We decided to have a food drive for Molly's birthday instead of presents. One of my friends had to do something for work so she took up a collection and bought lots of stuff. Everyone else brought lots of food as well. I really thought everyone would just bring a can. I didn't expect the level of generosity that I witnessed. Thanks to everyone who made the food drive such a success.
So, we dropped the food off at the Regional Food Bank yesterday, Molly and I. I loaded the car back up while she was at school, and we drove out after I picked her up. She complained the whole way that she was hungry, which I thought was ironic. I just told her that's what happens when you don't eat all your lunch. :0) Someone named Angie took our picture at the food bank, and it's supposed to be going up on the website. But I noticed when I went to the website that Governor Elect, Mary Fallon was also there yesterday, so we'll see what happens.
Molly's fifth birthday was great! A smaller showing than expected but I get a little weirded out with crowded spaces anyway. :0) While a bit expensive, having her party at Jumpzone was nice; I didn't have to clean the house before or after and they have servers so you don't have to hand out cake or anything. We also asked everyone to bring a food donation for The Regional Food Bank in the hopes of cutting back on all the plastic toy gifts. Everyone brought so much food. I didn't realize the food bank was so far away, so we'll be taking the donations tomorrow. Pictures to come. (I'll have to get the food out of the trunk of the car to take a picture.)
I am thankful for what seems like my infinite patience, as the new cat has destroyed two roles of toilet paper and interfered with my sleep all week. Plus, I have an almost five year old whose grampy taught her to stick out her tongue at me every time I say anything to her. It's so weird, because it doesn't hurt my feelings, and yet I find myself reacting to it almost automatically, which is why she keeps doing it. I know. Anyway, the household in which I live inspires me to be a better person, in more ways than the negative ones I already mentioned.
We are looking forward to a full weekend. Yay!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Here is the newest member of our family. We found him at PetSmart and adopted him yesterday for Molly's birthday present.
His name is Sleeping Beauty. He's very sweet. Our other cat, Charlie, has yet to warm up to him completely though. And he already broke a lampshade. :)
One day a couple weeks ago, Molly very calmly and without obvious emotion said, "I hate you, and I want to live with Grammy." I have reached a point in my life where I know that I should not take such comments personally, and really the words did not upset me at all. I was, however, a bit concerned about the "sky is blue" tone of voice with which she said it. Of course, the very same night at the end of the bedtime routine, she clung to me and said all dramatic like, "I'm never going to leave you." Again, I understood the polarity of four year old feminine emotions. I just kept wondering what it meant, that calm voice that seemed more interested in starting a conversation than getting a rise out of me. She didn't seem angry, and not even really cold. What does it all mean? I wondered.
I told Molly at the time, that if I let her go live with her grammy, she would end up feeling disappointed in me for not taking care of her and doing right by her. She didn't believe me, of course, and has repeated her request to go live with Grammy several times since. I'm sure this is normal. I'm sure I wanted to go live with my grandmas when I was a kid too.
But my thoughts keep going back to that moment when she sat on the toilet while I ran her a bath, and she said, "I hate you..." I think I know what's missing besides anger. Fear. She doesn't have to wait until I've made her mad to express this emotion, and she's not afraid of me. I think this means that I am succeeding in my goals as her mother. Somewhere along the way I decided I didn't want Molly to be afraid of me, because I think a fear based morality is, in the end, counterproductive. I think this means that I'm on the path I want to be on.
Of course, no one can tell the future, and I could totally be raising a psychopath. But I don't think so. And I guess we'll see what she does with the kitten we get her for her birthday. :0)
When I took Molly to school yesterday, the Pre-K assistant told me that they gave the class a little test and she did very well on it. She also said they wanted to send books home with her to read, which they haven't done yet, but I'm sure the wheels turn slowly. Anyway, I'm real excited and I'm glad that Molly is enjoying school. I hope that continues. :0) If her current sassy-ness is any indication, I can't wait for 15! Woohoo!
Well, I got lots of page views after that whole blog about Oklahoma's state questions that passed and now everyone has gone away. :( I did read an article about how the courts do actually use the Ten Commandments to decide intent, but that state question could actually be interpreted to include a ban on the Ten Commandments. Ha! Ha! Which goes to show you that when you to try to repress the rights of others you repress your own freedom. I can't find the article now, unfortunately, but hopefully with the lawsuits, reason will win out.
The past few weeks have been busy for me, and I'm planning on taking it easy this weekend. I do have lots of work I'd like to do, but I just do not feel like carting my child to any play dates or birthday parties or anything else! Good luck with that I guess!
