PractiGal

Nothing like a 2x4 to the head

A few weeks ago, a pair of robins took up residence above a light on our front porch. They'd built the nest in the spring, but it had gone unoccupied for several weeks. I came close to batting it down before noticing it was inhabited. We watched each day as the Mom and Dad took turns tending the nest. We snuck pictures along with way and spotted 3 beautiful eggs under their careful watch. We became protective, too. Shoo-ing away the neighborhood cat, and fashioning some chicken wire across the porch, so no critters could jump onto the railing and have a swat at the nest. When the babies were born, we watched the parents swoop in at feeding time and heard the happy chatter among the family outside our door. It was exciting for all of us to watch.

It had been about two weeks since the babies hatched when we noticed they were getting mighty big. We knew they'd be fleeing the nest at any time. We snapped our final pictures on Sunday, and sure enough, come Monday morning they were off. I didn't get to see them off, but my heart sank when I opened the door and saw an empty nest where there had been so much activity just the day before. I was surprised by how choked up I felt.

Yeah, it was probably partly PMS, but I noticed some parallels between the bird family and my own life.

It's really been hectic around here this summer (hence the quiet blog). I'm busy running around with my preschooler, overseeing the neighbor kids who wander by, doing a little paid work, cooking meals, etc. I find myself thinking "omygosh, will preschool start up again already? I am so exhausted!" And my nest is changing too. The crib where my son slept when he was a baby is right by the front door where the birds' nest is set up, awaiting its new owners.

So when I saw the empty nest, I decided to hold off a few minutes on doing chores and showering. I sat with my son and held him, watching a video he'd been asking to see. And I kicked myself a little for wishing this away. Even though we've got a way to go, I know my nest, too, will be empty before I'm ready.

It's true what they say about fences

We live in what I consider to be an old-fashioned neighborhood. Mature trees line the streets. There are sidewalks for walking and biking. And everyone knows everyone else. Young and old, we know the neighbors. In the summertime, especially, there's plenty of activity on our street. With our street-wide yard sales, we end up swapping "treasures," and tales. The annual picnic and Christmas party keep everyone in touch too. This is all very nice, of course, and it makes for a homey, welcoming neighborhood.

And it's nice for the kids on the street too -- for the most part. There's almost always someone out to play with. We don't have to arrange formal play dates here, because they just emerge as a natural part of the day. Of course it's nice if I want to get some yard work done, and a young neighbor shows up to play in the sandbox with my little guy.

Though lately, it seems that the little boys arrive in packs. This can be OK, depending how things go. But with the casual, open nature of our neighborhood, anyone's yard seems to be fair game. The street is one big yard for all the kids. Privacy? There is none. Unless you happen to have a fence; then you have a deterrent at least.

Most of the kids travel the street solo, too. Even the "5 and under" crowd. Not so at our house. Our 4-year-old isn't allowed to go gallivanting alone. Because... he's 4. And yeah, you can't get anything done when you're in charge of an active 4-year-old. Who can blame him for wanting to be out and about though? And so, I'm often out and about too.

We're realizing this summer that we need to make it a little harder for the kids to help themselves to our yard. Because when they're on our property, guess who's liable? And without their parents there, guess who's in charge?

Yep, we're the mean old parents on the street who are planning our new make-shift fence. It's not that we don't like company. It's just that sometimes, it would be nice to have your yard be your own family's sanctuary, you know?

A nostalgic reunion

Once upon a time, in the 1960's, there was a Girl born to a family with a 6-year-old daughter. The family was doing well, and when the girl was 6 months old, her parents learned there would be another baby. Lo and behold, 9 months later there was a third girl born: Little Sis.

Young Girl and Little Sis grew up together. Like Irish twins, they dressed alike, received matching gifts at Christmas, rode bikes together, shared a room, and played with each others' friends. Girl and Little Sis had very different personalities, with Girl being more cautious and quiet, and Little Sis more outgoing and adventuresome. They fought and stole each others' clothes (ahem, well, one was the regular "borrower"). But they were sisters, through thick and thin, and stood by each other no matter what.

When Girl went to college, she was away from Little Sis for the first time, and that was a rough adjustment. But then, the next year, Little Sis went away to the same college. Eventually they were next-door neighbors in their dorm, where they could share friends and clothes once again .

Little Sis decided she'd go to graduate school Out West, and the Girl felt as though a piece of her heart was moving away, too. But they visited often in the early days, so the bond remained strong. When Little Sis continued with her studies after grad school, she took a 2-year position Down Under. Clear on the other side of the globe. The Girl was so sad to see Little Sis leave, and with plans to buy a house, the Girl couldn't swing the air fare to fly Down Under.

Eventually, Little Sis moved back to the states, and returned to her home Out West. She married, and then the Girl married. Both had children, and their lives changed significantly. Jobs. No jobs. Obligations. Money. No money. The visits between East and Out West grew to be less and less frequent.

And then, it got to the point where the Girl hadn't seen Little Sis for a full year and a half. And Little Sis's family planned a trip "back East," as they say. So the Girl scrambled to become a part of as much of Little Sis's northeast tour as possible.

The Girl and her little guy hopped in the car and drove 450 miles, to join Little Sis and her kiddos at one of their childhood vacation spots, Down The Shore. And it was a grand reunion. The little guy got to spend time with his Colorado cousins, and the sisters got to spend time together, sharing their old stomping grounds with their kids. There was salt water taffy, the boardwalk, a surrey ride, sandcastles, kiddie rides, ice cream, a swimming pool, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and of course the ocean.

And all of this made the Girl very, very happy!

Interview with a Mouse

This afternoon, a very angry Rodent visited my house. He demanded answers. He asked the tough questions, and my son and I answered.

Mickey Mouse: So. I understand you visited Orlando, Florida but DID NOT visit my kingdom. What.The.Hell??

PractiGal: It's true.You know, there's more to Florida than you, Mr. Mouse.

MM: Such as?

PG: Well, we tagged along on my husband's business trip. He went to a conference at a fancy-pants resort hotel, so we lavished in luxury while he worked. There were four pools! And a golf course, which we could see from our room. We didn't golf, but did I mention the pools? Yes. We frolicked in the water and swam every day.

MM: You can take only so much of that. What 4-year-old can resist my lure?

PG: The kind that doesn't even know of such a thing as Disney World.

MM: How did he slip through the cracks? He should have been implanted with a Mickey chip in-utero!

PG: Ha. We don't get your TV channel. Yeah, he knows who you are, but he doesn't know about your empire. We'll be back when he's a little older. Don't worry, you'll have your hands in our wallets soon enough.

MM: Did you ever leave the resort? Ferpetesakes!

PG: Sure. We ate out. We went to Publix. We even went to SeaWorld.

MM: AHA! So the lure of the giant killer whales was greater than that of my Mousetrap?

PG: It was so close to the hotel. And I thought it would be more manageable for a 4-year-old. Man, it's not the SeaWorld I visited in the 70s! And by the way, what's with the heat and humidity! OY! In June!!??

MM: What? Didn't they have water back in the 70s?
Little boy, did you like SeaWorld? Wouldn't you have much rather visited Disney?

PractiGal's Son: I liked the ecsalator at the penguin exhibit. It was so much fun! I made my parents go around and around and around so we could ride it again. My parents called it a people-mover, but I call it an ecsalator. I did NOT like the killer dolphin show. It was too loud. I liked the quiet parts though. What's Disney?

MM: Killer dolphins?

PG: He means whales. 

MM: Hmm. Well, I bet you didn't have any grand entertainment at your geeky conference. Certainly nothing of the caliber show I'D put on for you.

PG: Au contraire, Large Rat. One night there was an amazing dinner in a massive ballroom for the 1600 conference attendees and guests. There were acrobats hanging from the ceiling throughout the cocktail hour, and then they came out again during dinner, while we ate our prime rib! There was even a stage with balancing acts too -- really amazing stuff! And the key lime pie was delicious.

MM: Well, isn't that special. Little boy: what did you like about your trip?

PGSon: The plane! The rental car! The shuttle bus! The elevators and ecsalators.

MM: I see. So it was your first time in an airplane, and you liked it?

PGSon: Oh yes. On the way down, we sat in the back by the engines, so we didn't get to see anything out the window. But I got to eat pretzels. And gummy bears. And use the airplane's tiny toilet! For the flight home, my Mom bought me a toy airplane. I played with it for 8 hours straight. My Mom says it's the best overpriced toy she ever bought me! And I got to see out the window on the way home! I asked a million questions. It was so cool!! I could even see the plane's wing tipping! My Mom said I was a great traveler. A "trooper." Whatever, Mom.

MM: So next time, you'll visit ME, right?

PG: Yes. When the little guy's a bit older. We'll visit the Kennedy Space Center then too. Maybe we'll go some February, when we need an escape from the snow.

MM: Start saving now!

PG: You're not kidding! Maybe you could cut us a deal?

MM: Have your people call my rodents...

Jet setter

Just returned from the hot & humid south....

A little boy's first plane ride...

A luxury hotel with 4 pools....

Ahhhhhh!

More to follow...

A boy and his car

"Mommy, I miss Herbie so much! And he misses me..." My son announced as we walked home from the garage.

I know you do, honey. He'll be fine. He's just having his oil changed. He'll be right back with us in no time.

--------------------------------

Back at home...

"Mommy, I really miss Herbie. A LOT."

I know, sweetie. He'll be home soon.

-------------------------------

On the toilet...

"I really really really miss Herbie!!!" 

There was pouting. Whining. I really have no patience for whining.

HE's FINE. HE'LL BE BACK BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

And then I saw the tears. Actual real tears to go along with the pouty lips. It wasn't just melodrama. I am definitely in territory that I don't understand!

Oh, and when I called to make the appointment for my Subaru, I was reprimanded by my 4-year-old assistant after hanging up the phone. "He's NOT a Subaru, Mommy. He's HERBIE."

There you have it. My car is officially a member of the family.

In a nutshell

Wow. Life is crazy when your child gives up his nap!  6a.m. to 8p.m. every day = non-stop energy. Except today. He crashed. YES!

• We've been busy. Playing cars... Playing trains.... Reading Magic School Bus books. A lot of Magic School bus books.
• Before this week, when the weather turned crappy, we were riding bikes a lot.
• It was 43 degrees here at 9:00 this morning. It's May 22nd and our furnace is still running like crazy. Hello? This is nuts.
• To whomever: please stop giving the birds in my neighborhood Ex-Lax. My car has been shit-upon so many times lately, it is really disgusting. Enough!
• American Idol fans: were you psyched about the winner? surprised? After Tuesday night, I thought Archie would win. But I was psyched Cook won. Watching him perform with ZZ Top was a total rush. Can you imagine??
• I don't travel these days like I did pre-child. But all of a sudden I'm planning two back-to-back trips! I'm psyched! My son will be going on his first airplane ride soon!  Any tips for flying with a 4-year-old?
• I haven't begun to think about planting my garden. It's too damn cold. I usually have it planted by or around Memorial Day.
• My 25th high school reunion is this summer. 25th. !!! ???  I don't know if I'm going to go. I'd want to lose 20 pounds first. The 20th reunion was actually really fun. Looks like the same people are going to this one, so far.
• My niece graduates from high school next month. 25 years after her Old Aunt. It's 2008, and the world is her oyster. How cool is that?

Just incredible!

Isn't this every kid's dream? I know it was mine! Story here...

A belated happy mother's day!

Happy Mother's Day,  Moms!  Here's one of the e-mails I received for the occasion...  Hope you had a great day! Mine was nice - filled with yard work and a Thomas hangover (more on that another time...).

Idol thoughts

Anyone else following American Idol?

Please let this be the week they put Jason out of his oblivious misery. Yikes. Why is he in the top 4?

Am I the only one who wants to arrange for David A. to take her niece to the prom? How adorable and sweet is he?!