Think Tank Momma: Quirkyloon

Smackers, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.....

I love you so much that today I am sharing a really special reader of mine. If you don't follow her....seriously, I'm not sure we can be friends. I love her and you will too! She really needs no explanation for you all to understand the genius that is she...THE TITLE OF HER BLOG SAYS EVERYTHING....

Without further adieu...a doo doo doo...DOO, I present QUIRKYLOON

Once upon a time a Quirkyloon had a Quirky Son.

They shared five tempestuous and, at times,horrendous years together before Quirkyloonwas saved by the bell.

The school bell.

The day that Quirky Son #1'official education began, the angels sang, the heavens wept with joy. Yes, he entered kindergarten and our lives (especially mine-insert big smile here) changed dramatically.

Albeit, we are still sharing many joyful and, at times, horrific, moments together now that he is in the 8th grade. I still pray for year-round school.

Enter Quirky Son #2 and although we didn't share as much quality horror time together (he was adopted at age 2), I found myself anxiously awaiting the sound of the dear old school bell.

*doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo*

Pray tell! What was that sound? Ah! The sound of the modern school-day bell.

Whee!

Now he, too, is an official member of the public school system: a kindergartner who has been indoctrinated to recognize and love, okay, maybe not love, but understand: the bell.

And those bells are music to my soul!

Yet despite this most welcome onset of the beloved bells,I had forgotten something.

Something very important.

The time in the morning BEFORE the school bell rings.

It's typically a chaotic time with all sorts of scrambling of eggs and minds, reminder yells, and screaming admonishments.

"Did you brush your teeth? Well go do it now!"

"Where's your homework folder? Does it belong in the toy bin? Go get it!"

"Where are your shoes? What do you mean you can't find them? Didn't I tell you to put them in the same
spot, so we can find them?"

"What do you mean your forgot to finish your homework?"

"No, ice-cream is not a good breakfast! Now go get some Cap'n Crunch cereal!"

"Come on guys! We're gonna be late."

Surprisingly, I found myself starting to resent this quality time together.

And then?

The bell went off in my head!

Ah-ha! The wonderful bell system could come to my rescue once again.

I instituted our own at home new pre-school bell. Complete with new rules.

At 8:10 am (MST) there is a line-up in our hallway next to the entry way or in this case, the exit. What this means for my boys is that EVERYTHING must be ready by that time. They must be clothed for the day (hopefully, including clean underwear), back-packs completely;readied, water bottles filled, homework completed and placed in their folders, they must be toileted with bumms wiped clean, breakfast eaten, teeth brushed and for my thirteen-year-old, AXED (an evil and odorous deodorant body spray) for the day.

At 8:09:50 am (MST), I start ringing the bell.

"doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo!"

Yes, I make the annoying bell sound in my own home at which time, the boys line up and we exit the house together.

It's a keeper of a system!

Week three and we're still doing great!

And my vocal chords and sanity have never been happier.

Who says the public school system is sub-par?

What's that I hear?

A bell!

I don't care if another angel got his or her wings!

A Quirkyloon has her sanity back!

B.S. No bells were harmed during the production of this post. They are most revered and respected in this household.