Snow Daze

Living in this part of the country means we can expect snow in the winter. Yet, every year I hope we will have a mild winter where the temperatures don't plummet and the amount of snow can't  sustain a snowman.

No, I'm not a fan of the winter. I don't enjoy being cold and having to bundle up just to take out the garbage. However, I am trying to make the best of it by keeping busy with other things. The challenge is getting out of the house when it requires maneuvering around massive piles of snow and patches of black-ice.

This week our area experienced a massive storm that left quite an amount of snow. Some neighborhoods were left with a foot while others close to three. As a result, school & businesses were closed. Many had hoped that they would be back to normal by now (almost four days since the storm), yet there are those still stuck at home because their streets have yet to be cleared.(That's a topic for a different day...)

As a mom, when I hear the word 'snow' I start to panic because I know that I will have to accomplish a lot in a short span of time. Why? Because snow day equals stuck at home. What's the big deal, you may ask? Well, it isn't. It just disrupts a routine which can be difficult for some but ok for others (like teachers, who love snow days). I am one of those people who can't handle being stuck indoors. I like to go outside.

You see, as a stay-at-home mom your house becomes your office. A mom needs a break from her house just like an employee needs a break from his desk.  Imagine getting stuck at your job during a snowstorm, you would go nuts! I feel the same way cooped up in the house.

So, I  continue to pray that the remainder of the winter is kinder and look forward to spring!

 

On Sale: Therapy

Normally I am not one who enjoys shopping. From the time I was a teenager I have always hated going to stores. Spending a lot of time looking for something only to come home empty-handed. Either it's too expensive, or doesn't come in my size.I never saw the pleasure in it.

Today I had a unique experience. Today I decided to go shopping in Monsey, NY. Why there? Because the likelihood of my finding something "kosher" to wear at a respectable price is pretty high in a town like Monsey. (Monsey is the Jerusalem of NY for those unfamiliar with that area.) So, I decided to take the coupon I received in the mail and head north. I went early to avoid any potential crowds...something else I hate about shopping.

Luckily, I found three skirts that I liked, fit well, and were in my price range. No mess. No fuss. I arrived at the counter to pay and started to speak with the cashier. I could tell she wasn't from NY based on her accent and congeniality (sorry, NY'ers aren't known for their warmth). She told me where she was from (the Midwest) and how she missed it and wished she could move back. I told her how I wanted to leave NJ and before you knew it we had something in common that didn't involve clothes.

She told me of her frustrations with living in this area, ie trying to keep up financially, and I replied with an 'Amen!' While it's nice not having to ship your kids off to another state for a Jewish education (something NY/NJ has an abundance), it can be incredibly stressful trying to keep up with the expense of living an orthodox lifestyle in a very expensive area.

I didn't want to cause a delay at the cash register so we ended our pleasant conversation.

It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one who feels that way. It's hard to believe there are others who share your opinion when you are so wrapped up with life that there's no time to stop and commiserate with others.

I guess I learned a valuable lesson today...shopping is therapeutic!

Teenagers...enough said.

Shabbos isn't shabbos unless we have some type of 'animated' discussion at our table.The most stressful day of the week, for me, is Saturday. With everyone home, and limited activities, it's a recipe for disaster. It's even harder when a teenager is involved. For some reason they see this as a great opportunity to antagonize their younger siblings. WHY???? I mean aren't they tired from all the texting they did all week??If you have a teenager you know exactly what I mean. If your kids are still young, take notes.

This week, our 'discussion' was about our 14 yr. old son's limited life experience, and, no, he is not an expert on everything. Of course, explaining this to him means veins are popping out of our necks while he responds with monosyllabic words that can only be heard by dogs. While he is a great kid, and normally doesn't give us much trouble, every now and again the volcano erupts and we need to deal with it.

I have to say, having a teen has been quite a learning experience for my husband and I.  We've been told  that as adults we know very little and have no idea what he's experiencing. What we  learned as kids/young adults has nothing to do with them. To quote my 11 yr. old 'we have no clue.'  To think I went to college only to find out by my kids that I have no clue. Maybe Yeshiva University (Stern College) will give me refund...

As I said, there are days when the volcano is quiet and then they're days when I can sense an eruption. What's important is that they know we're always here for them and like diapers, eventually they will grow out of it.

What's for dinner, again...

Beef, chicken. Beef, chicken. Beef, chicken, fish. Sound familiar? That's what goes through my mind each day when I'm trying to decide what to make for dinner. I know I'm not alone. I've observed women gaze at the meat selection, in the supermarket,  trying to decide what they should make for dinner.

Sure, we all have about a dozen cookbooks, and recipes we inherited from our great-grandmothers, but let's face it we all dread it! When you have three (or more) picky eaters, and you and your husband have decided to watch your weight, the excitement of visiting the kitchen....well...what excitement?!

So, what's a tired mom to do??? 

School's over? Really?

It amazes me at how slow dismissal is at our school. I'm not saying it is the fault of the teachers. The kids seem to move at such a slow pace that you wonder if they want to go home at all.

At our yeshiva, we have different dismissal times for the middle-school kids. Officially it is 445p for 6th grade, but they don't start to call their names until 450p. When they do, the boys (girls exit from the other side of the building) gradually come out one by one...literally, one by one. Are they so tired that they forgot they were going home?

Last night, my son gave 'slow' a whole new meaning...

I arrived at my kids' school at 450p anticipating another slow dismissal. Although I arrived later, I managed to park near the door so that I could see my son exit the building. The line of cars snaked through the parking lot, so I was happy to get that spot. Once again, the boys didn't disappoint. One by one they came outside as if they needed instruction on what to do next. As I waited in the car, with my engine off (gas is getting pricier by the day), I noticed in my rear-view mirror that the long line was shrinking and still no sign of my son.

Now it is 505p and still no sign of him even though his name was called first (remember, I had the spot near the door). I gave it one more minute before I headed into the building. Lo and behold, he was walking through  the  hall slowly working his way to the stairs. I asked if he noticed that his classroom was virtually empty. He looked at me and replied, "Yeah, I was organizing my looseleaf when I noticed that the kids were gone." When I asked him  why he didn't come down when his name was called, he explained that he was busy organizing his papers from the day and didn't hear his name called so he assumed that I wasn't there yet. The problem with that: he does this everyday.

By the time we got downstairs there wasn't a car left in the lot (except mine, of course).

When we arrived home, I explained to him that I'm tired of waiting for him every night while the rest of the school empties out. He knows that I'm waiting for him unless he's otherwise notified by the school secretary. He needs to get it together or he will be in training for next year's marathon by walking the 2 miles home. 

I think he got the message, because his looseleaf was in perfect order this a.m.

Just in case, I think I'll wait at the end of the line today. 

Time for Parent Teacher Conferences

It's been awhile since my last entry and, thank G-d, the school year has been off to a great start. My eldest son attends school in NY and my younger two are local (NJ). That means I get up earlier than last year to ensure that my oldest doesn't miss the bus. Some moms may think I'm crazy to get up so early, but when you think of the alternative it makes sense. You see, my son is not a morning person. That means if I don't get him up in the morning and he misses the bus, there is no way for him to get to school. Why punish myself?

Then it's time for the next shift: my younger two. My middle child happens to be a morning person. So, getting him up in the morning is not as big a challenge. My daughter, the youngest, is a typical girl: some days are easier than others. All in all, it's much easier than last year. I am my own (a.m.) carpool so I don't have to worry about making stops along the way.

That brings me to PTC time. It's hard to believe that the first trimester of school is over. That means it's time to meet the teachers one-on-one and see how well our kids are doing. I am very optimistic (poo,poo) as my kids appear to be happy. (Ok, content, since we are talking about school.) So, hopefully my expectations will be met.  

Unfortunately, we've just learned that one of our principals will be leaving come next year. It is amazing how many principals we have had since my kids began at the school. But that's a whole separate topic...

Stay tuned...

Getting through the summer

Back in January I was looking forward to the conclusion of the school year. My oldest son was in 8th grade and I had had enough of the class mishagas. So, I focused on June and hoped it would arrive quickly. I had two of my kids scheduled to be in camp during the month of July, while one stayed home, and then the reverse when August arrived. I was so hopeful that the summer would be less stressful than last year when they were all home at the same time (my husband lost his job, so camp was out of the question). Well, here I am two weeks away from school and I can't wait for it to start. Why? Because I need a vacation!

I have had fellow moms in my community question my enthusiasm. They can't understand why I would want school to start when there are carpools, school events, and lest we forget...homework to do. Well, it's easy for them to enjoy the summer because their kids are away at camp all summer long. For those with younger kids, does the word 'babysitter' ring a bell? I don't have those luxuries so, yes, I am looking forward to having some alone time.

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but they are at a stage where a trip to the park just doesn't cut it. It's hard to be economical when they want to visit Manhattan instead of our local park. It's also hard to take care of a house (I don't have a housekeeper), entertain them, and prepare three meals a day. There are only 24 hrs. to work with and i would love to squeeze in some rest time.

So, yes, I'm looking forward to school. How about you?