“Hey, Mom, guess what?”

“What?”

“My friend, Steve, was really jerking my chain today?”

“Honey, you shouldn’t say that. Do you know what that means?”

“No.”

“Well…it means…(explain, explain, explain).”

“No, mom. He was sitting behind me in class pulling on my diabetes chain.”

Oops!

“I hate the ice cream truck.” There I said it. I hate the sound of it, the smell of it, and the look of the scary people who drive it. I liken it to clowns. Sure, they’re supposed to be fun and make people happy, but to me, they’re just plain creepy and make me cringe.

So, a couple months ago at my son’s football auction, I was captivated by a photograph of Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan on the golf course. I said to myself, that’s really cool. A picture of two of the most famous athletes on the planet. So, I put a bid on it and won. It was inspiring at the time, until…

Headline: “Tiger Woods fathered secret love child”

Headline: “Tiger Woods Impregnated Porn Star Girlfriend Twice While Wife Was Expecting”

Headline: “Susie Ogren: Tiger Woods Took Ecstasy, Hoped To ‘Get Me Into Bed’”

Well, that did it. The picture that was proudly posted on my living room wall now sits in the corner of my dining room floor facing the wall in an infinite time out. Just like Tiger.

So this is why my son won’t “friend” me on Facebook. I understand that he doesn’t want his Mom in his “business,” but these days, technology is pretty much the only way he’ll communicate with me. “Talking is old school,” he tells me. Or should I say, texts me. We haven’t talked in so long, I forget what his voice sounds like.  So…we Tweet, we text, we e-mail & we stare. Ahhhhhh! Good times. Good times.

My husband and I caved and bought our 13 year old a cell phone for Christmas. We agonized over the decision, but for our particular circumstances…two parents working…son with diabetes…we decided it would be OK to “take the plunge.” However, after seeing all the horror stories of kids getting into trouble with these little technological gadgets, we wanted to minimize what features he had access to.

My eldest son just went to the Barton Center for Diabetes Education - a camp for diabetic children located in North Oxford, MA. We sent him there with his brother (a non-diabetic) for a special weekend camp they were having called Wacky Weekend. We thought it would be a great opportunity for him to be with other diabetic kids and experience what it would be like to be at a stay away camp. Oh yeah, and it was also an opportunity for Mom and Dad to get away for a belated anniversary weekend *wink*wink*.

So, of course when we picked the kids up on Sunday, I couldn’t wait to hear all about it. First they told us about the games they played, the songs they sang, but the best part was what my son said next…

It was an incredible game and a fantastic day for the Crusaders who captured the Superbowl Championship winning in OT 13 – 6. Although this shot is a little blurry, I think it just captures the moment perfectly. What a game!

After being home for nine years with my kids, I finally decided to go back to work so of course my kids were curious to know what I would be doing. So, I told them.

“Well, I’ll be writing emails that we send to customers telling them about the cool products we sell.”

“Oh. And what did you do before that?”

“Well, I used to write letters we sent to customers telling them about the cool products we sell.”

“Oh. And what did you do before that?”

“Well, I used to produce television commercials telling people about the cool products we sell.”

My sons, being the TV hounds could finally relate. “Wow, that’s awesome.”

Then I had a revelation about my career.

The cubby has been painted, the coats hung with care, Hubby did such a great job, thumbs up from Mama Bear.(o;

Over the summer, my son had to send his fourth grade teacher a letter answering a few questions so the teacher could “get to know him.” These were my sons responses.

Teacher: What do you like to do in your free time?

Andrew: Build stuff with stuff and draw stuff.

Teacher: What are your strong points as a person and as a student?

Andrew: Art, football, and math.

Teacher: What are your goals for the next year?

Andrew: Get straight A’s.

Teacher: Is there anything else you would like to tell your new teacher about you?

Andrew: Well, yes…I’m Tyler Mahoney’s brother! You remember…he was with you for 3rd and fourth grade..kinda short…blonde hair…well, you get the picture.

Andrew

See ya…

P.S. like, real soon

P.S.S. like, really soon.

P.S. S. S. like, really, REALLY soon

P.S.S.S.S. like extremely soon.

P.S.S.S.S.S. like, OH MY GOSH, soon.