A movie and bedtime stories

We just got finished watching "Fantastic Mr. Fox," and I have some good news and bad news.  The bad news is that this movie, which is a cartoon made for kids, is full of lying, stealing, smoking and drinking.  Since when have PG rated movies become bad for young children?  I highly do NOT recommend this movie.

The good news is that "Fantastic Mr. Fox" reminded me of bedtime stories my dad used to tell me when I was a child.  The tales were always about a fox and a weasel and all of the mischief they would get into trying to catch one another.  I always looked forward to hearing my father's imaginary stories.  Hmmm...maybe I will start my own fox and weasel books.  What do you think?

*I have made it easier for you to comment.  I sure would love to hear from you!

Boxes
by Laurie Kolp

Boxes and boxes fill the jam-packed garage,
(along with other normal junk)
sweet memories of my teaching days,
(twelve years to be precise)
books I felt attached to, could not part with,
(they are all over my house, too)
files that might come in handy one day,
(if I ever go back to teaching school)
knick-knacks and gifts from students,
(although I have forgotten what they are)
bulletin boards for every month, every holiday
(and everything in-between);
all waiting like forgotten photos,
(where did those photo albums go),
dozens and dozens of beat up boxes,
(after eight years of neglect),
for that day when I can finally let go,
(taking a piece of me with them).

And Suddenly Our Lives Changed Forever
by Laurie Kolp


We never could have seen it coming
barreling down the curvy road
like a train without warning,

no waving flags or reverberations
to announce its appearance
why didn’t our horn make him stop,

that teenager in his big white truck
looking down at the radio
unaware of the Saturn waiting to turn left,

and suddenly our lives changed forever
the broken vertebra, surgeries, heartache
all because of a heinous song.

Some days are just like that

Nicholas had a baseball game today.  It was quite crazy if you want to know the truth.  Pete had to work and could not come, so I had all three kids in tow.  Katie had homework to finish and since she was going to have late dance recital practice she had to bring it with her.  But she ran into some friends right when we got to the ballpark and out flew the "working on homework" idea; she spent most of the time walking around with them instead.  Andrew left right away to go watch his good buddy play over on the other side of the ball park. 

So I was left in the stands alone to watch Nicholas play while holding a little bit of this and that for the kids.  I must have looked a little odd.  Several of Nicholas' friends and kids I tutor were on the other team, so I was rooting for both sides.  One of the boys hit a ball out field and I was yelling and clapping for him, as his team made a home run and our team failed to stop them.  The parents on our team slowly turned their heads to look at me, so I sat back down.  Not long after that I heard someone calling me from the dugout, and it was not my son, it was a friend of his from down the street.

"Hey, Nicholas' mom," said the voice, then louder, "NICHOLAS' MOM!"

"What?" I answered quietly.

"Can Nicholas come play tonight?"

On a school night? At 7:00?  I don't think so.  I said, "Not tonight sweetie, but thanks.  Some other time."

And so the night went on.  We got home then had to turn around and take Katie to dance.  Luckily Pete got home at 8:00, wolfed down some dinner and went to pick Katie up while I got the boys to bed.  Andrew had the TAKS test today and finishes tomorrow, and Nicholas had a big field trip all day; they were pooped.  Sometimes our days are just like that...and then it starts all over again.

Remnants
by Laurie Kolp

She held onto the shoes for months
the last remnants, last reminders
of the times they shared together
shopping weekly at Sam's,
where she somehow mustered
enough strength to push
a wheelchair and a cart simultaneously
while laughing at her common dilemma;
eating lunch at the Golden Corral,
where she repeatedly filled plates with ears of corn
for the lady to put in the Tupperware
she had carried in her purse for that sole purpose;
or simply staying at the mansion chatting,
the old lady in her favorite chair,
she at the foot of the four-poster bed
listening patiently at repeated stories of yore,
the broken records that were conversation-
until the last time she saw her
(unaware it was the last)
the companion,the dear friend
told her to try on all the shoes
they went through her closet together
and laughed at the frivolous styles.
She brought the dozens of shoes home
found room for them in her matchbox closet,
the only remnants of their precious time-
and that's all she had.

It does take a village...

Baby pictures of Nicholas, Andrew and Katie respectively

I went back to my sister-in-law's house last Thursday through Saturday to help with the baby while her husband was out of town.  I was reminded of the sleepless nights and mere hopelessness all moms feel when their babies are crying inconsolably...and the exhaustion that comes from it all.

I can look back now and realize how very lucky I am to have such a wonderful husband.  I do not know how I would have gotten through the newborn stages without Pete.  I had to have three c-sections, so my recovery period was much longer.  My wonderful husband took two weeks off when each child was born.  When he went back to work, Pete would come home early to check on me or bring me lunch, even when it was out of his way.  He got up in the middle of the night to change diapers after I was done nursing.  When the babies graduated to bottles, Pete would feed them at night so I could sleep, and I would wake up with the babies early in the morning.  It was (and still is) a partnership- husband and wife, father and mother.  Together we made it through the sleepless nights: teething, acid reflux, asthma and croup, etc.

I also could not have made it through the baby stages without my mom.  Luckily we live in the same city.  She would come and help me while Pete was at work.  Mom would watch the babies so I could have a break.  In fact, she watched Katie for a year when I was still teaching (I quit when I had Andrew).  I am so grateful for her, and my dad, for their selfless love. 

Friends also helped me in those early years.  It was so nice to talk to moms with babies and discover they were going through some of the same things.  I met the moms through my church, Mother's Day Out, and various play groups I joined.  All of these things were as good for me as they were for my children.

It does take a village to raise a child.  Who belongs to your village?

Lonely Drought

by Laurie Kolp

Our love began when we first met,
electricity long gone out
recharged all senses, made me sweat;
you pulled me through a lonely drought.

My sensual appetite whet,
you became all I thought about.
Once dead, my life was now set;
you pulled me through my lonely drought.

When did our love become Kismet?
The game you play fills me with doubt-
my love, do you now have regret?
You led me to my lonely drought.

Play...

Next week is National Playground Safety Week. I was writing an article about it that reminded me of all the mishaps we have had on playgrounds through the years. Here are the ones I can remember:

1. Broken nose
2. Broken arm
3. Broken growth plate in foot
4.  Knotted head
5.  Busted open head
6.  Scratches and bruises

I challenge you to identify which child had each accident: Katie, Andrew or Nicholas.  Please put your answers in the comments and get a surprise from me.  Oh- and be safe on the playground!

When we see not our way through some trial or difficulty, we have only to look to God and to wait in patience, and in due time His light will come and guide us.
~Ullathorne

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord.
~Psalm 130:5-6

Snow cone anyone?

Last night I worked the concession stand at the local baseball field.  In the past I have signed up for the early shift (5:00- 7:30), but this time I was put on the later shift (7:00- 9:30).  I was not looking forward to working so late, but it ended up being fun (and less busy). 

I was assigned the snow cone window.  The kids get a free snow cone after their game and I knew it would be busy, so I prepared myself for the hordes of tired baseball players that were sure to come.  I organized the area, placing the paper cones in an easy to reach spot and making sure the spoon and straw holders were full.  Then I waited.  I waited and waited and waited.  I visited with some of the other volunteers, got some bubblegum and still no long lines.   I reminisced about the olden days when my friends and I used to hang out at the ballpark, but I did not get overloaded with kids. 

I had a small trickle of people occassionally, most of them young spectators, but never did I have the crowd the earlier shift gets when the Little League plays.  I guess the older kids are too macho for snow cones?  Some very young children came, though, as did a group of the same kids who kept finding baseballs (they get a free snow cone if a foul ball is caught and returned).  Most were polite, but some were rude.  The nerve of them! 

Overall it was a fun night filled with great conversation and little stress.  I got home around 9:45 with sticky shoes and snow cone juice all over my shirt, but I did not feel overworked or stressed out like I thought I would.  I hope next time, which is in a couple of weeks, turns out the same.  I will let you know.

Alone
by Laurie Kolp

alone
one single writer
competing against a million others
sits at the computer typing
one word at a time
hoping someone, anyone
will discover her
like a needle in a haystack
alone

Thought for the day

Said the robin to the sparrow:
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin:
"Friend, I think that it must be,
That they have no Heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me."

~Elizabeth Cheney