Happy Mother's Day!

First, I'd like to say 'Thank you' to my sweet, smart, special boys who've made me a proud mother and made my life so much richer and more interesting than I could have ever dreamed!

Look at who was on the cover of Friday's edition of the Claremore Progress...
See the cute blonde in the back row with the spikey hair?  Isn't he adorable (asks his non-biased mother)?  Truman's sixth grade academic team won the Oklahoma Junior Academic Bowl!  At half-time during second round, the Claremore team was down by 80 points.  But then, in the third quarter, one Truman Burrage answered an unprecedented 12 of 18 questions correctly, allowing the Claremorons (hee -- that's really what people from our town are called) to not only come back from far behind, but also to pull ahead and eventually cruise to the winners circle!  Yay, Truman!  Yay, Zebras! 

I'd like to claim credit for the kid's smarts, but I figure most of it is due to himself and the awesome conditioning and investment of time his teacher and academic team coach, Mrs. Kay Strain put in.  All kids should be so lucky to have a teacher like Mrs. Strain, and Truman's been blessed to be in her G/T program for the past two years.

And, because I'm an equal-opportunity show-off, here's my other kidlet fresh from sliding down the slide (all by himself, big-boy style!)...
Am I lucky or what? :)

And for all the Moms reading this post, I dedicate this reprinting of another of my favorite Erma Bombeck columns to you...

No More Oatmeal Kisses (January 29, 1969)

A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome, that lonely period after the children are grown and gone.  Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots.  The baby is teething; the boys are fighting.  My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet.  Lay it on me again, will you?"

OK.  One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age!" And they will.  Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do ... and don't slam the door!" And they won't.

You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy: bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves.  Hangers in the closet.  Animals caged.  And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way." And it will.

You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company." And you'll eat it alone.

You'll say, "I want complete privacy on the phone.  No dancing around.  No demolition crews.  Silence! Do you hear?"  And you'll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.  No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.  No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.  No more clothespins under the sofa.  No more playpens to arrange a room around.

No more anxious nights under the vaporizer tent.  No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathroom.  No more iron-on patches, rubber bands for pony tails, tight boots or wet, knotted shoestrings.

Imagine.  A lipstick with a point on it.  No baby-sitter for New Year's Eve.  Washing only once a week.  Seeing a steak that isn't ground.  Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap. 

No PTA meetings.  No car pools.  No blaring radios.  No one washing her hair at 11 o' clock at night.  Having your own roll of Scotch tape.

Think about it.  No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.  No more sloppy oatmeal kisses.  No more tooth fairy.  No giggles in the dark.  No knees to heal, no responsibility.

Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?" and the silence echoing, "I did."

(transcribed from Forever, Erma by Erma Bombeck)

Comments

[Kirsten]

FOR PETE'S SAKE, Carole!! Mother's Day is supposed to be HAPPY! Now I gotta go - not to mingle, but to find the tissues... Geesh!

(Have a wonderful day - you deserve it. XOX)

[Vickie Doswell]

WOW!!! Congratulations to both boys and Moma for such major achievements. Without you there they wouldn't have done it! Like Kirsten I am heading for the tissues. Happy Mothers day from another Okie!

[christina fischer]

GREAT -- now I'm crying!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to you, and congrats to Truman and team! You have two special boys, and you are one special Mom! Hugs! :)

[Shannan Teubner]

YAY Truman, way to go! Happy Mother's Day, girlfriend!

[Joan B]

congrats to Truman (and Carter). Amazing feats~~~!!

[The Queen]

Yup, bawling like a baby here. My babies are 19, 8 & 5 and I already feel like I have empty nest. I got a painted birdhouse and a suncatcher that was made in the oven from my two boys. Best gifts ever! Thanks for sharing your boys with us and congrats on all their accomplishments!! Itwas a grand day everywhere! TFS
Cheryl

[Pat J]

Congratulations all around, including Daddy 'cause I doubt I'd remember to congratulate him on Father's Day! Thanks for sharing your family...they do 'do you proud'! Deservedly so, I'll add without prompting.

[Amy/rohla]

Congrats on your awesome kiddos! And, remember--they wouldn't be who they are without a great mammy and pappy!

I so struggled with wanting "me" time this weekend in honor of MD versus spending time with my mom and MIL and the family. I love how Erma can put it all in perspectivo!

Hugs,
Amy

[jules p]

Okay...i was all happy, reading about your boys. and how adorable they are. THEN...you had to slap me with that sad story! :(
It made me so sad! (one is leaving the nest in 2 months)

Thanks for sharing. I think!:P

[Bonnie aka raduse]

Congrats to Truman, mom & dad & Carter. Now enough with the Erma Bombeck stuff will ya? I've got one leaving in a year already. Please, please, no more. :(

[Deborah in TX]

You're killing me. My only daughter is 17 and I've been a mess since she turned 16 and drove to the grocery store by herself for the first time...3 miles away mind you. We're now picking colleges. 2 are hours away, one about an hour away and one here in town. I still have a 25% shot of her being close. I always thought I'd be strong if she left....some big Mommy talk now, huh? :)

[Shel9999]

Congrats to Truman and his team! How exciting! Carter is just as cute as ever, Carole! And thanks for sharing the Erma Bombeck column. It will be quite a while before I'll miss the juice on the kitchen floor, the permanent marker on the kitchen table and the inked smilies in the flower centers on the Pottery Barn quilt. But in the meantime, it is a nice reminder that that day will come all too soon :( Ok...I need to go listen to some happy music now. lol :)

[kellijo]

THAT was in the WRONG ORDER.... You cant have us smiling EAR TO EAR over the accomplishments of your two angels and then YANK our hearts out with that Qoute.... I AM facing that RIGHT NOW....Bub only has 114 days left in the house..... OMG I'm blubbering.....

[Bonnie Sharp]

Congrats Carole all around! Your boys are so special as they should be! We are just starting over with our grandchildren and reading Erma Bombeck's article brought tears to my eyes.....We are thoroughly enjoying this time of our lives with our teeny grandchildren and laughing at everything that used to ROYALLY freak us out....!!