My Scientist

I cannot remember if this is normal 3 year old behavior or not, but Nicholas is consumed with spraying, squirting and dumping out any sort of "product" that he can get his hands on.  The second I turn around he is looking for something to dump out.  This has included but is not limited to; sunscreens of all types, lotion, shampoo, any type of bath stuff, hair gel, playdough and glue. Those are all I can remember but I am sure that there are more. 

One day I left him in the tub splashing around with his toys, while I answered the phone. Before anyone gets hot and bothered about turning around with a 3 year old in the tub, this is a kid who swims like a Russian Michael Phelps. He goes all around our pool, off the diving board, swims to the bottom of the deep end as often as he is allowed.  It is quite safe to leave him in 6 inches of water in the tub for a minute.  When I returned...he had squirted an entire bottle of baby lotion into a bucket I use to rinse the kids hair. He was adding some green shampoo to to the concoction and was mixing it with a bath toy.  Lovely!!  Last night we were outside barbequing and he sprayed an entire can of sunscreen all over the patio in little globs.  He had also used the sunscreen to spray onto the side of the counter and stuck a little toy onto it. Apparently he has come to the scientific conclusion that sunscreen can also be used as glue.  

He once squirted an entire large bottle of Elmer's glue all over the kids desks downstairs in the playroom.  He then stuck all kinds of paper onto that.  The playroom has double french doors with glass panes that separate it from the family room.  He locked the doors from the inside so we could watch him "at work," but not get in to stop him.  He just looked at us and smiled. 

What is up with all of this spraying and squirting?  Do all three year olds do this?  I have tried to explain to him that this stuff is expensive and he is wasting things that our family needs. Besides, he is making a huge mess that he has to help clean up.  None of this has deterred his obsession to squirt.  Any thoughts?  I may have a chemist on my hands.  Or just a really curious kid?    

My Dream Job

Since I have been in a funk lately, I have been thinking about all of the things I would like to do if I could have a "Dream Job." I really love the job I have now, but a girl can dream....right.

Second only to being a Mom to LOTS of kids, I know 4 seems like a lot, but I really would like a few more, just to make it more interesting.  Here is the Job I came up with:

Adoption Specialist: (I made up this job title-Doesn't it sound important?)

I would like to help families and orphans to find each other.  I would like to work for an agency part time from home while my kids were in school.  I would like to be the one who answers the phone when a PAP makes that first call and says, "I think our hearts might be open to adopting a child. Can you help us?"  I would love to show encouragement and support.  For example, "You can do this!  Let me show you how."  "What is an Apostille?  I know that word is not in the dictionary...I know what it is, I can help you." The wording for a notary?  No problem...my friend Christy helped me with that one...I can e-mail it to you."  So it goes....

I would like to make a trip or two each year with said adoption agency to visit the orphanages we were serving.  I would like to review post-placement reports of families whose adoptions were complete.  I would like to learn more about the inner-workings of International Adoption.  I would like to be an advocate for parents who feel like adopting a child from abroad is too daunting of a task.

I would not ask to be paid much more than to cover expenses such as phone and travel.

What do you think?  Is there anyone out there hiring for this position?  Well....it never hurts to ask.  I said it would be my DREAM job.

What Now???

I must admit that I have been in a funk these past few days.  I am pretty sure this is nothing new and I get in a funk for the first few weeks of school every year. I just do not remember it being this bad.  I think that I am mourning the end of summer, vacations being over and the loss of spending a lot of fun and crazy time with my kids.  I miss staying up late and getting up late.  I miss hanging out with the kids and watching TV in our jammies.  I miss planning the day ahead and doing fun things together.  We are not very productive during the summer, but we sure enjoy it.  

I dropped Nick at pre-school for his first day last Wednesday and it really made me sad.  I lingered around and watched him through the window.  I had such a hard time leaving.  Nick, on the other hand, was happy as can be, he has missed his little friends and his teachers.  It was a long morning for me.  I ran some errands and treated myself to a pedicure.  I was so happy to pick him up when 12:00 finally rolled around.  I was just so darn excited to see him.  What a weird feeling, having 3 and a half hours to myself.  I guess I will just have to get used to it.  I have plenty of things I should be doing with that 3 hours....I just have not made myself do them, exercise, cleaning, organizing photos, etc. etc. All of the things that sound so productive and that I have been putting off for the last 10 years could surely take up a mere 9 hours a week.  

The other kids are settling in nicely to the routines of 1st, 4th and 5th grades.  There is a little more homework for the older 2 and Claire stays at school for an extra hour.  They seem to have it all figured out.  They come home and get started on their homework right away.  I do not need to even say anything.  I think they want to get their homework done and over with so they can get to their sports.  Sophie has been wanting to hang out more with her school friends since they have been spending more time together during school hours.  The little girls are always trying to arrange "playdates."  Even Nicholas is now going over to the neighbor's house to play with his buddy, or his buddy will come here to play.  The pool fence is down, he is swimming like a little champ.    

I guess what I am so reluctant to admit is that my kids are growing up and away.  They do not need me as much anymore.  I think I am just trying to find my new place.  The fact that they are independent and well-adjusted must mean that I am doing something correctly--right?  I still feel gloomy and un-needed.  I think I am the one who is the most reluctant to get a new schedule in place.  I am the one that resists change.   I need a kick in the pants!!

My discussions (pleas) with my husband to start another adoption have fallen on deaf ears.  He is just not ready.  I think that is another root of my sadness.  He has at times, told me that he will consider another adoption.  Other times, like last night, he is not open to even discussing it.  I do not know what my best course of action should be at this point.  We will have a visit from the Social Worker soon for Nick's last post-placement report.  I think I will try to keep my mouth shut about adoption until we need to get that report written up and sent off to Russia for the last time.  That is our very last piece of paperwork to do.  His adoption will be entirely complete. 

I can imagine that most people who read this little "boo-hoo" session would say that I need to 

GET A LIFE.  In reality I have a life.  It is centered around being a wife and a mother.  Being a wife and mother has been my identity for the last 11 years.  Now, my identity needs to be changed up a bit, maybe just a little tweak.  I have no doubt that I eventually will find my way. I still have a few interests.  I am pretty sure I still possess a few skills besides changing diapers and making up funny songs.  I can organize a mean car-pool schedule,  juggle 4 kids with multiple sports and extra-curriculars. I know a lot about international adoption, probably more than anyone would ever believe.  I have everyone's vaccinations (including doggy's) up to date. I can cook a gourmet meal and organize a top-notch birthday party, I can plan a perfect vacation, I can hold a position on the PTA.  Heck....I think I may be qualified to run for vice president. Alas, I am nowhere as cute as Sarah Palin, and I have not attempted being governor of California, though most people in our state might rather have me than Arnold, he is not very popular right now.  I do find politics interesting. 

What this all leads to is:  Change is in the air for me.  I am not sure what that will mean exactly, but it is the direction in which my mind is headed.  I am open to any and all suggestions.  

P.S.  This may all change tomorrow, maybe my peri-menopausal hormones are just acting up.