Every parent should take foster classes once a year or so.

Whilst Spidey and Aquaman frolicked with grandparents this weekend, Superdad and I attended classes to be able to foster.  We sat through those same classes just about 4 years ago.  Same videos, same handouts.  You'd think we'd be bored silly.  I mean, we've heard it all before, yadda yadda yadda

We weren't bored.  Heartbroken, but not bored.  We were both just heartbroken at what happens to some kiddos.  We're heartbroken at the HUGE hurts they have to endure.

This time it was more personal.

We live with two kiddos who were hurt like that.

This time was more interesting.

The class was small, with an interesting mix of people, a teacher, an engineer (OK, two engineers), a doctor, parents, soon to be parents. . . and they all opened their mouths.  Each brought a different perspective, a different layer.

I love the trainer we had today.  Not only is she just plain nice and cute, she's a wealth of information with an easy way of getting people involved.  She keeps us on track, yet answers questions.  No one seemed intimidated.  No one seemed like this was just what they had to sit through, it was personal and real for all of us.

As we sat there, hearts breaking, all we wanted to do was get to our sons.  We just wanted to hug, kiss and THANK GOD we have them.  But for the grace of God, we are not those parents, those parents who rule the roost with intimidation, control and a total lack of skills.  How is it that I was born into a family where my parents knew how to raise me, who knew I'd need to learn how to think, need to know what I was good at, need to know all sorts of things AND need their comfort and protection?

A FIRST!

Last night Superdad and I took Spidey and Aquaman out for ice cream.  We'd told them they could order whatever they wanted because, well, I made a dinner I knew they'd balk at and wanted to give them motivation. It worked!  We thought Spidey was going to get a banana split, but he got his first double cone instead, he was awfully cute with it!  Aquaman forgo the ice cream for a chocolate donut with chocolate frosting (ahhhh kid after my own heart) and then begged for OUR ice cream.

Moms don't share chocolate.  Well, this mom doesn't.

So, the real fist wasn't the double scoop cone.

Afterwards we decided to drive around and see if we could find something fun.  We ended up at one of our favorite parks, one I rarely take the kids to because line of sight is difficult there.  The kids have problems playing when they can't see me, so I make it easy and avoid places where views are blocked.  We parked and started toward the gates.

Spidey and Aquaman ran ahead whooping, hooting and hollering with glee.  We finally caught up to them happily playing on a police car and a fire truck.

We then wandered over to the sand pit and made sand castles.

What a nice, pleasant evening, and how fantastic they ran ahead!  I know most parents may not appreciate that particular first, but our children were consumed with glee and it was FANTASTIC!

Moms of two boys ramblings

We had three playdates yesterday.  Well, two playdates and a quick dinner outside the dojo, but I'm counting that, too.  The first playdate was with one of Aquaman's classmates'.  He and his little brother are a ton of fun and I like the mom, too.  I don't know her very well, but she seems quite cool.  She's a fireman, by the way, how awesome is THAT?  Then we went to karate, had dinner with Superfriend, Buzz and Legomaster.  After dinner we zipped to the park to meet Spidey's best friend.  Spidey's best friend and little brother are so fun, and their mom is one of my best friends (ranking up there with Superfriend).  The dads even get along quite well.

Of course, I realize, most of my friends have two boys, both boys around Aquaman and Spidey's ages.  There is a certain dynamic in families with two sons and no girls.  Boys feed off eachother.  They interact a certain way.  I'm not sure what having another boy does (we do have a friend with 3 boys), but having a girl definitely changes the atmosphere.

I love our life, that's no secret.  I love our family, our church, our home and our friends.  Well, our home irritates me, but I have hope for it and at least it gives me a project.  I love that the superheroes are growing and thriving.  I love that we go play with other families and no one is left out (except for the random mishap).  I love that other moms I'm friends with GET that brothers hit eachother on occassion, that they think saying "pee" is funny and that they really can't find a darn thing.  I love that I have friends who can say "Oh, Jim Bob is acting JUST LIKE Spidey" or "Remember how I told you I thought it was odd Aquaman is doing that?  Well, guess what?  Little Billy is doing the exact same thing.  Hmm, must be a boy thing."

How would another child change that?  Will our friendships last or are they rooted in how very much we currently have in common?  Will I need to make new friends because the dynamics of our family change so much?  And, WHY didn't I think of this before?

I do have some friends with different set ups in their families, some with one child, some with girls, some with more kids, but those aren't my core friends, they aren't the massive support of my two boy families.

Sigh.

two quick things

1.  I'll fiddle with this bloggie and make it prettier, I promise, just not right now.

2.  was planning this post:

I don't know what happened to Spidey.  For the past week he's had his nose in a book.  Three months ago the kid was on the floor writing in torturous thoughts if we even suggested reading for 15 minutes.  He finished TWO books today!  WOWZAS!  I'm not complaining.

Aquaman, for his part, had regressed in his reading ability.  Yesterday I got smart (it takes me awhile) and asked why that boy wasn't reading.  He said, "Mom, if I go to first grade they won't care if I fall."  HUH?????  I assured him his teacher would care, his friends would care, the nurse would care, the recess proctors would care and I WOULD CARE.  Suddenly that boy can read.

Go figure.

Those boys confound me (in a very good way).

Hello!

Thanks for following me over here.  I've started a new blog for rather personal reasons; all I can say is PRAY they don't explode all over creation!