Dear lord.

So on the way home, my son tells me about how he got chased today at school. Ever concerned for my child's welfare, I ask who chased him... at which point he sort of hems and haws and blushes, and tells me it's a funny story. You see, he went up to a cute little girl in his class who's shorter than he is and tousled her dark hair, then took off running with her after him. Apparently this happens on a regular basis, with her recruiting her friends to chase him around the playground. She never asks him to stop, though. She just likes to chase him.

...

According to him, no other boys get chased (not unless they do something "bad." I am informed that what he is doing is not considered "bad," as in doesn't make her angry). I asked if any other girls in his class chased him, upon which he informed me that she wasn't in his class, and "only got to chase him during 1st and 3rd period" recess.

So... my youngest, somewhat precocious, very sweet, altogether cute son has girls chasing him around in a friendly/flirting manner, which he starts/enables. In fifth grade.

I don't know whether to be proud or dissolve into a fit of motherly panic. Perhaps both. I am in So Much Trouble. Sigh. :)

The Week of Terror -- Not.

So at the beginning of this week, I was freaking terrified. Lots and lots of change and uncertainty stretching ahead of me, not being sure how any of it was going to work out, not really knowing what to do about any of it... Al's bus schedule still wasn't straightened out, I had a voice recording session, my classes were starting, I was low on cash, I still didn't have my books... Ugh. Much stress. So, so not happy about any of it.

This week, though? This week turned out to be completely and totally awesome! The voice recording was fantastic (and I'm so looking forward to hearing myself in the game), my classes... oh, I love my classes. The schedule may in fact wipe me out completely this quarter, but I love them so very much. And I already have a class picked for next quarter! It's on film noir and the hard-boiled crime novel! *squee* And my kids were fine coping by themselves for a few hours... they'll probably get very tired of it before the end of the quarter, as will I, but we'll get through. And my financial aid came in and I was able to buy all my books! And I got my laptop working with a new battery, meaning that I can unplug it and take it places now! And I got to talk with an old friend online, which was awesome (Charlie, for those as might recognize that name among my old friends)! And I got a new printer to replace my spastic... wow, really old one! And I bit the bullet and signed up for a hoop class at the circus school my sons go to! And I had a promising job interview (even if it did take two days because I showed up a day early and not everyone was there)! And two more professors agreed to write letters of recommendation for me! And, and, and....

My sons are excelling in school this year. They're becoming really self-directed and independent in a good way. I'm sending brownie mix to school with Al on Monday so they can make brownies there(!) in his special ed program for his birthday treat. Al's teachers are singing his praises to me every chance they get, such as the following, related by his special ed assistant:

In math class the other day, Ms. Meyers (I think that's her name) was looking for someone to give her the answer to a problem. Al raised his hand. She called on him and asked, and he gave the correct answer. She then asked him how he got it, and he said, "Well, I didn't really work it out, but this..." and proceeded to mentally work it out for her as he goes. She wasn't expecting the way he did it and worked it out with him, and sure enough it worked and gave the correct answer. His response: "I would have worked it all out, but I didn't have to. Sometimes I just look at the problem and the answer is just in my head. It's easy." At which point the class (who was just learning whatever it was) boggled slightly and moved on.

Will is getting all his homework done and in on time, including the writing he doesn't really like doing. He tried out for (and got chosen for) chorus this year, and he's a conflict mediator with kids at school, and he's going to be on safety patrol, and he's working on not snacking all the time (and changing what he does snack on ) because he's decided that he's closer to being overweight than he'd like to be (and playing with Wii Fit to help keep track of how he's doing and help him remember to exercise)....

My kids blow me away, my school is fabulous, my work fortunes may be improving, my friends are awesome, my boyfriend is wonderful... this week has seen fit to remind me of the awesome things I have in my life, and that I should remind myself of their abundance a bit more often. My world totally rocks. :)