Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The Neighborhood of Make-Believe

You see, I don’t WANT to blog about getting fatter and sleepier and less interested in, well, pretty much everything. I don’t want to talk about going to bed pretty much immediately after getting Soph tucked in (at 7:30). I don’t want to talk about the 2 pairs of pants that fit me, and money being tight-ish, and so not having the desire or the means to go buy more. I don’t want to talk about getting to school, late (again) and sitting here, forcing myself to do the minimum—the bare minimum--to keep my classes afloat, fighting off sleep every second, every second, and then giving into the urge to close my eyes and feeling sleep creep through my brain, settling for a 2 second sitting-up nap, though it would so prefer to climb under the covers and sleep, ahh, sleep all all all day.

I don’t want to. But on the other-hand, I don’t want to let the blog go completely. It’s been part of my life for more than a year now, quite considerably more, actually. That’s an investment. I still want SOMETHING to be there when I wake up some day. Maybe I’ll just blog about what I wish I was doing and feeling instead of what I’m actually doing and feeling.

Woke up at 5:00 this morning and went to the gym. Did an hour of step aerobics and a half hour of yoga. Man, that new size 6 sweat suit I bought from “Not made in a sweat shop by 10 year old South American children, and not made with materials or dyes from any endangered plants and animals or that compromise the habitat of any endangered plants and animals, and not involved in anyway with global corporations who are responsible for mass murders and wars in the Congo or Somalia or any other African country over some random mineral necessary to make electronics, and not shipped using any fossil fuels which are ruining the planet for all humankind, especially your daughter” is certainly comfortable. After my workout, I came home and fixed a lovely organic breakfast and Soph, E, and I all sat down together over our whole grains and lean proteins. After breakfast, Sophie dressed herself, brushed her own teeth, and thanked me for getting rid of the TV because she much prefers interactive activities that are good for her cognitive and motor development to 90 minutes of Playhouse Disney each morning. When I arrived at work, looking very smart, slender, and professional, I might add, I arranged the differentiated learning activities, and prepared to be a facilitator who inspires and guides her students toward learning.

Why not? Soph seems to be able to live in her own little fantasy world with no particular trouble. Lately, she talks not only about her imaginary friend, but her imaginary friend’s immediate and extended family. We went to see the hot air balloons of the Sky Festival early one morning over the weekend, and she informed all assembled, in much seriousness, that her imaginary friend’s grandfather has a hot air balloon and that he takes her for rides in it all the time. I’m charged with strapping the imaginary baby sister into her imaginary car seat each time we go anywhere in the car, and also am expected to carry the imaginary baby seat into the store, and secure the imaginary baby sister in the shopping cart. Every now and then, Soph shrieks that her baby has fallen out of the cart, and I then rescue IBS (Imaginary Baby Sister, not Irritable Bowel Syndrome) from the floor, and strap her back in.

Her imaginary world extends to school as well. Apparently, the teacher had to sit Soph and 2 of her cronies down and ask them to stop playing their imaginary games (based, I think, on The Nightmare Before Christmas, Soph’s current fave) in the classroom, because they were getting way too rowdy and interrupting the work of the other students. As reported to me by the teacher, Soph sat, nodding, listening, seeming to get the idea. At the close of the little chat, the teacher asked, “Do you understand girls? Do you have any questions?” Soph’s little arm popped into the air, and when called on, she asked, “Um. Mrs. Esplin? Could you be the witch?”

Today’s best thing about being a mom:
It forces you to get out of bed in the morning.

Today’s worst thing about being a mom:
It forces you to get out of bed in the morning.

8 comments:

OMH said...

So what's the prob with Soph wanting her teacher to be a witch. Some of mine were! Besides she raised her hand like she was suppose to - what more could a teacher ask for?

Here's to hoping you get more rest! More Energy! More of all good things!

BTW I got The Kissing Hand for #1 and each morning (well both of them since he justed started yesterday)he has mommy kiss the fingers - too too sweet Tell Soph thanks for the recommendation.

~A~ said...

I love you world. Could you imagine one like it for me please?

And Soph! YOU ROCK! Don't give up on that imagination. If you ever need too, feel free to runaway and live here with the pixies and elves.

WV = qpple

Jen said...

I still think you have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome. Being that tired isn't normal. I know, I went through it, and it is much better once you go to the doctor and get treatment.

I would go to bed almost as soon as I got home from work and had little interest in anything but sleeping. I wanted to do al ot of things, but I was just too tired. I was very forgetful and had some minor neck aches and back pains. Sound familiar?

Kathryn said...

We should totally start an "I have two pairs of pants that fit" club. We could all get together and eat cookies. Who cares? We have a club.

hazel said...

that soph. I'm sure it's different raising her, but from a purely outsider perspective, she is a genius and the most interesting and adorable kid ever, besides one's own.

is your fatigue syndrome thingie doing this to you? I'm worried.

NME said...

God. That sounds like a drag - feeling like that. I wish I could give tell you my suprising treatment for instant happiness and relief but I have none. I hope you find one or at least feel good about getting on a path to wellness.

And MY GOD woman. You sure set high hopes for yourself. Who couldn't feel like they were failing when that was what they were trying to accomplish. It makes me tired just reading about your imaginary world.

Sophie is brilliant. So imaginative. I'm really jealous since I have a very sucky imagination. I just sat around telling my Mom I was bored all the time.

amandak said...

Zach's been all about the pretend friends lately too. Wanted me to help him 'find' them when they were playing hide and seek tonight. Apparently his pretend friends are very good hiders.

Looks like there's good news coming soon on the job situation here, I'll let you know when it's official. :)

Love you, miss you, let's chat real soon, k? HUG!

JJisafool said...

I've never told a Soph story as much as this one. Love it.

By the way, my name has been "Tommy" for two days now, as bestowed upon me by my daughter "Alicia."