One Foot In~One Foot Out

Do you remember dancing to the Hokey Pokey© as a child? I do. That is one of my all time childhood favorites, ❝You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out and, you shake it all about. You do the Hokey Pokey and you dance yourself around. That's what it's all about. Hokey Pokey!!...❞.

It's been nearly two weeks since my eldest has returned home from a bout with adulthood. He lived with three, sometimes five, other roommates just a few blocks down the street from us. Yes, he was very young to move out but also very legal. Legal enough to leave me helpless from finding a way to keep him home. After the cruel magic age of 18, there is no law protecting your right as parent to keep you're child from living on his own. You can only hope your authority will resonate in your child's ear when you strongly advice them to stay home. ((sigh))

I have to say, his eagerness to have his freedom in the world has been a good experience for my son. We never once gave him a penny, even when he was starving. However, he was very welcomed to come over to eat with us as often as he wanted to do so. At first, his hunger triggered visits were nearly everyday. They were often followed with a need for a clean place to shower too. It was great having him here because we missed him but, at the same time, I had to ask, "Mijo, do you live with us or with your roommates?"

After a few months, his visits became less frequent and with less need. We all adjusted and accepted to him living on his own. My youngest claimed his big brother's room leaving my middle child to spread himself out into his room. Believe me, they were not too sad to see their big brother leave, now that they no longer had to share a room with each other. Niños desconsiderados.

My big baby returned home not because he got homesick ☹ but, because he ran out of money. That is, all his roommates ran out of money and, little by little they started taking turns moving out. They also had a lot of complaints from their apartment manager. Apparently the boys took full advantage of a curfew free lifestyle.

Now that my 6'2" kid is back at home ☺, my grocery list has increased. He loves his momma's cooking!! Plus he's a ❊healthy eater❊. Unfortunately for him, our sleeping patterns don't coincide which has made it a wee difficult for us all. LOL!! He now actually begins to yawn at 10 pm. Sadly, he turned down his old room in favor of moving back out soon. I hope not too soon. I like having him home.

I ❤love you baby!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ He's Baaaaack

My 19 year old. Yup, he's a big baby.

Earlier this week, my eldest asked if he could return home b/c he was broke. Oh, my!! Hope he will adjust well with our not so party lifestyle schedule. Welcome home baby. We love you!! *Besos*

Focus

Just a few hours ago I took my boys to watch the Karate Kid. The movie still has the same beautiful story as the original without it being a carbon copy. One of the messages in the movie dug a little deep in me. It's a repeated motif in the movie- focus. Focus beyond what you see on the surface of people and situations.


It's something I have learned in yoga as well. These past few months I have lost that ability to focus. My wacky schedule has helped blurred what is important for me see. Last year I made a promise to my son (kid #2) that I would paint his room. Last week, kid #2 asked if he could have friends over to watch a dvd and promised he would keep his room door closed. Och! This was a nice reminder from my son that after nearly a whole year, he is still waiting for me to come through on that promise.


Have I ever mentioned how much I hate to paint rooms. Ugh!! Es el peor trabajo del mundo! My living room has been painted 3 1/2 times thus far and my kitchen twice. The kitchen took me a week to finish but that was easy because that room has less windows and molding. Granted, my son's room only has two windows, but the molding- es un montón de problemas!


No matter how much I'm dreading doing the work, a promise is a promise and I have let my son down. Sometime next week I plan to get that room done before this month ends. Thankfully my boys are *well trained* painters due to all the scout service projects they have done over the past three years. (It's our troop inside joke.) Seriously, they have done a great job painting the siding on the garage.


No more excuses, I need to keep my focus on what is important- my children's feelings. Just because they may not whine and complain about everything that bothers them doesn't mean they have nothing troubling them. By not fulfilling on that simple promise, I have neglected how my son feels about his room and what it means to him to get the job done. (It's long overdue for another paint job.) He has offered numerous times to do it himself, and I would always tell him no. This time, I am saying yes and we are going to get it done.


I will post an update when it's completed.


*The picture above was added after mijo's room was painted. Notice the big boo-boo? One of numerous reasons why I hate to paint my home.* 

Spring break my way Part 2

Spring break from school for my boys was back in April. As you may recall, in that week I had taken them to visit three nearby college campuses. Our favorite campus was the University of Southern California. Fight on! I had also taken them to visit the California Science Center- a favorite of my boys. Pictured to the upper left corner are both my J's at the Forest Zone. (Ignore the stamped date on the photo- it's very wrong.)

Tomorrow is their last day of the school year, and I've been thinking about places we can visit over their summer break. My first thoughts were about my boys' Spring break. Although my guys were towering over the crowd of kids at the California Science Center, they still enjoyed their visit. Now that they are older, they get more out the experience because they understand the information given. Our trips to the museum are much more engaging and fascinating. I love watching their curiosity grow and blossom through the years. Sadly, they have reached a point in which I can no longer give them an answer to their increasingly difficult scientific questions that will keep them sated. [Yup! I'm not a scientist.]

They have a new exhibit added to the interactive museum called the Eco Systems. We spent most of our day in just that area. There is so much see and touch. Yes, I said touch. It's interactive which is the reason that it is a favorite of my boys.

 We saw a scuba diver and a sea lion swimming through the
Island Zone.

My youngest J at the touch table, having fun poking sea urchins.

Wildlife surviving the Extreme Zone.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Mis bigotones

 ♥Mis bigotones ~ My mustache guys♥