dogs and popcorn and drank sodas. Bill and I split a beer. Bryce couldnt figure out WHY the train didnt just chug around Minute Maid Park the whole game. (or just once!) - which incidentally doesnt happen unless a batter hits one out of the park. Me thinks they are a little stingy with the train!!! ;) There arent enough words to explain how much I love this little family, this little life of mine and this great big town, Houston.