taking time for kids

The kids have been bringing home papers for weeks about a poetry reciting contest at school. I kept meaning to find a poem for Preslie and Hunter to memorize and time kept eluding me. This past Monday, Preslie comes home and says, "Hey Mom, I told my teacher I would do the poetry contest so can you find me a poem that I can bring tomorrow?" The day before something is due is never an opportune time to do it but.. I did find her one (with a grumpy, bad attitude because I of course had a bunch of other stuff I was in the middle of). She brilliantly memorized the 16 line poem in about 5 minutes (and Hunter and Mack almost had it down, too) and performed it for her class the next day. Each teacher was to choose the 3 best kids from their class to perform their poems for their parents. This morning I realized that today was that day and asked Preslie if she had been chosen to recite hers and if I needed to come. She said she didn't know and I sent her off to school. A few minutes later, she calls from school and says she is going to be in the contest with the other 2nd graders and I need to come.

I go and am waiting for her grade to come to the gym, and trying to distract Mack from running through the school, I was showing him pictures on my camera.. which I realized were ALL of him. He has just been so darn cute lately! And also really naughty taking off his diaper whenever he poops; I've been scrubbing carpet every day. He also finds the most creative (messy) ways to eat and drink. It is so naughty but we all laugh 'cause we can't help it! This face has magic powers over me...

He is so darling to watch play in the snow. He loves to dig but mostly just eats it. Doesn't matter if it's on the road or sidewalk, gravelly or clean or in the buffalo chute, he'll eat it.

I was showing Mack all these cute pics of himself and he would not hold still and kept screaming, "Help! Help! Help me!" as I was trying to contain him and quiet him so the parents could hear their darlings recite poems. There were about 19 kids so it took a bit for them all to get a turn and for the judges to make their marks after each child.


Preslie went and I could tell that she was nervous but she did really well and I was proud that she still had it memorized and spoke clearly.



Well, she won FIRST PLACE!


The look on her face was so priceless; she was shocked! Then she could not stop beaming. I just wanted to run up there and hug her guts out. It was so fun.

She is now invited to go to the district competition next week. I learned a lot of Mom lessons this week like- taking time to help your kids try something new and fun pays off. And- fighting a two-year-old to sit and be quiet can have its rewards, and mostly I need to have a happy attitude when it comes to helping my kids. After all, they are why I chose to be a Mom. So I might as well do it with smile!