Days Like This

I wish we could get days off for GOOD weather.

I’m home with my boys and we’re doing what we usually do during the months of June -October. We’re waiting on a storm to pass us by. Schools were closed early today and schools are closed tomorrow in Dade and Broward counties and since I work at a school (my private school follows the same weather schedule as public schools) I don’t have to work either.

So I’m home. I fixed my boys a snack. They are eating pretzels and drinking juice and watching a video.

I’m supposed to be cleaning my room to match my COMPLETELY CLEAN HOUSE, but I’m lazy. I’ll admit it. But I wasn’t lazy enough to pass that dough on to a friend of mine who cleaned MY ENTIRE HOUSE! My ENTIRE HOUSE! Wow. It smells so good in here.

I’m such a lazy bum.

But my laziness motivates me to work harder in other areas so that I will make more money to pay people to do the things that I’m too lazy to do.

I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

~smiling~

Well, lemme go get to folding these clothes and straightening up. If the storm hits, I just hope that we are all safe down here and recovery time is minimal. Just let us get some rain and some winds, I don’t think the country can handle another storm like Katrina.

I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

You know what? I’m happy right now. Yeah, I’m still a little tense, as I usually am, but that’s okay. My boys are here. We have some more time to cuddle. I know that my sons are the only reason why I am sane today. And they are the reason why I know I’ll be okay. I have to be okay. Because I have to take care of them. They need me.

Or so I thought.

You won’t believe what my baby did today! My Sugarbear, my honeybun-he…he… Man.

So this morning I was running about 20 minutes late so by the time I drove my younger son to his school in the city and I got back to my older son’s school breakfast was almost over. I turn the car off and open my door. My 5 year old son is already standing outside the door, anxious to be on his way to the cafeteria.

“Sugarbear,” I ask him. “There’s only a few minutes left before breakfast, do you still want to try to eat?”

“Yes, ma’am.” he answers and takes a few steps toward the school. “Are you coming with me?”

“Don’t you want me to come?” I ask him.

“Mama. I can go by myself.”

“Do you mean that you can walk to the cafeteria, get your tray, sit down, open all your food, throw the tray away- all by yourself?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I frown. “Are you sure?”

“I can do it Mama.” he says confidently and smiles.

“And then what do you do after you are finished eating?”

“Go to the courts to sit with my friends.”

My lower lip quivers.

“Ok, then give me a kiss.”

He kisses me quickly and walks away waving.

I stand there and watch him. His bookbag is almost as big as he is.

And there goes my little man, walking away from me, by himself, into the big elementary school.

There goes my little baby. Will he make it safely to the cafeteria? What if someone snatches him on the way there?

I watch him.

He turns around and waves again and dissappears.

I get back into my car and sit for a minute.

I know I have been practing with him for this moment. And we’ve talked about him having breakfast on his own and me just dropping him off at the gate, but, I thought I had a few more days at least.

I didn’t know he would be ready so soon.

I’m okay though. I taught him everything. He’s so smart. He will be alright.

He’s my little Sugarbear.

My smart, smart little man!