Mary Bernard

It’s Thanksgiving Eve and I almost forgot to post tonight. But you know–I have that commitment to NaBloPoMo and all, so here I am.

Tonight I prepped everything for cooking in the morning and put my turkey in to bake all night. My feet, legs, and back are killing me, but I made a lot of head-way. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly tomorrow and I won’t be so dog-tired that I can’t enjoy my guests. As I cooked tonight, I watched this week’s episodes online of my favorite soap, “The Bold and the Beautiful.” It’s my little guilty pleasure.

Growing up, I remember vividly waking on Thanksgiving morning to all kinds of wonderful smells. We’d sort of watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade while preparing for guests. Mom always chose kind of a weird time to eat, like 2:00 p.m. (We are eating at noon tomorrow. I figure that gives us TWO opportunities to eat, which I love.) Speaking of soaps, I also remember that Mom liked to watch the soaps on and around the holidays. She used to say that she liked to see how they celebrated with their decorations and pretty clothes. It’s true. It’s always fun to watch at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Fourth of July.

I want my kids to remember Thanksgiving morning smells when they reminisce on their growing-up years.

We’ll be having the grandparents over for Thanksgiving on Thursday then celebrating with my sister and her family on Saturday. We usually do an “alternative” menu for our after-Thanksgiving meal: steak. Yum!

What we’re eating this week:

Monday–spaghetti

Tuesday–leftovers

Wednesday—BBQ sandwiches, corn on the cob, salad (quick/easy because I’ll be cooking for Thursday!) We love the BBQ from a local restaurant/caterer, Pasgetti’s. Delish!

Thursday—Turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce (homemade), chess pie, pumpkin pie, rolls (my responsibility)

Green beans, sweet potato casserole (Linda, my mother-in-law)

Fruit/jello salad, deviled eggs (Mom)

Friday–leftovers

Saturday–Steak, potato, salad at my sister’s. I’m going to take dessert: a cake, I think.

Sunday–simple supper/soup/sandwiches

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Last year, I stumbled through kindergarten with partial information most of the time. I missed a few things, never got on the automated call list, and was cursed for car-line infractions due to my ignorance.

I have to say that I thought last year’s communication process was just short of terrible. I don’t blame our teacher; I think she did a good job communicating with parents. I think it was probably a top-down problem.

And, I know. I know the elementary school isn’t a well-oiled PR firm. But, really, people. I don’t expect much. Just laid-out guidelines for things that involve safety (like the car-rider line), an updated school lunch menu (how many times did I download the same menu from the week of April 4 until I just finally gave up?), and accurate dates.

I mean—this is part of your job. Communicating to students and parents. I really had high hopes that a new year would bring communication reform.

Silly me!

On the first day of school, the kids bring home folders with the entire school year dates listed on the back. Prior to that, I had downloaded the Metro district-wide school calendar. Yes, I am that geeky goober mom who sits down with five calendars and highlighter pens and marks every holiday, day off, and parent-teacher day.

And so, I marked Thanksgiving Break for Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27, on our calendars. First: from the Metro print-out and then I double-checked the dates against the first-day folder list.

Imagine my surprise when I discover TODAY that school is OUT on Wednesday.

Hmmmpft.

Not sure when the change was made or who made it. But I would have liked to have known about it.

Really glad I found out today, rather than Wednesday morning.

This school year we made the grand leap to separate the twins for the last year of preschool.

Had you asked me about doing that two years ago, I would have have never considered it. But that was when the boys liked each other.

Now, their personalities keep getting stronger and stronger, as they are forging their way into life. They fight all the time and are so competitive, I tire of refereeing everything from who gets to open the door first to who makes it to the table first. It’s apparent they are ready for this assertion of individuality. I’m really pleased, actually, because it forces me to emphasize their uniqueness.

So, we knew this day would come. Spencer was invited to a birthday party for a boy in his class. Seth was not invited. I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of it all. The boys said their goodbyes. There were no tantrums, tears, or even cross words. Spencer and I went to the party.

I wondered if he’d miss Seth at the party or ask for him. Nope. He was perfectly content, playing with his friends.

And Seth was fine, too. He was very matter-of-fact and seemed to understand completely that this party was for Spencer to attend.

No problem.

And we’re officially heading down that “my-babies-are-growing-up” path.

Dear Toys ‘R Us,

Do you KNOW how much money I have spent in your store and your sister store, Babies ‘R Us, since early 2003? Thousands and thousands of dollars, I tell you.

Do you KNOW how much money I would have spent in your store during the next–oh, say, six or eight years or so?

I’m not sure, but you’ll never know, either. Because of ten lousy dollars. Ten dollars, Toys ‘R Us. Because ten dollars is NOTHING to you, but it’s important to me.

I dutifully took the marketing bait this week, as I held onto the TRU flyer that came in my mailbox a few days ago:

This weekend ONLY! Friday night and Saturday morning ONLY! A sale. A sale that featured a $19.98 digital camera for only $9.99.

I thought that would be a perfect gift for our six year old daughter, who is obsessed with taking pictures but is not allowed to use my digital camera after she dropped and broke a camera of mine.

At $10, she can give it a try. If she is careful and enjoys photography, we may upgrade next year for a nicer camera. Heck, we may have even purchased it at TRU.

Today, the sale ran from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. It was 10:30 a.m. and I made a special trip to TRU for this camera.

OK–never mind that I didn’t have time really for this today because I’m still up against my writing deadline. Never mind that I had to wander the store trying to figure out where the camera may be. Never mind that I really lost a good half hour of my life that I’ll never get back.

(All of those particulars have nothing to do with TRU, but I throw them in here to show just how annoying this whole scenario was. I didn’t have time for this nonsense today.)

I finally landed in the electronics department. Armed with the flyer, I approached the sales clerk.

“Excuse me? Can you tell me where I can find this camera?”

She looked at it. “Let me look in the back and check the computer.”

She was gone a long time. A very long time.

“Ma’am? We are sold out.”

“Oh.” I waited for a consolation offer. None.

So I piped up, “May I get a raincheck?”

“We don’t do rainchecks.” Um, OK.

“Well, may I have a comparable product for the sale price then?” I thought that was a reasonable request. Most stores (home goods, big box, electronics) will price-match and honor competitors’ ads. I was in their store. I would buy from them. In. Their. Store. Hey, even Kroger substitutes brands to honor a coupon!

“Hmmm. I’m not sure. I think you’d have to do it with a product that is that same original price.”

“Oh, sure. That’s fine. I’d just like a comparable product.”

“Well, let me check with my manager and make sure.”

“OK.” I was confident the manager would agree. Heck, maybe they’d even throw in some Spongebob stickers or a Dora lollipop for my inconvenience.

The clerk returns.

“She said, ‘no’.”

Stunned, I said, “OK.”

And I marched right out of Toys ‘R Us, determined to never return.

Uh, you know, we are only a few weeks into the Christmas shopping season. You know that I have options, TRU. So many options. And I’m confident I’ll be able to get a great deal on a digital camera on Black Friday or Cyber Monday or later.

And I have a blog. I am a mom. With lots of friends who have kids who play with toys and wear clothes and watch videos.

See, TRU, here’s the thing. Your keeping $10 just cost you thousands. Because had you honored my request, I would have bought a carrying case to go with the camera. And a huge chunk of my kids’ Christmas presents this year and next and the next. And birthday gifts and swimming pool toys.

And I would have blogged about how awesome you were to all my mom friends.

But now?

Not so much, Toys ‘R Us. Not so much.

As I continue with my commitment to post every day for NaBloPoMo (oh, my gracious, when will this month be over???), I’m faced tonight with nothing.

Well, very little, at least.

I have a few ideas rattling around in my head, but they require work to compose. You know. Research and thought and wordsmithing (is that a word?), and well–I just can’t muster that up tonight.

So, I think I’m just going to brain-dump, a la, my diary circa 1985, which would give you whiplash just trying to keep up with all the characters and goings-on.

Today was nutty. I have a deadline to meet for writing a unit for Bible Lessons for Youth. It was due today. But I didn’t get it turned in today. Monday, people. Monday. I will finish it this weekend.

(And I say that here in this public forum for my own accountability.)

After I deposited the boys at school, I scurried to the church office to work on the books (I pay bills and balance the account–one of my four part-time jobs) and get a financial report to our officers. Then it dawns on me that:

1. I haven’t eaten a thing.
2. I am starving.
3. I have a headache that feels like someone is sawing my neck at the base of my head.
4. I have to get a book order form to Sus’ school TODAY.
5. I have to leave for a hair appointment in 15 minutes because I look like Shaggy.

Like crazy, I rush home and change for my appointment. I decide to go through McDonald’s drive-thru (true confession time here) for a bite to eat. I gobble down 600 mg of ibuprofen and a Coke (more caffeine).

My headache eases and the appointment is enjoyable. I have just enough time to jet back across town to school and drop the envelope, then pick up the boys, then go back to school to join the pick-up line.

Whew!

I hate days like that, but also?

I’m secretly proud of my multitasking, multischeduling, most-efficient use of my time.

Some days, I really confuse myself.

Random parenting tip: If your child wakes screaming/crying with leg cramps, give the child ibuprofen. Get the child up into your lap to snuggle or rock. Rub the leg. Lightly cover the child in bed and/or turn on a fan to make sure the child is not too hot.

All of our kids have these from time to time, and this always works. Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s going on. I can almost time it–about 10 minutes after the medicine, the child is visibly more comfortable and can rest.

One week from tonight, I’ll be dozing off after a day full of turkey, dressing, and gravy.

Last week, I gave you the recipe for my mother’s perfect turkey. Today, I post her dressing recipe (with a few of my tweaks). I’ll also be posting this recipe on Group Blog Thursday over at Steph in the City.

Cornbread Dressing

Make a pan of cornbread according to package directions. Allow it to cool, then cut and crumble it into bite-size pieces.

Chop one onion, two stalks of celery, and three cloves of garlic. Saute onion, celery, and garlic in 1/2 stick of melted butter.

Stir mixture into crumbled cornbread. Add salt and pepper and dried sage to taste. Add 1/2 cup of chopped parsley. Slowly add chicken or turkey broth by cupfuls until desired consistency (about 2-4 cups); we like it kind of mushy but not too watery.

Pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes until the casserole is browned and bubbly.

…with every infant born into the family comes the injunction from God, “Take this child and bring it up for Me.” It is one of God’s own children by creation, sent to be trained up in the way he should go, that is, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. …

But can anyone, will anyone, teach, or teach effectually, that religion which she does not feel and practice herself? Therefore, I say, a mother’s heart must be deeply imbued with piety if she would teach it to her children.

—Female Piety (“To Young Mothers”), John Angell James

Female Piety is one of my favorite books. The language is a bit of an acquired taste, but once you dig in, you won’t be disappointed. The advice is eloquent and rich, sobering and challenging.

Christian mothers, John Angell James calls our homes, “seminaries for eternity.” I love the picture of our preparing our children for their eternal home, where they will glorify God and enjoy him forever. What a great God we serve who equips us with the grace to fulfill those requirements he makes of us!

Maybe I’m a little bit ADD.

Or just hopelessly idealistic.

I know I definitely struggle with discontentment.

But I just have the worst time focusing on what is in front of my nose.

“Living in the moment” is not something at which I excel. I’m usually daydreaming about the future or reminisicing the past. This present moment is just too mundane to command my attention.

Today, though, it occurred to me that next year when I turn forty, I guess I really will be “middle-aged.” You know, like, I’ve lived half my life, give or take a few years.

That’s really sobering.

Add to that realization today’s Bible study lesson on Deuteronomy 6 (teaching our children to love God and keep his commandments), and I am just about ready to crawl under a rock.

You see, the task before me is wrapped up in dark blonde hair and three pairs of bright blue eyes. Focusing on my present is the best and only thing to do right now. I start having a little panicky feeling when I think if I keep waxing nostalgic or living for tomorrow, I just might miss today.

Today. My work is cut out for me: this diligent, deliberate, and constant teaching and training.

So while I’m convicted and challenged, I’m also hopeful and encouraged.

Because God is faithful to equip us for that which he requires of us. And if we never give up doing good, we will reap a harvest.

I’m trying to make this week’s menu to be on Auto-Pilot. I asked Chris to help me think of easy recipes that would make enough for leftovers so that I don’t have to think much about cooking this week.

I have a big writing deadline on Friday and don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen working with elaborate recipes and trying new things. This week I need familiar, easy, and quick.

(This, of course, means my diet is kind of in limbo this week. I’ll just do the best I can as I fix things for the family and make myself some alternative sides.)

Monday–crockpot roasted chicken, rice (Uncle Ben’s wild rice), salad

Tuesday–Thai chicken (shredded from Monday’s leftovers). I use the Pad Thai packet and the Thin Rice noodles from A Taste of Thai. Then I stir in Asian frozen veggies. Veggie egg rolls.

Wednesday–Chili, baked potatoes, salad

Thursday–leftovers

Friday–Pork tenderloin, steamed veggies

Saturday–leftovers

Sunday–hamburgers, corn on the cob