Cutting the Cord - Again!

This morning, I took a deep breath and cut the cord again.

My 10 year old was so confident in her ability to ride her bike to school. The last time I saw this look in her eyes was the day she got her ears pierced. How could I say no?

In the last few weeks, I've seen her ride uphill and downhill on our street.  I was confident in her ability too. I just didn't want to admit it. I laid down the rules.

• Rule #1  Stay on the sidewalks.
• Rule #2  Look both ways when you need to cross the street.
• Rule #3  Watch out for driveways, dogs and dump trucks (Today is trash day).
• Rule #4  You have to let me follow you to school for my own peace of mind.

The rules were agreed upon.  Before I could back out of the driveway, she was halfway down the street.  Her first obstacle was ahead of her - a mom, her daughter and their cute little dog.  I watched her slow down and they stepped aside so she could get by. They smiled at me as I caught up to her.
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She turned the corner like a pro and looked both ways before crossing  the first street. She made sure to ride up to the break in the curb and back onto the sidewalk.

The big hill was coming up.  I could see a look of determination in her face.  She pedaled and pedaled as I followed slowly behind her. Another car came up behind me - probably wondering why I was going so slow. I sped up for him keeping an eye on her in the rear view mirror.

I lost sight of her for a minute, but then I saw her again pedaling a little easier now as she made it up the hill. She could see the school in the distance and pedaled even faster.  The crossing guard moved a little quicker as he saw her coming. He made sure that the cars would stop as she crossed the street. 

I meet her at the bike rack at school.  She showed me how she can lock and unlock her bike and then went into school.  I was so caught up in the moment that I forgot to take a picture of her at school. But, believe me it was a Kodak moment and the knot in my stomach began to untie itself.

I cut the cord - again.  I'm proud of the both of us.  I saw her little brother look up at me wanting to ask if he could ride his bike tomorrow. Thank goodness the school doesn't allow 1st graders to ride to school yet.

I looked down and said - "Don't even think about it," knowing his turn will come someday.

Mission Impossible

Tonight, the kids and I decide to take a quick trip to the shoe store to buy new shoelaces. This turned into a parent's version of Mission Impossible and an hour of my time that I will never get back.

Store #1 - Sales woman (at a kids-only shoe store) removed her earphones for a brief moment to tell me that they don't sell shoelaces any more - just shoes. Okay....

Store #2 - Only sells shoelaces for adults and by the way - the shoe store on the 3rd floor is owned by the same company and they don't have them either.

Store #3 - Doesn't sell shoelaces - just shoes and suggested that I go to store #5. Called store #5 first to see if they had said shoelaces. They said, "I think so." Not real reassuring so I decided to try store #4 first.

Store #4 - Thought a hit the jackpot after I was told there was a whole rack of shoelaces in the back of the store.  They were sure to be there! No dice - All adult sizes. Decided to risk one more stop at store #5.

Store #5 - So close - they had a whole rack of kid's shoelaces in multicolors - except for black in the size that we needed.  Since the three of us were too tired to make an attempt at Store # 6, we settled on the white shoelaces for black and red sneakers.  Maybe we will start a new fashion trend - at least he won't fall down in gym class tomorrow.
 

Winter Gear Missing Alert!

ATTENTION! Frustrated suburban mom is putting out an APB on 2 red gloves and a blue lunchbox with a J embroidered on the front. Gloves last seen on the small hands of a 7 year old boy. Lunchbox last seen in the company of a 4th grader on the school playground. If found, please post on FB so that I can come pick them up and don't have to spend more hard earned money on said lost essential items.
Suspects who lost the above items were properly interrogated at 8:15 am (approx. 15 minutes before we have to leave for school).

 "Where are your gloves?" "Bring me your lunchbox. What do you mean you left it at school?"

Typical Responses:

"I don't know."
"I was in a hurry."
The Academy Award Response for Best Child Performance of Coming Up With A Good Excuse - "Mom, the girls were chasing me on the playground and pulled off my gloves and I couldn't get them back." (Note to young son - you aren't being chased by 6 ft giants on the playground. Go get your gloves off the ground!).

Action taken: Suspects were provided with the same lecture that this suburban mom was given by her parents 30 (gulp!) years ago. It was probably as effective then as it is now.

So, how many pairs of gloves and scarves and lunchboxes will go missing from your house this year?

P.S. - An UPDATE: Gloves and lunchbox were retrieved from the floor of the backseat of this suburban mom's SUV. CASE CLOSED! (Note to self - give suspects the equally ineffective lecture about bringing their belongings into the house from the car).