Thinking about Single Parenting on the Last Day of School

Dude finished Grade 7 last week. Grade fricken seven. At my junior high school, of all places. Milestones like this bring up lots of feelings for me.

I love taking Dude to school. I purposely arranged my schedule at work so I could drop him off on Friday mornings. I love the first day of school and the last day of school, seeing the changes in him.

But as a single mom who works full-time, it can be hard to fully participate and experience these milestones.

So I have to make the most of the in between moments, the moments that happen in and around these milestones.

I'm sad that I miss out on things, but so happy that I get to have time with Lucas to chat about his life and learn more about what makes him happy.

xo

FURTHER READING

For thoughts about missing the first day of school...many years ago...click here.

Speaking of last days of school, for some fabulous university grad photos click here.

This post shows a scrapbooking layout I made for Lucas' first day of kindergarten!

And then this post includes a photo of Lucas "graduating" from preschool. MY HEART!

It's Damn Cold Out!

The thermostat before Dude & I left for school this morning. My Instagram caption was: "I'm thinking positive...because I remember days when the red disappeared altogether!" And I do! It was a cold drive to school, but I am grateful we can drive and not have to walk in this cold. Dude ran from the car to the door and banged and banged until someone let him in. They don't have outdoor recess when it's this cold, so I'm hoping he gets to do something fun again, like blow things up in the computer lab again...don't ask!

And now I sit in my sort of warm home, drinking coffee and blogging while I should be packing and getting ready to head to Jasper to visit my best blog pal! Truth be told, I hate too much Greek food and drank a smidge too much wine last night at my Christmas party so I am trying to let those after effects dissipate before I do too much "walking around" and "moving in general". Sigh...

And since I seem to be sharing TMI, let's at least get to some pretty pictures!

Left: Photo taken by me at the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo back in September. I swear Dude wasn't there against his will, and that he did actually enjoy himself. I love love LOVE the simplicity of this page. There are literally 4 elements. Shit, I keep forgetting to put the date on there...

Right: Photo take by Dude on our Jasper trip for his birthday in the summer. He was adamant that he did NOT want his own photo taken with Jasper the Bear, so I did the nonchalant Mom thing and asked him to take my photo instead. I think he did a pretty damn good job! This layout also makes me super pleased...another simple one, and that pink paper is WHEEE!!

This photo was taken on Lucas' birthday! Gosh, I love that giant tooth! I made a joke that night, about him getting too old to hold my hand, and he told me not to worry. That he wasn't too old for that. He is such a sweet boy sometimes. Ha! I love that striped paper.

I made these layouts after I got home from the Christmas crop last weekend. Late, but still so inspired! Not sure what I did AT the crop, but I'm sure it was something. I did take a "go view BFF's new place and eat pizza and beers" break at the start of the night, so I didn't get as much scrappy-time as usual. But I mostly just enjoy hanging out with all my scrappy-friends that I just don't get to see near enough! Hello Ginger, Candace, Karen, Allison & Sheri! AND NADINE!!

good times...

later loves

Dude is my Bestest Best

I missed taking Dude to school on his first day this year. I mean I really missed it. Thank goodness Russel was able to snap some photos and send them to me. My handsome Dude is growing up...

So much so that he completed his first scraobooking layout! Proud Momma Moment over here! Now that he is 8, he gets the "big kids" wristband at the swimming pool. When he came home that day, Russel and I suggested we cut it off right away and we could save it. I told him I could put it in my scrapbook, and he said he would like to make a page. And that we could take an Instax photo of him to include! I didn't know what was making me happier!

He wanted red - of course - so I pulled out some paper and sticker letters from my stash. And then let him choose from all of my embellishments. And I made sure to explain to him the importance of writing at least the date, and why this was important. This page captures so much about him at this age. Swimming every Sunday, printing is much improved, his crazy gap-toothed grin, still loves red.

I think this is my favourite layout ever made...ever.

Today is my birthday...today everything changes...

later loves