Too Much On the Plate - Deployment Daze 206

My son comes home with a paper from school describing the 5th grade science project requirements. OH NO!  I thought to myself.  Do the schools understand exactly what they are asking?  The timing couldn't have been worst.  Husband deployed so I'm single parenting it right now.  Working and in graduate school which means I too have homework.  In fact two large projects due at the same time as my son's science project.

I know what you're thinking, "It is his project let him do it."  That sounds good in theory.  What people fail to realize is that to complete a fairly decent project the child needs help.  It requires time from the parent to help facilitate and supply the project.  Well, when your limited on time and there is only you it makes for a very stressful situation.

So there I was, two projects due this weekend.  A science project that needed to be started and a whole list of other things that needed to get done.  After a mental meltdown, freak out, and then some deep breathing, I did what any quality parent would do.  Put my homework on hold, rallied the troops, and started the 5th grade science project.  My son, his big sis , her boyfriend, and I got to work.  We conducted the experiment and have our results.  Now just the display has to be put together.

Although I was stressed by the inconvenience, I realize that as a parent some things come first.  There are times, well many times, when you have to sacrifice.  Kids need your time and energy.  It is proven that students who have parents that make school work a priority and actually spend time to work with them are more successful in school.  It is also proven that it impacts their future as an adult.  Too many times I have seen students struggle, not because they can't do the work, but because the adult in their life doesn't put the effort in to help or check.  The child has no support.  If you want your child to be successful in school, you, the parent, must make it a priority.

I know sometimes it can be overwhelming.  I know sometimes the work doesn't make sense.  Nevertheless, the parents actions influence the path the child takes.  I am comforted by the fact that we worked through the difficulties and accomplished what we needed to today.  Science project is half way completed.  And the bonus?  Both my assignments are done as well.

To my honey, sorry that we didn't have much time to talk today.  As you know it was a stressful time.  I was a bit overwhelmed with everything that had to get done.  Thanks for being patient with me.  I miss you very much.  I know you think I'm this superwoman, but honestly, it is time to hang up my cape.  I getting too old for this s***t.  It has been warm here.  I hope the weather stays this way so we can go out on the boat when you're here for RnR.  After today, I'm thinking Mexico might be a great destination for our upcoming family trip!  Lounging by the pool, swimming in the cenote, and a snorkeling day at Xhel-Ha beach.  Back the bags!

The Twilight Zone - Deployment Daze 202

Your traveling through another dimension.  A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind....  You've entered the Twilight Zone. (Not really, it's Kansas)

To some of you these words uttered by Rod Serling will be familiar. If you're to young to know the show, it was a show about ordinary people who found themselves in strange, bizarre and most often scary places.  Places that did not make sense.  Where nothing was how it should be.  People were not how they should be.  Lately that is how I have been feeling.  Disconnected, out of place in the world.  Nothing fits, I don't fit.  For the first time, I truly feel uncomfortable in my life.

Can I put my finger on what it is? Not really.  I don't know if it is the emotional wear and tear of deployment, the isolation, the culture, or what?  I just want to run from this place screaming.  If you were to ask me to explain it I couldn't.  Something is out of place.   I fear now that something is me!

The kids love it here.  They love their school and have great friends.  For them it has been wonderful.  For that I am grateful.  However, that is the nature of the Twilight Zone.  Only the main character is stuck in the other dimension.  So for now I'm stuck.  Stuck inside the journey through the Twilight Zone

To my honey,  RnR can not get here soon enough. I can't believe we finally have official dates.  At least as close to official as you can get with the Army.  Information changes and morphs into something else that sometimes I wonder if I ever knew what was going on in the first place.  Hopefully, we will be enjoying RnR soon and according to plan.  I need some sense of stability, sanity, some normalcy that only you can provide.   I look forward to having some fun!  Oh! Our delivery date got moved up..so baby will be here in two weeks!  I'll let you know how it goes.

Play Safe, Play Smart