Tuesday was actually lovely: the boy’s last Christmas package arrived from Lego Shop at Home. I set the box where M could see it when he awoke from his nap. B was spending the afternoon at a friend’s house. When M and K awoke, we joined B, bringing the unopened box for all the boys to explore together while my friend and I drank coffee while K and the dog played on the rug until we adults couldn’t stand the way the puppy cleaned the baby’s face (it didn’t bother the baby at all) Then we had a mad scramble to get to flute lessons on time. Everyone behaved, everything went well, dinner was easy and yummy. But I still had the blues.
After dinner, DH told me, "we are out of TP, do you want me to go get it, or do you want to go get it?" I replied that I wanted to spend time alone with him at a bookshop with coffee and chocolate, but that we hadn’t worked out a baby sitter. He looked at the clock, and suggested that I just go out by myself, picking up TP on my way back. So I did.
I played Ralph Vaughn Williams in the car, prayed a bit, and and did go to Borders, after picking up TP and date planner inserts at Target. I tried a red tea vanilla latte (I think I agree with Precious’s assistant that black tea is yummier, in the No 1 Lady’s Detective Agency books) and sat down next to a stitch and b knitting club! They eventually invited me to join them, and they were so pleasant! Most were school teachers, one was a homeschool parent. Even though they know someone already who had done it, they asked me the usual questions about certification, methods, accountability…but so innocently that I didn’t take offense. In fact, when I told the Mary Pride illustration about how a classroom teacher vs a tutor is like a lion tamer vs a cat owner; everyone seemed understanding and pleased. They were respected, and also open to understanding me a bit. The other homeschool mom smiled approvingly at me, between changing yarn colors in her lace scarf with intriguing selvages moving up the other yarn neatly.
When I came home, the boys were snuggled in their bunks listening to DH read the next few chapters of Swallows and Amazons, and though K started wailing when she heard my voice, everyone assured me that she’d been fine all night. Babies are like that. ;-)
Next time can I come, too? I was so blue last night that Sam offered to fly me to San Diego. Instead, tonight I went to Michael's to buy weights for the pinewood derby car. Today was better: tulips on the table and I vacuumed the carpets.
Hang in there.
Annie