Little Leap Forward from Book to Stage

April Showers Bring May Flowers

So far 2009 has not treated the Barefoot Blums very well! Can we call this one early on account of rain?

The last few days of April have brought pouring rain and I am ready for May to begin. I am ready for the storm clouds to part and the flowers to bloom.

While the end of April has not brought a lot of joy, there have been some good things!

• I was able to spend a week with my family in Massachusetts. When I left I felt refueled and rejuvinated! I need to find a way to tap back into that feeling!
• I started helping the school reading teacher by volunteering one day a week with a group of struggling kindergarten students.
• We have GREAT friends who have rallied around to help us get through our own personal housing crisis.
• My amazing children continue to surprise me everyday with their wit and humor!
• My husband is getting healthier and stronger daily and has been able to do more and more with the family.
• I planted new plants and my clematis and day lilies from last year are growing like crazy (all of which I assure you will make the move with us to a new home!)

I know that May will bring new beginnings and adventures, not to mention challenges and hurdles. But I will dig deep for the inner strength to face it head on.

Let me wrap up today's therapeutic post with a joke that Isaac love to tell:
April flowers bring May flowers...May flowers bring Pilgrims!

Explaining tough times to the kids

We have been renting our current home for going on 5 years. We love our neighborhood, friends, school, It seems like we have the whole package here!

Yesterday we had a nice visit from a Realtor who informed us the bank had foreclosed on the property and needed us to move out ASAP. They will offer us cash for a quick move out. All in all it stinks but it could definitely be worse!

So how did we break it to the kids?

First we reminded them that we can't control everything, some things are out of our control. We told them that we followed all the rules, did everything right, paid our rent every month. But our landlord did not pay all of his obligations on his end. As a result we were going to move, to a new house.

We did make sure to reinforce some key points

• We will be together as a family! And that is the most important thing!
• All of our things will come with us, beds, toys, favorite chairs, games, TV, Wii (you know the important things!)
• They will stay at their current school for the remainder of the year, we will explore school options for next year over the summer.
• We will all miss our friends but we are staying right in the same town so we will visit and see them often.

They had a few questions, and our 8 year old boy was a bit shaken and told us he was nervous. Our 6 year old was mostly worried about her friends.

Now that we have looked at a house and they know that we are doing something to make this situation better, they seem to be doing better. But we will keep our eyes and ears open and supply lots of extra hugs.

What have you had to explain to your kids? How did they take it?

Friendship

Do you remember when friendship was simple? When we had rules...hard and fast ones...to follow!
Share your toys, no hitting, pushing, kicking or biting, tell the truth. And even when those rules get broken...It's so easy to just make up and play nice. Do you remember when the most hurtful thing you could hear was "I'm not inviting you to my birthday party!"?

I watch my own children with their friends and I think it can be so beautiful. Even after an argument, a couple of days later they leave it behind and find a way to play again. A new ball or bucket of sidewalk chalk and suddenly the neighborhood is in balance again.

I know it won't last long, my little girl is six and girls seem to be getting meaner and meaner earlier and earlier! But for now I will sit back and enjoy watching her have a tea party with her friends!