10 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 77

Well, it’s officially time to say goodbye to summer. This last week was packed with excitement… The lemonade stand Big has wanted to have forever. Class lists and the 1st grade meet and greet. Lunch at the kids’ favorite restaurant with Nana. A trip to Happy Hollow. UCLA’s first big win of the season. Fun with friends. A final trip to the beach to dip our toes in the sand (and in the kids’ case, their clothes in the ocean). And I just overheard something about how we’re going to make chocolate chip cookies next. Whew.

And, I’d be remiss to not mention that thanks to all of you (especially a few of you…and your friends…and some strangers at a friend’s nail salon), I won the top spot in this year’s Circle of Mom’s Top Nor Cal Bloggers. (And be sure to check out #6, my friend and inspiration, Melissa of Tales of the Anti-Preemie.) See my pretty new badge on the side bar? I love me some bling, but more importantly I love the loyalty, passion, and support that you all give me — each and every day. Thank you!

Lesson #1: My boys have finally figured out how to get along for more than 10 minutes. Just in time to go back to school.

Lesson #2: When it comes to activities for kids, a lemonade stand gives you the most bang for your buck. Not only do the kids think it’s about the coolest thing ever, you actually make money on the deal (even if it goes in their piggy banks, not yours).

Lesson #3: While Little is wise beyond his years in many ways, he’s still a bit cloudy on the whole money thing. First, after making $4.50 in change at the lemonade stand, he told Big, “I have too much money, I don’t want it all.” And when I wouldn’t let him give it to his cash-grubbing brother, he gave it to me. Then, the next day, I heard him threatening Big (who may be a bit emotional this week), “I’ll give you $50 if you cry one more time!”

Lesson #4: How do you know you should have forced your kid to pull his tooth sooner (besides the fact that it’s literally hanging by a thread)? Your kid’s first reaction is, “Now I can run fast again because I don’t have to worry about swallowing my tooth!”

Lesson #5: The best part of losing a tooth (besides the loot, that is) is slurping up spaghetti noodles.

Lesson #6: I think I’d have been a bit more forgiving about Big putting tattoos on Little’s face if it weren’t right before school starts. (Thank goodness for baby oil!)

Lesson #7: I have a feeling Big’s excuse for said tattoo artistry is something we’ll be hearing from people who know Little for years to come, “What? I was just giving the kid what he asked for!”

Lesson #8: You know his teenage years are going to be interesting when Little says — with his puppy dog eyes, “My legs are so tired I can’t walk. And it’s not from the running [timed sprints, that is] we did today. It’s from going to church.” I mean, they did get to sing If You’re Happy and You Know It in the middle of church (which I found totally awesome), but being that my kids weren’t all that happy about us making them go, they didn’t really stomp those feet. (At least not during the song.)

Lesson #9: Like many little kids’ parents these days, I’m really concerned that Big is way too invested in his passion, way too early. What a shame if he’s burnt out and doesn’t want to be bossy when he grows up (and could actually get paid for it).

Lesson #10: One of my favorite end-of-summer traditions has become getting together with a few friends in honor of our little students. My thoughtful friend says a few words about each child, then calls them up to get a personalized goody bag (based on school/age). That look of pride on the kids’ faces is truly amazing. (And the wine/food/laughs/friendship she serves — quite generously, I might add — aren’t bad either.)

Here’s to a great (short) week packed with lots of fun and excitement!