Now that my arm has recovered from patting myself on the back for mopping the other day (All the motivation was short lived--I still haven't finished the bathrooms or the dusting!), I need to once again brag on myself.
Those who know me today might only suspect that I might be a little tightly wound, but they have no idea that I have always been, well let's just say...a tiny bit type A, anal retentive, obsessive compulsive, over-achieving , "all-girl" perfectionist! For a little history, I will give some brief examples:
*In fifth grade, I got so anxious about the first day of school, I threw up and missed it entirely. Much to my dismay, that made the second day of school even harder!
*In middle school, I made my dad go with me on schedule pick-up day. We would walk to every class on my schedule and make me a list of directions.
*In high school, I had my mom bring home bulletin board paper (she was an elementary teacher) so I could cover my textbooks. I would buy coordinating folders (red cover/red folder and so on) so I could maximize my time at my locker and make sure I didn't arrive in class unprepared or with improper materials.
*To this day, I bet if you went back to the on-campus apartments at Oklahoma Baptist University and went in my old bedroom, you'd see hot pink fingernail polish spots on the dresser. I repainted my nails every night to make them look fresh. I also rolled my hair every night on spongy rollers, so even if I overslept, my hair would always look good.
*At my first teaching job at Tulsa Public, I was wearing black jeans on a spirit day. I always sent all my jeans to the cleaners and they were so starched and creased that a student thought I was wearing leather pants!
*Later in my swinging single days, my church singles group went camping one weekend at a campground near an OK lake. We slept in tents and it POURED down rain all night. The next morning I awoke, went up to the showers and emerged in an ironed t-shirt tucked into cut-off jean shorts (purchased that way at Old Navy) and a belt! Later that summer I went to Africa on missions and the group bet that I couldn't make it 2 weeks without wearing parfume.
Get my drift?
What spurred this post...This morning I was at a donut shop ordering donuts for a surprise birthday party for my son's teacher. (They do donuts that spell out "happy birthday" and all kinds of shapes and decorations.--Let me tell you, they. are. cute!) While I was looking at all of the designs and talking to the owner, John Thomas was looking in the case. All of a sudden, he screeches, "Momma, star! Momma, me, star donut!" I only paused for just a second, and then I ordered it for him. You do not understand the growth here, people! Had this same scenario presented itself 5 years ago with Joshua (mind you, I did not even have his bag complete with bib and wipees with me or in the car!), there would not have even been a pause! The answer would have been "Not on your life, child of mine!" (Well, maybe not those exact words, but something to that effect with a nice tone of voice, of course!) But here I am five years later, buying a donut with icing for my 2 year old, curly-head. We sat and visited and he thoroughly enjoyed his donut. And you know what? So did I!
Like I said, most people in my world today only suspect my former tendencies. Now I have learned to let my house go dirty (okay, it's neat but not clean!) while I play with the kids. I wear sweats or gym shorts and my hair in a clip (I've really learned this one well!). I even let my kiddos run in the sprinkler with their clothes on. So you see, I have so mellowed!
Did I leave out the part where JT really wanted the BLUE star donut and I "gently steered" him towards "wanting" the WHITE one?!:)
Those who know me today might only suspect that I might be a little tightly wound, but they have no idea that I have always been, well let's just say...a tiny bit type A, anal retentive, obsessive compulsive, over-achieving , "all-girl" perfectionist! For a little history, I will give some brief examples:
*In fifth grade, I got so anxious about the first day of school, I threw up and missed it entirely. Much to my dismay, that made the second day of school even harder!
*In middle school, I made my dad go with me on schedule pick-up day. We would walk to every class on my schedule and make me a list of directions.
*In high school, I had my mom bring home bulletin board paper (she was an elementary teacher) so I could cover my textbooks. I would buy coordinating folders (red cover/red folder and so on) so I could maximize my time at my locker and make sure I didn't arrive in class unprepared or with improper materials.
*To this day, I bet if you went back to the on-campus apartments at Oklahoma Baptist University and went in my old bedroom, you'd see hot pink fingernail polish spots on the dresser. I repainted my nails every night to make them look fresh. I also rolled my hair every night on spongy rollers, so even if I overslept, my hair would always look good.
*At my first teaching job at Tulsa Public, I was wearing black jeans on a spirit day. I always sent all my jeans to the cleaners and they were so starched and creased that a student thought I was wearing leather pants!
*Later in my swinging single days, my church singles group went camping one weekend at a campground near an OK lake. We slept in tents and it POURED down rain all night. The next morning I awoke, went up to the showers and emerged in an ironed t-shirt tucked into cut-off jean shorts (purchased that way at Old Navy) and a belt! Later that summer I went to Africa on missions and the group bet that I couldn't make it 2 weeks without wearing parfume.
Get my drift?
What spurred this post...This morning I was at a donut shop ordering donuts for a surprise birthday party for my son's teacher. (They do donuts that spell out "happy birthday" and all kinds of shapes and decorations.--Let me tell you, they. are. cute!) While I was looking at all of the designs and talking to the owner, John Thomas was looking in the case. All of a sudden, he screeches, "Momma, star! Momma, me, star donut!" I only paused for just a second, and then I ordered it for him. You do not understand the growth here, people! Had this same scenario presented itself 5 years ago with Joshua (mind you, I did not even have his bag complete with bib and wipees with me or in the car!), there would not have even been a pause! The answer would have been "Not on your life, child of mine!" (Well, maybe not those exact words, but something to that effect with a nice tone of voice, of course!) But here I am five years later, buying a donut with icing for my 2 year old, curly-head. We sat and visited and he thoroughly enjoyed his donut. And you know what? So did I!
Like I said, most people in my world today only suspect my former tendencies. Now I have learned to let my house go dirty (okay, it's neat but not clean!) while I play with the kids. I wear sweats or gym shorts and my hair in a clip (I've really learned this one well!). I even let my kiddos run in the sprinkler with their clothes on. So you see, I have so mellowed!
Did I leave out the part where JT really wanted the BLUE star donut and I "gently steered" him towards "wanting" the WHITE one?!:)
7 comments:
SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! You crack me up...steering him to the white donut! Too bad he's not still in his "Cujo" phase. He would have already been wearing a bib and you would've been good to go!
We had a BLAST last night! What a fun evening to spend with you!
Oh, Luc, I love the visual of "Cujo" and the blue donut!!!!
I will have to agree, you have mellowed at least some! I do love you so!
MOM
HOLY COW! That picture is to die for! Such a crazy cutie! Tina - John Thomas may be the craziest Fridrich yet...get ready!
Hahaha! Coordinating school supplies to minimize locker time. Hilarious!!
The infamous sponge rollers!!!! I think those need to be shadow boxed and put in the OBU archives along with my shoulder pad collection :)
Oh, that was hilarious! :) I love the re-painting of your nails each night along with the sponge rollers. I love your blog, and enjoy reading about your fam!
isn't it amazing how children do that to us! especiall boys!!
Post a Comment