I am sitting here ALONE in my pajamas in a totally quiet house. There is no drumming, no loud music, no television blaring, and nobody saying he is hungry, thirsty, or bored. KJ rode back to Wichita Falls with my dad on Saturday and will be there through Thanksgiving. The last I heard, he and his cousin were having a wonderful time. David is at work so I have this gloriously quiet house all to myself. Life is good!

 

The batteries in my camera are dead so I don't have a picture yet, but KJ's hair is now jet black. We used permanent color this time so it won't be washing out.

 

I've started a really part-time job that KJ can do also. We are cleaning newly built homes before the buyers move in. We will most likely only be doing 2-3 houses a month so it won't take up much time, but will give me a little extra spending money.

 

 

I've been thinking about friends lately...no particular reason why, just musing.  Just so you know, I'm rarely this thoughtful and introspective.

 

Anyway, I've always been a social person, not the life of the party or anything, but I enjoy having friends and being around other people.  I've stayed in contact with some friends from high school to varying degrees.  I have newer friends that I've made since moving to Waco, some closer than others, and of course, I have a couple of "internet friends." Hmmmm..."internet friend" sounds like I'm having an online affair or something. I mean mothers whose blogs I've read for 4 years, mothers who I could email and say we will be traveling through your area, want to meet up? For example, if I ever go to Huntsville, Alabama, I fully intend to look Dy up.

 

I have one high school friend, K, who I talk to on the phone at least 6 days a week.  We only actually see each other in person about once a year, but we talk about any and everything. Until recently, she is the only friend I had who I could tell anything  without fear of judgement. Well...she did get on me about voting for Kinky Friedman, but I had it coming.  We're there for each other to discuss and support career decisions, child troubles, husbands being annoying, thought-provoking topics, and mundane details of life. David actually jokingly commented recently that we had a little co-dependency going. *Hmmph* It's a female thing.

 

Since I started homeschooling KJ, I've developed friendships with other homeschooling moms. These women are wonderful, caring people with whom you can talk for hours, however, I was still missing the type of friend that I could be totally open with, one who I wouldn't be afraid if she dropped in unannounced. One who wouldn't care if my house was a wreck, or if KJ and I were still in our pajamas at 2:00 in the afternoon. I wanted a friend who I wouldn't have to censor myself with....don't say that, because our politics are different...don't say this, because our religions are different...oops, can't mention that, because our child-rearing styles are different.  I didn't want a clone of me, just someone with whom I COULD have a different point of view and it not ruin the friendship. In other words, I needed a "K" who lived in Waco.

 

Over the years, I've become friends with a great mom who has a son about KJ's age. We can talk for hours. We have many of the same worries about our sons as they are growing up. Our educational styles are similar. We do lunch ever so often, but....we have never quite made the transistion from friend to....best buddy...I guess that's as good a term as any.

 

Over the past few months, I've grown closer to two moms who I've known a while. Our children are close in age and are involved in some of the same activities. We've started meeting once a week for lunch before we all head to fencing. We even had a mom's early afternoon out and plan to have more scheduled "mom time." We talk and talk and talk and talk. We actually do have different views on religion and politics, and guess what? That's OKAY! No one feels the need to shun another, because we don't always agree. I know they would not care if my house wasn't spotless. I don't worry about should I say this or should I say that?  We genuinely care about each other as people and not our social standing. *sniff* I think I have a long-term relationship.

 

***Now, if I could just get K to move to Waco and homeschool her kids...life would be perfect.***

 

No, I won't apologize. KJ is 13...need I say more. For pete's sake, I feel like I'm living with a toddler in terms of attention span and focusing ability. I also feel as though KJ has suddenly developed multiple personalities. Arrgh! One of us needs to spend some time alone in a padded room...

 

Schoolwork is going terribly. KJ has some kind of hearing disorder. 

 

When I say, "KJ, you need to write at least three paragraphs of your research paper;"

KJ hears, "KJ, you must go cut off three fingers right now," and freaks out. 

 

If I say, "Here's your school list for today;"

KJ hears, "Here's a list of suggestions I have for you if you get really bored and have nothing better to do."

 

When I say, "You need to read you book RIGHT NOW;"

KJ hears, "Go in your room and take a nap."

 

I say, "I want ALL schoolwork done by 5:00. I'll need to start cleaning the kitchen and fixing supper at 4:00 so make sure you do the 'Mom teaches' things on your list before then." (NOTE: KJ gets a checklist with stuff he can do on his own and stuff I need to teach or help with.)

KJ hears, "Wait until 4:00 to start schoolwork."

 

Finally, when I'm so upset that I'm considering a military boarding school, KJ will give me a hug and say, "What's the matter, Mom? You seem upset." Then, when I explode, he says, "If you want me to do my schoolwork, all you have to do is ask. *haughty sniff* You don't have to yell."