Chances are, if you are around kids at all, you have heard the 'R' word used in derogatory ways. To describe themselves, or someone else, as being or doing something stupid. Or silly. Or goofy. Sometimes it is used to be cruel.

The other day I was walking out of the YMCA with Bean and I observed a group of middle school girls on the playground. The group of them watched us, conversed a little, then looked back at us when I heard one of them say in a disgusted voice, "I think he's retarded." I didn't say anything. My immediate thought was that I was glad Bean didn't get it yet. And then I wondered when he would. And what it would do to him.

Kids aren't the only one's guilty of using the 'R' word. Adults are too. I suspect that kids pick up the word from adults as much as they do their peers.

Part of why I didn't say anything to those girls on the playground was because I had that punch-in-the-gut feeling that Tammy and Parker describe here at Praying for Parker. Please take the time to read her post.

It's time that more people "get it."

I took the big first grader out for dinner tonight, for a little one-on-one time before a Cub Scout meeting. It was very enlightening.

Me: So, Spinner, what do you think of first grade so far?

Spinner: I LOVE it!

Me: Yeah? What do you love about it?

Spinner: Well, we have more "must-do's" than kindergarten and I like that. I get to be a learning partner and help 'T' with his writing, I like that. And we have a different playground and Olivia is on the playground at the same time my class is!

Me: Oh, Olivia (a crush from pre-school) does she remember you?

Spinner, chuckling: Uh yes, sometimes she pretends like she doesn't see me but I know she does. And then today she said, "Hiii Luuuke." Everybody knows we love each other.

Me: Really?

Spinner: Yes, it's common knowledge.

Me, trying to change the subject: Huh. Okay. So, what about the kids in your class? Have you made some new friends?

Spinner: Yes, I have made lots of friends. One of my new friends is 'E' but when I try to talk to her she tells me to go talk to 'L.'

Me: Why do you suppose she does that?

Spinner: Because she doesn't want a boyfriend and she thinks I love her.

Me: Oh, I see. Do you want a girlfriend?

Spinner, snorting: YES, I want to get as many as I can!!

Four years ago, on Aug. 31, James and I carried Bean through a hospital corridor for major surgery. Surgery to repair his three heart defects. A surgery that would end his five month battle with heart failure. A surgery that would allow him to wake up, experience energy for the first time, drink milk without sweating and turning blue from lack of oxygen, gain weight, and get down to the business of growing and learning. And that is what happened.


But on that day. The day we woke up at the Ronald McDonald House at a Children's Hospital in a town not our own. The day we had to carry our son into the hospital at 5am to be prepped for open heart surgery and hand him over to a surgical team that we had no choice but to trust. The day we paced the halls of the hospital for five hours waiting to hear that surgery was over and he was off bypass. That day was tough.


Tom, over at Narrow Ridge, captures it beautifully in a clip from the documentary he is making about his son, Ian. While I do not know the reason for their hospital visit there are many things I find powerful about this clip. Ian's contentment in his mother's arms as they walk the hospital corridor. The medical personnel that pass, glancing at Ian, another patient in a hospital full of patients. Ian's mom, the way she looks up and sighs as she holds her son tightly and waits for the next step. And the music choice. I find the words both haunting and hopeful.

Seersucker

A seersucker blazer is, to a southern man, what a string of pearls is to a southern woman.

And don't be afraid, men. Like a nice string of pearls, the seersucker blazer can be paired with any number of items in your wardrobe.

Tank is not afraid of a fashion violation. He's a confident Southern Boy.

We're still working on the 'gentleman' part.

After staring at paint cards for 10 days I finally decided on a color for my 10 drawer dresser.

Apple Green. And once I was sure of the color I put everything else aside and loaded up the boys for a trip to Lowe's. And for fun I allowed Tank to walk while I pushed Bean in the shopping cart. What a great decision that was. Moments after stepping into the paint section Tank opened a jar of antique glaze, which is greasy and black, and started finger painting. I took the jar and put it in the cart to purchase while groveling to the paint lady, who was not amused, for something to help me clean up my disaster of a child. A bit later while talking to Paint Lady about my paint needs, Bean hurled the bottle of antique glaze out of the cart onto the concrete floor. It shattered. And black, greasy goop went everywhere. Within 10 seconds five Lowe's employees descended like a hazmat team with a bag of powder and a large bottle of liquid and they went to work cleaning as they asked me to keep my children away. Sure thing.

Oh, and in the midst of that a stranger approached me to discuss her concerns for Bean's skin. "His legs looks bad." "Don't you use sunscreen on him?" "Is it painful?" My telling her that Bean has sensitive skin and was prone to heat rash did not seem to satisfy her. "Isn't there something you can do about it?" "Poor thing." "And sunscreen really won't help?"

And people wonder why I'm such a homebody.

Once home I set to work sanding, priming and painting.

Once dry I distressed it a bit and then accepted my dresser's thanks for the face lift.

It's December now and I've come back to visit this old post to link up to Funky Junk Interiors, a new fav blogspot of mine, to share my diy dresser. Still loving the green!