we went camping...
Retta Fontana
We went camping to Lake Michigan last weekend. It was awesome. We had a small window of sunshine and warmth between the rains on Friday and Monday. Naturally, 15yo Mr. Cool stayed home. He left us a message on the cell phone to "check in" which we had not asked him to do, that was nice. When we got home he told us he was glad we were home, and I think he meant it. Right away he sat down on the sofa to tell us about something he's really struggling with. We must be doing something right!
Occasionally I ask both kids, "what would I have to do to be the perfect mom?" This is quite a direct route to whatever frustration they are feeling at the moment and so far has produced valuable info each time. "Don't kiss me in public." "Don't comment on foods I place into the grocery cart." "Keep your nose out of my business!" As I said, very useful tips.
Should have seen that 10yo girl of ours chopping firewood, oak no less, with an axe. She has broad shoulders like her Daddy's sisters, and is strong as a little bull from climbing trees. Each morning she styled her hair and freshened her make up. She opted against bringing her black "go-go boots" with no input from us.
Actually we camped in the Manistee National Forest. It's wilderness camping, no water, elec or even outhouses. Who wants a nasty outhouse anyway? Best of all NO ONE was there and it's free. It was so deserted we could have walked around nude, hubby said he'd be interested in that! You don't say!!
Husband has been suffering with jock itch. As we lounged in the dunes watching spectacular Lake Mich, 10 yo dug sand for all her worth and I kept a lookout so he could sun his "gents," (I think she abbreviated "genitals' - quite appropo) as daughter calls them. I think it helped. I told him he looked like a pervert. We tried to come up with a code word as warning for an approaching person. "Land ho!" was first, then, "Walking the dog" and then I told him if someone approached I was going to yell, "Cover up your penis!"
Sunday when we woke up we heard a couple of rifle shots far away and were a little dismayed. I thought it would be awful to be shot with your pants down squatting in the woods. (As if it wouldn't be awful any other time!) Headlines started emerging from our combined sleeping bags, "Rochester woman shot while shitting down" this from hubby: "Rochester woman loses left cheek" and my final: "Cheeky Rochester woman loses it."
"Mr. Cool" has been teaching himself web page design. I remember him sitting through math classes (gr 5-8 the same old shit for four years) pulling his hair, he was so frustrated. (He decided to start homescool for "gr 9".) He got a gig with a company in town and he's doing an amazing job. They've told him they'll pay him $75 for it, which is cheap by any standard, but good bucks when you're 15 and you enjoy the work. It could be a fabulous referral.
10yo decided she's like to be in "6th grade" this year. All that carefully constructed bullshit the system promotes! I'm so glad she can see that the emporer is naked....
Fondly,
Retta
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Occasionally I ask both kids, "what would I have to do to be the perfect mom?" This is quite a direct route to whatever frustration they are feeling at the moment and so far has produced valuable info each time. "Don't kiss me in public." "Don't comment on foods I place into the grocery cart." "Keep your nose out of my business!" As I said, very useful tips.
Should have seen that 10yo girl of ours chopping firewood, oak no less, with an axe. She has broad shoulders like her Daddy's sisters, and is strong as a little bull from climbing trees. Each morning she styled her hair and freshened her make up. She opted against bringing her black "go-go boots" with no input from us.
Actually we camped in the Manistee National Forest. It's wilderness camping, no water, elec or even outhouses. Who wants a nasty outhouse anyway? Best of all NO ONE was there and it's free. It was so deserted we could have walked around nude, hubby said he'd be interested in that! You don't say!!
Husband has been suffering with jock itch. As we lounged in the dunes watching spectacular Lake Mich, 10 yo dug sand for all her worth and I kept a lookout so he could sun his "gents," (I think she abbreviated "genitals' - quite appropo) as daughter calls them. I think it helped. I told him he looked like a pervert. We tried to come up with a code word as warning for an approaching person. "Land ho!" was first, then, "Walking the dog" and then I told him if someone approached I was going to yell, "Cover up your penis!"
Sunday when we woke up we heard a couple of rifle shots far away and were a little dismayed. I thought it would be awful to be shot with your pants down squatting in the woods. (As if it wouldn't be awful any other time!) Headlines started emerging from our combined sleeping bags, "Rochester woman shot while shitting down" this from hubby: "Rochester woman loses left cheek" and my final: "Cheeky Rochester woman loses it."
"Mr. Cool" has been teaching himself web page design. I remember him sitting through math classes (gr 5-8 the same old shit for four years) pulling his hair, he was so frustrated. (He decided to start homescool for "gr 9".) He got a gig with a company in town and he's doing an amazing job. They've told him they'll pay him $75 for it, which is cheap by any standard, but good bucks when you're 15 and you enjoy the work. It could be a fabulous referral.
10yo decided she's like to be in "6th grade" this year. All that carefully constructed bullshit the system promotes! I'm so glad she can see that the emporer is naked....
Fondly,
Retta
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Retta Fontana
We went camping to Lake Michigan last weekend. It was awesome. We had a small window of sunshine and warmth between the rains on Friday and Monday. Naturally, 15yo Mr. Cool stayed home. He left us a message on the cell phone to "check in" which we had not asked him to do, that was nice. When we got home he told us he was glad we were home, and I think he meant it. Right away he sat down on the sofa to tell us about something he's really struggling with. We must be doing something right!
Occasionally I ask both kids, "what would I have to do to be the perfect mom?" This is quite a direct route to whatever frustration they are feeling at the moment and so far has produced valuable info each time. "Don't kiss me in public." "Don't comment on foods I place into the grocery cart." "Keep your nose out of my business!" As I said, very useful tips.
Should have seen that 10yo girl of ours chopping firewood, oak no less, with an axe. She has broad shoulders like her Daddy's sisters, and is strong as a little bull from climbing trees. Each morning she styled her hair and freshened her make up. She opted against bringing her black "go-go boots" with no input from us.
Actually we camped in the Manistee National Forest. It's wilderness camping, no water, elec or even outhouses. Who wants a nasty outhouse anyway? Best of all NO ONE was there and it's free. It was so deserted we could have walked around nude, hubby said he'd be interested in that! You don't say!!
Husband has been suffering with jock itch. As we lounged in the dunes watching spectacular Lake Mich, 10 yo dug sand for all her worth and I kept a lookout so he could sun his "gents," as dd calls them (I think she abbreviated "genitals' - quite appropo.) He thinks it helped. I told him he looked like a pervert. We tried to come up with a code word as warning for an approaching person. "Land ho!" was first, then, "Walking the dog" and then I told him if someone approached I was going to yell, "Cover up your penis!"
I grew up in a very repressive, dysfunctional, germ-phobic, catholic family and had trouble "going" in the woods. Sunday, when we woke up, we heard a couple of rifle shots far away and were a little dismayed. I thought it would be awful to be shot with your pants down squatting in the woods. (As if it wouldn't be awful any other way!) Headlines started emerging from our combined sleeping bags, "Rochester woman shot while shitting down" this from hubby: "Rochester woman loses left cheek" and my final: "Cheeky Rochester woman loses it." If an armed hunter came in sight I'd shit; which would solve the constipation problem in a hurry. (Rochester, MI is an upscale corner of one of the wealthiest counties in the coutry. Squatting in the woods is the great equalizer. The woods is such a fresh perspective on life.) Gratefully we didn't see a single snake as that would have been the last time dd set foot near a wood.
"Mr. Cool" has been teaching himself web page design. I remember him sitting through math classes (gr 5-8 the same old shit for four years) pulling his hair, he was so frustrated. (He decided to start homescool for "gr 9".) He got a gig with a company in town and he's doing an amazing job. They've told him they'll pay him $75 for it, which is cheap by any standard, but good bucks when you're 15 and you enjoy the work. It could be a fabulous referral.
10yo decided she's like to be in "6th grade" this year. All that carefully constructed bullshit the system promotes! I'm so glad she can see that the emporer is naked....
Fondly,
Retta
---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Occasionally I ask both kids, "what would I have to do to be the perfect mom?" This is quite a direct route to whatever frustration they are feeling at the moment and so far has produced valuable info each time. "Don't kiss me in public." "Don't comment on foods I place into the grocery cart." "Keep your nose out of my business!" As I said, very useful tips.
Should have seen that 10yo girl of ours chopping firewood, oak no less, with an axe. She has broad shoulders like her Daddy's sisters, and is strong as a little bull from climbing trees. Each morning she styled her hair and freshened her make up. She opted against bringing her black "go-go boots" with no input from us.
Actually we camped in the Manistee National Forest. It's wilderness camping, no water, elec or even outhouses. Who wants a nasty outhouse anyway? Best of all NO ONE was there and it's free. It was so deserted we could have walked around nude, hubby said he'd be interested in that! You don't say!!
Husband has been suffering with jock itch. As we lounged in the dunes watching spectacular Lake Mich, 10 yo dug sand for all her worth and I kept a lookout so he could sun his "gents," as dd calls them (I think she abbreviated "genitals' - quite appropo.) He thinks it helped. I told him he looked like a pervert. We tried to come up with a code word as warning for an approaching person. "Land ho!" was first, then, "Walking the dog" and then I told him if someone approached I was going to yell, "Cover up your penis!"
I grew up in a very repressive, dysfunctional, germ-phobic, catholic family and had trouble "going" in the woods. Sunday, when we woke up, we heard a couple of rifle shots far away and were a little dismayed. I thought it would be awful to be shot with your pants down squatting in the woods. (As if it wouldn't be awful any other way!) Headlines started emerging from our combined sleeping bags, "Rochester woman shot while shitting down" this from hubby: "Rochester woman loses left cheek" and my final: "Cheeky Rochester woman loses it." If an armed hunter came in sight I'd shit; which would solve the constipation problem in a hurry. (Rochester, MI is an upscale corner of one of the wealthiest counties in the coutry. Squatting in the woods is the great equalizer. The woods is such a fresh perspective on life.) Gratefully we didn't see a single snake as that would have been the last time dd set foot near a wood.
"Mr. Cool" has been teaching himself web page design. I remember him sitting through math classes (gr 5-8 the same old shit for four years) pulling his hair, he was so frustrated. (He decided to start homescool for "gr 9".) He got a gig with a company in town and he's doing an amazing job. They've told him they'll pay him $75 for it, which is cheap by any standard, but good bucks when you're 15 and you enjoy the work. It could be a fabulous referral.
10yo decided she's like to be in "6th grade" this year. All that carefully constructed bullshit the system promotes! I'm so glad she can see that the emporer is naked....
Fondly,
Retta
---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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In a message dated 9/22/03 8:29:50 AM, rettafontana@... writes:
<< Sunday when we woke up we heard a couple of rifle shots far away and were
a little dismayed. I thought it would be awful to be shot with your pants
down squatting in the woods. >>
Don't go pee wearing all brown and green!!
Maybe hang an orange vest up in the tree above you before squatting!
Sandra
<< Sunday when we woke up we heard a couple of rifle shots far away and were
a little dismayed. I thought it would be awful to be shot with your pants
down squatting in the woods. >>
Don't go pee wearing all brown and green!!
Maybe hang an orange vest up in the tree above you before squatting!
Sandra
Ticia
Wow I think you are my fortune teller :) I think my *future* holds this quote from my "oppositional" dd (4 1/2)...she even sings this song..."when mommy says white I say purple, when mommy says yes I say no, when mommy says this I say that...la la la". Oh woah is me :)
..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Ticia-:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
(Mommy to Chloe & Raiden)
-----------------------------------------------
"Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could; some blunders
and absurdities have crept in; forget them
as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day;
you shall begin it serenely and with too high a
spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
10yo decided she's like to be in "6th grade" this year. All that carefully
..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Ticia-:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
(Mommy to Chloe & Raiden)
-----------------------------------------------
"Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could; some blunders
and absurdities have crept in; forget them
as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day;
you shall begin it serenely and with too high a
spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
10yo decided she's like to be in "6th grade" this year. All that carefully
> constructed bullshit the system promotes! I'm so glad she can see that the[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> emporer is naked....
>
> Fondly,
>
> Retta