Popular
Monday, August 24, 2009 at 09:35PM Really, I'm not one to brag. Rather, I like to think of myself as modest and humble, so it's not easy for me to admit how extremely popular I am, at my house. I've realized, for quite some time, that people here are fond of me, giving hugs and compliments they know will encourage me in my daily tasks. Colton probably gives the best compliment and often calls me a "teenager" saying, "Mom, you look just like you're 16." I've not yet let my mind draw correlations between their compliments and my baking cookies, so don't go there either.
Tonight, as I was preparing an early dinner, my popularity came to a boil as all four of the kids had specific requests for my time. Sierra wanted to play for me a solo, Buck wanted to read to me and play football, Colton was tired of playing himself in Monopoly and wanted me to catch his pitches, while Audra, who learned today that she made the middle school volleyball team, wanted to get some practice in before dark.
Sierra, bless her heart, just started playing the trumpet last week and really wanted to play while I cooked. She loves being part of the school band and I'm working hard to be supportive. I'm not sure how many have experienced the shrill joys of having a young trumpet player in the house, but let's just say that I begin to sweat profusely when I see her coming while my husband runs out the back door towards his office, pretending to get an urgent phone call. The words gung-ho serve little justice to the exuberance she has for playing the trumpet. This morning, before school, she entertained all of us for 30 minutes. As much as I love her, I had to ask her to play in the back yard. I did feel bad for the neighbors and waved to her with intermittent claps.
Tonight, as I prepared dinner, she blew a confident medley of her current songs. (I'm sure that God is giving me much-needed lessons on grace and patience.) It's really not supposed to be funny, her trumpet playing, but in the middle of Hot Cross Buns I could take it no longer and burst out laughing. She cracked a smile and soon we were both giggling like school girls. As much as I encourage music with our kids, I've been making some early, subtle suggestions for electives next year and without saying anything negative, I'm pushing hard for art.
Colton, our sports nut, has been watching the Little League World Series for days. He was watching before church yesterday and asked if we could be late so he could see the end of a game. When I told him no, he asked, "Can't you just leave me here so I can watch? I'll be fine by myself." With all of those little boys playing baseball on TV, he's definitely got the fever.
Before, during and after dinner tonight he asked repeatedly if he could pitch to me in the backyard. Because I'm so popular, we headed outside so he could pitch. He likes to pitch to pretend batters and keep a ball and strike count. So, we agreed that he could pitch to four pretend batters. He didn't throw a lot of strikes, but he did run and get all the passed balls even before I could get to them. That right there was a huge bonus and saved a lot of time, so I allowed him two more pretend batters. He finally struck out one imaginary batter and I came inside to listen to Buck read.
Cuddled up on the couch, I listened as Buck read the end of his three chapters. As soon as he finished, he asked if we could go throw the football around. "Sure, why not?" I said, as we headed out back.
Buck was having a great time and after about fifteen minutes he said, "You know, mom, once football season starts, I can do this every day."
"Yes, honey. We can."
Not quite finished playing football with Buck, Audra came outside with her volleyball. She's not played on a volleyball team for over two years and is one of the few players on her middle school team who is not a club player. Ever the popular one, I passed the ball with her for another 20 minutes or so, before retiring to the house. Her try-outs were at 6 AM each day last week and her practices will be at the same uncomfortably early hour this week. We'll definitely need to embrace the 5:00 AM (snooze) alarm.
Although it can be exhausting around here, I'm grateful to be so popular with the people I love most.
Reader Comments (3)
Good for you. I glad that you can still keep up the popular lifestyle. I could do it when I was younger, but now I can only be popular 1 or 2 days a week. LOL. I am glad to hear the Audra made the VB team. Hope that popular doesn't keep you up too late with your early morning appointment.
Talk to you soon.
Lou
Hey... well believe it or not.... thats what a day at our house looks like. =D (Even though she would not let me read it before she posted it, so that i could not talk her out of writing about my trumpet playing, although I try hard.) My mom often goes to bed early due to a few headaches from her very musical children.
-sierra- :)
Hey Sierra…….. I am totally excited that you are learning to play the trumpet!! Forget about all those negative vibes that seem to be surrounding you at the moment and keep on playing. If you get to enjoy accordion and piano music around the house all the time, then the rest of your family should get to enjoy some sweet tunes from your trumpet now and then. I must confess that I tortured many a family member with my trumpet playing when I was your age, but they all got over it. It’s a wonderful musical instrument and is really quite easy to master. I did it, so it must be!! As the years progressed and my trumpet playing improved, I found myself playing in all kinds of stage bands, jazz bands, brass quartets, rock bands, and even at church. It was a gas and really got me socially energized, if you know what I mean :-) I am sure your mom’s comments about your trumpet playing are only in jest. Anyway, after we talk Buck into going out for wrestling, Miss Popularity will have a whole lot more to worry about than all those beautiful songs you will be playing! Randall :-)