The Sadlers: Election week

As with every election, this week has provided many teachable moments about getting along with others. It's really a lesson we have almost hourly anyway...statistics show that siblings fight every 10 minutes so that's a lot of "treat others the way you want to be treated" talks from me. And though it gets tiring, I know the moments are fleeting and someday I will miss hearing the yelling from outside about who had the swing first or whether the 5th grade girls volleyball team practice is at Windsor elementary (no I don't have a 5th grade volleyball player or any child that attends Windsor and yes, we have 2 swings). I have tried to avoid facebook this last week. I have friends on opposite sides of the spectrum and this presidential election has created lots of ugliness in posts. The propaganda the kids have brought home has been both entertaining and unbelievable. Matalley said that she didn't know why anyone would vote for Hillary since she is a liar (when pursuing that comment further, she said she heard it on the tv). She also heard that if Hillary becomes president, she will kill babies and Christians and our taxes will go up (heard from a girl at school). I explained that perhaps taxes would go up to pay for other things and Matalley was more on board to vote for her because maybe Hillary would pay for a new playground. In the end, she voted for both because she just couldn't decide. Grayson thought that Trump was just mean...really, really, really mean but he still voted for him at school. Lola just shrugged her shoulders. That's kind of how I felt too Lola. I was really sad that our city propositions failed...I totally understand people not wanting to pay higher taxes but lower taxes and poor city facilities (or declining city youth sports facilities) is not going to attract transferring families (or at least not attract people like me:). Bugga, just hoping we will see positive results in the future.

As you can see from my posts, I am getting less and less time at the computer these days. That's both good and bad. I've been working full time at the bakery. I am on my feet from the minute I walk in the door before the sun rises until closing time...I hit 10,000 steps before lunch most days. Any down time from customers is spent cleaning or baking. I have loved it, but I am exhausted when I get home in time for the kids to walk through the door and hit me with all the gazillion things they have going on. Matalley spends A LOT of time doing homework. I don't think she has all that much but is easily distracted. I spent last Wednesday morning berating her on the way to school for not finishing her spelling homework because she was arguing with Grayson over the last sunchips for their lunch. I think I said, "Homework is more important than food!" I'm not sure that is good parenting logic but if anyone has ideas on how to motivate a smart little girl to have a strong work ethic, I'm all ears. The trickiest part of our schedule is navigating drop offs and pick ups. Last week Matt was out of town and I had 3 different practices to get the kids to...all in different parts of town and some overlapping...I spent 3 hours in the car and didn't accomplish anything but ubering for free and a headache.

They do love their activities though. Lola wants to be a soccer player when she grows up. She is onto indoor soccer now with this same team. We are the "old" parents on the team as all the other kids are firstborns. I think they think we are crazy unsupportive parents since we don't sit through her entire practice or even watch a whole game but maybe one day they will understand.

Come to think of it, she has also had a head boo boo for the last 2 months. I'm blaming a growth spurt, but clumsiness and 3 bad falls have created a permanent bandaid sticky spot on her forehead that I'm sure some parents are questioning. Maybe I should carry a sign that says, 'I promise I'm a good enough parent!'

Matalley is rocking volleyball. They are undefeated thus far this season and it's all girls from her school so she is in social heaven.

Grayson played soccer and now is into basketball season. With both leagues, he has/is playing a year up so it's been very competitive and with kids bigger than Grayson. It's definitely fun to watch.

Matt and I are doing a lot of divide and conquer to get kids to the right place at the right time. Thankfully, the kids help out (a little). Grayson is currently being paid $2 for every load of laundry he folds. He is working off a loan for a used xbox. Matalley is quite the sorter when she wants to. Lola is following suit and Millie likes to clear plates from the dinner table. She has even thrown a few fits if she doesn't get to do it herself.