As I sit out at the pool on this Carnival Cruise ship there are so many things that run through my mind.
My brother, his two children and his new girlfriend, my older sister, her husband, their two kids, my mom and dad and my daughter. Even my little sister and her husband that are back in Arizona. The cruise ship and the dirty rooms when I got on. The swaying of the ocean, the crowds of people, the multinational workers (crewmembers) and all the things I am experiencing on this vacation. All having part of my mind and my thoughts.
We are in the middle of the ocean right now, no land as far as the eyes can see in any direction, yet we have every convinience known to man on this boat with us.
What is a vacation? Well the actual definition says something about being away from your normal life, time away, time off from work, etc..
Vacation. What about a vacation from responsibilites? I have never really been on a vacation with just Anastasia and I. Yes, my family is here, although it really is just her and I when responsibility comes into play. I realized on this trip, that we are only one and a half days into, responsibilty is my needing to let go and let Anastasia have fun too. I need to be there when she needs me, although I have taught her well enough that I need to let her test her wings a little and test my teachings.
So, I am trying, not easy, I am trying though.
We are at the bus stop this morning and my daughter is in a bad mood. I ask her what’s wrong, she says nothing. Of course there is nothing wrong, she acts like this all the time!
I ask again. She tells me the janitor at the school throws away everything. So she is SURE her lunch box is in the trash. And gone forever. And lost to the garbage wasteland. And so on.
I asked her where she put it. She told me it is by her desk. I told her, surely the janitor will not throw away something by her desk and all she needs to do is remember to bring it home.
She is a wreck because she doesn’t want to be grounded this weekend. So what do I do when she asks me, “What happens if it isn’t there and I don’t bring it home?” I tell her exactly what any strict, follow the rules, responsible, true to punishments parent would say:
“We will talk about what happened, and then we will decide what to do.”
Yes, she has super powers, right at that, I’m gonna cry, sad, almost in tears look, burrowing deep in my eyes I folded under her super powered pressure.
She’s my little girl. Do I need an excuse?
Yes, the library book search is over! Last night as I was putting my daughter to sleep she tells me she got a “no” card today. That means if she gets one more she needs to serve detention again. Ugh. I told her she was not allowed to play until she found her book. I mean, for two weeks this book has been missing. So, now I need to put my foot down.
Miraculously the book was found this morning! It turns out it was in one of her other backpacks that she doesn’t use. (So, WHY, was it in there?!?) I will not go there.
The morning moves along smoothly. Until I go to make her lunch. No lunchbox. I asked her where she put it yesterday since she did not put it away where it was supposed to go. She looks, and looks, and looks, and looks. Nothing.
Good trade off! I am thinking, no detention, we found the book. She can buy lunch today and we can look for the lunch box tonight, and there is no detention for lost lunch boxes! :D
Fast forward to the bus stop. Bus pulls up, we go through our typical goodbye ritual, a kiss on the head, a hug, a kiss goodbye, then the constant waving and the “I love you” sign language we have been doing for years. As she gets on the bus though, the bus driver stops her, and guess what, hands her a lunch box that looks EXACTLY like hers!
All is right in the world again, even if it is only until the next fun situation unfolds.
This morning we woke up to dark clouds and rain. And although that sounds, feels or looks gloomy to most, it’s a nice change. In Arizona, I’m told, we have a monsoon season that starts in August and, I think, ends sometime mid September. That’s way better than Las Vegas where the summers were hot, sunny and hot.
My daughter was in a pretty good mood this morning although she didn’t like getting wet walking to the bus stop.
Oh, she still didn’t find her library book. I told her the money to pay for the lost book will need to come out of her allowance. I am normally very spoiling, and yes, she is definitely daddy’s little girl. Although I need to teach her a lesson here. She knows she lost it and her room is not that big. Nor is it really that messy.
Any way, at least I know I taught her responsibility because she just looked at me and said ok. She doesn’t like it, although she took the responsibility for it. And that’s a HUGE leap forward from a year ago. I will write about that later though.
