nothing to see here.

Last week Henry's teacher sent home a note asking parents to help their kid(s) find an orange-sized rock to bring to school for a project.  She asked that the rock be washed and brought to school on June 9th.  No problem.  Henry loves looking for rocks.  And then this weekend happened. 

Saturday we were busy at some family fun day event where I learned that Henry is a normal 3-year-old.  He didn't win the new bike in the bike raffle and he cried for days about it.  Maybe not days but it was a really long time, especially for a kid who already had a bike.  Why didn't they pick my name mom?  Why don't I get that bike?  I want that bike!  Mom!  Why didn't I win?  I need a new bike!  Now!!  Imagine hearing that for days.  Really loudly.  With wailing in between.  Lots of loud wailing.  Oh, and he thinks it's funny to yell, "Jesus Christ!" while surrounded by people we don't know.  Yay!  We also spent a lot of time at the mall where I could escape nature and not have my allergies make me want to die.  I wonder where Henry gets his dramatic streak?  We rode the train.  We played chase.  When it was time to go he wanted to play at the little play place that was teeming with disgusting children and we didn't have time.  The crying began again.  People stared because it sounded like I had just beat him senseless.  I hadn't.  Yet.  Just kidding.  He fell asleep on the way home so I took the long way home.  I carried him inside and laid him on the couch thinking he would wake up and demand a new bike and a mall play place.  He slept.  And he slept.  I fell asleep, too.  We woke up at 6:30 p.m.  Shit.  We napped almost 2 hours.  This is exactly what totally messed our week up last week.  Except this was a Saturday and he was home.  I let him stay up until 9 and he went to bed like a champ.  Whew. 

We slept in until 7:30 Sunday morning.  It felt like heaven.  We went to church.  It was a different service because the Pastor retired and it was her good-bye celebration.  Henry sat through much of it like a champ but we decided to leave before he got loud.  He said it was a good choice, I agreed.  We went to the next event, an open house for his cousin who graduated from high school.  Henry played with his cousins while I helped set up and get things ready and then drank beer and visited with friends and relatives.  We got home later than I had planned but once again, Henry took a bath and went to bed like a champ even though he had eaten Oreo cookies for dinner and chocolate cake for dessert.  I love this kid! 

This morning on the way to work and school I remembered we were supposed to bring a rock to school.  Shit.  The subdivision near our house has lovely landscaping with orange-sized rocks but we were already halfway to school, I didn't want to go back.  Then I decided I would need to find somewhere else with lovely landscaping.  Thankfully, it didn't take long to see a parking lot with trees surrounded by orange-sized rocks.  I pulled in the parking lot and casually opened the door and snagged a rock. 
"Henry, do you like this rock?"
"Oh I love that rock, mom."
"Good, it's for school."
"Why are we getting this rock?"
"Ms. Lisa said you need to bring a rock to school and we found this one, together."
"I like finding rocks with you.  Can I watch Curious George now?"
"Of course you can."
That's right.  Not only did I steal a rock on the way to school this morning.  I let my kid watch Curious George because when we got home last night I was too tired to put away the dvd player in the car.  I don't win any mom-of-the-year awards today or ever but guess what?  My kid doesn't have to be the only kid without a rock for whatever project they are doing today. Sometimes it's the best you can do.