Lady with a Hatred for a Rubber Ducky

Yesterday Arline and I drove up to Mendota to pick up Kara and Faith and go to a baby shower of Arline's niece by marriage. The drive was long. I was antsy. At one point when we were probably 20 minutes from Kara's house I finally gasped, "ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggg, let's do a Chinese fire drill!" She told me no. Maybe she was worried I would drive off :-) Just kidding Arline! I was serious about the Chinese fire drill. I hate sitting still that long and riding with me has to be the worst punishment ever considering I can't stand complete silence when people are around unless someone is sleeping. Ever wonder why I talk so much? Now you know.
When we got to the shower Kara and I were in good moods and joking around the whole time, but we were also catching up from not seeing each other for awhile and since we neither one like to talk on the phone, we have to catch up in person. We also find it quite fun to taunt each other. As we moved over to the part where the mother-to-be was opening gifts, we were having trouble seeing anyway so we continued to whisper our conversation. At one point Kara told me something that happened to my niece Faith. I said out loud, "oh my gosh, I DON'T like that!" But right as I was saying that the mother-to-be held up a rubber ducky and the room became quieter than it was. So imagine this. Mother holds up rubber ducky and lady from the back of the room says, "oh my gosh I DON'T like that!" In the awkwardness of the moment instead of saying "I didn't mean the ducky!" I mumbled "yeah, stupid ducky." quite sarcastically. As the shower came to an end, I was noticing that the entire thing was being filmed and Kara and my conversation was probably the closest sound to the camera. CRAP! Wow, I just love baby showers, they always bring out the best in me. It wasn't like I wasn't happy for the couple...I just have issues with baby showers. I was proud of myself for going. They are so hard for me. I know....I have a lot of issues. That's right I'm like a paint by number- so restrictive and annoyingly stifling. But, I promise you I really can rock out an awesome masterpiece despite all of that! Kara was worried we looked like we didn't care and I hoped we didn't. To make her laugh about it I said, "Well, I know they don't like me, at least I have company!" She laughed.

What friendship means, what it doesn't; who you are and who aren't and never will be (and that is okay): forget the mold and get out of the locker!

Amber and I had the rare chance to talk the other day, and as I look back I am mad at myself for spending the whole conversation complaining about the previous day and the drama that unfolded in our house. The guilt I felt with Grant's bad day, the anger at the doctor's office....me, me, me, I have a habit of making it about me. It takes a whole lot of practice and a whole lot of support to make yourself not so narcissistic. So yes, I am aware. I was writing on the new page I added in my blog the other day (the award page) that talking to her was "like water in the desert". I can't find a better description. She doesn't cause me pain, suffering, self-doubt. She never tares me down. That is what a true friendship does. Most of us don't find this until we become adults unfortunately. Some never find it until they are late in their lives. Some people will never get it because they can't stop abusing their friends enough to deserve it.
It wasn't always like this. Honestly Amber and I were in school together and she was a year older than me, but we didn't become friends until late high school. Then we seemed to get closer the farther we got from high school. After I saw her at the frog jumping contest back home immediately following my surgery and recovery we found ourselves almost running to each other like a cheesy but realistic movie and we just hugged. We were both in tears. It was tough not seeing each other through that. But, she had a baby right when I had the diagnosis and surgery. She was there for me, and seeing her made it all very clear to me. So, from that day on we texted and e-mailed and talked on the phone constantly. We still do, more some times than others, but even when we can't see each other, I know she is there if I need her. She always has something to say to make me feel better or something to offer that I never thought of. I'd like to think I do the same for her. Actually, I really know I do. I do. I have a blessing in her and I simply would do anything for her.
There were times growing up when I wondered if I would ever have the type of friends I saw people having at school. Those best friends that hung out outside of school and went to each others houses and did everything together caused me slight jealousy at times. I did have best friends growing up but, as we grow up we change and as we change sometimes our friends don't change the same way we do. It isn't saying that they are bad or wrong, or I am bad or wrong. It simply says that I took a different path for some reason and it has lead me here. The difficulties I had with deep friendships revolved around trust and keeping close to my family due to anxiety. I rarely trusted anyone completely, and if I did it seemed that they were either family or very close friends of family. My mother encouraged me to spend the night at people's houses if I was invited. The conjoined words: "slumber party" or "spend the night" still make me want to vomit. I went to a couple, I'm not sure if any of the people there remember me being there other than one time when I was the butt of the joke and had an incident happen that deeply saddened me. I resolved in my head that I "hated" those girls. But with me, to "hate" someone meant that I often was still very nice to them, I would just cry when I went home: I was very dependent until about 8th grade. I'm not sure what changed me. Something happened inside me that told me that I would no longer be submissive. I started running and writing then and told myself I would completely change who I was to the opposite. I could fake "un-shy" when I needed to. I am a extroverted introvert- (try that one on)! In fact I often put myself in situations that other shy individuals would find torturous. I decided I was going to try out for the dance team, but they called it Pom-poms (which still to this day I laugh about because we rarely used pom-poms). It was a stretch because most of those girls had been in dance their whole lives. I had never been in dance. The only dance I knew was what I felt when I heard music. Oh, how I have so many stories rushing through my head right now about high school and who I was and who I wasn't that I must simply focus on one right now.
Back to the idea of freeing myself... Just because I chose to be different didn't mean in any way that my life was easier, it just meant that I could rest easier at night with the choices I had made even if I was the only one making them. I had strong opinions then, just as I do now. I felt strong resistance toward alcohol and drugs. I assure you the less friends you have, the less parties you go to, the less trouble you seem to get into....Am I saying to be a loner? Not exactly. It's really hard as a young individual or even an adult to stand alone. I remember wanting to climb inside my locker so no one could see me not hanging out in any particular group. I had so many people that were nice to me and I was friendly with. I joked around with so many of them, I appeared to have strong friendships. But nobody in that school really knew who I was except for a select few. If they knew who I was it didn't mean they were my best friends either. Dan (my brother) was in high school with me for two years and that was calming. When he left I never felt like I recovered completely. It may not have seemed that way to others. I was in student council, on the dance team, then I wanted to try to twirl and be a majorette (Baton twirlers) so I asked a friend of mine to show me real quick. I bought a baton, practiced all summer and tried out and made it! So I said suck it to the now large group of a-holes the dance team was (not all of them, just most) and started twirling. (I'm totally over that- can you tell?) I even did fire batons. I have a feeling though people remember me from high school as the reject.
I ran track and cross-country, I read the announcements over the intercom every morning one year or two I can't remember. I won the honorary captain of the cross country team award my senior year (voted on by my teammates). I won the DAR award (Daughters of American Revolution Citizenship Award) (voted on by my teachers and other adults who worked in the school) and was prom queen my senior year (voted on by the students). Yet, I still felt odd, out of place, like I never belonged. So I'm convinced that some people would feel that way no matter how many friends they had, awards they won or things they participated in.
Some may wonder why I am looking back....something took me back. I was trying to have empathy for something I saw and I put myself into a young person's place only to remember that I don't have any answers because I never really learned how to fit in. I still feel the same way I did back then. But there are no lockers to climb into. It just is a different place. In this place I can go home and hide. I can be myself more and still know my husband loves me and he chose me, he didn't just get stuck with me. I can be me and know my boys are still going to tell me "You are my best mommy in the world Mommy!" I can write it all down in a book, give it one last look, hand it over to a publisher and hope they don't judge me as harshly as I do myself. I can know that my words might make someone somewhere feel like people have helped me feel along the way...hopeful...and loved even though I am me.

Blue's Clue's and Brown Bear, Brown Bear vs. The Encycolpedia, National Geographic and Discovery Channel at 5?

I absolutely love Grant's kindergarten teacher. She is one of those people that brings an instant level of comfort the second you look at her. Grant loves her as well. The thing about Grant is that he doesn't instantly trust anyone. He is very hesitant and guarded. I asked him tonight "How do Mrs. Cross and Mrs. Bear compare?" He said "Completely!" Since my question was asked in a particularly odd fashion in order not to sway his response I was confused at first by his answer. He continued on to say that they are the same. To know how big of a shock that statement is you would have to know how in love Grant was with his preschool teacher, Mrs. Cross. He was so upset when he found out that she wouldn't be coming with him to kindergarten. He started preschool right before his 3rd birthday. The Y-tots program was appealing to me because it was only two days a week from 8:30-11am. They focused on socialization, play, following rules, and fun education. I say fun because I am against hard core preschool. I believe that kids should be able to play before they start school. If they ask questions, and oh, how they do... I feel we should answer every one. I didn't want him to be forced to learn the things he would be learning in kindergarten before he even got there. I wanted him to play and experience life so he would want to know all about it. I can understand those kids who don't care to learn because their parent's never answered the millions of "why's" or the kids who never got the chance to play and experience the world enough to be compelled to know more and more. To be hungry for more knowledge.
"Mommy is the sun falling?, Mommy do the people get to come out of the TV?, Mommy how does the tree in the front yard come back to life and get green again after it died when the leaves fell off of it? Mommy why are you doing that? Mommy why can't I? Mommy what's that? Mommy what's that? Mommy what's that?
WHAT'S THAT!"
Due to his thirst for knowledge Grant asked to learn many things and was ready for kindergarten. In June Grant sounded out words in a book Jake was holding and officially read his first book. We covered up the pictures so that he wasn't able to just guess by the picture. I remember getting frustrated recently when he was at his Grandmother's house and I was talking about being worried he would be bored in kindergarten, therefore getting into trouble, and I was informed that he didn't know the sounds that the letters made and didn't know how to identify some of the letters. My first thought was who cares, that's what he will learn anyway, so maybe he won't be bored , but then it hit me...No, that wasn't true. He wanted to play school all of the time so we would often work on letters at home. He repeatedly identified and sounded them out correctly. He had a wipe board that he used and every time he got all of them right we bought a littlest pet shop animal, I'm sure we did that too many times...it got pricey. I couldn't figure out why he wasn't showing his Grandma what he knew. It wasn't really all that important other than it made me look like I was a dope. I asked him why she may have thought that. He told me that he just didn't want to play school at Grandma's house, he wanted to catch toads. I figured he if he didn't care he probably appeared that he didn't know, he was probably thinking about catching toads. She wouldn't have cared if he wanted to catch toads instead of work on school stuff. He should have told her. She was a teacher for years, she certainly knew how to teach him his letters and sounds if he really didn't know them, but I really did already teach him, as bad of a Mom as I may appear to others I know in my heart I do my best.
Grant really loved me to read the children's encyclopedia to him since he was three. I have to be honest, I used to read encyclopedias at my Grandparent's house when I was little, so I was happy to read it to him. He also has developed such an amazing interest in animals, insects and nature that we often have the Discovery Channel Streaming Netflix on. The Disney channel seems to have faded into the background. He has a subscription to Kid's National Geographic, but gets irritated that it doesn't look like the adult version. I honestly thought kindergarten would continue his development upward. I'm sure socially he has things he needs to work on, anxiety in social settings is an issue, but if Ted and I never got over that, how will kindergarten improve that? I feel there will always be opportunity in all settings to learn something, even if it is as simple as, "I should not act like that kid!" However, the kindergarten program has to cover such a wide spectrum of children.....they have to make sure they don't well, leave anyone behind....
I feel a bit amazed that Mrs. Bear is able to teach children who have never read Brown Bear, Brown Bear and are 5 years old, with kids who are already reading (I'm not talking about Grant, she mentioned last year she had a girl reading at a third grade level). I don't really consider Grant to be able to read yet. Tonight Jake was watching an episode of Blue's Clues that Grant probably watched when he was right around two as well. Suddenly Grant pipes up, "Hey we watch this at school during nap time!" I said, "Are you kidding me!?" It was a sudden reaction and I shouldn't have said it, so Ted shot me a look. That look. That one that gets me every time. The "I'm so disappointed with you look". I was just amazed. Blues Clues at 5....Really? This is in no way a comment on Mrs. Bear's teaching skills, as teachers must do what is right for all of their student's right? But, if that is true, what about the kids who are forced to- wow, here comes a "Jo said it and it was totally inappropriate comment...."- dumb it down? I am smart enough even after such a dumb comment to know that there may be reasons for these things I don't know about, but I wish I could understand, I really do. .
As learning about his colors the first week, reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the librarian telling him he couldn't check out books in the bigger kids reading sections- even though I would be reading the books to him no matter what he checked out...., I'm having a hard time telling myself to enforce the idea that he must act his age. What is it that a five year old must act like these days again? Guess I have no clue.
Disclaimer: To all parent's who have children who struggle with a learning disability or social or emotional disability: I understand that there is a struggle for us as parents to keep our children at levels that are equal to those of the typical child their age. I understand the guilt, the pressure, the anger at the school system, etc. I simply am presenting a different thought on the whole dynamic system. It appears broken. I am not the first obviously to see this, but, I want it to be clear that all children (people)  have weaknesses and I am not saying that my son is without his own. Someday when he is old enough to share his, maybe he will. Maybe I will have taught him, if nothing else, that there is no shame in expressing weakness...Until then, I will continue to speak of his strengths because I am proud of him and how far he has come.

Okay here's to you Sam and Natalie

Britt Nicole - The Lost Get Found

This video is about not being afraid to be be who you are, to share what you have been through, and that your experiences could be the very thing that helps the lost get found. It's the type of grace that inspires me to tell my stories and write them to the world. She is a Christian singer and I absolutely love the song. The message is powerful and the video is profound.

I hope you love it too.

Love and blessings, and I hope you enjoyed your shout-out!

You'll get through this too

In case you are wondering who sings this song: it is Joshua Radin and the song is called "Winter". This episode of Scrubs- probably one of my all time favorite TV shows ever, aired in 2004 shortly after some things I never thought I could make it through. I remember sitting alone one night, as I had recently discovered I was pregnant with Grant (only three months after losing Joseph), while Ted was at work. I was dealing with guilt of a pregnancy too soon and not wanting anyone to think I was trying to replace one child with another...something you can never do. I was watching this show and I cried...and cried...and cried. I cried the next day, and the next day and then every time I thought of those last words that Zack Braff (J.D.) said in the show I seemed to finally get emptied out of the tears and the sadness and I came to some clarity. I know it seems so odd to be affected by a TV show in such a way, yet with the combination of the show, the music and with the experiences of the time I was deeply affected. I had cut myself off from most of the people in my life when I had suffered this tragedy, and to be honest I assumed they didn't want to be around me because they simply didn't know what to say. The odd thing about losing loved ones in unexpected, unexplainable or tragic ways is often a terribly and lonely existence. People initially send cards and flowers. Then about five or six days later everyone disappeared and I was all alone. People don't like to talk about the things that they fear, or simply do not know how to process. Unfortunately it can leave the person who has experienced the loss with great resentment and emotional scars on top of the pain already in existence.
I think I have evolved into such an emotionally expressive and forward person because of the loneliness that I felt after our loss. I always want to be sure to say the right thing because of all the things that were said to me right after the loss that were totally inappropriate and downright horrible. I still can't forgive the people who said those things and I feel it will always harm relationships in my life. I over-react at small situations because underneath there is an instinctual reminder of certain words or actions by others during that time. Sounds, smells, and even some visual stimuli can take me back so fast I will find myself scrambling for the nearest exit. If only the people in my life knew the tiny things that remind me...I wonder if they would care or if they would blow me off. Some people think I get overly passionate and opinionated about a particular issue but they have no clue what I want to scream...
Grant has brought home toys (a particular type of doll- I can't say it or write it) that have caused me horrible flashbacks that I spend weeks trying to erase from my brain. He doesn't know why Daddy makes them disappear, he probably just thinks I am crazy. So be it...I am. I understand that one may wonder where this blog entry has risen from. I was triggered four times in one day today and I began to wonder if there was some sort of reason for the freak nature of these odd occurrences to all happen in one day. There may be a reason, there may be a lesson...I can't see it right now. I will in time. I guess conincidence is always a possibility...Now here I sit wondering if I should even publish this blog or if it is too nuts, depressing..... But, isn't that sad? Why should I have to be embarrassed to talk about genuine human emotions that I have experienced. Don't we all have emotions that we know aren't "normal". Wouldn't "normal" really simply be the existance of abnormal emotions we are unable to cure, completely explain, or even one's that we hate about ourselves? When I die someday it will say this on my tombstone:
"Never an emotion she didn't share,
never a oddball we could compare,
but standing by her made me look sane,
and for that gift I will never complain!"

The Gift of "Grant"-ing

A young man in the church I belong to has been quite an inspiration to my life these days. He introduced me to his mother, whom I found complete acceptance through her love, kindness and humor. Their lack of judgement, and positive and optimistic attitudes are appealing. Yet,they do it without  

pretending they are only happy all of the time. They are exactly what you see. They don't hide anything. They are real. Real people amaze me (I'd like to say I am real) in that I find this place a lonely place to be. It's difficult when you admit your faults, admit you may be wrong at times, but are willing to do whatever it takes to remedy situations. Or when you feel you have been wrong you stand firm until the time comes to speak your words. Hopefully the thoughts are well thought through and less manic as they were when they first jumped inside your head. His mother raises this young man as I hope to raise my own children and I would have to say that she is a strong, beautiful soul inside and out. I can't imagine a man not falling head over heals for this amazing woman. Sorry though losers, she's married. I hope her sons and her husband realize how awesome she really is. While the oldest son whom I have grown very impressed with over the last few months has watched me deal with my own issues, he as been nothing sort of a friend. In fact the other day I was upset about the house not coming along as quickly as I would have liked and he sent me this e-mail. So I wanted to share it with you. He won't mind as they are simply quotes.

Great Quotes none the less:

Inspirational, uplifting, and supportive Quotes

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his or hers life will be.

Horace Bushnell

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.

Leon J. Suenes

The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.

Frank Loyd Wright

To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.

Shakespeare

Go back a little to leap further.

John Clarke

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

Walt Disney

Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.

Edgar Cayce

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

Walt Disney

Fall seven times, stand up eight.

Japanese Proverb

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you're going through hell, keep going.

Winston Churchill

A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn.

Author Unknown

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

Mother Teresa

We acquire the strength we have overcome.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall. Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.

Author Unknown

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.

Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!

Dr. Seuss

These are just a few of my favorite quotes that I thought might help you two in this tough time you're going through. Always remember anything is possible trough perseverance, faith, belief, and hope.

That van down by the river is sure looking good right now.

Dear R&R Dream Homes and All American Homes,
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! So, I'm glad we had this chance to talk, I hope this straightens things out.
Sincerely,
Joanna Anderson