Independence

Independence is a big deal in our house these days. It seems like EVERYONE is pushing the envelope to experience just a bit more of it than they have right now. That makes for a certain level of tension and conflict that we are immersed in at the time.

It starts with T-Time, who, at 16 and a half, is stuck in that awkward not a kid, not quite grown place. He is totally capable of entertaining himself for an hour or more playing make believe with his brothers and sister, and then turning around and staying up til 1:00am talking on the phone with his friends and wanting to "just be left ALONE!!!" Sometimes he wants the privilege with none of the consequence or work. Don't we ALL??!!??! I feel we are coming into that "Oh, so that's how it works!" kind of times, which can be such a eye-opening dose of reality. It's a tough, in-between, figuring it all out kind of time that is exciting, but difficult in its own way. We are right there!

Benjamin Blue is the next one in line. At 5 and an half, life is full of challenges and things he can and cannot do. He is VERY much the rule follower, likes to know what is going on when child and is uncomfortable with change, for the most part. When I told him yesterday he needs to keep working on learning how to tie and zip his OWN clothes, he was very unhappy, again. We have had this conversation before, but we have to revisit the difficult changes over and over again. While it is gratifying to see him when he finally takes that next step, the process to getting there can be exhausting!

Mayhem is next. For all his VERY advanced verbal and physical skills, he IS three. And my challenging child. And ALWAYS wants to do what the older boys are doing. He is always pushing ALL the limits in his life, testing boundaries and guidelines, and, while I know that is just the way he is made and will serve him well later in life, it can really be a long day when he is in one of those moods. And they happen. A LOT!

And the Princess. Little Sass. I always imagined I would have a sweet, cuddly, calm and quiet little girl. Well, she IS sweet and cuddly, but so NOT calm and quiet!! Goodness! She is a riot!! At 20 months, she already has a GREAT sense of humor! She yells "Hell-O, Hell-O" at the TOP of her lungs, and then when you finally acknowledge her (for the 400th time that hour!) she smiles and says "HI!!" Over and over. She carries two baby dolls at a time around the house, gets right in front of you, sighs, and says "Heabby" (heavy.) She wants to climb every chair, bed, table and couch we own; throw every toy; and push the boys around when they won't let her play. The "safety" gate we bought to keep her safe in her room at night was a joke, and is now a "privacy" gate for the boys to have a place to build Legos without the wrath of baby breaking each creation! She HATES the stroller, tolerates the car seat, and is content in her sling, but only for so long, and when she's done, you'll know it! She is ALL about "MINE" and "ME" and "HAVE". It's all about independence!

So if you see me and I seem a bit tense, and a bit protective of the hour or two I have by myself that day, please understand, it's all about being in control of what I want at that moment in time, and a bit of independence. It happens, but not nearly as often as I might want and need, but just enough to recharge my battery and fill my tank to get ready for the next go-round on the merry-go-round of this life we are living!

Memories,,,,

A comment on one of my Facebook pictures a week or so ago got me to thinking...

Norman and Thomas spent the last few weeks making me a screen door for the back door of the house. When I posted pictures of my beautiful custom made door, someone asked if it slammed, and it just made me think about the amazing way certain sounds and smells bring to mind such strong memories.

My slamming screen door reminds me of Wednesdays with my Grandma and Grandpa during the summmers when my brother and I would visit my dad. The front screen door there slammed and sounded JUST like mine does now. That first slam of the morning would be followed by the smell of freshly baking homemade chocolate chip cookies. Yep, after we ate our small "variety sampler" choice box of cereal, Grandma always had a large, hot from the oven cookie for my brother, my cousin, and me. Each baked and served on a square of aluminum foil with the edges upturned.

Other sounds and smells are just as vivid at evoking specific memories. I barely actually remember my great-grandma, Bobe, but the smell of White Shoulders perfume reminds me of her bathroom where she had old-fashioned perfume bottles with atomizer bulbs on them, and the bedroom where there were two twin beds with white chenille bedspreads. And the smell of Suave Strawberry Essence shampoo and conditioner smells JUST like the bottled strawberry soda we drank there.

It's amazing how many smells bring specific times or people to mind...

Banana bread always makes me think of Christmas, even though I haven't been able to eat it for 20 years...

Cigarette smoke brings a smile to my face, as it reminds me of fun, though wild times....

I think of my dad when I smell English Leather or Aqua Velva...

I get melancholy when I smell Matchibelli or Grey Flannel, mind filled with the people they bring to mind.

The smell of mimosa trees reminds me of summer evenings in the front yard with friends...

Clean Linen and cucumber melon flavors remind me of my sweet friend D, who indoctrinated me to into the world of candles and the enjoyment of their fragrant flicker...

I'm BBBAAAACCCKKK....

Yes, I'm back. I have finally given in to the pretty, frilly, fancy blog layouts and come back. That and the fact that, while Facebook is a GREAT social tool, some of my discourses and diatribes are a BIT much for a "status update". So here we are again...we'll give it a go.

To start off again, and get back into the swing of it, I have joined in the "Not Me!" Monday madness! Here we go!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

My life is SO perfect that I have waited a LONG time to join in on Not Me Monday, but I have finally given in….

This weekend, Princess Sass did NOT climb up on the back of the couch and bang on the window and yell “Hel-LO” over and over and over again, trying to get her Daddy’s attention. And, of course, I did NOT grab the camera and take a video of her, instead of rescuing her! No, Not me! And when she was ready to get down, she did not say her first understandable three word sentence “Hep. I Tuck!” (Help, I’m stuck!) while I laughed! No, Not me!!

This weekend, my middle boys, Chaos and Mayhem, did NOT run around in the strangest of clothing combinations, since I told them they could dress themselves this weekend. Ensembles consisting of Spiderman underwear, frog rain boots, and long-sleeved button-down shirts were NOT what I found my boys in when I returned from Church on Sunday with Princess Sass. No, Not me!!

On Saturday, my oldest, Mr. Serious, was not all dressed up to head off to a friend's graduation when I made him pose for pictures and he did not get mad and tell me I was "obsessed" with picture-taking. No, not my son! When I looked at the pictures later, I did not find myself wondering how in the world he got to be so handsome and SO GROWN and find myself a bit teary-eyed. No, Not me!!

And my day today did not start of rather miserably, at 5:30am, getting soaking wet throwing papers, cause that would be a horrible way to start the day. And I did not ask my hubby to take a picture of the results. No, Not me!!