May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 4

[fourmcds]

Well, tonight was no fun at all I can tell you . . .

What is it with you women and your outfits? When I took my son to baseball, no problem, he wore his uniform - old, new, or ratty. He would even go with me to eat after practice with it on (Sophia will NOT go anywhere with her dance clothes on).

Tonight starts out with Sophia not wanting to wear her ballet outfit - not comfy daddy! Wants to wear jeans - won't even wear shorts. After a bunch of arguing where she tells me she has done this before, I resign, and give up. Off to dance.

We get there, she is fine, puts on her ballet slippers, and goes to her room. I sit as far away from gossipy moms as I can, and prepare to get out my iPod to listen to the Time Traveler's Wife, but have to wait. They do a lot of classes here with disabled kids, and there is a class of Down's kids that goes into a classroom I am sitting outside. I have learned that if I turn on the iPod too soon, they will all come over to me and want to see it, and then not go into class, so I wait. (They do a super job with these kids here).

In two minutes, Sophia is out of the classroom, buries her head in my shoulder sobbing. What's the problem? Sub teacher who says she has to wear dance clothes if she wants to dance. Now, my little girl is the very sensitive type, that if anyone in authority (outside of her mom, dad, or grandma) corrects her, it sends her into a tizzy. She also abhors change. All the coaxing in the world will not get her into the outfit in her bag, and she wants to leave. Once again, I resign, and she RUNS out the door past her class to remain unseen escaping. I follow.

I call Amy and tell her this is the last episode of dance class from the black lagoon that I am attending, EVER! We are going to run an errand, and meet her for dinner (I got her voice mail). She calls me about 20 minutes later, and decides to call the dance studio . . . (Sophia wants to quit ballet over this).

Well, for the last 25 minutes, they have been searching for lost Sophia who was going out to change into her dance clothes and has disappeared. They did not realize I was there and we left (yeah, I see how you can miss the only 250lb male in the joint), and have frantically been trying to call home to see if they can find her. I did not think of saying we were leaving - and frankly did not want to discuss the matter right then with Miss Rachel, as my daughter ran out the door.

Long story short, this is NOW Amy's territory - I am done with dance!

I cannot even imagine what is going to take place once hormones start kicking in. God help me . . .

Wow John, that is what I call a very eventful night at dance! I hope Sophia doesn't give up dance over that. Our dance studio is pretty lax on clothing requirements, so my girls usually just wear shorts and t's, but they do hip hop and cheer. My youngest would have done the same thing...not wanted to go back into class. I hope her evening got better. Also, after sitting through dance for 6 years with the girls, I think the teacher should have just said something to you or Sophia after class and let it go for today's class. I understand some studios have policies, but to embarrass her and tell her in front of the class she needs to get changed is unecessary.

 

[HollyTyler]

John, your experience sounds absolutely awful..........once again, I'm so glad I don't have a girl! I would have no idea what to do!

 

[Jhalkias]

That made me laugh. Shawn complains about this all the time. He takes Jenna on Monday nights, Kayla on Wednesday nights, and Jenna back on Saturday's. He says he hasn't seen a single male in the studio in over a year! The gossip is usually pretty entertaining though

I think they space them geographicaly so that not more than one of us who is forced to do this can possibly attend.

I remember being one of the gossipy chit chatty moms when youngest DD took ballet, tap and gymnastics. We never talked about anything malicious, it was more like what preschool is your child going to, where are the going to go to schoo,what kind of classes are they taking etc. Sometimes we would complain or brag about spouses, in-laws etc. Other times we would talk about where we were going on vacation, whose DH was on a business trip and who felt like they were raising their children by themselves with all the long hours or travel the hubbies were doing. Seems like a hundred years ago...

Sorry Noel, this is exactly what makes me crazy. I am not exactly and uncommunicative wallflower . . . I have even tried to insert myself in conversations - you know, Disney, school (I am on the school board) BUT they NEVER want to talk about anything informative. It is like there is this NEED for "idle prattle" - they politely have begun to ignore me over the last two years, because I might engage them in some topical or meaningful conversation!

Yeah, I know, we guys talk about sports too much . . .

ESPN, Take me away!

 

[disneylover5]

I am SICK...Ryan came home today with a note that two parents of a classmate tragically died today. And now my neighbor informed me that they were getting a divorce (which I knew) and he shot his wife and then himself...IN FRONT OF THE KIDS!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot understand this. I'm sick, just sick. These poor kids...is Monday not enough?! We live in an affluent area, not that these things have monetary boundries, but I guess I just didn't expect to hear something like this in our suburb.

This is just horrible.....When you hear a story like this...and there is nothing you can do.....I guess just pray for those three little boys....

 

[disneylover5]

Guess what? No news media at the High School tonight!! Maybe we are starting to get back to normal....

Westfield hosted Disney Dreams tonight. This is the show choir and it is a fund raiser. We had planned to go for weeks. Everyone in my neighborhood know I do not miss Disney anything. It was very good. All of the costumes had maroon and orange ribbons pinned on them!

Last year, this show had Reema in it. I thought they might dedicate tonight's show to her, but they did not.

It will run again tomorrow night and Saturday.

All after school activities are cancelled for Fairfax County Public Schools tomorrow as it is the Day of Mourning. They got special permission to have this show tomorrow night.

 

[disneylover5]

 

[gouodux]

I am SICK...Ryan came home today with a note that two parents of a classmate tragically died today. And now my neighbor informed me that they were getting a divorce (which I knew) and he shot his wife and then himself...IN FRONT OF THE KIDS!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot understand this. I'm sick, just sick. These poor kids...is Monday not enough?! We live in an affluent area, not that these things have monetary boundries, but I guess I just didn't expect to hear something like this in our suburb.

It is so hard to understand how someone can do this in front of their children.

A few months ago, Jenna's Preschool teacher's aide (who was her aide for two years - her elementary school has preschool classes) shot and killed her husband in front of her daughter when she learned he wanted a divorce. The aide sent her child to call 911 and while gone, she shot and killed herself. Their other three children were in the home also.

We haven't told Jenna about this. She would be heartbroken.

 

[LiserAnn]

Lisa,

I assume this is the article about it. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/riverside/20070419-1604-murdersuicide.html

Yep, it was the Finneys...interesting, they lived far out of our school's boundaries, which I'm not sure how the kids went to our school since the school's impacted and some who live IN the boundaries can't even get in! The 10 year old has always been very demure, meek and reserved (but such a sweet kid), and once I heard this happened, the first thing that came to mind is that he was probably abused...it sorta all came together in head. I'm assuming if the dad was in trouble for beating on his wife, then he more than likely did the same with to the kids. It's really sad. I actually hadn't realized they had a 4 year old also. It's really awful!!!

 

[LiserAnn]

It is so hard to understand how someone can do this in front of their children.

A few months ago, Jenna's Preschool teacher's aide (who was her aide for two years - her elementary school has preschool classes) shot and killed her husband in front of her daughter when she learned he wanted a divorce. The aide sent her child to call 911 and while gone, she shot and killed herself. Their other three children were in the home also.

We haven't told Jenna about this. She would be heartbroken.

I just don't get how one can be sooooo selfish as to do something this horrid, in front of their own children, much less do it at all. I get being upset and angry but to permanetly damage your children for life with that image has to be life altering in the worst of ways. As if it's not bad enough to know your parents are gone but to then see the action in your head at such tender ages is beyond my mental capacity of understanding. Clearly HIGHLY disturbed, messed up people. I just am so sad and I was just starting to lift my head up after Monday's incident. I just feel beaten down again, and am trying to comprehend this week as a whole--I get there's no comprehending any of it, but my practical mind needs to find a box to put it in!

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

I just don't get how one can be sooooo selfish as to do something this horrid, in front of their own children, much less do it at all. I get being upset and angry but to permanetly damage your children for life with that image has to be life altering in the worst of ways. As if it's not bad enough to know your parents are gone but to then see the action in your head at such tender ages is beyond my mental capacity of understanding. Clearly HIGHLY disturbed, messed up people. I just am so sad and I was just starting to lift my head up after Monday's incident. I just feel beaten down again, and am trying to comprehend this week as a whole--I get there's no comprehending any of it, but my practical mind needs to find a box to put it in!

This has really been a long, horrible and weird week.

 

[fourmcds]

This has really been a long, horrible and weird week.

I agree!

On my way home from work I heard a remixed song with people talking about what happened on Monday. The song was If Everyone Cared by Nickelback....listening to the words of the song today, it took on a whole new light. The words from the professor that lost his daughter were so amazing and true as well.
From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight

Singing amen I, I'm alive(i'm alive)
Singing amen I, I'm alive

[CHORUS]
If everyone cared and nobody cried,
If everyone loved and nobody lied,
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride,
Then we'd see the day, when nobody died

And I'm singing

amen I,amen, I, I'm alive
amen I amen I, amen I, I'm alive

And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along

Singing amen I, I'm alive (I'm alive)
Singing amen I, I'm alive

[CHORUS (X2)]

And as we lie beneath the stars,
We realize how small we are,
If they could love like you and me,
Imagine what the world could be

[CHORUS (X1)]

We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
when nobody died
We'd see the day, died

 

[birkner]

Well, tonight was no fun at all I can tell you . . .

What is it with you women and your outfits? When I took my son to baseball, no problem, he wore his uniform - old, new, or ratty. He would even go with me to eat after practice with it on (Sophia will NOT go anywhere with her dance clothes on).

Tonight starts out with Sophia not wanting to wear her ballet outfit - not comfy daddy! Wants to wear jeans - won't even wear shorts. After a bunch of arguing where she tells me she has done this before, I resign, and give up. Off to dance.

We get there, she is fine, puts on her ballet slippers, and goes to her room. I sit as far away from gossipy moms as I can, and prepare to get out my iPod to listen to the Time Traveler's Wife, but have to wait. They do a lot of classes here with disabled kids, and there is a class of Down's kids that goes into a classroom I am sitting outside. I have learned that if I turn on the iPod too soon, they will all come over to me and want to see it, and then not go into class, so I wait. (They do a super job with these kids here).

In two minutes, Sophia is out of the classroom, buries her head in my shoulder sobbing. What's the problem? Sub teacher who says she has to wear dance clothes if she wants to dance. Now, my little girl is the very sensitive type, that if anyone in authority (outside of her mom, dad, or grandma) corrects her, it sends her into a tizzy. She also abhors change. All the coaxing in the world will not get her into the outfit in her bag, and she wants to leave. Once again, I resign, and she RUNS out the door past her class to remain unseen escaping. I follow.

I call Amy and tell her this is the last episode of dance class from the black lagoon that I am attending, EVER! We are going to run an errand, and meet her for dinner (I got her voice mail). She calls me about 20 minutes later, and decides to call the dance studio . . . (Sophia wants to quit ballet over this).

Well, for the last 25 minutes, they have been searching for lost Sophia who was going out to change into her dance clothes and has disappeared. They did not realize I was there and we left (yeah, I see how you can miss the only 250lb male in the joint), and have frantically been trying to call home to see if they can find her. I did not think of saying we were leaving - and frankly did not want to discuss the matter right then with Miss Rachel, as my daughter ran out the door.

Long story short, this is NOW Amy's territory - I am done with dance!

I cannot even imagine what is going to take place once hormones start kicking in. God help me . . .

If you ask my DH, he will tell you you somehow you will learn to cope. I suspect as much as you love Sophia, you will learn to adapt to the difference between girls and guys. Guys get mad, punch someone, get glad and get over it. Girls get emotional and hold a grudge.

Rules are rules in dance class and if Sophia wants to dance, she needs to wear her ballet clothes. Little girls have a way of twisting their dads around their little fingers. My DH can attest to the many times my DD has convinced him to do things just as you have done. What the one and only problem here that I can see is your forgot to tell the teacher you were leaving and they freaked. All will be well in time. Just pray the hormones won't kick in for a few years!!!Just my experience over 40+ years of raising kids....

Noel

 

[birkner]

I think they space them geographicaly so that not more than one of us who is forced to do this can possibly attend.



Sorry Noel, this is exactly what makes me crazy. I am not exactly and uncommunicative wallflower . . . I have even tried to insert myself in conversations - you know, Disney, school (I am on the school board) BUT they NEVER want to talk about anything informative. It is like there is this NEED for "idle prattle" - they politely have begun to ignore me over the last two years, because I might engage them in some topical or meaningful conversation!

Yeah, I know, we guys talk about sports too much . . .

ESPN, Take me away!

I talk about everything sports included. We have had many dads over the years join in our conversation at dance classes so maybe it is just a regional thing. Sometimes our conversations were intense, sometimes just idle chit chat. I wish I could offer some meaningful suggestion but it sounds like I can not. I am just embarrased for the women who would exclude you. This is just what we fought for in equal rights so men could parent as well as women. Choice should not be gender selective.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Just too darn busy to do anything but READ!

I am probably taking a vacation next week to work around the house - first one like that in almost two years. My list is a MILE long, and while we can park in the garage, it is sometimes not easy getting out of either car.

Amy working late tonight, and I have to suffer again when I take Sophia to the dance studio and hear all the gossipy moms chit chat. That place is like another one of my ideas of one of Dante's rings of hell.

Check in later tonight . . .

You could stop at Chuck E. Cheese for a quick bite on the way home...

(just a suggestion)

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

I am SICK...Ryan came home today with a note that two parents of a classmate tragically died today. And now my neighbor informed me that they were getting a divorce (which I knew) and he shot his wife and then himself...IN FRONT OF THE KIDS!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot understand this. I'm sick, just sick. These poor kids...is Monday not enough?! We live in an affluent area, not that these things have monetary boundries, but I guess I just didn't expect to hear something like this in our suburb.

I had to read this several times just to comprehend it...I'm completely at a loss for words, except to say that I will pray for those poor children-and the parents.

 

[Jhalkias]

You could stop at Chuck E. Cheese for a quick bite on the way home...

(just a suggestion)

Duhhhh . . .

Why didn't I think of THAT!

Thanks Cherie!

Good morning everyone!

 

[MrsMork]

Well, tonight was no fun at all I can tell you . . .

What is it with you women and your outfits? When I took my son to baseball, no problem, he wore his uniform - old, new, or ratty. He would even go with me to eat after practice with it on (Sophia will NOT go anywhere with her dance clothes on).

Tonight starts out with Sophia not wanting to wear her ballet outfit - not comfy daddy! Wants to wear jeans - won't even wear shorts. After a bunch of arguing where she tells me she has done this before, I resign, and give up. Off to dance.

We get there, she is fine, puts on her ballet slippers, and goes to her room. I sit as far away from gossipy moms as I can, and prepare to get out my iPod to listen to the Time Traveler's Wife, but have to wait. They do a lot of classes here with disabled kids, and there is a class of Down's kids that goes into a classroom I am sitting outside. I have learned that if I turn on the iPod too soon, they will all come over to me and want to see it, and then not go into class, so I wait. (They do a super job with these kids here).

In two minutes, Sophia is out of the classroom, buries her head in my shoulder sobbing. What's the problem? Sub teacher who says she has to wear dance clothes if she wants to dance. Now, my little girl is the very sensitive type, that if anyone in authority (outside of her mom, dad, or grandma) corrects her, it sends her into a tizzy. She also abhors change. All the coaxing in the world will not get her into the outfit in her bag, and she wants to leave. Once again, I resign, and she RUNS out the door past her class to remain unseen escaping. I follow.

I call Amy and tell her this is the last episode of dance class from the black lagoon that I am attending, EVER! We are going to run an errand, and meet her for dinner (I got her voice mail). She calls me about 20 minutes later, and decides to call the dance studio . . . (Sophia wants to quit ballet over this).

Well, for the last 25 minutes, they have been searching for lost Sophia who was going out to change into her dance clothes and has disappeared. They did not realize I was there and we left (yeah, I see how you can miss the only 250lb male in the joint), and have frantically been trying to call home to see if they can find her. I did not think of saying we were leaving - and frankly did not want to discuss the matter right then with Miss Rachel, as my daughter ran out the door.

Long story short, this is NOW Amy's territory - I am done with dance!

I cannot even imagine what is going to take place once hormones start kicking in. God help me . . .

John1, you give Sophia from this Grandma and Grandpa. And, uh...see you in dance class next week!

 

[MrsMork]

You took the words right out of Amy's mouth. Neighborhood garage sale next week while I am on vacation - can I do it????

Yes, John1, you CAN do it!! You can!!

 

[LisaG520]

Well I'm still not caught up from our trip to NC for Easter and we are off again. Just a weekend trip this time. Today we are going to Universal, tomorrow Aquarium of the Pacific and Sunday Disneyland.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[woody73]

. . . Today we are going to Universal, tomorrow Aquarium of the Pacific and Sunday Disneyland.

We'll be at Disneyland on Sunday, too.

Woody