So different, yet so much alike

We've been attending parent teacher conferences for two weeks now. With five kids, the task can drag out for what seems like forever! Just coordinating times to get in without driving back and forth ten times or more is half the battle. We had three schools, 18 teachers, 40 miles and two of us! I did the three youngest ones by myself. It took me over four hours and an entire afternoon of waiting, talking, listening, suggesting and note taking to get learn about my children's academic success. All of their teachers said that the boys are cordial, respectful, and well behaved. Phew, so far, so good! There always seem to be pressure to do these required school visits. My children's teachers know that I am a teacher, too. So, we both tread lightly while discussing the details of their schooling. My husband and I went to the older boys' conferences in the evening with the child in tow. At the middle and high school level, tables are set up for the teachers with large signs of their names in the middle of the table. We wander around a large gymnasium looking for the right one. After a simple hand shake and greeting, the 10 minute countdown begins. Our oldest son's teachers all said the same thing in the first 30 seconds. "Your son is funny and loves to laugh and crack jokes in class." I gasped, and swallow hard. "Oh, is he a disruption?" Thankfully, the teachers said that he is very kind and has a great sense of humor. Our oldest is also smart with a difficult class load. Gee, where is that kid when he is busting on his brothers or tells me at 6 am that my eggs are rubbery! Our second son's teachers say that his is quiet, nice, and works hard. That's nice to hear, I'm thinking! But, what about that attitude when it comes to doing the laundry at home? In conclusion, I guess it's good to know that our children act appropriately while away from home and are socially and academically functioning "normal." I'm glad that they can be little stinkers at home where our comfort zone is suppose to be safe. Good luck to all the parents out there who tackle parent teacher conferences with a large family!

Be careful, too dangerous

We had a large, dead, Weeping Willow tree cut down in our yard. It gave us many memories over the years. It had a swing attached from one of its branches that allowed the boys to swing high over the lake. It felt like you were flying. I loved that swing! Even thought the tree was dead, we couldn't bring ourselves to cutting it down because of the swing. One day, a few teenagers hung on the swing seat, and it broke. The boys missed having the swing and gave my oldest a hard time about his buddies swinging and breaking it. After that, we decided to have the tree cut down because of its size and inability to withstand a wind storm, thus crashing down on our boat or deck someday. Gee, what a mistake! This massive thing left us with enough clean up work to do for an entire autumn season. It has taken us weeks to saw, split, stack, rake, gather, burn and dig. Everyone has been involved with the clean up. The little guy was tired of just gathering sticks and kindling wood while watching big brothers use the ax. So, he saunders over to big brother and asks to use the ax. I immediately and sternly replied, "NO, you're too little." Without a second to think, big brother spoke up at the same time, "Sure, come on over." I gasped! I had to hold my tongue, even though I'm the Mom. I knew in my heart, that big brother knows what little guy needs in order to stick with the job at hand or he would surely walk away and play somewhere. Big brother wraps his arms around little guy, (whose head barely reaches big brother's hips) and shows him how to hold the ax properly, swing it over his little melon head, and bring it down on the gigantic log! I watched with wide eyes and they accomplished the task with grace and dignity. Little guy smiles proudly and big brother sees the little man trying to grow up. My oldest son knew what the youngest son needed. He needed to feel like he was contributing in a big way and what manliness feels like. Swinging an ax is a lot like swinging on the swing that hung from the branch.. . . . high, powerful and free. At that same moment, I was remembering what it felt like swinging my infant sons high, over my head and free to. . . .LOVE.