On another brother

We had our 'big' ultrasound for Thing 3 on Wednesday.  It's a boy.  There were many tears shed by the girl that has wanted a sister for 5 long years.

Thursday morning, she walks in and throws herself down on my bed.

R: "Mommy, what happened to all of the girl sperm?"
M: "I have no idea, sweetie.  No idea."
R: "Why couldn't they get the directions right?  Why didn't they beat the boy sperm?  Are they lost somewhere inside your body?"  (The stream of related questions was seemingly endless.)
M: "I don't know, sweetie.  Nobody knows what makes some sperm get to the egg better than other sperm."

She keeps going with the questions until I advise her to take it up with her daddy.  Then she walked away, defeated and sighing.  Poor kid.  Too much knowledge of human reproduction can be a bad thing...

On safety and television

Ryanne was up making her bed this morning.  Corin wanted to turn on the fan.  We discussed how it wasn't safe right now because she was sitting up.  She listed quite a few things that could get hurt by the fan with her sitting there.  I added a few more.

Corin then asked if we could do it when she was laying down.  I said no because she didn't always lay perfectly flat and we didn't want her to accidentally sit up and get hurt.  She said wiggled down to the end of the bed and looked over the rail out her door, "Yeah, and sometimes I get distracted by Chuck."

Looking at the angle...that requires some impressive acrobatics.

Slow down, little one

Ryanne decided she wanted egg salad for breakfast today.  I told her there were four hard boiled eggs in the fridge.  She got them out, peeled them, sliced them (with the egg slicer) and then came to ask for help getting spices.  I put salt and dill in it because she still has some trouble controlling the flow of those and I didn't want to have to throw it out because it was too salty.  She grabbed a spoon and the mayo and put some in the bowl.  She didn't want to stir it up so I got to do that.

Now, she's happily eating her creation.  One of her major comfort foods.  It took me a while to realize that it was a comfort food for her.  I guess all of those Fridays eating it in Japan really stuck.

I'm still not sure I'm ready for her to be that self-sufficient, though.

On coffee

In her best whiny voice: "Why do kids never get to drink coffee? Why is it only for adults?"

"Ryanne, honestly, I drink decaf. If you want to try it, you may."

"Uh...maybe tomorrow."

Yeah, that's what I thought.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rally to Save Texas Schools

This morning, Ryanne asked me what we were doing today.  I have avoided talking to her about the budget cuts because, unlike Austin, we're not facing closures in Round Rock ISD so it doesn't seem as severe.  Instead, I would have to name names and tell her that teachers she has grown to love the past two years will likely not be at the school next year.  We've had wonderful teachers for her.  New teachers.  First teachers to go when layoffs come.

This morning, I laid it out for her.  Talked about the budget crisis.  Talked about how Round Rock wasn't going to close schools, but that they were going to reduce staff.  I listed a few possible names.  She cried.  I cried.  I told her that as sad as it was, crying over things that aren't guaranteed doesn't help anything.  Then she asked what we could do about it and I bawled like a baby.

I am so, so proud of my girl today.  I told her that we could tell our government that we didn't like the decisions they were making by going to the rally.  She asked if she could make a sign and I told her to bring her paper and markers to her brother's soccer practice.  She did.  She made a sign that said, "Save the schools by giving them money! Give money, money, money!"  She drew coins on it and labeled them with values.  This is what's they've been talking about at school so it was an interesting transition to the real world application.

At the rally, we bumped into some of the Wells Branch teachers and walked with them.  She was able to explain to one of them why we were there.  The teacher understood Ryanne's analysis and commented on how it was making her tear up that Ryanne really got it.  Now I'm crying again.

My kid knows that her teachers are at risk.  My kid was yelling as loud as she could to "Save Our Schools" and "Save My Teachers" with 11,000 other people.  My kid was sad and angry and wants to fix it.

It was an amazing day.  And heartbreaking.  And then more amazing.  That girl of mine is going to do spectacular things.  She has a heart so big and the brains to back it.  I wish these lessons didn't come with such a high emotional price tag, though.

She asked if the rally was good enough that the government would find the money for the schools.  The hardest words I said all day were, "I hope so."  I really hope the Texas Legislature is listening.