I'm "chic"!

My high school reunion was held at my boarding school this past weekend.  I had so much fun and the no-booze thing was a non-issue for me, I'm happy to say.  

Right when I got there I told my 2 girlies I had emailed previously that I would meet them wherever they were.  They were at a seminar held by a classmate.  I registered, gathered my loot (a blanket with the school logo on it and a 4 pack of beer specially brewed for our class) and found the classroom where the seminar was being held.

I had no idea what the seminar was about.  Turns out it was about how to present the best you in any business scenario.

My business is laundry, vacuuming and car pools, so no stress for me.

We were asked to pair up with someone we didn't know and write 5 words that describe them as a first impression.

The list that this elegant woman from the class of '63 wrote began with the word "lovely".

I hugged her immediately.

I don't remember all the other words, but 3 others were "extroverted", "open" and "chic".

Can you believe "loud" wasn't on the list?!!!  I can't!!!  Great moment for Lauren!!!

I taped the list to my dorm door.

More stories to follow I'm sure, although I have been sworn to secrecy for most of them.  :)

Holy crap I'm in for it

TJ: "What the hell?!?!"

Me:  "Buddy you really can't swear around me you know."

TJ:  "Mom, I'm a teen now.  What do you expect?"

Me:  "I expect you to be thoughtful and respectful around adults, me included.  That's what I expect."

TJ:  "Well it's not like I said 'F'.  I guess I'll only swear around the boys."

Good god, now it's "the boys".  Someone help me.

PS - I not-so-secretly love it.  Take that, autism.

It's way too late to fool you guys

My high school reunion is coming up.  I have 2 of them, actually.  One is in the fall for the school I attended from 3rd grade to 10th grade.  The other is in a couple of weeks at my former beloved boarding school of 2 years - Northfield Mount Hermon.

By the way, the word "Northfield" just autocorrected to the word "Mortified".  Hahahahaha!!!!

Since I am Joanne Average, when I think of attending my reunion, I think what most people think:  I need to lose weight! I need to get new clothes!  I need to be my most fabulous self!

Then I remember - too late for my most fabulous self.  I write about everything (almost) in this blog.  So anyone who reads this blog (is anyone reading this blog???) already knows what I'm up to.  The jig is up.  No fake outs possible.

Damn.

Well, at least now that I am booze free, I can drive the 3am stolen golf cart safely.  BORROWED!!!  Borrowed, not stolen!!!!  What golf cart?  I have no idea what you're talking about.

See you soon fellow faboo'88ers - I can't wait!

Is it weird I don't find this weird?

My 13 year old with no verbal filter just came home from school sick.  

When I was signing him out in the school office, he said, loudly, "Mom, it was explosive.  Seriously."  The school Secretary and Principal tried very hard not to laugh as they refused to look up from their work.  Then he said "It just kept on comin'...." and that's when I suggested gently that maybe it's best we talk about it in the car.

Then when we got home there was more running to the bathroom, with "Leprechaun prance!" being loudly declared.

Just another day in the life.  Normal as can be.

I DO have a job!!!

Today is Mother's Day, which in my house is a sacred day of tiara wearing, extra relaxing, and no holds barred hugs that the boys are not allowed to refuse.  My rules are clear.  

I also like to take a picture of me with my boys, so I can see how they have grown. This is this year's picture, which made my jaw drop:

When did my boys get so big?!?!  When did their youthful childish grins turn into the confident smiles of young men?  And how did I get so lucky?

A year ago, I left my job (that I loved) because I was giving the best of myself to other people's children.  I had no energy left for my own.  And since then I have been saying - and even calling this blog - "I don't have a job". 

Not true.  Not even close to true.

I am so fortunate to have the most amazing job in the world.  I am a Mom.  I am a wife.  I am a daughter and a sister and a cousin and a niece and a really good friend.  

And I really, really love all my jobs.  

Yes, I have some tough stuff in my life.  But who doesn't?  Everyone has something.  But I have wonderful people on my team.

Thanks, you faboo co-workers.

Am I lucky or what?  

Someday you can read the book

Sometimes I push limits just for humor's sake.

I wore my stinkiest shoes today (yes, there are varying levels of stink - not in all the shoes. Just some. I digress...). After the boys were in bed, Sean and I were on the couch watching tv. I took my stinky shoes off and stuck my feet in Sean's face.

"Do you really want to play this game? My feet are bigger than yours and my legs are longer. You could be in trouble."

"But it's cute when I do it and mean when you do it. There's the difference."

As soon as I said it I knew it was time to heed his warning and end the game.

I haven't written in a while. There has been a lot going on. Someday you can read the book...I'm not giving it all away for free. :)

Try to find ways to keep a smile on your face. The alternative means the bad guys win.

Parenting autism

Today I had an interesting time parenting TJ's autism. We were waiting while Peter had his guitar lesson and TJ was playing on his iPad with headphones. He was whispering - I think he was reciting Spongebob (side note - in Montreal they call it "Bob L'eponge". I love that for some reason). Everyone could hear him and he was getting some strange looks. I tapped him on the shoulder and reminded him to be quiet, which lasted about 2 seconds before his arms were flying in the air, and Bob L'eponge was being recited again. He had a huge grin on his face.

I love that grin. I was uncomfortable with the way people were looking at him, but didn't want to take his grin away. I had a moment of panic when I thought maybe I should let everyone know that he has autism, so the looks would stop. But TJ didn't have a problem with the looks, it was only me. So I decided to let him do what he wanted to. He continued to flail away, joyously.

As we were driving home, I explained to him that everyone in the waiting room could hear him and didn't understand that he has autism, and asked if he was bothered by the way people were looking at him. He said no. I told him he could do whatever he wanted to do, as long as he was comfortable and not hurt by some of the looks he gets. If the looks bother him, I want him to understand why he is getting them. He said he was fine and had fun.

In the end my head knows that that is all that matters - that TJ understands what is happening around him and is ok. It doesn't matter how uncomfortable I am at all. It's a tough pill for me to swallow.

But his grin always makes it easier.