So, it is a Tuesday morning and we are having a cold front. To wake up in the middle of April to temperatures in the 40's, I'm not sure how to feel. Do I want the warm weather or do I want to enjoy yet again another blast of cold air? It isn't like we have a choice. But it is somewhat weird to be pulling out sweatshirts again for mornings after I had just cleaned out closets and reorganized them for summer weather!
You might wonder what the title means. We have had an interesting two weeks around our house. These are the very things that exasparate us as parents and if we are not careful, we might actually move to a mountainside in Switzerland and buy some cows and goats and live alone.
It all started on a cool fall day in November when we were traveling on the interstate and out of nowhere, Spencer wants to know what the "F" word is. He read it on the wall at school and wants to know what the "F" word means, he has never heard "F" and doesn't know what "F" means ..... at this point, my hair was on fire. Now he knows the word, Erica knows the word after she says she has never heard it before and Jack wants to know what "F" means as well. Innocence gone. Just like that.
Fast forward to current week. After explaining it in the context of hate, and do not share this with anyone EVER, Spencer thought the kindergartener/4 year old neighbor needed to know the word and how bad it is so they will never ever use the word. It is moments like this that you think to yourself, "what in the world ...." but to top this off, another little neighborhood boy had his own little twist on the word. Spencer was corrected and this little boy encouraged the younger ones that if they go home and tell their mom that she is "F'ing" beautiful, that is a compliment and a good thing. So, I picked myself up off the floor at that moment. I think I was a puddle .... well, more like a blob. And I realized just how severe a battle we are in for our kids. I can protect them and do everything "right" as I see it. But I was reminded by a friend that yes, these things will happen; your kids are going to do these things; and you can't fall apart every time it happens. I thought that was very wise. How naive for me to think my kids are not going to screw up, make mistakes and just really blow it. And every time they do, I realize I have an opportunity to make the moment teachable. I'm just navigating the teachable moments and looking for a place to catch my breath! Yes, these things happen ......
