I am not sure this is the right board..perhaps this really belongs in Randomville..but as it is from a pagan mom about her pagan children and their accomplishments, I figured this was a good place.

I just wanted to get out a bit of my own nervous energy for my oldest and post a bit about her trip in a couple of days. On Wednesday she will be going to an academic bowl. She is in the 4th grade and is fifth in her grade. She is excited but starting to get nervous as the day approaches.
Both she and her sister (2nd grade) are making straight A's and A+'s. They have both so far, knock on wood, have reached their goal of perfect attendance. And have reached their reading goal and have been honored with a tee-shirt from the school.
At the end of the year they will have their honor assembly and will hand out ribbons and awards. Last year they got a ton of them, this year doesn't seem to be any different.

My husband and I are so amazed by their abilities and the goals they pick out for themselves. We have tried to accomidate them as much as possible. Making sure any appointments are made either after school lets out or on days they are scheduled to have off.
I am strict when it comes to school work. Way stricter than I was raised. But, they also see me and my husband reading and learning all we can about various things. And we have always answered every question they have ever asked. Even if we had to admit first that we didn't know. lol

And so my son does not feel left out. Ok, so he is 3 1/2 and has no clue what I'm doing right now..lol.. He is potty training! So if I seem nuts, that is why. I have an egg timer that constantly ticks down the minutes of our lives, all day long. I heard that it can take up to a year to train a boy. I think if we have to listen to the timer for a year we will all be clinically insane. lol
I just keep trying to keep my sense of humor. Really, spending the majority of your waking life in a bathroom..you kinda have to have one, I think. lol

Ok, if I posted this in the wrong area, let me know. I never really know where to post anything.

I love to hear about children with initiative and parents who care about their children's success. Feel free to brag!

Thank you both. I could fill several volumes when it comes to bragging about my kids. I took to that part of parenting really well. lol

He is doing much better this go around with the training. The first time I tried he just wasn't ready. It does amaze me how he can go days perfectly, then have days when he just doesn't seem to make it. Yesterday he held it for a couple of hours because he refused to pee in the woods while we were out. Got home and he went to the bathroom a couple times with no problem. Then while out in the yard playing with his sisters before his timer went off, he peed..twice in a row.
We are trying not to focus on those accidents, just on his accomplishments. But, I totally forgot how to be grateful for the time when kids just use the bathroom as they need to without being reminded and accompanied. lol
Of course this is from the mom that told him at 4 months that he wasn't allowed to grow any more..just freeze right there. lol Part of me wants him to grow up and do all these things, then the other part of me has nightmares about my kids being lost or taken away because they are growing up so much.
Never ending with us moms. lol

My girls trained late also. So it just seems to be my kids way. Stubborn and won't do anything unless they want to. lol Hmm..I think they are more like me every day. lol

I don't fear for their self esteem. Honestly I don't know how they don't get egotistical sometimes. lol They are very balanced when it comes to pride from outside themselves and their own personal pride.
I have been blessed with them. Even when they stress me out with fighting and other acts of lunacy. lol Thankfully they usually do that either one or two at a time. I think they know my personal limits.

I thought I would just add to this post rather than start another one about my oldest.
She went to the academic bowl yesterday. She had a great time and won a prize during their give away. She got a two person tent. Momma was so happy to see that.. ..I had planned on buying another one and now I don't have to. lol But now we are in negotiations about who gets to sleep in it with her.

Due to being an alternative she was not able to place, but she said the test was easy. A boy she goes to school with placed third. I am sure his family is very proud of him. I don't even know him and I am. That is a huge accomplishment. He also helped her win a toy frog while they were at the skating rink. Now she has her eyes set on him. LOL

She is already planning her trip next year. She has decided she is not wearing a dress next year because they give you a shirt that you have to wear during the day. She says the shirt is hideous. lol But, hopefully, she is going to take care of it so she can show her kids later on that she got to go.
I have faith in her, if she sets going again next year as a goal she will make it. Or will at least do her damnest trying.

She was so excited that she didn't even know where to begin. I had to ask all kinds of leading questions to help her remember things. It was such a big day, I imagine I will learn more about things as the days go by.

Thank you both. And yeah, she has big plans for the tent. She was upset with me because we wouldn't let her camp out in the yard last night. But, now that we have two of them, if the weather is nice next weekend we are going to camp.

I have parent/teacher conferences today so I may be back to brag some more. I already had a short conversation with her teacher, so I know pretty much all that will be discussed in that meeting. If they go the same today as the last one I will hear that both girls are blessings in class and how they wish they had a whole room full of them. Pamela (my oldest) does have to work on her penmanship..but really it is just a matter of her slowing down. I am hoping though by hearing her teacher say it, she will stop thinking I am just being mean when I mention it. lol It is improving now though and with compliments, her teacher and I both feel it will encourage her to keep going at it.

Ok, off I go to run some errands. Gotta stop myself or I will write all day about my kids. lol
Blessings to all of you and yours,
ladyalpha

Right now I don't know if we are going to go somewhere and camp, or if we are going to do it right here in the yard. We live in the woods and have a bonfire pit in the yard, so we can get that whole camping experience with the comfort of a bathroom close at hand here at home. lol
I think we may do it at least one night at home, just to get them used to it. None of my kids have camped out yet. I think it would be better to deal with any issues here at home than miles away in the middle of the night. My oldest definitly wanted to camp out tonight, but it still gets cold in the middle of the night and it is still suppose to storm some more this week..so we had to break her heart and say maybe next weekend.
But, thankfully even when disappointed she has been able to see the reasoning in our arguement and be able to accept her warm room.

LOL, the bugs comment reminds me of my middle girl, Skye. She hates bugs! We can be out enjoying a nice peaceful day in the woods and all will be well, until she finds the bugs. lol
I haven't been camping since I was pregnant with my oldest. It was horrible. I was on a mattress and could still feel every little rock under me and had a horrible backache. I spent the night trying to cry silently so I didn't wake up the whole campground.
I am looking forward though to replacing that memory with much nicer ones.

And your very welcome for all the posts. I am glad that I am able to bring out all your memories of your children.
As I said before, I could fill this site up with posts about my kids. lol Right now in my life, they are my life. I have been a stay at home mom for ten years now and will continue to be until my son starts school..if I do not homeschool him at that time. It is hard and frustrating at times, but by peppering the net with these positive things, I always have a place to come back to to remind me of all the good things.
You are so right about they grow up fast. My daughter went to her bowl in my clothes! I couldn't believe it. lol And any time I stop and really think about the fact that she is 10 already it just shocks me to the point that I can't move for a moment. The years have just flown by.

Just a bit of an update. My son is potty trained!! I am soo happy. lol He has only managed to wake up dry twice, and not in a row, but I am still claiming it as a victory and declaring him potty trained. lol
He gets a big test on Sunday though. My cousin's little girl is turning 4 and we have to go to the party. All the gatherings are always packed full of kids and adults. So hopefully he will remember to say he needs to use the bathroom and won't have an accident. But we are taking extra clothes along just incase.

But, he has declared himself a man now. LOL He was always a very independant little boy..now it is only worse. "I can do it, I'm a man". Of course now it is a phrase that I can use on him when he is being mean to his sisters. "Men" don't do that. lol

Blessings,
ladyalpha

Sounds like you all have it together. I think it's great that your children are doing well and that Mom brags!!! I don't blame you one bit!!!
uriel

Thank you urielmoon. I only sound like I got it all together because I don't post about all those moments I screw things up. lol