PLEASE--NEVER START A SENTENCE WITH "MY MOM SAYS..."

To all of you who have listened to Stacis version of why we have the change of Daylight Savings Time and how we name hurricanes.. I am going to explain my side of things!---was I wrong in doing so or was I right in my explanations..... Staci won't let me forget it.. I think I did what any mother would do----after so many whys!!!!!!!

A little background first... I have a daughter named Staci. She, at a very young age (as soon as she could talk) would ask question after question after question... until a normal sweet kind mother (myself :-) would go crazy.....

Staci had been around adults until she was almost 5 when her sister was born. Being with adults I think a child asks more questions and gets more attention. And let me tell you she could ask the questions! I was working, a mom and pregnant and to be honest sometimes we moms get sick of answering the why question! Staci has two issues that she won't let me forget.

Issue #1
I believe Staci was kindergarten.... and I told her she would have to go to bed earlier as the clock would be changed and she would lose an hour of sleep. Good Lord... it started.. Why do I have to go to bed early.. can't you leave the clock... Why don't you change it all the time...etc you get the picture.... so I tried to explain why we did the time change but she was little and had that look like.. what are you talking about .. so like any busy, tired mom I told her that we changed the clock so that it would be lighter in the morning for the school bus driver to pick up the children. Now at that time she was absolutely fine with the answer. Seemed to accept it with no problem!

Issue#2
We were watching television and Staci was about 5 or 6 and the news was showing terrible wind and rain and weather and they were referring to it as Hurricane Frances or some such name. She asked who was Frances and I explained it was a Hurricane named Frances. So then it began.. Why is Frances making it rain.. Why do they call it Frances.. more of the Whys... I tried explaining it to her and when she said why did the mommy name it Frances I told her that whoever spotted the hurricane could name it! Simple for her. She quit with the whys...

Now, 20 years later you would think I caused her to need therapy over these issues. What brought me to blog about it is that she brought it up again last weekend. Please... enough already. I pay my school taxes. I certainly thought that the Ionia School system would teach her at least 2 things while she was there for 13 years. She would learn in Science about the naming of hurricanes and about Daylight Savings Time... oh no.. she must have been "socializing" while the teacher taught those two subjects. To this day she states that she never learned either one in school....until college.

Yes, while at Western Michigan University, at the cost of at least $15,000 per year, she did learn two things for sure. One being the truth about Daylight Savings.. and another about the naming of Hurricanes.

I received a call one day from her.. in her class no less (thanks to the invention of take anywhere cell phones). She said, "Mom, I am arguing here with the Professor.. he was talking about the Daylight Savings Time and I told him that my mom said it was so that the bus drivers could see the kids in the daylight--The entire class laughed at me." Well, hello-----you didn't learn about that in Elementary--Middle School or High School???????? Nope--- she didn't. But she trusts her mommy, so my little girl was arguing the point because her mommy said it was for the bus drivers!!!! Uggh! Then talking to friends, told them about the naming of the hurricanes which resulted in another upset mad phone call to me.....

Why am I blogging this? For you moms with small kids...... regardless how over their head it is... explain, explain,explain.. otherwise this could happen to you.

I certainly would have taken the time and answered her 20 million whys to the truth if I thought she understood it... I never had a clue she would go thru life, into college, unaware of why she is really re-setting her clock twice a year! I had more faith in our education system!

Staci brought this up again a couple weeks ago... I am thinking maybe for her birthday I will get her a gift certificate for some therapy so she can finally get over this! I would welcome comments from you other moms!

The best part of the story??? Being on the phone when your child calls from their college class and proceeds to ask you, while in class so that they can correct the professor, these questions!

I have asked her to never start a sentence with "My mom says" anymore! So if anybody hears her starting a sentence that way... keep an open mind!

The Wagner Hotel---We have Vacancies

Well it has been a while since I blogged. About 1 month actually. So much has happened. We had a busy summer, moved my mom and dad ( that was the last blog) and oh yes, we have a tenant!

On 8-9-08 our niece Melissa moved in with us... She has been in the service for the last 5 1/2 years. She has been in the Air Force. First in Texas, then South Korea finishing up her tour in London.

Melissa had a medical discharge as she has Crohns.. That makes two in the family. Bills brother Bob also has that disease. So..... they discharged her.

Let me tell you when they talk about government red tape... they are not kidding! It is terrible. Waiting on separation pay and everything else is crazy. After several calls you may get someone to call back or better yet.. actually look into the matter for you! I know she was frustrated because it certainly frustrated me.

Anyway, it has been about 2 months since she has been here. I tease her and call her my maid! She has been helpful with my mom and dad moving and has made us many a dinner and did laundry to boot! I don't think I mentioned that she has two dogs on our deck and she is pregnant...but it has been fun getting to know her again, as an adult.

I can see such a change in her since she joined the service. She has grown up in five years. She is so responsible with her dogs.. taking them to Bertha Brock park or the fairgrounds every day. Walking them 2 times a day. Outside playing with them.... I see her totally different then I did 6 years ago... I wish everyone could see her now.. and how she has grown up!! (I wont go into detail with the dogs hating bicycles.. hello---we live in town and there are a lot of bikes!)

So---if you read the last blog you would know Steph moved out shortly after Melissa moved into the Wagner Hotel! We are rotating girls here.. haha.

Melissa has signed a lease on an apartment in Lansing. She intends to go to school after the baby is born and to get a job in Lansing where there are more jobs to be found. I will miss her!

Its funny--- I look at my two girls and Melissa. They all know right and wrong.. they all have made mistakes and yet they all have two things important to them. God and Family. Melissa's belief in her faith is strong, even going to her church alone.. while we go to ours. I am proud of her for that. Staci and Steph both have strong beliefs in God and ties with their families.. I look around in todays world and am happy for that!

Bill, the poor guy has had females in and out of the house on and off all year and yes, even a female dog... he is so out numbered!

The house is quiet as I write this... that is not the norm. When Steph, Staci and Melissa were here a week ago, there was much babble and laughs and "remember whens".. those are the cool times to sit back and see how your kids carry on some traditions and how they too reminisce when together. They were making a spaghetti dinner for my mom and dad. Staci and Stephs idea.. Melissas sauce---between the three of them it turned out a nice dinner.. and nana and boppy loved it.

Staci is in Chicago, Atlanta or in the air to and fro .. Steph is in her East Lansing apartment---Melissa is here for about another week.. then she leaves with her two dogs.. her belongings and she soon will start her own traditions to share with her soon to be daughter...

Then it will be Bill and I again.. in an empty nest.. for how long???? We never know the answer to that one!