this woman’s work

We’re glad it’s fall

Oct 1, 2005 Parenting, The Story of My Life

Despite Madison’s snotty nose, we’re happy about the change in seasons.

Noah just rode his bike to the further away (three blocks versus half a block) park all by himself. We walked it together the other night and Brett and I decided he could do that. It still makes me wring my hands though. Talking to Amber about all of it helps since she hangs at that park more than we have. Plus the questionable teenagers live in the other direction.

We joked about having J. come over and interpret for us since we no longer speak teen.

“They come in peace!” she would say. She’s not a teen but she’s young enough that she would be impressive to those middle schoolers. She said she would.

“I will, you know I will,” she told me. “They better not mess with Noah!”

But the truth is she is awfully busy with her boyfriend and her job and all. Sadly she doesn’t have time to come over and negotiate a peace treaty with the 14-year old girl hanging with her disaffected youth posse who made a face at Noah and made him cry (but not until he got home because he put up a good front). Have I mentioned? We adore J’s boyfriend. She’s about the age I was when I met Brett so I not-so-secretly hope that he’s The One.

Bacchus asked what kind of self defense Noah takes so I thought I’d answer since I was thinking about it as my precious child rode away with his helmet on and my heart in his pocket. He takes it with Chris and Chris has been taking this weird mix of various martial arts for years and years. I believe what he’s teaching the boys is a mix of taekwondo, judo and maybe jujitsu. The truth is, I don’t know. My brother used to take it with Chris and I think that’s what he told me the mix was and I haven’t asked Chris to tell me specifically how he’s come up with these moves. But Chris is great and if you’re in Columbus and have kids, you should check out his classes. The first rule of self defense? Run if you can, yell if you can and fight as a last resort, says Chris. I’ve noticed Noah’s self confidence has improved and he walks taller. I also worry less. The truth is, I don’t think Noah is going to need his self defense moves at the park down the way but I’m glad that he feels stronger and more prepared and I think this makes him less likely to be a target.

Last night Noah and I went thrifting for throw pillows. Brett said we should go to Target but I’d just priced them and they were ten bucks apiece on clearance. Too rich for my frugal blood. Brett was wigged out about used throw pillows and I hear his screams but this is my argument:

–The pillows are sanitized per Ohio law;

–It doesn’t take much examination to figure out which pillows are over-used and which are just recycled;

–After all, plenty of people put throw pillows in their formal living rooms and never even use them then change them for a quick means of redoing a room;

–I am really cheap.

Noah was impressed that for less than the forty bucks for new pillows ($33.61 to be exact) we got three big bags of stuff including bowls, books (Noah is reading one of those on top of the house there), clothes for Meagan’s new baby (she said I could thrift for him), orange pylons for the end of the drive so Madison will no when to stop her toddle bike (theoretically), and a bunch of other stuff.

We’re all getting more exercise in this here new house. First off the driveway is a nice, smooth cement one and it’s big enough for the kids to mess around on it. For some reason we have a lot of toddler ride-on toys and Noah manages to squeeze himself on those for a change of pace from his actual bike or scooter. So there’s that and there are the two close-to-us parks and then the library is just thirty minutes away (strolling, literally with the stroller) on foot. That includes stops to look at cats and admire dogs or lawn ornaments.

When we were walking home from the library last week I suddenly really got the whole “location location location” realtor manifesto. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with the things we need to do with the house — starting with the hideous carpet in the kitchen — but walking home I felt really good.

We’re going to be here a long time so there’s no rush on the fix-ups. Everything is fine and this location is just too damn good. It’s everything we wanted in a house — minus the hideous carpet. But at least the carpet is so bad that no one in his or her right mind could come in and think we’re leaving it. I mean, it doesn’t reflect poorly on us. Now the hacked down, mutilated shrubbery in the backyard? That demands an explanation, which is that it was so overgrown that we had to chop it halfway down so we could see the kids from the kitchen window. And from the patio, which is where I’m sitting watching the kids play in the plastic playhouse. Who could want for more?

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