Finally the first installment of....

The Adventures of Cub Scout Camp!!!!!!!

"What day is it?" "Is it today, Mamma?" "How many more days?"

Finally, after months of relatively patient waiting on Jack's part and slight trepidation on mine, it was FINALLY the big day! The lunches were packed in the required clearly identified gallon zip-lock bags, Jack's swim bag was properly packed and hanging on the doorknob, the new BSA hat and Camp Shirt were hanging on the bunk bed by the head of the still dreaming soon to be camper...

"Good mor..." That's as far as I got before he flew out of bed in a frenzy of joy and excitement. Christmas Day has never received the reception this overcast Monday in June did. His chores were complete and he was dressed within minutes despite the non-stop peppering of questions and predictions from the wee man.

The dogs had been out, the kitties, the Mamma and the Boy fed and the gear was gathered and loaded into Big Red. As we pulled out of the driveway I had expectations of a fun, exciting, exhausting week for both of us. I never bargained on the adventures and events that would pop up during the week that would demonstrate in no uncertain terms just how amazing a person my son is and prove even to my always doubting self that I am, after all, a damn good mother.

Buckle your seat belts, grab a snack and be glad that you will experience everything except the sweltering, suffocating, stifling heat of June in Florida. We had a blast and I hope you will too...

Rain, Rain Go AWAY Jack's swim test is today...

This morning was the big day for the placement swim test for Scout Camp. Jack has been practicing jumping into the water (in his wading pool) and swimming. He was all excited and raring to go. Unfortunately Mother Nature had been wailing since last night and there were some serious storms throughout the area. I wasn't going to go sit in the woods in a storm so we (I) decided to wait until the radar (thank you Bay News 9) looked clear(er). So he waited patiently in his trunks eating a banana and watching the eternally on Animal Planet. I cleaned house and did laundry until it looked like things were clearing up.




Finally the radar looked like we were getting ready to have a break in the weather. We got our things together and headed out, hoping the blue sky west of us would follow us up to the test. Yeah, not so much. After an exciting drive through driving rain, thunder and lightning we made it to Camp Soule. OK, I know but I am still a freaking optimist and was almost sure it would at least not be raining up there.

Yeah, so it was still raining.... ok raining hard but there was no lightning. Well not when we got there anyway. We popped into the lodge to say hi to some of the leaders who were setting up. After a bit and no obvious sign of the rain letting up we headed over to the pool to see who else was feeling lucky today!

By the time we puddle jumped over to the pool the storms had erupted again. This time featuring thunder AND lightning... YAY!!! NOT!!!


The Littlefields were there waiting to test too which was great since we hadn't seen them at all since school let out. Jack, Dean and Karli clowned around for a bit then Jack just wandered around waiting for the rain to stop. About an hour later we were able to test.


The kids that were still there went out on the deck and waited under the little shelter for their turn. I noticed Jack kept backing up so that eventually he was at the end of the line. By this time the rain had started again and you could barely see through it. Jack's turn came and Ms. A took him over. They stood staring at the pool conversing. They then moved to the shallow end. More surveying and more discussion. One toe broke the water, said toe was snatched back and the foot attached to the toe headed back to the big shelter.


He was upset. Very very very upset BUT handled it very quietly and relatively calmly. He was embarrassed because all his friends are good swimmers. I reminded him that all the friends he tested with had pools at home and had probably been swimming for years.


I know he did the best he could with it. He gets derailed by things others probably wouldn't. The rain didn't throw him off the fact that there were two sections that were 4 feet deep and the lights in the pool (he is afraid that pool lights will explode when he goes near them) made him decide not to get in (his explanation). When you take into consideration that even last year the kid wouldn't go near a pool without losing his mind, I think he did great and I told him so. I know on Monday he will be in that pool with his buddies, he will relax and then they can retest. The swim instructor already told him he will work with him closely to help him get more comfortable. He'll be fine, once HE believes it, he'll be fine!

Gee Mamma, you're almost like a Cub Scout...

So after all the excitement of the morning I had to deliver a basket for one of my oldest and dearest clients. It's still just raining, raining, raining and being bored, Jack decided to ride along. I missed the exit, as usual and ended up having to take a different one and hit the red light at the bottom. Standing there in the miserable wet mess of the afternoon was a homeless person asking for help with the standard issue cardboard sign.

I hate sitting there trying to not look and answer Jack's questions about why someone would be standing there in the rain. I hate that anyone has to be out there in the rain hoping for help, I hate that so many are one paycheck away from being the one standing in the rain. It's raining, it's pouring, the poor man...

For some reason I rolled down the window and gave the man my umbrella. He just stared at me in shock. He told me he couldn't take it, he didn't want Jack or I to get wet. I told him we wouldn't melt and to please take it. He just looked at me with such gratitude and then cried and kept saying "God will bless you ma'am". I told him He already had.

The light turned green and went on our way. Jack watched the man in the rain until he was out of sight.

He: "You gave him your umbrella."

Me: "Yes, I know."

He: "You love your umbrella Mamma. Now what will you do?"

Me: "I thought I would borrow your spare for awhile."

He: "OK Mamma. Why did you give him your umbrella?"

Me: "He needed help and that's all I had that I could give him. He was wet, we weren't and we have more umbrellas in the car. It seemed like the right thing to do."

He: "Gee Mamma, you're almost like a Cub Scout. You help other people like we are supposed to."

I don't know why I did it, it felt like what I was supposed to do. I can't help who I am or that I was raised right. Not to mention that he is someone's son and I would hope that if my son were ever in need someone would help him. It is important to me that Jack be aware of how lucky he and we are. So many kids have no clue about kindness. They rush through life hurriedly trying to get everything they can for themselves, all "what's in it for me?". I don't think it means anything if you only tell the kid to behave and be nice and think about other people. They need to see it done quietly with no fanfare or expectation of reward. The reward will come in its own time... an unexpected order, a rainbow on a rainless day in a rainless week, an Andes mint hiding in the back of the fridge, a missed exit that ends up giving you the opportunity to help not just the man in the rain but your beautiful son who needs to realize that life is not always easy but helping someone else usually is.

Mazie gets the all clear....

Our crazy dog (ok they are both crazy in their own special ways) was diagnosed with heart worms back in March. We were shocked as we had been treating her but that's the way the Milk Bone bounces.

Today was her last visit to recheck her blood to make sure the beasties were gone - and they were!!

Wednesday night's Big Buzz (pun intended)....

Jack has this luscious, thick, can barely get your hands through it hair - the hair I had before PCOS took over my body. Anyway, he desperately needed a haircut and it needed to happen before camp next week so last night was to be the night.

Getting Jack's hair cut has always been a nightmare, talk about a situation that just screams sensory disaster! Being still, being touched, hair being pulled in the wrong direction, itchy pieces of hair sticking and poking and the abject terror that someone, somewhere will whip out a clipper. I tell you what, you ain't NEVER seen a show until you have seen my kid in the same room as an operating hair clipper. It is ugly, and horribly horribly sad to see someone that terrified of something so harmless. Due to that delightful situation I have begun cutting his hair at home again. Things have gotten a little better. It no longer takes three hours of sweat, tears, promises and bribes to get it cut. It is still horrible for him though and you can tell he is trying so hard to be still he just has SO much hair and it takes forever to get it cut - and cut so that it doesn't look as if I chased him about the house with a broken weed-eater.

So last night initial crisis was that it was hot in the bathroom and he wanted to sit. I recognized that he might finally be able to sit still in the very high barstool - that as a child his Daddy had HIS hair cut in - and so we head for the kitchen. The minute I have him set up in the chair, calm and ready to go, the aforementioned daddy comes in.

D: "You would be finished a lot faster if you would let Mamma use the clippers."

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

All hell breaks loose. There aren't even clippers in a 5 foot radius and he's running for the hills. WHY, WHY don't people think? Daddy isn't new here, he lives here, he has seen this before, what was he thinking????? Honestly, at that point I wanted to scream and beat them both about the head with a rolling pin.

But then something happened, something crazy and new....

Instead of having to be dragged screaming and clawing from whatever hiding place he had chosen Jack came back on his own. He was weepy but he came back and got in the chair and over the next hour Rob totally earned his Father of the Year Badge. He took his time and was so patient with Jack. Letting him hold the clippers, working the guards, turning it on and off and even letting Jack use the clippers to trim Rob's beard. Finally when I thought it would never happen Jack told Daddy that "Mamma can trim my hair because she knows how my hair grows."

Yes, you read that right a miracle and a huge step for Jack!!! Buzzing, vibrating machinery was allowed to touch him while he was conscious and no one got hurt LOL

He looks so cute and it's nice to see him with a nice short haircut for camp. It is also awesome to see him so proud of himself. When we went to OT Thursday morning he told Bridget and Bobby all about it and they were so excited and proud for him. It was great! He wrote me a Thank You note in therapy and you should see it! Well, you will when I scan it but the handwriting is just gorgerous!!!

Bobby has finished his residency and today was his last day. He is awesome and wherever he lands will be so lucky to have him. It took Jack awhile to warm up to him but once he did it was great!

So now Jack is all ready for camp and I am so happy knowing that haircuts will no longer be a three hour ordeal!

Life is good!

Mamma, who is Carmen and why do we care.....

So today is stressing me out but it is going to be a good day. I am hours behind with everything but it was for a good reason. The bonus is that the events of the morning have lent themselves to a positive life lesson for the boy and for his Mamma as well.

Jack is a Cub Scout and very proud to be one. We have made many friends since becoming a member of amazing Pack 320 most especially Jack's buddy E (who's like another kid to me) and his Dad. Everyone is struggling right now, duh. Turn on the tv, listen to the radio, it's there and everywhere and it isn't going to change any time soon. Cub Scout camp is next week and I realized this morning in talking to E's dad that E isn't going. I know the reason, it's the same reason Jack wouldn't be going if Grandy and Pop hadn't gifted Jack with camp for a combo birthday and Crossover gift. Suddenly I had an idea and yeah it screwed my time management but who cares.

I made some calls and discovered that there is a scholarship program. Made another call to the awesome awesome awesome guy in charge who told me what to do and will meet me this afternoon to rush the paperwork through - because of course camp starts MONDAY lol. They require a partial fund match from the parent. I know the parent doesn't have it and though we are having our own financial issues I had enough to meet the required amount. I didn't and won't tell the Dad, I want to help and besides E's birthday is this week and they are friends, close friends who would do anything to help us or Jack if they could. I didn't want E to be the only kid to not go and I didn't want L to feel bad especially since he is an amazing Dad and lives and breathes to give E the best life he can.

So anyway, I checked the bank account and made note of a few things before I had to call about the flood insurance - ugh. While I was on the phone I had an email come through. It was an order! An order that would more than cover what I needed to help out our friends!

Karma strikes again!

So I sat Jack down to explain to him about getting what you give and Karma. When i am finished he just stares at me.

He: "So Carmen isn't always bad?"

Me: "Karma is only bad when you are bad."

He: "Carmen is always mean to me."

Me: "Karma. K-A-R-M-A"

I explain it in a bit more detail. Suddenly the bright glow of realization shines in his eyes....

He: "I get it now, Carmen is God's nickname!!!!"

LMAO, and how on earth can you argue with that? I didn't and neither should you.

Shhhhhhhhhh, I don't want him to hear me....

It's 9am on day one of the Chore Chart being in residence. Jack got up and immediately disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes. Then he came back muttering under his breath and counting something off on his fingers. I realized suddenly...

Me: "Good morning, were you checking the chart?"

He: "Mornin' Mamma, yes but I can't remember it all."

Me: "I have an idea...."

Before you panic, I didn't THINK about the idea - it just came to me. That means it is safe and will not destroy my timetable (unlike thinking, "I ought to blog about this before I forget" which will kill 30 minutes).

I got a piece of paper and a pen and we went into the kitchen. I told him the duties from wake up until breakfast and he wrote them down. He has completed everything almost totally on his own including scouring the house for all the reward chips he had scattered to the four winds. He started to be mouthy and pulled it right back together - that's right buddy... we don't want to cross off Mr. Frownie now do we???

If you have a sensational or simply HUMAN child and need an idea, this behavior chart worked wonders for us from the second it was implemented. In kindy Jack was getting "called out" over SIXTY times a day - this was an average from a week of his teacher keeping track. We'll just ignore the fact that to be in trouble THAT many times in K means your teacher is anal lol. But I digress... here's how it works:

Take a simple index card. We used the colored ones because, well, someone let me think and no harm could come of it... until the kid only wants to take one color and you are out of it.

On index card you draw a predetermined number of smileys and below the smileys in a box draw a frownie (Mr. Frownie).

Each time the child does something unacceptable or disrespectful they lose a smiley and HE/SHE is the one that must cross it off. It doesn't work as well unless they OWN the crossing off.

As long as they do not have Mr. Frownie crossed off by the end of the day it was a "good day". In our house that is rewarded by a chip, chips are saved up to earn treats - more on that in a minute. If Mr. Frownie is crossed off - Game Over. No TV, no dessert, eat dinner, have bath, go to bed, try again tomorrow.

Back to the chips. I love the chips! Jack loves the chips! Later we will make a fun chip bank (after I have finished all the crap I have to do and LAMINATED the chore chart lol and figured out what to make a chip bank out of. STOP HER SHE WILL BE THINKING LATER!!!!!).

Aided by the (soon to be laminated) chore chart Jack can earn up to 5 chips per day. 1 chip for completing his duties, 1 chip for remembering to go to the bathroom (don't ask) and the possibility of three "extra credit" chips for reading an extra book, doing extra math sheets and patching his eye an extra 2 hours. If he does something outstanding during the day like helps with something without being asked or helps someone or something like that - I will either give him another chip or let him pick from the goodie bag. I have a grab bag of little trinkets and slips of paper with treats written on them (stay up an extra half hour, Mommy will play Spyro with you for 30 min, get a cone at McDonald's, you pick dinner, etc).

Together we create a catalog of rewards and their chip value... a movie is 25 chips, a pay-per-view is 5 chips, putt-putt is 20 and so on. We can add to the catalog at any time and he can repeat rewards as often as he has chips to do so. It works well and turned him around because he feels in control of SOMETHING when most of the time he says his body and brain won't let him do what he wants. It also helps him "tell" his body and brain that he HAS to do X to get what he wants.

Whatever gets us through the day... and this gets us through the day with limited screaming and tears (from both of us), keeps him reading, works on his math and writing and keeps the damn patch on and makes him feel like he achieved something and makes me feel like an ok Mom because he feels good about helping and achieving!

OK, so I predicted 30 killed minutes til end of post.... *sigh* It is 10:03am

In the last hour I have:

Helped a friend in need
Conferenced about a name for my new biz. division
Helped Jack look for his patch
Had Jack clean his room
Took out the trash
Tried to make 4 phone calls
Spoke to 4 voice mails
Drank my instant breakfast
Took my many meds
Answered several emails and done my blog.

My day has just begun, but so far so good!

We are here, breathing and moving forward and trying to improve ourselves, our days and our lives one step at a time and hopefully with lots of love and laughter thrown in.