A Passage.

Hindsight is almost always 20-20 for me.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of getting together with old high school classmates. I graduated from high school a little more than a handful of years ago..and up until this past weekend, we had never attempted to get together for a reunion. Why? Beats me. I've heard different responses to this question...but I feel we haven't gotten together just because.

Not gonna lie...I was EXTREMELY apprehensive for the casual-happy-hour reunion. Maybe it was because I was the organizer. Maybe it was because I wasn't the most popular kid in the class. I feared the turnout would be slim. I feared that the people I felt awkward around seven years ago would revert me back to that time, and that I'd feel awkward and out of place all over again.

What happened this past Saturday was a complete and pleasant surprise. People showed up. Do I feel more should've shown up? Sure. But people were still there! We almost had two dozen in attendance. It was great!

I think a person would be on the verge of insanity if they didn't admit that kids in high school aren't kind. In fact, kids in high school are down-right cruel. However, on Saturday I didn't feel the least bit awkward. I was able to catch up, and slowly realized how much each and every person in attendance had grown up.

An English teacher my freshman year of high school constantly went ON and ON about experiencing passages during life. Graduation high school (passage). Getting married (passage). Living on your own (passage)...you get the picture. It's a mindset that (at the time) you think "yeah, yeah yeah..passage schmassage!" But it's amazing to look back and realize how much people grow as time passes.

I'm so thankful I was able to catch-up with a few familiar faces last weekend...hopefully next time, others will show up and more fun will be had!

Questions and Life

This morning, I firmly believe pandora's box has been opened. While walking little man into school, I reminded him that he needed to hold mommy's hand while in the street. He graciously listened, but then let out a "Why mom?"

I almost peed my pants.

This was his first "Why" question...and I have a STRONG feeling it's not going to be his last.

I don't think I was much of a "why-child", but I know for certain that my brother was. I'll be the FIRST to tell you, it drove me nuts 22 years ago, and I'm convinced it's going to drive me nuts now!

Wow..saying something was bad "22 years ago" really makes me feel old.

When I was in my pre-teens, I remember hearing (on some television talk show) that statistically, if a woman truly believes she will be married by a specific age, her chances of being married when she was that specific age increases. Maybe this falls into line with self fulfilling prophecy...but I'll be the first to tell you that my prophecy was not self fulfilled.

I had always imagined I would be engaged at 24, and married by 26...with my first baby at 28. As a 13 year old, I had my life planned out perfectly. Little did I know I'd be a single parent of a 1yo at 24, still not engaged at 25...and who the hell knows WHERE I'll be at 26.

Although my life hasn't turned out the way I originally planned, I'm quite alright with that. I am a firm believer that good things come to those willing to wait... I've put in my time, and continue to pay my dues. I'm happy, and I think that's all that matters!

Notes from the Heart

Dear Justin,

You've definitely proved to me why you are the hottest, funniest most amazing man.

Love you long time,
Miz

Fall

For all of you google feed readers out there...I just deleted a post I had written yesterday (and was published about 28 minutes ago). For inquiring minds, I had written it about a dramatic petty silly situation at work that had my undies in a bunch.
As I suspected, after a great night of sleep, my undies became unbunched, and I just didn't feel right about airing work drama via the internet. Sorry! :)

A Couple Things...

I am NOT a fan of waking up when it's dark outside. I mean, really! Mama always said, "Stay in bed 'till the sun is up and shining"...why can't that apply to the working world too??

The weather in MN cracked yesterday, and was BE-A-U-TIFUL! I took the liberty of going on a short 1/2 mile walk with little man. We walked over to visit with a friend, and on the way to and from my little stinker was talking my ear off. I need to force myself to have more moments like this with him. It sure beats sitting inside watching tv!

Ode to the Durse

You're big.
You can carry my load.
Every time I need to find something, you seem like a black hole.
You've made me feel secure outside of my comfort zone.
Most importantly, you've been there for me, through make-up blunders and dirty diapers.

As a 23 year old single mother, I had to come up with a creative resolution to carrying both a diaper bag AND a purse.

I've always had a love hate relationships with purses (doesn't that seem as if it should be purseai? Ya know, like syllabus::syllabai, HA! AS IF). I was rarely able to fit my necessities in the cute purses, but couldn't bring myself to buy a "bag."

I was stuck in the middle, and not liking it.

Then, little man came along and I'd be damned if I didn't leave the house stocked with baby supplies that could last me a week if need be. Enter, my Durse.

It wasn't sold in the baby section of target, but I refuse to call it a bag because I'm stubborn like that. It was fashionable and practical for me and my baby. If you are a new parent, don't waste your money on a diaper bag, just go straight for the durse. If you're a sexually active person, invest in a durse instead of another cute impractical purse...trust me, it'll be worth it later ;)

Call me crazy. Call me inventive. Just don't call me a bag lady.

Like Mother, Like Son.

This morning, when I delicately woke little man from his slumber, I told him he needed to get up and use the toilet. Today, we weren't using diapers AT.ALL. It was a decision that was made the second I realized it was a little silly of me to put him in a pull-up ONLY for the commute to daycare. He had been doing fantastic going potty at school (except for #2..but I'll get to that in a second). To my surprise, he got out of bed, went directly to the toilet, and sat there until he went. He's really getting good at this!!

When we got to his "school" this morning, he immediately told me he needed to go potty, and I didn't argue. I went right into the bathroom with him to supervise, and all was good. As he was sitting there alone, I grasped the opportunity to bribe him to the best of my ability. I told him if he made "big stinkies" at school, then mama would take him out for ice cream when I picked him up. He looked very excited...and I left him a bit apprehensive that my sneaky ways would actually work.

I called his teacher at 11, she told me something I had been waiting to hear for a little over two weeks. My little man had conquered dropping the kids off at the pool while he was at "school." The smallest tears of excitement welled up in my eyes. Potty training is really clicking for him, and the sense of pride his accomplishments have given him are so precious. I am so glad I've stuck with it.

Onto why he's just like his mother. Just like me, he will do just about anything for ice cream! :)