Alison Hodgson

Expert on the etiquette of perilous times.

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September 22, 2009 by Alison Hodgson 4 Comments

Yesterday was hard.

I don’t have time to tell you about it, but suffice it to say that to be a parent is an exercise in surrender and trust and then at the same time a call to hold on tenaciously. Navigating which situation calls for what is where things get tricky. Of course trust is always needed, even when I think I’ve got it all under control.

It is painful to see your children hurt and to know that all you can do is listen and pray and offer your faith on their behalf, which is so very much but – in the short term any way – doesn’t feel like enough.

I was all for uniqueness, until I became a mother. Now I think it’s overrated. The other day I told Paul that it feels like we’re in a three ring circus – all three rings – all of the time.

Today I’m off to camp with Lydia. The middle school does a retreat for the seventh graders to help them get to know each other. I’m riding there with another mother. Initially we thought that there wasn’t room on the busses for the chaperones, but she called me yesterday to tell me that there was room and, in fact, the chaperones were urged to ride the bus. She wanted to know what I thought.

“Once we’re there we’re going to give our all.” I said.

She murmured agreement.

“But there’s no point in us arriving at camp with migraines. If you still want to drive, I would love to ride with you.”

She exhaled audibly. “I would love to drive.”

I need to quiz Christopher on some grammar and finish packing my bag.

Please pray for him to make a friend.

I hope everyone is happy and well.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2009/09/268/

Filed Under: coffee love, my professional life, neducation

September 14, 2009 by Alison Hodgson 1 Comment

One week is done.

Everything is going well, but Paul and I have been running the gauntlet of orientations, curriculum nights and special meetings, basically the introvert’s Olympics.
We continue with our community service/home improvement which is painting the exterior of the house.
The days have been busy.  Tomorrow is my first day home alone.  I plan to cook, write and make a lot of dog hair angels on the floor.
Once last week I asked Christopher how math had gone that day.
“It did a little bit exceed expectations.”
When I asked how, he replied, “It was somewhat reasonable and interesting.”
He has been eating lunch with a young man who has a mohawk.
“It had to be the kid with the mohawk!”  Lydia teasingly moaned.
Well yes, apparently it did.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2009/09/269/

Filed Under: neducation, renovation, rest

September 8, 2009 by Alison Hodgson 1 Comment

Three packed lunch bags are waiting in the fridge. (1 Barbie, 1 Vera Bradley, 1 orange and nondescript.)

Three alarms are set for 6:15. (Eden and I are relying on the others.)

Four piles of carefully selected outfits sit on bedroom floors. (Paul is winging it.)

“Our last day of freedom! ” Christopher announced to Eden upon waking this morning.

Tomorrow is the first day of school for all three children and it will be the first time in 14 years that I have, at least during school hours, an empty nest.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2009/09/271/

Filed Under: love, my professional life, neducation

August 26, 2009 by Alison Hodgson 4 Comments

This girl just asked me if she could have a jack knife when she’s in third or fourth grade.  
We’ve been in conversation about her having a jack knife “when she’s older”, but this is the first time she’s pinned me down to an age.  I managed to pawn her off with a, “We’ll have to see.”  She’s a keen admirer of all of her brother’s jackknives, especially the Swiss Army one that my mom gave him for Christmas.  She was turning this over as we spoke.
“Why do you want a jack knife?”  I thought to ask.  
I’ve been so busy delivering my responsibility homilies it’s never occurred to me to question why she wants one at all.  Thinking about it now, I guess I just assumed that, “It’s Eden, of course she’s attracted to something dangerous,” but, as always, this kid has depth and a quick answer.
“If a robber came and trapped us in a bag I could pull out the scissors and cut us out.”

https://alisonhodgson.com/2009/08/273/

Filed Under: Eden, laughter, my professional life

August 25, 2009 by Alison Hodgson 1 Comment

Summer’s almost over.
As I write, Lydia is away at a cottage with a friend.  Christopher is hunting pests in the garden.  Eden and Paul are at her Chinese Camp and I am sitting at Christopher’s desk since my computer has needed to be within three feet of the router to have “wireless”.  Last night I was able to go online in my living room which I haven’t done in months.  It was a heady experience, but Christopher and Eden set up shop here this morning and I didn’t considering moving it.
Today Christopher and I painted almost all of the front of our house.  We ran out of paint, but we’re probably 3/4 of the way there if you discount the roof of the front entry, the eaves and any highlighting of trim; I wish you would since I am.  I would love to replace the garage doors with more “cottage-y” looking ones, but financial priorities trump aesthetic ones, so I painted the standard ones we have.  I’m very pleased with the color I chose which is a creamy white.  Anyone who has seen our home knows that the difficulty would be in NOT improving upon existing conditions.  Not everyone can classify home improvement as community service but we can and are.
I’ll keep you posted…ish.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2009/08/274/

Filed Under: a little of this, housewifery, summer

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