Work blog

Clearly  I'm terrible at balancing   work and personal blogs.

If you ever   want to check in on what's   happening work feel free   to check out...

juliemcglamerycounseling.blogspot.com

or click here Work blog

Playing catch up

So, once again, it's been a while....

Jason said, "Um, so are you not writing our family blog anymore because you're going back to work?"

Truth is-- I'm thinking of a blog post as we speak for my professional blog... (required piece to the puzzle of working here)-- I'm stuck and over-analyzing what I'm writing *shock* so I decided to take a break and go back to my first love--- my PERSONAL blog :)

What's happened since the beginning of July??

TONS.

We went to Colorado.  Post and pics to come.

I've been back at work since August 6.

Jack transferred to a new school.

Sarah started 5th grade, and she is definitely acting like it's her senior year in elementary school.

Caroline is in 1st grade.  She has the same teacher Sarah and Jack had so it's kinda like revisiting an old friend when I get an email from Mrs. Salmon.

We have a babysitter in the afternoons.  The kids call her their nanny because it sounds fancier.

And... I'm tired.

The most tired I've been since my babies were little.

But... I'm so happy!

The happiest I've been in a long time.

This is the best first week (with kids) of a new job I've ever had.  I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time.  I'm winging it, faking it til I make it, and learning as I go.  But I feel so supported by the staff that I'm not scared to ask questions or mess up.  It's incredibly freeing and empowering to work in an environment like this.

................

Huge milestones today--

I got my very first parent phone call.  So exciting :)

I even ventured into the lounge today and ate with other people. Super proud of myself :)---

The past 3 days I've eaten at my desk. Partly because I've been busy.  Partly because I didn't have anything to heat up so going to the lounge seemed unnecessary.  And partly because I still feel new and was scared to eat with everyone else.  Very "new girl in the cafeteria/ Do you mind if I sit here?" type feelings.   But I pushed myself to be brave enough to commune with others. ;)

Yay me!!

One of my biggest parenting fails

 Good grief! It's been a while since I've blogged.  I've said it before and I'll say it again... I like this therapeutic rambling journal I call "my blog".  So I hate when I'm too busy or tired to log on.

 

Weeks ago I alluded to this parenting fail.  I have a million fails every week, but what makes this one particularly bad is that I thought I was a parenting hero... until reality and humility smacked me upside my head.

 

Here's the scoop...

 

Caroline came home from school and asked if she could write her friend, Taryn a letter and mail it to her.  (Taryn lives about 100 yards away, but who doesn't love getting mail, right?!)

 

Sarah has mailed letters before.  Jack has mailed letters before.  This is not an unusual thing for my kids to want to do.  

 

So I said, "Sure!"  And then probably went outside to work on my tan. 

 

Which brings me to this point... With each kid, I'm more exhausted and seemingly less tuned in.  It's not ok, I know.  But the lines of "laid back parent" and "bad parent" get reeealllly blurry by Kid #3. 

 

When Jack and Sarah used to write letters to their friends, I would read them before we sent them off.  Now when Sarah has an issue with school that she needs to address with a teacher, I encourage her to email her teachers.... BUT the rule is: "You can't hit 'send' until I've read the email." 

 

But when Caroline decided to write a letter, I gave her a marker, a piece of paper, an envelope and a stamp. What is wrong with me??

 

She asked me to write Taryn's address on the envelope.  So I took it from her and did just that-- addressed the envelope.  Without a care in the world about what was INSIDE the envelope.  Seriously WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

 

Look how sweet the back of this envelope was.... 

 

 

 

 

Taryn is Caroline's best friend. 

"Love Caroline" on the outside of the letter. 

Let's put this thing in the mailbox.

 

 

Around 7:30, I partially awoke from my bad parenting stupor and had the wherewithal to ask, "Hey, Caroline, what was in that letter that we put in the mailbox?"

 

Caroline said, "It was an apology letter.  I was mean to Taryn at recess, and I wanted to say sorry."

 

My 5 yr old....  My sweet, precious, 5 yr old ANGEL BABY.  Writing an apology letter.  Taking responsibility for bad choices and making it right.  I'm fairly certain I wiped a tear from my eye.

Dang, I've got some sweet kids.  Must be my all-star parenting.  I. am. AWESOME.

 

A few minutes later, Caroline asked if we could pull the letter out of the mailbox. 

 

Ok, now I'm WIDE AWAKE from my bad parenting stupor.  I give her that squinty, Mom look.  You know the one.  The "what's going on?" look.

 

But otherwise I played it cool.  "No problem! I'll go get it right now."

 

I went out to the mailbox, pulled the letter out, and opened it.

 

 

 

"Thanks for ruining my friendship.  Mean Fat Taryn.  Love, Caroline"

 

The "Love Caroline" throws me.  I need to teach her to commit to the anger.  And while I appreciate the darkness of the black heart-shaped butterfly, it is still smiling. And colored a pretty purple. ;) Kidding 

 

Y'all.

 

I had addressed this envelope.  Taryn's name and address were in MY handwriting, implying-- of course-- that I knew exactly what this letter was and that I fully approved sending it.  (Because most parents WOULD know what was in the envelope.)

 

I was embarrassed about how BAD that would've been if the mailman had delivered it.  Horrified that I had fallen asleep at the proverbial parenting wheel.  And angry that Caroline would write such mean things, especially when I thought she had been writing an apology letter.

 

And THAT'S when the REALLY big whammy hit me.  Not only was she not writing an apology letter, my "sweet angel baby" had looked me in the eye and lied with an elaborate, yet convincing, cover story.

 

An apology letter because she had been mean to Taryn at recess???  I mean, that took some thought.  It's not an "Oh it's a picture" lie.  It's a lie with a backstory to make it more believable!!!

 

Yikes!!!

 

I laid into her.  And I was deservedly knocked off of whatever arrogant pedestal I had put myself on for the last several hours.  And was reminded.... DON'T GET LAZY.  Don't "dial it in" and assume that the kids are doing the right thing. 

 

My mom always says, "Trust. But verify!"  No joke.

 

Caroline has always kept me on my toes. And this is no exception. 

 

.........

 

P.S. Sorry about the dirty fork in the second picture. I was sampling a red velvet cupcake just before I decided to blog.

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Vacay

Sung to the tune of "Summer Lovin'" from the musical "Grease"

If you are unfamiliar with "Grease" or this song, stop reading this blog.  Turns out, we are NOT friends.


Summer vacay, kids out of school
Summer vacay, must be a fool
Took the kids somewhere each day
No "thank you"s, makes me cra-zay

Summer days, creeping away
A-and-- oh-- oh the entertaining

Uh, well-uh, well-uh, well-uh UGH

Tell me more, tell me more

I can't stand "It's not fair"

Tell me more, tell me more

Makes me pull out my hair

Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh

Kids are asking, "What's up today?"
Wanna answer, "Nothing! Go play-ay-ay"
But I try to be a fun m- ah,ah- m!
So I give in, That is what's wro- ah- ong.

(Yes I know "mom" and "wrong" don't rhyme.  Sue me.)

Summer days, creeping away
A-and-- oh-- oh the entertaining

Uh, well-uh, well-uh, well-uh UGH

Tell me more, tell me more

Kids are up way too soon

Tell me more, tell me more

I'd rather sleep until noon

Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh

Summer dreams... ripped at the seams

Bu- uht--- oh...

Tha--at en-ter-tai----aining.... ing.... ing... ing... ing...iiiing!

(arm follows your jeans, to your leather jacket, and points up to the sky)

All this rain!!

Stolen from Facebook....


I know they're calling Bill a tropical storm,  but I read he self-identified as a hurricane.

Confession is good for the soul

I have a story for y'all soon... hopefully tomorrow... about a proud parenting moment (because I'm an idiot) turned into epic parenting fail. You'll love it.... and possibly relate.

But until then..

Confession: My kids are wearing me out!  Summer, week 1. Sigh...

Confession: I've spent crazy money getting ready to be a school counselor.  But it's on great books, fantastic resources ... and cute stuff :)

Confession: Jack wants one of his best friends ( a girl! ) to spend the night. And I didn't shut him down.

I explained why that may be inappropriate and definitely a conversation for his friend's mom and I to have.  But I kinda love that he's blind to the sexes.

Confession: "Shrift" was used on Game Show Network.   And I had to Google what that word meant.

Related Confession: I love Game Show Network.

Confession: If I don't have a date to "Pitch Perfect 2", I will go alone!

Same with "Jurassic World"!

Ready for the sequel

Still singing and laughing

Pitch Perfect