Maturation

It takes me a while to type my blogs. My mind works so much faster than my fingers that I often lose my train of thought (my mind is on subject #8 and my typing is still back on subject #2 and then I forget what subjects #3-7 even were). I spent about 30 minutes yesterday typing along. I'm not sure what I hit, but I lost it all. :-( I was not a happy camper.

Friday, the Imp got stung by a wasp as she was getting into the car on her way to school. This was her first wasp-sting and fortunately her reaction was relatively mild. I'm always on high alert when my kids get bit or stung. They're both asthmatic and my brother, Kev, carries (or carried) an epi-pen because of his strong reaction to a bee-sting. So Friday, I whisked the Imp in the house, put alcohol on the sting, and gave her benadryl. I had her sit on the recliner as I did my morning kitchen chores so I could keep my eye on her, asking every few minutes, "How's your breathing? Is your chest tight? How's the arm?, etc" It was driving her crazy. After 20 minutes, I figured she was alright and I jumped in the shower so I could take her to school. She slept about 45 minutes (the benadryl). She was fine. In fact, there wasn't much swelling when I picked her up from school Friday afternoon.

Saturday night was another first. The Singer took the Imp out to the movies. Just the two of them. [They saw "Flush" and both were disappointed with it.] I am definitely entering (in the middle of?) a new phase of my life. My girls are very independent and my role in their lives is more along the lines of advisor/big limit enforcer than the micro-managing required when they were younger. Hubby and I went to a "Smart Discipline" presentation at the Imp's school on Friday night. After listening, it became clear that we were beyond many of the things discussed. We worked very hard when they were little and it seems we are reaping the benefits. Oh, we still have run-ins and problems with the girls...but they're not the rule and having to remind them to do the dishes or get to bed seems pretty minor, especially because when they are reminded, they tend to say "Okay" and do it! The Singer has become the confidant of the Imp. They really do like each other and have fun together. They both wanted to go to the movies together and both had fun on their "sister-time." Sunday, they were the cantors at church. A number of people came up to Hubby and I afterwards to comment on their obvious affection towards each other. I'm not kidding myself into thinking that my job as parent is over. It's just very different than previously. It takes some getting use to. There is a certain amount of sorrow over the passing of what was, and a certain amount of amazement of where we are. (Sort of like dropping them off at kindergarten for the first time).
As I'm entering this new phase, the next phase (the kids out of the house) looms over me. What will I do then? I don't ask that as if I will have nothing to do, but more there will be so many possibilities, of those choices what will I do? Will I go back into the classroom? Not really appealing right now. Will I get my master's so I can be marketable to become a trainer? Get my master's in another field? Get an office job, 9-5, no emotional ties and commitments like in education? Continue doing what I'm doing? I have 6 years to figure it out. No rush. But it's closer than it was and the signs of the girls' maturation are all there. I better be ready when they move on.