they would sigh.

Hubby and I always thought that was the most wonderful sound!

It was a clear message that we were doing the right things as parents, and I set such store by it.

Now they’re almost 22 and 17 years old. So, we don’t really hear the happy sighs anymore.

Thankfully, my puppy still does it. It’s not nearly as exciting as when the babies sighed, but it does take me back.

And makes me happy.

It has (again) been a super long time since I wrote anything here. As I mentioned some time ago, there was an issue with Google and it really sucked the wind out of my publishing sails, as it were. I literally had to go through every one of the thousands of articles and edit them, and it really just turned me off to writing.

And then there is the privacy issue for the boys. They (some more than others, ahem) got pretty hostile about my writing about them. I agreed that they had a point and decided to pull back on the details.

But I couldn’t really figure out how to write in a genuine fashion without offending them. So I waited for inspiration to strike.

I wouldn’t say that I’m wildly inspired, but I am anxious to actually write again and I think that if I just refer to people as “this boy” or “that boy” without being specific, I can please everyone. To a point. I do have boys in late teens/early twenties, so usually I’m in hot water with them.

Which brings me to my latest observation. This whole parenting of older children thing is HARD. No one told me to expect that! I had an idea in my head that they’d get to a certain age and we’d all hold hands and be friends.

Not so much.

I do get along with them, but boy oh boy do we have….disagreements sometimes. For example: I think people of a certain age should be employed. Turns out not everyone in this house agrees.

There is some kind of fantasy that they all hold that the perfect experience in life involves not having ANY responsibilities at all. This is fine if you’re on vacation. From your JOB! But not so fine if that’s how you think every day should be.

I don’t know if they realize that that’s what they’re hoping for. But trust me. That’s what they’re hoping for. I am currently waging a battle with the younger ones on this point. They both think that the last summer before senior year should not involve work. I think it should involve earning some spending money for next year. We’ll see who wins this one.

Well, I’ll try to get back and say more soon. I do enjoy writing here.

Nope.  I didn’t give them a thing.  Grandma gave them each a chocolate cross on Saturday, but that was it.

The great thing is, they didn’t complain at all! That happens when kids get older.  🙂

So, on Monday, the day AFTER Easter, I hit the store early. After all, candy is marked at half off! I spent a ridiculous amount of money, but came home with a huge haul. Last evening, Hubby and I made up a basket for each boy and presented. And! We have candy left over to last us until fall! Woot!

Now. I’ve done the “buy candy after the holiday” thing for years. When they were little, I had to present something on the day itself, because they just didn’t understand the delay. But I usually got more the day after and supplemented.

However, that resulted in boys scarfing down candy and it all being gone. Fast. At first, it would last a couple of weeks, but then it got to the point where they had it consumed in a matter of days.

I wasn’t fond.

Last fall I bought a candy dish for a conference I was at so I could offer it to attendees. When I got home, the dish was out on the counter, so I used it. And voila!! The boys would eat what was in it (still rather quickly) but I had control over when it was served. And there was no arguing or recriminations. Yay!!!

So that’s how we do it now, here in this family. Late candy, moderate gift, then served judiciously in the candy dish from there.

It took me nearly 2 decades, but I figured this one out.

I’m kinda proud.

Again.

I have TOLD the boys over and over and OVER that I want all lights turned off every night.  I don’t see the wisdom of paying for the electricity that no one uses.  I hate waste.  You name it, I’ve come up with a variation of “Turn off the @#$% light!” to no avail.

Today, there was a bonus.  (And yes, I’m being extremely sarcastic here).

THE STOVE BURNER WAS ON.

Are you kidding me?????!?

Yea.  From about 7:30 last night when a boy was cooking eggs (ahem, and I KNOW who you are!) until just before 5:00 am, the stove burner was on.  OH! And for bonus points, there was a lighter sitting right by the stove.  No, it wasn’t on the burner, and no it didn’t catch fire.

This time.

I cannot tell you how often I find fabric and other flammable items lying on the stove.  And now, the stove was ON.

There will be discussions.

Again.

Sigh.  I just want them to be more careful.  Deliberate, even.  Is that really too much to ask?

September happens to be National Preparedness Month and it couldn’t be timelier. We at the ASPCA have teamed up with meteorologist Ginger Zee to ask that pet owners in all parts of the country prepare for their pets in the event of a natural disaster: ASPCA.org/PrepPledge. Keeping pets as part of a disaster plan is essential to their safety and well-being, as well as that of their owners. As a resource, we also have the ASPCA Pet Safety app, which provides critical disaster prep info on what to do with your pets before, during and after a disaster.

She even included some photos options from their Harvey efforts.

Now that Irma is ashore in Florida with a couple of other storms following behind, I thought this would be a good time to think about your pets in times of disaster. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone suffering in the bad weather right now. Hopefully you (and your pets) are safe and secure.