whirlwind

My sister arrived yesterday with her six kids. We attended a farewell "picnic" (it was raining so it was indoors) at the K-School. It was utter chaos - pretty fun but tough to choose who to spend time with. Friends from K School whom I won't see for who knows when if ever or my sister and her kids who I haven't seen for two years. Just before did a quick pickup of cap/gown, picked up grad tickets and did a few other errands. Inhale. Exhale.



Then after Chris ended up bus-ing the gang all day back and forth (airport/k-school, etc. - thank god for a 8passenger minivan rental!) - he went to pick up my parents at the airport. Phew, it's tiring just writing about it all.



Today, Chris and my parents took Liam to his last day of preschool, and I dropped Kalian off at co-op and then picked up my sis/kids to give them a tour of Harvard while I also returned books, etc. around campus. It was fun - had a great photo of all 10 of us reading a book standing in front of the library - though I could only take 4 people into the main library at a time. Then Chris rushed to pick up Kalian and I walked with the gang over to Liam's school - hung out, took photos and witnessed the most amazing thing from my amazing son. Admist the chaos for Liam - ending school, moving, cousins/grandparents staying with us - their class passed around a walking stick to talk about anything they wanted - good-byes, summer plans, whatever - every other kid said a quick and quiet "good-bye", save one kid who said, "I'm going to Greece this summer." But when it was Liam's turn, he boldly stated, "My cousins are here, and I'm really going to miss Katherine." (a classmate that he really connected with) - it was so sweet and awesome that he could speak out like that - unfortunately, later he grabbed the talking stick from his teacher, but eventually rolled it back to her, and put his hands over his ears when one of the asst. teachers spoke. Oh, well, I was still very teary with Liam's remarks. Then, unfortunately, had to quickly say good-bye to way-cool moms like Julie and Sarah, among others. It was so chaotic, trying to take all of Liam's belongings, say good-byes and try to help Liam process the good-byes, as well.



Then, off to Darwin's for a chaotic lunch before walking back. I so desperately just wanted to nap but knew I had to try to get Kalian down for a nap - failed miserably, so Gloria (Kathy's daughter - 11 years old - whom Kalian has totally bonded with - along with Katie - 8?) had the great idea of taking her for a walk in the stroller to nap her - desperate for any nap from her, we headed out with my dad to pick up a cake and ice cream to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday - yep, in the midst of all of the chaos, I got it into my head to plan an elaborate birthday celebration. The best part of the day was coming home and having Gloria give me an amazing foot rub. Then, we headed over to Redbones for the birthday dinner. Kathy (sis) suggested a nice Talbot tradition of going around and talking about what we loved about my mom - it was sweet - of course, Kalian had thrown a fit when I took the T with Kathy and the girls to the restaurant (we can't all fit in the van), so she was miserable most of the time, and Liam, bless his heart, kept saying, "I'm impatient" as he waited for dinner. When it was his turn, he made a gun out of his hands and went "pow pow pow." Ah, feel the love. All in all, though, it was a nice dinner.



We then had a really nice walk back from Harvard Square back to our house - the weather is finally cooperating - although it was suggested to me that maybe Liam becomes so articulate and loses his stuttering when he's sick because I'm home with him (!!!) and I was asked during an elaborate decade by decade location/place gift for my mom that I had concocted to stop breastfeeding Kalian for the sake of "the boys." I stood my ground over the morality of breastfeeding - yes, I like that word - it is a moral act, so they left the room. Oh, well, their loss. My mom loved her gifts. Unfortunately, Liam was having such a tough time that he wanted to open up all of mom's gifts, and I felt terrible that I wasn't "disciplining" Liam enough but he really was just so out of wack with all of the transitions. Tough to know when to draw the line in times like that - he really needs love rather than wacks. (metaphorically speaking). Funny, she was also so defensive about homeschooling - I totally support it, but I guess they get diss'ed all of the time. Why does there have to be such a divide....she said that some people are just not able to do it. Is it really ability? that just sounds so condescending to me. I like what she said about socialization is the reason she does homeschool - and in fact, I don't think L's socialization probs can be solved by just throwing him in school, but the reality for anyone who has their kid in a formal program, that it just isn't that black and white. Why do people need to be so judgemental? I fear the judgement about Liam's behaviior tonight and fantasize retorting, at least I don't beat my kids into submission...