Little Man Needs a New Nickname

Little Man had a birthday this week and I every time I look at him I am reminded that his "little boy" stage is rapidly coming to a halt. 

Until he does something like this: 

Then I wonder if he'll ever grow up. 

Somedays I really need him to grow up because things like fighting with him over taking a shower when he smells like a wet dog just gets old.  Other days, when he looks like this: 

I wish he could stay my Little Man forever.  Then he wakes up.

Truth be told, Little Man really is an amazing creature.  He is the quintessential little boy.  He loves dirt and creatures and rocks and animals and wierd looking, stinky things and nature.  He is kind to his friends, he loves his family and he has a wicked sense of humor.  He is the kind of kid who challenges his mama with his boyish nature, and sometimes he makes me so mad I could spit.  Then the second he realizes he's crossed a line or hurt my feelings or trashed my dryer with his "rock tumbling" experiment, he will hug my neck so hard that I feel his little heart through his chest.  His remorse is so real and so heartfelt that I can't stay mad.  Because that heart is so pure and innocent and loving that to stay mad at him for being who he is?  Would ruin who he is.  So who is he?  He is an amazing gift from a loving Heavenly Father who knew that I would need someone in my life who can love me wholeheartedly, without condition, regardless of my weight, my haircut or my lack of patience with curious, active little boys. 

He is my Little Man...at least for a few more years.   

       

Field Trip Chaperone

How many times do I have to repeat this ritual before I realize that being a field trip chaperone always seems like more fun that it really is? While I love, love love being with my kids while watching monkeys throw poo or watching their eyes glaze over as a desert botanical museum guide talks about the 8000 different varieties of cactus in Arizona, I don't always love the rest of the kids in the group. We always start out trying to get all of my kids friends in one group but teachers are smart and they like to give the tough kids to the chaperones so the teacher can have a break for the day.

Inevitably, and I'm sure you can all back me up on this, we end up with a group of 4 or 5 really decent kids and 2 or 3 that make you wonder how their parents are even still mildly sane.

I had 2 of THOSE kids today...a bossy, loud young lady who monopolized all of the interactive exhibits and argued LOUDLY and aggressively with anyone who asked for a turn, who ended up thinking she was my best friend by the end of the trip and "whiny boy" who would not stay with the group and stole everyone's food at lunch. Seriously. He would wait til kids weren't looking then grab one of their chips or cookies and shove it in his mouth.

At least I was smart enough to remember the hellish bus ride from the last field trip and made the decision to drive my own car to the Science Center. Which was an awesome decision, cause after loading everyone on the bus to go back to school, I got to drive home in silence. The silence was a godsend because I had a raging headache from sitting in the front row of the IMAX movie where my group insisted on sitting! Have you made that mistake at IMAX? It's too much! I can barely watch one of those movies from the back row.

Anyway, nothing makes you appreciate silence more than spending 4 hours in an enclosed building with 5 schools worth of students all having the time of their lives at the top of their lungs!

I hope I learned my lesson this time. I hope when my 1st grader comes home in a few weeks telling me about their upcoming field trip that this one is still fresh on my mind. But not so fresh that it compels me to run to a corner and assume the fetal postion while rocking back and forth muttering "Can't go with the bad kids. Evil fieldtrips. Please no more. Teacher gives me bad kids."