Two Different Kids

Another quarter is over - I'm always shocked at how fast these school years go. Their freshman and 4th grade years are half over. Miranda ended up on the B honor roll again, we're very proud of course. We always tell her that a hard earned C is just as good as an A. She did get a C+ in Science, that was such a hard class. I'm really impressed with what she can accomplish and learn. We saw her study for hours and hours for that class.

Now Mr. James. He ended up with three C's and 2 B's. He came home with his report card and was over the moon about it. "Isn't it good? Are you proud of me? You always tell Miranda that a C is OK." I was treading on thin ice. Do you tell a child that it wasn't so great? Do you say you got these grades because you didn't try? Do you say to a 10 year old this isn't good enough? He is so different, I'm in a new territory here. He has so much potential but doesn't care or want to put in the work. Let me tell you it's frustrating!

So I asked, "Did you do your best?"
James: Yes
Mom: Did you study hard for every test?
James: Yes
Mom: Did you bring all your homework home?
James: Yes

The correct answers to these questions is no. Honestly, he really thinks he did a great job. Now, I do not expect perfection from either of them. I don't want to sound like I'm psycho mom or anything, but I do want them to do their best. James did not do that here.

I'm very confused as to what I'm supposed to do with my sweet baby James. There should be a manual for these things. Maybe I'll write one. Of course, I need to figure out a solution first!

Teenage Drive Time

I carpool with four other families who live in our area on basketball practice nights. It is wonderful, instead of driving three nights a week we only have to drive once every other week. Heaven! Tonight was my turn, and maybe because it's so infrequent now, I really look forward to it.

I always arrive at the school early and peek in at the end of practice. Today Miranda yells from across the gym, "Hey Mom!" Acknowledgement! Every mother of a teenager knows what a treat this is! The girls were all revved up and stopped to say "Hey" (apparently NO ONE says Hi anymore) on their way to the locker room. They grabbed all their bags (an unbelievable ammount) and headed out to the car laughing and talking all the way.

There's a demand of "Ooh turn this up!" No matter what song is on the radio, it's someone's favorite. Then the girls started talking, the coach is a dork, the algebra teacher is a dork, the science teacher is a mean dork, etc. There seems to be a pattern. I finally got an opening and added that I had their algebra teacher when I was in school, which caused another fit of laughter. (I'm not sure why, but I'm not going to focus on that!)

There's such a feeling of happiness when they all get together, giggling and enjoying each other, each one trying to be funnier than the last, acting like teenagers are supposed to. I'm very grateful that they let me be a part of it once in a while!

Miss Miranda Boettcher

Miranda is involved in three sports, and I have said before that we are constantly running around, back and forth, to and from everyday. I have realized that Miranda has learned and is learning valuable life lessons from this.

Organization: I've never seen a kid like her. She has a separate bag for each sport, filled with equipment, headbands, lotion, contact solution, etc. She will never be unprepared for any game, practice, or tournament. This is also carried over into her academics, her planner is impeccable, she does not forget assignments, or books at school. She obviously does not get this from me.

Hard work: Whether it's on a court or field or classroom, Miranda works so hard to do her very best. She enjoys doing well! She wants to do well! It matters to her! Talking with other parents, this is very rare.

Time management: If Miranda has late practice (5:30-7:30) she will bring books home the weekend before to read ahead, do vocab that wasn't assigned, study for tests scheduled in the following week. So that when she does get home, she can shower and go to bed.

Team Work: She has learned that in life, people depend on you, and you depend on others to reach a common goal. She has felt the wonderful feeling of what happens when you win as a team, and the disappointment of coming up short as a team.

Decision Making: I think this is the hardest lesson of all. Sometimes there isn't a right or wrong choice. Sometimes you have an easy route and a hard route. Sometimes Mom and Dad don't always agree. The lesson she is learning, is that she just has to come to a decision and live with it without regret. If she can do that, she is far more self assured than I ever was at 14!

Life is not fair: This lesson has popped up recently, sometimes you can work hard and be very deserving and not receive what is fair. We all know what a horrible feeling this is. She and I have had lots of tears and long talks about this. She is realizing that she can be proud of herself and her hard work even though the outcome wasn't exactly what she thought it should be.

I am so proud of this kid who is turning into a young woman right before my eyes.

One month and 23 days later...

Yep, I counted. I would like to say we've been busy, but really when aren't we? To be honest, I just haven't posted. So there.

Things have been busy, the kids finished up their 1st quarter at school and both did very well. Miranda was on the B honor roll and James was thrilled with the letter grades on his report card for the first time. He ended up with 4 B's and a C+. Yea James!!

Both kids are in basketball right now and are loving it. James has practice on Saturdays and Miranda is going every day of the week. Sometimes just for fun the schedule ends up like this: James: 8:00am - 9:30am in Eyota; Miranda: 7:00am bus time in Eyota, 8:00am game time in Stewartville. No worries, Supermom makes these things happen with the flurry of calls and carpool swaps.

Miranda made her 1st three pointer in a game last night. She makes them all the time outside and in practice, but in a game - it's another thing entirely!

James has a demonstration speech due on Friday. I remember Miranda doing it, and thinking she's getting so old. All I can think about James is, "Isn't he a little young to be doing this?" He is going to demo, "How to make a milkshake." He practiced last night and I think it's going to be great. Of course, we are going to practice tonight and tomorrow - yum!

Ah, Vacation Daze

How great was MEA? A four day weekend with nothing to do! When they were little, I had to plan events and possibly take time off work for daycare reasons. My kids are older now and are planning their weekends with a flourish!

Miranda and her 6 friends planned a whole day consisting with an afternoon at the mall then to see a movie, after that a sleepover at Alyssa's house. All this was planned with the hum of cell phones to parents and aunts coordinating rides and permission with all the parents. I think I speak for all the Moms that it was less overwhelming and easier when we did all the planning. However, Miranda and the girls are very responsible and they had a great time.

With Miranda gone James and Kaleb had no choice but to go to the Boys and Girls club. He was a little sad, but Mr. Easy-Going went along with it. He had a great time and came home and said, "Holy cow Mom, some dude got his head cracked by a pool ball." Apparently this was the highlight of the day. Mike said, "Holy cow James, watch your back and duck!" After we picked them up, the boys talked me into a sleepover, and they stayed up until who knows when playing Playstation. Good Times!

Mike and Jackie went to work.

The Important Things About High School

I went to conferences Tuesday and Miranda is doing very well in all her classes. Four A's and a B. However, we all know that these things are not important, Homecoming week is. Wednesday was Color War day, and the Freshman were wearing orange. Powderpuff Football is a great honor but Miranda did not play because of her knee. This did not stop her from getting into the spirit, or wanting the $10 for the t-shirt. (See previous post)

And of course, James needed his picture taken too -

$93.70 and a couple 'a quarters

I am always astounded by the cash that I walk out with after work. I love that part of my job. (Who wouldn't). However, there are 3 people that I live with that enjoy it too.

Miranda informs me that she needs lunch money. At the rate that my two children go through the money in their lunch accounts, I am positive that I could feed a third world country for a month. Unbelievable. $52.00 - twenty five for each of them with a $2.00 convenience fee. Convenient for who, I ask you?

James is in the 4th grade and has come home with the paper that I have been dreading. The recorder. I have to pay $2.50 for a torture device. Mike asked if Miranda still had hers and of course she does - why wouldn't she? James is adamant about NOT using his sisters and really, I'm fine with that. Mike thinks this is ridiculous. Whatever. I dig out the $2.50 and sign the sheet and realize that Mrs. McDonald is "Strongly recommending the safety strap". Why in the HELL do you need a safety strap to play a recorder? Mike says it's so the parents won't go over and grab the recorder and throw it out the window. The child will be stuck to it so "That would really slow ya down." Nice. $1.20 for the Safety Strap.

Soccer pictures are today, I ordered the "Star player" package. Plenty of wallets for my ginormous family. Buttons for mom and dad. Buddy pics with cousin Katie. $38.00.

On the way out the door James asked for a couple 'a quarters. What for? "Oh, I don't know".

Absolutely not.