Okay.  Cute movie.  And it is true in many ways.  For the sake of argument, let's say that we replace the dragons in the movie with oh.... say technology.  Phones, computers, tablets.  Pick your poison.  We all know that for me, technology is a dragon.  Much like in the movie, children are very adept at dealing with dragons.  They know how to work them, they know how to control them.  Also much like in the movie, adults struggle with the whole concept, let alone working and controlling them.  We get frustrated and let's be honest....we want to shoot them or beat them with clubs. 

I admit it, I was getting just a little too confident in my skills.  I was taking pictures, posting things, answering texts, updating by contacts.  Pretty cool.  Then I started having issues with my phone.  Honestly, it looked like someone urinated on the screen.  It was a lovely shade of yellow.   Of course, my children don't hesitate to remind me that my phone was four generations behind current technology.  But that's okay with me, I don't use most of what my phone does and I was comfortable with it.  But I decided to go to the phone store and check my options. 

Good news.  My phone, which by the way was an insurance replacement for my last phone which was insurance replacement for the last phone, etc., etc., etc.  was still under warranty.  I was going to get a new phone at no cost!  Until......two days later (and I don't even remember doing it) I dropped my phone and put a little crack in the bottom of the screen.  New phone was on the way.  Warranty negated!  I had to send the phone back.   :(

Well, being stubborn I decided I would struggle with the phone I had.  Besides, the yellow screen had cleared up and I was back in action.  Ha ha!  I beat the system!

Well, maybe not.  Right before vacation, the phone went yellow again.  I was able to get the phone white by squeezing it near the top, and putting pressure in just the right place.  Okay.  I finally admitted that I could not function like this and it was probably a matter of time until it gave out completely. 

So, I reactivated my insurance claim.  I didn't even have to apologize to the people that I was frustrated with because you NEVER talk to the same person twice!  But at least I didn't have to eat that humble pie.  Good news!  They no longer carry my old phone, so I got upgraded two generations!  The phone arrives the next day and I truck on in to the phone store to have them convert everything over the new phone.   In one hour, after enduring head shaking and snickering from the employee helping me, and enduring questions that I cannot even begin to answer about passwords and icons, and where do I save phone numbers, pictures and texts, and what apps do I have and/or want, and then enduring more snickering, my new phone is up and running.

I was soooo cool.  My phone was now the same generation as my son's!  In less than one week, my phone screen suddenly goes black.  On my new phone!!!!  We try to restart it and I get half a screen and half a bar.  My phone is still on silent from being at church, so I cannot hear it ring and I can answer it by guessing where I am supposed to "Swipe".  I cannot call out because I have no numbers to see.  Did I mention that I live on my phone for business?  The only way I can figure to make a call is to get in my car and verbally tell my phone to call someone or someplace, but I have to know the number because my car and phone are fighting with each other and won't share my phonebook.  I can listen to voicemails in my car, but I cannot delete them because I can't press "7" because it is invisible!  I cannot text anyone unless I use the preset messages which are worthless because I have no keyboard! 

Being resilient, I survive until they can ship me a phone the next day.  It arrives and I honestly tried to talk to the technician to transfer information.  I don't know if my explanations are bad or he just cannot understand me.  Okay, it's me and I know that.  So, thankfully Mini Me is home and I get her to talk to the technician.  I am pacing like someone is having a baby because I do NOT want to make another trip to the phone store.  Success!

I smiled all day!  Yesterday, I got up and went to use my phone.  The screen is navy blue, there is a screen visible but not much.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  Another phone has gone down?!  Doc, who is always so helpful (sarcasm) asks if I have the right phone.  What kind of idiot do you think I am?  Well.....So I got the correct phone and I was back in business.  As I am telling my children my story (ad please do not ask me why I confess these things to my kids) my old phone starts working!  My son turns up the brightness and it appears to be fully functional, minus my information which has now been transferred to the new phone.  I finally just boxed up the old phone to return as I remember that there were several days of half a screen during start up and then a black screen.  I'm sure if I returned the new phone to save some money, the old phone will die in hours.

The Admiral has his own theory about all my phone issues.  I am grateful for his thoughts because he is kind to his mother in law and doesn't immediately assume that she is incompetent.  His theory is that the phone companies input a bug in their phones that goes off after a certain period of time to force you to purchase a new one.  Makes sense to me!!!

Oh well, crisis averted again.  The score now stands at Dragon 50 and me -25.  I refuse to give up.  I am also now adding my phone to my prayer list.  I hope you have a blessed week that is free of technological disasters!

Well, we have hit that time of the year when all the kids are back in school.  As a mom, it gives you mixed emotions.  If you are working mom, there is some relief that you can settle in a little with respect to daycare.  The kids are back in school and during those hours you can go to work with a clear mind, not worrying about who will watch them that day.  Please do not misunderstand.  I am not equating daycare with school.  There is a lot of good work going on in those classrooms.

If you are a stay at home mom, you go through a lot of different emotions too.  Some of it depends on your "normal" life.  It always amazes me how sending one child out the door can change the personalities of any children left at home.  Suddenly your work load gets cut by an illogical percentage.  One child out of three can cut your work load by three quarters!  Do the math - no wait, you can't!  It doesn't make sense.  But a lot of life doesn't make sense, does it?!  Instead, just take comfort that the children still remaining at home will still maintain the noise level of the original group!

Now, if you are at that stage where all of your kids go to school.....now that is a whole different ballgame!  Suddenly you are in a quiet house.  You pick up things (clothes, toys, etc.) and an hour later you are shocked that these things have remained in the same place!  Sometimes the crazy part of you thinks about making a mess, just because you are so used to it!  So now what?  They are at school.  Do I dance?  Do I take a hot shower?  Do I go shopping alone?  So many choices!!!!  And then there is a bit of sadness, I am doing things alone.....

Whether you are a working mom or a stay at home mom, there is a feeling of pride.  The little person or persons that you brought into this world are heading out into it, equipped with what you have taught them and given to them.  They will come home a little wiser every day.  Take comfort in knowing that your job is never done (it really is a comfort).  You will spend the rest of their lives teaching them, advising them and loving them.  Even when they push you away, believe me, they still need you.  Even when they grow up, believe me, they still need you.

And certainly, we need to feel thankful for those wonderful people who have professionally committed themselves to educating our children.  God bless them for giving us that break every day from 8:00 to 3:00 for nine months!   God bless them for sharing knowledge and skills for us to build on!  God bless them for listening to tattle tales all day long!!!!! from two dozen children. 

And, how about those bus drivers!  They turn their backs to 60 children every day and guide their huge vehicles on a route picking them up and delivering them safely to school!  When my kids rode the bus, they were always greeted with a smile and started their day pleasantly, as opposed to me yelling at them to get moving!!  And even at school the teachers and ancillary staff always have smiles for the kids, no matter what else is going on. 

So, whether you are home now or at work, take a deep breath knowing that your children are learning and are safe.  Have one more cup of coffee and get on with the business of your day. Look forward to 3:00 and hearing about their day.  Give them a hug and tell them you love them when they leave and when they come home. 

Thank God every single day for blessing you with the chance to be a mom and make the most of your blessings.  These days will pass quickly, so cherish them!!!  I pray that all of these children, young and old have a safe school year!