Storms

Ever since Addie was a baby, she has cried during storms. The other kids are not like this so I'm not sure what we did differently. We have tried every trick in the book to help her get over this.

Mississippi has had our fair share of tornados and she is at the age where she remembers. I think we have "taken shelter" four times this year and somewhere in our state has had devastating destruction. We grab the flashlights, kids, dog, tv remote, phones, chargers, batteries, shoes, sometimes helmets, and gather in the bathroom. It's the responsible thing to do. It's tough to entertain three kids and a dog while keeping track of the storm path. I kind of freak out but have to remain calm all at the same time. 

Every single storm is terrifying for her. She tries to hide it by asking a thousand questions but she's not fooling anyone.

To make matters worse, I made the mistake of showing her the tornado destruction in Louisville. I didn't make a special trip there or anything. We were there for a family reunion and I took a "shortcut." This not-so-shortcut led us to the exact spot that the tornadoes touched down. It was an accident. Of course this led to multiple questions. Why are those trees on the ground? What happened to that building? Where did the people go? And on and on.

In my normal teacher fashion I answered the questions in an honest yet careful way. I thought I did a good job but it made the storm fear worse. Now she comes in our room if she hears the faintest clap of thunder or sees a flash of lightning and asks about the tornado. I'm not sure we will ever overcome this but we are trying. 

Princess Ballet Camp

What can be better than ballet and princesses?! Nothing. Nothing is better to Addie then dancing around in her tutu and hanging out with a different Disney princess everyday. She has absolutely loved Princess Ballet Camp.

So much in fact that after ballet she keeps on her leotard and accessorizes. Dress up skirt, mardi gras beads, flip flops. In public. 

For me, princess camp has been a little trickier. I'm trying to time everything perfectly so no one needs a bottle when I should be dropping off/picking up another child. It's also important to make it everywhere on time. 

Today the plan did not unfold as it should have. Bentley Claire woke up (starving) a little earlier than expected. It threw the whole day off. Breakfast was rushed, we quickly got dressed, I threw on a hat, and Elle was about five minutes late for school. Close enough to on-time. Carpool was still running. 

Well picking up Addie from ballet just happened to coincide perfectly with Bentley Claire's massive meltdown. She has started this scream/cry when she is hungry and the two-room ballet studio would not have been a good place to hang out. I usually carry a spare bottle with me but I went to work on my classroom between pickups today instead of going back home. 

Rather than going in and making everyone miserable, I stayed in my car until it was exactly time for the class to let out while she wailed. Unfortunately, ballet let out a minute or two early so Addie was inside thinking that her mom wasn't there to pick her up. There were parents and kids everywhere because one class ends at the same time another one starts. When I walked in (at exactly 11:15) she was looking all neglected. I had to give the "I've been here the whole time, I would never leave you" spill. What's going to happen when I'm actually late? 

Andrew says I enjoy being late and in some instances I agree. No one is on time for a party. But most of the time I really can't help it. I try my best. Drop-off is much harder than pick-up. So far I've never been late picking my kids up and I would like to continue that streak. I'm sure it's unavoidable but I am busting it to get where I should be. Maybe I will put my pillow and blanket in the car and sleep between my children's events.