Tuesday, April 8, 2008

On motherhood...

So, I'm sitting in the living room with a box of Kleenex (I still can't believe I have a cold), a decent cup of tea and a warm slice of homemade banana bread.

On the kitchen counter lies a good portion of Child #3's homework. It's completed. He's very good at that. But, somehow, this little stack didn't make it into his backpack. I don't think he realizes yet. He did remember to take his math, and that's what they'll be correcting now. But in an hour or so, he'll go to pull out his Language Arts papers and have a little panicky moment while he digs through all his stuff. Then, a little light bulb will go on, and he'll think of the counter and know what happened.

There's a part of me that wants to jump up and rush to the school and give him his homework before his name goes on the board for missing assignments.

I want to save him. Because he's 12. And I can still save him. Because he's 12, and he'll still let me save him.

Motherhood is not for sissies...

30 comments:

  1. oh man... tough call. what are you going to do?

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  2. we just posted on each others blogs at the exact same time. woah...

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  3. I'm sorry about your cold, but man, that banana bread sounds so good!

    Ya know, my daugher is 12, gets straight A's, and I would still do the same thing for her. Now, if it were an EVERY day or week occurance, maybe I wouldn't, but who knows.

    You're right. Motherhood is NOT for sissies!

    Hope you feel better soon!

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  4. It's so hard, when they're still young, to look ahead to the day (not that far!) when they're really going to have to remember the stuff themselves.

    Maybe he'll get lucky like my son did the other day--he had the computer on to print out an assignment, then just blaned. Remembered on the way to the bus--too late to go back. That day, they got an extension of another week & a half!

    Good luck. He'll be fine.

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  5. Hope you feel better soon...

    HUGS!

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  6. I know what I'd do - I'd take him the homework. Then I'd be cross with myself and tell myself 'How's he ever going to learn to take responsibility for his own schoolwork if I keep bailing him out?"
    Then I'd think about him panicking and remind myself that he'd done the work so he deserved the credit and I'd cut him some slack because 12 year olds need a break too.

    My son is 13. They remember most times don't they?

    Hope you feel better soon!

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  7. Amen.

    The DS is off in Europe for four months. (He's 18.) He left the gloves I knit him somewhere in England, his towel at a hostel in Scotland, and his card reader and smartcard in Barcelona. It never ends.

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  8. Well, did you take him his homework?

    I hope you feel better soon. I just got over a nasty cold, and it's no fun. And now my little one seems sick again, though it may be allergies. Poor thing.

    Thank you so much for visiting my blog! And thanks for your answer. It does help very much. I have over 50K words right now, and I feel the story wrapping up, but I was worried I needed 20-30K more words. So this frees me up a bit.

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  9. What did you do?

    I would go and drop it off, but I would feel like it wasn't the right thing to do. Mothering is schizophrenic sometimes, isn't it?

    Hope your cold is better,

    Heidi

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  10. I am a sissy. I'd break down and bring it in.

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  11. I have walked this road many times myself...and I have been the "saviour" ... and then the day comes when you say "ah well, that's life" and they say "hey, it happens" and neither one of you cares....but until that day...I was the saviour. I'm glad I was too!! For me, it was all part and parcel of the SAHM package...

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  12. aw, poor kid! :) you can tell i don't have kids because for a second i was so distracted by the words "banana bread" it took me a minute to focus on the rest of the post! :)

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  13. enjoy your tea. My guess is that you got in your car and rescued your son - that's what mothers do until their children go off to college or leave home :-)

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  14. motherhood isn't for sissies! it's so hard letting them learn by making mistakes, and knowing you could easily remedy the situation is even harder. i watch my 1-1/2 year old and want to swoop in and help her all the time, but i know letting her work it out is what motherhood is about... :) hope you are feeling better soon.

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  15. I forgot McG's homework policy. Does she accept late work? If she doesn't, I could see taking the work in.

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  16. I'm a big saver! Especially if they work hard and are good about doing the work. It just kills me to see it sitting there, when I know they worked hard on it, I know how some teachers can be. So what did you do?

    I hope you are feeling better. Tea and banana bread, sound like a good start to getting well. Take care of yourself.
    XOXOX

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  17. Well, I'd no doubt run up to the school like a maniac and drop of the work. I've done it before. I think, as someone else said, unless it's a weekly or daily habit they have, it's okay to make it right for them.
    Feel better - inhaling the vapors of boiling water with of a drop or two of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil and oil of rosemary should open those sinuses right up!
    ~Debbie

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  18. Well, since I am only half-way through the UK driver’s license process, my poor daughter (age 13) has to do without. It's tough, though.

    Okay, I admit it. I will email her files, if she can catch me ;-)

    Get well soon!!

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  19. That is so touching.

    And I hope your cold gets better, soon! :)

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  20. Ok, very strange thing here: One, I have a cold. Two, I have tea and home made banana bread. Three, my boy will be 18 next Monday and he phoned to see if he could rescue me! (instead of me driving 1 hr to pick him up, he's managed to catch a ride so I can pick him 20 min from home).

    So, aside from all the things you and I are currently sharing, if you rescue boy now...he may just rescue you later. It's nice.

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  21. you are so right. sissies need not apply. (did you save him?!)

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  22. Yep, I'm a saver. But I am doing it less and less... children are 17 and 18... it needs to stop before they start work and want me to run to their apartment to pick up their uniform or soemthing!
    teri

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  23. We males always like to be saved by women just when we get older we prefer none of our buddies find out.

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  24. Interesting post. I am not a parent, but gives me an idea about the sorts of issues / problems parents have to consider (and thousands more ..).

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  25. I know that wish. To save your child from their mistakes. I have a 20 year old but he was much younger once.

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  26. Tea and banana bread and you DIDN'T INVITE ME OVER?!

    ... oh yeah, and that thing with the son, good for you...

    But getting back to what really matters, what the heck?! I expect an invitation next time. ;)

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  27. I have been there. It is a tough one. I have done it a few times for child #1, oddly not for child #2. If I have already left for work, I have to say no, but he has always caught me just in time. I have warned that this is the last time. I don't like to admit it but I have had my sissy moments. It is a wonder they have survived me.

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  28. Not only did you save him, I know he still loves his mom!

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  29. Oh my at least he did his homework.

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Comments are always welcome!