Another Hen Day.

We went to Vea's today, with the goal of making duct-tape mannequins of two of us. I'm trying to be non-specific, since it is kind of embarrassing to have one's form lovingly swathed in shiny gray duct tape. We had a great time and ate some tasty pizza and laughed hysterically about how goofy it all was.

The hens encouraged me to share this story with you on the internets, since they enjoyed it so. Enjoy the suffering, shall we?

We have massive amounts of trouble getting Eldest to keep track of...anything. I know most parents think their kids are forgetful and disorganized, but seriously, folks: I feel hopeless.

She has:

Lost a SHIRT at school. (As in, one she was wearing that day.)

Broken one pair of glasses. (I'm surprised it's only one so far.)

Left her socks and shoes and coat and a book and a pillow and whatever else in the car all the time.

Been the center of a concerted effort on the part of her teacher and myself in making sure she writes in her planner every day, so I know about homework.

Left any number of valuables/horribles in her pockets so they were ruined/ruined other things in the washer. MP3 player, gum, candy, loose change, earphones, key chains, the list continues.

Spent the night at a friend's house, and todayI got the returned bag of forgotten items: shoes, flashlight key chain, and pajamas. Only that?

Don't even get me started about missing homework, lost library books, AWOL jackets, and lost socks/shoes (socks and shoes should be illegal until a kid is 18). Who the crap makes these things in pairs, so that you have to find not one, but TWO items every time kids need to look cared-for?

Have I painted the picture for you?

Last night, we visited my family, and I had the kids bring their homework. Scratch that. I told them to bring their homework, but we had to turn around halfway and come back for it. Homework was duly done, and when it was time to go, the kids gathered up their stuff and we headed for the car.

As we backed out of the driveway, Mom called us back, and Liv ran to the house to get her math homework. Then, when we got home, the same homework was kicked out onto the driveway, and Toby reminded her to get it. Crisis averted? Not even.

Today, when I was leaving for Hen Day, guess what was fluttering around the entry? Math homework. Also? In the Car? Math book. Correct me if I'm crazy, but I think at least two golden opportunities to put both in the backpack were missed.

I pause here to request a prayer, for patience, for me. Because my kids are giving me Tourette's.