Milestones

I guess that's where we are right now - milestones.  Last night Danny completed his Board of Review and he's now officially an Eagle Scout.  He's been working to this goal since he was about seven.  And now it's done.  Ian is nearly done and, since Andy and Tim have no interest in Scouts, that part of life is over.  Weird, weird, weird.  It is just done.

On Monday, Ian, Dan, and Tim all left to attend their classes at Seminole State College.  Andy and I were left to wander around bereft at the lack of noise and distractions.  This is what we've planned, but to have it happen is kind of shocking.  I don't know what I thought - maybe one of the older boys would call me sobbing saying he hated this or that class, but that didn't happen.  It's so weird, everything is going according to my ancient plans, but I never factored in the "alone" feeling I would have when this started.  

I am doing my best not to smother Andy and he is doing his best to resist my latent attempts at smothering him.  All of his books arrived (finally) yesterday and things are feeling a bit more normal. Andy will start piano lessons on Thursday and he's excited about that.  He'll also start at the Y's swim team.  He's not AS excited, but I'm hoping he'll like it once he gets going.  
As high school juniors, Ian and Tim are pretty much submerged in school-work right now.  I hate it, but it is all about test scores for the next few months.  They both seem ok with it all.  We'll see how the semester goes.


Dan has some ambitious plans.  He's in the process (or mega-process) of applying to the US Naval Academy.  So far so good.  It's a lot of paperwork and just work.  For Dan, the Naval Academy is such a perfect fit - he's the only one of the four boys (at this point) that I can see applying and doing well in that situation.  We'll see.  It's up to him for the most part.  It's up to me to shut up and let him do what he needs to do.  (Any other control-freak moms out there, you KNOW how hard and painful this is for me - lol!  I'm reminded of my friend Julie's saying "I'm not much but I'm all I think about."  I have to keep telling myself this is him, about him and for him, I do not factor into the process at all.) Cross your fingers.


And, so, I am struggling to figure out my "new" life here.  Schooling one.  Nagging three.  Trying to find an outlet for my energies/brain in the meantime.  I haven't come up with much so far.  I am enjoying playing Scrabble over at the Internet Scrabble Club.  But, that's not really what I'm looking for long-term.   However, if you like Scrabble and want to join there, look for me 'all4mine' if you want to play.


Additionally, Mike and I are having to figure out "us" again.  Suddenly we have some free time and only one child that really, really needs us.  This is strange new territory.  We've been together for 23 years, but only five of those years have been kid-free.  It's a brave new world for us as a couple.  I imagine it's only going to have to get braver and stranger before we figure it all out. 


So, that's been my week so far ... how's your week going?  


Take pity on me.  I'm sore confused.  Anyone have a good Yoga dvd they like?  I'm thinking yoga might be good for me.