Robotic

Today's Writing Prompt: Robot

If you could have a robot to help you, what task(s) would it do? What would its name be?

This would be a welcome addition to the family.

Tasks:
*walk dog
*dispense/remind medication for each family member
*unload dishwasher
*laundry start to finish

His name (why a he? mm, because I would make him adorable) would be Adonis! ;)

Are you a teacher?....

This weekend, I was manning a booth at the local Strassenfest for an agency at which I volunteer There was a color/cut/assemble/embellish activity for the kids. I'm a natural with kids & although I haven't been around the littler set for a while, I guess I haven't lost my touch. Parents were helping the kids 'hurry' through the project. I explained this was a great time to just enjoy the quiet time with their kids who were actually occupied. Funny how some dads had their Blackberries out or stood back with their beer mug while the moms took over the role. After encouraging some of them, the dads did start to get into the activity @ some level. Some of the assembly I would walk the kids through in a patient voice & let them do the work. Several parents would ask, "Are you a teacher?" I would admit by training I was, but had been out of the classroom for several years. I was told that the most frustrating part of the project I kept the kids involvement whereas they would have just "lost it" with the kids & just done it to get it finished.

Every child left with a big smile on their face that reminded me why I got into education!

I posed the question to several families, perhaps it was rhetorical, maybe not...

Funny how we encourage our children to get into art projects... "go on, try it", we tell them. However as adults, we shy away from this area. Why is that?!

Guess people were too busy with all their adult business to consider creativity!

In the cool, cool, cool of the evening...

My life has been quite a whirlwind of activity (unusual for an unemployed gal, no?) the past few weeks, keeping me from posting my innermost thoughts.

I am entering a chapter in my life that is quite foreign to me. Aging, medically bound parents, a brother with special needs that doesn't comprehend the challenges they are facing & reacts with his own series of issues.

Then, my son is getting closer to high school graduation, applications & letters piled up in our mailbox daily, postcards from XYZ University touting statistics on glossy cardstock, it's all approaching at once. (** I'll be glad once the decision is final... the mail carrier has been getting quite a work out)

I am trying to "get" where my parents are mentally with this whole aging process. My father seems to be fighting all his medical battles rather well, although I hear his heavy sighs every so often. Mom is all emotion about the issues she faces. I do wish she took more interest in the life around her & be less of a recluse. She is content with library books & listening to music/watching TV. I encourage them to go out on a "date"somewhere, but reasons come up to stay home.

I wish they they would go out, learn something new... keep their minds alive with new ideas, people, etc.

I enjoy the place our home has become. Not just the physical improvements/decorating of the building, but the "feel" of the house. It seems to be a smoother run system of chores/duties & the ambience is tranquil (compared to walking in after working a 10 hour day with a list of grievances & duties to attend to within the next 3 hours if I was to get any sleep).

Granted, financially, this unemployment was a blow. However, as a family, it allowed us to re-evalute what our priorities are. I felt really guilty intially, thinking that all the health issues were being kept at bay because I was not able to get off work to help with ???. I got over it eventually & channeled the energy to become the family health/medical/household manager.

Putting things in order helps me get my mental chaos in check. Just uncertain how the cards we've been dealt will be played out in the end.

awakening

awakening

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Brothers are awesome

My brother adores ice cream. He's pretty particular on his choices as well. DQ has the best soft serve in his book. Tony also enjoys people watching, which I think make other people nervous. Hey, he's been on the receiving end of that for so long, he's due for his chances. The thing is, he knows when people are staring & he'll show off.
Gotta work on curbing that!

Well, hello there!

This new exhibit is going to be amazing. We have a traveling exhibit of Seward Johnson's works that is quite entertaining.

Here is a glimpse of what has popped up around town this past week:

Exam time

Looks like I am the "bad guy" tonight. My teenage son is out about town on some scavenger hunt with friends who will be leaving for college. We have agreements (or so I thought) about checking in & answering calls when out. I suppose it is super "uncool" to have that connection, but with our family situation, it is a necessity. Several hours into this event, he chooses NOT to respond to call but texts me info that he'll be back within the hour & can't talk.

I am all about the peer bonding thing! I thrived in it every summer when I was a camp counselor. But there does lie a certain responsibility which needs to be upheld. As a single parent, I get the "best" of both worlds. I have fumed enough, put my thoughts & consequences in writing....

He's home, safe (pissed off at me, no doubt). Here comes one of those great tests of parenting 101...