Senior Moments!

No...not senior as in citizen. Senior as in graduating from high school senior. About a week ago, Cactus and I, along with four other couples, hosted a swim party for one of my favorite Wylie High School Seniors. I have known Brooks since before he was born. Actually, his mom and dad and I became friends when his dad and I were put together as mixed doubles partners for a tennis tournament. His mother was 14 months pregnant (I swear, just ask her), so that's why I was paired with his dad. What a blessing for me! Chuck and Karla became such wonderful and loving friends to us. Friends that you do not have to talk to every day; but when you do talk, it's like you pick up right where you left off. When Brooks was born, I did not have the first clue what to do with a baby, much less a boy baby. Well, I quickly learned. He was PRECIOUS! I stopped by their house as often as I could to get my "fix." Three years later, Hunter arrived. Be still my heart. TWO boys? WOW! I often said that if I had boys I wanted them just like Brooks and Hunter. Well, God gave me three girls. By the way, I have mentioned to them to stay away from my girls!

Unfortunately, last February, the boys lost their father after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was only 56 years old. I can not imagine what the boys and Karla go through on a daily basis. So, when another friend asked if I wanted to help throw a graduation party for Brooks, of course I said "YES!" I wanted to do everything that I could to help him through this very difficult and bittersweet time in his life. And, of course, you know me...always up for planning a good party!

Brooks wanted a pool party with a 2 to 1 girl/guy ratio! His father would be so proud! After a little bit of planning, the hosts' came up with a fish fry with swimming, music and VIRGIN pina colada's and daiquiri's; oh and yes, the 2 to 1 girl/guy ratio! Brooks did not ask for much. In fact, he did not ask for anything. I decided that a good party favor would be personalized stadium cups. You would have thought that he was handed the golden ticket at Willa Wonka's Chocolate Factory. I overheard him saying, "They even had special cups made with my name on them!" It's the little things that make them happy. He deserves so much more, but is such a gracious man that he saw the love that we all had for him.

So, I guess my point of this blog is that it does not take a lot to make our children happy. We think it does; but in reality all they really want is attention, patience, fish, pina colada's and personalized cups! Take the time to ask your kids about their lives. Find out what they want from you. You might be surprised that all they want is a 12 ounce, white, plastic stadium cup with their name on it.

I pray for the three of them (and the rest of their family) every day. They have an angel looking down on them. An angel I feel they share with me. Brooks says he is blessed...I am blessed for having them in my life for the past 19 years!

Here's to the first day of the rest of your life!


Gabbin' Gal Erin

Out of the mouths of babes...or 8 year olds!

Last Tuesday, I had to go to Midland with Cactus for an AAPG meeting. Jealous, are you...just wait. The meeting is not the point. Anyway, now that Katie is driving, I don't need a "nanny" to taxi my kids around. So...I asked Cactus' secretary to arrive at our house about 10 p.m., and spend the night. She, of course, agreed as this is in her job description. She probably looks back now and wished that she had not agreed to "children" under the heading "Duties and Responsibilities."

Before Mary's arrival, my cell phone rang and it was Elle crying hysterically. She said that Katie had gotten mad at her and had sent her to her room without dinner. As a mom, I try not to take the youngest child's side. You know, they are so cute, and all. So, I asked to speak to Delaney. Delaney is the fairest, most level headed child you will ever meet. I figured that she would shot straight with me. She told me that Katie had come home with dinner and a surprise for Elle. Katie had asked Elle to stay in the other room while she showed the surprise to Delaney. Of course, as any curious, eight year old would do, she followed them. This upset Katie and she sent her to her room without dinner. I then got Katie on the phone and told her that the punishment did not meet the crime. She should have either told Elle to leave the room or not given her the surprise. I know...you are all thinking...this is what happens to me when I get on the phone with my BFF. The children appear out of nowhere and park on the couch and stare at you until you either end your conversation or yell at them to leave. This to me is not a "go to your room without dinner" crime. I also explained to Katie that just because she is the oldest and quasi in charge, she is not God.

After calming everyone down, I told all three of them that if I received a bad report from Mary, that I would put them all up for adoption and live alone with their father. I think the aspect of me living alone with their father shocked them the most. Hey...he was currently the only one not on my bad list. Well...guess what? I received a bad report. I then reminded them that the adoption was in full swing and to get ready to vacate the house. I tend to forget how literal young children can be.

Next thing I know, four mothers from Elle's school have notified me that their children have come home from school and proclaimed that Elle's parents no longer want her, she has been put up for adoption and she is moving in with them. Oi Vie! This turn of evens happened while I was in St. Louis. Elle called me and said the "Randy" was building her a bed, but that it might not be ready by Monday and that she might need to stay at "my" house a little longer until the bed is complete. I then explained to Elle that what I said was in jest and that I was not serious. I felt like she understood, since she then told me that she had bought me a lovely Mother's Day present.

After responding to the half a dozen plus e-mails regarding this incident, I am quite blessed to have many friends in my life that love my child and are willing to "adopt" her. They also all "got it", when I mentioned to them what had happened. I guess we can all remember the time growing up, that we were upset with our home life and packed a bag and moved out. It also made me realize that everyone gets upset with their children and that maybe mine aren't so bad, if almost 5 families are willing to adopt my baby...my 8 year old!

Hug your kids today! Happy Mother's Day!

Erin

ALERT: Do NOT Travel with me!

For those of you who know me, the Schroeder's are what you would call travelling impaired. Allow me to explain.

Here I sit on a bus travelling from Abilene to Dallas/Ft. Worth International airport to catch a flight to St. Louis. Why? Because the flight that I was originally booked, on at 9:35 this morning, was delayed until 11:00 a.m., for mechanical difficulties. Then, the 11:00 flight was delayed until 3:00 for mechanical difficulties. HMMM! I see a pattern that I do not like. Why am I travelling to St. Louis? I am taking my 14 year old daughter to play tennis. How exciting, you say!? So far it has been and she hasn’t even picked up a racquet, yet. If this is her warm-up, I don’t think I want to see the main attraction. We were supposed to be in St. Louis by 1:00 p.m.; now, I think that we arrive about 8:30 p.m.

We are travelling with a group of 4 kids (3 girls, 1 boy – lucky boy!), 3 parents and 1 coach. All, by the way do get hungry. Our fearless leader suggested we all go to the restaurant at the airport and get something to eat before loading the bus. Guess what? They closed the restaurant down LAST WEEK!!!! I guess its chips and soda from the Buffalo Gap Traders Post located in the airport, which by the way is run by our good friend Tonya Vinson. But wait…I call my wonderful husband to ask him if he could bring me my “happy pills”, which I thought I could do without, until this happened. He then offered to bring hamburgers to us to eat on the bus. Did you know that there are not bus attendants for drink service? Boy do I need one now! Kick-in, happy pill! Kick-in!

So, thank you to the wonderfully patient agents at the Abilene Regional Airport, to these wonderful children who look at this as an adventure and whom I hear laughing at the back of the bus, and to my loving husband who went out of his way to make sure that his wife (and the other 7 travelers) was both happy and not hungry. This adventure is not over, but I don’t know what is in store…so, keep checking back. It could get interesting!

Signed,
Rolling Down I-20 in a Greyhound bus