Ten Things I Love/Hate

Lauralee posted a list of 10 things she loves, and then asked if her readers could think of 10 things they love right now. My immediate answer was "no". So I figured that when you're feeling that way, it's a good time to think of things that make you happy. So here is a list of 10 things I love right now. To be followed by a list of 10 things that are bugging me right now. Hey, it can't all be sunshine and flowers.

1.Summer. Love it. Summers feel so short here and winters feel so long. I do love having 4 seasons, but I just wish summer could be a few months longer.



2. Autumn. Does it count if it's something I normally love right now? Usually I love this time of year. This year, I'm forcing myself to try to get into it. I love football, Halloween, fall decorations, the way the air smells, the leaves changing, making jack-o-lanterns, and gearing up for the holidays. We had such a fun summer this year that I'm just really mourning the end of it, but I'm hoping I'll get my head in the right place here pretty quickly. Fall TV is pretty good... I'm hoping Survivor will get better and loving Glee.

3. That chubby, white-skinned toddler look that Lexi still has. I just want to squish her up. And the way she repeats everything you say, but cuter. The way she says "Only water only a dollar" over and over at random times. Inside family joke. The way she dances and the way she jumps in that awkward toddler way.

4. Having a husband that can fix things. Don't tell him I said that, though. He can't know. I give him way too much crap about it, and I probably won't stop anytime soon. But I do love that he fixed my dishwasher when it broke, because I wasn't about to spend money on something that boring when there are fun things to be bought. And that he fixed the air conditioner in the truck, which the mechanic wanted $1200 to fix, for under $200.

5. Students who call me "mom" on accident. Students who write "We love you Mrs. Chamberlain" on my white board to put a smile on my face when I'm tired. The stories students tell and the way they tell them. Students from last year who come visit me. Students who struggle so hard but come back the next day to try all over again.

6. The way Josh will tell me he loves me at random times. The way that Josh loves anything his dad loves.

7. Having teenagers. I love watching movies with Brittney and shopping with Courtney. I love their stories and their senses of humor. I love hanging out with them. I hope when they grow up they'll move next door to me.

8. Going on long drives with Sean. One of my favorite pastimes. When I'm in the car, it's like anything is possible. I could, theoretically, go anywhere. I don't have to cook or clean or look at messy bedrooms. I am free to daydream, plan, think of the possibilities.

9. Garage sales. We've had some good garage sale days and some very bad ones this summer. Sean found a $150 part he needed for his argon tank (welding) for $10. I got Lexi a Barbie life jacket that she loves for $4. A baseball bat for Josh ($1), a little outdoor chair for Lexi ($1), a Dooney and Bourke purse ($4), some light sabers ($1 each).

10. Diet Pepsi and cupcakes.

OK... 10 Things I don't like.

1. Flu shots.

2. Sick kids.

3. Going to the doctor. Spent 2 hours at the ENT with Courtney so that he could tell us there is absolutely nothing wrong with her ears. I do, however, like going to the dentist. Which is weird, because I've always hated the dentist, until I started going to this guy. He's super nice, his hygenists have always been good.... So now I don't mind. I even like it, because I schedule my appointments at 4:00, and then I get to lay in a chair and watch Judge Judy uninterrupted. I'd go every month if I could.

4. Parenting as a competitive sport. The judgmental declarations of what makes someone a "good mom" or a "bad mom". I've found myself doing it far too often, especially as a teacher where you see so many different kids and parents, so I've tried really hard over the last about 6 months to step out of that mindset. Know what makes you a bad mom? Not feeding your kids. Not giving a damn about your kids. Beating them up. Abusing them. Know what doesn't make you a bad mom? Everything else. Anyone who loves their kids and sets out to do their best by them is a good mom. We are all weak, we are all imperfect, and we all go about things in a different way. But as long as we're trying and we have our kids' best interests at heart, that's all that matters. We try and we fail, but that doesn't make us a bad parent.

5. People who think/imply that working moms don't raise their own kids. Or that moms who enjoy working outside the home love their kids less. Or are less favored by God. Or don't have their kids' best interests at heart. Or are selfish. The unwritten expectation that if you're a working mom you are supposed to pretend you hate every minute of it and would much rather be at home. If you think people don't say this stuff, I'm here to tell you that they do. I've heard it all. I've had other moms ask me why I work. I've had other moms tell me that Heavenly Father wants moms to stay at home with their kids.

6. When you get to the end of the month and are pleasantly suprised at the amount of money left in your checking account. And start mentally tallying up where you saved money this month and congratulating yourself on a job well done. And then you realize that you screwed up your checking account and have nothing left over. Doh. Oh well, at least I'm not in the red.

7. Students who come to me and tell me that if they get all C's and above their mom will let them get a tattoo/piercing/whatever, so they desparately need me to help them get their midterm grade up. But they've done nothing all year and have a 43% and now I'm supposed to pull a rabbit out of a hat so they can get some ill-advised tatoo/piercing/whatever.

8. Messes.

9. My lack of patience with my little kids.

10. Car repairs.