But what is normal?

The kids have taken their final bows, I have penciled the last Siamese eyebrow on the last child. The play is over.

Now we can get back to normal.

After we wash the piles of clothes that have been waiting. After we wash all those bed sheets that have been waiting. After we scrub the floors that seem to have taken on new colors. After we wash the mountain of dishes. After we catch up on all the mail I've left in a giant pile. After I return those 40-50 phone calls. After I respond to the emails.

Then I can get back to normal.

The days when my kids go to bed at a decent hour and wake up at decent hour. The days when the kitchen stays clean. The days when I have some summer school work ready. The days I have that one load of laundry and I am totally on top of it. The days the kids do their 15 minute clean-ups plus their chores. The days we go a quick fun activity. The days everything is together.

Do you have a lot of those 'normal' days?

I have to be honest. I cannot remember my last 'normal' day.

Our new 'normal' always seem to include some sort of snag. Kids staying up too late. A broken AC. A quick errand that turns into a four event. Running out of milk right when I am about to make muffins is 'normal'.

Maybe I should think about wanting an 'abnormal' day. Those days when everything seems to be perfect......but then how boring would I be?

Someone was going to say it sooner or later

It finally happened last night.

"I've been watching him. I don't know if it's ADD or tourettes or just discipline, but I know something is wrong with him," a mom said looking at me.

She was talking about Dino.

Dino, my sweet lovable boy who seems to be a little delayed in almost everything but kindness. His gait is getting better, his speech is getting a little better. But he's still not up to snuff.

I know he's not. We've been to doctors. His special ed teachers don't know what it is. They think maybe dyspraxia, maybe mental cognition. The doctors think it might be the low muscle tone--that he will get better, it will just take longer and more work. I have asked about autism--every doctor and teacher has said no, not in the slightest. Some friends think he make have selective mutism because he has moments of perfectly clear conversation with me but very few other people.

I know because of the delays, he has confidence issues. We are trying to build him up. We have been blessed with this theater experience to have so many kids run up and hug him. His older sisters praise him constantly.

Things just aren't clicking.

He has had a few outbursts on stage because someone is out of place, and usually in his spot on stage, or his clothing gets messed up and he tries to fix it.

The other night when I was putting him to bed it took every bone in my body not to shake him and scream 'what is wrong with you?' but I held back, spoke to him. I did most the talking as his looked at me and nodded his head, occasionally whispering a quick response.

He does have a few friends at school. He laughs, he plays but rarely actually talks with them. It's more gestures and smiles.

I don't know what I should be doing to help him. I fear I am the reason he is having so many issues. I don't do enough with him. I don't give him the care and help he needs. I wish I could just wave a magic wand and he would be 'normal'.

COMMUNITY Theater

When I first signed up the kids to be in the summer musical at the local theater, I will admit it was because of two primary reasons, 1. keep them busy 2. cheap (near free) alternative to pretty much everything else out there.

I was first surprised when I found how much both the kids and I were enjoying it. No community theater is not Broadway, but I challenge anyone on Broadway to come up with half the quality of set design and costumes with the shoe string budget our little community theater has! The director has amazed me too--taking my very shy, Dino and bringing home on the stage to perform, taking my lovely girls and showing them the magic that happens when you step on stage and the audience claps. I could go on but I am sure you get the point!

But even if these things were not there, this experience would be worth it. For a reason I did not see until we spent hour after hour with the older children in the green room. The real feel of community.

The older, more seasoned performers seem to take on a natural, loving, older sibling role to the younger, less experienced cast members. I have looked around the room and seen the prince (a middle schooler) sit down and chat with Dino about whatever, the King (an amazingly talented senior) calm down a crying Spanky telling him 'one day I tell you, you will be king', one of the wives gently fixing Sarah's wig, and another wife sitting and telling jokes with pre-schoolers. And that is just the tip of ice burg! There is so much encouragement and love from the older kids to the younger and vice versa. No one thinks they are 'better' or 'too good' to settle down and hang out with the different age groups. They hang out together and have a good time! I don't know if it theater magic or the community feel that seems to radiate in everything there--whatever it is, I wish I could bottle it and share it with the world.

Chatting with another parent, he made the following comment regarding the older children, "I can only hope my children will act that way when they are older."

I could not agree more.

And now--back to the green room!

WW--When a baby boy is left alone with his big sisters

It's 9:50 pm and my kids are wide awake...

And it's not going to change anytime soon.

It turns out the play they are in, 'The King and I', lasts at least three hours. Night performances start at seven pm and they are all in the last scene.

The last practice ended around 8 pm, and Dino fell asleep in the middle of the stage in the bow position.

I need to change their clocks and turn them into temporary night owls.

If I heard another mom tell me this, I would say she was insane. Why would ever want your kids to break into your 'me' time?

Well, maybe I have gone a bit batty. The thought of letting my five year old son stay up as late as me (if not later) is a bit crazy.

But there is bright side. They sleep in. This morning they slept until 8:45 am. Really.

Guess for a little while, I'll just have morning 'me' time. Until I have to change the clocks back for school which sadly is closer than it looks.

Wish me luck on that one ;)

This is America

**Please click on the above picture if it's not all showing. I am once again having sizing issues :0

I cannot think of a better picture of the Fourth of July. No there aren't any fireworks or flags but to me this is America.

The smiling boy, full of hope, optimism and joy, like the American spirit so many are drawn to around from around the world. The standard American fare beside him--Coca Cola, nachos, junk food. Symbols of America. The blur next to him--America is never slowing down. The mix of the crowd--we do not have a national language, we don't have a similar look (OK most of do have big, blonde hair in the Lone Star State). We are a melting pot, of cultures, ideas, traditions.

And of course, the football field lit up with the bright lights. This is small town Texas. The only place to be on Friday nights in the fall; the only place for our small town to be on the Fourth of July.

Happy Birthday America!

Suddenly I'm Bright and Breezy

I am not a stage mom. Not in the least.

But three of my kids are in a big musical production this summer. And we have been sitting at the theater for over three hours almost every day practicing. I've even downloaded the songs they sing for the play and we practice at home.

The meeting of the royal prince and princesses, Getting to know you, Home Sweet Home, The Temple, the procession, the tearful ending. We practice the dancing, the bowing.

And they are having a blast. And guess what? I am too!

I never would have thought sitting in the theater watching the scenes over and over again would be magical. Yet they are.

I can honestly say neither I or the kids have 'Hollywood dreams' --we love the Lone Star State far too much. However, as an activity--this may be right up there with ballet.

So on with the show...what show, you ask.

Here's a clip from the movie, based on the musical. It is not puzzlement, I think it's one we've all gotten to know ;)