Yes, it has been forever. But that isn't going to stop me tonight. I'm angry. Maybe more of an upset than an angry. And I don't know where else to put it. So, sorry... in advance.
Let me tell you something about the military kid. You won't hear "I don't know you so you can't play" come out of their mouths. You won't. Because they know what it feels like. They know what it feels like to join a group midway through a school year, not knowing anybody. To be the new kid.
Instead you'll hear "You wanna play? You can be a good guy."
No judgement. Okay, I'm sure that some military kids do judge -- but they *do* know what it is like to be the new kid. To struggle to find somebody to play with at a function. The great thing about the military kid is that they are generally surrounded by other military kids. Those, just like themselves, who will lend a hand to the new kid. Because they know what it feels like.
But let me tell you -- despite all of the "Support our Troops" bumper stickers that you see around town, it doesn't hold true. You want to support our troops? Support their families. Support that kid who always is the new kid.
We are a military family in a non-military town. Sure, there is an Air Force base close by, but trust me... this is a non-military town. You know... the kind of town that if you didn't graduate from the local high school, never leaving the comfort of your home town... well, you aren't worth the time of the locals. Pretty hard to be an open armed community when you won't get to know anybody you haven't known since 1st grade... or somebody who married somebody you've known since 1st grade.
Now... in all fairness, it could be that the locals have had bad experiences with military families. Sure, it could happen. We have our crazies just like every other group in America. But seriously? I've now met two -- yep, that's right TWO -- non-military people in this town that didn't turn their noses up when they found out we are military.
I can handle it. Really, we're here for a year. I have friends at a distance that I can lean on for support -- folks who know what this life is like. What I can't handle is seeing the look on my kids' faces when we show up for something -- and the dreaded words happen. "Find a partner." And everybody else already knows somebody.
Ugh. I'm just going to tell myself that this will make them more sensitive to the needs of others. And I'm going to tell them to remember what it feels like -- and to reach out to that new person. But, the thing is, I don't need to tell them. They remember... and they already reach out.
I sure do love my kids...
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Been too long...
{Insert excuse here for not writing more... real reason? Pinterest. No excuse}
Sunday night Thankfuls!
1) Waynesville United Methodist Church. So happy to have found a church home while so far from home.
2) Popcorn with Frank's Hot Sauce. I don't think I'll ever eat plain popcorn again. Though I've said that before. Remember my rosemary popcorn obsession?!?
3) The Grammy's. Mainly that I got to watch Adele. Love her. Seriously.
4) Lazy weekends. They really don't happen nearly as much as I'd like, but this was one. I didn't even get out of my pajamas yesterday until 1700!
5) Leftover lunch. Rob and I are venturing into Dave Ramsey land. Scary. Yes. We've come to realize that we have no idea where bunches of money is going {being wasted}, so we've cut out our weekly Sunday lunch out. Not that we've cut it out always, but not weekly anymore. It was fantastic today. Some of the things in the fridge from the end of last week would have been thrown out during my Monday evening fridge purge (trash pickup is Tuesday morning). Perfectly good food. That I throw away every week. We're starting to make an effort... wish us luck!
Sunday night Thankfuls!
1) Waynesville United Methodist Church. So happy to have found a church home while so far from home.
2) Popcorn with Frank's Hot Sauce. I don't think I'll ever eat plain popcorn again. Though I've said that before. Remember my rosemary popcorn obsession?!?
3) The Grammy's. Mainly that I got to watch Adele. Love her. Seriously.
4) Lazy weekends. They really don't happen nearly as much as I'd like, but this was one. I didn't even get out of my pajamas yesterday until 1700!
5) Leftover lunch. Rob and I are venturing into Dave Ramsey land. Scary. Yes. We've come to realize that we have no idea where bunches of money is going {being wasted}, so we've cut out our weekly Sunday lunch out. Not that we've cut it out always, but not weekly anymore. It was fantastic today. Some of the things in the fridge from the end of last week would have been thrown out during my Monday evening fridge purge (trash pickup is Tuesday morning). Perfectly good food. That I throw away every week. We're starting to make an effort... wish us luck!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Happy Birthday Rob!
In honor of Rob's {42nd} Birthday, I am listing 42 reasons I am thankful for him. Lucky you, you get to cheese it up with me :-)
1) He loves me. Unconditionally. And I know it.
2) He gave me four beautiful, wonderful children.
3) He loves his family. All of his family. Whether in the same house or not. He loves them.
4) He provides for his family.
5) He will kick me in the butt {not literally} when I want to sleep in on a Sunday, instead of going to church.
6) He lets me drive everywhere because he knows I get nauseous when he drives - ha!
7) He'll eat popcorn with me, even if he doesn't want any. Just so I don't feel bad making it for just me.
8) He'll watch silly shows with me {Current addiction? Big Shrimpin' and Gator Boys}
9) He'll sit with me {and only complain, vocally, a small amount} when I want to watch Project Runway.
10) He'll get up in the middle of the night and check when I hear a noise downstairs.
11) He bought a dog. I really don't like her, but I think she fits in okay.
12) He taught Raleigh how to use the litterbox. Seriously. Have him tell you the story. Hilarious.
13) He obsesses over buying cars. But doesn't make me go along during his obsession. He'll just show up with a new (to us) car.
14) He comes home and wrestles with the kids.
15) He coaches soccer and baseball, making the whole season easier on me -- and improving his relationship with our kids!
16) He never says "what did you do all day?!?" when he comes home to a messy house and me, snuggled with Sam on the couch.
17) He hardly ever turns his nose up to my cooking. Doesn't mean he likes it all, but he'll at least try it {except for sweet potatoes... that one's just not going to happen}.
18) He likes to camp.
19) He dreams big -- and tells me to check my skepticism at the door.
20) He can sing the themesongs to multiple preschool tv programs.
21) He signed me up for a Fantasy Football league in 2004.
22) He answers my football questions while we watch games -- even if it is the same question I had during the LAST game we watched.
23) He is passionate about the Steelers and UGA.
24) He has a hard time fussing at the kids without laughing.
25) His laughs make me laugh.
26) He lets the girls paint his big toes with polish -- and wears it proudly.
27) He insists I take a break from "helping" the kids with homework when he sees I'm getting frustrated.
28) He supports my discipline decisions with the kids -- even if he disagrees, he supports me in front of the kids.
29) He supports my crafting habit... even when nothing is being produced from it!
30) He values education.
31) He is thoughtful.
32) He is proud -- but "not the kind in the Bible that turns you bad"
33) Speaking of music -- he may make fun of my music choices, but he doesn't make me turn it off.
34) He loves my family.
35) He is a better man today than he was 10 years ago and he will be a better man tomorrow. There's nothing better than someone who can learn and grow from mistakes and experiences.
36) When I don't feel well, he'll take all of the kids to the park so I can have a little while of quiet.
37) He's a sentimental fool :-)
38) He'll help me make a meal plan (for two weeks at a time) then want things not on the plan.
39) He is impulsive and often makes decisions based on his gut.
40) He will sneak up behind me and hug me while I'm cooking. {To be honest, this isn't always appreciated at the time, but I still appreciate that he does it.}
41) He is a fantastic daddy who understands that his girls need one-on-one time with him just as much {if not more} than the boys do.
42) He is my best friend. I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend.
1) He loves me. Unconditionally. And I know it.
2) He gave me four beautiful, wonderful children.
3) He loves his family. All of his family. Whether in the same house or not. He loves them.
4) He provides for his family.
5) He will kick me in the butt {not literally} when I want to sleep in on a Sunday, instead of going to church.
6) He lets me drive everywhere because he knows I get nauseous when he drives - ha!
7) He'll eat popcorn with me, even if he doesn't want any. Just so I don't feel bad making it for just me.
8) He'll watch silly shows with me {Current addiction? Big Shrimpin' and Gator Boys}
9) He'll sit with me {and only complain, vocally, a small amount} when I want to watch Project Runway.
10) He'll get up in the middle of the night and check when I hear a noise downstairs.
11) He bought a dog. I really don't like her, but I think she fits in okay.
12) He taught Raleigh how to use the litterbox. Seriously. Have him tell you the story. Hilarious.
13) He obsesses over buying cars. But doesn't make me go along during his obsession. He'll just show up with a new (to us) car.
14) He comes home and wrestles with the kids.
15) He coaches soccer and baseball, making the whole season easier on me -- and improving his relationship with our kids!
16) He never says "what did you do all day?!?" when he comes home to a messy house and me, snuggled with Sam on the couch.
17) He hardly ever turns his nose up to my cooking. Doesn't mean he likes it all, but he'll at least try it {except for sweet potatoes... that one's just not going to happen}.
18) He likes to camp.
19) He dreams big -- and tells me to check my skepticism at the door.
20) He can sing the themesongs to multiple preschool tv programs.
21) He signed me up for a Fantasy Football league in 2004.
22) He answers my football questions while we watch games -- even if it is the same question I had during the LAST game we watched.
23) He is passionate about the Steelers and UGA.
24) He has a hard time fussing at the kids without laughing.
25) His laughs make me laugh.
26) He lets the girls paint his big toes with polish -- and wears it proudly.
27) He insists I take a break from "helping" the kids with homework when he sees I'm getting frustrated.
28) He supports my discipline decisions with the kids -- even if he disagrees, he supports me in front of the kids.
29) He supports my crafting habit... even when nothing is being produced from it!
30) He values education.
31) He is thoughtful.
32) He is proud -- but "not the kind in the Bible that turns you bad"
33) Speaking of music -- he may make fun of my music choices, but he doesn't make me turn it off.
34) He loves my family.
35) He is a better man today than he was 10 years ago and he will be a better man tomorrow. There's nothing better than someone who can learn and grow from mistakes and experiences.
36) When I don't feel well, he'll take all of the kids to the park so I can have a little while of quiet.
37) He's a sentimental fool :-)
38) He'll help me make a meal plan (for two weeks at a time) then want things not on the plan.
39) He is impulsive and often makes decisions based on his gut.
40) He will sneak up behind me and hug me while I'm cooking. {To be honest, this isn't always appreciated at the time, but I still appreciate that he does it.}
41) He is a fantastic daddy who understands that his girls need one-on-one time with him just as much {if not more} than the boys do.
42) He is my best friend. I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend.
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