Mostly musings: everyday life, funny stuff, kids, friends, and more.

testing twitter link

irisia — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:41:43 +0000

testing twitter link

Penance for teen mistakes

irisia — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:07:19 +0000

I had one of those “events” last weekend – or should I say one of my kids had what I’m trying to lightly call a “teenage event”. That way I don’t freak out as much. There have been other events over the years but the things I put in this category are mistakes that the kids make that make me cry. Last weekend was one of those.

Since then, as a m-hmm good, uh used-to-be Catholic, I’ve been trying to think of ways to make up for it. This event was done in front of someone very important. So, I have this overwhelming urge to identify ideas for penance and to parade those in front of the adult who unfortunately witnessed my teens moment-ary lapse of reason.

My first thought when I heard about it was to put it in that top category – the ones that are so bad that we never talk about them again. That lasted all of about 5 minutes. I needed to do the dreaded “I’m so disappointed with you” conference. But, it wasn’t to punish by the dreaded parent lecture. It was to educate. It lasted about an hour and I thought it went well. If they only knew that it really does hurt us as much as it hurts them.

So today I found out that the “guilty” had decided to do a service project, recruited a friend, walked to the location, and did the service for 3 hours without looking for credit, advertising the good deed or otherwise. The only reason I found out was calling to see who was coming home for dinner. I thank G-d for this penance that was undertaken in a quiet and so meaningful way. I have this urge to share this story with the disappointed adult but I should be as humble as my child and enjoy the good deed for what it is and not as a bragging token. I’m proud.

Matthew tries his hand at theater

irisia — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:10:56 +0000

Matthew made the musical play Cinderella at school. It was so funny. He would spring into various characters around the house using different voices and accents and doing a fabulous mime act where he was two different people saying these hilarious things to each other. Of course I didn’t realize how hilarious the things he was saying were until he told me after what the 2 mimes were saying to eachother – things like “oh no you di’int”.

So he tried out for the musical play at school – his first time ever trying out and made the part of the chef in the play. He practices hard – two times/week for 2.5 and 2 hours respectively. He has a singing part which is so funny because we’ve never heard him seriously sing around the house. To make it worse, he has not sung his part to us at all – not even one line. He is making us wait until the live show to hear him sing. Only Matthew.

Jack moves up in rank in AFJROTC

irisia — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:22:14 +0000

Jack’s rank was advanced in AFJROTC to Staff Sergeant – SSGT. He said that first years are usually never advanced to this level. I’m still learning more about what his new responsibilities will be. He had to turn in items today to exchange for his new rank items for his uniform. I sound like I am speaking very unintelligently about this subject and indeed I am. I have a lot of learning left to go to understand ranks, rank advancement, what is entailed, what it all means, etc. Here starts that process.

Matt’s jazz band plays at the talent show

irisia — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:55:46 +0000

Matt was really psyched last Friday that the newly formed jazz band got to play at the talent show. I really wanted to go to the talent show but I couldn’t convince the other kids to go and I didn’t want to leave them home. So, Matt was ok with running in, playing his song (since they were on first) and running out. We waited in the car, opened the windows and listened to music. Matt came out quickly and the whole thing was easy. He was really pleased and is really enjoying being in the jazz band.

Matt makes jazz band!

irisia — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:51:29 +0000

Matt decided to audition for jazz band and he was selected!! He is so happy. He has to go practice a couple days/week before school and then at the recital, I believe the jazz band does additional pieces at recital. Go Matt!!

Jack gets first alternate on ROTC drill team and drops drivers ed like a hot potato

irisia — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:32:21 +0000

I am SO proud of Jack. He wants desperately to take driver’s ed. He’s going to be 15 next month so this would be 12 months before he could drive. Although I think that taking the class this long before actually driving doesn’t make much sense, I remember the excitement of wanting to learn to drive so if he got into the class in October, I was going to let him take it. He was so excited that he had all the pickups arranged – even for when I am going to be out of town.

But, he’s been practicing with drill team and really likes it. He takes it very seriously and even practices at home. Yesterday, they told him that he would be first alternate on the team and he’s only a freshman. He was so excited that he dropped the idea of driver’s ed like a hot potato and rescheduled his transportation so he could fulfill his responsibility of drill team first alternate. Howard and I talked this morning and it just makes us so proud when they make good choices that represent the best priorities.

Kate starting another season of GOTR

irisia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:58:23 +0000

Kate just started her 3rd season of GOTR yesterday. She has a new leader who seems really nice. Her group is large and the girls in her group seem great. Many of them have been in her group before but some are new. There are some other new girls doing GOTR. Looking forward to another great season!

Matt is trying out for Jazz Band

irisia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:48:50 +0000

Matt’s really excited that they are allowing clarinets into the jazz band this year. He’s looking forward to trying out. They would have to have practice before school a couple days/week – ug – but what a great experience. His new band teacher (this year and last) has made a huge difference. In 6th grade, he never seemed to make much progress growing as a musician and the bi-annual shows didn’t seem very good at all – just not finished or polished. But as of last year, he has a new teacher and she seems to be doing such a great job with the kids.

Jack gets inducted into OA

irisia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:46:13 +0000

Last weekend Jack went with several other boys from the troop for his OA “ordeal”. I get the sense that they mystery surrounding the term ordeal is that way for a reason. Suffice it to say that he said they did LOTS of service and ate what he termed “scant” amounts of food – the worst of which was a lunch that consisted of 2 pieces of bread and one piece of bologna. He came home with his OA sash and proudly wore it to his next meeting.