I really had high hopes for last week. I had spent the two weeks prior cleaning and organizing and getting the items together for healthy lunches for on the go. I collected the supplies we would need and thought out a schedule (something I rarely do). I planned and mentally prepared. I thought we would be ready to face these four weeks of “on the go” with style.
What was I thinking?
I pictured dropping off an animated Roo at his classes. My mental image was of him confidently jumping into this new adventure maturely and without a backward look. Thoughts of meeting him at lunch time when I dropped his brother off included him giving my blow by blow accounts of his morning and eagerly awaiting the afternoon offerings.
I imagined idyllic mornings at the library (housed in a gorgeous historical building—lots of atmosphere) with my youngest son, Boo. I envisioned us working through his school work with ease, side by side; him doing his worksheets and reading willingly, nay—enthusiastically, anticipating his class at noon and the field trip following; me typing away (lots of blogging) on my laptop. I had a new laptop backpack so I could “blog on the go.” I just knew my Bloglines account would not have a single unread post in it.
Then in my reverie Boo and I would go explore the delights I had planned. And finally, exhausted, but happy, we would pick Roo up and the three of us would drive contentedly home to regale my husband with the highlights of our day. I imagined my husband and my sons and I all sitting cozily in our living room or out on the patio with time to spare just sharing our uplifting thoughts.
Yeah…uh huh…that was such a pipe dream.
We are not morning people here. And I am the worst. Scrambling to make lunches and wake the boys and put clothes together that match (for me—the boys have a dress code for their classes), trying to get out the door and dealing with rush hour traffic smacked me in the face on day one.
We were almost late the first day and Roo jumped out at the entrance, met by the security guard and I didn’t see him until lunch time. He had been apprehensive about a full day of classes and a large group of people he did not know. Monday was such an overload for him he didn’t have much time to think, but Tuesday I literally had to boot him down the hall to check his schedule and get in to class to warm up.
Then there was Boo.
Sigh…Boo is growing so I am going to attribute some of his behaviors to changes in hormones and chemistry, but he was not happy about anything. The library made him nervous. Actually I get that—it is in a very urban part of the city and there were some, well, some questionable people in the library, obviously there to get out of the heat and the elements. It was technically a “quiet zone” but there were lots of distractions.
Wednesday we stayed in the children’s area, but that meant I still had wireless but no plug in access and the battery on my computer doesn’t last that long—besides it didn’t matter. You know that dream I had of him joyously doing his school work—
uh-uh, no way, not going to happen. I just put the laptop in my snazzy new backpack and focused on finishing worksheets.
He liked his Summer Intensive class. He is in with children mostly older than him, but did really well. And Monday I will say we had a nice time at the zoo. I let him use my camera and the novelty was good for a day. But Wednesday we went to the museum and he let me know in no uncertain terms he did not want to be there. The art made him “dizzy.”
Thankfully Tuesday and Thursday Roo was the only one who needed to go and Boo could stay home and just do his reading. That helped a little, but he was obviously missing his brother and really could not find anything fun to do. He was very helpful when I asked but nothing was as fun as it could be with no big brother to torment and play with.
Friday we went to the zoo again. I am going to write about that more in another post. But let me say, both Boo and I were amazed at the awful behavior of children and grown-ups there. Never assume people will be on good behavior.
Roo finally found his comfort zone in the latter part of the week. He made new friends and definitely learned new things. He is very talented and smart, but not always confident.
The week ended on a positive note, I guess—but not the way I anticipated. We found a groove. We will never look like a well organized family, but we made the best of it. I did get three days of walking in and some fun photos of Boo. Roo made some new friends, learned lots and was worn out (in a good way). And everyone liked the lunches. In fact the lunches may have been the high point…
Well, another week awaits—one down, three to go. Lets see how we do.
Refrain
